Thursday, March 11, 1999
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Thursday, March 11, 1999 |
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People's panel acting like
a court: counsel CHANDIGARH, March 10 — "There can be no objection if an individual or an association collects information on public affairs to place it before a court of competent jurisdiction, but it is unconstitutional for them to arrogate to themselves the powers of a court," said counsel for Mr Sudarshan Goel, who has challenged the functioning of People's Commission in Punjab. Badal issues whip to SGPC members CHANDIGARH, March 10 — The Shiromani Akali Dal President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has directed all members of the SGPC general house to be present at the March 16 meeting convened at Amritsar. |
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Relaxation
a joke, say millers Unavailability
of raw material: 27 cotton mills close down Notification
on pay-scales of PU teachers Ludhiana
boy's kidnappers held SGPC
flays govt for 'jaziya' Negligence
costs students dear CPM
worker held in ‘false’ case |
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People's panel acting like a court:
counsel CHANDIGARH, March 10 — "There can be no objection if an individual or an association collects information on public affairs to place it before a court of competent jurisdiction, but it is unconstitutional for them to arrogate to themselves the powers of a court by issuing notices, hearing cases, indicting individuals and holding them guilty counsel said for Mr Sudarshan Goel, who has challenged the functioning of People's Commission in Punjab. The counsel commenced his arguments before a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Datt, after counsel for the Union of India told the court that the Home Ministry had not agreed to extend the limitation for taking cognisance of charges of alleged police excesses during the height of terrorism by the National Human Rights Commission. Quoting from the rules framed by the People's Commission, counsel said the commission had promised to inquire into even those cases which had been tried by courts. It could call and cross-examine witnesses, and hold them guilty and even grant compensation. These powers had been invested with the court under the constitution and to arrogate these powers to themselves by an individual or an association, was to subvert the rule of law in the country. It was illegal for a citizen to set up a parallel judiciary by alleging that the judiciary was not independent or working under the influence of the state police, he pointed out. If anybody thought that justice was not being done they could approach the Human Rights Commission or place facts before the High Court and seek a mandamus for appointment of a commission of inquiry and in a fit case the High Court could issue a mandamus for setting up of commission of inquiry. But without resorting to constitutional means, the respondents had set up parallel court named the People's Commission. To condemn the judiciary and to hold it incompetent was itself a subversion of the law. It amounted to weakening the faith of the common man in the rule of the law and the judiciary, he stated. It was further argued that the respondent commission is trying to malign and overreach the court. Counsel conceded that individual initiative or of a group to investigate the matter to bring it before the court, could not be objected to and Article 19 guarantees the right to information, but if the actions or proposed action impunged on the powers of an institution of the state, it was illegal. The concept of a commission if it did not transgress the law, could not be objected to. But in the instant case the commission talked of giving a finding and holding a person guilty. Counsel further argued that the liberty of collecting information had to be subordinated to the rule of law and could not be utilised for spreading anarchy. Powers given to institutions created by the Constitution had to be harmonised with the right to information. Counsel was on his legs
when the court rose for the day. |
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Badal issues whip to SGPC
