Chandigarh, August 26
In a judgment that will change the way buildings and cellars are used in Chandigarh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Chandigarh Administration to comprehensively amend building bylaws or issue all-inclusive directions for permitted use of the basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor in commercial and residential buildings.

The HC has also directed the Administration to permit the use of basements for wider purposes, rather than restricting it to non-residential habitable use. A Division Bench of the HC further gave the Administration three months for taking appropriate steps for an amendment to building rules or for issuing necessary directions in this regard.

The ruling by the Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Kuldip Singh came on a petition filed by Dr Gurbinder Kaur and other petitioners against the UT Estate Officer and other respondents.

In the case, an order for resuming a site in Sector 22 was passed for building violations. Taking up the matter, the Bench observed that the violations in the building were not permissible; and the site was rightly resumed. The Bench added that it did not find any error in the resumption orders passed by the authorities concerned in view of the multiple violations in the basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor.

Before parting with the order, the Bench asserted: “We may notice that multiple directions have been issued by the Administration from time to time and amending statutory building bylaws at some other time.

“The Administration will be well-advised to either amend the building bylaws comprehensively or issue comprehensive directions in respect of permitted use of the basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor in commercial as well as residential buildings.”

“The Administration should take into consideration the ever-growing need of the residents of the city where there is an acute shortage of residential and commercial property so as to permit the use of the basement for wider purposes rather than restricting its use for non-residential habitable use.”

“We cannot lose sight of the fact that almost all basements in Chandigarh in the commercial areas have been put to use for commercial purposes. Even in respect of internal planning, it should not be left open to the occupiers.”

“The instructions should be clear in respect of the sizes of the rooms by way of partition and passages so that the users are able to plan the use of the building without intervention of the Administration.

“It will provide more transparency in the working of the Administration and also eliminate the possibility of arbitrariness...”

“The UT Administration shall take appropriate steps for amending the building rules or for issuing directions within three months of the receipt of the copy of the order”.

Chandigarh, August 26
Two years after the murder of a 30-year-old woman, Suresh Kumari, alias Pooja, a resident of Sector 20, by her husband in connivance with his paramour, the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Anshu Shukla today convicted the two accused in the murder case.

The court convicted Pooja’s husband Vajinder and his paramour Renu in a case of murder and destruction of evidence under Sections 302, 201 and 34 of the IPC. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on August 29.

The murder occurred in July 2012 when 32-year-old Vajinder, who was employed with a fast food joint in the city, murdered his wife in connivance with his paramour Renu and then dumped her body in bushes in a deserted area in Hoshiarpur. According to the prosecution case, Vajinder was forcing Pooja to divorce him so that he could marry Renu, but Pooja refused to do so. Vajinder then planned to eliminate Pooja in connivance with Renu.

They had given her a heavy dose of sedatives and strangled her thrice in a car while on the way from Chandigarh to Hoshiarpur where they dumped her. She was fastened to a seat belt on the front seat of the car in an unconscious state while she was being taken to Hoshiarpur. The two had set the victim’s body afire before she was dumped.

Chandigarh, August 26
In view of the restriction on poll expenses, various student parties have decided to use the community radio station on the campus for the first time for canvassing in the coming Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections.

Interestingly, instead of depending on the social media, the parties are planning to use Jyotirgamaya: 91.2 MHz, the Panjab University community radio station, as a platform for canvassing for their candidates.

Some parties, however, feel that it is not a successful mode of canvassing as the number of listeners are only around 2,200 while there are around 15,000 voters on the campus.

Various parties plan to air their candidates’ interviews and agenda of the party for voters through the radio station this year.

There are 17 student parties in the race for the elections this year. According to the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, the expenditure limit for each candidate is Rs 5,000.

The community radio station was inaugurated on February 13, 2011, but so far no party has utilised it for canvassing. For the past two years, Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover has been laying stress on the use of this radio station by students to make it popular.

ABVP campus president Sukhjot said during the next two days, the party would air their “message” on the radio station.

SOI leader Vicky Middukhera said their party was also planning to use the radio station for canvassing as the authorities had made it clear that the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations would be implemented strictly during the elections.

SFS leader Arshdeep, however, said the community radio station was not popular among students and the parties generally avoided using it for canvassing.

Mohali, August 26
Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu today sought explanation from two executive engineers for not attending the monthly review meeting.

