Chandigarh, January 12
While fingers are being raised against UT Adviser Pradip Mehra for entertaining petitions relating to certain resumed properties in the city and granting relief on them, it turns out that this practice has been going on for many years and even his predecessors, including Lalit Sharma, Neeru Nanda and Virender Singh, had done the same.

Mehra, who has taken the UT Administrator, Gen S.F. Roderigues (retd), head-on by raising objections on his pet mega projects that are now under the CVC’s review, has been in the eye of the storm recently following reports that he had granted relief on certain resumed “prime properties” in the city.

According to reports, in April 2008, Mehra had granted relief to the owners of a Sector 23 plot after 37 years of its resumption in 1971 by condoning the delay in filing the revision petition and restoring the property to them.

In almost a similar case, Mehra’s predecessor Lalit Sharma had given identical orders of condoning the delay in filing the review petition in respect to a property that was resumed in 1971. Sharma had given the orders for restoring the site to the legal heir of House No. 1200 in Sector 18-C on July 19, 2006, 34 years and 10 months after its resumption.

The said property had been resumed for “misuse and for failure of depositing the forfeiture amount”. The review petition against the Chief Administrators order’s of July 29, 1971, was filed by Kishan Kumar s/o Late Kharaiti Lal, who learnt about the resumption only after he applied for the transfer of the property in his name.

In a case relating to Shop No. 44, Sector 15-D, on January 4, 2006, Sharma had condoned the delay and restored the site to the legal heir after 28 years and five months of its resumption. The shop was resumed on grounds of misuse on January 24, 1977, and the review petition was filed by Kulwaran Chaudhry, s/o Late Jarnail Singh, a resident of Sector 22-B, who learnt about the resumption after he applied for the transfer of the shop in his name.

In another case pertaining to Site No, 11, Sector 21-C, Sharma had condoned the delay and remanded the case back to the Estate Officer for urgent hearing after 19 years and 10 months of resumption. The revision petition against the Chief Administrator’s orders of February 12, 1985, was filed by Kirpal Singh, s/o Harnam Singh, a permanent resident of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Sharma gave his orders on April 6, 2005.

In February 2005, Sharma again condoned the delay in a case pertaining to the resumption of Booth No. 310, Sector 15-D. Sharma’s order for restoring the site to the owners was filed on a review petition filed by Lajwanti, legal heir of Late Ram Dev, against the Chief Administrator’s order of July 7, 1994.

In another case pertaining to House No. 3022, Sector 19-D, Sharma, on November 8, 2006, had again condoned the delay and restored the property after over eight years of its resumption in 1998. The review petition had been filed by Brig Zail Singh of Derra Radha Zswami Satsand, Beas.

Similarly, on July 12, 2006, Sharma had condoned the delay and restored the property, Booth No. 247, Sector 40-D, after nearly seven years of its resumption in 1998. The review petition had been filed by Kumari Sarda Bassi and Rahul Bassi.

Sharma’s predecessor, Virender Singh, had also condoned the delay in filing the review petition pertaining to residential site No. 1191, Sector 18-C, after nearly seven-and-half years of its resumption in 1995. Singh, in his order of August 6, 2003, wrote: “I find that at present, there is no misuse at the site and only the question of petty amount of forfeiture of Rs 440 is involved… I hereby set aside the impugned order, condone the delay in filing the review petition and restore the site to the owner…”

Similarly, Singh’s predecessor, Neeru Nanda, had also passed similar orders pertaining to properties -House No. 1936, Sector 22-B, and 1106/2, Sector 39, on January 16, 2002 and July 24, 2002, respectively. Nanda passed both the orders after over two years of their resumption/ cancellation orders issued by Chief Administrator.

Admitting that such orders were routine and almost all Advisers had indulged in such doings, a senior administration official, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have to look at things in the right perspective as laws are meant for the people convenience and not for their harassment. Condoning delays in filing review petitions and extending time of depositing paltry forfeiture amounts of Rs 50 or Rs 440 are no big deal.”

He claimed that even courts have ruled that modification orders to the limited extent of extension of time could not be equated with the prayer for review, rather such a prayer was well within the inherent powers possessed by every judicial or quasi-judicial authority. 