members CHANDIGARH, March 10 — The Shiromani Akali Dal President, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, has directed all members of the SGPC general house to be present at the March 16 meeting convened at Amritsar. Talking to mediapersons in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after the House adjourned for the day, Mr Parkash Singh today said it did not behove the SGPC President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, to speak lies and half-truths after having been a party to most of the decisions taken regarding tercentenary celebrations of the birth of the Khalsa. Even at January 7 meeting at Anandpur Sahib, Mr Gurcharan Singh was present when a resolution was moved authorising the SAD President to coordinate with the SGPC for the programmes to be held. Mr Parkash Singh reiterated that the Government was not involved as such in the celebrations. It was the Anandpur Sahib foundation which is chalking out programmes and of which Mr Gurcharan Singh had been a decision-maker all through. He dubbed as "ridiculous" the SGPC President’s oft-repeated charge that there will be "sarkari" functions on the tercentenary. Several states are involved and a national committee has been formed with the Prime Minister as chairman to send the message that Guru Gobind Singh believed in "oneness of human spirit". The functions of "purely" religious nature will be conducted by the head priests involving the five takhts. In fact, Mr Parkash Singh wondered how could the SGPC President term the functions "sarkari" when religion and politics went hand-in-hand. He described the March 22
meeting of the SGPC convened by Mr Gurcharan Singh as
"illegal". He did not see any logic in the
proposed Jind meeting of the SGPC executive. That could
have been held at Amritsar. |
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DGP's orders violated in police
torture case FAZILKA: It is a spine-chilling instance of booking an "innocent" junior employee for theft, inhumane torture and him being not discharged in a false case, while the "guilty" being not punished despite a number of inquiries and the Punjab DGP's orders. Kewal Krishan, a junior assistant of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, Fazilka, was charged with the theft of a truckload of wheat, according to the F.I.R. registered with Jalalabad police. Accordingly he was arrested on February 24,1998, and suspended. But five inquiries by senior police officers reveal that he was innocent and implicated in a false case at the behest of Manjit Singh and Sukhdev Raj Kaushal,both managers of the PSWC here, by Raj Singh, S.H.O. (City), Jalalabad. The cause of the action was that both warehouse managers were inimical to Kewal Krishan as they suspected him of being the brain behind complaints of embezzlement and misappropriation of five trucks of wheat worth about Rs 5 lakh for which they were being probed. According to the official version, Kewal Krishan allegedly stole one truck-load of wheat on February 24 that year from the Fazilka-Ferozepore road godown, on the outskirts of the town. As he was accompanying the truck, it was impounded at Jalalabad by SHO Raj Singh. An FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of Hardip Singh, the truck driver. Kewal Krishan was arrested. SHO Raj Singh, the father of manager Manjit Singh who was involved in the case, tortured Kewal Krishan and inflicted severe injuries on him on the day of his arrest. He was also beaten up by police officials including ASI Lal Chand, head constable, Baljit Singh and constables Raj Kumar, Amarjit Singh and Kewal Krishan. As a result of these injuries, he was admitted to the Civil Hospital on the directive of the local court. He remained in hospital till February 27. Kewal Krishan was released on bail on March 26 by the Sessions Judge, Ferozepore. During his police and judicial remand, his mother Bimla Devi complained to senior government officers, the High Court and National Human Rights Commission that her son was framed in the case by PSWC managers with the connivance of the SHO. Following complaints by the mother and son, a probe into the case was launched. All five enquiries conducted by the SSP, Muktsar, S.P. (Detective), Ferozepore, and Inspector of the Internal Vigilance Cell as well as two DSPs found Kewal Krishan to be innocent, and was found to have been falsely implicated in the theft case by the SHO at behest of his son. The inquiries recommended that Kewal Krishan be released, exonerated from the theft case, FIR be cancelled and legal action be initiated against PSWC managers Manjit Singh and Kaushal, as well as SHO Raj Singh and other guilty police officials. Giving the sequence of events, Mr Jaspal Singh Dhanoa, SP (D), Ferozepore, in his 13-page report dated August 31,1998, recorded statements of warehouse managers, police officials, the PSWC office staff as well as an inspecting team which incidentally was in town on that day to make a check of the godowns. In his report the SP found several discrepancies. One was that the managers did not report the theft to visiting inspecting team, instead an FIR was lodged. The truck driver, Hardip Singh, later retracted his statement saying that he was directed by truck owner Ajit Singh to put his signature on the FIR prepared by the SHO. The SP's report observed that both warehousing managers arranged "stolen" wheat and conspired against Kewal Krishan and executed their plan