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| Tuesday,
October 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India
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Cops still not wearing name tags Chandigarh, October 15 In the absence of name tags, it is virtually impossible to ascertain the identity of the officials not only in the case of arrest, but also in cases where the cops misbehave with hapless residents. Officials appearing before the Magistrates in the district courts, or even before the Judges at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, are either not wearing the name tags at all, or have these pinned to their uniform without specifying their designation. This is not all. In Punjab and Haryana too, the directions are being violated blatantly. A survey of Patiala, Panchkula and surrounding areas has revealed that a substantial number of cops are not wearing the name tags with their designations mention. Some of the senior police officials are not even aware of the SC directions. The Supreme Court, in the D.K. Basu versus state of West Bengal case, had clearly held: ‘‘The police personnel carrying out the arrest and handling the interrogation of the arrestee should bear accurate, visible and clear identification and name tags with their designations’’. The court had added that the ‘‘failure to comply with the requirements, apart from rendering the official concerned liable for departmental action, would also render him liable to be punished for contempt of court”. The directions, along with certain other directives, were issued to check the abuse of police power. Mr Justice Kuldip Singh (now retired) and Mr Justice A.S. Anand (now the Chief Justice of India) had held that ‘‘efforts must be made to change the attitude and approach of the police personnel handling the investigations so that they do not sacrifice basic human values during interrogation and do not resort to questionable forms of interrogation’’. Significantly, the SC had held that the process of circulating the requirements to every police station and to get them notified at a conspicuous place there was the obligation of the Home Secretary of every Union Territory or the Director-General of Police of the state. |
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Local industry allowed to generate own
power
Chandigarh, October 15 This will be subject to certain norms and conditions, which will be notified in the coming days, a spokesperson of the Administration said tonight. Revealing the broad parameters, the spokesperson said a power producer can have a 100 KVA plant or a 2 MW-generating plant. In case of 2 MW plant the producer will be given the option to synchronise his system with the power distribution system of the Chandigarh Administration. This means the excess generation of power can be purchased by the Administration. With synchronising, the spokesperson explained, the Administration will have the option of buying back power from the producer for its own requirements during peak load hours. The rates for buying will be fixed from time to time. In case the producer wants to buy power from the Administration to meet some emergency, he shall be billed at the highest slab rate. At present this rate is Rs 4.20 per unit. All these rates are not being notified yet but are existing benchmarks which can vary. In case a power producer wants to supply power to his sister concern, he will be allowed , however he will not sell power to adjoining industry. Also strict pollution emission control norms will have to be followed as the producer will be required to obtain certain clearances. The power producer will be allowed to use any type of fuel and any method of power generation, the spokesperson said while concluding that minute details would be dealt with in the notification.  |
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PUDA to tax erring plot holders in Mohali
SAS Nagar, October 15 The illegal structures on public land will be demolished and removed by the authority by using its men and machinery but at a cost. A fixed fee, varying according to the size of the plot, will be charged from the erring plot occupant. Sources in the authority said the fee structure applicable in Panchkula was being studied by the authorities. The fee structure would not be less than that charged by the HUDA, said a senior official of PUDA. In the light of an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, a 15-day public notice for the removal of encroachments in the town had been inserted in local dailies on October 12 — which means the deadline was October 27. Though officials put the number of encroachments at around 8,000, the anti-encroachment committee puts the figure at over 30,000. This includes encroachments by religious institutions, commercial and institutional. It could not be ascertained what action was the authority going to take against the encroachments by religious bodies. The Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr KBS Sidhu, confirmed that the decision to charge fee from the erring plot holders. He said the office of the Additional Chief Administrator (ACA), SAS Nagar and the accounts wing had been asked to work out the details. Enquiries from HUDA revealed that the fee structure in Panchkula, announced last year, was to be charged along with water bills. But the residents challenged it, saying that HUDA had no proof that it had removed the illegal structures. The issue was still pending, it is learnt.The sources said after the October 27 deadline, the demolition drive was likely to be launched from Phase 1. It may be pertinent to mention that PUDA had announced to carry out the demolition but it was suspended at the last moment due to the Divali festival season. Now again the drive was supposed to be launched two days after the festival of Dasehra. The fee structure charged by HUDA from erring plot holders in Panchkula
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2 get notices in sambhar
death case Chhat Bir, October 15 Mr
R.K. Luna, Director of the zoo, said both Mr Sukh Dev Singh, zoo inspector, and Mr Ram Dev, veterinary pharmacist, had been asked to reply in writing within three days. They had also been asked to clarify why the animal was tranquillised without any direction from the superiors. The duo would be charge-sheeted with immediate effect if found guilty, added Mr Luna. It may be recalled that the animal had died due to an overdose of a tranquillising drug while the zoo employees were trying to catch the rambling sambhar on Thursday evening. The animal was reportedly tranquilised in violation of the guidelines of the Veterinary Council of India’s Act by the veterinary pharmacist in the presence of the zoo inspector. Later, the animal was buried without conducting a post-mortem. |
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Directive
for action against
