Chandigarh, July 31
Special CBI Court Judge Vimal Kumar today took a serious note of the transfer of a property in another name that had been attached by the court 21 years ago in a case and ordered the registration of a case against the then Estate Officer, HUDA, Panchkula, and two others under Section 206 (fraudulent removal or concealment of property to prevent its seizure as forfeited or execution) of the IPC.

It was brought to the notice of the court last year that the file containing the attachment order of a property seized in a disproportionate assets case registered in 1990 had been misplaced.

The attached property had been transferred in another name in alleged connivance with the then Estate Officer in 2009.

The court today ordered the registration of a case against the then Estate Officer, HUDA, Panchkula, and two persons – Jaswinder Mann and Pawan Gulati. It has been alleged that Jaswinder Mann, who is the accused’s sister, transferred the land to Pawan Gulati in connivance with the then Estate Officer in 2009.

“In view of the material facts on record, prima facie it is clear that on October 21, 2009, plot number 323, Sector 2, Panchkula, despite attachment orders dated July 5, 1993, and September 16, 1995, was transferred by Jaswinder Mann to Pawan Gulati through the Estate Officer, HUDA, Panchkula, tantamounting to commission of offence punishable under Section 206 of the IPC,” said the court.

“So it is considered expedient in the interests of justice that a complaint in writing be lodged with the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate as per provisions of Section 195 (1) and 340 of the CrPC. Hence, the reader of the court is directed to file a criminal complaint on behalf of this court against Jaswinder Mann, Pawan Gulati and the then Estate Officer, HUDA, for proceedings in accordance with the law,” the court said.

The case

According to the case registered in 1990, the CBI had booked Col BS Goraya (now retired) in a case of disproportionate assets as his property assets far exceeded his income. He had several properties in his as well as his family members’ name in Panchkula and Gurgaon, which led to the registration of the case against him.

The property that was attached and sold off.

During the course of the trial, the court had attached two of Colonel Goraya’s properties.

One of these, plot No. 323 in Sector 2, Panchkula, was in the name of Goraya’s sister Jaswinder Mann. Through two orders, dated July 5, 1993, and September 16, 1995, a CBI special court had attached the two properties in the case. Colonel Goraya, however, had submitted an application on March 26 last year, seeking verification regarding the sale of the Sector 2 plot.

Meanwhile, according to the application of the CBI, Colonel’s sister Jaswinder Mann, allegedly in connivance with the then HUDA Estate Officer, sold the property to Pawan Gulati.

Chandigarh, July 31
The UT traffic police is now on WhatsApp. Commuters can send their suggestions and complaints regarding traffic congestion and load images as well as videos on the WhatsApp number: 9779580985.

The WhatsApp messenger service of the Chandigarh Traffic Police was launched today by UT IGP RP Upadhyay to enhance its community policing drive. The traffic police already has facilities such as Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ trafficpolicechd), website (chandigarhtrafficpolice.org), traffic helpline (1073), YouTube videos (www. youtube.com/user/trafficpolicechd) and road safety exhibition vans through which people can directly and easily interact with the traffic police for various traffic-related complaints and suggestions.

“The WhatsApp service can be used by the public for sharing of logical 
and meaningful traffic-related suggestions and specific information about traffic congestion,” said UT SSP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhery.

Commuters can provide information about traffic accidents, traffic violation images with date, time and place of violation along with the sender’s complete name and address in order to take legal action against the violator.

MoU on traffic education park signed

The traffic police today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd for creating a traffic education park at the already existing Chandigarh Traffic Park, Sector 23, Chandigarh, at a ceremony held at Traffic Auditorium, Traffic Police Lines, Sector 29, Chandigarh.

Anil Kumar, UT Home Secretary, was the chief guest on the occasion.

The traffic education park will be the fifth such park to be set up by Honda in India and the first in the UT, Chandigarh, and the states of Punjab and Haryana. According to the MoU, Honda will give a makeover to the Chandigarh Traffic Park in Sector 23 A and create a specially designed protected environment within the area of 15 acres. At the park, Honda will provide “lifetime safety education” for all age groups – starting from five-year-old schoolchildren to adults with a special focus on females wanting to have freedom of independent mobility. 

Chandigarh, July 31
Residents of Faidan village in Jagatpura are mourning the death of two young lads from the area, Sukhdev Singh, aka Sukhi (22) and Sonu (19) the lone breadearners of the family who drowned in the Ghaggar on Wednesday.

Sonu and (below) Sukhi, the victim.

