Servicemen take recourse to courts
Greater awareness of rights
By Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Filing a writ in the High Court by Brig Surinder Singh, former commander of the 121 Brigade in Kargil, alleging harassment and victimisation in an attempt to cover certain lapses, made big news. But what goes virtually unnoticed is the law courts being moved on similar grounds increasingly.

As the Judge Advocate General’s Department (JAG), the Army’s legal wing, observes its 16th Corps Day tomorrow, it is faced with increasing legal battles between the service and its personnel.

Growing disgruntlement with the system and greater awareness about their rights has led to an increase in the number of armed forces personnel moving law courts to seek redressal of their grievances. Another factor cited is the waning of trust and faith in seniors.

While some cases are genuine — as in the case of a jawan moving the Punjab and Haryana High Court against his dismissal from service on the grounds that he was HIV positive — in certain cases it is plain pettiness. A serving Major-General of the Army Medical Corps moved the High Court after feeling victimised for not being a party to hide a former army commander’s illness. Another officer, said to have an impressive service record, was promoted to Lieutenant-General only after the Delhi High Court’s intervention.

Earlier, a retired Lieutenant General filed a writ in the High Court against the Government of India, seeking grant of disability pension. Sources say that petitioners in this region include two retired Lieutenant-Generals and four Major-Generals, including those still in service.

As per the available information, the total number of writ petitions being dealt by the Western Command’s JAG branch is about 2,200. "There has been a multi-fold increase in the number of personnel moving courts in the past five years,’’ an officer commented. This currently includes approximately 75 cases in the Supreme court, about 1,220 in the Delhi High Court, 805 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and another 100 or so in the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

While an average of 45 petitions are filed in these courts each month, sources say that the combined average disposal rate is 18 to 20 cases in a month.

The majority of the cases relate to pension matters and post retirement benefits. Available information reveals that there are about 990 cases related to these matters which are pending in the above mentioned courts. Cases related to disciplinary matters are also on the rise, with about 475 cases lying with the courts. These include review of sentences by court martial. Challenging the sentence passed by a court martial is also on the increase. "Unless the sentence is light, virtually every person convicted by a court martial files a writ in the High Court," a source said, adding that at least one petition was filed in a month challenging court martial verdict.

This apart, there are another 255 or so cases seeking redressal of grievances related to service matters like promotion, transfers, leave encashments or remarks on annual confidential reports (ACRs).

Unlike in the past, approaching courts to seek legal remedy for grievances is no longer frowned upon within the services. About 45 writ petitions are filed in various courts each month. "This shows a gradual erosion of faith in the system. Also, with greater awareness about their rights, even those in the ranks have started moving courts if they feel they have been wronged," an officer commented.

Sources say that some petitioners are actually seeking legal cover to their misdemeanours, for which they are infamous in the rank and file of the services. Many of them also willingly opt for pre-mature retirement when faced with the ignominy of being tried, they add.

Official sources, however, feel that vis a vis civil organisations, the situation is not "so bad" and "under control". They claim that as far as service and disciplinary matters are concerned, about 80 per cent cases are decided in favour of the services. "It is generally cases concerning pension and service benefits that go in the petitioners’ favour," an officer said, adding that about 10 cases decided by the Delhi High Court last month were in the Army’s favour, while just three went against it.

Officers feel that once the proposed appellate tribunal to redress armed forces personnel’s grievances starts functioning, the situation will improve. The Ministry of Defence, it is learnt, has already granted approval for the tribunal and the proposal has been sent to the Law Ministry for its final approval before it is tabled in Parliament.

As in the rest of the army , the JAG Department too is facing a shortage of officers and that too in the face of ever increasing workload. The fact has been projected at higher levels. While there were three legal cells in the Western Command jurisdiction — two at Delhi and the third at Chandi Mandir — another ad hoc cell has been established at Shimla to cope with the increasing burden. Legal cells are responsible for handling court cases.

Millennium or no millennium. It is party time
By Sonoo Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — With just 10 more days left for this century to end, those of us stepping into the year 2000 are already detecting the feel of something momentous and special coming our way. And it is also not surprising that with the kind of hype and hullabaloo created to celebrate the end of the year, 1999, a debate is already underway to finally assess what really constitutes the beginning of the new millennium, the year, 2000, or 2001.

