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Tax cut, private millers
on procurement spree
CEO to complain to EC on outdated machines
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Seven villages in country named Badal
10 Punjabis still stuck in Riyadh
Day after polling, Capt, Jaitley meet party workers
Preneet, Dhillon unwind with friends
It’s family time for Jalandhar candidates
Harsimrat, Sukhbir Badal offer sweets
Candidates catch up on sleep
Back in Amritsar, Sidhu does not meet Jaitley
Giani Iqbal ‘forced’ to leave meeting
Punters give six seats to Congress
Protest march by Manpreet, Warring at Gidderbaha
With AAP enthusing young voters, state politics set to change
Post-poll, back to power pangs
Show-cause notice to MC official
Delay in harvesting affected voter turnout in Faridkot
Moga farmers rue tardy lifting of wheat
PU single-window counters at post offices
HC: NoC not required for PUDA plot sale deed
HC dismisses Kant’s anticipatory bail plea
2 gang members arrested for extorting money
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Tax cut, private millers
on procurement spree
Chandigarh, May 1 So far, 75 LT of wheat has been procured in Punjab, of which 1.5 LT has been procured by private players. Mandis across the state are flooded with wheat as the arrivals have suddenly gone up and lifting is rather slow. Last year, during the entire procurement process for wheat, private players had bought just 1.34 LT of wheat from 109.5 LT procured by all agencies together. In 2012, the share of private players in the wheat procurement process was just 2,000 tonnes. Sources in the Food Corporation of India (FCI) say that going by the trends this year, it is expected that the private players would buy at least 3 LT of wheat. “This is because buying wheat from mandis is much more economical for private flour millers. They can now buy at the minimum support price (MSP) of ~1,400 per quintal, and since they are exempted from paying rural development cess, infrastructure development cess and market fee, wheat they buy from mandis now costs them ~1,490 per quintal. As against this, they had to pay ~1,603 per quintal in case they bought wheat from the FCI under the open market access scheme,” said a senior FCI official. The Punjab Government had recently removed the rural development cess, infrastructure development cess and market fee on flour millers if they bought wheat from the mandis. Even VAT paid by the millers was reduced from 5 per cent to 3 per cent. As a result, buying wheat from mandis has become more cost effective way for private flour millers. Since the state government has also imposed entry tax on wheat that the flour milers were getting from outside the state (mainly Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), where wheat can be bought at rates lower than MSP, it is no longer a viable option for the millers. It is learnt that the total captive requirement of flour millers in Punjab is between 80,000 and 1,00,000 tonnes per month. By this calculation, the FCI is hoping that the private players will buy a total of 3 LT from the mandis and the remaining would be bought from the FCI under open market access scheme. “They would continue to buy under the above mentioned scheme because millers want to save on the holding cost,” said the officer. On a high
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CEO to complain to EC on outdated machines
Chandigarh, May 1 The officer said 71.11 per cent women cast their vote as compared to 70.70 per cent by men. In the third category (transgenders), only one of the total 235 voters exercised franchise. The total poll percentage is less than the 2012 Vidhan Sabha elections. The polling percentage then was 78.64 per cent. It was, however, higher than the 2009 elections (70 per cent). The Election Commission clarified that there will be no repoll. In a booth in Phagwara, there were reports of "additional" 24 votes. An EVM was broken in Patiala. A case has been registered. The office of the CEO is set to complain to the Election Commission on outdated EVMs, it is learnt. The office has taken note of complaints on the poor visibility of election symbols. Reliable sources said that a bulk of EVMs were manufactured before 2006. "We were amazed to see some machines made in 2002. No electronic machine has a life of more than 10 years. We received more than 400 complaints which delayed the polling process at several places," said a poll official. Partial relief
Beginning tomorrow, all administrative work/development activities in the state will be resumed. VK Singh said according to a communiqué from the Election Commission, no official connected with the conduct of elections could be transferred till the entire process was completed. Also, ministers and other political functionaries were barred from holding review meetings with those on election duty.