with police connivance. During the course of inquiry it was also found that Subhash Chander, brother of Kewal Krishan, was also taken in custody by the SHO on April 5,1998, and released after harassment. The Muktsar SSP, who also conducted an inquiry after constituting a five-member panel, concurred with the SP (D)'s and other reports and observed that Manjit Singh attempted to exert political pressure on him to hush up the probe. After perusal of the inquiry reports, Mr P.C.Dogra, the then DGP, in his order directed Mr H.S. Dhillon, DIG, Ferozepore, to cancel the FIR against Kewal Krishan and take action against Manjit Singh, Kaushal, SHO Raj Singh and others. In furtherance of the DGP's orders, the DIG, Ferozepore, in a directive dated December 26,1998, directed Mr Gurcharan Singh, Ferozepore SSP, to take appropriate action. He later gave two reminders, but nothing tangible has been done so far. More than two months have
elapsed and despite orders of the highest police officer
of state, neither has the case against Kewal Krishan been
withdrawn nor action taken against defaulting PSWHC and
police officials by the police. |
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Resource crunch to hit education CHANDIGARH, March 10 — Mounting fiscal deficit has forced the Punjab Government to order economic pricing of public services. This covers education too. The government has decided to gradually withdraw itself from funding private educational institutions. According to a highly placed source, the government would reduce this year its grant — at present 95 per cent of the total salaries of staff of private colleges and schools — and completely withdraw it in the next 10 to 15 years. First a committee of officers and later a committee of ministers that examined in detail found that if the government conceded the demands of the agitating teachers, it would have to shell out Rs 156.84 crore during the fiscal year 1999-2000. And if the government also accepted the additional liability of arrears and allowances from January 1996, it would add another Rs 121.83 crore. "Punjab does not have that kind of money. Private teachers who get 95 per cent of the salaries from the government are the responsibility of these institutions and the government could no longer carry the burden. They should agitate and demand from the private institutions who are in turn are free to raise their free structure", a senior officer summed up the government thinking. Similarly, the government is seriously considering reviewing the decision regarding pensions to retired teachers of private government-aided schools. The government would in due course raise the fee structure in government schools and colleges and allow concessions to the deserving poor only. Universities which had agreed in 1993 to become gradually self-sufficient would also fall in line. There would be 10 per cent cut this year. Other services would also face similar cut. All non plan expenditure is to be reduced by 5 per cent, officials said. Now government decisions are: "All institutions assisted by the government, whether universities, private colleges or private schools, should gradually move towards self-reliance and reduce their dependence on government funding. The universities as well as private colleges/schools should be free to fix their own fee structure and raise additional resources as they deem fit. The government had been meeting more or less the entire cost of running the Universities and government aided private colleges/schools, these institutions were not working towards financial self-sufficiency. It may be difficult to achieve financial self-sufficiency immediately, the state government should determine annually a fixed grant to be given to the universities as well as private colleges and schools which may take into account their liabilities, including revision of scales of pay, as per UGC norms or norms of the Punjab Government. It should, however, be an internal matter for all these institutions to balance their budgets. In the case of universities and government aided private colleges 80 per cent of the expenditure on account of revision of scales comes from Government of India for the period January , 1996 to March, 2000. This amount would be released to the institutions as soon it is received from the Government of India. The government would pay the remaining 20 per cent to the Universities until the year 1999-2000. The grant to the universities would include payment of revised scales on UGC pattern to teachers and also arrears. In respect of government aided private schools, the grant for the year 1999-2000 would be fixed at Rs 74.58 crore. The government may have a
point while taking such a hard decision. It does not have
funds but the guiding spirit indeed is the new
liberalisation philosophy — beneficiaries must pay.