The officials in question are Vishal Gupta, executive engineer of the PWD B&R Department and Mohammad Younis, executive engineer of the Punjab Mandi Board.

Both officers did not turn up in the meeting, being headed by the Deputy Commissioner, today. The meeting is being held every month to review the implementation of earlier decisions and progress works in the district.

Confirming the development, Sidhu said prior intimation about the meeting’s schedule was sent to all officials in this regard.

“Nobody could skip such an important meeting without giving any solid reason. These two officials did not bother to send any intimation or reason for their absence. Such approach could not be tolerated,” the Deputy Commissioner said.

He said, if needed, he would recommend the higher authorities of the departments of both officials to take strict action against them.

Mohali, August 26
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu has directed officials of the Mandi Board and the PWD to complete renovation work on link roads by September 30.

The directions were given by the Deputy Commissioner at a meeting held here today to review various development works in the district.

He said work on the bridge at Jagatpura village, being carried out at a cost of over Rs 3.41 crore, would be completed by October-end.

The Deputy Commissioner directed the Police Department and the officials concerned to keep a close watch on illegal mining and take strict legal action against defaulters.

He added that absenteeism in offices would not be accepted. Strict action would be taken against those found absent from duty.

Panchkula, August 26
To promote Punjabi language and culture, the Congress government has not only provided second language status to Punjabi in Haryana but also recruited teachers in schools where at least 10 students opted for this language.

Telugu used to be the second language of Haryana since 1966 till 2005 but that was replaced by Punjabi when I took over as the Chief Minister. The government has made the best possible efforts to give respect to Punjabi language and community by offering different facilities on a par with the Punjab Government, claimed Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Hooda was addressing a gathering of the Punjabi community at a function organised by the Punjabi Ekta Mach, Panchkula, after laying the foundation stone of the Punjabi Bhawan in Sector 15 this afternoon.

The Chief Minister also announced a financial assistance of Rs 11 lakh from the CM Fund and appealed Shaadi Lal Batra, Rajya Sabha MP, to help the manch to get a grant Rs 31 lakh for the construction of the building. The bhawan will come up on a plot where HUDA had earlier proposed a civil dispensary.

Hooda said he would direct HUDA officials to construct a dispensary in Sector 15 as demanded by Ravinder Rawal, former president of the Panchkula Municipal Council.

The Chief Minister also listed to the announcements made in the Panipat rally, which were approved in the Cabinet on Monday.

Earlier, Shaadi Lal Batra, chief patron of the manch, thanked Hooda for fulfilling their pending demand.

Those who spoke include BB Batra, MLA Rohtak, DK Bansal, MLA Panchkula, Rawinder Rawal, Manveer Kaur Gill, both former presidents of the local civic body, VK Kapoor and DK Khurana, president and chairman, respectively, of the Punjabi Ekta Manch, and some other local leaders.

Chandigarh, August 26
Four months after the PGIMER authorities received a complaint against campus-based chemist alleging supply of a “duplicate” omnipaque, the Vigilance cell today recommended action against the chemist.

The inquiry committee, that was constituted soon after the complaint was filed by the heart patient and his consultant, submitted its report finding defect in the omnipaque last week.

On April 8 this year, the complainant, (a heart patient from Yamunanagar) had a “narrow escape” when doctors at the cath lab detected a fault in the omnipaque fluid just before injecting it into his body. After finding water inside the pack instead of the fluid, the consultant in-charge, Dr Ajay Behl, had called the chemist, based in the Gol Market at the PGIMER, who had supplied the fluid and later filed a complaint with the head, Department of Cardiology, Dr Yash Paul Sharma, regarding the matter. The complaint was then forwarded to the PGI Administration.

Later, an inquiry committee was constituted to examine the matter. The incident had led to high drama at the cardiology as the life of the patient, who was to undergo a stent implant, was at stake.

“We have recommended action against the chemist. Such complaints are never condoned. As a procedure, a show-cause notice will be served to the chemist and if he fails to justify his stance, his licence will be suspended,” said a senior official from the PGIMER Administration.

Chandigarh, August 26
A meeting of the Fire and Emergency Services committee of the Municipal Corporation (MC) was held today to have a discussion over annual maintenance contract (AMC) of breathing air compressors used to refill breathing cylinders required for fire fighting.