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Seven villages in country named Badal
Muktsar, May 1 However, Badal village in Muktsar district in Punjab has a unique distinction of being the native village of five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. If you go by the information available on the official website of Census of India, there |are two Badal villages in the neighbouring Himachal Pradesh. One is located in Mandi district having 105 households and a population of 450. Another Badal village is in Solan district having 29 households and 152 people. Similarly, in Bhiwani district of Haryana too, there is a Badal village having 305 households and 1,740 people. In the trouble-torn Chhattisgarh, there is Badal village in Kanker district with 1,341 persons and 272 households. In Puri district of Orissa too, there is Badal village with 424 households and a population of 2,854. There is another village in Budaun district of Uttar Pradesh, which has 131 households and 880 people. There are also some similar sounding villages such as Badali, Badalpur, Badaliya, Badalgaon and Badalu in various parts of the country.
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10 Punjabis still stuck in Riyadh
Hoshiarpur, May 1 Youths who returned recently addressed mediapersons at the local Press Club today. They sought the Centre's intervention in bringing the stranded youths back. They said their friends were on the “verge of starvation”. Narrating their woes, they said the international driving licenses provided to them by the travel agent had been declared fake by transportation department officials there and were torn. They can’t go anywhere as their passports were with the company and their ID cards had also been taken back, so they are now confined to the camp area they are residing in as they can’t even board a taxi or use any public transport facility without IDs, they said. Besides these youths, there are two other youths there, who are in jail under the charge of theft, they said. Gurdev Singh, who returned from Riyadh two days ago, said, "We were cheated. The agents took money from us to send us as drivers but they handed us over to a company, Twak Baldia, which is a garbage collection company. We were forced to lift garbage instead of driving." Jagmit Singh, who returned last month, said, "The stranded youths' passports are with the company. They are held captive in a camp. All 10 of them have to live in one room. There is no proper power supply. Other civic facilities are also missing. They are being harassed by company officials." Himmat Singh said, "Nothing is being paid to them. They have been sustaining themselves with the help of old Punjabi employees and drivers there. Some of them have also been sent money by their parents here." Arjun Singh said the company's officials had held their passports and said that if they wanted to return, they should pay 8000 riyal to the company. They claimed that they had paid for the boys so they would have to work as per their wishes for three years even if they don't get paid. They claimed that an agreement in this regard had been signed through the agents. "Two boys have been jailed under false charge of theft and others are afraid that they, too, might be implicated falsely. We request the Government of India to take up the matter with the Saudi government so as to ensure their early return. We also demand a strict action against the agents, who sent us to that hell." List of stranded youth Kuldip Singh of Tirangowal village, Jagdeep Singh of Akalgadda village, Sharanjit Singh, Mangal Singh and Harpreet Singh of Tangra village (all from Amritsar district); Kulvinder Singh of Kalawada village in Gurdaspur district; Zorawar Singh of Balachaur in Nawanshahr district; Gurlabh Singh of Fateh Garh Choodian, Sucha Singh of Jindwadi village and Ram Kumar of Nangal town in Ropar district; are still stranded in Saudi Arabia.
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Day after polling, Capt, Jaitley meet party workers
Amritsar, May 1 Soon some BJP leaders dropped in and he came out to greet them. Seated on a sofa, he looked relaxed and cheerful. Jaitley said he was confident of his victory with a comfortable margin. On brisk voting in Amritsar, he said: "Punjab has always seen a high turnout. Also, people tend to come out to vote in large numbers in high- profile seats." Rejected the argument that high polling percentage reflected anti-incumbency against the ruling
SAD-BJP alliance, he said: " I see it as a desire for an NDA government under Narendra Modi." Jaitley said he would be campaigning in other states and may camp in Varanasi for a few days. He said he would return to Amritsar before the counting on May 16 and meet his counting agents. He was not sure whether he would be in Amritsar on the counting day. Amarinder Singh remained busy meeting local Congress leaders and workers at Naushera House. They had had come to see him before he left for Chandigarh. A confident Amarinder said: "I am cent per cent sure of my victory. I toured the constituency yesterday and could sense things going my way. I received a positive response even in Majitha Assembly segment."He said the high turnout in the rural Assembly segments had come as a surprise to him. He had expected a low turnout because of harvesting. Claiming that a section of BJP supporters had voted for him, he admitted that AAP may have divided the opposition vote against the SAD-BJP alliance. He said he would be in Chandigarh for a few days and then leave for Patiala. He would be back in Amritsar before May 16.
