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After NRI seats, plan to lower MBBS cut-off for
SC category
Varsity, govt in blame game over letter seeking relaxation in norms
FIR against dera chief cancelled
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talwandi sabo
Capt expresses concern over law and order
Arrested terrorists had plans to strike on I-Day
Govt shifts stand thrice, left red-faced over CLU fee
Record generation at Ropar thermal plant unit
Kidnapped Amritsar boy found
Jalandhar sees 4 police commissioners in a yr
Action against colleges that flout pay norms
Police gesture fails to pacify Sangharsh Committee
Farmer’s suicide: Villagers protest, want nine persons booked
Sirhind civic body has two executive officers
State to introduce poly houses for fish farming
Govt ayurvedic college awaits nod for admissions
New rooms not built, teachers take classes in the open
Students enforce bandh in Srikaranpur
Ban fishing in Beas for safety of dolphins: WWF experts
Amritsar man shot by robber in US
Murder of Ferozepur resident
Almost all courts unable to tackle cases in time: HC
Ludhiana Improvement Trust scheme of 1982
Hearing on plea against SGPC auditor deferred
Revenue Dept official attacked, 2 booked
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After NRI seats, plan to lower MBBS cut-off for
SC category
Chandigarh, August
7 The state government today urged the Centre to relax the admission cut-off marks from 40 to 30 per cent so as to fill the 71 vacant seats under the category. The general category students are already opposing the move to lower the qualification marks for the NRI seats to 40 per cent from the present 50 per cent. They said as per the prospectus, all vacant seats would go the general category students. Only three NRI students could qualify against about 100 seats available for them in various colleges across the state. The college managements eye NRI fee and donation and, thus, have been pressing for lowering the marks. Rajesh Bagha, chairman, Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission, said the government had written to the Centre following the panel’s recommendation. He said it had come to the notice of the SC commission that 71 seats in the quota meant for the community were vacant, which could not be filled due to the strict admission norms of the Union Government. Bagha said several bodies had presented representations to the commission in this regard. He said in the 2013-14 session, the SC quota seats were filled after lowering the cut-off marks limit to 26 per cent. Curtailing the criterion
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Varsity, govt in blame game over letter seeking relaxation in norms
Faridkot, August 7
As seeking such a relaxation from the Medical Council of India (MCI) is a violation of the guidelines mentioned in the MBBS prospectus, the university and the medical education department are now shifting responsibility. Both have been blaming each other for initiating the eligibility-relaxation move. As there were no eligible candidates for the vacant NRI quota seats, Manmohan Singh, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Medical Education and Research, on July 9 wrote to the Secretary, MCI, New Delhi, demanding 5 per cent relaxation in the eligibility criterion — The Tribune has a copy of the letter. The medical council rules suggest that only candidates who score a minimum of 50 per cent marks (general category) in the All India Pre-Medical Entrance Test are eligible for admission to medical colleges. There were only two eligible applicants against the quota of 104 MBBS seats for NRI candidates in seven medical colleges in Punjab. Even as the MCI was yet to respond to this request, the Punjab and Haryana High Court reprimanded the state government and the university on August 5 for the violation of rules. Manmohan claimed he wrote to the MCI after the university urged the state government to raise the matter with council as there were no eligible NRI candidates for over 100 seats. Dr DS Sidhu, BFUHS registrar, however, contended that the university could not violate the rules it itself had framed. “We daily get a number of representations from medical colleges, students and parents demanding changes in rules. We send these representations to the state government for consideration,” said Dr Sidhu. “So, it is the prerogative of the state government to act or not to act on these representations,” he said. On page number 21 of the MBBS prospectus, it is written in paragraph number 25 (vii) that any seat remaining vacant under NRI quota after the second centralised counselling shall go to general category and in unaided-private colleges/minority colleges shall go to general category of the management/minority quota. The NRI vacant seats converted into government quota, management and minority quota shall be filled by the counselling committee from amongst the eligible candidates, it states. The Deputy Secretary, in his letter to the MCI, wrote that the state government recommended decreasing the minimum prescribed marks from 50 to 45 per cent marks in AIPMET-2014 for admission to MBBS courses. “It is requested that the matter may be examined in the interests of the state medical colleges as well as students,” wrote the Deputy Secretary.