The MC has two breathing air compressors, out of which one is out of service following which the Fire Department wanted to have the AMC.

The committee gave its nod to the annual maintenance contract, which will cost the MC around Rs 1.20 lakh annually for both breathing air compressors.

The issue of purchasing new inflatable lighting towers was also approved at the meeting.

Presently, the Fire Department has seven lighting towers, out of which five need to be replaced, while two are in need of repair.

Congress Councillor Subhash Chawla, who is also the committee member, said it had also been decided to strengthen the Fire Department by ensuring wireless sets in all fire tenders and wireless sets with fire fighters.

“Fire stations need to be connected through wireless sets with other fire stations,” Chawla said.

Deputy Mayor and BJP Councillor Davesh Moudgil, another committee member, during the meeting demanded that a proposal should be made for a fire station for Sectors 48 to 52.

“This part of the city has high-rise buildings and is densely populated for which there is a need to have a fire station in this area,” Moudgil said.

Moudgil also raised the demand for having a regular chief fire officer, who is technically qualified.

The demand to have a fire academy in Chandigarh to train fire fighters was also raised by the committee members.

Chandigarh, August 26
Due to the intervention of Member of Parliament Kirron Kher and Estate Officer Mohammed Shayin, a widow, Afroze, has been allotted a small flat under the Small Flat Scheme - 2006.

Giving details, officials in the Estate Office said Nawab, husband of Afroze, had died in the roof collapse in Colony No. 4. Following the incident, the case for the allotment of a dwelling unit was moved to the office of the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB). Now, the widow has been allotted a flat in Dhanas. — TNS

Mohali, August 26
In an effort to give a cleaner look to the town, the Municipal Corporation has earmarked locations where rehri and phariwallas can operate.

While some of them have been told to operate from the Dussehra Ground in Phase VIII, others have been directed to function from the Phase VIII Industrial Area.

Uma Shankar Gupta, commissioner of the corporation, said some food vans functioned from vacant spaces near the C-DAC and the Puncom Chowk, creating traffic hurdles. Such persons had been told to operate from the areas earmarked in the Phase VIII Industrial Area.

Those rehri and phariwallas who had created chaos in the Phase VII market area had been told to operate from the area designated in the Dussehra Ground.

He said such persons were made to shift to the Dussehra Ground some days ago, but they came back to Phase VII and the police had to be called to remove them. — OC

Mohali, August 26
High drama was witnessed at the Mohali Civil Hospital when two policemen were brought in an inebriated condition for a medical check-up.

Both offenders were constables of the 13th Battalion of the Punjab Armed Forces and namesakes, Angrej Singh.

According to Sandeep Sharma, commander of the Battalion, the policemen were found drunk during a surprise check of their camp near the Punjab Civil Secretariat, Sector 9, Chandigarh, today.

Both constables were seen begging pardon and even touching feet of their officer and the onlookers.

One of them was said to be on duty, while other’s duty was yet to start.

Meanwhile, Sharma said action would be initiated against them only after getting the medical report.

Chandigarh, August 26
The Municipal Corporation (MC), Chandigarh, today conducted a stray cattle-catching drive during which 104 stray cattle were impounded from the municipal limits of Chandigarh.

Around 200 persons from the MC, including staff of the Medical Officer of Health, enforcement and road wing along with nearly 80 policemen carried out the drive and impounded 104 cattle out of which 51 were impounded from Mauli Jagran, Indra Colony, Sector 26, Mani Majra, IT Park and adjoining area and 53 from Dadu Majra, Sector 38 (west), Sectors 45, 46, 47, 48, 52 and Kajheri village and adjoining areas.

Officials stated that the MC has formed two teams to catch stray cattle. The drive was conducted early morning.

Chandigarh, August 26
The Bharat Vikas Parishad today felicitated eye donors at the Madhav Eye Bank of Bharat Vikas Parishad Charitable Medical Centre, Sector 24 branch, at a function held today at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18.

