Thursday, September 23, 1999
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P U N J A B | |
Thursday, September 23, 1999 |
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Nebula
group Chairman held; 6 cr scam busted Custodial death: cop surrenders |
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Draft
amendment referred to SGPC DGP told to act against two in
Shankar Lal case Newsman's beating case put off to
Oct 7 No remuneration for gurdwara panel
members Bitta’s reward on
Laden’s head SHSAD move to reinstall Jathedar 6 RPF assistance booths set up PCMS doctors give strike call Regularise our services: SDEs |
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Nebula group Chairman held; 6
cr scam busted JALANDHAR, Sept 22 — The economic offences wing of the Jalandhar police has arrested the main accused behind the Nebula financial scam. The SSP Mr Gaurav Yadav, said here today that a group of finance and investment companies floated and managed by the Nebula group operating from Jay Ess complex, Shastri Market here had duped investors of crores of rupees by giving them false assurances of doubling their money in three years. The scam came to light when one depositor, Mr Roshan Lal from Hoshiarpur, went to the office of Nebula Farms Ltd. on the maturity of his fixed deposit of Rs. 96,000 but was neither paid the promised amount nor the principal. A case was registered. Thereafter more people came forward with complaints and two more cases were registered. A total amount of Rs 6 crore was involved in the scam. Four of the 10 accused — Poonam Prabhakar, Suresh Chander Aggarwal, Jiwan Kumar Anana and Hem Lata Kochhar were arrested, but the Chairman of the group, Varinder Kochhar, proved elusive despite numerous raids. On September 21 information was received that Varinder Kochhar would be coming to Jalandhar from Ludhiana where he had been admitted to a premier hospital for a heart ailment. A police party headed by SI Harjinder Singh was deputed to lay a special naka under the supervision of the SP, Operations, at the Paragpur octroi post and Varinder Kochhar was arrested. Preliminary interrogation of the accused revealed that the group owned a 12-acre farm valued at Rs 60 lakh at Janauri village in Hoshiarpur district, besides a number of plots. Ladhewali village in Jalandhar district valued at around Rs. 90 lakh. Varinder named two other
co-accused Monica Anand and Varinder Sharma, both from
Kapurthala. They had also played a major role in
obtaining investments from the public. |
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Custodial death: cop surrenders ROPAR, Sept 22 — Gurcharan Singh, a constable, one of the four accused in the custodial death of Devinder Singh, alias Bhola of Hasanpur village, today surrendered before the police while members of the District Bar Association here observed a strike to protest against the death. A board of doctors today examined afresh the three youths — Inderjit Singh, Karnail Singh and Sapinder Singh, who were arrested along with Devinder Singh on Saturday last on the charge of having an assault rifle. Devinder Singh died in the custody of CIA staff on Saturday while the three youths were released by the Kharar court on Sunday when the police said that no weapon had been recovered from them. Earlier, the youths were medically examined at a hospital in Kharar. On the order of the Subdivisional Judicial Magistrate, Kharar, the Civil Surgeon, Dr Rajinder Singh, formed a board of doctors comprising Dr H.N. Sharma, Dr P.K. Sharma and Dr Navtej Singh who conducted the medical examination of the youths. The youths were reportedly not in a position to stand on their legs and had to be carried to the doctors’ room. Inderjit Singh was later admitted to the emergency ward of the local civil hospital. Dr Rajinder Singh said no visible injury was found on the bodies of the youths though one of them had a few abrasions. He, however, said the youths had been complaining of pain and inability to stand. Mr Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, SSP, said Gurcharan Singh had surrendered before the police. Mr Bhullar said notices had been flashed to the SSPs in Punjab and adjoining states to help arrest the accused. He said raids were also being conducted at various places. The President of the District Bar Association, Rana K.P. Singh, said the strike was observed against the gross violation of human rights in the custodial death which was a heinous crime. He demanded that the guilty should be punished. Mr Tarlochan Singh Rana, district Secretary of the CPM, and Mr Gurdev Singh Kohli, district Senior vice-President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, while condemning the alleged torture of the youths by the police demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter, including the custodial death. Mr Bachittar Singh, Vice-Chairman of Morinda Sugar Mill and uncle of the deceased, expressed apprehension that the post-mortem report of Devinder Singh might be tampered with at Patiala as the accused were still at large. He alleged that Mr Didar Singh, SHO Anandpur Sahib, was the main accused in the death and, therefore, his name should be included in the FIR. Mr Gurmukh Singh, father
