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Rs 14 lakh spent, but villagers
yet to get potable water supply
Pension delayed, PRTC staff threatens to intensify stir
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Doctor’s house set ablaze in Mansa after schoolboy’s death
Government told to begin probe against retired officer
Nine counting centres for Fatehgarh Sahib
Capt warns EC against possible mischief
Cong seeks judicial probe, says has no faith in police
Rain hits cotton crop in Bathinda,
Fazilka
CM inspects works to check waterlogging
Open sewage drain claims life in Faridkot
Bridge collapses on Muktsar-Malout road
Storm, rain wreak havoc in Abohar
Storm damages transformers in Mansa
SGPC to set up Sikh Mission in Nepal
PSPCL ‘agrees’ to pay high coal price
SGPC flays burning of ‘Nishan Sahib’ in AP
Highway blocked in Moga
Fateh Diwas concludes
Statewide strike by lawyers today}
Secy seeks action against Dy CEO for harassing officer
Drug trade: Rights body urges Kant to reveal more names
150 schools not to have classes XI, XII
Controversy over surrogate advertising of beer brand
HC raps institute for halting PhD admissions
Some relief: Soon, cases in HC can be filed online
HC orders security for 2 Amritsar lawyers
Firing accused nabbed
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Rs
14 lakh spent, but villagers
yet to get potable water supply
Ropar, May 14 Though the authorities have spent over Rs 14 lakh on the scheme, the two villages are yet to get chlorinated water and an overhead water tank even as both the projects figured in the detail estimate prepared by the department. Sources said the contractor who laid the water supply pipes was given payments for the work which was never carried out. Citing these shortcomings, the village panchayats have refused to take over the water supply system. The department had decided to replace the worn out water supply pipes in these villages in August 2010. An estimate of Rs 23 lakh was prepared for the work, which included laying of pipes and gaseous type chlorination. No money was sanctioned for the tubewell, pump chamber and water storage tank as these had already been set up in Haripur village under the old water supply scheme. However, during the laying of pipes in the village, it was found that the underground water storage tank had outlived its life and could not be used further. Following this, the plan of laying pipelines up to the tank was dropped and the water supply was started directly to the houses of villagers from a tubewell. In the absence of any storage tank, the villagers have to depend on power supply for getting drinking water. Village sarpanch Kaka Singh said the contractor did not complete the work as per the terms and conditions of the contract. Water from pipes kept leaking and flooding the village streets, he said. Though money had been paid to the contractor for constructing sluice valves chambers over the pipeline, no such work was carried out, he alleged. “The contractor has been paid for the work of cutting through the metalled roads and making good the same in original condition, but the roads were repaired by filling sand,” he alleged. Harinder Singh, Executive Engineer, said the chlorination of water in the village was started on May 6 and an overhead storage tank in the village would also be constructed soon. He said he would look into the allegations of the
panchayat. Falling short of expectations *
Village sarpanch Kaka Singh said the contractor did not complete the work as per the terms and conditions of the contract. Water from pipes kept leaking and flooding the village streets *
Though money had been paid to the contractor for constructing sluice valves chambers over the pipeline, no such work was carried out, he alleged *
Harinder Singh, Executive Engineer, said he would look into the allegations of the panchayat.
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Pension delayed, PRTC staff threatens to intensify stir
Patiala, May 14 The retired employees are gearing up for an agitation against the PRTC management and the Punjab Government. The pensioners said that while they had been expressing their resentment peacefully in the form of dharnas and rallies, the management was least concerned about their demands. They had been left with no option, but to intensify their battle, the employees said. Several retired employees took a legal course against the management, but to no avail. There are more than 100 cases of contempt against the PRTC management for defaulting on the payment of mandatory dues to its employees in spite of repeated directions from court. PRTC Pensioners’ Association president Bhagwant Singh said, “The court attaching salaries of senior officials is enough to gauge the seriousness of the situation.” “The PRTC is in a miserable position. In spite of court direction, they cannot afford to release the pensions and other benefits and this speaks volumes about its poor management,” he said, adding that the worse was government’s attitude as it was not putting any effort to revive the public transport. “Instead, the government is extending undue benefits to private transporters, causing damage to the PRTC.” PRTC managing director Bhupinder Singh Rai said, “The PRTC has sought loan from the government for clearing the dues. As soon as we receive it, we will clear all dues,” he said.
