More women seek divorce
LUDHIANA: Nearly 60 divorce cases are filed in the sessions court here every month. By the end of 1998, 663 cases were pending.

GND University plans heritage museum
AMRITSAR, Feb 22 — Guru Nanak Dev University will soon have a heritage museum dedicated to the first Sikh Guru on its campus. A sum of Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked for it and its building is nearing completion.

Jathedar's health improves
AMRITSAR, Feb 22 — The acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, has improved considerably and has been put on normal diet in Guru Nanak Hospital. However, doctors have not allowed him to go home.

Mann: Badal trying to please Sonia
FATEHGARH SAHIB, Feb 22 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the SAD(A) has criticised the announcement made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Jaitu to construct a hospital, a stadium and a park after Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru. He said Mr Badal had done this just to please Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Minister accused of beating up head constable
ABOHAR, Feb 22 — Mr Baldev Singh Sandhu, a head constable of the Punjab Police, was allegedly beaten up by Mr Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Punjab Minister of State for Panchayats and Rural Development, and his security guards, at Mr Jiyani's residence at Katehra village on February 21.

15 schoolchildren hurt in collision
PATIALA, Feb 22 — Fifteen schoolchildren of Ramrai Public School near Punjabi University were injured when the three wheeler in which they were going to school was hit by a jeep near Sanaur township today morning.

Statewide strike by photographers
BATHINDA, Feb 22 — Photographers closed their shops here today on following a call for a two-day strike by the Punjab Photographers Association in protest against the state government's proposal to levy sales tax on photography.

Doctors take out protest march

DEO suspends supervisor

Farmers plough in cauliflower
From Jupinderjit Singh

PATIALA, Feb 22 — Lovers of 'cauliflower' are in for a feast with the vegetable's price crashing to its lowest in recent years. While the vegetable is retailing at Re 1 per kg the wholesale price is less than Rs 4 per 5 kilograms. However, a bumper crop and crash in prices have meant huge losses for farmers many of whom have begun ploughing the standing crop under in preference to taking it to an unreceptive market.

A survey of vegetable markets in the district reveals that consumers who had some months ago been paying high prices for vegetables, especially onions, are rejoicing at the low prices of cauliflower with 'gobhi ka pranthas' becoming 'ever so tasteful'. Even at marriage parties and other functions gobhi ka pakoras outnumber other delicacies.

By contrast the farmer is again left ruing his fate. So acute has been the crash that where farmers have not ploughed in their standing crop they have announced a take-away for those willing to harvest cauliflower and cart it out of their fields.

An arhtiya told this correspondent that Devinder Singh, a farmer of Ghanaur, who came into the vegetable market here with 10 quintals of cauliflower in a tractor trolley received the shock of his life when rather than being offered the Rs 3000 he had anticipated his entire pile was priced at Rs 250. The unfortunate farmer had spent Rs 150 on diesel alone to bring the crop to market.

The commission agent said other sellers in this market in the past week have shared Devinder's fate.

Another farmer Pappu Bhagwan Dass of village Sanaur said that many farmers in Sanaur, Ghanaur and Fatehpur in this district have ploughed their crop under.

Farmers said the cost of producing cauliflower in one acre of land is between Rs 5000 to Rs 6000 and yield around 70-80 quintals.

With the crop auctioning at Rs 30 per quintal the loss per acre is around Rs 3000 per acre even presuming the crop is sold.

Not only farmers but traders too have suffered losses in the crash Ravinderjit Singh, a trader, said pointing towards his heap of cauliflower that he was willing to sell it at 15 paise per kg but couldn't find a buyer even at that price.

The reason for the bumper crop are listed as a sudden change in temperature resulting in an early ripening of the entire crop at one time and an increase in cultivation of cauliflower following three years of good crop and profits.

Business as usual at Wagah
From Our Correspondent

WAGAH, Indo-Pak border), Feb 22 — After making a landmark history, "Sada-e-Sarha", the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Bus which carried Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to Pakistan, returned to India this morning and later proceeded back to Delhi.

The only difference in its return journey was that it was almost empty and carried only four passengers and crew, whereas it was crowded on its inaugural run on Saturday, with the Prime Minister and his party on board.

