The Tribune...Chandigarh

C H A N D I G A R H

Wednesday, July 15, 1998

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today's calendar

Bail pleas of two accused rejected
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today rejected the bail applications moved by DSP Jagjit Singh Gill and Harcharan Singh, who were allegedly involved in the Sector 17 district courts shoot-out incident...

Protest holds up CTU auction
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The auction of condemned buses and other articles by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) had to be put off today after scrap dealers boycotted the auction following "misbehaviour" with them by a senior officials of the department...

Vidya-Vachaspati award for Dr Sansar Chandra

Govt warned against
use of ESMA
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Postal services in the city and its surrounding areas continued to be affected as no mail could be delivered...

Panel seeks changes in Act
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The State Election Commission wants the election Act amended...

Order refusing compassionate job quashed
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The order refusing compassionate appointment to a deceased Doordarshan employee's son for daring to seek a higher post, was quashed by Mr J.S. Dhaliwal of the local Central Administration Tribunal Bench...

Vigil on carrying firearms from today
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The Chandigarh Police will start a week-long campaign to check the carrying of firearms in public places by security personnel in civil clothes. The SHO's concerned have been asked to physically oversee the operation beginning tomorrow...

Protest against fund hike
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Teaching work in DAV College, Sector 10, was suspended for more than an hour following a strike call by the National Students Union of India today...

Ajay Kashyap shifted to UT as SSP

Govt warned against use of ESMA
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Postal services in the city and its surrounding areas continued to be affected as no mail could be delivered and a majority of employees continued to be on strike for the sixth consecutive day today.
Partial work was carried out in certain post-offices as sale of stamps, booking of registered mail and parcels were carried out. This was done with the help of middle-level officials.
Meanwhile, at many places in Chandigarh, post offices remained closed in many sectors in Chandigarh employees sat outside.
Local employees have joined in the nationwide strike, the call for which was given by the Postal Joint Council of Action, New Delhi. This union represents nearly six lakh postal employees half of whom are working in the rural areas. They are not considered regular employees and are designated as extra departmental agents.
A big rally was organised outside the office of the Chief Postmaster General in Sector 17 at noon. The statement issued by the government regarding withdrawal of support of the so called "Postmasters and postal supervisors association" from the current stir was condemned, Mr Surinder Pal , convener of the local unit of the Postal Council of Action said.
"There is no such association by this name. Moreover, no such association gave the call for a strike. Hence, there was no question of withdrawal of support," Mr Surinder Pal added. Similarly, various speakers while addressing the employees condemned the threatening statement of the government regarding imposition of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
The rally adopted a resolution warning the government against the imposition of ESMA and challenged the government to try the same on the peaceful striking employees.
PANCHKULA (FOC): The Panchkula Estate Welfare Society of Sector 7 has offered its services for sorting and distribution of mail in the town during the on-going postal strike.
The president of the society, said that a delegation of the society met the Pots-Master of Sector 8 post office in this regard.

Bail pleas of two accused rejected
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr S.S. Lamba, today rejected the bail applications moved by DSP Jagjit Singh Gill and Harcharan Singh, who were allegedly involved in the Sector 17 district courts shoot-out incident.
In his bail application Gill stated that the Chandigarh Administration had not recovered any firearm from his possession. He claimed that he was on leave and had come to the city for meeting a counsel.
As for Harcharan Singh, he claimed that he came to Chandigarh for a personal work. On reaching here he was taken ill. He had got himself X-rayed from a clinic. He alleged that he had been falsely implicated in the case.
Opposing their bail applications, the Public Prosecutor told with the court that they should have disclosed all these facts at the time of arrest. He also said that every member of the unlawful assembly was equally responsible for the incident.
The Public Prosecutor informed the court that Harcharan Singh had not shown any document about his illness to the prosecution.

Protest holds up CTU auction
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The auction of condemned buses and other articles by the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) had to be put off today after scrap dealers boycotted the auction following "misbehaviour" with them by a senior officials of the department.
The dealers, who had come to depot no. II in the Industrial Area here from different cities of the region, alleged that the General Manager of the depot, Mr Labh Singh, used abusive language against them when they were sitting on the chairs at the scene of auction. They alleged that there was no proper sitting arrangements for them and the 20-old buses, which were to be put under the hammer today, did not have the necessary parts like engines and other accessories.
Mr Kanwaljit Singh, a scrap dealer, alleged that the buses to be auctioned had only their bodies without any accessories. He demanded that at least sitting arrangement should have been made for them as they were carrying huge cash.
Later they held a protest outside the depot and raised slogans against the CTU authorities.
Meanwhile, Mr Abhey Singh Yadav, Divisional Manager, CTU-cum-Director, Transport, denied that any official of the department "misbehaved" with the scrap dealers. He added that as the chairs were meant for officials, who were to conduct the auction, Mr Labh Singh only asked them to vacate the seats which they resisted.
He claimed that he invited the scrap dealers many times to settle the matter amicably but they refused.
Mr Labh Singh could not be contacted for his comments.