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FIR against dera chief cancelled
Bathinda, August 7 The court of District Sessions Judge Tejwinder Singh set aside the summon orders issued against the dera chief and accepting the police plea (filed on January 20, 2012) for cancelling the first information report (FIR) in
the case. A case was registered against dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting Sikh sentiments by donning an attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh at a congregation in Bathinda district on May 20, 2007. Then Chief Judicial Magistrate Harjeet Singh Khalsa summoned the dera head on April 2, 2012, after which a revision petition was moved by the latter’s counsel in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge DS Johal. On February 8, 2013, the revision petition was dismissed and the dera chief’s counsel moved
the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “The Punjab and Haryana High Court, cancelling both the orders of the lower courts, noted that since the period for presenting the challan had jumped the three-year deadline, this point must be considered by the lower courts. “We pleaded that the period for presenting the challan under Section
153-A is five years,” said the complainant’s counsel, Jatinder Roy Khattar. Counsel SK Garg said Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had complete faith in the Sikh rituals as he belonged to a Sikh Jat family. Complainants Jaspal Manjhpur, Baba Hardeep Singh and Rajinder Sidhu were among those present in the court during the final arguments. “We have faith in the judicial system and will move the Punjab and Haryana High Court,” said Baba Hardeep Singh Mehraj Wale. Timeline May 28, 2011: Complaints of Baba Hardeep Singh of Mehraj Wale and Jaspal Manjhpur clubbed under Section 210 of the CrPC January 27, 2012: The police submit an affidavit bearing the signatures of Rajinder Sidhu for cancelling the FIR against the dera head February 4, 2012: Sidhu disowns the affidavit; CJM Harjit Khalsa asks dera chief to appear before court in person on April 2, 2012 February 8, 2013: Review petition filed by dera counsel in court of Additional Sessions Judge, Bathinda, DS Johal dismissed; dera counsel moves HC February 26, 2014: High Court cancels both the lower courts orders May 21, 2014: Dera head again summoned to appear before the court of CJM Raman Kumar on August 8, 2014
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PRTC employees cane-charged
Bathinda, August 7 The police said they retaliated after the protesters pelted them with stones outside Gurdwara Talwandi Sabo where the meeting was held. The police arrested four employees and booked more than 50 under various sections. Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, said: “After their talks with the Deputy Chief Minister failed, the protesters attacked police personnel with stones and broke barricades. Some policemen were injured. The employees were threatening self-immolation. We have held four of them.” Rupinder Singh, general secretary of the union, said: “Our five employees received head injuries. Gurpreet Singh (33), a conductor posted at the Chandigarh depot, was administered 14 stitches. The police acted against us without any provocation. We were cane-charged while we were coming out of the gurdwara after meeting the Deputy CM. The police detained our four injured colleagues and denied them medical aid.” The employees have been on an indefinite strike for a week. They are demanding that buses plying under the kilometer scheme should be stopped as the owners of these buses in connivance with PRTC officials are allegedly causing a loss of Rs 7 crore per month to the roadways. They allege the drivers of these buses were pilfering 20 litres of diesel daily. They also demand that the contract system should be abolished and their services be made regular. Their other demands include payment for working overtime, reinstatement of suspended employees, pay grade for workshop employees and timely promotions. The union members accused SAD’s Talwandi Sabo candidate Jeet Mohinder Sidhu of taking a U-turn on their demands after deserting the Congress and joining the Akali Dal. “Earlier during the 2012 assembly elections, Sidhu had supported our demands as justified and promised to regularise our jobs if the Congress came to power. Now after joining the SAD he even refuses to hear our plea,” they said.