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Preneet, Dhillon unwind with friends
Patiala, May 1 A relaxed Preneet Kaur spent the morning with her friends at New Moti Bagh Palace. She later met party workers. “I have lost my voice because of hectic campaigning,” she was heard telling them. Deepinder Dhillon too was busy thanking SAD workers. In the morning BJP workers along with Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra visited him. Dhillon plans to visit his family in Chandigarh soon. “I am exhausted and I need to spend some time with my family,” he said.
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It’s family time for Jalandhar candidates
Jalandhar, May 1 Tinu was all smiles as he shared lunch with his family members. “I did not eat unhealthy and fried food to make sure that my canvassing did not suffer because of a sore throat ,” he said. Congress candidate Chaudhary Santokh Singh spent most of his time with his grandchildren. He said he had missed his seven-year-old granddaughter the most during electioneering. For BSP candidate Sukhwinder Kotli, his party workers are is family. As an acknowledgement of their tireless efforts, Kotli had tea and pakoras with them at his party office. Aam Admi Party’s Jyoti Mann Akshara remained home doing domestic chores. She also played with children in her neighbourhood. “Today I was busy with household work. Also, I shared my poll experience with my family members,” she said.
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Harsimrat, Sukhbir Badal offer sweets
Badal (Muktsar), May 1 Harsimrat along with her husband, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, called party workers to their mansion at Badal village and offered them laddoos and jalebis. There was a long queue of vehicles outside the Badal mansion. Manpreet toured the villages and met his supporters who were allegedly targeted by the Akalis during the polling yesterday, said Jaijeet Singh Johal, Manpreet's brother-in-law. A few local leaders today left for Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. — Archit Watts
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Candidates catch up on sleep
Ludhiana, May 1 “I have to go to Patiala to join the protest against the attack on AAP candidate from Patiala, Dr Dharamvir Gandhi,” he remarked. On his chances of winning the poll, he said: “I never claimed, even during canvassing, that I will win the seat. “Yet, I can say I have been successful in fulfilling my objective. The voters have realised that not all political parties use unfair means to win an election. Moreover, we have taught the ‘aam aadmi’ to stand up for his rights,” he said. On the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali was reportedly relaxing at home. His younger brother Harkinder said, “After days of working at a frenetic pace, he’s relaxing today. Manpreet addressed close to 35 meetings daily during campaigning.” He said Ayali visited friends and family. He also wished his son good luck, who was to go abroad to study. On Ayali’s chances of winning, Harkinder said they were confident of Ayali being elected. Independent candidate Simarjit Singh Bains could not be contacted. Gulshan visits Golden Temple Faridkot: In Faridkot, where the fight is expected to be close, the candidates still have no time to relax. While SAD candidate Paramjit Kaur Gulshan left for Amritsar early morning to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. Joginder Singh Panjgrian of the Congress was busy analysing his chances of winning by applying the arithmetic of total polled votes, booth-wise breakup, urban-rural breakup and other such determinants. Kulwant on vacation, Khalsa upbeat Fatehgarh Sahib: While most candidates were seen unwinding on Thursday, the AAP candidate fell ill. Congress candidate Sadhu Dharamsot thanked party workers, SAD candidate Kulwant Singh along with his wife left for a hill station. AAP leader Harinder Khalsa, who was in bed, said, "We got a great response. I am confident of winning the seat." Dharamasot said as an MLA he had no time to relax. Brahmpura back in native village Amritsar: After a tiring election campaign, the candidates from Khadoor Sahib on Thursday thanked party workers. Congress candidate