Poll panel seeks changes in Act
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The State Election Commission wants the election Act amended to provide for election petitions in respect of panchayats and municipalities to be filed in civil courts.
In a letter to the Secretary, Department of Elections, (Local Bodies), the Election Commissioner, Mr C.D. Cheema, has said that he was in agreement with the apprehensions expressed by the Advocate-General on filing of a large number of election petitions in the recently held general elections to gram panchayats with serious allegations of "mala fide against Ministers, MLAs and other political leaders", which may lead to another set of writs arising out of each election petition attracting adverse notice from the High Court.
There exists a provision in the Act to set up election tribunals to adjucate upon the election petitions and appointment of IAS or PCS or Class I officers with adequate administrative, legal or magisterial experience as presiding officers of such tribunals.
In view of the recent experience of the commission, Mr Cheema said the commission was opposed to appointment of SDMs or equivalent PCS or Class I officers as presiding officers so as to avoid the alleged political pressures in the disposal of election petitions. "It is in the interest of the state that junior officers of that level should not be given the charge of disposal of election petitions in the surcharged atmosphere and political climate of the state."
The commission preference is appointment of Deputy Commissioners or Additional Secretaries as presiding officers of the tribunals.
Nevertheless, the commission agrees with the Advocate-General's suggestion of appointment of sub-judges to hear such petitions as in Haryana. Therefore, the commission wants that the Punjab State Election Commission Act, 1994, be suitably amended to incorporate inclusion of civil courts (sub-judges) having ordinary jurisdiction in the area in order to convince the public that "justice is not only done, but also seen to be done", for which an ordinance should be issued.

Campus Beat
PU to introduce two new courses
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Panjab University has decided to introduce two new courses — Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) — from the 1998-99 session.
A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Steering Committee of the university and will feature at the Syndicate meeting scheduled for July 18. The fee pattern will be announced after getting the approval from the Syndicate.
College applying for the course will have to show minimum infrastructural facilities before the grant of permission, sources said. The courses are already being offered by Guru Nanak Dev University and the Punjabi University.
The move will put an end to the problem of dual affiliation of colleges which was discussed at the Senate meeting earlier this year. Certain colleges apart from being affiliated to PU for their degree courses resorted to affiliation of Punjab Technical University for these courses.
The papers in the first year of the BCA will include English, history and culture of Punjab or Punjabi, mathematics, personal computing software, principles of electronic engineering and computer organisation, computer programming and problem solving and two papers in computer laboratories.
In BBA, each unit will consist of 40 students. In each paper, 80 per cent marks will be assigned to external examination and 20 per cent to internal assessment. In papers relating to computers the written paper will consist of 50 marks, 30 marks will be assigned to practical examination; and 20 to internal assessment.
Papers in first year will include English, Punjabi or history and culture of Punjab, business economics, business mathematics and statistics, human behaviour in organisation, basics of accounting and auditing and business communication skills, the committee has recommended.
The Centre for Women's Studies and Development, Panjab University, is organising "Listen to Women's Vote: an Indo-British interaction" in collaboration with the National Commission for Women on Wednesday.
Dr Pam Rajput, director of the centre, said that the participatory event would enable women to raise key questions regarding their future.
Mrs Mohini Giri, chairperson of the commission and Shelegh Diplock, director, of Fawcett Society (UK) will address the gathering.
List on display: A list of eligible candidates for the bachelor of fine arts course in arts college has been displayed, sources said.
Admit cards to most of the candidates have been despatched. However, due to the ongoing postal strike candidates who do not receive the cards have been asked to collect the same from the college during working hours.
The aptitude test for UT pool students is scheduled for July 17 while the general pool candidates have been asked to appear on July 21.
Students' plea: The Students Organisation of Panjab University in a press note has demanded again that separate fee collection counters should be opened in all teaching departments during admissions to save inconvenience to students.
Mr D.P.S. Randhawa, president, said the results of the BA, B.Sc. and B.Com. (Final Year) courses should be declared at the earliest to enable students to apply to higher classes.
Date extended: Panjab University has extended the last date for submission of admission forms regarding courses at the Regional Centre, Muktsar, till July 20, a press note said.
The interviews for the MA courses will be held at the Muktsar centre, on July 30 and 31. There will, however, be no change in the schedule of interviews and admission, including the entrance test for law and computer courses at the centre.

