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More soldiers move HC over pension anomalies
Chandigarh, July 13 According to a joint petition, which came up for hearing yesterday, ex-servicemen are still being paid commuted values of pension at old rates since 1985, despite a Supreme Court order granting them additional benefits in 1986. A Division Bench comprising Justice Ashutosh Mohanta and Justice T.P.S. Mann yesterday issued notice of motion on the issue to the central government, returnable on September 21. A similar petition was filed a few months ago. In the petition, which came up yesterday, officers contended that their pension was commuted as if they had retired at the age of 53 years instead of 52 years. Such a move, according to them, was applicable to civilian employees and not to defence personnel. Further, it had been alleged that bankers had deducted more amounts than there were actually required to do so. The petitioners contended that armed forces personnel were granted additional two-year purchase value toward the commutation of pension by the apex court in December 1986. The decision of the court had not been implemented till date despite direction for implementing the same within three months. According to the petition, ex-servicemen were still being paid the commuted value of pension at the rate of 12.66 years as against the rate of 12.66 years plus additional two years granted by the Supreme Court. It was done to bring the armed forces personnel on a par with other central government employees for the restoration of full pension after 15 years. Instead, they continued to lose the commuted value of pension for two years. The matter came to light when the petitioner was denied the restoration of full pension after 13 years. The controller of defence accounts and the bank concerned maintained that the restoration of full pension would be done on the expiry of 15 years in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement. A close scrutiny of the judgement revealed that the Supreme Court had allowed the central government to grant additional two-years purchase value for the commutation of pension. The orders were to be implemented with effect from May 1, 1986, and officers who retired on or after May 1, 1985, were also eligible to seek full pension with the enhanced two years of purchase values.
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DRME sends in her papers
Amritsar, July 13 A day after the resignation, which is yet to be accepted, Dalal conducted counselling in his capacity as the DRME-cum-chairman, selection committee for the postgraduates. In her missive to the Chief Minister and chief secretary, Kiranjit alleged that Dalal threatened her that “there will be a murder and somebody will go to jail”. She said when his son had failed in MBBS he had blamed her husband for the same. Kiranjit wrote, “I had joined as the DRME on November 29 last year and had proceeded on a sanctioned leave for going to the USA. I returned and joined duty on July 6. I sent my joining report to the secretary, medical education (SMER). However, when I went to the office on July 9, I found my office occupied by Dalal, who informed me that he had been asked by the SMER to continue till further orders.” As per the missive to Chief Minister, she also met the chief secretary and the Chief Minister, but to no avail. “False cases are being made against me by Dalal,” she alleged. On his part, Dalal said being seniormost it was his right to be the DRME and the allegations levelled against him were baseless. Meanwhile, secretary, medical education, Jagjit Puri has said he has not yet received the resignation letter.
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3-day police remand for Chahal
Patiala, July 13 He was produced in the court today by vigilance bureau officials against a production warrant. The prosecution in the case pleaded for a seven-day police remand for Chahal. They sought the police remand to quiz Chahal. They alleged that Chahal collected liquid and capital assets worth about Rs 15.5 crore in the past five years. Five years ago, Chahal and his wife declared that their assets were just worth Rs 10.5 lakh only. However, after he remained in power, his wealth swelled into crores. The prosecution alleged that it also might need to take Chahal to foreign countries to identify about 150 apartments he owned in the UK and alleged hawala transactions he carried out. The defence counsel, led by N.P.S. Waraich, termed the case registered against Chahal as a result of political vendetta. They alleged that the police was registering cases against Chahal in a systematic manner to keep him behind the bars on one pretext or the other. He was behind the bars for more than a month now. However, police officials waited for his bail in other cases to register the present case of disproportionate assets against him. The defence also produced records of all properties detailed in the FIR registered against Chahal. They alleged that the vigilance was alleging that the property was purchased by Chahal through benami deals. However, to prove that the properties were benami, the vigilance should first produce on record the statements of the persons who were owning the properties on papers. The vigilance was just associating properties of other persons in Chahal’s name. About the two Mercedes Benz owned by Chahal, his counsel said the cars were gifted to him and his son. To this, the prosecution maintained that why should anyone gift such costly cars to Chahal. After about an hour of intense arguments, the judge remanded Chahal in three-day police custody till Monday. He counsel have, however, been allowed to visit him anytime while in police custody. Interestingly, Chahal is being kept for interrogation under police remand at the vigilance office, Patiala, that housed the old district public relations office, once headed by him.
