Chandigarh, August 8
The battle between Mr Justice Uma Nath Singh and the Bar ended suddenly and unexpectedly today.The judge came out of his courtroom, accompanined by Bar executive members.

He sat among agitating lawyers and a truce was reached over a cup of tea.

The judge spoke with candour and said what had happened was unfortunate. “Of late, I have been upset because my wife is down with cancer. She has been operated upon twice and is undergoing treatment at AIIMS,” he said, striking an emotional chord with the lawyers.

Pleasantly surprised at the turn of events, the lawyers surrounded the judge and thanked him for his gesture.

President of the Bar association Anmol Rattan Sidhu, vice-president G.S. Attariwala and secretary Onkar Singh Batalvi thanked the judge for his “exemplary gesture” and said the boycott was over.

They said cordial ties between the Bar and the Bench were of utmost importance in the interest of society.

Chandigarh, August 8
Punjab Transport Minister Master Mohan Lal’s visit to the Sector 17 Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) has set the ball rolling for the long-pending refurbishing of the terminus.

After the Punjab minister highlighted the sorry state of affairs in the media, it is now the turn of the UT administrator to inspect the terminus tomorrow.

The officials, who earlier failed to perform their duty of up keeping the bus terminus, were today running around to impress their top bosses.

Around 150 persons, including painters, sweepers, electricians and plumbers, were seen working in frenzy to give the bus stand a facelift.

Besides cleaning up the whole terminus, painting of the fans, pillars and walls of the bus stand, was also done; an exercise not done for the last many years. Electricians were busy changing as well as covering all the wires and electricity points. The drinking water sites and the toilets, whose pathetic state disturbed the minister the most, were being cleaned and all broken pots and non-functional sanitary fittings were being changed. The paid toilets have been made free for use from today.

In addition, new chairs in the waiting room, tiles at the rear side (fire brigade side) and new counters are eye-catchy.

CTU director Captain P.S. Shergill, supervising the operation, said the authorities were concerned about the problems being faced by the passengers.

“Surveys would be done regularly by the officials now. Security will also be beefed up, especially at night,” said Shergill.

On the hygiene at food stalls, Shergill said, “Officials from the health department will take samples of the food items being sold here. We are also keeping an eye to discourage shopkeepers from charging more than the actual price.” 

Panchkula, August 8
The 31 wards of the Panchkula Municipal Council will be redefined for the 2008 elections if the district administration has its way. Citing increase in population, administrative officials maintain it would be a very unfair election without an exercise in delimitation of wards.

Sources said a draft plan to reorganise the wards is being prepared and would be shortly forwarded to the Haryana government for approval, despite the local bodies department having disapproved of the idea.

In response to a written application by a councillor, seeking reorganisation of wards, the department had maintained that such a proposal could not be considered till the next population census in 2011.

However, since the administration cannot advance the census to suit the election date, officials have based the entire case on the number of votes that have gone up since the last election.

According to sources, there were over 73,000 voters in 74 booths across the city in the 2001 elections when the wards were first formed.

Since then, a number of group housing societies have come up in Mansa Devi and Sector 20. According to the revised voter’s list, the total tally of voters from the city stands at 87,000 which is 13,000 more than the last election.

Since this population is primarily spread over three sectors of Mansa Devi, Sector 15 and Sector 20, any candidate contesting from these wards would be at a disadvantage. Sources said while the voting population in Mansa Devi has gone up by nearly 3,000 and by nearly 4,000 in Sectors 15 and 20, the inclusion of Tribune Mitra Vihar in the council has further increased the votebank by another 2500-odd votes.

“In a House, it is unfair to put a candidate who has won with 1,000 votes and another with 5,000 votes on the same pedestal. Also, how can a councillor be expected to do justice to his ward, given the unequal numbers he has to please,” an official reasoned.

The officials are optimistic of getting the nod for the reorganisation of ward boundaries for the conduct of “fair election”.

Chandigarh, August 8
A steel and glass building would soon replace the old concrete building of the airport. A new building would soon replace the current one as the building plan of the Chandigarh Airport has finally come through. Work on the new building is expected to start in 3-6 months. The new building will be a glass building and will have two floors; a budget of 50.2 crores has already been sanctioned for the same.

The city airport will soon be acquiring explosive detectors. According to airport director Suneel Dutt, they would be acquiring two explosive detectors, which are expected to be with the airport authorities here next week.

The building will come up in an area of 12, 000 square meters. The buildings design has been done in house by the Airport authority of India. The work is expected to be completed on the building in 15 months of its commencement. Talking to TNS, Airport Director Suneel Dutt informed that the design of the building had been approved and work should start soon.

The new building, which will have two floors, is proposed to have all the latest amenities for the passengers, which include escalators. The new airport will have up to three aero bridges and will be able to accommodate 500 passengers. Check in facility for six to eight flights would also be accommodated for. The airport is also proposed to have parking for 500 cars.