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talwandi sabo
Bathinda, August 7 A number of workers today joined Balkar, who is now contesting the byelection as an Independent candidate. Balkar along with his supporters was yesterday expelled from the party. Sandeep Handa, district committee convener, and a group of workers from Bhakte village have decided to question their expulsion which, they alleged, was an arbitrary move. Handa claimed he had never supported Balkar. AAP had cancelled ticket to Balkar following allegation that he had demanded Rs 7.5 lakh from a girl to take her to Canada. Denying the charges, Balkar said: "The girl is a friend of my sister. I had helped her financially when she wanted to go abroad. She has been misled and the issue was blown out of proportion to suit certain vested interests. I am contesting the election only to prove my innocence." Kultar Singh, AAP state executive member, said: "We have got the charges verified from various persons, including the girl's father. It was a case of 'kabootarbazi'. The party high command had also received another complaint against him." Party leader Jarnail Singh from Delhi campaigned for Baljinder Kaur in Talwandi Sabo today. The AAP leader sought votes for the young leader keeping in view "her dedication towards the public cause".
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Capt expresses concern over law and order
Amritsar, August 7 "I can understand the pain you had gone through. I want to assure you that I will pursue the matter with the police and the district authorities," he said in a message to the parents. — TNS
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Arrested terrorists had plans to strike on I-Day
Jalandhar, August 7 A police official said during interrogation, the trio had made several startling revelations, the Independence Day strikes being one among them. The official said the terrorists, Harpreet Singh alias Harmeet alias Pintu, Karanjit Singh alias Pamma and Sarwan Singh Shabba, admitted to having held a series of meetings in Punjab. He said some of the meetings were held at Gurdaspur (city) and Dali village in Bhogpur near Jalandhar. Sources said the trio had received orders to orchestrate the strikes from their handlers in Pakistan, Khalistan Zindabad Force chief Ranjit Singh Neeta and Khalistan Liberation Force head Harminder Singh Mintu. The sources said the terrorists had done most of the planning to carry out the strikes and were only awaiting the supply of arms and ammunition. After receiving funds from their handlers, the nabbed terrorists used to distribute some amount among sleeper cells. The police is also tracing the bank accounts of the trio in Jammu. Sources said the terrorists were also being funded by a Jammu-based ultra, Ranjit Singh, who is currently in Spain. Senior officials, including the Jalandhar Senior Superintendent of Police rural, Superintendents of Police and those of the Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA), are tightlipped on the issue. Several phone calls made by The Tribune to the top police officials remained unanswered. All the officials have reportedly been camping at the CIA office where the trio was being grilled. Sources said the three arrested persons were allegedly associated with the terrorist outfits for the past over 15 years. “Two of them had even visited Pakistan to meet their bosses for furthering militancy in Punjab, and for arms training,” the sources said. The sources said acting on the revelations by the terrorists, police teams were already engaged in identifying the whereabouts of the sleeper cells who were in touch with them. Teams were also raiding various places in Punjab and Jammu to recover arms and ammunition, if any, they had stored for their mission. Held many meetings
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Govt shifts stand thrice, left red-faced over CLU fee
Chandigarh, August 7 An official spokesperson tried to blame the Local Bodies Minister, claiming that his department was asked to exempt the fee in June this year but the order was not implemented. Speaking to The Tribune today, Joshi said: “I did not take the decision to claim credit. I simply responded to the genuine demand of traders. I am fully competent to take the decision.” Joshi had announced on Tuesday that he had decided not to levy CLU charges within the municipal limits. To this, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had said that all decisions needed to be approved by the Cabinet and the Finance Department was supposed to be kept in the loop when a decision regarding financial matters was taken. The following day, the office of the Deputy Chief Minister held several meetings to “study” the issue. In the evening, an official press note was issued, stating that “misleading and confusing” claims were being made on the CLU fee issue. Subsequently, the government revised its stand thrice, eventually admitting that the CLU fee was indeed being charged. First the government, through a press note, credited Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with exempting the fee in his Industrial Policy: 2009. The move was aimed at cornering the BJP minister but it embarrassed the Finance Minister who had earlier said he was unaware of any decision on the CLU fee. The government claimed that the Department of Housing and Urban Development had already implemented the policy decision vide a notification (17/17/01-5HG2/1638) dated June 18, 2009. It issued a revised statement on Wednesday evening, claiming the Deputy CM, who holds the Housing portfolio, had held a meeting in June this year to discuss why the Local Bodies Department had not implemented the decision to exempt hotels and hospitals of the CLU fee. Yet another revised statement later in the night clarified that the authority for issuing a CLU certificate lay with the Housing Department and it was the Deputy CM who had delegated the power to the Local Bodies Department. Facts and claims Contrary to government claims, The Tribune has learnt that the CLU fee is being levied within municipal limits across the state. In July this year, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation charged Rs 1.55 lakh as CLU fee for a plot measuring 1,000 square yards in Jai Singh Nagar. For another plot, measuring 1,196 square yards, in the locality a sum of Rs 1.85 lakh was charged. — TNS
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Record generation at Ropar thermal plant unit
Ropar, August 7 The plant chief engineer, HP Singh, said that during this period, the plant generated 3,764.03 lakh units of power. The unit number 5, though, tops in performance as it has functioned non-stop for 126 days. The unit number 6 has a record of 124 days while units number 1, 2 and 4 have a record of 91, 82 and 95 days. The chief engineer said the plant had worked at 90 per cent of payload factor during the paddy season, which started on June 10. Since June 1, the six units of the plant, each with a capacity of 210 MW, generated 18,287 lakh units till yesterday, he said.