A TNS team talked to a host of people in the city to find out their opinion about when the actual beginning of the new millennium is, and though most of the people did say that for all practical purposes it made sense to declare the year, 2000, as the new millennium, in the same breath they also added that it did not really matter when the celebrations were made, because, as one of the respondents said: “After all, the entire thing is all about having fun. And why not now? We can celebrate it next year as well, if critics have a problem with that”.

And with January 1, 2000, being heralded as the beginning of the new dawn, the respondents also discussed about the added extravaganza and the lavishness being projected as the add-ons to this new beginning, and largely supported this cause for fun and revelry.

Said Mr Jasjit Katyal, a bank executive of a private bank in Sector 8: “The end of this year certainly marks the beginning of the new millennium, though arithmetically this may not be too correct. And the celebrations certainly are in place, because after all we are the fortunate ones to witness the change of the century. Both as a professional and an individual I think that this change of the year does signify a major change — whether it is in terms of the Y2K bug, or even the major ‘dos’ that have been organised all around the globe to celebrate this particular new year”.

And this 26-year-old executive is all set to enjoy the millenium bashes happening in the city. He added: “It is always good to let oneself loose, and why not now than later”.

Agreeing with his comment that the revelry and pageant attached to the launch of the new millennium are always more than welcome, Ms Sanjoli, a marketing executive said: “While technically speaking a new millennium would begin at the end of a 1000 years, that is in the year 2001, the change of the year. 1900 to 2000, is in itself significant and to my mind an occasion that most definitely calls for a celebration”. And speaking like a true marketing person, she added that the hype of the millennium though has been created purely by the media, “yet it remains a fact that we always do have to look for occasions and excuses for having fun. And also, this whole thing about the millennium hype being created by the West alone is also not true, since even in our culture we have loads of festivities around several events. So why not this and why not now?”

For Sanjeev Walia, a software engineer and a computer professional, running his own business in Sector 17, the year, 1999, finishes the century. He says “The whole business of celebrating the beginning of next year as the new millennium has been good for me because of the Y2K bug. I have been busy with that and business has certainly been good”.

Obviously, Sanjeev has no reasons to complain since he has been able to sell many ‘Y2K cards’ to customers wanting to sort out this bug. So celebrations or not, the beginning of the new era certainly has good things in store.

Another computer technocrat, working with a paging company, Dheeraj Kumar, said the same, and added: “For most computer professionals this year-end would certainly mark the beginning of the new millennium. Because we would be busy working out with the much-talked about Y2K bug that would not worry us in the beginning of the year 2001”.

For Pradeep Sankhian, yet another computer professional, who talked to TNS, the “complete millennium” would certainly be the year, 2001, or the end of the year, 2000, and not this year. “But what I am most excited about is that in this whole confusion or controversy there would be two major happenings and celebrations. So why miss out any?”.

So, while the world gets busy to dance and jive away the night of December 31, 1999, in the many millennium bashes, which have been organised around the globe, the jumble and the mix-up over the new millennium can carry on till the turn of the century.

‘Review move on DSPs’
By Amarjit Thind
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The Chandigarh Administration has asked the UT IGP to review the proposal to absorb long-serving Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) in the UT cadre for countrywide posting under the IPS.

A proposal in this context was submitted to the administration on November 15 in which certain points had not been clearly stated and the flaws needed to be removed before the case could be put before the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), sources in the administration said.

Senior officers said the proposal would pave way for further promotions of the DSPs, removing rampant stagnation in the force.

At present, personnel above the rank of inspector are being controlled by ad hoc measures as the Chandigarh Police Rules have not been framed since 1968. Earlier attempts to transfer the DSPs out of the city have failed to find favour with the MHA on account of efforts by some such officers to stonewall these.

Even the DSPs, who have worked here throughout their career after joining as the ASIs, are known to be reluctant to join the UT cadre.

Sources said this was being done to tackle the stagnation in the local police, curb corruption and check the ineffectiveness of punishment meted out to erring personnel. Officials say that many police officers have reportedly developed vested interests and have been earning promotions without being posted out.