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Doctor’s house set ablaze in Mansa after schoolboy’s death
Mansa, May 14 They asked the patients to vacate the premises and then went on the rampage, damaging medical quipment and a chemist shop on the hospital premises. Next, they set ablaze the doctor's house.Two scooters parked inside the house were damaged. All this while the police remained a mute spectator. By the time re-enforcements arrived at the scene, a lot of damage had already been done. Policemen were seen trying to douse the flames with water. A board of doctors will perform the autopsy to ascertain the cause of the death. An uncle of the deceased said Narinder Kumar had been suffering from high fever. He alleged the hospital doctors were indifferent towards the boy as they wanted his family to deposit the hospital fee first. He said the boy was taken to Max Hospital in Bathinda this morning where he was declared "brought dead." Sensing trouble, Dr Akashdeep, along with his family members, left his residence, he claimed. Narinder was a Class VIII student of Arya High School here where his mother worked as a peon. His father had died five years ago. Narinder's elder brother is mentally challenged, said a relative. Bikrampal Singh, SSP, Mansa, did not respond to phone calls. The SP (D), Raghubhir Singh Sandhu, said: "The situation is under control. No one has been injured and no case registered yet." About the deceased *
Narinder Kumar was a Class VIII student of Arya High School, Mansa * His mother worked in that school as a peon. His father had died five years ago *
Narinder's elder brother is mentally challenged
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Government told to begin probe against retired officer
Chandigarh, May 14 The officers’ role has been termed as “grave misconduct” by the DoPT. If indicted by the inquiry, he could face penalty such as a cut in his pension/gratuity. The state government has received an order sent by the DoPT, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, stating that it appeared that the officer had "committed irregularities/misconduct, by entertaining an appeal/revision petition regarding land transfer and staying the order of then Patiala Deputy Commissioner with malafide intentions, and without jurisdiction." The order also states that the Central Government has come to the conclusion that the charges against Grewal prima facie constitute grave misconduct, warranting departmental proceedings against the officer. The case dates back to 2010 when Patiala-based Kirinindra Singh sold 6.5 bighas of prime land to Yashpal Aggarwal, NP Singh and DS Sandhu. Soon after the transaction, a controversy broke out as the land actually belonged to the Punjab Government and several district administration offices were located on this land. The state government ordered a Vigilance probe into the sale deal. The buyers managed to get the ownership rights transfered, but then Deputy Commissioner GK Singh refused to allow demarcation, citing various reasons. Subsequently, then Patiala Deputy Commissioner Deepinder Singh too refused to allow registration of the property in the buyers’ name.The matter went to the court which directed the administration to sort out the matter within seven days. The DC reiterated his stand in March, 2011. The buyers then met then Divisional Commissioner GS Grewal, who ordered a “stay” on the DC’s order and directed him to reconsider the decision. In the meantime, Vikas Garg, joined as Patiala DC and after hearing the buyers’ plea allowed registration and mutation of the land in their favour. However, when the buyers approached the district administration for demarcation, the same was put on hold, as the Vigilance had already started an inquiry into the case. Subsequently, Garg was suspended.
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Nine counting centres for Fatehgarh Sahib
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 14 The votes will be counted on May 16 from 8 am. Altogether, 15 candidates are in the fray from the constituency. — OC
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Capt warns EC against possible mischief
Amritsar, May 14 He threatened that in case of any such mischief by Cabinet Ministers Anil Joshi and Bikram Singh Majithia, the Congress workers “will go to any extent” to stop them. “Our party workers are already angry over what has happened during the past few days and they will hit back and hit hard in case of any provocation,” he warned. The former Chief Minister claimed that the ruling alliance feared that it might lose the Amritsar seat and that was why BJP candidate Arun Jaitley had paid an unscheduled visit to Amritsar on Tuesday. The Congress leader requested the Election Commission to deploy additional security in Amritsar that had been declared a sensitive area. He also asked local officials not to "come under any pressure" and perform their duty in a fair manner.