Sonu who had lost his father a couple of years ago, was his mother Maya Devi’s only support, he had quit his studies and was working as a newspaper vendor to support
his family.

Sonu’s sister Kamlesh was in a state of shock after the incident and said, “My brother was our only support. He quit his studies to make sure that our younger brother Sanjay could pursue his studies.”

While Sukhdev Singh whose father is a heart patient and brother is bed ridden, was supporting the family financially by shuttling between two jobs, selling newspapers and running a small shop in the locality.

His father Pyare Lal was in an inconsolable state said, “My son was working from dawn to dusk to support us. Not only he worked hard to meet our financially and medical needs but he also used to do all the domestic chores from cooking food to cleaning of the house.”

The residents of the area said that on the fatal day, five friends from the area including, Dilbara Singh (20), Abhishek Kumar (18), Ajay (19) and the deceased had gone to immerse eatables and flowers after ‘jagrata’. After immersing the items in the river, the friends planned to take a swim.

However, due to a sudden slush, only three managed to escape, while Sukhi who was trying to save his friend Sonu drowned along with him.Both Sukhi and Sonu lived in adjacent houses and the houses that once echoed with their guffaws was now, engulfed by silence.

Chandigarh, July 31
On the repatriation of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Tanvi Garg, a 2009-UT cadre officer, to Andaman and Nicobar, the Chandigarh Administration today gave her charge to senior most PCS officer, TPS Phoolka, who is presently the Director, Transport.

The charge of MD, CITCO, has been given to Punjab-cadre IAS officer, Bhawna Garg, who holds the charge of Secretary, Transport. The charge of Director (Tourism) has been given to SDM-cum-RLA, Kashish Mittal.

Previously, Tanvi Garg, was also holding the charge of MD, CITCO, and Director (Tourism).

The Commissioner, MC, VP Singh, continues to hold additional charge of the Chairman, Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB)

Besides, the above mentioned officials, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), has also ordered to transfer Additional Secretary (Home) Prerna Puri,
a 2006-batch AGMUT-cadre officer.

The MHA had cleared the names of three AGMUT cadre officers — K.Narasimha, a 1991 batch officer and currently posted as the Administrator of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli; Dr SB Deepak Kumar, 2005 batch officer and currently posted as district collector in Puducherry and NK Sharma, a 2002 batch officer, for the Chandigarh Administration. 

Chandigarh, July 31
After the video of a student of class XI from the humanities stream of Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 28, getting assaulted by two lads was uploaded on WhatsApp, the victim today reported the matter to the police.

The incident had occurred on July 28 after school hours. The alleged two accused who are residents of Darua assaulted the victim in the park of Sector 27, while one made the video of it and posted it on whatsup.The incident came to light when the victim’s cousin saw the video on his phone today and told the victim to report the matter to the police.

The police authorities said that the victim who hadbeen working as a part-time vendor in a tobacco shop near the railway station had refused to lend the accused cigarettes, which led to the brawl between them.The police further said that after the victim reported the matter, his medical examination was carried out in which no external and internal injury was reported.

On the content of the video, the police personnel said, “As per the video the student was being bullied and not bashed. The victim and the accused are all juveniles, hence a woman officer has been given the charge of the case.” They said that a legal opinion would be sought on whether any offence had been committed or not. 

Chandigarh, July 31
Taking advantage of the facility of e-filing launched by the Income Tax Department, more than 75 per cent residents of the city filed their income tax returns online this year.

Out of a total of 1.7 taxpayers (working class) in the city, only 41,000 preferred to file their returns manually, ie. doing rounds of the income tax office in Sector 17. In fact, the number of residents filing ITR manually has come down from 49,000 last year, when the facility of e-filing was launched.

"People these days don't have time. It is difficult for the working class to leave their office during working hours and visit the Income Tax Department. Besides, the system of e-filing is very simple and easy to follow," said an official from the Income Tax Department, Chandigarh.

However, a number of residents suffered inconvenience due to the slowdown in the website of the Income Tax Department server, which was triggered by last minute filings across the country, in the past two to three days.

A number of these residents had lined up at the income tax office to file their ITR manually. In the past four days, nearly 5,000 residents filed their returns manually, said officials from the department.

Extension of date sought

In view of the slowdown in the server, requests were sent to the Ministry of Finance, New Delhi, for the extension of last date for filing of the ITR from July 31 to August 15. 

Chandigarh, July 31
The controversy over the name of the chief guest for the Teej function is going to get murkier. The BJP councillors today held an emergency meeting to plan their move over the issue.

