Two killed in mishap
From Our Correspondent

DERA BASSI, Nov 1 — Two persons died in an accident involving two tippers and a scooter near the Ghaggar bridge at Bhankharpur on the National Highway here yesterday.

The scooterist and the driver of a tipper were crushed to death by the vehicles. Traffic on the highway remained blocked for more than three hours as a result of the accident.

Harnek Singh of Sangaundh village near Barwala, the scooterist, while trying to overtake a tipper (HR-37-8642), collided with another tipper (PB-11-D-6831), coming from the opposite direction. The tipper ran over the scooterist and had a head-on collision with the other tipper, which was proceeding towards Dera Bassi.

Jaipal Singh, the driver of the tipper (PB-11-D-6831), fell from his seat on the road, where he was crushed to death. He was a resident of Tibbi village.

The police has registered a case under Sections 279, 427 and 304-A against Jagtar Singh, the driver of the other tipper (HR-37-8642). The bodies have been sent to the Civil Hospital at Rajpura for post mortem.

SAS NAGAR

Bootlegger held: Gurnam Singh, a resident of Bhatinda, was arrested by the police for allegedly possessing eight bottles of IMFL near Jagatpura village on Monday. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against him.

Dharna by PUTA on November 4
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — Members of the Panjab University Teachers Association will stage a dharna on November 4 outside the office of the Vice-Chancellor on a call given by the All-India Federation of University Teachers association (AIFUTA).

They have demanded immediate withdrawal of the uncalled for circular issued on October 22 regarding restrictions on publications or broadcast of letters, articles, books, etc, which would have restricted the freedom of expression of the teachers.

The other demands include immediate release of the arrears, implementation of viable pension and career advancement schemes and feeder grades as per UGC norms and removal of anomalies in pay fixation and enhancement of representation of the university teachers in the senate.

PUTA will also hold a seminar on November 22 on ''state's negligence of its responsibility towards education.''

Stir called off: The students of Industrial Training Institute, Sector 28, have called off their strike following a meeting of the class representatives with the principal today.

Students went on strike last week to protest against the orders of the Director, Technical Education, wherein he had asked students, who had failed in the examination, to refund the stipend/scholarship amount at the time of reappear examination.

The Principal, Mr Shivdev Singh, explained to them that this would be applicable from the next session when it was included in the prospectus. Hence, no one will have to refund this amount now. He also assured the that the authorities would also consider their demand with regard to national affiliation of the tool and dye and machine grinder courses for better jobs.

Deepa's movement
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — The city's Sector 17 saw the unfolding of a rare aspect of Indian culture in the paintings of Deepa Bajaj today. The theme is "Bharatiya sanskriti and the deprived woman". Mr Kamaleshwar Sinha, formerly of Visva Bharati Santiniketan, who inaugurated the exhibition, called it a movement "which would get intensified through such bold artistic statements". Dr Shankar Ji Jha was the chief guest.

Deepa has held several meaningful shows and has been honoured by various institutions. Collectively, the paintings depict the Indian woman — an epitome of power, compassion and wisdom and an eternal pilgrim at the gates of time — so celebrated through myths and scriptures and metamorphosed with the ever-changing demands of age and life's stage.

The exhibition will be on view between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily until November 7.

Order allowing SE to be approver stayed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the operation of the judgement handed down by the Sessions Judge of Chandigarh on October 12 permitting Mr Jagdish Mitter, Superintending Engineer (under suspension) of the Chandigarh Administration, to turn approver in FIR No 3 registered by the UT Vigilance Department on October 26, 1998.

Mr Justice NC Khichi, who handed down this order on the revision petition preferred by former Chief Engineer K K Jerath, also directed the Burail Jail Superintendent to produce Mr Jerath in his court on November 16.

In his interim order the Judge ruled: "This revision petition filed by Mr KK Jerath has been received through the Superintendent, Model Jail, Chandigarh. Mr Jerath has prayed that he would try to make submissions in this revision petition himself without the assistance of any counsel. He has also prayed for stay of the impugned order passed by the Special Judge, Chandigarh."

In his revision petition, Mr Jerath stated that Mr Jagdish Mitter, who has been granted pardon by the Special Judge, is the principal offender in the case. The works were split up with his approval to keep the value of each tender less than Rs 50,000. It is thus Mr Mitter who approved enhancement of the tendered amount up to Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 10 lakh through written orders. It would thus be clear that the main offence relates to a phenomenal increase in the value of work which has been committed by accused Mitter. Being the principal offender, Mr Mitter does not qualify to become approver.

Mr Jerath, who extensively quoted from the record, stated that the adoption of a piece of oral evidence by an approver was untenable in law.

He submitted that accused Mitter approached the court to turn approver purely under allurement from the authorities. The FIR was registered on October 26, 1998, in which Mr Mitter had been named as one of the accused. He turned approver in an earlier FIR (No 1 of 1998) on October 29, 1998, and was reinstated on the post of Superintending Engineer with full powers the next day (October 30). Thus instead of arresting him, the authorities did a big favour by reinstating him.

