Attack on newsmen
Press Council sets up fact-finding panel
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Press Council of India has constituted a fact-finding committee to look into various incidents of assaults and attacks on journalists, owners of newspapers, vendors, harassment of journalists and security of their family members.

The Chairman of the Press Council of India, Justice P.B. Sawant, told newsmen here today that incidents of attacks on journalists and newspaper vendors had been on the rise.

The fact finding panel will probe all such incidents, he said.

The council, which met here for the past three days, adjudicated upon 60 complaints. Of these 22 were against the authorities for harassing newsmen and the rest 38 were against newspapers for breach of journalistic ethics.

The Press Council censured Malai Sudhar, News Today (Chennai), Tom Tom and Hai Bangalore, it administered warning to four newspapers — Amar Ujala (Meerut), Dainik Jagran (Lucknow), Vikrama Weekly and Dinabhoomi (Madurai).

Besides, the following newspapers were admonished: Nishpaksh Pratidin, Kuber Times (Lucknow), Decan Chronicle, Nakkeeran, Femina, Samar Bhoomi & Karavali Ale and Kannada Sanantaranga. Besides 197 complaints were summarily dismisssed due to non-prosecution of being outside charter or subjudice.

Dainik Jagran has been warned for publishing a series of news beginning from August 21,1997 against Mr R.K. Vaishya, Deputy Inspector-general of Police, charging him with corruption, financial irregularities besides violating the law. The council held that news items were manifestly defamatory of the complainant yet no attempt had been made to obtain his version. The so-called version published by respondent did more harm than amends for it smacks of arrogance and satirical comments of the newspaper, and established an inherent bias against the complainant.

Nishpaksh Pratidin of Lucknow was admonished for carrying a series of defamatory news items in its publications dated November 14 to 17, 1998, charging the Director of Magna Agro Industries with siphoning off funds and sacking the general manager for not signing false vouchers. The council observed that news item was based on hearsay at best and no attempt was made to obtain the complainant's version.

Kuber Times of Lucknow was also admonished for levelling allegations of corruption and financial irregularities against Mr Ram Avtar, Executive Engineer, National Road Division, Sitapur, in a sweeping manner in its issue on December 10,1997. Though no written statement was filed on merits of the case, the respondents informed that a clarification was carried on June 19 after a gap of about six months. The council held that this was not sufficient amend to the wrong done by the respondent. Kuber Times has been directed to publish a gist of the adjudication.

PU agrees to cut fees
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — As word of a nod by the university authorities to a modified version of the approved fee structure reached them, overjoyed students raised slogans in favour of students' unity. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) arrived at an amicable solution with the authorities here today.

The curtain was rung down on the five-day protest after over three hours of deliberations on the fee structure. The Dean University Instruction, Prof I.B.S. Passi, the Registrar, Prof Paramjit Singh, and the Dean Student Welfare, Prof V.K. Bansal, offered juice to the four protesters, Munish Anand, Bhupinder Singh, Anil Kundu and Hari Singh, who were on an indefinite fast at the Student Centre to press for lowering of fees.

The Panjab University Students Union, Haryana Students Association, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, National Students Union of India, Students Federation of India and Students Organisation of Panjab University participated in the deliberations with the authorities.

Professor Bansal informed the students that the new fee structure which had emerged after a discussion with the JAC would be taken to the next meeting of the Syndicate as recommendations of the Vice-Chancellor. "The Vice-Chancellor has agreed to the modified fee structure over the telephone. This is likely to be accepted. However, till the next Syndicate meeting, the university will take funds according to the approved fee structure and the balance would be adjusted later.'' He added that the tuition fee of the various courses and other funds had been brought down considerably.

At the Joint Action Committee meeting with the DSW, each item was taken up separately and views of the authorities and the students were considered before arriving at a consensus about the hike under each head.

The JAC claims that the hostel fee being charged in the modified fee structure will be the same as approved for the last session. It added that the members gave a nod to the hike which they thought was justified and overdue. In the modified version, the tuition fee for MA classes has been brought down from Rs 60 to Rs 50 while there is no change in the tuition fee of Rs 45 for undergraduate classes.

In the Master of Business Administration course, the tuition fee has been reduced to Rs 150 from the recommended 200, and to Rs 150 from Rs 300 and Rs 200 for M. Pharm and Master of Computer Applications. In Masters of Mass Communication, it has come down to Rs 75 against the approved Rs 100. The amalgamated fund has been brought down from Rs 360 per year to Rs 250 and the film fee has been completely struck off. The recommended house examination fee is Rs 30. Reductions have been made under other funds also .

