Two nabbed, car recovered
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The police has arrested two brothers and has recovered a stolen car from their possession. According to police sources, Ravinder Kumar and Mohinder Kumar of Sector 22 were travelling in a car (CH-O1-S-8567), when they were stopped at a naka near the sectors 14\15\24\25 roundabout and asked to produce the documents of the vehicle.

The duo could not produce the documents and on interrogation, admitted that the car was a stolen vehicle and the registration number displayed on the car was a fake one. The number had been allotted to a scooter. They revealed that they had lodged a fake report about the loss of the documents of the car at the Sector 22 police post.

A case under Sections 411, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC has been registered at the police station west. The accused were produced in a court, which remanded them in police custody till October 6. Further recoveries are expected from the duo.

Girl abducted: Mr Kabul Singh of Maloya Colony reported to the police that his minor daughter had been abducted by Amod Kumar of the same colony. Efforts are on to arrest the accused and recover the abducted girl. A case under Sections 363 and 366 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 39 police station.

Whisky seized: The police arrested Shambu of Colony Number 5 from near the road dividing sectors 44 and 51 and recovered 12 bottles of whisky. A case under Section 61-1-14 of the Excise Act has been registered at the Sector 34 police station.

11 arrested: The police arrested 11 persons for committing various offences. Nine persons were arrested for roaming under suspicious circumstances. Two persons were arrested under preventive action.

Two injured: Ram Saran of Palsora Colony was admitted to the PGI after he was hit by a scooter in Palsora Colony. Kamlesh of Darua was admitted to the PGI after she was hit by a truck at Darua.

Student council memo to VC
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — A delegation led by D. P. S. Randhawa, President of the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC), today met the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University and submitted a memorandum of demands which included the inclusion of the PUCSC in the Senate and better facilities to the council office for its proper functioning.

The memorandum also stated that the security system of the university be upgraded and police entry in the campus be regulated. It further said that the office of the Placement Officer should be changed into the office of Dean Placements, and that Rs 5 lakh be sanctioned for the revival of the film society.

The memorandum also listed some demands already accepted by the Vice-Chancellor’s office which await implementation. These include opening of a separate fee counter in every department, announcement of date of declaration of result along with the date sheet and annoucement and reevaluation result within 45 days.

Declamation contest: The Ministry of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, New Delhi, will hold a declamation contest in October on ‘Transparent and accountable administration’. The contest will be held at the Government College for Men, Sector 11.

NSS volunteers: Four NSS volunteers of the city have been selected for the pre-Republic Day parade camp being organised by the Government of India, Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, NSS Regional Centre, Lucknow at St John’s College, Agra.

The students are Pankaj Shrivastava and Ashish Grover of the Government College for Men, Sector 11, and Deepa Rana and Shabnam of Government College for Women, Sector 11.

Exhibition of sculptures
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Human figures dominated the walls of Art Folio, Sector 9, where an exhibition of Patiala-based artist-sculptor Satyajit Singh Shergill was inaugurated this evening.

But even with 24 vibrant oil paintings and about 10 pieces of wooden sculptures, Shergill failed to make a dent in the minds of the viewers. In fact, even the figures of his naked women did not project any images of sensuousness, maybe because of the bright colours used. So much so that the intensely dazzling colours even seemed to subdue the very presence of the wooden sculptures in their midst, which appeared to get lost to form part of the various other decorations.

But what arrested the eye were the compositions, especially the eight series panel of naked women with sunflowers. The sculptures were quite uninspiring.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mr Man Mohan Singh, a hotelier, who said that there was a time when among all forms of art, only architecture blossomed in the city, but now with the opening of many art galleries the city had matured into a "collector's world".

Another distraction to the exhibition was a brochure on the artist which had most of those paintings printed on it which did not feature in the exhibition and in which an essay on the artist by Dr Saroj Chaman was not only mystifying but also irksome with sentences like "some of them (his figures) have become so eccentric, fearful and suspicious that they forget the community spirit".

Satyajit Singh Shergill has worked under the guidance of Mr Jitendar Kumar, Dean of Fine Arts, Gorakpur University, Uttar Pradesh.