But then what happens to the welfare state model and the
arguments put forward by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen that
advancement in education is the responsibility of the
state. Here every one sings in praise of the great
economist, but then the state is running away from
rendering a helping hand to a big private effort —
to educate the people. |
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Relaxation a joke, say millers LUDHIANA, March 10 — Mr Tarsem Saini, President of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, has outrightly rejected the relaxation in specifications granted by the Union Government with effect from September 15, 1998, for the delivery of rice from paddy crop 1998-99. The relaxation of 3.5 per cent in damage, 6 per cent in discolouration and 5 per cent for broken rice as allowed would not serve the purpose of milling in the state as a whole as rice could not be prepared under these specifications, he said in a statement issued here today. The relaxations so allowed were already finalised even before personal intervention was made by the Chief Minister, Punjab, with the Prime Minister in New Delhi on March 5, 1999. Mr Saini said the government should also take up the issue with the Central government for the fixation of out-of-turn ratio, enhancement of milling charges as well as fixation of rate of gunny bags for the kharif crop 1995-96 and 96-97. These demands should be got accepted from the Central government immediately otherwise the rice millers of the state would be compelled to close their rice mills. He also appealed to the state government to finalise the arbitration cases pertaining to the sale of paddy crop 1994-95 as already agreed by them during the course of a meeting of the association held on March 3 this year at Chandigarh as well as waiving restrictions imposed for free sale rice. A meeting of the executive of the Punjab Rice Millers Association would be called within 10 days to take stock of the situation and plan the further course of action. PATIALA: The Punjab Rice Millers Association on Wednesday while rejecting the relaxation in paddy specifications granted by the Union Government threatened closure of all rice mills in the state if its demands were not accepted immediately. In a statement here, association president Tarsem Saini said in a meeting with the Prime Minister the Chief Minister and he himself had stressed that the specifications be relaxed to 4.5 per cent for damage, 8 per cent for discolouration and 30 per cent for broken. He said though the Prime Minister had assured the delegation that their demand would be considered sympathetically none of the demands had been accepted. He said the association was astonished that the relaxation allowed was far less than even the relaxation allowed in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Saini said for the time being the association would extend cooperation to the state government to take up the milling process as far as possible. He appealed to the state government to take up the issue of granting genuine relaxation with the central government so that milling work was completed at the earliest to avoid further heavy losses. PHAGWARA: Mr Joginder Paul Vij, Chairman of the legal cell of the Punjab Rice Millers Association, on Wednesday rejected the relaxation in rice specification announced on Tuesday by the Union Government in the wake of the agitating millers' meeting with the Prime Minister on March 5. Mr Vij urged association
chief Tarsem Saini to convene a meeting of millers to
take stock of the situation as millers of at least 10
districts had said no to norms relaxation saying that
these were not viable. Mr Vij termed the relaxations a
practical joke. |
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Unavailability of raw material BATHINDA, March 10 — Repeated failure of cotton crop for the past five years has not only hit the cotton farmers but also forced the owners of a number of cotton ginning mills to close units in the middle of ginning season. Unable to get raw material (cotton) for ginning and pressing a number of cotton ginning and pressing mills owners have closed units which they started in the beginning of season in October 1998 with great hopes. According to cotton trade sources, 50 cotton and ginning mills have been closed by owners in Punjab in the current season due to unavailability of raw material (cotton) in required quantity. Most of the mills which were running are on the verge of closure. Mr Ajmer Singh, a cotton mill owner of Kotkapura talking to The Tribune said that every year the cotton ginning and pressing season ended in May 31 but this year most of the mills would be closed by March 15. He added that only those mills would remain functional which had been enjoying the facility of exemption of four per cent Central Sales Tax (CST) under the new industrial policy of the Punjab Government. According to information gathered, two