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Kidnapped Amritsar boy found
Amritsar, August 7 Confirming the development, Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh said the child had been handed over to his family. It was an emotional reunion as the parents were seen hugging and kissing the boy whose hair were shorn. The boy’s parents, Harpinder Singh and Navjot Kaur, thanked the police for their support. The Police Commissioner said a manhunt had been launched to arrest the culprits. He said the exact motive behind the kidnapping would be ascertained only after their arrest. He said it was due to the continuous pressure build up by the police that the kidnappers parted with the boy. Harvanshbir was abducted from outside his residence by four motorcycle-borne youths in broad daylight after he alighted from the school bus. His parents, both government schoolteachers, were on duty at Patti in Tarn Taran when the incident occurred. The couple has been living in a rented accommodation for the past four months after they shifted from their native village in Patti for the better education of their child.
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Jalandhar sees 4 police commissioners in a yr
Jalandhar, August 7 Interestingly, two of the police commissioners were given a stint of just little over two months. This is despite the police reforms suggesting a fixed tenure for senior officials, particularly those heading the districts. The state government, however, appears least bothered. Since the commissionerate system was introduced, Gaurav Yadav had the longest tenure of three years, six months and eight days. After Yadav’s transfer on August 23 last year, Ram Singh became the Commissioner of Police. He stayed on the post only for two months and 26 days. The next to replace him was Ishwar Singh, who remained on the post for six months and 11 days. On May 29, Ishwar was replaced with Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh. After a stint of 70 days, Pratap was shifted. He was replaced by Yurinder Singh Hayre. An advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, HC Arora, said, “It is shocking that the police officials in Punjab are being kicked around like a football.” He said this was despite the Section 15 of The Punjab Police Act, 2007, mentioning that officials posted as Inspector General, Deputy Inspector General, Senior Superintendent of Police, Superintendent of Police, Additional Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Station House Officer shall have a minimum assured tenure of one year, which shall be extendable to a maximum three years. “But, the government is resorting to transfers recklessly,” he said. Arora said he would move a petition in the high court against the government against the transfers. Tough-to-handle Police Commissionerate?
Tenure: February 15, 2010 to August 23, 2013 Tenure:
August 23, 2013 to Nov 18, 2013 Tenure: November 18, 2013 to May 29, 2014 Tenure: May 29, 2014 to Aug 7, 2014 Tenure:
Aug 7, 2014 onwards
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Action against colleges that flout pay norms
Chandigarh, August 7 Madan Mohan Mittal, Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister, said the administrative head of the department had been told to furnish a list of all such erring institutes to the All India Council for Technical Education within 10 days for recommending punitive action.