Even his bail application was not opposed by the prosecution. But he was suspended again later.

"In view of such glaring facts of blatant favouritism on the record of the trial court, the Sessions Judge ought not to have exercised the discretion vested in him to grant him pardon. His sole aim is to protect himself instead of helping the cause of justice. Other accused "shall be greatly prejudiced in their defence if the pardon granted to the guilty is allowed to stay."

Shanghai bronze girls honoured
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — The Haryana Skating Association today honoured six of its skaters who got the bronze medal for India in the roller hockey event of the 8th Asian Skating Championship which concluded in the past week at Shanghai in China.

Today, the President of the association praised these girls for getting the honour for the nation and Haryana in particular. He said skating would now be more popular in this part of the country.

Ms Rajni Thareja, President of the Roller Skating Association of Panchkula whose five girls figured in the six-member squad, said more schools and private houses had expressed the desire to set-up skating rinks.

All six girls who took part in the meet belonged to Haryana. Meenakshi Kohli was the captain of the team and was awarded the 'best fighter award' in the championship. Other members of the team were Priyanka Sharma, Shreya Sahney (Hanraj Public School, Sector 6, Panchkula), Heena Ahuja and Indu Madan (Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, Chandigarh) and Sonia Yadav (Sirsa). Except Sonia, all the other girls were pesent at today's function.

Mr Sushil Kumar said at present, ten affiliated units existed and the officials would like each one to have its own skating rink shortly. He said as the players had spent the entire money from their own pockets while on tour, some compensation would be given to them at the state-level meet to be held by December this year.

Basketball meet: Hosts New Public School, Sector 18, continued its winning spree on the second day of the third Rao Jai Singh Memorial Basketball Tournament being played here. NPS defeated Guru Nanak Public School, 45-28, with the halftime score being 20-06. Sundram Suri scored the maximum 16 points for the winners, while Jagpreet scored 10 points for the losers.

In another match, DAV Senior Secondary School, Sector 8, beat Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, 55-28, with the halftime score being 38-15. Harjot and Amrish scored 23 and 21 points, respectivley for the winners. Amandeep was the highest scorer for losers with 14 points.

In the third match of the day, SD Public School beat MRA Senior Secondary School, Sector 27, 37-14 with the halftime score being 20-9. Chander Prakash scored the maximum 20 points for the winners.

In the fourth match of the day, SD Public school beat GNPS, 65-28. In the last match of the day, Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 33, had a narrow victory over SPS-41 with the score being 34-33.

Tinkoo's ton: An unbeaten 100 runs by Sukhwinder Tinkoo enabled Mohali Gymkhana Club beat CNS Cricket Club by one run today in the third JAl Cup Cricket Tournament being played here. MGC scored 171 for six in 25 overs while CNS XI were all out in 25 overs. In another match, LIC XI defeated Punjab Civil Secretariat by 86 runs.

In another match, a fine performance by Vaneet Chawla who scored 57 unbeaten runs helped Haryana Warehousing Corporation beat Central Warehousing Corporation by seven wickets. CWC XI scored 106 runs and were all out in 20.4 overs. HWC XI made 110 runs with seven wickets in hand in 22.5 overs.

Cricket tourney: An allround performace by Rajinder who scored 66 runs and claimed three wickets for 19 runs helped Punjab and Haryana Hich Court XI beat PEC Employees Cricket Club by 61 runs in the final of the first Inter-Government Financial Cricket Tournament played in Sector 5 of Panchkula. Mr Chander Mohan, the Kalka MLA, was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

High Court XI made 155 runs for five wickets in 25 overs, while PEC XI were all out for 94 runs.

Inter-university TT begins
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, Nov 1 — Jammu University and Guru Jambeshwar University of Hisar won their matches in the men's section on the opening day of the North Zone Inter-Varsity Table Tennis Tournament which began here today at the PU Gymnasium hall.

Jammu University defeated Lucknow University, 3-0, while GJU Hisar had to struggle to beat HP Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, 3-2. Earlier, Mr A.K. Sahni, Dean University Instruction of Panjab University, Chandigarh, inaugurated the meet.

The other results are as follows: Men — Kumaun University, Nainital, b GKV Hardwar, 3-0; CCS University, Meerut, b Thapar Institute of Engineering Technology, Patiala, 3-0; MJP Rohilkhand University, Bareilly, b Dr RML University, Faizabad, 3-0; Allahabad University, Allahabad b Dr BRA University, Agra, 3-0.

Women — Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, b HPKV, Palampur, 3-1.

Sport Day held
From Our Correspondent

PANCHKULA, Nov 1 — Over 200 students participated in the Annual Sport Day function of Doon Public School in Sector 21, held yesterday.

Mr Pradeep Chaudhary, General Secretary of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), was the chief guest. He praised the efforts and the spirit of children who participated in the events. A cultural programme which included group songs, yoga drills, disc and umbrella displays was the highlight of the show.