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HC seeks value of Chahal’s properties
Chandigarh, July 13 Taking up a bail petition filed by Chahal, media adviser to former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Judge also asked Punjab's Additional Advocate-General Reeta Kohli to inform the court about the number of FIRs so far registered against him. The Judge asked her to provide a complete picture to the court on Monday, the next date of hearing. Chahal was seeking bail in an attempt to murder case registered by the Ludhiana police on June 10. Describing Chahal as a victim of mala fide and political vendetta, the petition had stated that he was arrested by the Ludhiana police in the case when he was coming out of the Vigilance Bureau premises after joining investigations. He had added that the FIR was registered in the matter by the Ludhiana police after a delay of seven months as the alleged attempt to grab the land in Daad village, according to the complainant, happened way back in October last year. This delay, the petitioner submitted, pointed towards the mala fide intentions of the police to implicate him and was "aimed at some different purpose". Arguing before the court this afternoon, Chahal's counsel stated that the case was bogus, evident from the fact that no one had suffered any injury even though 50 to 60 shots were said to have been fired. He added that the Advocate-General himself had asserted that the investigations in the matter were compete, but the police had not apprehended any other accused in the matter.
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CM controlling Takht: Dullo
Jalandhar, July 13 In the same breath, PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo said he was a ‘sepoy’ of AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and would discharge any duty entrusted to him. “Ask Rajinder Kaur Bhattal about this,” retorted Dullo when asked whether Bhattal was also in the race for the post of PPCC chief. The PPCC has also indicated that the apology tendered by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Sant Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh was “enough”. “Are they (Sikh religious leaders) above the Gurus? The SAD does not want the problem to subside and wants to re-create turmoil in Punjab which had devastated Punjab from 1978 to 1995,” said Dullo. Dullo was talking to mediapersons after holding a meeting of Congress office-bearers here today. He was accompanied by senior Congress leaders, including Malkit Singh Dakha, Tej Parkash Singh, Gurbinder Atwal, Arun Walia, Bobby Sehgal, Satnam Bitta and Vijay Khullar. “The Akalis, particularly Badal, is holding the control of the Akal Takht. Whatever he wants happens there. Even the SGPC chief is elected as per his choice,” alleged Dullo. “The Dera Sacha Sauda chief has already tendered an apology to the Sikh panth. Peace in Punjab has been restored only after the intervention of the Prime Minister. We had met the PM and had apprised our party high command about the deteriorating law and order situation. The biggest issue today is the deterioration of law and order situation in Punjab.
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Cops stop followers
Chander Parkash Tribune News Service
Chak Attar Singh Wala (Bathinda), July 13 A curfew-like situation prevailed in this village since yesterday. Twentyfour followers were arrested from various pockets of the district. The arrests continued today as the police picked up a number of prominent functionaries of the sect who had come here to attend the “naam charcha”. Some of the followers staged a dharna when they were denied entry into this village.
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Four pilgrims killed
Hoshiarpur, July 13 All deceased belonged to Gurdaspur district and were identified as Rattan Singh of Rasoolpur, Surjit Singh Bhatti and Sonu Bhatti, both of Arlibhana village, and Surinder Singh, of Jangle. According to police sources, a group of 28 pilgrims of Gurdaspur district had gone on pilgrimage to
Hemkunt Sahib on 14 motorcycles. — OC
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87 engineers undergo training
Ropar, July 13 This batch of newly recruited engineers, who have been posted at various thermal plants of the state, had undergone three weeks of training at the institute. Mr Ratra said the state government had agreed to allow recruitment of 263 engineers through the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). He said the power sector had been opened to private investors and there was going to be a stiff competition in power generation and its distribution. He exhorted the engineers to dedicate themselves to the service of people and understand the needs of the consumer. He added that the government would soon add 5000 MW of additional generating capacity in the next five years. Ratra said he had visited Gujarat, Maharashtra and South India and found PSEB engineers to be the best in the country. He congratulated the power plant engineers and workers for having beaten all previous records in power generation during 2006-07. Member (distribution) J.S. Sekhon, and member (generation) G.S. Sra were also present on the occasion. They advised the young engineers to work with dedication and honesty. Earlier, chief engineer of the thermal plant K.K. Sood welcomed the dignitaries.
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‘SGPC, KAC misleading Sikhs’
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 13 Speaking to mediapersons here at Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib, he stated that the KAC lacked the will and the SGPC was just a puppet in the hands of Parkash Singh Badal. Using harsh words against the SGPC and the KAC, Bhai Ranjit Singh said both had failed to carry out the directives issued by Akal Takht. Replying to a question, Bhai Ranjit Singh said he and his supporters would join hands with that Sikh organisation which intended to resolve this issue and had the will to carry out the directives issued by Akal Takht. He said the dera chief should personally appear before the Takht to tender an unconditional apology.