Major-Gen Chandigarh, October 15 Incidentally, in a previous case, the Army Chief had set aside a censure awarded to the same officer for alleged malpractices and lapses in recruitment of jawans Gross violation of stipulated norms while registering a contractor for making supplies to the Army is said to be the reason for initiating action against the officer. Sources add that another Major-General holding a similar appointment elsewhere is also involved in the controversy. While the officer involved was not available for comment as he is currently out of station, independent sources confirm that action is being taken against him for reasons cited above. Sources reveal that he is the same officer who, as a Brigadier, had faced action for irregularities in the recruitment of 402 candidates at the Army Supply Corps Centre (North) a few years ago. Following a court of inquiry, the army authorities decided to initiate administrative action for “distinct and major” lapses attributed to him. A show-cause notice was issued to him and after his reply was found to be unsatisfactory, the then Central Army Commander directed that he be given a “severe displeasure”. The findings of the court of inquiry also led to the two Lieutenant Colonels, a JCO and an NCO being tried by a general court martial. One of the officers was cashiered from service and sentenced to three years’ Rigorous Imprisonment, while the other faced loss of seniority. As per available information, the officer later forwarded a non-statutory complaint against the censure. General Padmanabhan, within a week of his taking over as Army Chief, set aside the severe displeasure on the ground that the facts mentioned in the show-cause notice had not been included in the letter of censure. The direction stated that the letter of censure was based on certain facts which the complainant was not aware of. |
Muddy water in taps, MC ‘not bothered’ Chandigarh, October 15 When contacted, the Executive Engineer of the MC, Mr B.M. Varma, denied the allegations that the corporation was not concerned about the health of residents. He added that water pipes were cleaned after every 15 days or so, but sediments sometimes flowed out of the taps due to an increase in water pressure. As far as low pressure was concerned, he claimed that a booster had been installed and the supply had improved considerably. In the absence of “pure water”, the residents were being forced to boil the water. “Sometimes, it is so muddy that we do not even feel like taking a bath,” said Mr Sudesh, a businessman. Other residents complained, “Morning is the time for us to store water for the entire day. Sometimes, the water is so muddy at that time that we cannot think of washing our hands with it. It takes at least an hour for the muddy water to clear.” Regarding erratic water supply, another resident, Mr Dinesh Chaudhary, said, “Right in the middle of your bath, the taps begin to hiss as water disappears. Minutes roll by as you wait impatiently for the supply to resume. Even after it resumes, you are not sure how long will it last”. Another resident added, “It was not like this a few years back. I remember the days when the entire city used to be without water, but still aqua pura used to flow out of the taps in Sector 18. That was a long time back. Nowadays, the supply remains suspended for hours together and that also without issuance of any notice to the general public”. |
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Tenants’ association submits
memo Chandigarh, October 15 Mr Prem Singh Bahangu, member of the politburo of the MCPI, said because of the government’s wrong policies, thousands of persons were becoming jobless and that has further added to the woes of the tenants. Mr Malkiyat Singh, a trade union leader, said the Chandigarh Administration should provide
accommodation to tenants at reasonable rates on the pattern which it had adopted for slum dwellers. Mr Jora Singh, a social worker, said the law should be so framed that the tenants have to pay only for the covered area and the type of the facilities they were getting. State committee President of the association, Mr Malkiyat Singh, said the aim of the association was to get an
accommodation for every tenant. Mr Hakam Singh, leader of the Milkmen Union, and Mr Soben Singh, general secretary of the association also spoke on the occasion. |
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Fernandes’s induction
criticised Chandigarh, October 15 “Mr Vajpayee has already given Mr Fernandes a clean chit by inducting him in his ministry,” the party general secretary Mr Sunil Parti, and the District Congress Committee (rural) President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri, said in a statement. The Congress leaders asked Mr Vajpayee to explain what material change had taken place between the time when Mr Fernandes and another minister, Mr Harin Pathak, had to leave the ministry and now when they had been reinducted despite no clearance from the commission and the court. They said inclusion of the two leaders in the ministry immediately after the Venkataswamy Commission held the Tehelka tapes as “authentic” seemed an attempt to scuttle the probe. The Samata Party had questioned the veracity of the Tehelka tapes which was rejected by the commission last week. Meanwhile, the local unit of the Samata Party here today congratulated the Prime Minister for re-inducting Mr Fernandes as Defence Minister. The party workers and leaders celebrated the event by distributing sweets. |
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Appeal
to help the visually
handicapped Chandigarh, October 15 A group of students from the institute visited government high schools in Sectors 7 and 26 to sensitise pupils about the white cane and help the blind needed. The students later gave a demonstration of the cane on the Madhya Marg near Sector 26 and crossing points of Sectors 19 and 27 and Sectors 26 and 7. Mr Vikas Popli, a visually handicapped Class XII student at the institute, said, they needed the help of people with sight to cross roads. He said motorists should slow down and give way to a person trying to cross the road with a white cane in hand. Ms Joytika Khanna, a social worker teaching typing to the students at the institute, said it was important that the people should know about the white cane. According to her, the idea behind taking the students of the institute to different schools was that schoolchildren could play an important role in spreading the importance of white cane. White cane is widely used by the visually impaired people to move around and do their work. Mr D.P. Pathak, teaching technique of using the cane at the institute, said it was important that people with sight know the importance of cane. Principal K.R. Sood appealed to the general public to help and assist blind people when they required help and assistance. Later the students of the institute presented a cultural programme. |
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Tandon
donates Rs 50,000 for eye-care drive Chandigarh, October 15 The specialist also says that the resources available are insufficient to tackle the problem of curable blindness. There is a great dearth of trained eye personnel, equipment, medicines and other eye-care facilities. However, help is coming. Awareness is growing. For instance, Mr Balramji Das
Tandon, Punjab’s Minister for Local Government, has donated Rs 50,000 to the Association to enable it to carry on its work at a function held in the city at the week-end. Ms S.