of Devinder Singh said if the family did not get justice
from the local authorities, they would meet Punjab Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal in this regard. |
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3 mandi board men
suspended BATHINDA, Sept 22 — As many as three mandi board officials have been suspended by different authorities today for irregularites in paddy procurement at various purchase centres in the district. Official sources said secretaries of market committees of Bhucho Mandi and Goniana were suspended by the Secretary, Punjab Mandi Board, Mr Phulwant Singh Sidhu, for not maintaining auction registers and not following other guidelines issued by the state government in connection with paddy procurement. Another official who was a mandi supervisor of a purchase centre was also suspended for not registering the entries in the auction register for the past four days by the state Food Minister, Mr Chiranji Lal Garg, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.R. Ladhar, who made a joint tour of various grain markets and purchase centres to check any irregularity in the procurement. Mr Ladhar also suspended the licence of a commission agent in the district for allegedly cheating paddy growers and procurement agencies. He said random checking of the rice mills had been started to check the evasion of market fee and Rural Development Fund (RDF) by the traders, commission agents and rice-mill owners. He added that at present the checking of rice mills was going on at Rampura Phul, Goniana and Bathinda. He added that various teams of officials led by tehsildars, SDMs and other district officers had been constituted to check the harassment of farmers in the markets and duty evasion by traders. He said each team would monitor four purchase centres and give daily report to the district authorities. Mr Ladhar said there
were 93 purchase centres set up in the whole district and
necessary steps had been taken to get MSP of the paddy to
the farmers from the private traders also. He added that
so far procurement of paddy was going on smoothly in this
district. |
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Procurement of paddy begins AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — The purchase of paddy by government agencies have started in right earnest in all 141 purchase centres of the district and a total of 6347 metric tonnes have already been procured. The District Food and Supplies Controller, Dr Bhupinder Pal Singh, who made a whirlwind tour of all mandis on Monday on the instructions of the Deputy Commissioner, has said that the purchase of paddy by the government agencies was picking up in the purchase centres of Patti, Chohla Sahib, Sarhali, Vernala, Bhura Kohna, Shahbazpur, Algon, Bhilowal, Thathian Mahantan, Raja Sansi, Rayya, Sur Singh, Tangra, Attari and Munda Pind where the government agencies were actively involved in the purchase of paddy. Dr Bhupinder Pal, however, admitted that in some mandis paddy with more than specified moisture of 18 per cent have reached but the agencies declined to purchase it because it did not meet the given specifications. He exhorted farmers to bring their produce after proper cleaning and drying it so as to ensure higher prices in the mandis. The Deputy Commissioner has already instructed all government procuring agencies to purchase paddy according to the fixed specifications and ensure the presence of their senior officers in the mandis so that farmers do not face any problem or harassment while selling their produce. Mr Harmohinder Singh Walia, District Manager, Markfed, here has said that 40745 bags weighing 2650 Mt of paddy confirming to specifications had been purchased at the allotted purchase centres. Patiala (TNS): Farmers here said they were selling paddy to private traders at rates varying from Rs 480 to Rs 510 per quintal. "Though the procurement agencies are making purchases in some mandis. They are very selective due to which the farmer is forced to sell paddy to traders below the minimum support price", said a farmer Lakhbir Singh. Traders, however, say they had to buy paddy below the government price as the moisture content of the crop arriving in the market now was more. "There is no way we can give the government price as the government agencies are also unwilling to purchase paddy with excess moisture content now", said Ganesh Lal, an arhatiya. Another reason for delay in purchase by government agencies is the reluctance on the part of sheller owners to stock the early varieties of paddy. Sheller owners have earlier demanded that the procurement season should start from October 1 as they were not able to meet the required specifications by milling the early varieties of paddy. This season there is
resistance from the field staff of various procurement
agencies and sheller owners from procuring paddy with
excess moisture content. Paddy which had become damp due