mills out of total four which started operation in this season had been closed in Bathinda, two out of five in Kotkapura, three out of 11 in Muktsar, four out of eight in Malout, 11 out of 15 in Mansa, four out of seven in Rampura Phul and one out of three in Jaitu have closed in the middle of operating season. Mr B.L. Grover, president, Cotton Factories Owners Association, Muktsar, said that acute shortage of raw material, disparity in the rates of raw material and finished product, overhead expenditure not in tune with the running capacity had been forcing the owners to close mills. He added that most of the mills which were still operating despite the shortage of raw material were running much below ginning and pressing capacity. Some mills operated once a week, he pointed out. Cotton trade sources said that out of total 250 cotton and ginning mills, nearly 165 mills had been closed down in the past two years. Due to the closure of these mills more than 14000 skilled and un-skilled workers had been rendered jobless. Mr Ashok Kapur, Vice-President, Northern India Cotton Association Limited said that production of cotton had been falling every year. He added that so far only 4.25 lakh bales of cotton had arrived in Punjab markets in this season. He said that the association was apprehending that arrival of cotton crop would not meet the target of five lakh bales in the state this year. Mr Kapur said that in small cotton centres all mills which started operation in the beginning of cotton season had been closed. He said that in Bhucho Mandi the two mills which were running had been closed. Similarly in Bariwala both two mills were closed. He pointed out that most of the owners of mills which could not run units to full capacity due to unavailability of raw material had got into severe financial crisis as they had suffered heavy losses. He claimed that if the
present trend in cotton industry continued to prevail,
the entire cotton industry would disappear from the state
within a year or so. |
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Notification on pay-scales of PU
teachers CHANDIGARH, March 10 — The Punjab Government tonight issued a detailed notification regarding revised pay scales of university and college teachers as per the recommendations of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (November 6) and the University Grants Commission (December 24). But the notification is applicable only in respect of government colleges' teaching personnel and academic staff of the universities, including Panjab University, and excluding Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, and medical, veterinary science, technical and engineering colleges in Punjab. This is much to the chagrin of the non-government aided colleges, whose teachers have not been included in the notification, despite assurances given by the Chief Minister's office to private college teachers, the notification has ignored them. As such, these teachers will go on a "mass casual" leave on March 12 and hold a demonstration in Chandigarh on that day. The teachers will march to the Vidhan Sabha and court arrest. It is expected the teachers of government colleges will join them. But the notification today makes private college teachers apprehensive of their colleagues' participation. The private college teachers propose to boycott all university and college examinations on March 15. They have given a call for "education bandh" on March 24. Today's notification, running into several pages, gives details about pay-scale fixation, seniority-based promotions, terms and conditions etc. Informed sources told TNS that a separate case of private teachers has been prepared by the high-level committee. The minutes of a committee's meeting have been sent to the Chief Minister for approval before the same are issued in the form of a notification. The teachers blame the Finance Department for segregating the teachers and decry bureaucrats for having procured new scales for themselves. There are 140
non-government aided colleges in Punjab and seven in
Chandigarh. There are another 11 non-aided colleges.
Teachers of these institutions are agitated. |
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Ludhiana boy's kidnappers held LUDHIANA, March 10 — The city police was achieved a major success with the arrest of Kashish Arora's kidnappers on March 8. The nine-year-old boy's kidnapping on January 23 had created quite a stir in the city. Addressing a press conference here today, the SSP, Mr Kuldeep Singh, informed the boy was kidnapped by three local youths — Avtar Singh Tarri, Jagdev Singh Heera and Harved Singh Goli. Incidentally, Jagdev Singh 'Heera' had worked as a driver in the Arora household some two and a half years back. The SSP said a police party had put up a barricade on the Ayali bridge. On March 8 when the police party signalled a Maruti car to stop, the occupants of the car opened fire on the police party. The police returned fire and succeeded in nabbing three of the five occupants of the car. The questioning of these persons later led to the arrest of some other members of the gang. In all, five persons — Avtar Singh Tarri, Paramjeet Singh, Balwinder Singh, Satnam Singh and Sukhchain Singh have been arrested. Two other accused, Hardev Singh and Jagdev Singh, are still absconding. With the arrest of these