Harminder Singh Gill visited Mai Bhago College at Tarn Taran city to see the arrangements made for the EVM machines. SAD stalwart and party candidate Ranjit Singh Brahmpura spent the night at his native village Brahmpura in Tarn Taran. "After a long time, I got to enjoy my morning tea," he said. Soni, Chandumajra visit gurdwaras Ropar: SAD and Congress candidates from Anandpur Sahib constituency were seen relaxing with their families on Thursday. While Congress leader Ambika Soni and SAD candidate Prem Chandumajra visited the gurdwara, AAP candidate Himmat Shergill thanked the party workers. Soni left for Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib with her son Anup Soni and daughter-in-law. Chandumajra visited Gurdwara Nada Sahib along with his family. AAP supporter still in PGI Chandigarh: The condition of 65-year-old Kartar Singh (in pic), an AAP supporter, is improving, said AAP worker
Gurjasjit Singh, who admitted him to the PGIMER here on Wednesday night. But Kartar Singh, who was attacked and hit on the forehead by supporters of a rival party during polling in
Patiala, continues to bleed from the nose. “My mother had cautioned him not to volunteer as AAP's polling agent at one of the booths,” said a worried Ramesh, Kartar Singh's son. He claimed his father and uncle were attacked with bricks while they were returning home. He said the incident had shocked the family. — TNS
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Back in Amritsar, Sidhu does not meet Jaitley
Amritsar, May 1 The firebrand BJP leader, who landed in the city today, said: "I don't need to be an MP to reside in Amritsar. I have a lifelong relationship with Guru ki Nagri. “The people of Amritsar have given me immense love and affection. They voted for me thrice in the Lok Sabha elections and also elected my wife as an MLA. I can't repay their debt." On his not campaigning for BJP candidate Arun Jaitley, also his mentor, he reiterated that he had helped him by not canvassing for him. "I am his well-wisher. I helped his cause by not campaigning for him in Amritsar." Asked about Jaitley's victory chances, he was cautious. " All I can say is that in a democracy, the voice of the people is the voice of God." Sidhu did not meet Jaitley who left for New Delhi this evening. "I didn't know he was here. I keep meeting him off and on," he said. Sidhu landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport and headed to his new residence, where prayers were on.
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Giani Iqbal ‘forced’ to leave meeting
Amritsar, May 1 Sources said as the meeting began, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh objected to Giani Iqbal Singh's presence, saying he had been dismissed by Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee. He then left for the residence of Giani Gurbachan Singh. Subsequently, SGPC executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta was sent to pacify him. Finally, Giani Iqbal Singh was persuaded to leave the meeting. Earlier, Takht Sri Patna Sahib Management Committee superintendent Avtar Singh had handed him over a letter to the Akal Takht Jathedar. Jathedar Nandgarh could not be contacted for comment. The trigger
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Punters give six seats to Congress
Sirsa, May 1 The 'satta' bazar sees Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s wife Harsimrat ’s victory almost certain. Sources said that bets worth several hundred crores have come placed on heavyweights. A punter said that the “satta” bazar predicted five or six seats for the Congress, three for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), two for the BJP and one for the Aam Aadmi Party. Amarinder carries a rate of 60 paisa, meaning he has a fairly good chance of defeating Arun Jaitely of the BJP. While the BJP is expected to win the Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur seats, AAP candidate Bhagwant Mann is the favourite for the Sangrur seat. Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib seats are seen as close contests. Those in the “satta” trade admit that though the “rates” of candidates are based on pre-poll, and post-poll surveys, it is not necessary that the predictions will be correct.