The Managing Director of the DTC, Mr Manzoor Ahmed, and his attendant Mr Varinder Kumar and drivers Zaidi Sayeed and Ajit Singh were the sole occupants of the bus which arrived at the Wagah check post at about 10 a.m. and left for Delhi within 10 minutes.

Two members of the delegation of the Prime Minister, Mr Adesh Partap Singh, a Punjab MLA, and former hockey captain, Pargat Singh returned to India today in a car. Playback singer Mahinder Kapoor had returned yesterday.

The bus service, which is still to be programmed for routine run, will run from Delhi and Lahore four times in a week namely, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday — the days when Samjotha Express is not available for travel to Pakistan. The train runs on a Monday and Thursdays.

Meanwhile, the import of dry fruits from Pakistan was resumed today after a week. It had been stopped due to the arrangements going on in view of the visit of the Prime Minister.

Teachers-govt row costs students dear
By Sarbjit Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — The ongoing confrontation between the Punjab Government and the teaching and non-teaching staff of government aided recognised schools has put the future of about five lakh students in jeopardy.

As many as 10,000 teaching and non-teaching employees of about 484 government-aided recognised schools having more than 5 lakh students on their rolls are on a stay-in-strike since February 7 in support of their demands.

For students it is a crucial time. The Matriculation and the plus two examination are due to start in the first week of March. For them it was time to revise their syllabus and to have tips from the teachers before the examinations.

The agitating staff says it had been left with no alternative except to resort to the agitation. While all government and other employees concerned have got their revised scales recommended by Fourth Pay Commission for the past several months, in their case government has not taken decision yet. They say their many deputations had held negotiations and formal meetings in the past few months with the Punjab Chief Minister and others concerned but things had not moved in the right direction.

The main demands of the agitating employees include revised medical allowance, house rent allowance and revised pay scales and the settlement of the pay scales to be given to drawing teachers and physical training instructors (PTIs) on the basis of the Supreme Court decision.

Teachers say that in case of drawing teachers and PTIs even the pay scales recommended by the Third Pay Commission, which were implemented with effect from January 1, 1986 had not been given from the due date. As many as four such teachers went to the court which gave decision in favour of them. Instead of January 1, 1986, drawing teachers and PTIs were given pay scales of the Third Pay Commission with effect from May 23, 1992.

They say that before the assembly elections the Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal had promised that employees of the aided schools would get justice from the SAD-BJP government. On this promise, staff of these institutions had openly supported the SAD-BJP combine in the elections.

The teachers say the SAD-BJP government had gone back on promise doing with. They say that when they had gone to hold a rally at Mukerian against Dr Kewal Krishan, who was Finance Minister in Congress government, they were lathi-charged about two-and-half-years ago. And now under SAD-BJP rule the teachers of these schools were lathi-charged at Khanna two days ago.

While during the Congress rule it was Mr Badal who was among the first to condemn the lathi charge of these teachers now it was Capt Amarinder Singh, president, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, to condemn the lathi charge on teachers at Khanna.

The Punjab Government-aided School Teachers and other Employees' Union which spearheading the agitation says that even 2000 pensioners have not been given revised pensionary benefits by the Punjab Government. These pensioners had retired from the aided schools.

The union says that almost all other states had given new scales to staff of the aided schools and the Punjab Government was lagging behind.

Meanwhile informed sources said the Punjab Government might open a dialogue with agitation teachers on Wednesday. The sources said the government had unofficially contacted agitating staff of these schools for holding negotiations.

Crisis may hurt Sikh institutions
From P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Feb 22 — While camp followers of Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra are busy drawing up legal strategies, Sikh scholars are concerned about saving Panthic institutions in the long run.

A cross section of Sikh scholars and academicians who interacted with The Tribune in the past few days were guarded in their comments and divided over interpretation of the issues involved. Nevertheless they felt that the crisis was moving towards "more chaos and bitterness".

Even confidants of both Mr Parkash Singh and Mr Gurcharan Singh were unsure of the end-result and remained sceptical of the intentions of their leaders. This feeling was more pronounced among supporters of Mr Tohra who found their leader "halting" in taking a bold initiative or disclosing his approach to the crisis. His "wait and watch" policy and keeping his cards close to his chest dismayed them.