The Student Federation of India, as an organisation, is sour about the modified fee structure which, it considers, still is out of reach though it was party to the decision at the meeting with the authorities.

Another rape case suspect arrested
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Aug 6 — Another suspect in the gang rape case of a 14-year-old girl at Pinjore on July 17 was today arrested by the local police. The 15-year-old boy, Amit Beniwal, was one of the suspects named in the first information report (FIR) registered by the police.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)-cum-Principal Magistrate of Juvenile Court, Mr V.P.Gupta, while dismissing the bail application of Amit Beniwal sent him to the Juvenile Home at Sonepat till August 18. The CJM in his order said seeing the gravity of the case the bail application of the suspect was being rejected. Another suspect, Ravinder Kumar alias Ravi, who had surrendered before the court yesterday, was today remanded in police custody for one day.

According to police sources Ravi in his confessional statement given to the police said to conceal facts about the case certain items of the room at Pinjore, where the girl was allegedly kept on July 15, 16 and 17, had been dumped in a plot in Sector 17 here. The items included a bed sheet and an undergarment of the suspect.

Meanwhile, the police has already arrested four persons, Manoj Kumar alias Rinku, Vijay Sharma, Rajesh, Basesar Singh and Amit in connection with the case.

PUDA "harassing" NRIs
From Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Aug 6 — Non-resident Indians (NRIs), who have been allotted flats by the Punjab Urban and Development Authority (PUDA) in Sector 70 here, have alleged that PUDA was delaying handing over of flats and has also altered the terms and conditions of the allotment to their disadvantage.

The allottees alleged that though they had deposited the required amount several months back, yet they had not been given the possession of flats. PUDA had now asked them to pay the remaining amount in lumpsum, in violation of the terms and conditions laid down in the allotment letters, alleged allottees.

One of the allottees, Mr Virinder Singh, alleged they were not given 10 per cent rebate on lumpsum payment as mentioned in the allotment letter. The allotment letter clearly says: "You may make the payment of the balance of the price within 60 days from the date of issue of allotment letter and in such a case a rebate at the rate of 10 per cent of the price fixed shall be allowed to you and if you have paid some of the installments and deposited the remaining installments in lumpsum, in that case also 10 per cent rebate will be admissible to you on balance amount paid in lumpsum."

PUDA had advertised the availability of MIG(super) flats in Sector 70 in August, 1995, with a reserved quota for NRIs. Later, through a draw of lots, 13 NRIs were declared successful and they deposited 25 per cent of the amount. "All went well till PUDA took a U-turn and expressed ignorance about its own policies. Is the highhandedness of PUDA in line with the policies adopted by the Punjab Government to attract the NRIs to settle in the state? asked Dubai-based Mr Virinder Singh.

He alleged that while he waited for the possession of the flat, his mother, a heart patient, was living in a rented house in Chandigarh. It was anybody's guess how long would it take them to move into their own house, he added.

Mr Nishan Singh Dhillion, who had been moving from pillar to post for the past several months to get the possession of his flat , alleged that in the process his visa had expired. Repeated representations to the Punjab Chief Minister and Chief Administrator of PUDA, had failed to move things, he alleged.

In a representation to the Chief Administrator, the allottees had pleaded that if the NRIs were directed to pay the price in lumpsum and no rebate was allowed, it would amount to violation of the terms and conditions on the part of PUDA.

"We are not demanding any special facility or concession. We want only the implementation of the scheme and terms and conditions on a par with other categories which was already provided in the terms and conditions of the allocation and allotment letter", the representation added.

The PUDA authorities, the NRIs alleged, had not even given their comments sought by the Chief Minister's Secretariat in April and May last.

Meanwhile, Mr Dipinder Singh, Additional Chief Administrator of PUDA, asserted that no NRI had taken up this case with him. If a 10 per cent rebate was provided in the rules it would be given to the NRIs , he assured.

I am no outsider: Sharma
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) under the leadership of Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, will form a stable government at the centre after the Lok Sabha poll, according to Mr Krishan Lal Sharma, Vice-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and a candidate for the lone Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat.

Talking to newsmen after his arrival here today, Mr Sharma said the choice before the electorate of the country was between different alliances. “They have to choose which alliance can give them a better and stable government at the Centre,” Mr Sharma said.