to rain last year but procured due to pressure from the
government is still laying unmilled in the state for want
of space with the FCI. |
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Ferozepore tops in paddy purchase CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — To monitor the procurement of paddy in the various mandis in Punjab and to ensure that farmers may not be harassed unnecessary by the field staff, all senior officers of different procurement agencies, including the Director, of the Food and Supply department, have been instructed to visit regularly the mandis, said Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Food and Supplies Minister, Punjab here today. To make on the spot assessment the minister and Secretary Food and Supply, will also make surprise visits to different mandis. As many as 7.26 lakh
tonnes of paddy arrived in various mandis in Punjab till
September 21. Of this 5.82 lakh tonnes have been
purchased by rice millers and 1.43 lakh tonnes by various
government agencies. In districtwise procurement,
Ferozepore is leading by procuring 1.86 lakh tonnes
followed by Amritsar 1.84 lakh tonnes, Mr Mittal,
disclosed. |
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Draft amendment referred to
SGPC LUDHIANA, Sept 22 — The Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home, has referred the proposed amendments to the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1999, submitted by Mr Justice Harbans Singh to the SGPC and asked it to go through the draft notification and send its final decision to the Home Ministry. This was stated by Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the SGPC, while talking to some mediapersons on her visit here today. Reiterating her stand that the final word on the proposed amendments to the Gurdwara Act, 1925, rested with the SGPC alone. She said this act submitted by Mr Justice Harbans Singh should be considered only as a proposal. When asked to comment on certain reports stating that Mr Justice Harbans Singh had first submitted the draft to the SGPC for approval and only after he failed to get a response from the SGPC did he submit the same to the Home Ministry. Bibi Jagir Kaur declined to comment on this. "I had met Mr Justice Harbans Singh in May or June and had asked him to send a copy of his proposal draft to the SGPC Executive", she said. Bibi Jagir Kaur also said the proposed amendments in the Act had to be first discussed among the various Sikh forums and intelligentsia and then brought into the General House of the SGPC before being sent to Parliament to be enacted as law. The SGPC chief said during a meeting of the SGPC executive on September 18, they had decided to take a second look at the draft and had also asked for suggestions from various forums, individuals and Sikh intelligentsia to know if there was any need to have any amendments in the Act of 1925. In answer to another question about the jurisdiction of the SGPC over the gurdwaras in Pakistan, the SGPC President said the control of the gurdwaras still rested with the SGPC as decreed under the Gurdwara Act of 1925. No other organisation had a right to interfere, she added. Bibi Jagir Kaur also said the SGPC elections would be held as per schedule before November 30. When asked about the findings of the committees instituted by her to look into the alleged "misappropriation of funds and property" of the SGPC by the former chief, Mr Tohra, she said it was a Herculean task trying to assess the misappropriation. Citing specific examples she said a 10-acre plot owned by the SGPC at Rajpura was illegally occupied by a private concern, M/s Mukat Pipes, in connivance with Mr Tohra. She added that when she
took over as the SGPC chief, she intervened and the
process of getting back the plot was currently underway.
She further said the SGPC had incurred a loss of around
Rs 90 lakh as a penalty because of the violation of the
building byelaws while constructing the Kalgidhar Nivas
in Chandigarh. |
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Need to discuss draft
notification AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, spokesman for the Dal Khalsa, has said that it was a matter of concern that instead of making a healthy discussion on the issue of draft notification regarding the Sikh Gurdwara Act, the SGPC has launched a propaganda war against Justice Harbans Singh (retd). In a press release issued here yesterday Mr Bittu said that there was dire need to discuss the draft notification at length instead of indulging in mudslinging against Justice Harbans Singh. "We appeal to Justice Harbans Singh that he should make the Sikh "reyat maryada" as the basis for defining a Sikh", he said. The Dal Khalsa strongly supports the idea that voting right to "Sehaj dhari Sikhs" in the SGPC elections must be ended. The Dal Khalsa held the view that either a person is a Sikh or non-Sikh. "There is no concept of Sehj dhari in Sikhism", he said. He claimed that ending
the reservation for Schedule Castes and women was also in