The Chandigarh police being a small set-up and given the limited number of postings, especially at the middle and senior levels, many officers were in a position to intimidate their detractors when faced with inquiries. They acted smugly, secure in the knowledge that they would be posted back to lucrative or influential positions even if they faced department or vigilance inquiries.

Directive to field staff on VDS
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 20 — In a delayed but significant decision, the Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has asked its field staff not to insist on clubbing of power connections while regularising the unauthorised load under the Voluntary Disclosure Scheme (VDS). Though the VDS scheme ended on November 30, the directives would also apply while penalising the defaulters.

A number of power consumers through out the state, who had in the eighties installed more than one meter at their respective residences before 1991, have now heaved a sigh of relief. The Director (Sales) of the board in a communication to the officials concerned has said that there was ambiguity about clubbing the multiple connections of domestic supply (DS), non-residential (NRS) consumers and agricultural pumping supply (APS) consumers in the VDS reintroduced in July, 1999.

In connection with another notification issued for industrial consumers in September, 1995, the board authorities have said it did not apply to the DS, NRS and APS category of the consumers. Sources in the department said that in a number of cases the consumers with more than one connection in a house had deposited the requisite fee. But their connections had not been regularised due to the ambiguity about the issue.

In fact the House Owners Welfare Association of Phase 1 had been pressing upon the board authorities to settle the issue of not clubbing the multiple connections. Mr N.S.Rai, President of the association, said they had been urging the board to decide the issue since the last over one year.

Meanwhile, the board has started issuing notices of disconnection to the consumers who had unauthorisedly extended the load and had not applied under the VDS for regularisation of the same. The defaulters were detected during surprise raids conducted by special team of the PSEB on December 7 last.

The load surcharge and service connection charges being levied on defaulters with a single phase connection was Rs 750 per KW each. For the three-phase connections it was Rs 1500 per KW each.

During the surprise raids as many as 1003 residential and commercial connections were checked in the town and its peripheral areas. At least 516 defaulters were detected and a penalty of Rs 23 lakh was to levied on them.

Following surprise checking, electricity consumers in different parts of the township have protested against the manner in which surprise raids to check power theft unauthorised extension of load had been conducted. They allege that the power load calculated by the raiding parties in certain cases was much higher than possible in certain cases .

Commandant Devinder Kumar Ahluwalia ( Retd), a resident of a 12 marla house in Sector 71, said the team, which visited his house, had calculated the load at 30 KW. Mr Paramjit Singh, a resident of a one kanal house in Phase 7, said the raiding party was about to disconnect his electricity connection when his mother was alone at the home. They said that the board had not given enough time to the residents to get their load regularised.

Seeking a check on the private electrical contractors, who were authorised by the Chief Electrical Inspector, Punjab, to legitimise power connection, the resident question the certification given by the contractor about the power points.

Toilets in UT courts stink
From Bipin Bhardwaj

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Nauseating stench of urine fills the nostrils as one moves through the ramp or the staircase to the top floor of the new building of the UT District Courts here.

Thousands of persons who go the District Courts everyday have to inhale the stinking smell being emitted from the toilets. The toilets on the second and fourth floors of the building are in a deplorable condition as there are no electric bulbs and most of the taps are missing.

As the toilets on the first and third floors have been locked by the authorities, the people use toilets on the second and fourth floors. Water leaking from taps accumulates on the floor. Paan-spits at every corner have added to the filth in the building.

Though every floor in the complex has a toilet, only a few of these have been opened for the general public. All three floors of the lawyer chambers' building have separate toilets for men and women but the wooden shacks constructed by lawyers have obscured the view of toilets there.

The old building has only two sets of toilets — one on the top floor and the other on the first floor. Only the court employees are aware of these toilets.

According to an advocate, Mr Rajan Khetarpal, people face problems because of the absence of drinking water facility in the complex. They do not prefer to drink water from the taps in the stinking toilets. Moreover, the authorities have locked the toilets on the first and third floors to aggravate the problem.

Mr Rajesh Pandit, another advocate, held the authorities responsible for the deplorable condition of not only the toilets but also the cleanliness of the courts complex.