Chandigarh, January 12
The police today arrested owner of a Sector 22-based loan facilitator company on the charges of raping his personal secretary.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that the accused, Anurag Aggarwal (30), of Action Group Company in Sector 22, had raped her at a hotel in Shimla on January 10 after taking her there on the pretext of attending an official meeting. She had joined the company on January 8.

In-charge of the Sector 22 police post sub-inspector Jaspal Singh told TNS that the victim was a resident of Sector 47, who is in her early twenties. In her complaint, she alleged that Aggarwal, a resident of Panchkula, had taken her along with him on the pretext of attending a meeting at Kalka. On reaching Kalka, he told her that the meeting has been canceled and it will now be held at Shimla.

Sources in the police said the victim alleged that the accused booked a room in a hotel at Shimla and raped her and threatened her of dire consequences if she revealed it to anyone. After reaching Chandigarh, the accused dropped her outside their office at Sector 22 at around 2 am on December 11 and called her mother to take her home.

The police said the victim reported the matter to the police on January 11 and alleged that she was assaulted and threatened by her boss. The police registered a case under Sections 323, 342, 354 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code in this connection.

A police officer said it was today that the victim alleged in the court that she was raped also. Her statement was recorded before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code and the victim was medically examined accordingly.

The police had already arrested Aggarwal on Sunday and slapped rape charges against him today following a fresh statement by the victim. 

Panchkula, January 12
A seven-year-old case of alleged sexual harassment by an official of the IG rank of the Haryana Police came to haunt the state police when a woman from Yamunanagar, demanding “justice”, sat on a dharna before the DGP office here today.

The woman alleged that due to the influence of the accused official, the police had failed to deliver justice. Though the police personnel deputed on the spot asked her to return, till the filing of this report at midnight, she was adamant and kept sitting in front of the police headquarters in Sector 6. She wanted to meet the Director General of Police.

The alleged victim had also protested a few months ago at the police headquarters by breaking her bangles, after which a high-level fact-finding team investigated the matter.

The woman said she had gone to the officer to get a case registered against her in-laws but during one of her meetings, the officer molested her.

Last year, after Sarita of Rohtak committed suicide at the DGP office, this was the fourth time when a woman from the state reached here to stage dharna to protest against the state police, alleging that perpetrators of crime were getting the patronage of the police.

Chandigarh, January 12
After crying hoarse over the security concerns of the UT Administrator and Punjab Governor, SF Rodrigues, thereby installing two iron speed-breakers on the road in front of the governor house recently, UT administration today got them removed, courtesy, an RTI application filed by one of the hassled commuters.

Advocate Minderjit Yadav, a member of the Bar Council of India and a practising lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who takes the road everyday to reach courts, had filed an application under the RTI Act 2005 with the state information officer, to know the provisions, under which the iron speed-breakers were installed.

Surprisingly, he filed an application in this regard on January 8, instead of taking time in giving reply, to his utter surprise, the same speed-breakers were removed today.

While not only these ill-thought speed-breakers were taking their toll on the vehicles of the commuters, but were also causing traffic jams at times, as it was not possible to drive on the road even with little speed or the vehicle was damaged.

Talking to The Tribune, Yadav said: “I was waiting for the reply to my application but was surprised to see them getting removed within three days. But I will still pursue the case in the larger interest of the public,” he said.

The road is V-3 and is under the UT administration.

Interestingly, even earlier, there was a proposal to close the road for public in view of the Governor’s security, but that was found unfeasible.

On conditions of anonymity, one of the officers of the engineering department said as per the rules, speed-breakers could only be installed on the roads in front of hospitals and schools, and cannot be installed on public roads or highways.

Despite repeated attempts, none of the officials was willing to comment on the pretext of being amid Lohri celebrations.

Chandigarh, January 12
A day after the local unit of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), reportedly declared its candidate from the Chandigarh seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, fissures has appeared in the party with the Central leadership terming the decision as fictitious.

Prof Ramdev Bhandari, national General Secretary of the RJD, strongly criticised the announcement.