Sources stated that the BJP councillors were annoyed over the attitude of Mayor HC Kalyan for inviting MP Kirron Kher as the chief guest for the function.

The meeting was held in the office of Senior Deputy Mayor Heera Negi, which was attended by Arun Sood, Davesh Moudgil, Asha Jaiswal, Rajinder Kaur Rattu, Rajesh Gupta, Desraj Gupta, SAD councillor Harjinder Kaur and Nominated Councillor Surinder Bahga was present during the meeting.

Arun Sood, who is also the Leader of Opposition, said that the Congress was playing dirty politics, as they wanted that the MP should not be the chief guest. “In the last few years, an MP’s wife or a bureaucrat’s wife were being invited as the chief guest and now when the city MP is a woman, the Congress Mayor is trying hard to invite someone else other then the MP”, Sood stated. The local MP is the ex-officio member of the MC House following which BJP councillors are demanding that she should be the chief guest for the Teej function to be held at Shivalik Garden on August 3. Senior Deputy Mayor Heera Negi said that Teej was a festival of woman and the city’s MP was a woman, so she should be the chief guest.

BJP councillors will be holding a press conference on Friday to divulge further course of action. 

BJP may boycott function

Sources said that BJP councillors were also planning to boycott the function in case the Mayor failed to invite the MP Kirron Kher as the chief guest. 

Mohali, July 31
Despite the recent orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the dumping of waste in Patiala Ki Rao river in Sector 74, Mohali, the Mohali Municipal Corporation (MMC) continues to dump garbage along the bank of the seasonal rivulet.

In what could be termed as a clear violation of the NGT’s recent order on the issue, no precautions that are mandatory as per the Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW) (Management and Handling) Rules 2000 are being taken by the authorities concerned.

Notably, in its order, the NGT has restrained the MMC or any other person from dumping any kind of waste in Patiala Ki Rao here.

The MMC Commissioner, Uma Shankar Gupta, said, “We have earmarked points near the river and no garbage is being dumped beyond those points.”

Notably, Point 8 of Schedule III (specifications of landfill sites) of MSW Rules 2000 clearly states that ‘The landfill site shall be away from habitation clusters, forest areas, water bodies monuments, national parks, wetlands and places of important cultural, historical or religion interest’.

In its observation last year, a special team, comprising the then MC Commissioner, Mohali SDM and environmental engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board claimed that it was an unauthorised site as the MMC has never been granted authorisation under the MSW Rules 2000. It was also observed that no segregation of MSW was being done before dumping the same at the site. The dumping yard is located in the Sector 74 Industrial Area, which houses several IT companies. The dumping yard has several companies at a stone’s throw distance.

The MSW rules also specify that a buffer zone of no-development shall be maintained around the site. The rules state that the site shall be fenced or hedged with proper gate to monitor incoming vehicles or other mode of transportation, shall have approach and other internal roads for free movement of vehicles and other machinery, wastes shall be covered immediately or at the end of each day with minimum 10 cm of soil and that it must have a cover of 40-65 cm thickness of soil on the landfill with proper compaction and grading to prevent infiltration prior to commencement of monsoon.

In a random survey about the dumping yard, the Tribune team found that most of rules under MSWR-2000 were being ignored with impunity.

The president of Mohali Industries and Commerce Association, Nikhil Saraf, said the site was unauthorised and they (the industrialists) have submitted several applications to the authorities to remove it from the industrial area.

“Apart from stink and other inconveniences, the presence of dumping yard in the sector also affects our business,” said Saraf.

On the other hand, the MC Commissioner claimed that by dumping the garbage at the present site, no violation of any rule or court order is being made. “We will file our reply to the NGT soon,” said Gupta. 

Mohali, July 31
The Mohali police registered its first Zero First Information Report in a rape case at the Sadar Kharar police station here.

The Zero FIR has been registered on the complaint of two Chandigarh-based women, who alleged that one of them was raped by some youngsters at a flat in Sector 49, Chandigarh, on Tuesday night. The victims alleged that after the rape, the accused dumped them in a forest area near the Sunny Enclave, Kharar, during night hours.

Notably, the Zero FIR can be registered on the basis of a woman/women’s statement at any police station irrespective of the jurisdiction or the place of crime and the same can be later transferred to the police station concerned. The apex court has issued directions in this regard last year.

Confirming the development, Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said the first Zero FIR in question has been registered against one Rajbir Singh and his two unidentified friends under Sections 376, 328, 323, 427 and 34 of the IPC at the Kharar police station following a complaint of two women from Chandigarh.