Khorana, Director-Principal of Shishu Niketan Modern Senior Secondary School in Sector 22, has been able to motivate a large number of citizens, teachers and students to donate their eyes. The Director of Health Services of Chandigarh, Dr Rameshwar
Chand, appreciated her collaboration with Dr Saini’s organisation on World Sight Day. The Tribune has been paid a public tribute by the Eye Bank Association and other organisations represented at the function on the school premises for creating “exemplary awareness” in the field of eye-care through its columns. A symbolic presentation of a statue of Saraswati has been made to the newspaper “with sincerity and gratitude”. |
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Anti-encroachment drive ‘selective’ SAS Nagar, October 15 Against the covered area allowed, the flat occupants have constructed “palatial mansions”. Apart from endangering the foundation of the flats, the unauthorised structures have made the area congested. Those entrusted with the job of checking the violation of building bylaws are turning a blind eye to these violations. Taking a cue, other residents are following suit. In case of Middle Income Group
(MIG) flats in Phase XI, a number of plot holders have raised one or two two-room tenements along with the main structure. The roofs of unauthorised structures are being used as extended terrace for the first-floor occupants. Certain occupants in the MIG flats allege that field staff of the Estate Office are adopting a dual policy in checking violation of building bylaws. A senior citizen, Mr S.S.
Sachdev, says his flat has been resumed for building bylaws violation. He said his problem started when he applied for no-dues certificate. He claimed that he had paid the pending dues and had demolished the structure. A PUDA official said the case had been referred to the Chief Administrator after being rejected for revalidation of allotment at the level of the Additional Chief Administrator. |
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HUDA accused of selective
demolitions Chandigarh, October 15 A press note issued today by the union said the shopkeepers whose shops had not been demolished were also allotted shops with those persons whose shops had been
demolished. No wonder they were carrying on their business from the same shops. The note claimed that under the rehabilitation scheme under which they were allotted shops it was clearly stated that after the allotment of booths in the new market shops on the old road would be
vacated. The union alleged that the path leading to the Mansa Devi Temple had also been closed, making it difficult for customers to reach the new market. It was unfortunate that an illegal market was flourishing on both sides of the Mansa Devi road and in front of the temple, while business of shopkeepers in the new market was ruined. |
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‘Mahasankirtan’ organised Chandigarh, October 15 Main attractions of the programme were ‘shingar’, ‘akhand
jyoti’ and ‘mahasankirtan’ of Lord Khatu Shyam Prabhu followed by offering of
“bhog”. |
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CM to visit temple Panchkula, October 15 Mr Jyoti Arora, Deputy Commissioner, Panchkula, said Mr Chautala would also inaugurate a puja bhavan and dhyan kendra, besides laying the foundation stone of a 66-kv substation on the temple premises on the same day. |
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Raising
day
celebrated Chandigarh, October 15 The day was marked by a homage paying ceremony held at the Western Command war memorial, Veer Smriti. Maj-Gen S.S. Chahal, Head of the EME branch in the command headquarters, and four ex-servicemen laid wreaths at the memorial, according to an official press note here. Other social functions were also organised on the occasion. Raised in 1943, the EME is responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of all equipment and weapons of the Army. |
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Signature
campaign on women
awareness Chandigarh, October 15 Talking about the acute gender imbalance in Punjab, the result of female foeticide practised here, the Mayor said, “On one hand the female body is being exploited by unscrupulous business houses for the promotion of their sales in the name of modeling, fashion shows and cheap advertisement. On the other hand females are being denied the right to existence”. The signature campaign would aim at propagating the idea that woman was the best of the best in the family and society. She had immense potential to play the role in building a new social order based on higher values, said the Mayor. Lack of education and dowry were a few of the root causes for the practice of female foeticide. To remove this practice women had to be educated and economically empowered, she said. The signature campaign, to be started by Ms Neeru Nanda, Adviser to the UT Administrator, at the Dev Samaj College of Education in Sector 36 tomorrow, would give the manch members to interact with women on a one-to-one basis, she added. It would hold stage plays and other educational programmes to bring awareness among women, she added. |