persons the police has succeeded in solving a spate of
crimes, including robbery cases and the murder of a
petrol station manager on the Chandigarh road on December
10, 1998. The police has recovered four Maruti cars, one
Tata Sumo, and seized a .30 pistol, one .32 revolver. one
double-barrelled gun and a few cartridges from them. |
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SGPC flays govt for 'jaziya' AMRITSAR, March 10 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has criticised the Union Government for imposing income tax on the term deposits by the SGPC and Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in various banks, describing it as "jaziya" tax. In a statement issued here today, the SGPC Secretary, Mr Surjit Singh, alleged that the income tax authorities had directed banks to deduct income tax at the rate of 10 per cent at source out of the interests payments to the SGPC and Sri Darbar Sahib. Pointing out that the SGPC has been running langer and arranging accommodation for the visiting pilgrims and devotees in the inns free of cost, and also running education institutions, engineering colleges medical college and dental college for the benefit of the common people with this income, he said that this tax was like "jaziya" imposed by the Mughuls on the Hindus. No earlier government had imposed such tax. It was regretted that the BJP-led government with the Shiromani Akali Dal as an ally levied this tax. Mr Surjit Singh said Mr
Gurcharan Singh Tohra would soon meet the Prime Minister,
Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee and the Union Finance Minister,
Mr Yashwant Sinha, to impress upon them to withdraw the
tax. |
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Negligence costs students dear BATHINDA, March 10 — Students who are at present taking the class X examinations being conducted by the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) are suffering due to negligence of the board authorities. At least 56 students of the local Guru Nanak School examination centre came in for a rude shock when they were told by the controller of examinations that the PSEB authorities had not sent the question paper of Sanskrit for them. They were supplied the question papers after about one hour by the examination centre authorities after getting copies of the question paper Xeroxed from other centres. Official sources said all students of Dashmesh Senior Secondary School, Talwandi Sabo, waited for about one and a half hour before they could start attempting the question paper as they were not given the mathematics paper in English medium on March 9. Official sources added question papers were also found to be in short supply in a number of other centres, including the local MSD Public School and the examination centre at Kamalu Swaich and Rampurphul villager. Ms S. Kataria, Director Education Officer (DEO), when contacted on telephone said students were suffering on account of negligence of the PSEB authorities. She alleged they always informed the PSEB authorities whenever any discrepancy was found in the question papers. However, phone calls were rarely attended at the head office, she added. She said controller of each examination centre was authorised to take up the matter directly with the board authorities. She added the response of the board authorities was not as positive as it should be. Ms Kataria said she had shown the "mess" at Guru Nanak School here to the Deputy Secretary, PSEB, for necessary action. She claimed so far only eight cases of copying had been detected in the class X examination. On the other hand, the
parents of the students who had suffered had urged the
PSEB authorities to give suitable grace marks to the
students in those papers which were given to them later
than the scheduled time. |
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CPM worker held in
‘false’ case BATHINDA, March 10 — Mr Darshan Mehraj, District Secretary, of the CPM today alleged that the police had arrested a party activist, Mr Gurcharan Singh Bhagta, in a fake criminal case registered against him and other party workers a few days ago. In a press note issued here, Mr Mehraj said the police parties which raided the residences of several party workers in the morning also arrested Mr Mander Singh, the brother of Mr Balwinder Singh, another CPM activist, whose name also figured in the FIR. He alleged that police had taken this illegal step despite the fact that district courts had stayed the arrest of all party workers against whom district administration had registered a 'false' criminal case. Six CPM activists were booked by the city police a few days ago for allegedly holding a mock durbar in the Deputy Commissioner's office in his absence and for beating up the latter's peon. Mr Mehraj alleged that the police was overstepping its authority by disregarding the stay order. Mr H.S. Sran, SSP, on the