accordance with the basic Sikh tenets. Those who had
opposed the move were scared of losing their potential
vote bank of SCs and Dalits. |
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DGP told to act against two
in CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Punjab Director-General of Police to instruct his subordinate officers "to initiate proceedings under Section 107, Cr. P.C. against Atma Ram and Anil Kumar to keep peace and maintain public tranquility since the apprehension of a threat (to their lives) expressed by Shankar Lal and his wife appears to be reasonable". Shankar Lal, a resident of Dharampura village in Ferozepore district, was allegedly kidnapped on April 26, 1997. A petition that his wife, Santro Devi, has filed in the High Court had stated that the "likelihood of his (Shankar Lal) being eliminated at the hands of accused Anil Kumar, Atma Ram, Lal Chand, Ami Lal, Kesara Ram, Badri Ram all resident of Dharampura village, and ASI Gurtej Singh of Abohar Sadar police station" could not be ruled out. Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, before whom the case came up for hearing, observed: "The statements of Shankar Lal and his wife, Santro Devi, reveal that they apprehend danger to their lives from Atam Ram and his son, Anil Kumar, who, according to Shankar Lal, is said to be a close friend of the son of the Chief Minister, and who move together like brothers". The Judge released him from judicial custody and allowed him to go with his wife. Earlier, the Judge recorded the statement of Santro Devi under Section 164 read with Section 482, Cr. P.C. A railway ticket from Howrah to Bikaner and also a bus ticket of the Punjab Roadways and a receipt given for use of toilet were also produced before the court by the Punjab Government. The Judge ruled: "These papers are directed to be given to the CBI for further investigation. The CBI is also directed to verify when the railway ticket was purchased and who purchased and the address given in the reservation slip." Yesterday, the Director-General of Police had filed an affidavit. According to the affidavit no case had been registered against Shankar Lal. He stated that he had already issued instructions to the Senior Superintendent of Police and the SP, DSP and the SHO concerned to provide security to Shankar Lal and his family. The Punjab Government
also gave a "solemn assurance to the court that it
will take all necessary and appropriate steps to prevent
any untoward incident against Shankar Lal, Santro Devi
and their family members". |
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Newsman's beating case put off to
Oct 7 CHANDIGARH, Sept 22 — Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, today adjourned to October 7 two writ petitions filed by Mr Ajay Verma and Dr Prem Singh, press photographer and Editor of Desh Sewak newspaper, and Mr Naresh Kumar Sehgal, a newsman of Kot Kapura (Faridkot), praying for registration of cases against Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries, for allegedly roughing them up. Mr Verma also sought registration of a case against Mr Jagdish Singh Walia, Markfed chairman, Mr Raj Kumar Bansal, a BJP leader of Kot Kapura in Faridkot district, apart from the SSP of Faridkot, Mr A.S. Rai, and Mr Balbir Singh Khehra, S.P. (Headquarters), Faridkot. Mr Sehgal urged the court to slap a case on Mr A.S. Rai, (SSP), Mr Khehra and Mr Des Raj, DSP of Kot Kapura, Mr Jagjit Singh Bawa, SHO of Kot Kapura (City) police station, and Mr Balwinder Pal Singh Tehsildar, Faridkot. In their petition Mr Verma and Dr Prem Singh stated that the former was deputed to cover the poll for the Faridkot parliamentary seat held on September 5. At 11.30 a.m. Mr Verma was taking photographs of a car damaged in violence near the Jaito octroi post at Kot Kapura. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is contesting the election from the Faridkot parliamentary constituency as the SAD candidate, reached there in a Tata Sumo. He was accompanied by Mr Bansal, Mr Walia and others. Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is the son of the Punjab Chief Minister, came out of his vehicle and started giving instructions to Mr Walia and Mr Khehra when Mr Verma started taking photographs, Mr Badal got panicky and shouted at him telling him not to take snaps. But as Mr Verma went on clicking, Mr Sukhbir Singh slapped him and snatched his camera. Mr Walia and Mr Bansal then started beating him up. Seeking investigation of the case by the CBI, Mr Sehgal stated that he had gone to cover the parliamentary election for the Faridkot constituency. He said when he had other reporters went to the house of one Darshan Singh Sandhu, a large number of people and heavy police force was present. Mr Sukhbir Singh, along with other respondents, were standing outside the house along with his supporters. On seeing the
petitioner, he alleged, Mr Sukhbir Singh shouted:
"Teach him a lesson too". He was standing near
his scooter when Mr Sukhbir Singh and his supporters
assaulted him with "the intention to kill him".