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Police gesture fails to pacify Sangharsh Committee
Sangrur, August 7 The committee is determined to go ahead with its indefinite dharna beginning August 18 at the office of deputy commissioner here, till the issue is resolved. To mobilise members of the Dalit community to participate in the dharna, members of the committee have visited at least 24 villages. The committee plans to cover at least 100 villages by August 15. The committee members have been collecting ration and wood for preparing food during the dharna. A spokesman of the committee, Gurmukh Singh, said it mattered little that the attempt to murder charge against the 41 Dalits in the Sangrur jail since June 28 had been dropped. Their main demands had not been accepted so far. He said the district administration had to drop the charge on the directions of the National Commission for SCs. The National Human Rights Commission too had sought a reply from the administration over panchayat land reserved for SCs, he claimed. A committee spokesman said that sympathisers from Bhawanigarh had provided ration worth Rs 41,000 to the families of the jailed Dalits. Road blocked
A large number of farm labourers today blocked the Sangrur-Patiala road at Balad Kenchian in Bhawanigarh, 22 km from here.They were demanding a law for the auction of panchayat land reserved for SCs in a transparent manner so that it could be allotted to ‘genuine’ Dalit farmers. They demanded that the auction of panchayat land reserved for SCs of Balad Kalan village be cancelled, that 41 Dalits of and a case be registered against “erring” police officials for resorting to a “lathi charge” on Dalits on June 27.
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Farmer’s suicide: Villagers protest, want nine persons booked
Sangrur, August 7 The protesters alleged that before setting himself ablaze, Harnek Singh had named these persons. Victim’s brother Daljit Singh said the village sarpanch had constructed a wall around a waterworks and blocked the rear entrance to his house. He said the sarpanch got the wall built in the presence of the police and the Dhuri tehsildar. Daljit said Harnek Singh requested the authorities concerned to pull down the wall. “When no one paid heed to his requests, he set himself on fire on August 1,” he said. Harnek Singh died at Government Hospital, Sector 32, in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Daljit said a case should be registered against nine persons, including the village sarpanch. He also demanded that the street to his brother’s house be widened so that Harnek’s family could drive a tractor-trailer into the house. The situation remained tense near the district administrative complex till 7 pm, when Duty Magistrate Avtar Singh Makkar and Sangrur DSP Gurpreet Singh Dhindsa convinced the protesters to lift the dharna. They assured the agitators that they would hold a probe into the matter and no culprit would be spared. The protesters said they would not cremate the body till the police arrested the guilty persons and registered a case against them. On August 1, the Dhuri Sadar police had registered a case against Harnek Singh and his family members. As per the FIR, Harnek had encroached upon the panchayat land.
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Sirhind civic body has two executive officers
Fatehgarh Sahib, August 7 Executive Officer SK Gulati was transferred from here to the Bhadaur Municipal Council on July 8 and he assumed charge there. Bhushan Aggarwal was appointed the Executive Officer, Sirhind, and he joined on July 10. SK Gulati approached the high court to get his transfer order cancelled on the ground that only a few months were left to his retirement. The court ordered the cancellation of his transfer from Sirhind to Bhadaur. So, Gulati joined the Municipal Council, Sirhind, as the EO on August 6. This morning, when Bhushan Aggarwal came to the office, SK Gulati was already occupying the chair of the EO. Aggarwal occupied another chair and started his work. The employees and visitors were confused to see two officers occupying the same office. They could not decide which officer they should approach for their work. Both officers have swapped the office of the EO, Sirhind, with each other thrice earlier. Both have strong political backup. Their postings and transfers are recommended by ruling party leaders and halka in charge. Bhushan Aggarwal said he was appointed the EO, Sirhind, by the government and he had not received any transfer orders so far. He would relinquish the charge whenever he received a transfer order, he said. SK Gulati said the high court had cancelled his transfer, so he had joined at Sirhind office again. Under Secretary, Local Self-Government, Vinod Kumar Bhalla said the high court had cancelled the transfer of SK Gulati from Sirhind to Bhadaur. The orders of transfer of Bhushan Aggarwal as the EO, Bhadaur, had been issued, he added.
One
office, 2 occupants
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Disabled protest govt apathy
Phagwara, August 7 The CPS came out of the hall and received a memorandum from union activists. He assured them that he would arrange their meeting with the Chief Minister. The protesters were demanding sufficient increase in their pensions, reservation in government jobs etc. Earlier, the CPS instructed all officers concerned of the civil and police administration to install large boards displaying slogans against bribe. He also instructed them to be punctual in their offices. ADC Iqbal Singh Sandhu, SP Gursewak Singh Brar, Corporation Commissioner Sukhminder Marar and Executive Officer Adarsh Sharma were also present on the occasion.