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Two electrocuted to death Panchkula, October 15 According to the police, the workers lost control of the pole which consequently fell on the 11,000 KV power cables. The workers, Muzaid (21) and Akbar (20) died on the spot, while Gopal (23) and Zahid (22), received injuries. The injured were admitted to the PGI. The bodies have been taken to the General Hospital in Sector 6 and the post-mortem examination would be conducted tomorrow. The police said a Delhi based telephone cable contractor had employed the victims, who all hailed from Bihar. |
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Handicapped
man dies in mishap Chandigarh, October 15 The police has impounded the bus (PB-12-C-1480) belonging to the Punjab School Education Board, Mohali, and arrested its driver, Paramjit Singh. The body was later sent for a post-mortem. A case has been registered. |
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Youth crushed under train Zirakpur, October 15 According to the GRB police, the deceased might have committed suicide by jumping in front of the train. The GRB police has sent the body to the Civil Hospital, Rajpura, for post-mortem examination and a case has been registered. |
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Daler, Bitta to address mediapersons Chandigarh, October
15 |
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20 motorists challaned Panchkula, October 15 The motorists were challaned to avoid accidents during the Navratra Fair in the Mansa Devi Temple. |
Fake currency case: third accused held Panchkula, October 15 According to sources, Narinder Kumar, the third accomplice of Anil Kumar Handa, a resident of Mumbai, and Ashwani Kumar Handa of Hoshiarpur, was arrested. It may be recalled that the duo — Anil Kumar and Ashwani Kumar — were arrested by the police with fake currency worth Rs 25,000 near Vatika, Sector 5, here on October 9. |
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4 Chennai
residents held on robbery charge Chandigarh, October 15 The accused have been identified as Mard Malai, Ram Chander, Subramanium and Anil, alias Shiv Kumar. Mard Mali was apprehended by the local police from the Sector 17 bus stand on October 11. Based on his interrogation, the other members were nabbed today. They were produced before a local Magistrate, who remanded them in police custody till October 20. No recoveries have been made so far. Commenting on their modus operandi, police said while one gang member used to divert the attention of the victim by throwing something on him or chucking a pebble at his car, another would snatch the victim’s belongings. The accused are also stated to have operated in Delhi, Ludhiana and Panipat. Car recovered The persons arrested have been identified as Ranjit Singh, Mukesh Kumar and Manoj Kumar, residents of Hoshiarpur district. A case has been registered against them and further investigations are on. Liquor seized The accused have been identified as Sant Lal, resident of Colony No.4, Tilak Raj, resident of Rajpura, Nirmal Singh, resident of Moga, and Shambu, resident of Akona in Uttar Pradesh. Separate cases have been registered against them and investigations are in progress. Scooterist hurt Scooter stolen Wallet lost Power theft SAS Nagar Snatching According to information, two youths snatched a gold chain from Pritam Devi (75), who was strolling in front of her house yesterday. One of the snatchers was wearing a red turban. Even after the son of the victim, Mr R.P. Gupta, lodged a complaint with the Phase 8 police station, no police official even bothered to visit the site till late this evening. In second incident, two scooter borne youths snatched a gold chain from a woman who was strolling in front of House No. 376 in Phase 4, last night. A police party reached the spot but there was follow-up action. No FIR has been registered in this case also. In the past few days the incidents of robbery and snatching are on the rise in the town. |
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Truck crushes man to death Panchkula, October 15 According to the police, Ram Avtar was working with a contractor on the repair work of roads. He was crushed to death by a truck (HP-11-3978). The truck driver reportedly fled from the scene. The body has been sent to the General Hospital for postmortem examination. A case has been registered with the Sector 19 police station. |
Ethnic and
economical Chandigarh, October 15 Kanchan has designed a number of suits in cotton fabric trimmed with zari embroidery. “The vegetable block printing process in places like Dhar in Madhya Pradesh and Dabu on the border of Rajasthan and Gujarat are centuries old and considered to be one of the best. These are dying a slow death due to the high cost and shortage of vegetable dyes,” says Kanchan. The suits are available at between Rs 600 and Rs 900, with a few hand embroidery going upto Rs 2500. Most of the suits are also with a matching purse. |
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