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Protest march by Manpreet, Warring at Gidderbaha
Gidderbaha, May 1 Raja Warring said: “Let the right time come, I will avenge yesterday’s humiliation and will not spare Dimpy and his brother.” Raja was chased by Akali workers when he went to a polling station after receiving a complaint from the party polling agents that some Akalis were trying to capture booths at DAV Vaish Senior Secondary School. Raja had to take shelter in his aide Rajneesh Garg's house in a nearby locality. The SAD’s local constituency in charge Dimpy Dhillon, his younger brother Sunny and some other Akali leaders, accompanied by DSP Gagandeep Singh Bhullar, went inside Garg's house and reportedly manhandled Raja. A big crowd gathered outside the house. Later, Narinderpal Singh Sidhu, SP (H), reached there and pacified the groups. Shielded by the police, Raja came out of Garg's house after 90 minutes. Speaking over the phone, Raja said: “I seek suspension of the DSP who abused me and action against the Akali leaders who tried to capture booths.” The DSP denied the allegations against him. Raja said that he had filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India and the Human Rights Commission. The SP claimed the issue had been sorted out. Poll violence
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With AAP enthusing young voters, state politics set to change
Chandigarh, May 1 The Congress, the SAD and the BJP too galvanised their youth wings in view of the AAP factor. In the sixties, owing to the rise of Communist parties in the region, college and universitiy students played an active part in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. With the Communist movement losing momentum, youth, by and large, became inert. The current elections were dominated by issues such as unemployment and drug addiction, both concerning tosday’s youth. Jang Bahadur Singh, a research scholar at Punjabi University, Patiala, said: “The state youth is faced with a bleak future. They don’t trust the leaders of mainstream parties who seldom look beyond their family interests.The youngsters realise that without empowering themselves, they will be left nowhere.” The youth, which is turning away from the mainstream media, made extensive use of the social media these elections. At Balad Kalan near Sangrur, college student Gurcharan said: “Almost all college students in our village are on the Facebook. There are 33 broadband connections in the village. We debate issues on the social media.” After the poll results, Punjab politics may never be the same. While the mainstream parties may have to change their course, AAP, that received a good response in almost all parts of the state, is likely to emerge as an important player in the state’s politics. Prof Sucha Singh Gill said: “If the ruling alliance wins a good number of seats, it will become more aggressive. But if it does not, the Congress and the AAP will become more assertive.They could then act be a powerful check on the SAD-BJP Government.” Poll analysis Total number of voters: 1.95 crore Those aged between
18-33: 51 per cent First-time voters: 9.35 lakh Those aged between 20-29: 46.66 lakh Those aged between 29-39: 46.27 lakh
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What first-time voters have to say
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Post-poll, back to power pangs
Patiala, May 1 Sources said the PSPCL had again shut down two units of Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant during the night due to coal shortage. Besides, unit number 2 of the Bathinda thermal power plant has been shut down due to technical reasons. They said due to short supply of coal by Panem, which is reportedly demanding an increase of ~300 per tonne, the PSPCL management had called an emergency meeting. “Instead of taking action against Panem, the PSPCL has decided to buy power, which will be costlier by ~1.5 per unit, to save its own stock of coal. The burden will surely be passed on to consumers,” a top PSPCL official said. “The cost of power is expected to be as high as ~4.50 per unit or even more. The cost of generating power at the Lehra power thermal plant is ~2.20 per unit, at Ropar ~2.55 per unit and at Bathinda ~2.45 per unit,” the official said. As per the coal purchase agreement, Panem is to supply coal as per the procurement plan and is required to maintain minimum stocks at the supplier end and delivery points at plants. The PSPCL can claim damages or terminate the contract as a result of any shortfall in supply. Panem has been interrupting supplies of coal repeatedly for the past two years and extracting monetary benefits. The PSPCL, on its part, has cleared all payments to the supplier, the sources said. KD Chaudhri, CMD, PSPCL, said they had taken up the matter with Panem officials. “We cannot accept all their demands as they have to supply coal as per the agreement. We have paid them the advance money, which we can rightfully reclaim,” he said, adding that they had floated tenders to ensure that power supply remained uninterrupted.
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Show-cause notice to MC official
Ludhiana, May 1 State Information Commissioner Surinder Awasthi also directed the PIO to submit his reply on an affidavit, giving reasons for delaying and denying the requisite information to the applicant before the next date of hearing on May 7. The PIO is given an opportunity under Section 20(1) proviso thereto for a personal hearing before the imposition of such penalty on the next date of hearing. He may take note that in case he does not file his written reply and does not avail the opportunity of personal hearing on the date fixed, it will be presumed that he has nothing to say and the Commission will proceed.