This sentiment was evident when Mr Tohra's supporters met in a conclave at Rajpura on February 19, and discussed the no-confidence motion against him. The notice was submitted by 103 members of the SGPC, including 10 of the 15 members of the executive, who sought convening of the general house to consider the motion.

It is now an open secret that Mr Tohra is fighting a "last-ditch battle" for his political survival. Despite this one of his supporters said "we are confident of defeating the no-confidence motion". A visit to the SGPC office complex today manifest the secrecy being maintained even about even the date on which the no-confidence notice was received here.

Knowledgeable sources, however, said that the notice was received on the morning of February 17 last. Going by the laid down procedure, the 15 day period thus expires on March 3. If Mr Tohra does not convene a meeting of the general house by then the 103 members will do so by issuing a notice for the meeting, which would then have to be held in 10 days.

But it is being widely perceived that Mr Tohra will convene a meeting of the general house. He has already made some 'political' mistakes for which he is facing contempt proceedings before the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission to be heard on Thursday, and is unlikely to complicate his position further.

As Mr Tohra has to give 20 days notice, the house is likely to meet in Teja Singh Samundari Hall around March 23.

That meeting, as per the rules, shall have to be attended by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh, who confirmed to having received a copy of the no-confidence notice. Whether the meeting is convened by the SGPC president or by the pro-Badal SGPC members the no-confidence motion is expected to be adopted paving the way for the ouster of Mr Tohra and a new SGPC chief.

That will entail reconstitution of the executive. The SGPC budget for 1999-2000 has to be passed by the general house before March 31 next. The Budget is presented by the general secretary. The present incumbent, Mr Balbir Singh Pannu, owes allegiance to Mr Badal.

Enquiries reveal that an exercise to prepare the Budget is already underway.

Despite the crisis, which has resulted in "suspension" of Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh and the "appointment" of Giani Puran Singh in his place, SGPC offices are working normally. There, is, however, an undercurrent of tension about the future should the crisis persist. The Dharm Parchar Committee of the SGPC met at Fatehgarh Sahib on February 20, where it adopted a resolution which inter alia lent support to Bhai Ranjit Singh. The SGPC has refused to recognise Giani Puran Singh as Jathedar.

As per the resolution adopted on Saturday, all the 'takhts' are to be considered "out of the purview" of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. Akal Takht, it says, is the highest supreme spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs, which guides the Sikhs in their day-to-day life. Therefore Akal Takht and other takhts can not be confined to the provisions of the act as takhts are not ordinary gurdwaras.

The act, the resolution says, is silent on such issues as "Sarbat Khalsa" Gurmata (collective will of the Khalsa) and 'hukmnama'. The takht is soverign and supreme. Therefore the Dharm Parchar Committee has resolved that all takhts be deemed 'free' from the act.

The committee has gone a step further asserting "it is of the considered opinion that a Jathedar of Akal Takht can neither be "dismissed" nor "suspended". No show cause notice could be issued to him. He can not be questioned. This right is of the Sarbat Khalsa alone."

The resolution bears the signatures of Mr Tohra as well.

Interestingly the SGPC and primarily its president and executive, has always been the appointing and removing authority of takht jathedars. It is another matter that no letter of appointment is issued, no pay is given and the honorarium is deposited in the bank account of the Jathedar.

From what the committee has resolved and from what legal experts like Dr Kashmir Singh of Guru Nanak Dev University (he is professor and head) says it is evident that the existing Act of 1925 is full of loopholes and is ambiguous. He subscribes to the view that a new All-India Gurdwara Act is required. In fact a new draft is already under consideration of various Sikh institutions, including the SGPC.

On the other hand, another Sikh scholar, Dr Daljeet Singh has termed suspension of the Jathedar as "void and without any legal sanction". He supports the contention of the Dharm Parchar Committee.

The SGPC which constituted a seven-member committee to consider the introduction of a "Nanak Shahi calendar" in recognition of the fact that the Sikhs are a "separate nation" today appealed to the entire Sikh sangat to end all animosities and celebrate the tercentenary celebrations collectively. In a way this endorses the "ceasefire" ordered through a hukamnama by Bhai Ranjit Singh on December 31 last as the call is to stop infighting till April 15 next. Today's four-hour meeting of the SGPC remained inconclusive and its next meeting has been postponed to April 15.