Family members of eye donors who have inspired them for the noble cause were honoured.Geeta Manishi Maha Mandaleshwara Swami Gyananand felicitated the donors and their family in the presence of Kirron Kher, Member of Parliament and Indresh Kumar of the Rashtriya Swyamsewak Sangh. Ajay Dutta, national additional secretary general, Bharat Vikas Parishad, and head, BVP, Sector 24, informed the audiences about the Madhav Eye Bank, which was started 2011. A total of 176 Eye transplants have been done since 2011 till date. This year, a total of 68 eye donation has been received. Kirron Kher applauded the efforts of Madhav Eye Bank strengthening the Eye Donation Movement. Present on the occasion were Dr KL Passi, patron, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Zone I and Anoop Gupta, programme coordinator.

Chandigarh, August 26
Continuing with the practise of going on futile study tours, councillors of the municipal corporation (MC) are set to go on another such tour, this time to Chennai, Port Blair and Kolkata.

This time, the tour is named as the cultural exchange programme under which all the councillors can visit these cities. The MC has already taken consent from a majority of councillors who are willing to visit the cities. The councillors will leave for an eight-day tour on August 31. The councillors will be travelling by air.

Surprisingly, some of the councillors who have agreed to be a part of the study tour when asked the purpose of the tour, showed their ignorance about the purpose of the visit. A councillor said that although there was no such set agenda for the visit, they had planned to see various projects run by the MC of the cities concerned.

A senior MC official said that the tour was give exposure to the councillors under which they could study various projects in the cities they were going to visit.

Sources said family members of several councillors would also accompany them during the study tour.

Around five MC officials are expected to accompany the councillors on the tour.

Sachin Sharma, chairman of the Youth Innovative Society (YIS) stated that the councillors who had been opposing the futile study tours in the past were themselves going on the tour. “This shows the double standards of the councillors”, he stated.

Earlier this year, a team of MC officials and councillors had also gone to Nasik to study the ways adopted by the city to sterilise dogs. 

Mohali, August 26
In different cases where two destitutes, who were in dire need of medical aid, were sent to Kurali-based Prabh Asra from the PGI, Chandigarh, and the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi.

Both patients (male) are in their mid-40s. They have injuries on their right legs and are unable to reveal their identity.

“Yesterday, we received two patients, one from the Civil Hospital, Dera Bassi and another from the PGI.”, said Shamsher Singh, who runs Prabh Asra, the home for homeless and sick destitute persons. Shamsher Singh said the condition of both the patients were bad and needed treatment.

When this correspondent enquired about the patient from Civil Hospital, Dera bassi, the Senior Medical Officer of the hosptail, Dr SK Mittal, claimed that the patient was fit and fine, so he was shifted to Prabh Asra. Shockingly, when the patient in question, was taken to Civil Hospital, Mohali, today, he was immediately referred to Government Medical Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh.

“Doctors, who checked him at the Mohali hospital said that the patient needed to be operated upon immediately, or his condition would deteriorate”, claimed Shamsher Singh.

He added that the condition of the patient from the PGI was also not good. “He has several stitches on his leg and cannot move it. When we try touching his leg, he starts crying in pain. I am shocked as to how the hospitals decided to send such patients to us”, said Shamsher Singh.

The medical authorities of both the institutes did not bother to give any medical prescription and medical tests that had been conducted on them at their respective hospitals, he added.

Chandigarh, August 26
High drama was witnessed outside the Sector 17 fire station when a car wrongly parked outside the gate of the fire station from where the fire tender is to be refilled, left a fire tender waiting for over 40 minutes.

The firefighters after returning from a fire call found that the vehicle was parked just next to the water filling point blocking the passage which should always remain vacant.

Sources stated that the police control room was informed. The Fire Department even called the Traffic Helpline No. 1073, however, the traffic police failed to turnup.

“The PCR arrived, however, they had no other option but to helplessly wait for the vehicle owner to turn up”, said a firefighter.

Firefighters stated that incase there would have been any emergency call, then they would have failed to reach the spot on time.

Sources said that the Police Department in the past had also been informed about the wrong parking outside the fire station, however, the Police Department failed to take action.

“Today also, the vehicle owner, left the place without even getting challaned for wrong parking”, a firefighter stated. 

Chandigarh, August 26
Chaos prevailed at Panjab University today as the police resorted to a mild lathicharge at the Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital to thwart the efforts of the protesting students to shut down the department.

The students were holding a protest against the non-fulfillment of their demands.

Interestingly, ignoring the norms of the Dental Council, the interns have been staging a protest on the campus for the past four days.

The trouble started around 1:30 pm when the students, who were reluctant to resolve the issue with the authorities, forcefully tried to shut down the department.