Inspector's punishment quashed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has quashed the infliction of punishment of reduction in rank of an Inspector of the Chandigarh police. The decision was handed down by Mr R.K. Nehru, Vice-Chairman, and Mr V.K. Majothra, member, administrative, of the tribunal.

The complainant, Inspector Shiv Raj Singh Sidhu, had contended that he was being harassed and had been demoted to the rank of Sub-Inspector, despite the tribunal having ruled in his favour in March, following an earlier petition in this context.

While posted at the MT Section, he had sent a petition directly to the President of India, which was not only an act of indiscipline, but bypassed laid procedures and was a violation of service rules.

In his complaint, he had sought a personal hearing by the President for causing public humiliation to traffic police personnel on duty in May, 1996, by senior officers of the department, by conducting a search of personnel on duty at a public place. Following this, charges were framed against him and an inquiry officer was appointed.

On receiving the charge sheet, he wrote to the then Home Secretary, requesting change of the inquiry officer. However, no action was taken on his application. The inquiry was closed and forwarded to the SSP, who issued a show cause notice to him.

The applicant stated that the inquiry officer was under great pressure from higher officers of the department. The inquiry officer acted in an arbitrary manner and did not understand that he should follow principles of fair play and natural justice.

It was unjustified to appoint an officer who was directly under the control of the IGP\SSP against whom the allegations of high-handedness had been made. Where there was an allegation against a superior officer, he should not hold the inquiry himself, nor should it be conducted by an officer who was subordinate to him, the tribunal observed. The inquiry, show cause notice and the subsequent punishment were all ordered by officers not competent to do so.

The tribunal noted, "We do not think that in the present circumstances of the case, it is proper to order denovo inquiry, as the applicant, for his outspokenness and keeness to serve the cause that transparency should be maintained in the police department, has been made to suffer humiliation and harassment for more than two years. He has been inflicted uncalled for sufferings. It will be in the interest of justice that the matter be dropped for all times to come. The applicant's rank is restored and he will continue as Inspector, ignoring the order reducing his rank,, with all consequential benefits. The show cause notice and the infliction of punishment of reduction in rank are quashed."

Traders oppose tax plan
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — The Traders Association (Sector 17 A and B) has opposed certain proposed taxes by the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC).

Taking serious note of the civic body's proposal to introduce paid parking in certain sectors of the city, a press note alleged today that the MCC was reviving a "dead issue" as the paid parking in Sectors 8 and 17 was suspended following protest by traders, political parties and employees last year.

The press note wanted the corporation to increase the water tariff gradually and not double it. It, however, appreciated the initiative of the MCC to hand over the public toilet to the private parties.

Achievements listed: Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, Mayor, was chief guest at a "meet the people" programme organised by the Rotary Club (Midtown) here yesterday.

Listing the corporation's achievements during his tenure, he claimed that a sum of Rs 5 crore had been spent on the recarpeting of roads. Besides, 12 community centres had been repaired and green belts developed in Sectors 16, 22, 30 and 35.

He claimed that out of 20 sanctioned tubewells, 12 had already been installed.

Rally: Members of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation Horticulture Workers Union held gate meetings here today in protest against the decision of the civic body to lease out nurseries in Sectors 23 and 26 to private agencies.

A press note said the workers would also hold a rally here on October 8 in support of their other demands which included the filling up of vacant posts, regularisation of the services of the daily-wage and work-charged employees and settling the pension and compassionate cases.

Peas costliest at Rs 50 a kg
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, Oct 4 — The prices of most vegetables in the city markets came on par with the prices of vegetables in Chandigarh after a considerable dip in prices last week. A few, however, continued to be priced slightly higher.

The price of cauliflower varied from Rs 14 to Rs 16 a kg in the markets of Sectors 7, 8 and 9. In Chandigarh too, it was available at Rs 14. Also, gourd, tomato and onion were priced at Rs 10 a kg in both cities. However, last week gourd was available at Rs 8 to Rs 10 in the vegetable markets of the sectors. a kg of tomato was available for the same price.