Till then the committee constituted as ordained by Bhai Ranjit Singh, said gurpurbs and other Sikh festivals will be observed and celebrated according to the existing calendar. Nevertheless, the committee lauded the efforts of Mr Pal Singh Purewal, who worked on the "Nanak Shahi calendar".

The committee comprised of Dr Kharak Singh, Giani Gurdit Singh, Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi of Una, Jathedar Nihal Singh Harianbela Wale, Baba Paramjit Singh Mahilpur, Giani Hari Singh Randhawaewale and Principal Ram Singh.

Today's meeting was attended among others by former minister Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, Dr Harjinder Singh Dilgir and Giani Ajit Singh Purewal.

More women seek divorce
From Ruchika Mohindra

LUDHIANA: Pradeep Dhir, a businessman, had everything going well for him. He had just signed a joint venture with a German firm when his wife decided to divorce him. She had been married to him for only six months. I thought our married life was a bliss. Although my wife often complained of my preoccupation with work, I thought she would soon understand. We tried to sort out things, but probably it was never meant to be and we are now applying for divorce", says the businessman.

According to official sources, nearly 60 divorce cases are filed in the sessions court here every month. By the end of 1998, 663 cases were pending.

Says Ms Anita Kapoor, a divorcee, who is a lecturer in a local college: "There has been a new awakening among the masses and a divorcee is no longer looked down upon by society. By and large, people have begun to realise that like all other relationships, marriages too, can be annulled if things don't work out between the partners". She had married a doctor five years ago, but divorced him after two months. "Ever since we parted ways, we have become good friends," she says.

According to Mr K.R. Sikri, a senior civil lawyer and president of the District Bar Association, most of the divorces are the result of a lack of compatability. "Earlier, adultery was the most common reason for seeking divorce. But now a lot of couples go in for it because they don't get along mentally," he informs.

Ms Rupinderjit Kaur, a rich landlord's daughter, married Mr Sukhdeep Singh, a computer engineer, here.

However, she could not adjust to his lifestyle and started getting bouts of depression. As a result, small squabblings between the two turned to big fights and soon both of them decided to put an end to their marriage.

Of the 292 divorce petitions filed in the district courts between August, 1998, and January, 1999, 152 have been filed by women.

Says Mr Pardeep Sharma, president, Young Lawyers' Forum: "Women have become very assertive, thanks to the women's liberalisation. Not only do they have certain preconceived notions, but they are also unwilling to change their stances. That is the reason disappointment sets in early and they decide to seek divorce."

Says another senior civil Lawyer: "A serious cause for concern is that Section 498-A and Section 406 of the I.P.C. which is meant to protect women from harassment for dowry is being misused by certain women applying for divorce.

"But all is not lost", feels Dr Rajeev Gupta, consultant psychiatrist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. "Most people would like to put the blame on the women's liberation movement. They fail to recognise the fact that women have liberated men from most of their traditional roles, with most of them shunning the role of house wives as their only avocation".

Dr Gupta is of the view that the main reason for the rise in divorce cases is an increase in the level of individual intolerance.
(Names have been changed to protect identity.)

GND University plans heritage museum
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Feb 22 — Guru Nanak Dev University will soon have a heritage museum dedicated to the first Sikh Guru on its campus. A sum of Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked for it and its building is nearing completion.

The university pro vice-chancellor, Dr Inderpal Singh, who has recently returned from Pakistan, told TNS in an interview today that the intended purpose of the museum was to preserve and propagate the message of Guru Nanak by collecting material, including manuscripts associated with his life and works, for posterity.

The idea is to inculcate among the people Guru Nanak's philosophy and message of universal love and brotherhood, he said.

Dr Inderpal Singh found the response of Pakistan authorities towards this end very positive. During his week-long stay there he had the occasion to visit several places, including holding detailed talks with University of Punjab Vice-Chancellor, Dr Khalid Hamid Sheikh, in Lahore and also Quaid-I-Azam University Vice-Chancellor Dr M. Tariq Saddiqui, in Islamabad. Unlike in the past this time the pro vice-chancellor saw a discernible change in the "attitude and approach" of the faculty in sharing and exchanging available material on Guru Nanak and his associates.