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Cong seeks judicial probe, says has no faith in police
Amritsar, May 14 Addressing mediapersons after visiting Mahajan at a private hospital here, Bajwa rejected probe by the special investigation team (SIT) saying they had no faith in the state police. “All investigations conducted by the police are meant to shield their political masters,” he alleged. He demanded that the SIT, if any was to be formed, should work under the supervision of the Chief Justice or a sitting judge of the High Court. He said he had written to the Chief Justice in this regard. The PPCC chief said it was shocking that none of the accused in the Mahajan assault case had been arrested while Joshi’s statement was not recorded despite his name figuring in the FIR. He said they would continue their stir till action was taken against Joshi. Bajwa also flayed Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal and BJP’s Amritsar candidate for not condemning the incident. He also attacked Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia who completed his “tankhah” (religious punishment) here today. He said Majithia should have quit his post and appeared before the Akal Takht as a humble Sikh, but he went there with “pomp and show”. Lawyers defer strike
Members of the Amritsar Bar Association, who had started a relay fast over the Mahajan assault case here on Wednesday, has deferred the protest following the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the matter.'Will move SC' Bajwa said he would move the Supreme Court to expose "the growing clout of SAD leaders and the role" of Majithia in the drug trade. He said they would also knock at the doors of the High Court, seeking a probe into the companies in which Akali leaders had a major share. Demands President’s rule Stating that there was "complete lawlessness" in the state, Bajwa also demanded that President's rule be imposed in Punjab. "An ASI was killed for protecting the honour of his daughter in Amritsar some time back and now a lawyer was brutally attacked in broad daylight. Isn't this proof enough that there is jungle raj in the state?" he said. On farm suicides Bajwa lambasted Badal for the rising incidence of farmer suicides in the state. He said the situation was alarming as 10 debt-ridden farmers had committed suicides in 40 days in Punjab. It was shocking that the government had refused to give compensation in more than 2,000 such cases, he alleged.
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Rain hits cotton crop in
Bathinda,
Fazilka
Bathinda, May 14 The areas in which crop loss have been reported are Sangat,
Nathana, Bathinda and Talwandi blocks in the district. The rain
mainly damaged the crop sown in the last one week. Waterlogging leads
to forming of a hard layer on the surface which stops the crop from
growing. It is known as “karandi” in agricultural terms. Dr
Rajinder Singh Brar, Chief Agriculture officer, said the sowing season
had just begun. At least 20 per cent cotton had been sown so far. Of
this, 15 per cent had been affected with “karandi”, he said. He
said as per the recommendation, the sowing should be finished by May
15 to get a good yield. But the same would now be delayed due to a wet
weather, he added. Bhupinder Singh, a farmer of Bhagta Bhai Ka
village in Nathana block, said he had sown cotton recently over 5
acres, but it had been affected due to heavy rain. He said the crop
would have to be sown again, which would cost him Rs 3,000-3,500 per
acre. Dilraj Singh, a farmer of Jassi Pau Wali village, said the loss
would hit them hard as they would have to buy seed again and pay
labourers for re-sowing the crop. Gurcharan Singh, a progressive
farmer, said the rain had not led to much damage as the sowing was
delayed this season due to late harvesting of wheat. Fazilka:
Repeated spells of rain in the one of the leading cotton belts of the
country here have hit the cotton growers hard. They have to sow BT
cotton for more than once which has resulted in the escalation of
input cost. To add to their woes, the price of the BT cotton seed has
gone up by 20 per cent following a rise in its demand. Prithvi Raj, a
traditional cotton grower of village Azamwala of the district, said he
had sown cotton twice, but yesterday’s rain had dashed all his
hopes. “Repeated rainfall hampers the germination process,” said
Ram Swaroop, Cotton Extension Officer, Fazilka. Sources say the
cotton seed was being sold at Rs 800 to 850 per 450 gram till last
week. “Now, we are paying Rs 1,100 for the same,” said Gurmeet
Singh, a farmer of Kamalwala village. The farmers of Tahliwala
Jattan, Kamalwala, Azamwala, Ghallu, Aslamwala and Katehra villages
have demanded that the government should come forward to provide
cotton seed at competitive prices to save them from further
losses.