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State to introduce poly houses for fish farming
Ropar, August 7 The use of poly houses in fish farming helps in early maturing of mother fish, thus making fish seed available earlier. Ropar Deputy Commissioner Tanu Kashyap said a poly house was being set up at the Fish Farming Development Agency, Ropar. This would help in preparing fish seed under controlled temperature and humidity. Early maturing of mother fish (in February instead of May) would help protect fish seed from environmental vagaries as well as snakes, birds and aquatic insects. This would help in enhancing the fish production by reducing the mortality rate, she said. Executive officer of fish farm agency Sandeep Vashishth said till now, fish farmers got fish seed from April to August. Getting seed in February would allow a longer period for growth of fish, which would ultimately lead to increase in fish production, she added.
The benefit
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Govt ayurvedic college awaits nod for admissions
Patiala, August 7 Even as Guru Ravidass Ayurvedic University, Hoshiarpur, has already declared the result of the Punjab Ayush Entrance Test (PAET) for admission to ayurvedic colleges in the state for 2014-15 and will soon be holding counselling, the Government of India is yet to give its final verdict over admissions to the Patiala college. The college has not got permission to accept admissions for the past three academic years. The reason: It did not fulfil the eligibility conditions laid down by the Department of Ayush, which mainly included shortage of teachers, no genuinely functional ayurvedic hospital, less bed occupancy in the IPD and lesser number of patients per day in the OPD. College Principal Dr Ashwini Kumar Sharma, however, said their college was still under consideration and he was hopeful that they would be permitted to make admissions for 2014-15 session. The college had removed almost all shortcomings, he claimed.
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Residents protest poor sanitation
Abohar, August 7 The protesters shouted slogans against the MC officials and accused them of turning a blind eye to the garbage accumulated in the streets. They alleged no sanitation worker had turned up in the area for the past two months. Residents said the council had abandoned the decades-old dumping centre five years ago to facilitate the construction of a shrine, but failed to make alternative arrangements. The protesters dispersed after former councillor Vijay Nagpal assured them of addressing the issue.
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New rooms not built, teachers take classes in the open
Faridkot, August 7 After surveying all the primary and upper primary schools in the district, the District Education Department with the help of the Public Works Department (PWD) had identified 130 unsafe rooms in February. The department also identified 230 rooms that needed immediate repair. In April, the department sent a proposal of Rs 3.58 crore to Human Resources Development Department for the repair of the rooms. Parminder Singh Brar, District Education Officer, Faridkot, said they would begin repairing the rooms once they receive the funds. Of the 230 rooms that need immediate repair, 179 are situated in schools in rural areas. The department demolished the 130 unsafe rooms on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had directed the department to identify all unsafe classrooms in school buildings across the state within four months and release funds for the re-construction of new classrooms on hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in July last year. Though the Education Department acted swiftly in demolishing the unsafe rooms, it is yet to begin the construction of new rooms. For the time being, the department has directed schools to take classes in a dharamshala, a panchayat bhawan or in a rented building.
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Students enforce bandh in Srikaranpur
Abohar, August 7 The students protested the decision of the Rajasthan Government to not take over Gyan Jyoti Govt College (Srikaranpur), Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (Raisinghnagar) and Nehru Memorial PG College (Hanumangarh). The previous government had taken over these colleges since the private managing committees had expressed their inability to run the institutions.
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Ban fishing in Beas for safety of dolphins: WWF experts
Chandigarh, August 7 A school of dolphins has been located close to the confluence point of the Beas and the Sutlej. Another school of dolphins moves near Baguwal-Dhunda and the third spotted near Gagdewal. This stretch of the Beas runs through Tarn Taran and Kapurthala districts. These dolphins were first sighted in the Beas a few years ago. In Pakistan, there are close to 1,300 dolphins in the Indus. Mohd Shahnawaz Khann, a wildlife expert, who works for the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), said reckless fishing in the Beas should be curbed so that dolphins could multiply. He says all fishing contracts throughout the range of distribution of dolphins should be abolished.