Crime File
Cheating case against two imposters
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh , July 14 — A person posing as a lawyer and another person posing as a travel agent have been booked for cheating in separate incidents in the city in the past 24 hours.
A yet unidentified person approached the Bar Council for its membership under the name of Mr Kuldeep Singh Toor. Incidentally, Mr Toor had died some four years ago. The Bar Council suspected something fishy and asked the imposter to present a certificate . This request was not complied with and the Bar Council in the meantime established Mr Toor had died.
A complaint was lodged with the police. However, no arrest has been made.
In a separate incident , Babal Singh, a travel agent, allegedly took Rs 80,000 from Mr Sant Ram of Sector 22, promising to send him abroad. The agent neither returned the money nor sent Mr Sant Ram abroad. A case has been registered .
Certificates stolen: Savings certificates of Kisan Vikas Patra worth Rs 17,000, a wrist-watch and some cash have been stolen from the Sector 7 residence of Mr Krishan Kumar.

Ajay Kashyap shifted to UT
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Delhi, Ajay Kashyap , has been posted here to replace Mr N.S. Randhawa, SSP, (Headquarters). A 1985 IPS officer, Mr Kashyap was served the posting order today, according to sources.
Mr Randhawa has been posted to Delhi. He will most likely be accommodated as Additional Commissioner of Police.

Great honour for Dr Sansar Chandra
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The most coveted literary award Vidya-Vachaspati of the greatest Hindi literary institution, the All-India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad, has been bestowed on one of the finest literary men of the region.
Dr Sansar Chandra, the recipient, is an eminent scholar, teacher and writer in Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Dogri and Urdu. He is well-known for his literary criticism, short stories, treatises,satirical pieces and volumes of humorous essays and tales.
The citation, partly made known to literary men by the Sammelan, calls him an original thinker, a seer and an extraordinarily competent and expressive judge of men, matters and philosophies.
The award will be formally conferred on the ageing Dr Sansar Chandra at his residence in the city (1307, 19-B) on July 26 at 6 p.m. as a rare gesture by the August organisation. Scholars will dwell on his magnum opus, "Vidushak ki Yaad Mein", an incomparable and monumental volume of chaste human recently published but already widely acclaimed, on that occasion.

Order refusing compassionate job quashed
By Our Legal Correspondent
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The order refusing compassionate appointment to a deceased Doordarshan employee's son for daring to seek a higher post, was quashed by Mr J.S. Dhaliwal of the local Central Administration Tribunal Bench.
The applicant, Mr Somil Kumar, had filed an O.A. claiming compassionate appointment after the death of his father Mr Kushal Kumar, who was Programme Executive at the Doordarshan Kendra in Jalandhar. It was submitted by the applicant that he was a graduate and had three years experience in staging plays. He pleaded that after the death of his father, there was no earning member in the family.
The interesting point in the case was that the respondents being conscious of the services rendered by the deceased and the family's financial position had taken a decision at the DD Director-General's level to offer the post of LDC to the applicant. The applicant, however, said that if a post was available the DD Kendra in Jalandhar, he should be given preference for the post, although he gave his unconditional willingness.
The respondents came to the conclusion that the applicant had given only conditional acceptance and, thus, did not ask the applicant whether he was ready to work as LDC anywhere as per the earlier offer.
The Bench taking the overall view of the case quashed the decision of respondents that the applicant could not be given compassionate appointment and directed the respondents to take final decision on the claim within three months for the LDC post.

Vigil on carrying firearms from today
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — The Chandigarh Police will start a week-long campaign to check the carrying of firearms in public places by security personnel in civil clothes. The SHO's concerned have been asked to physically oversee the operation beginning tomorrow. Even civilians carrying weapons will be subject to scrutiny.
Checking will be carried outside schools, offices, markets and even in the hotels at night. Any security personnel posted with a VIP and carrying a firearm in civil clothes will be detained and taken to police station, the local SSP, Mr C.S.R. Reddy said while giving out details of the campaign. Identity cards of those in uniform will also be checked.
Even the licences of civilians carrying firearms will be checked and those without proper documentation will be booked under the Arms Act. No one excepting the licensee is allowed to carry the weapon, explained the SSP.
The UT police has requested the district administration to issue orders under section 144, Cr P.C., to prohibit carrying of even licensed firearms in public places. The police has further asked the city residents to call up the control room at phone number 100 if they see anyone with a firearm in a public place.
The Chandigarh police has also asked for a list of VIP's on the protection list of both Punjab and Haryana and the number of the guards attached with them. On the use of unauthorised red or blue lights on top of vehicles the police has asked for a list from the respective state authorities saying who all are eligible to use it .

Protest against fund hike
Tribune News Service
CHANDIGARH, July 14 — Teaching work in DAV College, Sector 10, was suspended for more than an hour following a stick call by the National Students Union of India today.
Students were protesting against the proposed hike in amalgamated fund and building fee.
Harmohinder Singh Lucky, president, said a decision for hike in the building and amalgamated funds was taken following a meeting of the principals recently.
Students today 'gheraoed' the office of the principal. Sources, however, indicated that DAV College was not charging over and above the existing structure.
Munish Anand, a former president of the Panjab University Students' Council, said the strike was symbolic in nature and the agitation would be intensified in case the college authorities did not pay heed.