The construction of the new building would also mean extension of the apron area, which would then be able to accommodate five wide-bodied aircrafts. The officials also propose to broaden the road leading towards the airport. The new building is also proposed to cater to international flights.

Mohali, August 8
The local Municipal Council has taken up cudgels against the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for planning to undertake development works in gross violation of the decisions taken at a joint meeting held recently.

Sources said council has shot off a letter to the GMADA chief administrator, Krishan Kumar, objecting to the publication of an advertisement inviting “expression of interest” for landscaping entry points to the town and developing green belts in the commercial area.

In the semi-official letter sent by the executive officer, J.S. Thind, it was stated that a joint meeting between civic body and GMADA officials regarding the execution of development works in the town was held under the chairmanship of Krishan Kumar on July 20.

It was decided at the meeting that all roads and parking areas falling under municipal limits would be maintained by the council meaning thereby that council was given the responsibility of maintaining road berms and green belts along roads as well.

The letter further stated that GMADA had got an advertisement published on July 21 inviting interested parties for development and maintenance of entry points from Chandigarh to Mohali and green belts in commercial areas in the town on BOT basis.

The interested parties were allowed to put up advertisement boards in the areas developed by them. Going by the decisions taken in the meeting held on July 20, GMADA could not get the work of beautifying entry points and green belts done.

Interestingly, a request was made to withdraw the advertisement given in this regard. The letter also said only the civic body had the right to give permission to put up advertisement boards within municipal limits and no other agency was authorised to do so.

GMADA had invited response from developers to beautify eight entry points that connected Chandigarh to Mohali. These were the points dividing sectors 56-55, 55-54, 54-53, 53-52, 52-51, 51-50, 50-49, and 49-48. Response was also invited for developing six green belts in Sector 54, nine in Sector 56, six in Sector 59, nine in Sector 60, seven in Sector 61, one and four in Sectors 62 and 63 respectively, nine in Sector 64 and two in Sector 70.

Krishan Kumar said the proposal of developing entry points and green belts was cleared before July 20 meeting and that was why response was invited through an advertisement. He pointed out that he had no objection if council wanted to develop those areas. His only priority was to develop the town in a planned way for the residents of the town. These entry points and green belts could also be handed over to the civic body for maintenance after proper development.

Panchkula, August 8
Tributes were paid to Ashok Chakra awardee Maj Sandeep Shankla at a solemn ceremony held at the war memorial in Sector 2, on the 13th anniversary of his martyrdom here today.

A contingent of Maj Shankla’s unit, the 18th Battalion of the Dogra Regiment, presented the guard of honour. They reversed arms and a two-minute silence was observed. Buglers sounded the last post, followed by the rouse.

The Chief of Staff, Headquarter, Western Command, Lt Gen A.N. Aul, was the first to lay a wreath at the memorial. Tributes were paid by various officers of the Western Command.

Major Shankla’s father, Lt Col (retd) J.S. Kanwar, also laid the wreath at the memorial while other family members later paid floral tributes. Officers of the civil administration and members of the Zila Sainik Board also paid tributes and laid wreaths.

Maj Sandeep Shankla made the supreme sacrifice on this day in 1991 while fighting militants at Zafarkhani village in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. He was leading an operation against the terrorists, which resulted in the death of nine militants and arrest of 22. Major Shankla was posthumously awarded the Ashoka Chakra, the highest peacetime gallantry award.

Chandigarh, August 8
Passengers, who were scheduled to board Lucknow-bound evening Sadbhavana Express today, had to face a lot of inconvenienced when they were told that the train would depart nine hours behind its scheduled time.

The train, which was scheduled to depart at 8.40 pm, would depart at 6 am the next day.

A railway official said Sadbhavana Express had been delayed as Unchhar Express, running between Chandigarh and Haridwar, was running 16 hours behind its scheduled time. The train, which was to arrive at 9.20 am, was expected to reach Chandigarh at 2 am. The bogies of Unchhar Express, on their return journey, form part of Sadbhavana Express. — TNS

This is with reference to the news item ‘Hockey losing to apathy’ in Chandigarh Tribune on July 30, 2007. To raise the standard of hockey, I have some suggestions. The selection committee should pick at least 50 young hockey probables, in the age group of 20 to 25 years, prepare four good teams, to be named ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’. When team ‘A’ needs to be retired, team B should replace it and new entrants selected for D team.

Before departure and on return of team ‘A’ from tours they should play exhibition matches with ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ teams in large and small towns to get regular practice and collect funds for the IHF.

The Government should open hockey nursery schools in all the states to import all round education with specialisation in hockey. After completing their education to higher secondary level they should be trained at the NIS/SAI centers. I am sure there will be no dearth of good hockey players to regain the lost glory of Indian hockey.

Chandigarh, August 8
Less than a week after a Nigerian national was arrested by the Chandigarh Police, his wife and neighbours today handed over a representation to the UT senior superintendent of police (SSP), claiming that he was being falsely implicated.

Manjit Kaur, the accused John Hussain’s wife, accompanied by residents of her Sector 40-B locality, lodged a complaint with the SSP.