“The victims alleged that one of them was raped after being given drug-laced cold drink at a flat in Sector 49 on Tuesday night. As the victims came to us, we registered the zero FIR, said SSP Bhatti.

He added that the FIR would be transferred to the respective police station in Chandigarh and the further investigations would be made by the Chandigarh Police. 

Chandigarh, July 31
The Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) is going to start affixing high security registration plates (HSRP) for CH-01 AG series from August 1.

The number plates will be affixed at three notified locations, the office of RLA, Sector 17, SDM(S), Sector 42, and SDM (E), Industrial Area, Phase-I, Chandigarh.

The owners of the vehicles having registration number of “CH01-AG” series shall apply for affixation of HSRP at the respective office with a request on a plain paper mentioning the details of the vehicle, including chassis number, engine number, make and model, along with a copy of Registration Certificate and a copy of valid insurance within one month.

After the completion of stipulated period, the UT traffic police will be asked to initiate the process of challaning vehicles with registration numbers of this series not having HSRPs.

Chandigarh, July 31
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed Brandsvillage Onsky Shopping Private Ltd. to refund Rs 3,060 and pay Rs 5,000 for mental agony caused to a complainant, who was not delivered the shoes he had purchased online.

The complainant, Jasdeep Singh Walia of Sector 44 here, alleged that he availed of the online service of the opposite party by purchasing two pairs of shoes of size 12 and paid Rs 6,834. However, he received a pair of shoes, which was not as per the order placed by him, he alleged. Jasdeep alleged that despite intimation, neither the shoes of the desired size were sent nor the second pair was delivered.

The opposite party did not turn up to contest the complaint.

“We feel that it was the duty of the opposite party to satisfy the complainant fully, but it failed to do so. Not refunding the amount against the second order of the complainant proves deficiency in service on the part of the opposite party,” the forum ruled.

Zirakpur, July 31
The owners of plots and flats in Vishranti, a housing colony in Singhpura village of Zirakpur, are at a receiving end as the status of their property has become uncertain following a land ownership dispute between a Canada based NRI woman and the developers of the colony.

While the district police have allegedly been trying to shield the 10 developers of the colony and a former sarpanch of Zirakpur village, the land owner, Prineet Kaur today fenced the ‘disputed’ chunk of land with houses and flats constructed on it, and restricted their entry by digging trenches on the internal roads.

Tension prevailed in the colony this morning when Prineet Kaur along with men and machinery reached the site and fenced the ‘disputed land’.

Prineet claimed she got the land demarcated from the revenue officials and fenced her own land after following a proper legal procedure.

Though she expressed sympathy with the people who have invested their hard-earned money in houses and flats at the colony, she alleged that the builder her as well.

“I have given written complaints to the Punjab Police, including SHO, SSP and other senior officers but no case was registered against the accused till date. Finally I had to approach the IGP, Mohali, handling NRI affairs,” she claimed.

Mohali SSP Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti said, “Considering the gravity of the issue, we have deployed police force around the colony to avoid any untoward incident.”

The colony residents, who assembled at the site, claimed to have invested their hard-earned money and after the ‘dispute’ they felt cheated.

One of the affected owners, Ritu Gupta, who resides in a rented accommodation in Friends Enclave, Zirakpur, lamented, “Apart from moveable and immovable property, I sold my ‘mangal sutra’ to purchase a house here. The dispute has ruined us,” she lamented

It may be mentioned that on June 27, the police had booked 11 persons for their alleged involvement in selling plots and flats in the housing project, following the complaint of SS Dhand, president of the Residents Welfare Association of the society.

A case under Sections 420 and 120-B of the IPC was registered against Sushil Bindal, his brother Pradeep Bindal, Payal Bindal, Naveen Bansal, Sumit Garg, Hem Raj Garg, Rattan Kumar Bansal, Satish Bansal, Ram Goel, Neha Sharma and Jaspal Singh. While Neha Sharma was arrested and granted bail, other accused are at large.

‘Khazana-A Festival of Ghazals’ which will take place on August 1 and 2 will be live streamed across the digital platforms of Hungama. Ghazal lovers can watch the concert on Hungama.com, its native mobile app, Hungama’s official YouTube channel, Pankaj Udhas’s official FB page, and Daily Motion India. It can also be viewed on TATA Sky by Actv music subscribers. — TNS

Chandigarh, July 31
For the first time ever, student political parties contesting the Panjab University Student Council Elections will be allotted codes — in alphabets — to carry out election activities on the campus.