“Till date, no candidate has been finalised for the Lok Sabha seat from the RJD side. It is totally a fictitious announcement with malafide intention if the Chandigarh wing of the RJD has announced its candidate for the Lok Sabha seat,” he said.

“We would not field any candidate against the Congress candidate for the Chandigarh seat. Here, it is Pawan Bansal who is a winning candidate by any chance from the Congress and we would not attempt to divide the votes by fielding our candidate because otherwise the advantage would be extended to the Bhartiya Janata Party because of division of votes,” he added.

The RJD, in connivance with the Congress, has formed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the Centre, which was the great disadvantage to the Bhartiya Janata Party.

Bhandari further told that the party led by Lalu Prasad Yadav would go along with the secular forces like the Congress under any circumstances and would initiate only with the consensus of the Congress.

It is pertinent to mention that the local unit of the RJD yesterday announced Haffiz Anwar-Ul-Haq, the president of the IQRA Foundation of Minorities, to be the next candidate for the Lok Sabha elections from the Chandigarh seat and Ravinder Krishan as president of the local unit of RJD.

The announcement was made during a meeting held at the Sector 33 Community Centre here, where workers from other parties, reportedly, consented to join the RJD.

Bhandari, when asked, admitted that Ravinder Krishan’s name for the presidentship of the local RJD is still under consideration but has not been finalised yet. “His nomination as the president of the local RJD wing would only be decided once Lalu Prasad Yadav comes back from Japan trip.

Mohali, January 12
The Mohali district administration is gearing itself to remove the hoardings that have come up along the National Highway no. 21 passing through the district. The drive will be carried out in light of a case going on in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Officials have been asked to identify all such hoardings that have come up along the national highway in Mohali, Kharar and Kurali. A senior official disclosed that the drive would be carried out within this week.

To review the situation, a meeting of officials of the district administration was held here today.

A random survey revealed that the lawmakers had turned law violators. Numerous publicity boards and hoardings, espousing the Akali leadership for political appointments dot the National Highway No 21 passing through the district in total violation of rules and specific directions of the apex court and the high court.

Some of these hoardings even cover the official signposts displaying traffic directions, making the matter even more serious and worthy of intervention of the authorities concerned. There are specific directions against putting up such hoardings and other publicity material facing the roads as these divert the attention of drivers and may cause accidents.

In Mohali and Zirakpur, numerous hoardings have come at busy traffic junctions. In violation of the rules, several local political leaders as well as MC councillors have put up big hoardings for wishing New Year to Zirakpur residents at intersections and link roads, thereby causing defacement of the town. Of these, one hoarding of a Punjab Cabinet Minister has been put up in praise the state government on Zirakpur-Chandigarh barrier.

Mohali, January 12
A home would be constructed in the state for newborn-abandoned girls to provide an environment that could facilitate their overall upbringing, said Chaudhry Swarna Ram, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, at a function held here to celebrate Lohri of newborn girls today.

The minister said he had sent project report regarding this to the Central government for approval and work would be initiated soon after the authorities concerned gave the required sanction. He said the girls were discriminated against by the society, especially in today’s world, when women were holding high positions in various spheres of life all over the world.

He said there were only 874 females for 1,000 males in Punjab, which would adversely affect the progress of the society. Women indulging in female foeticide failed to understand that they would not be able to find a bride for their son if the trend continued. There was a need to change the mindset, he added.

Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Director, department of social security, women and child development, said the male-female ratio was the lowest in Punjab. The department had taken an initiative to celebrate Lohri of newborn girls to change the mindset of the people and this was the eighth such function.

Chandigarh, January 12
The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) probe into the controversial UT mega projects is finally set to get going with the Chandigarh Administration deciding to dispatch the entire record to the Commission office in New Delhi tomorrow.

According to sources, the records pertaining to the Film City-cum-Multimedia Project, Amusement-cum-Theme Park, Medicity and the IT Park Habitat Project (Prideasia project of the Parshnath Developers) will be dispatched to the CVC for a “fair and independent” probe into the projects.

Apparently taking cognisance of media reports into of the alleged irregularities into the allotment of land measuring hundreds of acres to these projects, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had asked the CVC to probe the mega projects.