They also snatched away his camera hanging around his
neck. |
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No remuneration for
gurdwara panel members AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — It is over eight months now since the new panel of the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission (SGJC) was formed but members of the panel comprising chariman and two members were without any remuneration so far. The new panel which has Mr Manmohan Singh as Chairman and Mr Ajwant Singh Mann and Mr Amrik Singh Randhawa, as members was formed by the state government on January 11 by removing the three pro-Tohra panel members. Commission sources said today that according to the Union Home Ministry recommendations, the Chariman is to get Rs 350 per sitting and members Rs 250 per sitting for maximum of 16 sittings in a month. The state government, however, failed to issue a notification based on these recommendations received by it on November 12, last year. Unless the notification was issued on payment could be made. Even the members of the last panel who had claimed arrears of renumerations were yet to get any payment as the recommendations were with effect from March 1, 1996. According to rules, both Punjab Government and the SGPC share the payments. The SGPC Secretary, Mr Kulwant Singh, told TNS that the SGPC executive had already recommended to the Union Home Ministry of yet another increase in the emoluments of panel members with Rs 700 per sitting to the chairman and Rs 500 per sitting to each member. These recommendations were made by the SGPC executive in April. The total payment due to
the members and chairman amounted to about Rs 30,000 and
Rs 40,000, respectively. |
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Bitta’s reward on Laden’s
head AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — The All-India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF) chairman, Mr Maninderjit Singh Bitta, has announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh on the head of international terrorist, Osama bin Laden, who has been making desperate efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab and other parts of the country. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bitta said "we would give handsome rewards, including a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, to anyone providing a clue leading to the capture of Bin-Laden". Mr Bitta said since the activities of the terrorist had transcended international borders, there was need to coordinate with other countries, including the UK, the USA and Russia, to put pressure on countries giving him all kind of help. Mr Bitta said these countries should evolve a common strategy so that Pakistan could be declared a "terrorist country" for supporting terrorists. He further said the purported statements of the Director-General of Police that Bin Laden was making efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab should not be taken lightly. Mr Bitta called upon leaders of all parties to unitedly defeat the nefarious designs of Pakistan. He also suggested that the central government should call an all-party meeting on the issue. He also urged the Centre to dedicate the year 2000 to the welfare of jawans of the Army and the security forces. "Our jawans have been making supreme sacrifices to safeguard our motherland from external aggression," he said. He alleged that the bus diplomacy of Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee was a "big failure" and demanded that the bus service between Delhi and Lohore must be stopped immediately. It was only a "publicity stunt" as Mr Vajpayee had failed to secure the release of prisoners of war who had been languishing in various jails of Pakistan since the 1965 and 1971 wars. Meanwhile, the AIATF has written to the Union Home Ministry to introduce chapters on Indo-Pak wars in school textbooks so that "our children could learn about the hostility of Pakistan in the right perspective". It also said the central government should give compulsory defence training to the youth in colleges and schools. Mr Bitta announced that he would organise a seminar on "International terrorism" at Delhi on January 2 to which speakers from all over the world would be invited. Mr Bitta suggested that
there should be separate budgets for defence and security
so that there was no paucity of funds for the purchase of
arms and ammunition. There should be separate courts to
deal with the cases pertaining to terrorism and the
judges should be given appropriate security and suitable
accommodation. |
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SHSAD move to reinstall
Jathedar AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, president, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) has claimed that Bhai Ranjit Singh was still a Jathedar of Akal Takht and his party would launch a Panthic movement to reinstall him as Jathedar of Akal Takht after the results of recently held Lok Sabha elections. After addressing a
workers meeting of his party here today Mr Tohra said
that the village level units of the SHSAD would be
organised shortly. He further said that an 11-member
jatha would be set up in each village of the state. Units
of the SHSAD would be set up in other parts of the
country too. |
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6 RPF assistance booths
set up JALANDHAR, Sept 22 — The Railway Protection Force in its effort to provide safety to passengers has registered 104 cases, arrested 104 miscreants and recovered stolen property worth Rs 99,247 up to August this year. The Divisional Security
Commissioner of the force, Northern Railway, Mr Sanjay
Kishore, in a press note said here yesterday that six RPF
assistance booths had been set up in the Ferozepore
division at main stations. One HF wireless set has been
provided at RPF lines in Ferozepore for direct
communication to different places. Transport facilities
have been augmented by providing one motor cycle to each
post and Tata Sumo Jeeps in Jammu Tawi and Jalandhar. |
