The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

COURTS

Impose fine on litterbugs: HC to UT
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
Treat dustbins as piece of trash and be ready to pay fine. For, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the states of Punjab and Haryana, along with the Union Territory of Chandigarh, to impose appropriate fine on litterbugs. In a judgment having potential of changing the way the streets are littered, the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Harinder Singh Sidhu asserted: “The writ petition is ordered to be closed with a direction to the

states of Punjab and Haryana as well as the Union Territory, Chandigarh, to ensure that residents do not resort to throwing garbage in public places and in case any person does so, appropriate fine be imposed”.

A single Judge of the High Court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of “pathetic and horrible sanitation conditions, defacement and destruction of public property by the residents of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali”. The matter was then directed to be treated as a public interest litigation (PIL) before being placed after the Division Bench.

During the course of hearing, amicus curiae or friend of the Court Divya Sharma visited “apni mandis” held weekly in different sectors of the tricity before reporting that the sites were not cleaned till next afternoon, resulting in accumulation of garbage.

The counsel for the Chandigarh Administration, in response, undertook that the “apni mandi” sites would be cleaned by 11am the next day. He added fines were being imposed, in case someone was found littering.

The counsel for the Punjab Mandi Board, meanwhile, stated that the safai contractor had been appointed to clean up “apni mandis” and the cleaning work was over by 11am the next day and as per the contract.

A suggestion was also made by the court that in future a clause should be inserted while awarding the contract that the contractor concerned would be responsible for cleaning up the place by 10 am the next day.

Haryana Deputy Advocate-General Palika Monga told the court that an agency had been appointed for cleaning up the “apni mandis” in Panchkula, and an incinerator had also been purchased for treating the garbage. She submitted that the sites would be cleaned up by 11am the next day. “In case any person is found throwing garbage, appropriate fine has been prescribed on the vegetable sellers and other vendors,” she added.

The counsel for the respondents also submitted that frequent checks were carried out to check encroachments in market corridors and the encroachers were dealt with in accordance with law. Before parting with the order, the Bench concluded: “Keeping in view the status reports filed by the states of Punjab, Haryana as well as the Union Territory, Chandigarh as also the submission made by their respective counsels, we are satisfied that the authorities concerned are taking adequate steps to maintain cleanliness in the tricity….”

Tata camelot project
UT Admn fails to decide on moving SC under Article 131
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
The top brass of the UT Administration has failed to take a decision on whether the Administration will move the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution for restraining development in Nayagaon and Kansal.

The meeting which was chaired by UT Adviser KK Sharma, in context of the Delhi High Court’s query during the Tata Camelot case, whether the UT was willing to initiate proceedings against the Punjab Government under Article 131 of the Constitution.

Though the UT counsel had maintained before the Delhi High Court that the Tata Camelot township project did not involve any inter-state dispute between Punjab and Chandigarh but the UT officials had called a special meeting today to take final decision on the issue.

Sources said during the meeting, officials discussed how such projects would not only pose a threat to the ecology of the region and the rich and varied flora and fauna in the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, but would also put pressure in terms of population and traffic movement on Chandigarh.

A UT official also submitted in the meeting that such projects would also create hurdle for the UT Administration to get heritage status for the city as this project was coming up near the Chandigarh Capitol Complex.

Recently, UT had opposed the project

Recently, the Chandigarh Administration in its point-wise reply submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, had opposed the project and demanded that the entire Kansal area in Mohali district be included in the eco-sensitive zone. The UT had also submitted that the 100-metre limit proposed by the Punjab Government for the ESZ in Punjab was a mere eyewash because in the Punjab proposal submitted to the ministry, it was mentioned, “The area that comes within the ‘lal dora’ or within the municipal limits in the proposed 100-metre zone is excluded from this notification.”

HDFC life insurance told to pay relief
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the HDFC Standard Life Insurance to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation to a resident of Sector 67, Mohali, for deficiency in services. Raseel Thakur, moved the forum alleging that he purchased a policy from the opposite party for 10 years, which matured on February 26, 2012.

Thakur said in February 2012, the insurance company introduced a procedure regarding release of maturity amount in different parts — one portion in cash and other portion by investment on percentage basis. He said the condition was never disclosed in the policy and the copy of the terms and conditions in the policy was never supplied to the complainant.

Thakur in March 2012 was informed that the balance amount was retained by the insurance company as investment with a new policy. Despite his objection, the same was issued however, the new policy too did not reach him, he alleged.

Thakur alleged that failure of the insurance company to pay interest for retention of the balance amount, despite repeated requests of the complainant amounted to deficiency in services.

HDFC Standard Life Insurance in its reply said since the policy holder did not fulfill the terms and conditions of the policy, so he is not entitled to claim the interest and compensation in this regard.

“An alternative could have been found to release the payment instead of lingering on the matter from February 2012 to January 2013. Since the original policy document February 2002 has not been produced, therefore, merely on the basis of a condition imposed in February 2012, the insurance company could not deny the interest on the amount retained,” the forum ruled.

Bank penalised for deficiency in service
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
The District Consumer Forum has directed ICICI Bank Limited to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for mental agony caused to a Hisar resident who was asked to pay Rs 40,966.15 outstanding on his credit card. The victim, however, claimed to have never used the card.