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Amritsar man shot by robber in US
Amritsar, August 7 Deepak Sharma, a relative of the deceased, said the incident took place at around 11.30 am IST. "Rajinder was sitting on the cash counter of Exxon Gas Station. The CCTV camera footage revealed that an African-American man armed with a handgun entered the store and confronted Rajinder. He shot him dead and took away cash. The accused was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and shorts. The incident came to light when a customer reached the store and found Rajinder in a pool of blood." The deceased is survived by his wife Rajni Sharma and two children, Saurav (20) and Sonali (12). Rajni works in a clinical laboratory.
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Murder of Ferozepur resident
Chandigarh, August 7 "The entire gamut and sequence of events needs to be investigated, including the conduct of Superintendent of Police (Detective), Moga," Justice Rajan
Gupta said while taking note of "interference from higher officials". The directions came on a petition by accused Jitender Mohan and other for quashing the FIR and setting aside the orders declaring them proclaimed offenders in the case. An attempt to murder case was initially registered in December 2010, after complainant Kulwant Singh alleged that Jitender Mohan, Charan Dass Handa and Surjit Singh started hurling abuses at him and his son, while they were standing in front of their house in Ferozepur. The accused fled the scene after Jitender Mohan fired shots at the complainant. The provocation was stated to be a property dispute. The case was converted into a murder case after the complainant succumbed to his injuries. The accused were declared proclaimed offenders after they failed to appear
in the court. Their counsel argued the accused were found innocent in inquiries;
and a supplementary challan exonerating them was submitted in the court. Justice Gupta observed the then SP (D), Moga, gave a clean chit to the accused on the basis of statements by some persons. The officer observed the victim, being a hooligan and gambler, might have been killed by some unidentified person. "It is inexplicable how the officer gave such sweeping findings
without conducting any investigation or forensic exercise. Besides, it appears he interfered in the investigation without any authority of law….. "The petitioners were never associated with the investigation though the incident occurred in December 2010…. The accused stubbornly evaded the process of law…. This court, conscious of the gross irregularities committed in this case, is left with no option but to order investigation by an independent agency. "It appears that there has been practically no investigation in this case. There is nothing to show that any serious effort was made to apprehend the accused, to collect
relevant material, to recover weapons/vehicles used in the crime or to conduct any forensic exercise. Besides, interference from higher officials is borne out…." Dismissing the plea, Justice Gupta added: "As there has already been inordinate delay in the case, the CBI shall conclude its investigation within four months. The proceedings before the trial court shall remain stayed meanwhile."
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Almost all courts unable to tackle cases in time: HC
Chandigarh, August 7 At the same time, Justice K Kannan made it clear that any delay in delivering justice cannot go against a party. The assertion came on an appeal in an accident case filed nearly 12 years ago by Sudesh Sharma and other appellants against Prahalad Kumar Garg and another respondent. It came after an insurance company objected to an appeal for enhancement of compensation on grounds of delay. The assertion is significant as more than 2 lakh cases are pending before the High Court and it is suspected that many petitioners are no more there to pursue their grievances. When some of these cases are suddenly listed, the counsel are often at a loss in the absence of complete records or instructions. Attribute it to shortage of judges or filing of frivolous petitions, the fact remains that the delay tends to change the course of the outcome. This is not the first time that Justice Kannan has taken notice of the delay in deciding cases. Taking up a 24-year-old case related to the issue of granting promotion filed by then bank employee ML Zakhmi, Justice Kannan had ruled that it was too late for the court to do anything about it. Such cases, Justice Kannan had admitted, gave a new life to the cliché “justice delayed is justice denied”. Disposing of the case, Justice Kannan had said that had the case been taken up with alacrity, it could have “obtained a different dispensation”.
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Ludhiana Improvement Trust scheme of 1982
Chandigarh, August 7 The ruling by Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Kuldip Singh came on a petition filed by Gupta Ram in 1987 and another petitioner. In both petitions, directions were sought for allotment of flats under the HIG scheme on Ghumar Mandi Road, Ludhiana. The draw of lots was held on February 12, 1982, for 94 ready-for-allotment flats. Gupta Ram’s name was at serial number 99 and other petitioner Dr Jatinder Mohan Singh’s name was at 97. Gupta Ram argued reservation was not kept for Scheduled Caste applicants and allotments were made in an arbitrary manner. Reference was made to allotments in the names of Shingara Singh Gill and Indu Mahajan. Their allotments were annulled in 1988. After going through the arguments, the Bench asserted: “Though 114 flats were proposed to be constructed, only 94 flats were put for allotment…. Admittedly, the Improvement Trust has not reserved any tenement for the Scheduled Caste category applicants. We find its action to be wholly unjustified…. “Eight flats were illegally allotted by the (then) chairman and such illegal allotments have been cancelled. Therefore, the applicants falling in the waiting list from 95 onwards in the category of SC and BC be allotted tenements, as per their merit at the same rates at which the flats were allotted to the other applicants in
1982.