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PCMS doctors give strike call PATIALA, Sept 22 — The Punjab PCMS Association today gave a call for statewide protest rallies by PCMS doctors and Health Department staff on September 28 to demand the immediate withdrawal of the state Cabinet decision to put health services in subordination to village panchayats. They will also protest against the acute shortage of essential medicines and surgical material in rural hospitals and dispensaries. Dr M.S. Randhawa, Dr D.S. Gill and Dr Manjit Singh, Patron, President and General Secretary, respectively, of the PCMS association, Punjab, in a joint statement said doctors and health staff working at dispensaries and hospitals would wear black badges on that day. They would hold protest rallies at all civil hospitals, primary and community health centres throughout the state. They said the association expressed its dismay that a "popular and responsive government" was trying to make doctors and health staff scapegoats to cover up its own failure to provide life-saving medicines and other basic facilities in rural areas. The association urged the government to immediately withdraw its "unwise" decision which it said would do more harm than good to the state health services. Immediate steps should be taken to provide regular and adequate supply of standard medicines, surgical materials and ambulances in rural areas. Meanwhile, PCMS officers
of Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital wore
black-badges today in protest against the decision of the
state government empowering panchayats to check
attendance of doctors and other medical staff posted in
rural areas. |
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Doctors criticise govt decision AMRITSAR, Sept 22 — Taking a serious note of Punjab Government's decision to empower the panchayats to certify the punctuality and regularity of government doctors and paramedical staff in rural areas, the PCMS Association in a press note has said that it had never condoned absenteeism in the cadre but the government had no right to single out the medical fraternity for its failure to check systemic degradation of the system in the state. In a statement, Dr R.S. Buttar, senior vice-president, and Dr J.S. Khalsa, president of the local association and Dr Rajinder Makna Regional Secretary, said that money provided by World Bank for the much publicised health systems corporation had been embezzled leaving the corporation with no funds. The association said there were no medicine, not even prescription slips in the rural areas. Many dispensaries were running in cattle sheds vacated by the panchayats. The association leaders
challenged the government to have an open debate to
improve health services in rural areas if there was any
sincerity on its part. |
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Regularise our services: SDEs JALANDHAR, Sept 22 — The Punjab PWD Public Health Department Subdivisional Engineers Association at a meeting here today criticised the state government for deregularisation of ad hoc subdivisional engineers SDE in spite of their 18 years' service in the department. The meeting which was attended by 150 water-supply engineers from all over Punjab and addressed by Mr K.S. Saini, President SDEs Association criticised the state government for its failure to accept genuine demands of the department and said no efforts were being made to regularise their services. He alleged that the SDEs were given a four-tier pay structure of time-scale promotions after 4, 9 and 14 years. But it has not been enforced. He alleged that it was strange that on this anomaly, which was applicable to at least 2000 engineers of the state, the government was just being indifferent. Many posts were lying vacant but the SDEs were not being promoted to next higher post for the past few years. They demanded that a cadre-review committee should be formed for making suitable proposals to remove stagnation in the department. He flayed the government making no efforts to enact the Rural for Water Supply Act to enable water-supply engineers for effective monitoring, regulation and maintenance of water-supply schemes. He added that about Rs 4
crore of electricity bills of the department are pending
since 30.4.99. |
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Dalit girl stabbed BATALA, Sept 22 (PTI) — A Dalit girl was stabbed by a youth while she was going to her school at Dharampura colony today. According to the police, Ms Seema a resident of Goindpura, was going to Government Senior Secondary School when the youth who was from her village stabbed her. She was admitted to the Civil Hospital. The police said the attacker was identified as Happy Masih. The police registered a
case under Section 307 and 354 of the IPC. |
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College librarians seek parity PATIALA, Sept 22 — The Punjab College Librarians Association has demanded pay fixation of selection grade for college librarians at par with the teachers. In a memorandum set to the Secretary, Human Resource Development Ministry, the president and the general secretary of the association said the UGC had laid down qualifications for the recruitment of college librarians through the national entrance test (NET) as applicable to recruitment of teachers, yet the librarians had been given low scales. Urging the Union Ministry to maintain parity between the librarians and the teachers, the association said even the Mehrotra committee report on pay fixation and a HRD Ministry notification of July 22, 1988, had emphasised on pay parity between the two. The association has
demanded rectification of a March 24 notification of the
HRD Ministry this year regarding the pay scales of the
librarians and demanded pay fixation of selection grade
at the minimum of Rs 14940 at par with the teachers. |
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State govt urged to ban
lotteries MOGA, Sept 22 — Members of almost all political as well as religious organisations here today urged the Punjab Government to immediately ban the sale of lottery tickets in all towns of the state in view of the lottery tickets racket at Ludhiana and elsewhere in the state in which several persons (lottery-ticket sellers) have been arrested. They were allegedly involved in tempering with lottery tickets and also dealing in fake tickets. They said a large number
of rickshawpullers, daily-wagers and students were being
duped by these lottery-ticket sellers. They further said
that it was high time that this menace was checked and
save innocent persons. |
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