''I have hardly seen any sweeper on duty for the cleanliness of toilets,'' commented Mr N.K. Nanda, President of the District Bar Association.

The Superintendent of the District Courts, Mr Amar Singh, expressed his ignorance about the stench, locking of the toilets and absence of electric bulbs there. He, however, said that there were sufficient toilets and drinking water taps. To provide drinking water for the general public, three taps would be installed on the court premises. Of these, two have already been made operational, he added.

Workshop for safai karamcharis
By Poonam Batth
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — A day-long workshop was organised in the Sector 16 General Hospital today with a view to making the safai karamcharis and ward servants aware about the management of hospital waste in terms of segregation, collection, transportation and disposal.

The workshop, being the first in the series, has been organised in accordance with the guidelines contained in the bio-medical waste management and handling rules notified under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Besides generating awareness, they will also be told about the various colour containers which are to be used for the disposal of different category of wastes. This, in turn, will facilitate in the proper treatment of the waste through incineration, deep burial, auto claving and microwaving.

Giving information, Dr G. Diwan, Deputy Medical Superintendent, said that this exercise of sensitising safai karamcharis, who are at the grassroot level and can be most effective in maintaining proper sanitation will be undertaken in seven batches of 30 each during the next few days. These courses will be repeated so as to effectively bring the notification into action.

Meanwhile, the containers of different colours have already been put up in the main block of the hospital.

Clear dues and own plots
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 20 — Hundreds of plot allottees in different urban estates of the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority (PUDA) whose plots had been resumed on account of default in the payment of instalments have been given a chance to get back their plots.

The chance to the defaulters has been given under an "amnesty scheme" launched today after it received a green signal at a meeting of PUDA which was chaired by the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

The allottees will be issued a no-due certificate by the estate office concerned after they clear all dues like instalments of the cost of the plots, interest and penalty. Disclosing this the Chief Administrator of PUDA, Mr K.B.S. Sidhu, said the scheme had been framed to give the last chance to the defaulting allottees. The scheme was for the allottees of residential plots only. The commercial and institutional property had not been covered under the scheme.

The allottees, who had gone to court against resumption of their plots and had lost the cases, would also be entitled to benefit from the scheme.

The allottees, who continued to be in possession of their plots even after resumption order, were, however, not covered under the scheme.

Mr Sidhu clarified that no relaxation would be granted to the allottees who had violated the building bylaws or floor area ratio (FAR). The scheme would close on February 29. Thereafter the resumed plots would be auctioned off. The scheme would not be extended, he added.

Honours for city girl in global contest
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Simranjit Kaur Mann of Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, has won the silver medal for a written entry in the Shanker's International Children's Competition 1999 in the age group of 11 to 12 years.

Nearly 135 countries from all over the world participated by sending 1,60,000 entries.

The prize was given by the Vice-President of India, Mr Krishan Kant, on December 18 in New Delhi.

Mayor’s term short: Addiwal
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20--The Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, today predicted the victory of BJP-SAD alliance candidates for the posts of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, the elections to which are to be held on December 23.

Addressing the press, Mr Addiwal, who was expelled from the party and had defeated the official alliance candidate last year, however, conceded that the contest for the post of Mayor would be a tough one. Ms Shanta Abhilashi of the alliance and Ms Satinder Dhawan of the Congress are locked in a straight contest for the post.

Terming the one-year tenure of the Mayor as "very short", he demanded that the Mayor should have powers of writing the ACRs of officials up to the level of the Xen. He also reiterated the position of the BJP that the nominated councillors should have no voting rights in the elections to the top three posts.

Listing the achievements during his tenure, Mr Addiwal informed that roads equivalent to 215 km were recarpeted at the cost of Rs 5.5 crore in the current year as compared to 138 km in1998 when only Rs 3 crore was spent.

While the cycle track from Sector 41 to Sector 11 is nearing completion, the parking lots in Sectors 16, 22, 30, 22-B, 20-B, C and D, Shivalik Enclave and near the Sector 7-B Stadium had been recarpeted. Similarly, development works had been completed in different colonies at the cost of Rs 60 lakh.

Old road rollers, tippers, trucks, vibrators, excavators and bulldozers had been replaced at the cost of Rs 2.10 crore. To improve sanitation, the work had been privatised in over 20 colonies of the city, including four villages.