The police and the PU security staff immediately swung into action and tried to push back the students.

The protesting interns alleged that a heated argument broke out between the BDS interns and the in charge of the PU police post, Lakhwir Singh, when he seized the identity card of a student.

Later, BDS Director, Ashish Jain, tried to resolve the issue by interacting with the student but his efforts failed to yield any result.

Even though Jain interacted with the gathering for more than an hour, the agitating students refused to withdraw their strike and demanded an apology from the authorities.

The girl students of the dental college alleged that there was no woman constable with the police during the lathicharge.

Meanwhile, the students have decided to shut down the department of the dental college tomorrow. 

Chandigarh, August 26
The Medicos Legal Action Group (MLAG), has appealed to the BJP government not to introduce a new category of MBBS passouts, who are not doctors.

The proposal of an exit exam after MBBS was condemned by the MLAG, stating that the main objection was that “with an exit exam, there will be some MBBS graduates with valid degrees from colleges recognised by the Medical Council of India (MCI) but who cannot practice medicine since they have been unable to pass the exit exam.”

The Union Ministry of Health and the MCI are contemplating the introduction of a single, nationwide exit test for those who have passed the MBBS examination.

The MCI’s Board of Governors have unanimously accepted the proposal made by the Health Ministry.

Reacting to the development, the medicos group in a statement said, “The government has mooted a plan to hold an exit exam after MBBS so that government and private college passouts maintain same standard.”

Dr Sandeep Dhavan, Founder Trustee, MLAG, said, “Though the objective of this proposal is laudable, it is much simpler to hold a common final professional examination of MBBS passouts on the pattern of the All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT). The final professional exam of all clinical subjects should be common nationwide and should not be organised by individual universities.”

‘HOLD EXAM ON PATTERN OF AIPMT’

Though the objective of this proposal is laudable, it is much simpler to hold a common final professional examination of MBBS passouts on the pattern of the All India Pre Medical Test. — — Dr Sandeep Dhavan, Founder Trustee, MLAG

Chandigarh, August 26
Panjab University today released a special grant to all departments to purchase books from the Book Fair, being organised by the AC Joshi Library on the campus.

The stalls, that have been put up by various exhibitors, showcase books on a variety of subjects ranging from science to religion, social sciences to humanities, fiction to applied sciences, besides general reading to technical subject specific books.

Many exhibitors are also offering attractive discounts to the students.

Panjab University librarian Dr Raj Kumar said, “The book fair is open to the general public from 10 am to 7:30 pm. It will continue till August 29.”

As part of the fair, Dr Suchet, assistant Prof of Transfusion Medicine, PGI, delivered a talk to motivate visitors to donate blood.

Chandigarh, August 26
High drama was staged by activists of the Panjab University Students Union (PUSU) today as they closed Gate number 2 to protest the alleged lathicharge by the police on the dental interns.

The PUSU leaders forcefully shut down the gate for 10 minutes. PU security staff immediately intervened and brought the situation under control.

PUSU campus president Satwinder Naval demanded that the police should not be allowed to interfere in student-related issues on the campus and the authorities should raise the matter with the higher police officials.

Later, PUSU leaders gathered outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office to raise the demands of students regarding facilities in the hostel.

The demands included fair allotment of hostels to the students. The students, who were earlier agitating for the hostel students, shut down the PU gate to show their support to the dental interns. 

Chandigarh, August 26
A campaign on drug abuse and violence-free premises, organised by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), turned out to be a ‘refreshment party’ for the workers on the campus today.

As many as 500 students from various departments took part in the event. Shriniwas, organising secretary of North India, was also present.

He said, “Universities across the country have recognised the ABVP today. The party will win the elections in PU. Our aim is to sensitise students on drugs and to urge them to stay away from violence.”

The party also appointed various leaders on different posts for the coming student elections.

The panel includes Nisha Dondyal as the campus vice president, Manpreet Kaur Sandhu as campus vice president, Payal Singla as girls’ in charge, Sheenu as Sanskrit in charge, Manish as law in charge and Harman Sandhu as the joint secretary campus.

A CBSE-certified CCE teacher training programme was organised at Saint Soldier International School, Sector 28. The programme on ‘Life skills, thinking, social and emotional skills’ was conducted by the resource person Jyotsna Bharadwaj. — TNS