Mr Sharma, who has replaced the previously two-time successful BJP candidate, Mr Satya Pal Jain, as the party nominee here, maintained that he was not an “outsider” as he had looked after Chandigarh for six years and was even registered here as a voter.

“Even when I contested from outer Delhi last time, the same issue was raised. I am here and will work whole time for the people of Chandigarh,” he said. When asked why Mr Jain has been denied ticket after he had been successful in the past two elections, Mr Sharma said only the party high command could answer this question.

“As a loyal soldier of the party I have accepted whatever directive has been issued to me. In fact I was not keen to contest from anywhere,” he said.

“The next Lok Sabha,” Mr Sharma said, “would discuss the issue relating to the continuation of the lower house for a full term of five years even if the Union Government was reduced to a minority. The minority government should continue to hold office till an alternative Government is formed by elected Lok Sabha members.”

When asked about his stand on the future of Chandigarh, Mr Sharma said the Vajpayee Government at the centre had been successful in resolving long-pending Cauvery water dispute through negotiations. “Whether this Union Territory exclusively should go to Punjab or Haryana or should remain a Union Territory would also be taken up by the BJP-coalition at the centre if it comes to power,” Mr Sharma said.

On his arrival here, Mr Sharma was received by the party functionaries who took him in a procession to the local BJP office in Sector 33 where he was greeted in a traditional way after members of the Mahila Morcha applied “tilak” on his forehead.

After addressing a press Conference, Mr Sharma went to Mansa Devi complex to seek blessings. He later on called on Mr Satya Pal Jain at his residence.

Late in the evening, Mr Sharma visited the Sector 19 Gurdwara to offer prayers and meet members of the local unit of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Sikh sangat.

Helmet stir modified
No challan till HC order: Admn
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Sikh Nari Manch and various other organisations have decided to reorganise their ongoing agitation against the order of the Administration for compulsory wearing of helmets by both women drivers and pillion riders.

It has been decided to hold protest rallies on Sundays only from different gurdwaras of the city. These weekly protest rallies would continue for four weeks and in case no permanent solution was found to the problem, the agitation would be once again intensified, a press note of the manch said today.

This slowdown in the protest, the note said, has been necessitated following verbal assurances from the administration that women without helmets would not be challaned till the pendency of the petition in the high court and that the police would continue to educate general public about road safety.

The manch and Sikh organisations have also decided to suspend the ongoing chain fast and court arrest programme for the time being.

Meanwhile, a procession was taken out from the Sector 46 gurdwara which moved through various sectors before reaching the Matka chowk. The procession terminated at the Sector 34 gurdwara.

A delegation of the protesters would call on the SGPC chief, Mrs Jagir Kaur, to request her to take up the matter with the Supreme Court.

Polio cases down from 283 to 8
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Over 59 lakh children below five years of age will be immunised in Haryana and Punjab during the four rounds of the forthcoming Intensive Pulse Polio Immunisation (IPPI) drive. The four doses of the polio vaccine will be administered to the children at about a month's interval of one another.

The Director, Health Services, Punjab, Dr R.S. Sandhu, while attending a meeting of the State Coordination Committee and the state Pulse Polio Media Committee, said 32 lakh children would be immunised in about 15000 Pulse Polio Immunisation (PPI) posts in Punjab on October 17, November 21, December 19 and January 23 next year.

Dr Sandhu said the children of rural and slum areas will be especially covered under the IPPI campaign. He said due to the campaign, the number of cases had gone down from 283 in 1993 to eight till July this year. On the first day of the campaign, the immunisation will be post based while on the second and third day, the parties would go from house to house to search for the children left out in the drive.

In Haryana, the health authorities have set a tentative target of immunising over 27 lakh children. The exact number of the children in the state will be ascertained after a door-to-door survey, already under way, is completed.

Regarding the dates of the immunisation, an official of the Health Department, Haryana, said no information in this regard had been received from the Centre. The changed dates to hold the four rounds of the immunisation drive were most likely on October 24, November 21, December 19 and January 23.

At least 11 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (ACP) have been reported from different districts of Haryana till July 31 last. Of these, at least one case of polio virus has been reported from Jhajjar.

PANCHKULA

The district health authorities have set a tentative target to immunise at least 55,000 children below five years of age against 46,000 children immunised in the last drive. To ascertain the exact number of children, a survey is under way.