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CM inspects works to check waterlogging
Muktsar, May 14 Accompanied by senior officials of the Irrigation, Forest and Fisheries departments, Badal visited 12 villages of Gidderbaha and Lambi Assembly segments in Muktsar district and a village of Fazilka district. An official of the drainage department said the Chief Minister had planned to visit these villages personally to inspect the ongoing work as these villages had suffered huge losses during monsoon season last year. At that time, the official machinery had taken a month to drain out water from houses and fields. He said, “The state government is prepared to tackle the problem of water logging during the monsoon season.” He visited Gurusar, Lundewala and Bhunder villages in Gidderbaha Assembly segment; Rattakhera, Midda, Sarawan Bodla, Pakki Tibbi, Bhai Ka Kera, Tappa Khera, Fatehpur Manian, Sheranwala and Bhitiwala villages in Lambi Assembly segment and Bahadurkhera village in Fazilka district. He took stock of the ongoing cleaning of existing drains, removal of obstructions of drains by the drainage wing of the Irrigation Department, eucalyptus trees planted by the Forest Department and fish ponds set up by the Fisheries Department in water-logged areas. Farmers affected by water logging apprised the Chief Minister of their problems and sought a permanent solution. Badal directed the officials concerned to complete the work before the monsoon season and warned them of strict action if they failed to do their duty diligently. Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary, Irrigation Department, and Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister KJS Cheema accompanied him. Fish farming to be promoted in 6 villages Abohar: Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said six villages had been selected across the state to be given 100 per cent subsidies to cover 100 acres area in each village for promoting fish farming in waterlogged areas. He said the total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 8 crore. He was speaking at Bahadurkhera village in Balluana segment of Abohar sub-division. Farmers urged Badal to stop diversion of surplus water in rainy season from waterlogged areas of Lambi and Malout segments to their area. They said drains originating from Badal’s home turf assembled near Bahadurkhera village and after overflowing, damaged crops in 18 villages in about 18 villages here in the past three years.
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Open sewage drain claims life in Faridkot
Faridkot, May 14 Mohinder Kaur’s body remained in the drain for over two hours as the municipal committee and the district administration had no machine or apparatus to extricate the trapped woman. Some youths jumped into drain around 9 pm on Tuesday and pulled the body out. Eyewitnesses said the woman and her son were going home on a scooter after it rained heavily on Tuesday evening. The scooter got stuck in a low-lying area in knee-deep rain water accumulated near the Nehru Shopping Centre and the Nandeana Gate and so, the woman started walking ahead of her son. She was not aware that there was a big open sewerage drain on the side of the road. “She just disappeared in a second. For a minute, we did not understand what happened,” said Sukhjinder Singh, a shopkeeper, showing the uncovered deep sewerage drain. There were many calls to the municipal authorities and the district administration but they expressed their helplessness in dealing with the situation. Poonam Bhatnagar, executive officer (EO), Faridkot Municipal Committee, described the incident as "unusual and tragic". Residents said it was not the first such incident. Some days back, a 45-year-old man, Gurdev Singh, fell into an uncovered, dirty nullah in the centre of the town, near Bhai Kanahiya Chowk. The victim died after sixth day of the incident as he had sustained serious infections. “Whenever it rains, roads get waterlogged at many places in the town and residents are at a risk of falling in uncovered drains,” said Bimal Gupta, president Beopar Mandal Faridkot. “The debris and sewage from all over the city flows through these drains, but they are uncovered at most of the places in the town. Moreover, during evenings, these drains become death traps in darkness,” he said. To register their protest, many voluntary organisations and senior citizens of Faridkot today met Municipal Committee officials and SDM Shruti Sharma. She said, “We will identify these open sewerage drains in the town and ensure that there is no repetition of such an incident.” The incident *
Mohinder Kaur’s body remained in the drain for over two hours as the municipal committee and the district administration had no resources to do the needful *
The 40-year-old woman was walking with her scooter on an inundated street when the incident took place
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Bridge collapses on Muktsar-Malout road
Muktsar, May 14 The bridge had gone weak with the the passing of time and the authorities concerned had closed it for heavy vehicles a few days ago. Only light traffic vehicles were allowed to go over it but some heavy vehicles too were crossing it, ignoring the warning boards installed there. Now, a diversion has been made from inside
the villages to go to Malout from Muktsar and vice-versa. “The water level in the minor has also been decreased,” said Jagsir Singh, village
sarpanch.