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Delay in harvesting affected voter turnout in Faridkot
Faridkot, May 1 As per reports received from the Election Tehsildar Office in Faridkot, 10,31,416 out of 14,50,423 voters cast their vote in nine Assembly segments of the constituency. The total voter turnout in this constituency is 71.11 per cent in comparison to 72.68 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. In the Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012, an average of 83.47 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the constituency. The delay in harvesting of crop due to frequent spells of rain and cold wave is said to have affected the voter turnout in rural pockets. A large number of farmers and labourers were busy in harvesting wheat in their fields. Farmers are usually either done with harvesting or about to finish it by Baisakhi. However, this season, due to non-seasonal rains, there was a late advent of the summer and delayed start of wheat harvesting. On the election day, as a large number of farmers were occupied with work in their fields, women of their families, too, did not go to cast their votes. Gidderbaha Assembly segment of Faridkot recorded the highest turnout of 79.33 per cent, followed by Jaitu at 74.64 per cent, Rampura Phul at 74.02 per cent, Kotkapura at 72.36 per cent, Faridkot at 70.88 per cent, Baghapurana at 70.69 per cent, Dharamkot at 68 per cent, Moga at 66.73 per cent and Nihal Singh Wala at 65.68 per cent. In 2009 Lok Sabha elections also, Gidderbaha had recorded the highest polling (82.17 per cent) among the Assembly segments. In 2009, Manpreet Badal, who was the campaign in charge of SAD candidate Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, was believed to be the reason for a high turnout. Sources said this time too, as Manpreet had joined hands with the Congress and the sitting MLA in Gidderbaha is Raja Waring of the Congress, the turnout was high. Lower turnout than last elections The total percentage of voter turnout in Faridkot constituency was 71.11 per cent in comparison to 72.68 per cent in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. In the Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012, an average of 83.47 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the constituency.
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Moga farmers rue tardy lifting of wheat
Baghapurana (Moga), May 1 The District Food and Civil Supplies Controller, Gulbahar Singh, claimed that out of the 5.05 lakh metric tonnes of wheat that had arrived, the government had lifted 4.80 lakh metric tonnes till today. A total of 7 lakh metric tonnes of wheat is slated to arrive in the markets this season in the district. “The government agencies have also cleared more than 71 per cent of payments to the farmers against the wheat purchased from them and the rest of the payments will be cleared within the next 48 hours,” he said. Meanwhile, there are reports that the lifting of wheat in some purchase centres in the Baghapurana and Nihalsinghwala sub-divisions is going at a slow pace, which is choking the markets. Due to the late arrival of wheat this year, the sudden rush has worsened the condition to such an extent that the weighing, cleaning and filling of wheat in gunny bags are now being done on the roads at some places. At Moga, the inner roads of the market just outside the office of the market committee are all choked with wheat bags waiting to be lifted. “The sudden glut of wheat due to late harvesting has worsened the situation,” said Gursharanbir Singh, a local commission agent. At Sekhan Kalan grain market in the Baghapurana sub-division, it was noticed that procurement agency Punsup had not lifted even a single bag of wheat that arrived in the market from April 22. “There are 57,000 bags of wheat lying in this market and the procurement agency has not lifted even a single bag so far. This market is short of 14,000 gunny bags. No wheat has been purchased after April 26,” said Amarjit Singh Rajeana, president, arhtiya association of the Baghapurana area. Almost a similar position was witnessed in the grain markets at Kaleke, Samadh Bhai, Manuke, Tharaj and nearby villages. It is learnt that Punsup, the state-owned procurement agency, was short of four lakh gunny bags in the Baghapurana sub-division itself. The farmers complained that they had been waiting for their produce to be lifted for the past three to six days.