The MHA seems to have also taken into account strong objections raised by adviser to the UT Administrator Pradip Mehra into two mega projects - the Film City and the Medicity. While Mehra had strongly objected to the “under-valuation” of land for these two projects, he demanded an inquiry by an independent Central agency into the Film City project.

The mega projects controversy took another turn when Union Minister of State for Finance Pawan Bansal demanded a review of the mega projects for their alleged “lopsided” financial model, heavily loaded against the administration. While Bansal was guarded in his criticism of the projects, several of his loyalists went to an extent of the demanding a CBI inquiry into the project and relinquishing the office of Administrator by S.F. Rodrigues for a “fair probe”. The projects are considered to be the brainchild of the Administrator.

Meanwhile, official sources claimed that the CVC probe would clear the clouds of uncertainty hovering over the projects, seriously affecting the development works in the city. 

Chandigarh, January 12
A Punjabi book “Banne Channe”, a collection of articles on various socio-political global developments by acclaimed Punjabi writer Ripudaman Singh Roop was released at a function organised by Punjabi Lekhak Sabha and Punjab Sahit Sabha at Kala Bhavan, here yesterday. Presiding over the function, eminent journalist Gobind Thukral, former Bureau Chief, The Tribune, appreciated the Punjabi language and the thematic content having all-time relevance. Chief guest Santokh Singh Dhir, National Sahitya Akademy, awardee and author’s father Roop, was appreciated for charismatic literary works.

Former advocate general, Punjab, and Dr Laabh Singh Kheeva, offered critical appreciation on the book. They said the book was a collection of articles penned by acclaimed writer Ripudaman Singh Roop on various global issues and developments of the socio-political sphere in the past one-and-a-half decade.

The author senses the globalisation, world politics and its implications from the angle of the Marxist ideology and vision.

In his compiled articles, he has addressed many issues like future of communist movement and left unity, literature, education, employees movements, analysis of Indian and international socio-political scenario.

Mohali, January 12
Different educational institutions in the city celebrated Lohri with traditional fervour. At Ashmah International School tiny tots dressed in smart apparels and typical Punjabi dresses made the occasion colourful.

A huge bonfire on the school campus with its ambers and warmth set the tone for Lohri festivity. Popular Punjabi numbers further set the mood for dance performances to the beat of popular numbers and Punjabi dhol. The school principal, Rupinder Ghuman, explained to the students the reasons for celebrating Lohri.

At Golden Bells School, Sector 77, teachers enlightened the students on the importance of Lohri. Poems and songs were recited in praise of one of the hero of Punjab, Dulha Bhatti, who used to help the poor and fought for their rights.

The tiny tots of Shemrock School, Sector 69, Mohali, celebrated Lohri on the school premises by lighting a bonfire. At Shivalik Institute of Education and Research, the spirit of universal brotherhood and gratitude was celebrated with the traditional fervour. As many as 21 blood donors were also felicitated on the occasion.

The students, staff and management of Aryans Institutes of Management and Technology (AIMT) celebrated Lohri on the college campus today. Around 130 students of Aryans Institute of Management and Technology participated in the function.

The Lohri festival was celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm at Indo Global Colleges, Mohali, on Monday. The chairman of the college Sukhdev Kumar Singla presided over the function.

The campus was decorated on the occasion and a special Lohri bumper draw was organised. Aditi Gupta of civil engineering stream won the fully automatic washing machine in the lucky draw.

Chandigarh, January 12
The Women’s Empowerment Committee, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, has celebrated Lohri for “Girl Child in the Family” at Terraced Garden, Sector 33, here today.

Kamlesh, Mayor, was the chief guest of the function and Dr Roshan Sunkaria, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, was the guest of honour. Dr Pam Rajput, chairperson of the Women’s Empowerment Committee, Rajesh Gupta, area councillor, PK Sharma, Additional Commissioner, T.P.S. Phoolka, Joint Commissioner, Parminderpal Singh, Assistant Commissioner, SK Bansal, Chief Engineer, were also present on the occasion.

During the function, various cultural events were performed by students of DAV College, Sector 10, Govt College, Sector 42, KBDAV School, Ankur School (Panjab University) and others. Blankets were distributed among the families of those who were blessed by girl child, for their first Lohri.