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Storm, rain wreak havoc in Abohar
Abohar, May 14 The tin sheds in a private bio-mass thermal power generation unit as well as machinery in Gaddandob village was badly damaged. Sheds in the local new grain market too fell down, affecting vegetable and fruit business. The projections of a liquid soap unit in street-11 and general merchants' showroom in the main bazaar, besides many hoardings and trees on the highway roads have also been damaged.
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Storm damages transformers in Mansa
Mansa, May 14 The loss casued to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited is estimated at Rs 7
lakh. Udaydeep Singh Dhillon, Executive Engineer, said: "The storm has damaged power infrastructure at a number of places. Joga town is the worst affected. The engineer said though the corporation staff had began the repair work, power supply to various areas would remain affected.
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SGPC to set up Sikh Mission in Nepal
Amritsar, May 14 Talking to The Tribune, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said the Sikh Mission in Nepal would sensitise the Sikh community there about the Sikh “rehat
maryada” (code of conduct) and history. He said they had taken the decision after an SGPC team led by secretary Roop Singh visited Nepal to take stock of the condition of gurdwaras
there. Makkar said the Sikh Mission would come up at Gurdwara Nanak Math in Kathmandu for which the SGPC would provide land. He said the SGPC would also make arrangement for preachers, “granthis” and “raagis” there. Besides, steps would be taken to facilitate the teaching of Gurmukhi to the children of Sikh families in Nepal. He said a formal decision in this regard would be taken at the SGPC executive meeting. Subsequently, he said he would visit Nepal in July to pave the way for establishing the Sikh Mission. There are a number of historic gurdwaras associated with Guru Nanak Dev in Nepal which are in a dilapidated condition due to lack of maintenance. The responsibility for upkeep of these gurdwaras was entrusted to a US-based organisation during the tenure of Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti as Akal Takht
Jathedar. The Sikhs in Nepal primarily live in Kathmandu, Nepal Ganj and Sikhanpura areas. Most of them are into transport business. Many of them are residing there since the era of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. At present, the SGPC is running Sikh Missions in 15 states in India. The SGPC's Dharam Parchar Committee is bearing the expenditure of these Sikh Missions.
