NEIGHBOURHOOD

Admn takes flood-preventive measures
Tribune News Service

Dera Bassi, July 1
The Dera Bassi Rotary Club today honoured two students of the town with the Rotary International Achievement Award -2014. These students – Hardik Verma and Balkirat Singh Rangi - brought laurels to the area in different fields.

The students were given a trophy and a medal each at a function organised to declare the new office-bearers of the club, said Ranbir Saini, press secretary of the club.

Hardik Verma bagged third position at the all-India level in the IIT (Main) examination-2014 and got admission to IIT-Delhi, while Balkirat Singh Rangi would represent the Indian team in Inline (Hockey) to be held in France this week, he said.

The club also declared its office-bearers.

New Delhi, July 1
The Supreme Court has upheld the December 18, 2007, judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashing a 1998-order of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on the promotion of Chandigarh Police constables as head constables.

A Bench comprising Justices Anil R Dave and Dipak Misra ruled that the CAT's September 23, 1998-order was based on another CAT order of January 8, 1990, which had "erroneously observed that every confirmed employee had a vested right" to promotion.

The Central Administrative Tribunal had not appreciated that the right to promotion was restricted to the accrued vacancies.

"The decision, which is a sanctuary of errors, could not have been allowed to gain the benefit of sanctuary of protection and acceptance. That would be travesty of justice. Hence, the said order deserved quashment and the High Court has rightly done so," the Supreme Court Bench ruled.

The constables, who were affected by the High Court verdict, had come to the Supreme Court.

Chandigarh, July 1
Nearly 25 years after a teacher was shown the door, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that the termination of her services was “wrongful”.

Taking up the petition of JBT teacher Krishna Dhiman, Justice K Kannan also ruled that the petitioner was entitled to a compensation of Rs 25,000.

In her petition filed way back in 1991 against the management of the Manimajra-based Vedic Girls High School, Dhiman claimed that she was appointed a JBT teacher in the institute, which sought grants from the state.

She told the court that her services were terminated by using an undated resignation letter, “which was only a fabrication”. Her counsel contended that the termination order, as such, was not valid.

During the course of hearing, Justice Kannan took note of the fact that the petitioner was appointed on March 1, 1988, for a period of one year.

Admittedly, the school did not take permission for the appointment. Even the post-facto permission was not taken. The school, however, acted on the resignation letter allegedly written on May 5, 1989, and terminated 
Dhiman’s services.

The petitioner, on the other hand, had forwarded a representation for approval of appointment on May 17, 1989. She also moved the DC against the alleged unlawful termination.

The petitioner claimed that several other teachers backed her allegations that the management would always take “blank signatures” from teachers and use them as resignation.

The Deputy Commissioner accepted her plea and directed reinstatement. The commissioner, in turn, rejected the teacher’s plea for reinstatement. The order was affirmed, when the matter was taken to the DPI. Moving the High Court, she challenged the commissioner’s order passed on September 5, 1991.

Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan asserted: “Even the DPI has found that the letter of resignation was not genuine, but it found that the appointment to the post itself had not been approved and, therefore, there was no question of allowing for the petitioner to continue”.

Justice Kannan added: “I don’t think there is any scope left for directing reinstatement at this length of time. More so, in a situation where the management had deliberately not taken approval from the government, especially when it was a government-approved school drawing grants from the state and when it was bound to secure concurrence from the authorities....”

Chandigarh, July 1
The UT police today arrested a retired naval officer in a 12-year-old case of cheating.

The Economic Offences Wing of the police had registered a case against TR Verma, a retired commandant, in 2002 following a complaint by GS Walia, who ran a firm, Usha Communications. The accused had allegedly issued fake tenders and caused a loss of Rs 2.8 crore to the firm.

The court had declared Verma a proclaimed offender in 2004.

A PO Cell team, headed by Inspector Uday Pal and comprising ASI Harpal, Head Constable Balwinder and Constable Shiv Kumar, arrested Verma from Sadarpur in Delhi.

The police said another accused in the case would be arrested soon.

Mohali, July 1
The police have arrested a relative of the elderly woman who was attacked and robbed at her house in Kurali yesterday. The police also recovered Rs 40,500 from the accused.

SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti today said the suspect, Harpreet Singh, alias Happy, was arrested within a few hours of the crime.

The arrested man was a resident of Bassi Pathana and the victim was the sister of his mother-in-law.

The SSP said Harpreet injured 65-year-old Surinder Kaur and robbed her of cash and ornaments. The knife used in the crime, rubber gloves, a scooter and Rs 40,500, a part of the looted amount, had been recovered.

Giving details of the suspect, the SSP said he had passed Class IX and used to do the work of fitting aluminium doors and windows in villages. He was also allegedly a drug addict.

A case had been registered against him at the Kurali Sadar police station under Sections 307, 450, 380 and 427 of the IPC.