Those who were present were Madhu Bansal, wife of Pawan Bansal, State Minister for Finance, former mayors of the Municipal Corporation, councillors and officials of the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. The horticulture division of the MCC under the supervision of Arun Kumar Kansal decorated the garden.

With reference to Raveen Thukral’s Cityscope, “Unending police excesses”, having seen true life of policemen there is another angle which has not been touched in the column.

Vermas and Gargs are not fools that they got carried away by a solitary incident. Though police excesses can’t be justified, we never go to find reasons behind these. You roam around the entire UT and try to find a person who is happy with the police force.

Think about the lone policeman on red lights, who has to fend for himself. See the human side, pay them well and try to behave with them as a person. Don’t abuse them and give them respect and you will see the difference. But we will not do that. This makes them a disgruntled lot. We have never visited police lines/station to discus their problems.

Chandigarh, January 12
A peace rally was held here today by students, teachers and various other literary organisations at Panjab University Students Centre to cement people-to-people relations between India and Pakistan. In the rally, the students took pledge for peaceful solution to the problem of terrorism.

Prof Sukhdev Singh, general secretary, Punjabi Sahit Academy, Ludhiana, said, “It is painful for us to know that the Indian Government has refused visa to Madiha Gauhar’s Ajoka theatre on account of ‘security’ reasons’. It is the second time, after not allowing the play of ‘Bullah’ last month, that the government has refused visa. If governments on both sides cannot provide security to art, culture, theatre and other artistes, how can such governments assure security to people from terrorists’ attacks.

Dr Sarabjit Singh, general secretary, Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha, said during the past one decade, a thaw in the Indo-Pak relations, particularly between the people on either side, had been achieved with a lot of efforts. The people of Pakistan were also having strong desire for peace and warmth due to which they were pressurising their own government in Pakistan, said Dr Sarabjit Singh.

Prof. Rabinder Sharma, fellow, Panjab University, Chandigarh, narrating his experience at Pakistan, said the nostalgia for India among the Pakistani people was so strong that they refused to charge any money for the shopping and treat buying goods as part of hospitality from Pakistani people to the Indian counterpart. He also added that terrorism was enemy of people, which we should fight together in cooperation with the civil society.

Meanwhile, a campaign was launched by Yuvsatta to collect thousands of signatures from 50 cities of India for peace between the two countries. 

Chandigarh, January 12
Students of Interact Club, Guru Nanak Public School, visited the Kushth Ashram, Sector-47 on the occasion of Lohri today. The students distributed sweets and snacks among the slum children.

GCG-11: The staff and students of Government College for Girls, Sector-11, celebrated Lohri with great fanfare in the college today. Representatives of the College Students Council arranged and managed the celebration in a very colourful manner. Promila Kaushal, Principal, lighted the Lohri.

GC-46: Government College 46 celebrated Lohri with great joy. Lighting the bonfire, principal Dr KS Saluja wished the staff and the students a very happy Lohri and urged them to keep the cultural tradition alive at all costs.

ABS: Students, staff and management of Aryans Institutes of Management & Technology (AIMT) celebrated Lohri on the college campus. Around 130 students of Aryans Institute of Management & Technology participated in the function. The students and staff members presented a colourful cultural programme on the occasion.

Shishu Niketan: The Primary Wing of Shishu Niketan School, Sector 22-D, organised Lohri on the school campus. Children danced to the beats of the popular numbers.

GC-11: The Department of Physical Education & Library of Govt. College-11 organised a plethora of events to mark the National Youth Day on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.

The library of the college organized a book exhibition displaying books, magazines and journals on the swami’s thoughts and ideas on social reforms, social evils, yoga etc. Hari Krishan, former administrative officer, Commonwealth Youth Programme Asia Centre, inaugurated the exhibition.

Dev Samaj College: Dev Samaj College of Education, 36-B, celebrated National Youth Day to pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda on his 147 th birthday. A documentary film on “Life and Teachings of Swamiji” was shown to the prospective teachers so that they should take the inspiration from his life and teachings and follow the path shown by him.