Anticipating an increase in the number of children, the health authorities have increased the number of Pulse Polio Immunisation posts from the existing 275 to 298. The posts have been increased in the Panchkula and Kalka areas where the chances of the migratory population being missing out in the campaign were more.

Already 64,000 doses of the polio vaccine have reached the office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for the first round. The remaining doses are likely to reach in the coming days.

Sow bites Sector 15 resident
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Manjit, a resident of Sector 15 here, was on Wednesday bitten by a sow, which had given birth to a litter of piglets . The 28-year -old woman, who works as a domestic help, was attacked by the sow in the early hours of the morning while she was going to work.

relating her tale, Manjit said it was around 6a.m., when she was going round a street corner in Sector 15, that she was "attacked violently" by the animal, which had been seen wandering in the locality. "Since she had recently given birth to a litter, the sow must have thought that I wanted to harm her young ones. But it was without any provocation that she 'pounced' on to me", she added.

Showing her multiple wounds and bruises, Manjit said when the sow jumped on her, she lost balance and fell on the ground. The sow then bit her on the right thigh and when Manjit tried to get up and save herself, the animal attacked her and bit her on the lower portion of her right leg.

"I cried out for help, but at that early hour of the morning, nobody paid heed to my screams", Manjit said. A newspaper hawker heard her screams and threw some bricks on the sow which let her go. But before that the animal had mauled her left hand and the right wrist . The sow even managed to bite off a portion of her right leg.

Manjit's mother-in-law, Dhano, who also works as a house-maid, said it was only when the hawker intervened that Manjit was saved.

Another maid-servant of the area was also reported to have been attacked by the same sow who, the residents said, had turned violent only after giving birth to her piglets.

Many residents of the area complained about the nuisance caused by the pigs in the area. Said Mr W R Rishi, one of the residents, "I have written to the authorities a number of times about this, but nothing really seems to happen. Most of the time, it is difficult even to get hold of the officials concerned. Because of this area's vicinity to Sector 25, the problem of pigs in the area has become quite a menace".

Many other residents of the area also said that the health authorities needed to take steps to curb this menace, since they were now afraid of evenletting their children play in parks.

Meanwhile, today a group of men armed with lathis were seen going round the area, apparently to catch pigs seen moving around here.

‘Irregularities’ in exam results
From Our Correspondent

SAS NAGAR, Aug 6 — The Punjab School Education Board authorities today exposed alleged irregularities and corruption in the preparation of examination results and accused a section of the employees of using pressure tactics such as rallies to prevent such activities from being brought to light.

Addressing a press conference here, three top board officials, Mr Gurdev Singh Sidhu, Vice-Chairman, Mr Jagjit Singh Sidhu, Secretary, and Mr Jarnail Singh, Controller of Examinations, said several cases of corruption relating to the examination branch had been detected by the authorities. This was only the tip of the iceberg, they said.

The officials said in about 300 cases relating to the compartment category in the Class X examination results, there were 27 cases in which candidates had actually cleared their compartment papers. However, they were initially shown as having failed. Candidates who gave bribes to certain employees were subsequently obliged in the final gazette with the marks they had actually scored.

Continuing with their shocking exposure, the officials said that in another 24 cases, the candidates had neither submitted any examination admission form nor deposited the required fees, but surprisingly their names appeared in the awards list. Timely detection of such corruption had enabled the authorities to withold the results.

The senior officials said there were also cases where candidates who were not eligible under the rules were allowed to appear in examinations. There was a case where a candidate who had failed according to the awards list was subsequently shown as pass.

The officials said that cases had also come to their notice where examination admission forms had been accepted by employees after the scheduled dates without the payment of late fees. It was possible, they said, that the late fee amounts by the candidates were pocketed by unscrupulous staff members.

They wondered what the image of the board would be if a candidate who had been declared pass and had got admission to an institution was later informed by the board that he had actually failed in the examination.

They added scrutiny of the records would continue and an expert from outside the board would be called to help in the work.

Vice-Chairman Gurdev Singh said earlier there used to be persons on deputation holding the post of Controller of Examinations which had led to several weaknesses in the system. Last year a Controller was appointed on a regular basis who took strong steps to improve the working of the examination wing which was not to the liking of a section of employees.

Meanwhile, employees have been holding rallies in protest against the actions of the board authorities. A rally was also held today.