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Ex-MLA alleges anomalies
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, July 13 He said the anomaly was deliberately done to benefit the ruling combine in the elections. Displaying the voter lists of ward Nos. 22 and 50, he said the names of nearly 390 electorates had been repeated. He elaborated that the names of voters from serial No. 1 to 535 in the list of ward No. 50 had been repeated in the list of ward No. 22 from serial No. 186 to 577.
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Doctors save 550-gm premature baby
Fatehgarh Sahib, July 13 For 25-year-old Davinder Kaur, a resident of Sirhind, it was perhaps the darkest moment of her life when she developed complications and had to deliver her child 10 weeks prior to the date. “We had lost all hopes when I gave birth to a 550-gram baby,” said Davinder. The mother said they took the baby to several hospitals in the region, including the PGI in Chandigarh, but doctors at these hospitals said it was not possible to save him. Paramjit Singh, the father of the child, said after being turned down by several senior doctors, they brought the child back to Sirhind and admitted him at a private nursing home, where he was administered food through IV lines as nothing could be given to him orally. After staying at the nursing home for 70 days, the baby regained his strength and is now out of danger. Davinder said it was only because of the relentless efforts of the doctors at the nursing home that her child survived. Dr K.P.S. Sandhu, who supervised the treatment of the child, said the child was now a healthy four-month-old boy.
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Hindu bodies threaten to gherao SSP
Hoshiarpur, July 13 After the meeting Ranjit Rana, vice-president of the Shiv Sena Punjab (Bal Thackeray), said activists of the Ambedkar Sena had allegedly shown disrespect to the temple and dera by throwing stones. Those at the meeting demanded registration of a case against the activists of Ambedkar Sena and their arrest, failing which they threatened to gherao the SSP tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Bajrang Dal has given a call for Hoshiarpur bandh on July 16. On the other hand, Punjab general secretary of BSP Onkar Singh Jhamat alleged that the Hindu organisations were pressing the district administration to register a case against the Dalit community. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
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10 hurt in collision
Hoshiarpur, July 13 In the collision, three occupants of the truck and seven of the train were injured.
— PTI
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Dera chief’s kin suffers burns
Bathinda, July 13 She has been referred to DMC Hospital, Ludhiana, as her condition is serious. Sources said Pavan Deep caught fire when she lit the match stick to ignite the burners. Flames erupted as gas had already leaked from the cylinder.
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Labour bodies hold protest
Sangrur, July 13 The police forcibly removed the connection of the mike being used by labour leaders. This led to anger and unrest among activists and leaders of the organisations, who started raising slogans against the police. The rally was held against the Badal government for not honouring promises made by him.
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Mealy-bug attack Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 13 He said farmers were being misled by vested interests with regard to the spray of pesticides to check the mealy bug attack. The distribution of pesticides through official channels would eliminate the exploitation of the cotton growers. He said the government should compensate the cotton growers, who had suffered substantial losses to their crops because of mealy-bug. Bogh Singh said the government should also check the spread of gastroenteritis because of the supply of poor quality drinking water to the villages. He said not only gastroenteritis cases, but also jaundice cases had been reported from certain areas. The health department authorities should be strictly told to enforce the use of standardised steel pipes for the supply of drinking water from water works in villages. He said the use of sub-standard plastic pipes to draw water from main pipes was creating problems in the supply of clean drinking water. The closure of canals for weeks together was also causing problems in the supply of potable water in the rural areas. Most of the water works draw water from canals for further supply to connection holders in villages, he added.
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Rs 600-cr credit for farmers: Capt
Patiala, July 13 The minister for cooperation, Capt Kanwaljit Singh, gave this information while talking to The Tribune here today. He was here to hear grievances of party workers. He said central agencies like Nabard were providing negligible credit to cooperative banks of Punjab for providing agriculture loans to farmers. Last year Nabard provided a credit of just Rs 258 crore for agriculture loans. “I have fixed a meeting with representatives of the RBI and Nabard on July 25 to get the credit limit for agricultures in Punjab increased,” Capt Kanwaljit Singh said. He said a proposal had been mooted to make cooperative banks more competitive. For this the credit portfolio of cooperative banks was being expanded. Cooperative banks would now be able to give loans at higher interest for housing, industry and other capital-intensive projects. Capt Kanwaljit Singh said Milkfed plants had been directed to open more booths to sell their products.