Manjit, in her complaint, said a team from the operation cell of the Chandigarh police, headed by sub-inspector Parveen Sharma, came to her residence on August 4 at around 8.30 pm. The police did not search the house, but simply arrested John. It was only the next day that Manjit was informed through the newspapers that her husband was arrested for possessing 50 grams of smack. She alleged that her husband was being falsely implicated in the case.

She requesting the SSP to order an inquiry into the matter and demanded action against the policemen.

Denying the allegations, Mohan Lal Verma, deputy superintendent of police (Operation Cell), said the smack had been recovered in his presence. Verma added that John had a criminal history.

Sources in the cell said John was arrested with 250 grams of smack by the Mohali police in 1998. He was then sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by the Ropar Court, following which he was lodged at a jail in Patiala. He was given bail after he filed an appeal in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was again booked by the operation cell in November last year for violating the Foreigner Act. 

Panchkula, August 8
S.C. Nehra, one of the victims of the accident in Sector 12-A, which ended in arson on the night of July 27, succumbed to his injuries at PGI, here today. He was knocked down by the recklessly driven Scorpio which hit Ratti Rani, a resident of Railla village, killing her on the spot. After this, the driver of the Scorpio, allegedly drunk, fled from the scene. It was then that the Scorpio hit Rekha, driving a Honda Action, Manu Gaur, a scooterist, and S.C. Nehra, a pedestrian.

The police, despite claiming to have the number of the vehicle, have not been able to make any arrests so far though villagers of Railla involved in the arson were picked up by the police on the basis of a CD of the incident in their possession. 
— TNS

Chandigarh, August 8
The International Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ICADR), is likely to receive a grant of Rs two crore from the World Bank for undertaking a study on alternative dispute resolution status and effectiveness in the country.

The bank has also informed the ICADR and Union Ministry of Law officials that a loan amounting to $ five million could be granted at a concessional rate of interest.

Top Law Ministry sources informed that various meetings were held with the World Bank officials in which Law Secretary T.K. Vishwanathan, additional secretary with the department of legal affairs K.D. Singh and other senior members of the ICADR’s governing council participated.

The New Delhi-based ICADR would also be spending Rs 30 to Rs 40 lakh for the engagement of foreign and Indian consultants and project manager regarding the aforesaid study. The money would be reimbursed to the ICADR by department of legal affairs.

The department, in consultation with the union ministry of finance, would be making budgetary provisions in the revised estimates for 2007-2008, the sources informed.

“The terms of reference for engagement of the consultants for undertaking the proposed study and preparation of business plan have already been drafted,” the sources added.

Importantly, the ICADR is a nodal body aiming at popularising and institutionalising the alternative dispute resolution methods in India. Union Minister for Law and Justice H.R. Bhardwaj is its chairman while Chief Justice of India is its patron.

The Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Vijender Jain, too has evinced keen interest in the alternative disputes resolution (ADR) and has been highlighting the utility of the concept at various fora, including a recent seminar in New Delhi.

The World Bank’s likely dole assumes significance in the backdrop of the Transparency International’s latest report on staggering corruption in lower rungs of Indian judiciary.

The Berlin-based NGO has suggested, among other measures, that alternative methods of dispute resolution would reduce the burden on conventional judiciary and offer people a route to bypass the courts, thus scuttling chances of corruption.

The report brought forth the abysmal levels of trust which Indians reposed in their judicial system. Nevertheless, it highlighted that the upper judiciary “is relatively clean, though there are obvious exceptions”.

But the really damaging assertion in the report was that the estimated amount paid in bribes in a 1one-year-period was an astonishing Rs 2,630 crore. Money was paid to the officials in the following proportions: 61 per cent to lawyers; 29 per cent to court officials; 5 per cent to judges; and 5 per cent to middlemen.

It also stated that in February 2006, 33,635 cases were pending in the Supreme Court with 26 judges; 3,341,040 cases in the high courts with 670 judges; and 25,306,458 cases in the 13,204 subordinate courts. 

Mohali, August 8
A delegation of Mohali Industries’ Association led by its president T.L.Easwar today urged the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) to bring transparency in its methods of working. The delegation also urged for reduction and simplification of various rules and regulations of the PSEB.

It was pointed out during the meeting held with power secretary, Punjab, Suresh Kumar, that the procedure for getting a load extension from PSEB was very lengthy as it required 240 days. There was a need to simplify it.

Easwar also emphasised that need for PSEB using information technology and introduction of online submission of forms for new power connections or load enhancement. He said information about PSEB rules, regulations, tariffs and circulars should be available on the web. This, he said, will lead to greater transparency and less harassment to the industrialists.

General secretary Anurag Aggarwal took up an important point regarding load limits for various types of connections, which had not been upgraded in keeping with present day requirements as the Centre had increased the investment in plant and machinery for small scale industries from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 5 crore.

The delegation was assured that necessary measures would be taken to solve the problems of the industrial sector.