Near home, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr H.S. Soch, has written to his colleagues in other states seeking their help in making the museum a 'place of high educational and information value'.

The university already has a proposal to introduce a compulsory paper on "Indian heritage" being prepared by Dr J.S. Neki to be introduced at the undergraduate level.

Jathedar's health improves
From Our Correspondent

AMRITSAR, Feb 22 — The acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Puran Singh, has improved considerably and has been put on normal diet in Guru Nanak Hospital. However, doctors have not allowed him to go home.

He is likely to be discharged from the hospital only after two to three days, the personal assistant of the Jathedar, Mr Iqbal Singh Tung, said today.

Meanwhile, a stream of visitors, including Akali leaders from all over the state, called on him in the past three days. The Jathedar has been allowed to move around in the hospital compound.

Mann: Badal trying to please Sonia
From Our Correspondent

FATEHGARH SAHIB, Feb 22 — Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the SAD(A) has criticised the announcement made by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at Jaitu to construct a hospital, a stadium and a park after Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru. He said Mr Badal had done this just to please Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Talking to mediapersons at his native village Talania, he said such an announcement was an indication that a midterm election was on the cards and that the Congress was going to form the government. Mr Badal, he claimed, had started constructing bridges with the Congress just to save the government. He ridiculed the statement of Mr Badal, that Rs 4 crore had been offered to kill him. He said such a statement was floated to get cheap popularity and sympathy from the public.

Criticising the recent visit of the Prime Minister and Mr Badal to Lahore, he said it was a failure as no treaty was signed about nuclear weapons or the Kashmir issue.

He alleged that even though the Punjab Government had become bankrupt, as except for regular salaries and pensions, no other bills were being passed, lots of money had been spent on foreign visits by certain minister's. He also criticised the recent killings in Rajouri.

Minister accused of beating up head constable
From Our Correspondent

ABOHAR, Feb 22 — Mr Baldev Singh Sandhu, a head constable of the Punjab Police, was allegedly beaten up by Mr Surjit Kumar Jiyani, Punjab Minister of State for Panchayats and Rural Development, and his security guards, at Mr Jiyani's residence at Katehra village on February 21.

Mr Sandhu told visitors at the Civil Hospital, Fazilka, yesterday that Mr Jiyani had promised to mediate and resolve a dispute with his (Mr Sandhu's) colleague.

Mr Sandhu, who was first attached with Mr Jiyani, had later been put on security duty with Mr Zora Singh Maan, an MP. He said, instead of intervening and resolving the dispute with the guard attached to Mr Jiyani, the Minister asked his security guards to beat up Mr Sandhu. The Minister started beating the head constable himself, according to Mr Sandhu.

He said he fell unconscious and was taken to the Khuyiansarwer Police Station. Later, he found himself admitted to the Civil Hospital at Fazilka, whereas, as per the jurisdiction of the Khuyiansarwer Police Station, he should have been admitted to the Civil Hospital, Abohar. It appeared that since Mr Jiyani was to preside over a function at the Abohar Hospital, it was thought fit to take him away to Fazilka, he said.

He said he regained consciousness late in the evening after treatment.

The police sources confirmed that the head constable was beaten up but denied that Mr Jiyani did it. According to an FIR, lodged by the security guards on duty at Mr Jiyani's residence, Mr Sandhu visited the Minister at his residence at Katehra village on February 21 and when he, allegedly, misbehaved with the Minister and abused him, the guards intervened and pushed him out. Mr Sandhu, according to them, created nuisance and had to be handed over to the nearby police station. The police is investigating the matter.

15 schoolchildren hurt in collision
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Feb 22 — Fifteen schoolchildren of Ramrai Public School near Punjabi University were injured when the three wheeler in which they were going to school was hit by a jeep near Sanaur township today morning.

While the jeep driver fled after the accident residents of a near by Seel village rose to the occasion and rendered first aid to the injured, all of whom were below the ten years of age.

Gurbax Singh Manjoli, former sarpanch of the village told this correspondent that they transported the injured children to Rajindra Hospital but the doctors there did not treat the injured properly.

Mr Manjoli said that following this the relatives of the schoolchildren took the injured to a private hospital.