An amount of about Rs 21.98 lakh had been collected as removal charges as against Rs 17.47 lakh in the year 1998. Similarly, fire stations in Timber Market of Sector 26 and Capitol Complex in Sector 1, were likely to be completed soon, he claimed.

He said the corporation had undertaken rehabilitation work in Sector 25 (Kumhar and Janata colonies) consisting of about 5,000 dwelling units at a cost of over Rs 13 crore. It will be completed by March next year.

The Mayor said keeping in view the shortage of water in summer, work on the 20 million gallons per day (MGDs) project under the fourth phase of the Kajauli water supply augmentation scheme would begin soon. Of the 20 proposed tubewells, 12 had already started functioning.

First live surgical workshop at PGI
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The ENT Department of the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research will organise the first north chapter live functional endoscopic surgery on December 24 and 25.

During the course of this workshop, Dr S.K. Kaluskar, an eminent surgeon from the UK, will be operating upon patients, which will be shown live to various delegates participating in the conference. Among other prominent doctors will be Dr R.C. Deka, Professor and Head of the ENT Department, AIIMS, and Dr Ramalingam, a senior consultant from Tamil Nadu.

Around 80 delegates comprising faculty members, senior residents, residents and private practitioners of this region will be participating in the various scientific deliberations.

According to Dr S.B.S. Mann, Head of the ENT Department, PGI, the major thrust will be on teaching the participants from the peripheral region the technique of performing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which is a less invasive surgery and leaves no scars. The surgery comprises alleviating diseases (sinusitis, fungal infection) afflicting nose and the surrounding sinuses, through the nose only with the help of telescopes under magnified view which is visible on a TV monitor. Presently, the technique is being used in tertiary hospitals for the management of patients suffering from blindness following road accidents as well as leakage of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose. A panel discussion on the ''role of FESS in the next millenium'' will also be organised.

Discussions on certain other topics like optic nerve decompression, CSF rhinorrhoea fluid in the brain and fungal infestations of nose and para-nasal sinuses, which are widely prevalent in northern India, will also be conducted.

The organising secretary of the workshop, Dr Ashok Kumar Gupta, revealed that this was the first time that this type of live surgical workshop was being conducted in North India.

Accent on sustainable development
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Chemcon '99, the 52nd session of the Indian Insititute of Chemical Engineers, began at the Panjab University campus here today.

Delivering the presidential address, President of the institute, Prof N Subrahmanyam, identified sustainable development as the key strategy for global development. India did not need piece-meal technological upgradation in the name of global competitiveness, he said.

The need of the hour was to integrate efforts of the chemical engineering , education system, chemical industry and the professional bodies to bring in the relevant technological changes to usher in sustainable development in the country, he informed the august gathering.

Instead of lagging behind perpetually by 10-15 years in the technologies adopted, the Indian chemical industries could leap frog in certain selected areas with the help of integrated planned efforts of the government, industry and universities.

In his inaugural address, Prof MM Puri, Panjab University Vice-Chancellor, said India was fortunate to have enough trained manpower to compete with the world in the field of research and development. What we need is to adopt an integrated approach so that the country can help solve the problems like the depletion of ozone layer and other environment-related issues.

Delivering the CK Murthy Memorial Lecture, Mr A. Venugopal, Director (Projects) of the Mecon Limited, Ranchi, said now a young chemical engineer opting for a career in design engineering and consultancy had to orient himself to render a wide range of services, ranging from pre-investment investigations to project execution.

Urging young engineers to open up and diversify their minds as there were no unique solutions, he advocated changes in plant curriculum to better equip the graduating engineers for dealing with practical situations.

Mr Ashok Panjwani, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Search Chem Industry Limited, Bharuch, who delivered the Prof NR Kamath Memorial Lecture, while explaining the concept of sustainable development said it was “meeting the demands of current generation without compromising the requirements of the future generation”.

Developing nations like India faced several challenges like resource depletion, population explosion and rise in pollution, he said, adding that sustainable development had the potential to be panacea for all these ills.