The authorities will also earmark spaces for pasting posters by the code name.

Earlier, the spaces were allocated on the names of student parties.

As per PU records, codes will be allotted to 13 student parties for the elections. A list of codes has been drafted as the parties have begun pasting posters on the campus.

PU Dean Student Welfare Navdeep Goyal said the authorities had initiated the process and soon codes will be allotted to different parties.

As per the Lyngdoh Committee, no party or candidate is allowed to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlets, or any other printed material for the purpose of canvassing.

Candidates can only use hand-made posters for the purpose of canvassing, provided that such hand-made posters are procured within the expenditure limit.

The candidates can only use these hand-made posters at certain places on the campus, which are notified in advance by the Election Commission.

New rule

Student parties will now carry out election activities on the campus with the code name. Spaces will also be earmarked for pasting posters by the code. Earlier, the spaces were allocated on the names of student parties.

Lyngdoh Committee

No party or candidate is allowed to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlets, or any other printed material for the purpose of canvassing.

Chandigarh, July 31
The Department of Life Long Learning and Extension, Panjab University (PU), today organised an interface session with students on the theme ‘Career counselling and personality development’ with special reference to the anti-ragging campaign.

As many as 40 students attended the interface.

Dr RK Saini, Regional Employment Officer, Panjab University, spoke on career counselling and personality development.

He said students should choose their own career path and not succumb to the pressure of parents.

“A career in vocational courses is the need of the hour and fashion technology is an integral part of it,” he added.

Assistant professor and programme in charge, Renu Gandhi, said, “The objective of the seminar 
is to make students aware about the anti-ragging helpline functional in the university.”

Meanwhile, Gandhi said the anti-ragging campaign was started by the University Grants Commission (UGC), in 2009 with an objective to curb ragging faced by newcomers in the university.

Chandigarh, July 31
The list of candidates, who will contest elections of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), was released here today. The PUTA elections will be held on August 12.

For the post of president, the existing president, Devinder Singh of the Law Department and Rajat Sandhir, Biochemistry Department, are in the fray.

For the post of Vice-President, the contenders are Ashok Sabharwal of Hindi Department and Ram Mehar of the University School of Open Learning (USOL).

For the post of Secretary, Amit Chauhan of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET), and Anju Rao of the Botany Department are in the fray.

For the post of Joint Secretary, Madhuri Rishi and Subash Chandra, University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS), are in the fray. 

Chandigarh, July 31
To meet the nutritional needs of children from the underprivileged section of society across Punjab, Réal brand of fruit juices has joined hands with Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society to launch a social initiative — Réal Dil Se Dua.

The organisers informed that the initiative was being launched in view of Raksha Bandhan, as part of Dabur India Ltd’s mission.

They said, “As part of the campaign, Réal along with the Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society will launch a signature campaign across major cities in North India, covering Delhi-NCR and Punjab.”

“A dedicated team from Réal will visit big markets across Delhi-NCR and Punjab to garner support for the neglected, street and working children. We will educate people on the nutritional needs of underprivileged children and encourage them to sign a pledge to support these kids. Against each signature, Dabur has committed to give one pack of Réal fruit beverage to a child in need,” said Ketan Kamat, Brand Head, Dabur India Ltd.

Jyoti Sharma, spokesperson of Prayas, said, “I strongly believe that this initiative of Dabur India Ltd will help millions of underprivileged children across India and help them achieve their dreams.”

Professional feat

Dr JS Sehrawat will share his experiences of preservation and future challenges in biological profiling of skeletal and dental remains excavated from Kalianawala Khuh — believed to be related to the 1857 Indian Uprising at Ajnala near Amritsar (Punjab), in his paper entitled ‘Excavation of 157-year-old skeletal and dental remains buried under 20 feet deep soil in a bricked well: Future challenges and difficulties in their biological profiling.’

Chandigarh, July 31
Lore India Foundation Scholarship announced a scholarship programme for school students today. The organisers said the foundation had pioneered the scholarship programme for school students enrolled in Classes X, XI and XII.

Ranbir Singh, Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi —who was in the city for the launch of the programme, said — the deserving candidates will be identified through a Learning Aptitude Test (LAT), that has been developed by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), in conjunction with a stellar body of academic stalwarts comprising Lore India Foundation’s Governing Council.

The foundation authorities claimed that the qualifying students would receive cash scholarships. A total of 190 centres have been set up across different cities. The exam will be conducted in English as well as Hindi.