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Roll back interest rate hike: BKU
Chandigarh, July 13 Joginder Singh Ugrahan and Sukhdev Singh
Kokrikalan, president and general secretary of the union, respectively, said here today that the increase in the interest rate would hit the farmers hard.
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2,012 online kiosks to be set up
Patiala, July 13 The government is planning to set up 2012 kiosks across the state that will be termed citizen service centres. The kiosks will be run by service-provider companies. There will be at least two service providers in the state. For this purpose, the state has been divided into four zones. To make the entire system online, the computerisation of records has already started across the state. D.S. Grewal, deputy commissioner, said that out of about 1,70,000 revenue units in the district 80,000 have already been computerised. The computerisation of the rest will be completed within a short span. Director, information technology, R.K. Verma said that service providers for the project would be selected in the next two months. The project is being implemented under the aegis of Union Government which is planning to set up 1 lakh kiosks across the country. The basic norm adopted in it is that one kiosk will be set for every six villages. Kiosks in urban centres will be based on the population. Providing information regarding government departments will be just a small part of the scheme. The kiosks will also provide a platform for private companies or corporates to take their schemes to the people. The service providers will be authorised to charge minimum charges for providing information on the doorstep to the people. The cost of the project at the national level is Rs 3,300 crore, Verma said. Initially, the government had planned to install self-operating systems to give people access to information. However, it posed a problem as a large section of the population, especially in rural areas, did not have much knowledge about information technology. So, the system of private service providers was thought of, he said.
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8 IPS officers shifted
Chandigarh, July 13 The other transferred officers are Harpreet Singh Sidhu who has been posted as additional DIG, administration, Arun Kumar Oran who goes as DIG, computer and telecommunications, while Kuldeep Singh becomes the DIG, PAP-II and training. K.J.S. Pannu has been posted as DIG, community policing and NRI affairs, Sukhwinder Singh as SP, detective, Kapurthala, Sukhdev Singh as SP, crime wing, Gurdev Singh as SP, crime against women, while Harbhajan Singh has been posted as SP, security. Gurdeep Singh Pannu has been posted as SP, headquarters, Sangrur, Dharam Singh as AC, 2nd
IRB, Ladha Kothi, Sangrur, Parambir Singh Gill as AC, 2nd commando battalion, Bahadurgarh, Rajpal Singh as AC, 75th battalion, PAP, with the additional charge of SP, Chief Minister security, with headquarters at Jalandhar. Gurpreet Singh Gill will be the new commandant, first commando battalion, Bahadurgarh, Naljot Singh Rathore goes as SP, excise and taxation, Patiala, while Gurinder Singh Dhillon goes as commandant, 4th
IRB, Jalandhar. Tejinder Singh has been posted as commandant, 27th battalion, PAP, Jalandhar, Gurmeet Singh as SP, detective, Khanna, Sushil Kumar as AC, 2nd CDO battalion, Bahadurgarh, Darshan Kumar as AIG, litigation, and Mukhwinder Singh Chhina has been posted AIG, headquarters, Intelligence. Inderjit Singh Randhawa will be AIG, welfare and litigation, Kashmir Singh Gill AC, 2nd commando battalion, Bahadurgarh, Baljit Singh Randhawa AC, 9th battalion, PAP, Amritsar, while Surjit Singh Grewal’s services have been placed at the disposal of the vigilance bureau while Rakesh Chandra goes as AIG, armament, Punjab. Balbir Singh goes as new SP, Gurdaspur, Pritpal Singh Virk as SP, headquarters, Fatehgarh Sahib, Tejinder Singh as SP, operations, Tarn Taran, while Dr Naresh Kumar, who was removed as SSP, Bathinda, after the Dera Sacha Sauda episode, has been posted as SP, intelligence wing. while Surjit Singh will be the new SP, headquarters, Amritsar city. Iqbal Singh has been posted as SSP, Amritsar rural, with additional charge of AIG, CID, Amritsar. Harpreet Singh goes as SP, Pathankot, Bhupinderjit Singh Virk as SP, detective, Sangrur, Mander Singh SP, internal vigilance cell, Ashish Chaudhary SP, detective, Ropar, while Manmohan Singh goes as SP, headquarters, Gurdaspur.
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Sundaram heads for Centre
Chandigarh, July 13 Sundaram, who will be on deputation, was relieved by the state government today. Sundaram was the chief electoral officer, Punjab, and now Babu Lal, who is at present additional chief electoral officer, will take over from him. M.P. Arora has been posted as commissioner, municipal corporation, Patiala, relieving S.K. Ahluwalia of the additional charge.
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