Dr R.K. Mittal, head Department of Orthopaedics however said that they had rendered proper service to the injured dressing wounds and applying splints to relieve the pain till broken bones could be plastered.

However admitting to delay, Dr Mittal said that there was only one operation theatre operational and in that too some patients were being operated upon. Due to this the operation theatre could be made available only at 4 p.m. He said that the schoolchildren were not seriously injured and could have waited.

The police has registered a case against the jeep driver.

Rice millers stage dharna
From Our Correspondent

PATIALA, Feb 22 — Rice millers of the state, who are up in arms against the state and the Union Government for the non-milling of the stored paddy crop since October last, today staged a massive dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office and blocked traffic for almost two hours on the Mall Road.

The rice millers threatened to throw the stored paddy crop after February 28 if the government does not redress their grievances by then.

The agitating millers submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, highlighting the gravity of their problem and the imminent threat of closure faced by many of them.

Earlier in the morning, rice millers, along with labourers, collected at the grain market, Sirhind road, and marched towards the Mall Road, raising anti-government slogans. The police was present in large numbers at the spot.

Addressing the rally, Mr Tarsem Saini, President of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, and Mr Gurdeep Singh Cheema, President of the local unit of the association, said as many as 22 rice mills had closed down in Patran township in this district due to heavy losses.

Milling was not being done in the rice mills due to arbitrary conditions laid down by the Union Food Ministry about the quality of the rice. These conditions had not taken in to account the ground realities of rice milling.

The association demanded relaxation in specifications of rice and reimbursement of gunny rates for 1998-99. The memorandum alleged that the Union Government was giving a step-motherly treatment to Punjab as it had relaxed specifications of raw rice for the kharif marketing season for Uttar Pradesh.

Cop robs cop
From Lalit Mohan

NANGAL, Feb 22 — In a rather unusual incident, a theft has taken place right under the police's nose — in Nangal police station.

SPO Lakhbir Singh allegedly stole Rs 9,500 from a fellow constable's house situated in the police station complex. According to sources, the incident took place on February 9, when a constable came back to his house and did not find the Rs 9,500 he had kept there.

As no civilian could have entered the police quarters, suspicion fell on the inmates. Since Lakhbir Singh was earlier also involved in such an incident, he came under suspicion. He was earlier caught making illegal collections from truckers by the Kotkhai police and at Ajouli Mode, falling under Nangal police station, on the Himachal border.

A close vigil was kept on Lakhbir Singh. After about a week, Lakhbir Singh, not finding the constable in his residence, opened his house with a duplicate key. He was caught while doing so and Rs 1000 were recovered from his possession.

On interrogation, Lakhbir Singh admitted having stolen the money. He has now been shifted to the police lines, Ropar.

The SHO of the local police station, Mr Parampal Singh, said he had sent a report in this regard to the higher authorities.

Statewide strike by photographers
From Tribune Reporters

BATHINDA, Feb 22 — Photographers closed their shops here today on following a call for a two-day strike by the Punjab Photographers Association in protest against the state government's proposal to levy sales tax on photography.

About 200 photographers of this district submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, through the Deputy Commissioner in this regard.

They also took out a protest march.

LUDHIANA: The local unit of the Punjab Photographers Associations held a token strike here on Monday.

The Punjab Photographers Association will observe a two-day strike from February 22.

Members of the association also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner and said they should be exempted from tax.

SUNAM: The photographers here and from adjoining areas observed a complete bandh and took out a procession through the main markets.

They submitted a memorandum to the SDM in which they demanded the withdrawal of the proposal to levy sales tax on photography.

Mr Surinder Singh Lilly, president of the photographers' association, said earlier photography and radiography were exempted from sales tax by the Punjab Government and now it was thinking of imposing sales tax only on photography, which was unjustified.

FAZILKA: Photographers observed bandh here today.

A spokesman of the Photographers Association Fazilka criticised the Punjab Government for imposing sales tax and called for its immediate withdrawal.

MALERKOTLA: Photographers closed their shops at Malerkotla, Dhuri, Ahmedgarh, Sherpur and Amargarh in support of their demands.

The photographers of Malerkotla and Ahmedgarh submitted a memorandum to the SDM.

FEROZEPORE: The photographers observed a strike here to oppose the imposition of sales tax.