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Amritsar, May 14 Majithia’s “tankhah” got completed with the “bhog” ceremony of an “akhand path” at Akal Takht this morning. — TNS
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PSPCL ‘agrees’ to pay high coal price
Patiala, May 14 Panem has been seeking a hike of ~100 per tonne of coal over and above coal purchase agreement (CPA) rates, an advance of ~1 crore per rake (~6 crore per day) and pending payment of ~40 crore. Though nothing has been made official as yet, the PSPCL is eager to restore coal supply to the state thermal plants and therefore willing to pay higher rates. Parleys between PSPCL and Panem officials are on to resolve the issue through arbitration. The sources said the PSPCL had agreed to release Rs 20 crore within a month to the company to ensure uninterrupted coal supply. “This will have a direct bearing on power consumers in Punjab as the burden of high generation cost will be passed onto them,” they added. — TNS
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SGPC flays burning of ‘Nishan Sahib’ in AP
Amritsar, May 14 In a statement released here, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said it was an unfortunate incident and a letter would be written to the Andhra Pradesh Governor, urging him to act tough against the people who perpetrated the condemnable act. The Dal Khalsa, too, flayed the incident. — TNS
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Highway blocked in Moga
Baghapurana, May 14 The Congress workers accused the police and the district administration of shielding Akali workers who attacked Congress leader Roop Singh at his house at Sangatpura village on May 6. The latter, who suffered multiple injuries, is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the PGIMR, Chandigarh. On April 30 during polling, Akali workers Jaswinder Singh, son of SGPC member Gurmail Singh, and his aide Jagsir Singh were injured in a clash with Congress workers. It is believed that Roop Singh was attacked in retaliation. Darshan Singh Brar, president, district unit of the Congress, who led the protest today, said the police had registered a criminal case against unidentified persons but failed to arrest anyone. “District Magistrate Arshdip Singh Thind and the SSP, S Bhupathi, are acting as puppets in the hands of the Akalis,” he alleged. He warned that the Congress would intensify its stir if the police did not act within 48 hours. Cong workers gherao police station
Congress workers led by party MLAs Sukh Sarkaria, OP Soni and Rajkumar Verka on Wednesday gheraoed the Bhindi Saidan police station in protest against the “false” cases registered against Congress sarpanch Satta Singh and Balkar Singh of Motla village. Sarkaria said if all five “false” cases lodged recently against Congress workers were not cancelled in a week, they would gherao the SSP’s office. A heavy police force was deployed at the venue of the protest.
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Fateh Diwas concludes
Fatehgarh Sahib, May 14 Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh called upon the Punjab Government and the SGPC to wage a war against drug addiction, female foeticide and “patitpana” (disrespect to Sikh traditions). “When these social evils will be eradicated from society, only then a true sense of Fateh Diwas will be realized,” he said. He lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for raising several memorials dedicated to great Sikh warriors, especially Baba Banda Singh Minar at Chappar Chiri, which will continue to be a source of inspiration for the coming generations.
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Statewide strike by lawyers today}
Zira, May 14 Amrik Singh Virk, president of the association said, “The administration is allocating one chamber to two lawyers. This is unacceptable to us.” The Punjab and Haryana High Court had decided to shift the judicial courts of the town to the new complex on May 31. “Since the new complex does not have chambers, we will have to travel 2 km to get to the new complex from the old one. It will be very difficult to work under such conditions in this intense heat,” said senior advocate Surinder Passi. Meanwhile, the president of Moga District Bar Association Ramesh Grover claimed that the lawyers across the state would go on strike tomorrow.
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Secy seeks action against Dy CEO for harassing officer
Chandigarh, May 14 The Punjab State Veterinary Officers Association approached the Chief Secretary in this regard and presented him the inquiry report. They had alleged senior department officers had not taken any action against the accused. The association demanded that an FIR be lodged against the accused failing which they would go on a state-level agitation by month-end. G Vajralingam, Financial Commissioner Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Dairy Development, said “I received the report yesterday. I will forward it to Gulzar Singh Ranike, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development, to receive further orders.” The victim had alleged that Malik acted indecently inside his office and often asked her to sit there for long periods. She alleged Malik called her ‘yaar’. The inquiry report also mentions that on January 24, Malik had sent a written apology to the victim. The victim, however, said she did not receive any such communication and demanded departmental action. At least three more staff members reported that the victim was being harassed by the Deputy CEO. The local committee in its findings held that “allegation of against the respondent (Malik) stood proved”. Moreover, a case was filed against the chairperson of the inquiry panel, Kailash Devi on April 30, the day before she was to retire.