other hand, claimed that no activist of the CPM had been
arrested. He said that the CPM activists involved in the
case were asked a few days ago to show the court's orders
regarding the stay of their arrest. |
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Kahnuwan slum area
"neglected" GURDASPUR, March 10 — Resentment prevails among residents of villages falling in the slum area of the Kahnuwan block for government's neglect of the area. Mr Bachan Singh president, slum area committee said that the land of these villages is water logged despite several representations the government hand nothing so far to end water logging. The villages land of which is affected by waterlogging include Bhattian, Ghorewal, Bagole, Jalalpur, Ghot Kalan, Raowal, Jagowal, Bangar, Chack Yakoob, Shee Bhattian, Baddaian, Kushalpur, and Lakhanpur. Mr Bachan Singh said that the land could be reclaimed if the drains falling in the area were deepened widened and desilted. The land can produce quality basmati and sugarcane. Mr Bachan Singh said that Shee Bhatian village had a primary school but its building was without roof for the past three years. Earlier in March examination there was rain and the examinations had to be postponed. Mr Bachan Singh said that there was Jalalpur Khad in the area across which a bridge was constructed but the road linking either side of the bridge was still kutcha. There is neither a primary school nor health dispensary in number of the villages in the area including Ghorewal. Baddaian, Kushalpur, Lakhanpur and Bagole. There is an old focal point at Bhattian which needed to be revived and all facilities provided on focal points be given there. Mr Bachan Singh said that sangat darshan was held on March 4 at Kot Todermal village close to these villages which was presided over by Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan and attended by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S. K. Sandhu. Residents of the area raised these demands which was given good response but nothing has been done so far in this direction. Mr Bachan Singh said that
if their demands were not conceded within six weeks, the
villagers would hold a dharna in front of the office of
the Deputy Commissioner in support of their demands. |
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House adjourned for the day CHANDIGARH, March 10 — The Punjab Vidhan Sabha today adjourned for the day after making obituary references. Those remembered included Mr Tilak Raj Chadda, Mr Gurdial Singh Lehra, Mr Niranjan Singh Seron, Begun Yousaf Zaman and Mr Shanti Parkash Sahai — all ex-MLAs — besides Mr Raghbir Singh Panjhazari, a former chairman of the Cotton Corporation of India, Mr Gurdit Singh, father of a sitting MLA, Mr Sohan Singh Badal, and victims of the IAF AN-32 plane which crashed near Delhi on March 7. The first to pay respect was the leader of the House, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who was followed by Leader of the Opposition, Chaudhary Jagjit Singh, BJP's Mr Balramji Dass Tandon, CPI's Mr Hardev Singh Arshi, BSP's , Mr Shangara Ram Sahungora, SAD (M) Mr Ajit Singh Moffar, Independent, Mr Dhanwant Singh and unattached MLA, Mr Prem Singh Lalpura. Later, the Speaker, Mr
Charanjit Singh Atwal, also paid tributes and said a
resolution of the House be sent to the bereaved families. |
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MC blamed for bad roads,
insanitation MOGA, March 10 — Leaders of almost all political and religious parties including business community yesterday accused the Moga Municipal Committee of failure to redress longstanding grievances. They told reporters here yesterday that all roads in this town including all streets including the main bazaar, grain markets and also institutions and those leading to the hospital had potholes ditches and were in bad condition for the past several years and no repairs had ever been done although the committee had adequate funds for the purposes. These roads are not only causing inconvenience to the public and vehicles but also had caused a number of accidents. Doctor Malti Thapar, a PPCC (farmers' wing) leader Satnam Singh Sandeshi said that their parties would launch a agitation if the committee failed to make proper arrangements for the repair of these roads. Last week many shopkeepers and businessmen had blocked traffic for several hours demanding repair of these roads. They have demanded supersession of the Moga civic body which had failed to meet demands of the public, they said. They further added that
factionalism and infighting among members of the
committee had hampered all development work of the town.