PHAGWARA: The photographers observed a strike and took out a procession, according to Mr Mohan Narang, treasurer of the local Punjab Photographers Association.

Car thieves' gang busted, 4 held
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Feb 22 — A four-member inter-state gang of car thieves has been busted by the local police here, leading to the recovery of ten stolen cars from them.

The modus operandi of the gang leader an ex-serviceman, according to the SSP Mr Gaurav Yadav, was to steal cars from busy markets and posh hotels by using a 'master key'. Other gang members specialised in changing engine/chassis numbers and preparing 'fake' registration certificates.

The area of operation of the gang was Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana.

The SSP claimed that following interrogation the four accused Sat Pal Mehta of Dehradun, Shankar Sain of Jawalpuri, Hardwar, Inderjit alias Happy of Jalandhar and Vijay alias Surinder of Batala, a stock of rubber stamps of district transport officers of Shimla and Patna, blank registration certificates, NOC forms and tools and dies for changing engine and chassis numbers were recovered from of them. The stolen vehicles would be sold in various car bazaars with fake registration certificates and documents.

Further recoveries of vehicles are expected.

The police has also recovered stolen property worth Rs 40 lakh and 867 litres of Illicit Liquor and 1405 kg of lahan 13 working stills have been uncovered.

Principal's plea on extension dismissed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 22 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition filed by Mr Gurtej Singh, Principal of the Khalsa College, Patiala, seeking directions that he should be allowed to continue to work up to the age of 62. He had attained the age of 60 on December 20, 1998.

Mr Justice R.S. Mongia and Mr Justice V.M. Jain, who constituted the Bench and handed down this order, held a teacher in a state-aided college could not ipso facto take advantage of the circular issued by the University Grants Commission as it involved financial implications.

The Judge observed that a teacher who would be allowed to go up to the age of 62 years would necessarily have to be paid salary and in case of state-aided colleges, 95 per cent of the pay has to be shelved out by the state government.

"We are of the considered view that the scheme which provides that the teachers would retire at the age of 62 years would only be applicable to teachers working in a university department or in colleges run by the university itself and not ipso facto be applicable to government colleges run by the state government or state-aided colleges," the Judges concluded.

Cop's dismissal upheld

The High Court today upheld the decision of the first appellate court concurring with the decision of the Ferozepore S.S.P. dismissing Mohinder Singh, a constable, from service.

Mr Justice V.K. Jhanji, who handed down this order, held: "I am of the view that no case is made out for taking a view contrary to the one taken by the appellate court. Consequently this appeal is devoid of merit and has to be dismissed. It is so ordered".

The Judge observed that the first appellate court held that the plaintiff absented from duty when terrorism was at peak and the Public Police was fighting it. The absence from duty of a police official amounted to running from the battlefield and was the gravest act of misconduct.

Mohinder Singh remained absent from duty for one year, six months and 13 days.

Doctors take out protest march
Tribune News Service

BATHINDA, Feb 22 — More than 100 doctors of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) took out a march in the city in protest against the proposed Punjab State Nursing Home Act, 1998.

Dr Rajesh Maheshwaray, president, and Dr Kailash Goyal, honorary secretary, respectively, of the local unit of the IMA, and Dr Vineeta Gupta, member, National Council, PUCL, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, trough the Deputy Commissioner.

Private doctors urged the Punjab Government to withdraw the proposed Act as it was "anti-poor" and would promote 'inspector raj'.

They also demanded electricity and water at subsidised rates and concession for constructing nursing homes.

They added that the private doctors were already burdened with the Consumer Protection Act and various provisions of the Civil Procedure Code and hence there was no need for a new Act.

DEO suspends supervisor
From Our Correspondent

PHAGWARA, Feb 22 — Mr Gurmukh Singh, District Education Officer (Primary), Kapurthala, today suspended a supervisor, Mr Amar Nath, for reportedly aiding copying in the ongoing fifth standard examinations at Government Primary School, Narur.

Mr Amar Nath is a teacher at Tanda Bhagana.

The DEO also relieved centre superintendent Surjit Ram for not having calculated remaining question papers till the time of checking by a flying squad. Disciplinary action was also ordered against superintendent Surjit Ram, a press note said.