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Drug trade: Rights body urges Kant to reveal more names
Chandigarh, May 14 The rights body also urged various social organisations to reach Pahuwind village in Tarn Taran district on May 21 to formulate a plan of action to make the state drug-free. “We demand a CBI inquiry into the matter or that the High Court take a suo motu notice,” said retired Colonel GS Sandhu, chairperson of the body. Accompanied by Justice (retd) Ajit Singh Bains, chairman of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), Sandhu said a large amount of drugs flowed into the state through the international border with Pakistan. He said several MLAs were supporting dug peddlers in border villages.” He said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal needed to take action against party leaders, including Vir Singh Lopoke, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Harmeet Sandhu and Virsa Singh Valtoha, allegedly involved in the drug trade. The Congress leadership too needed to deny tickets to leaders such as Amritsar legislator OP
Soni.
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150 schools not to have classes XI, XII
Chandigarh, May 14 Sources said the decision had been taken to identify surplus teachers. It would likely to affect more than 150 schools across the state. As per the orders, the schools have been asked to consider the student strength as on February 28 as the base. The orders state the class having a strength of 15 or more in a particular session or a collective strength of 25 or more in both years should be treated “healthy” else “dead group”. The teachers from the latter group will be transferred. The schools having “dead groups” have been told to get ready to shift their laboratory equipment to the new location as will be instructed by the department. The decision came as part of the ongoing drive to rationalise staff strength in schools. More than 130 schools with a student strength of less than 30 have already been closed. Another 130 schools each having less than 45 students have been asked to get more students or face closure.
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Controversy over surrogate advertising of beer brand
Faridkot, May 14 Local residents were shocked to see four-wheelers carrying billboards parked near the town's hotels and restaurants. Advertising alcoholic beverages is banned in India. Varinder Pannu, Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner (AETC), Faridkot, said they had received complaints about the advertisements and were "verifying facts." Rohit Puri, state manager of a popular beer brand, explained: " We are running education and counselling academies in Mumbai and Bangalore. The advertisement was meant to promote the cause of education." But local residents said there was no mention of any academy in the advertisements. Rajinder Singh, convener, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, an NGO, said: "Earlier, they used music CDs and mineral water. Now under the plea of promoting an educational cause, beer brands are being promoted in the area which is already in the quagmire of drugs and liquor."
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HC raps institute for halting PhD admissions
Chandigarh, May 14 The institute has also been directed to carry out admissions to PhD (mathematics) full-time course. Justice GS Sandhawalia has directed the university concerned to issue notice to all selected candidates, “informing them that it was open for them to appear and deposit fee for the course they had applied for”. The directions came on a petition filed by Isha Garg. She was seeking directions to the institute and another respondent to admit her to PhD (mathematics) full-time course for the academic session 2013-14 on the basis of an entrance test conducted in June last year. She claimed that the institute called for applications for PhD, MTech and MSc programmes. She took the entrance test in June 2013 after paying the requisite fees. She and six others were recommended for admission by a six-member committee after the interviews in July 2013. But one of the members of the committee did not sign the recommendation and the respondent (the institute) “slept on the issue”. Justice Sandhawalia asserted: “This court is of the opinion that the decision of the institute is totally arbitrary. Once they had invited applications for admission to the course and conducted an entrance test, they were to go through the procedure and because of some internal wrangling inter se the committee members and because of one person not giving his consent, the admission process could not be brought to a standstill, as has been done in the present case. “It is not the case of the respondent-institute that the petitioner or other persons who had applied were ineligible in any manner or had concealed some facts. It was on account of vacancies, after proper test and after payment of money in the said course that the said applications were invited. The respondent-institute acting on its own whims and fancies delayed the admission process in an arbitrary manner…. “Accordingly, the present writ petition is allowed, the institute is directed to make admissions for the PhD (mathematics) full-time course.”