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Hearing on plea against SGPC auditor deferred
Amritsar, August 7 Talking to The Tribune, commission chairman MS Brar said, “The plea could not be heard today as the petitioner was unable to provide the documents required for it. We have given him time to procure the same till August 22, the date on which we will see whether the plea is admissible.” On the other hand, SAD (Panch Pardhani) leader Baldev Singh Sirsa, who filed the petition, said he was making all efforts to get the relevant documents in the case. Sirsa had filed the petition last month seeking the dismissal of Kohli, who is reportedly close to Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. In his petition, Sirsa had also sought the dismissal of SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and SGPC secretary Dalmegh Singh for allegedly violating the norms. According to him, Kohli was sacked on July 16 following the orders of the SGPC executive, but he was reinstated within a day on “Makkar’s order”. — TNS
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Former lover shoots woman in Abohar
Abohar, August 7 Preliminary investigation reportedly indicated that Shalu (30) had been working as a domestic help, while her husband worked as a labourer in the town. She reportedly was friends with Samna (32), with whom she had visited some places, including Haridwar and Rishikesh sometime ago. Few months ago, the victim had reportedly broken ties with Samna as her husband strongly objected to their friendship. Samna then shifted to New Delhi and started working as a labourer there. Last month, he visited his home town Abohar and tried to meet Shalu. But Shalu, now a mother of four children, did not respond. Two days ago, Samna again arrived from Delhi. He reportedly intercepted Shalu outside her house and shot her at point-blank range. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jagdish Bishnoi along with city police in charge Baljinder Singh visited the site, shifted the body to
the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem. The police then raided Samna’s ancestral house. His mother Ram Devi said he had left home. The police have collected some photos from the house. A case has been registered. In the past two days,
the victim is the second woman to have been killed.
The sequence of events
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Revenue Dept official attacked, 2 booked
Abohar, August 7 Naib Tehsildar Neeraj Sharma along with patwari Jagsir Singh, nambardar Mohan Lal and driver Kuldeep were on an official visit to settle a dispute over girdawari. Farmer Shaminder Singh had a dispute over the matter with Jagnandan Singh Brar and Jasbir Kaur Brar. When officials reached the site, the accused attacked Neeraj Sharma, who was rescued by his driver Kuldeep. Soon, policemen from Khuyiansarwer police station reached the village and shifted the Revenue Officer to Nehru Memorial Civil Hospital. The police said the accused could not be found in the village. Earlier, Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) Sub-Divisional Engineer Vijay Aneja and Junior Engineer Hardeep Singh were attacked by some consumers on July 20 in Seetogunno sub-tehsil area. A few of the accused are yet to be arrested in the case. In June, another PSPCL Junior Engineer Radhey Shyam and members of technical staff were attacked by consumers in Nai Abadi. Most of the accused are yet to be nabbed.
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A nearly seven-year-old case against Sirsa-based dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community, concluded today.
Residents of Buraj Gohran village (15 km from Dhuri) blocked the main road near the district administrative complex here today. They placed on the road the body of 57-year-old farmer Harnek Singh of the village. They demanded that the village sarpanch and eight other persons be booked and arrested.
Amritsar, August 7
In a candid acknowledgment on the tardy justice delivery system across India, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has minced no words to say that almost every High Court in the country presents a “sorry spectacle” of inability to tackle cases within a reasonable time.
May 20, 2007: Dera head booked for hurting Sikh sentiments; police fail to submit a challan in more than 4 years
Gaurav Yadav 
Ram Singh 
Ishwar Singh 
Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh
Yurinder Singh Hayre