Welcoming the delegates, Prof SK Sharma, chairman of the local organising committee, informed that the proceedings of the session would be distributed on CD-ROMs to the delegates.

Earlier, an exhibition showing environment-friendly products and related literature was inaugurated by Mr RP Bajpai, Director of the CSIO.

The four-day session is being organised by the Chandigarh Regional Centre of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers in collaboration with the Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology of the university.

Meanwhile, Mr R.K. Syal, Scientist "F", and Mr Telegaonkar, Scientist "E" from HEMRL, Pune, were awarded the Nocil Award for Excellence in Design and Development of Process Plant and Equipment, during the the conference, according to a press note.

‘Cartel of local firms cornering tenders’
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Certain firms engaged in the repair of transformers here today alleged discrimination in the awarding of tenders by the UT Electricity Department. The opening of tenders was later cancelled following protest by the firm representatives.

The protesters demanded an inquiry by Lt Gen J. F. R. Jacob (retd), UT Administrator, into the cartel of local firms which have been “cornering all tenders of the department for the past decade.”

According to Mr Gurmit Singh and Mr Jatinder Kumar, proprietor of Jyoti International Electrical Division, Ludhiana, and a director of Gagan Transmissions, Patiala, respectively, they came from their towns to take part in the awarding of the tenders after reading advertisements in this regard in various newspapers.

We were shocked to find that we could not be sold the tender forms as our companies were not registered in the city — a condition which finds no mention in the tender conditions. We have been carrying out the repairs of the transformers of the PSEB, MES, Cooperative sugar mills, the Air Force, and bring them to our premises from all over the state, they said.

They alleged certain senior officers of the department were rude and did not bother to even see the drafts for the purchase of forms and the earnest money and turned them away with the remark that “ you would not be able to compete with the services provided by the local firms.”

The duo said other outside tenderers were also told the same thing but as they protested and informed the media about the whole episode, the opening of tenders was cancelled at about 4. 30 p.m. by the officers.

Unit celebrates raising day
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The Western Command Provost Unit celebrated its 38th raising day in Chandi Mandir Cantonment near here today. Raised on this day in 1962 at Ambala, the unit moved here in April 1984. A special sainik sammelan and bara khana for all ranks and their families were held on the occasion.

The Commanding Officer, Col H.S. Chahal, greeted all ranks, civilians and their families. He praised the dedication and hard work put in by the personnel in the performance of duty, especially during the recently concluded defence exhibition in Chandigarh.

He said the Military Police personnel of units based at Ambala and Patiala had also joined the Western Command Provost Unit and the coordination between them was good.

Col Chahal said in recognition of their work, the unit was given two Army Commander's Commendation Cards past year. He also called upon all ranks to always perform better in accordance with the Corps of Military Police motto Sewa Tatha Sahayata.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, Lieut-Gen Vijay Oberoi, in his message, also greeted the unit personnel for their good performance in the tasks assigned to the unit.

The unit is responsible for maintaining discipline and law and order in Chandi Mandir, besides regulating traffic in the cantonment and piloting the VIP vehicles.

Restrain defendants, says Ravi
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — In an appeal filed in the district courts against the dismissal of an application seeking stay on his expulsion from the Shiromani Akali Dal, Punjab Legislative Assembly member Ravi Inder Singh today sought directions for restraining the defendants from “taking steps” against him “on account of the impugned order passed on December 15”.

Claiming to have a good case in his favour, Mr Singh stated that “in case the respondents — SAD and president Parkash Singh Badal — were not restrained, there was a possibility regarding the respondents expelling the appellant”.

The expulsion counsel for Mr Singh stated, “would cause irreparable loss and injury, which could not be compensated in terms of money but would also lead to the multiplicity of litigation”.

Dismissing the application for “ad-interim injunction” against his expulsion, UT Civil Judge (Junior Division) Mahender Singh on December 15 had fixed January 21 as the next date of hearing.

Pronouncing the orders, the Civil Judge had observed: “The applicant has no prima facie case in his favour, nor would he suffer any irreparable loss in case the injunction is denied to him. Rather, the balance of convenience lies in favour of the defendant”.

The Civil Judge had also observed: “As per the pleadings, no action has yet been taken against him.... Thus, the suit as well as the application is still at pre-mature stage”.