They said that entire town was stinking and everywhere
garbage and waste was dumped which caused inconvenience
to the people but also emitted foul smell which could
cause health problem. They said that there was no proper
lighting drinking water, sanitation and also cleaning of
streets and drains which overflowed with sewerage. |
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Steps to regulate traffic JALANDHAR, March 10 — The Traffic police here has taken steps to regulate traffic in the city. It has been observed that without marking parking places, road diversions and stop points, traffic could not be regulated. A reputed company of Delhi is conducting a survey to estimate the expenditure. The traffic police has been divided into wings — traffic enforcement and education. Inspector Navtej Singh has deputed for traffic enforcement. The traffic on Nakodar Chowk and Patel Chowk is being channelised by putting barricades and removing rehri market. The traffic police
organises talks on the spot educating the people about
light signals besides distributing leaf lets and
pamphlets. A doctor is being used to check drunken
drivers. At least 622 challans have been filed in the
court of the CJM and the DTO. |
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Lok adalat opening on March 12 MOGA, March 10 (UNI) — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided to establish a permanent lok adalat here. This was stated here by Deputy Commissioner, Moga, Kulbir Singh Kang here yesterday. According to Mr Kang Mr Justice H S Brar, a judge, the Punjab and Haryana High Court cum executive Chairman Punjab Legal Services Authority will inaugurate the permanent lok adalat on March 12 at a special function. Mr Justice R L Anand of
the Punjab and Haryana High Court would preside over the
inaugural function, he said. |
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Police attacked peaceful workers,
says Dang AMRITSAR, March 10 —
Senior CPI leader Satya Pal Dang yesterday alleged that
the police had attacked peaceful workers of the O.C.M.
mills here yesterday. Mr Dang has sent telegrams to the
Chief Minister and the Labour Minister, Punjab,
protesting against police action calling it unjustified
and illegal as the workers were holding the meeting 300
metres away from the mills, premises. He alleged that
this action of workers was to throttle rights and freedom
of expression. Mr Dang urged the state government to
intervene to resolve the dispute immediately. |
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Dalit woman raped FATEHGARH SAHIB, March 10 — When the nation was celebrating International Women's Day, on Monday, a Dalit women of Nabipur village, 10 km from here, was being raped by two persons of the same village, when she was working in the fields. According to information available she was returning home after collecting firewood, when Karam Singh and Harvinder Singh dragged her into a wheat field and raped her. When she raised the alarm, two women rushed to the spot while one of the rapist ran away the other was beaten by them but he also later managed to escape. Mr Paramraj Singh Dhaliwal
SSP, said a case had been registered under Section
376/34, IPC, at Sirhind Police Station. |
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Satbir Singh's birth anniversary CHANDIGARH, March 10 — The birth anniversary of Sikh scholar Principal Satbir Singh will be celebrated on March 14 in the auditorium of State College of Education, Patiala, at 2 p.m. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Working Committee of the Punjabi Vikas Manch, held recently under the chairmanship of Mr N.S. Parwana. The function will be presided over the Minister for Public Health, Raja Narinder Singh. Significant Sikh scholars Prof. Prithipal Singh Kapur, Prof. Balwinder Singh, Prof. Joginder Singh Delhi, Mr Jagmit Singh Brar, ex M.P., will speak on the life of Principal Satbir Singh. The Secretary-General of the Manch, Mr Parminder Singh, and chairman Avtar Singh Arora said a play written by Principal Satbir Singh and directed by Charan Singh Sidhra, "Mard Agamraha" will also be staged on the occasion. Various writers and journalists from different parts of Punjab will also be honoured. A five-member committee under the leadership of Prof S.S. Joshi, was formed to make arrangements for the function. The committee includes Mr Kuldip Singh, Mr N.S Parwana, President of the Manch, Mr Ranjit Singh, Mr Darshan Kumar, and Mr S.J.S. Chhabra. Eminent writer Sarup Singh's book "The Significance of the Keshs" will be released by Mr Jagmit Singh Brar. An exhibition of the books
of Principal Satbir Singh, will also be held. |
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