Harpreet Singh was produced in a court at Ropar today and remanded to two day in police custody.

Surinder was injured and robbed of cash and ornaments at her house yesterday. The suspect deprived the elderly woman of the gold chain and earrings she was wearing and about Rs 65,000 in cash. The attacker locked the door of the house from outside while escaping.

The victim was alone at her house at the time of the incident.

Chandigarh, July 1
The UT police have arrested a resident of Burail for attempting to rape an 18-year-old girl.

The accused, Mohammed Qayum, has been arrested for an attempt to rape an 18-year-old girl with the help of her mother. After separating from her husband, the victim’s mother was staying with Qayum.

Last week, the victim had complained on the public window of the Police Headquarters alleging that her mother and Qayum were forcing her into prostitution.

The duo was arrested last night and a case has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

Chandigarh, July 1
Three theft cases have been registered in the city.

Sanju, a resident of Kaimbwala village, alleged that Ram Chander, a resident of Uttar Pradesh, was caught red-handed while stealing iron grills at Punjab and Haryana High Court on June 30.

In a separate incident, Ashish Sharma, a resident of the Pushpak Society, Sector 49, reported that his motorcycle (CH-01-AQ-8386) was stolen from outside his house.

In another case, Pawan Kumar, a resident of Dadumajra, stated that someone stole his Tata Indica car (CH-04J-3400) from the vegetable market in Sector 39.

The police have registered separate cases of thefts under Section 379 and 380 of the IPC.

Chandigarh, July 1
The Director Sports of the UT Sports Department made a surprise visit at the Sector 42 Sports Complex in morning, today.

Sunil Bhatia, director sports, UT Sports Department, raided the sports complex office to take notice of the late-comers and absentees. According to highly placed sources, the director visited all the branches and found nearly 8 officials coming late to office. The officials, later in the evening, were issued an explanation-notice for coming late to office. “There is nothing to create hype about in this surprise check. It’s a normal routine,” said Bhatia while refusing to comment further.

According to sources, accompanying the director, two superintendents and other members of clerical staff were found absent.

Later, they were caught coming late to office and were issued the explanation-notice by the head of the department. The working hours are from 9am to 5 pm including one hour lunch break from 1pm to 2pm. “It was a surprise check just to tighten the toes of the clerical staff for joining the office on right time. Supervisors and some superintendent were caught absent from their seats. And in no time was issued explanation-notice. The step was taken to tightening the staff and to give message to others,” said the source while giving information about the surprise check.

Chandigarh, July 1
Chandigarh team added 33 runs and lost two wickets, in their overnight score of 125 runs for two wickets against Mohali, during the third play of ongoing inter-district cricket match for Dhruv Pandove Trophy held at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium, here today. On the third day, only 75 minutes of play was processed due to wet fields following heavy showers.

Chandigarh, July 1
With just few days left for participating in the USA Dresse and Maere World Deaf Tennis Championship, 17-year-old hearing-impaired tennis player Parul Gupta is wandering to get financial aid for participating in the tournament.

Parul Gupta, a resident of Patiala, had recently won laurels bagging a silver medal in the doubles’ category during recently concluded International Youth Tennis Cup in Hamburg. Parul is scheduled to participate in the USA Dresse and Maere World Deaf Tennis Championship from July 14 to 19. “It’s very difficult to represent the nation without sponsors and any financial aid from the government. Earlier, also we struggled hard to manage everything. Now that she won a silver medal in double’s cagey, we were expecting some relief from the state government. However, nothing has been done so far. We are even facing problems in getting sponsors as no one shows any interest to initiate the sponsorship for invitational tournaments,” said Avinash Gupta, her father.

Parul is presently practicing her skills at the Tennis of Excellence Kharar (near Chandigarh), under the guidance of Gurvrinder Sahota, from past many months. “This is not for the first time that we are seeking any help. Past year, my daughter was awarded with a cheque of Rs 2 lakh. And after that no help was given, so far. We take financial help from our near and dear ones but the situation is quite tough to manage,” said Avinash. Parul has been playing tennis for the past four years. Her father is an employee of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and her mother is a teacher.

Chandigarh, July 1
The Chandigarh Golf Club will host a ladies golf camp at the club’s greens on July 5 and 6.

The camp will be conducted between 8am to 9am and non-members of the club can also register for the same. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 1
Dr CS Grewal, former director of Directorate of Sports, Panjab University, Chandigarh, has joined the Chandigarh University as director sports, here today.

During his tenure in Panjab University as Director Sports, the Directorate of Sports has touched new heights in the field of sports and latest infrastructure development.

“He is a visionary promoter of sports and an able administrator. He was the sole visionary behind various sports project undertaken during his tenure. The Chandigarh University will be obliged by his vast experience in the field of sports and university will prove its iron in sports with academics,” stated the management of Chandigarh University. — TNS