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Some relief: Soon, cases in HC can be filed online
Chandigarh, May 14 Besides, the High Court launched a slew of information-technology-based facilities to make justice-delivery system hassle-free for the litigants and lawyers. The facilities include new case status inquiry and e-diary for advocates. Also announced was advocate-wise cause-lists and the launch of e-inspection cell on the High Court premises, where case files could be inspected through data management system without moving the files physically. A Wi-Fi campus is also on the cards. For the purpose, the High Court will consider capital investment, while recurring cost would be borne by the Bar Association. Showcasing the facilities this afternoon, Justice Hemant Gupta said the new inquiry system would automatically inform the advocates the case status through messages on SMS. Justice Gupta, who is the chairperson of the High Court’s “e-Governance and Computer Committee”, said the facilities offered on the HC’s website would not just facilitate checking the case status, but also help in searching cause lists, judgments and orders. The facilities will provide access to information on caveats, status of objections and preparation of copies of judgment and order. The committee, comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Surinder Gupta, also launched the newly developed case management system, which acts as e-diary for advocates. It automatically collates their cases and fetches information such as date of hearing, name of Bench and status for each case. The committee told a gathering of lawyers and litigants that the process of preparing e-files with digital signatures was already in place for online filing of cases. Justice Ritu Bahri, Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Anita Chaudhry were present at the launch. The committee introduced e-summon and e-docket system, whereby the time consumed in service of summons on the opposite party or the respondents would be minimised as the summons would be sent through e-mail. What’s in store * Advocate-wise * e-inspection cell on the High Court premises, where case files could be inspected through data management system without moving the files physically * Wi-Fi campus is on the cards as well. For the purpose, the High Court will consider capital investment, while recurring cost would be borne by the Bar Association Facilities available * Enquiry system that will inform advocates about the case status through messages on SMS * e-diary for advocates that automatically collates their cases and fetches information such as date of hearing, name of the Bench and status for each case
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HC orders security for 2 Amritsar lawyers
Chandigarh, May 14 It also ordered setting up a special investigating team (SIT) and security for the advocates. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Arun Palli issued a notice to the DGP, the Amritsar Deputy Commissioner and Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi. The case will come up for further hearing on May 22. The directions came on a petition by the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association. In the petition, filed in public interest through Bar Association secretary Saurav Khurana, it has been alleged that the two advocates had been attacked at the instance of the minister in an alleged attempt to eliminate them for exposing “fraud and forgery” committed by him in the dual vote case. The petition said the minister had time and again attacked the advocates through workers and sought a probe into the attempt to murder case against Gorsi to an independent agency. After the two lawyers dragged Joshi to court , an attempt to murder case was registered against Gorsi. An attack on Mahajan by armed goons followed soonafter after he claimed at a press conference that the case against his friend was “fabricated” and that he could be the next target. The executive body of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has already passed a resolution condemning the attack.
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Firing accused nabbed
Abohar, May 14 Some miscreants had opened fire at CIA staff near the Sayeedwala drain on the Sriganganagar-Abohar road on Monday. They were intercepted while returning from Sriganganagar after an unsuccessful "land grab" attempt. The Sriganganagar police had booked them for attacking a family in the Jawahar Nagar area. — OC
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Punjab Congress president Partap Singh Bajwa today demanded a time-bound judicial probe by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court into the murderous assault on advocate Vaneet Mahajan and registration of a “false” case against advocate Sandeep Gorsi, both of whom are complainants against Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi in the dual vote case.
Bathinda, May 14
The fresh spell of high velocity storm and rain resulted in breaches in the sub-canal near the Hindumalkot road and the Bazidpur sub-canal inundating about 100 acres of land, besides small-scale coal manufacturing units. Electricity and communication network at Government Senior Secondary School in Choohriwala Dhanna village was completely damaged as old trees fell down. 
The Majha Ex-Servicemen Human Rights Front today asked former DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant to name all politicians, civil and police officials involved in illegal drug trade. During his tenure, Kant reportedly found 98 such people involved in drug trafficking.
Advertising by India's largest selling beer brand on four-wheelers has stirred a controversy in Faridkot. Local Akali MLA Deep Malhotra, who is a liquor baron, said he and his business associates had nothing to do with these advertisements.