Hiroshima Day observed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sector 25, and of Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Sector 23, today organised rallies in their respective sectors to observe Hiroshima Day.

The students, carrying placards on establishing world peace, banning nuclear arms and installations, and raising slogans against the arms race and in favour of establishing peace in the countries marred by insurgencies and attacks from neighboring countries marched through the streets in an effort to mobilise public opinion. A two-minute silence was observed in the memory of those killed in the first atomic blasts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan on August 6 and 9 in 1945.

In GGSSS-23, the District Education Officer, Mr Brahmjit Kalia, led the children and staff in planting 54 saplings in the memory of the victims of the blasts while the Principal led a group of students in a mission to uproot congress grass from the school campus. Dr S.K. Sharma, President of the Environment Society of India, highlighted the need to make schools eco-friendly. Later, a painting contest on the theme was also organised at the school.

In Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, after the rally, the Principal, Mr C.M. Sharma, addressed the students. He gave a detailed account of the blast, the live lost, its after-effects and the necessity of establishing world peace.

At Panjab University, the UNESCO centre celebrated ``World Peace Day''. The honorary Director of the centre, Prof Jatinder Mohan, said that the future of mankind lay in the hands of the youth and they should be committed towards establishing peace, harmony and understanding among nations. Dr Sherry Sabharwal from the Sociology Department said that the focus of education should be on socialisation so that right values are developed.

Prof S.K. Malik, Dean, Foreign Students, said that science had made remarkable progress but scientific instruments and discoveries were being used against mankind. He warned the audience of the dangers of chemical warfare and wished that the youth would take a responsible stand and opt for peace instead of war.

EVM working demonstrated
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — A demonstration on the working of the electronic voting machine (EVM) was organised at Punjab Raj Bhavan here today.

The Returning Officer for the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat, Mr M. Ramsekhar, explained the working of the EVM, initially by a video film made specially to educate masses and then with a practical demonstration of each and every part of the machine. He said 650 EVMs would be installed at all polling booths in the Union Territory on the day of polling. Each ballot unit of the EVM has a provision for 16 candidates and four ballot units could be installed with a voting machine in series for maximum of 64 candidates depending upon the number of contestants.

Mr Ramsekhar further said that a general awareness campaign has been launched by the Election Department to educate the masses regarding the working of the EVMs and their apprehensions.

The Administrator wanted that mobile teams should go to colonies and slum areas to practically demonstrate the use of the machine. He also suggested that a special awareness programme should be evolved for the election agents and each agent should be given a certificate after the programme and only certified agents should be allowed for duty at polling booths.

Mr Rakesh Singh, Chief Electoral Officer, explained that the video film on the working of the EVM would be telecast repeatedly on the local cable network. Similarly, a publicity campaign, including advertisement in the newspapers and by roadside hoardings, would also be launched next week. He said a special training to educate 3500 polling staff was also going on at present.

The Adviser to the Administrator, Mrs Vineeta Rai, suggested that the apprehensions of the general public about the EVMs must be removed.

SNIPPETS

Parking sites for tourist buses
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Chandigarh Administration today notified nine sites for parking of tourist buses in the ciy. These nine sites in different parts of the city can accommodate 65 tourist buses. The sites earmarked are in Sectors 24-D (v-4 road), 29-C (v-4 road), 31-C (v-4 road), 40-D (v-4 road), 44-C (v-4 road), 45-D (v-4 road), 36-D, 38-D and 46-C. These sites have been notified under Section 117 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, read with Rule 196 of the Chandigarh Motor Vehicles Rules, 1990.

R.P. Singh promoted
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — Mr R.P. Singh, a former Inspector General of Police, Chandigarh, has been promoted to the rank of Joint Commissioner of Police by the Ministry of Home Affairs and posted as Joint Commissioner, Vigilance, Police Headquarters, Delhi. The 1975 AGMU cadre officer is at present working as Additional Commissioner of Police, Delhi.

Medical equipment for jawans
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 6 — The Strides Charitable Trust has presented hydraulic stretcher trollies and other medical equipment for the jawans injured in Kargil. The trollies and other equipment were presented by Ms Bittu Sandhu and Ms Ritu Jhingon, trustees, to Maj-Gen Virendra Singh, Commandant of the hospital. The Jangid Brahman Sabha contributed Rs 25,000 to the Army Central Welfare Fund. Members of the Footpath Rozgar Bachao Samiti contributed Rs 14,000 towards the fund.