Challenging the order, counsel stated that the contention regarding the plaintiff not having a prima facie case was not properly founded. The working committee, the counsel stated, vested with the power of suspension and expulsion of any member, had overlived its tenure.

Claiming the body to have become “constitutionally defunct”, counsel added that, as per the party’s constitution, the working committee’s tenure was limited to two years. The tenure, he further added, had expired in July 1997.

Counsel also stated that the trial court had failed to “comprehend the gravity of the situation” when the grant of injunction was denied on the condition of mere apprehension. The applicant, counsel added, had “since then been suspended by the illegally constituted and convened working committee meeting”. The appellant as a result, counsel further added, had suffered an irreparable injury to his right to remain a member of a political party.

Ludhiana resident gets RI
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Convicting a Ludhiana district resident, accused of trying to steal a car by the father of a Civil Judge, the UT Judicial Magistrate (first class), Mr Mohinder Singh, today sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment for two-and-a-half years, besides imposing a fine of Rs 500.

The convict Harnek Singh — was further directed to undergo simple imprisonment of a month in default of payment. He was earlier booked by the Chandigarh Police under Sections 380, 457 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code in November, 1995.

According to the prosecution, the accused was handed over to the police after he was caught by the complainant’s servant while trying to unlock the car parked inside the Sector 40 house at about 10.45 p.m.

The accused, when confronted with the incriminating evidence against him, had denied the allegations. Claiming to have been implicated in the case, he examined as many as three witnesses in his defence.

Deposing before the court, the accused had stated that a false complaint had been filed against him as the complainant’s daughter, Civil Judge-cum- Judicial Magistrate Harpreet Kaur, had developed friendly relations with him. The complainant, he added, had a “harmful attitude towards him “as he” did not give his consent” to their marriage.

The accused had added that on the day of the occurence he was called by Harpreet Kaur at the house for returning the letters written by her. On his refusal, the accused added, he was handed over to police.

Today, pronouncing the orders in the open court, the JMIC observed: “Mere defence that he had relations with the daughter of the complainant is not sufficient to demolish the entire prosecution case because the alleged relationship, though not proved on the file, is not material in this case”.

The magistrate further observed: “The prosecution has been able to prove beyond doubt that the accused had tresspassed their house after sunset and before sunrise in order to commit an offence of theft. It is also proved beyond doubt that he attempted to steal the car belonging to the complainant, Manmohan Singh, parked inside the boundary wall of his house. Hence the accused is held guilty for the commission of offence punishable under Sections 457 and 380 read with Section 511 of the IPC and is convicted thereunder accordingly”.

Sports officer's arrest stayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Issuing notice for December 25, UT District and Sessions Judge B.S. Bedi today stayed the arrest of District Sports Officer Om Parkash Puri till then in a cheating and forgery case.

The applicant was apprehending arrest in a case registered by the Chandigarh police under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.

Claiming to be innocent, the applicant stated that he had signed the eligibility proforma in good faith on "the basis of which the volleyball team participated in the championship held at Calcutta in 1994."

Counsel for the applicant further stated that he had "no concern with the participation of six other boys in the 1994 championship on the ground of which K.L. Ahuja made a complaint to the police." "Ahuja," counsel added, was "neither member nor the office-bearer of the association in 1994".

Deputy Superintendent of Police Vijay Pal Singh, also Secretary of the Volleyball Association, counsel alleged, got the case registered against the applicant as he had not withdrawn an affidavit against the DSP regarding the procurement of a state volleyball championship certificate in favour of his daughter.

Homoeo students shun classes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Students of Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Sector 26, today boycotted classes to protest against the college declaring failed some students, “intentionally” in the practical examinations. The students also demanded the removal of the Principal, Dr D.K. Dhiman.

Dr Dhiman, however, said the results had been announced by the Punjab Homeopathic Board and Council, in which some of the students had been declared as failed.

11,977 get polio drops
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — As many as 11,977 children under the age of five years were administered polio drops on the second day of the pulse polio immunisation programme here today. With this, a total of 1,10,549 children have been vaccinated against the disease during the third round.