Davinder Singh, the complainant, alleged that he got a credit card issued from the bank in 2007. He alleged another person having the same name, too, got a credit card issued and used it frequently. The said amount was outstanding against his namesake, he complained.

The bank, however, without issuing a notice of any kind to the complainant, annexed the amount of Rs 40,966.15 to his credit.

The bank claimed the address of both account holders was same.

“We feel that it is proved that the complainant was harassed by officials of the bank without any fault on his part. We find it a clear case of deficiency in service,” the forum ruled.

SPORTS

All-weather swimming pool at PU
Project awaits completion
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 10
While the project of constructing an AstroTurf field on the Panjab University (PU) campus is already hanging fire, the project of constructing an all-weather swimming pool is also getting delayed. The project that started in July 2012 was scheduled to get over by May 2014. At present, however, the arena is still under construction, and as per official records, it is expected to get completed by October-November this year.

“We are working on the project and it is expected to get over by October or November. The project has been already delayed and our staff is working round-the-clock to complete it. We are doing our best, and soon, technical work including laying of starting panels, installation of lights and construction of changing rooms will start,” said RK Rai, executive engineer, PU engineering wing.

For building the all-weather swimming pool, near the Directorate of Sports office, a total of Rs 2.24 crore was sanctioned. While Rs 1 crore came from development fund, rest were allocated from the amalgamated fund.

The engineering wing officials said the delay in completion of the project would not affect the allotted budget.

A contractor on the site said: “We are through most of the work and are now working on the technical aspects. We are trying our best to complete this project in coming months. Otherwise, it will put us in financial trouble as well.”

The new pool will have four 25-metre-long lanes of international standards. The pool will allow swimmers to practice throughout the year. The pool is also expected to emerge as the most revenue-generating sports centre on the campus. The directorate is yet to finalise its usage fee.

“The completion of this project will give a great boost to us. Varsity-level swimmers will get a better chance of performing well at national-level competitions. At present, during bad weather, we have to find other options. However, in 2015, we will be having our own pool that could be used throughout the year,” said Parbhveer Ishar Singh, a local swimmer.

Top-seeded Rishabh storms into semis
Tribune News Service

A player returns a shot during the St Stephen’s School AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune Photo: S Chandan

Chandigarh, September 10
CLTA trainees—top-seeded Rishabh Sharda and second-seeded Calvin Golmei—won their respective ties to move into the semifinals of St. Stephen’s School AITA Championship Series Tennis Tournament being held at the CLTA, Sector 10.

Rishabh Sharda defeated another CLTA trainee, fifth-seeded Neeraj Yashpaul, 4-1, 4-0. Calvin Golmei, meanwhile, got the better of Punjab’s Dalbir Singh, 4-0, 5-3.

In other quarterfinals, CHART trainee Shashikant Rajput defeated his practice partner Naresh Badgujar 4-1, 5-4(6); while another CHART trainee, Bhupender Dahiya, pipped third-seeded Sahishnu Sharma of the CLTA in a three-setter.

Sashikant, after winning the first set, took a 3-0 lead in the second set. Naresh, however, came back strongly to take a 4-3 lead and had a set point. Shashikant kept his cool and managed to break Naresh’s serve and forced a tie-breaker, before winning it to enter the next stage.

The other match was a close-fought won, with both Bhupender and Sahishnu looking good to enter the semifinals till the final rally.

Trailing 0-2 in the first set, Bhupender managed to win it 4-2. In the second set, once again he was trailing 0-2, but took a 3-2 lead and had a match point, before Sahishnu used his experience to take the set 5-3. In the decider tie-breaker, Sahishnu was trailing 1-3 and made a good come back to take 4-3 lead. Making an unforced error, however, he conceded a 6-4 lead to Bhupender. In the end, Bhupender won it 9-7.

In the girls’ singles, top-seeded Ashpreet Kaur Bajwa defeated Tanisha Pranjal, conceding only two games. Second-seeded Harleen Kaur faced some resistance from Mansi Singh, winning the first set in a tie-breaker 5-4(4). She won the next set without conceding a game.

Third-seeded Shambhavi Tiwari and fourth-seeded Kavya Sawhney defeated CHART trainees Bindu Kulhria and Princy Panchal in straight sets.

The semifinal matches under the singles category will begin at 10 am tomorrow.

Rishabh, Calvin claim doubles title

In the boys’ doubles final, the first-seeded pair of Calvin Golmei and Rishabh Sharda beat Navneet Singh Chahal and Aishwaray Goel 4-0, 4-1.

In the girls’ category, first-seeded Ashpreet Kaur Bajwa and Sarah Dev got the better of second-seeded Kavya Sawhney and Riya Uboveja, 4-5(5), 4-1, 7-3.

Other results

Boys' doubles semifinals

(1)Calvin Golmei/Rishabh Sharda bt (3) Dipin Wadhwa/Dalbir Singh 4-2, 4-0; Navneet Singh Chahal/ Aishwaray Goel bt (4)MS Karthik/Neeraj Yashpaul 4-2, 5-4(5);

Girls' doubles semifinals

(1)Ashpreet Kaur Bajwa/ Sarah Dev bt Princy Panchal/Nikita Kharangra 0-4, 4-2, 7-3; (2) Kavya Sawhney/Riya Uboveja bt Inayat Sandhu/Sehajveer 4-0, 4-1.