The price of radish dipped from Rs 10 to Rs 8 a kg this week, whereas the vegetable is being sold at Rs 10 in Chandigarh. While 1 kg of the vegetable was available at Rs 8 in Sector 7, it was available at Rs 9 in Sector 8 and Rs 10 in Sector 6. Most vendors were also selling 2 kg of radish at Rs 15.

Beans were being sold at Rs 18 a kg in most markets, while a kg of cucumber cost between Rs 10 and Rs 12 in Sectors 7, 8, 9 and 11. Brinjal was available at Rs 10 a kg, the same as the price in Chandigarh. Dearer in comparison to last week's price of Rs 6 to Rs 8 a kg, the vegetable was being sold by vendors at Rs 8.

Bittergourd cost Rs 20 this week, while capsicum was priced at Rs 25, which was Rs 5 below last week's price. Spinach became costlier in spite of being available in abundance and cost Rs 10 a bunch, while ginger was priced at Rs 30 a kg, which was Rs 10 below Chandigarh's price of Rs 40 a kg. Lemon was, however, priced at Rs 40 a kg. Peas were the costliest at Rs 50 a kg in the Sector 8 market.

University campus beat Manipur club
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — University Campus beat Manipur Students Football Club 6-0 in the Chandigarh State Senior Football Championship, held here today. The scorers were Harinder Sodhi in the 6th and 21st minute, Bhupinder Singh in the 9th minute, Vijay in the 11th and 51st minute and Jitender in the 38th minute.

In the second match, Khalsa Sporting Football Club beat Mani Majra Football Club 6-1. Parveen of KSFC scored in the 6th and 22nd minute. Sukhveer, Jagjit Randhawa, Harwinder Singh and Charanjit Kumar scored in the 4th, 11th, 51st and 59th minutes of the match, respectively. Kamal scored the only goal for the losers.

In the third match, Government College, Sector 46, beat Wild Stallions Football Club 6-0. The scorers were Arvinder Saini, Vishal, Sohan Negi, Tejwinder and Navjyot.

Ricky, Mohit in final: Ricky Singh and Mohit Bajaj entered the final of the Chandigarh State Junior Pool Championship. Ricky Singh beat Moneet Oberai 4-2 in the first semi-final.

In the second semi-final, Mohit Bajaj did not face any difficulty in defeating Akshay Sharma 4-2. In the senior section, Sameer beat Gurwinder Singh 5-0.

Schools, organisers ignore sports
By Arvind Katyal

CHANDIGARH, Oct 4 — Despite presence of sports infrastructure, the strength of players in most of the games is negligible in Chandigarh.

Schools have a non-professional attitude towards the participants. The Education Department released a detailed circular in May this year, addressed to all concerned to get acquainted with the detailed activities in regard to hosting of various meets.

For example, starting from August, 1999, events in gymnastics, judo, boxing, swimming and carrom were conducted separately for boys and girls. In September, hockey, badminton, table tennis and skating events were conducted at various venues. The competitions to be held in October are in basketball, handball, kabaddi, football, volleyball and kho-kho. In November, cricket, karate and ball badminton events will be held, followed by athletics meet. Before that, primary school games will be conducted.

While hosting these meets, disinterest by organisers and the staff deputed from schools has been reported. One of the parents of a participant has complained of a lacklusture approach by department officials concerned.

On a visit to sports centres, it has been found that incharges and those who compile results are interested in going home rather than taking interest in hosting events. Some parents have said sometimes rooms are locked and results are compiled in a short time.

Sports centres are of not of national standards, says one of the parents of a skater. For example, the floor used in roller skating causes stiffness and injuries. Badminton activities have been conducted on surfaces other than wooden courts.

Parents of players say only schools whose players have some achievements make efforts to get it published. The department is lethargic in sending results for publication in newspapers. Some of the parents and coaches have suggested the holding of all sports disciplines in totality, which may be on the pattern of national school games. This will save time and energy of players.

It is good that the department has asked the schools which take part in few games, to participate in at least three games. It is high time the Education Department streamlines its working style. Sports needs the attention of schools if the standard of sports in the country has to be raised, says another parent.