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PU single-window counters at post offices
Chandigarh, May 1 At these special counters, the students could avail service related to the university free of cost, including online fee deposit, and downloading and submission of all kinds of forms. Chief Post Master General Kuldeep Singh said that the department had agreed to provide the services to the university. "The department will charge the service fee less than the banks. At present, the students are availing the facility of submitting their online fee." PU Controller of Examinations Parvinder Singh said they had received the draft from the Postal Department on which final decision would be taken shortly by the authorities. "To facilitate the students, PU has decided to bear the service charges of all facilities," he said. The official said that after the university introduced the online forms facility, the authorities received a number of complaints from rural areas that to get the forms downloaded they have to pay hefty amount to the cyber cafe owners. An official said there are 188 affiliated colleges and with the single-window counters in rural areas. The students will get the benefit to deposit all kinds of forms and fee at their doorstep.
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HC: NoC not required for PUDA plot sale deed
Chandigarh, May 1 The directions by Justice Ritu Bahri came on a petition filed by Ashwani Kumar Joshi against Punjab and other respondents. Joshi, who is the state convener of non-political set-up Punjab Bachao Sanjha Front, had challenged in the petition the order dated September 27, 2013. In the impugned order, Nawanshahr sub-registrar had sought a no-objection certificate from PUDA, pursuant to a letter dated September 26, 2012, on properties offered by government agencies such as PUDA. As the case came up for hearing, he told the court that he had not purchased the property from PUDA. Therefore, the letter was not applicable to him. Responding to the averments, Punjab and other respondents in their written statement admitted that the letter had been inadvertently mentioned. On this short point, the order dated “September 27, 2013, is set aside and the writ petition is allowed. Liberty is granted to the sub-registrar to pass a fresh order in accordance with the law keeping in view Section 35 of the Indian Registration Act, 1908,” Justice Bahri added.
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HC dismisses Kant’s anticipatory bail plea
Chandigarh, May 1 His plea was dismissed as withdrawn by Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa. As the petition came up for hearing, Justice Dhindsa asked Kant’s counsel to come up with a specific instance in which he might be arrested. As the counsel could not come up with any such information, he offered to withdraw the petition, following which his petition was dismissed as withdrawn. The petition was filed about a week after Kant accused five politicians of being involved in the drug racket. The names were made public at a press conference in Jalandhar. Kant alleged that the names of the politicians were mentioned in the list of people involved in protecting drug peddlers. The list, according to him, was prepared by the Punjab Police’s intelligence wing in 2007, when he was the ADGP (intelligence). The petition added on January 10 that Punjab Police officials attempted to kidnap him. A daily-diary report was lodged in a Chandigarh police station. The former DGP said people in power and some others were unhappy with his crusade against the drug racket in the state. Since his revelation about politicians had ruffled feathers, he, along with his family, was living under constant threat not only to his life and liberty, but also in the form of implication in some “created” case, Kant added.
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2 gang members arrested for extorting money
Phagwara, May 1 Phagwara Superintendent of Police (SP) Gurswak Singh Brar said the accused had been identified as Jatinder Singh of Phagwara and Mohammad Dildar of Pharala village in Nawanshahar district. The SP said Jatinder was in financial crisis due to loss in business and was known to money exchanger Mahinder Pal Shukla. Station House Officer (SHO) city Sarwan Singh Bal said Jatinder snatched a mobile phone from a person near Garhshankar, made a phone call to Shukla from it and demanded ~20 lakh. He then sent a message on the SMS from another mobile phone to Shukla. The SHO said Jatinder was nabbed near the Behram toll plaza and Dildar from his house in Pharala village. The police have recovered the two mobile phones and six SIM cards from the accused. The motorcycle (PB-10BA-1495), which Jatinder was riding, has been impounded. The SP claimed that the accused admitted to have hatched a conspiracy to extort money from Shukla. They were booked under Sections 384, 511 and 506 of the IPC. The accused were produced before the judicial magistrate, who sent them to one-day police remand. The culprits
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Hoshiarpur, May 1
Amritsar, May 1
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Gidderbaha, May 1