Health workers and volunteers concentrated on vaccinating street children, children of brick-kiln workers and those of the roadside inhabitants. They also conducted a door-to-door campaign to cover all those children who had not come to the booths and hospitals yesterday.

A few Muslim families were hesitant to get their children vaccinated during the ongoing Ramzan month, but health workers were able to persuade them and administer polio drops to the children today.

The Director, Family Welfare, Dr M.P. Minocha, has once again a-2 are not safe.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Clubs of Chandigarh had vaccinated 15,462 children at 38 booths yesterday. The Rotary Shivalik Chandigarh had assisted the health authorities in manning 10 polio drops booths in Sectors 22 and 34. Besides mobilising parents to bring their children to these booths, members of the Rotary Shivalik Chandigarh had set up two special booths in the Sector 22 market.

Bail denied in wife murder case
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The bail application moved by a Mani Majra resident, accused of being involved in his wife's alleged murder, was today dismissed by the UT District and Sessions Judge, Mr B.S. Bedi.

The accused, Rajinder Kumar, was earlier booked by the Chandigarh police under Sections 302, 498, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code after his wife set herself on fire.

Seeking grant of bail for the petitioner, the defence counsel stated that Rajinder Kumar, as stated by the deceased in her dying declaration, was not at home when the incident took place.

Acting school to begin in January
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — Madhumati's Art and Cultural Workshop, set up by renowned actress and dancer Madhumati to train aspirants for film and television acting, will be inaugurated on January 8, 2000, at S.D. Saini School, Sector 38, here, said her husband, Mr Manohar Deepak, also dancer-actor, who is in the city.

Remembered for her exquisite dance performances in Hindi films like Talaash, Mere Hazoor and Pavittar Papi, this contemporary of Helen, has worked in over 1,100 films in a span of about 25 years. Madhumati has also been running a similar academy in Mumbai for the past 20 years.

Her workshop in the city would offer a three-month course in both acting and dancing, which would include development of personality, voice culture, diction, dubbing and intonation. According to Manohar Deepak, selected candidates would be then invited to join the academy in Mumbai for three months free of charge for further advanced and practical polishing.

The husband-wife duo feel that the academy would help people from Punjab "carve out successful careers in the world of films and television."

Sector 17 traders meet MP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — A deputation of Sector 17 traders met the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, today to apprise him of the eviction notices served upon them by the Estate Office for violation of building byelaws which are in the process of being reviewed and amended.

The deputation maintained that while on one hand, the Administration had invited suggestions from the public, organisations and experts for amending these building byelaws, on the other hand, the exercise of resumption of sites for building byelaws violation was continuing unabated.

The deputation also wanted Mr Bansal's intervention in getting power connections released to shopkeepers of the Sector 17 Anand Complex.

Mr Bansal has urged the Administration to look into these problems of shopkeepers.

SNIPPETS

Educational competitions
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, Dec 20 — A three-day state-level educational competition for the secondary and senior secondary school students is being organised by the Punjab State Education Board at Bal Bhavan starting from December 22.

The Secretary of the board, Mr Jagjit Singh Sidhu, said the State Education Minister, Mr Tota Singh, would inaugurate the competitions. On December 22 the competitions would be held on Shabad gyan, War gyan and Kavishri. On December 23 and 24, the topics would be calligraphy, on- the-spot painting, one-act play, poetic recitation, folk singing, bhangra, declamation and creative writing. Those students, who had secured first, second and third positions at the tehsil, district and regional level competitions, would only be allowed to compete in the three-day event.

Students, teachers honoured
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 20 — The annual prize distribution function of Government High School, Sector 38-B, Chandigarh, was held on Saturday.

Mr Ravinder Pal Singh Saini, President, P.T.A., was the chief guest. Mr Kim Singh and Mrs Marga, a German couple who are running Marga's G.K.C. (Global Kids Club) in the school, were the guests of honour.

Mr Karam Chand, Headmaster of the school, read out the annual report. Prizes were given to the meritorious students.

Five teachers were honoured for their involvement in curricular and extra-curricular activities. The President of P.T.A. said teachers who show more than 80 per cent results in middle and secondary school examinations would be honoured.

A cultural programme was presented by students on the occasion.