NEIGHBOURHOOD

Shatabdi Express incurs heavy losses
Our Correspondent

Kalka, February 9
A delegation of HMT officers’ association, Karmik Sangh comprising KS Yadav, LD Sharma, Mahinder Singh and Pushpinder Singh recently met Pawan Kumar Bansal, the Minister of State for Finance, Govt of India.

The delegation, headed by Vijay Bansal, former state secretary of Congress submitted a memorandum in connection with the various demands on behalf of the officers and executives of the HMT. The memorandum interpreted expeditious clearance of revival package for the HMT tractor unit. The unit, which manufactures a wide range of tractors, not only gave employment to thousands of people in the area, but also generated the spirit of entrepreneurship, as many small-scale units sprouted in Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali to manufacture components and service to the HMT.

The revival plan, besides other factors, includes developing technological capabilities for achieving statutory Bharat TREM-IV emission norms that is bound to come into force in 2011.

It was also mentioned in the memorandum that due to the non-implementation of 1997 Pay Scales, HMT has been suffering, in terms of depletion of skilled manpower. The Central Government has revised the salary of its employees twice in 1996 and 2006, while the pay revision of the HMT employees being denied only with the excuse that HMT was a loss making unit. It was urged in the memorandum, to take up the matter with the Ministry of Heavy Industries for the implementation of the 1997 pay revision and expeditious clearance of the revival package.

Anandpur Sahib, February 9
The Ropar police today held three youths who were creating nuisance in the town since morning.

A section of residents complained to the police that some unidentified people were creating nuisance by using the siren of their vehicle with red beacon atop and black films. The residents suspected that some unscrupulous elements could be inside the vehicle harassing public without any reason.

The police swung into action in the afternoon and tried to locate the vehicle but to no avail. The cops got leads from elderly people of a locality in Anandpur Sahib and then a naka was laid near Dashmesh Academy.

A white Innova was signaled to stop by the police and during checking it was found that some unscrupulous elements were driving the vehicle without having any valid authority to use the red beacon and black films.

Three boys sitting in the car were identified as students of SD College, Chandigarh. Gurpreet Singh was driving the vehicle without any driving licence. He was accompanied by Navneet Singh and Narinder Kumar.

Gurpreet, a resident of Sector-41, Chandigarh, is son of a Block Development Panchayat Officer deployed in Chandigarh. Narinder is a resident of Nakkian village in Anandpur Sahib and Gurpreet Singh is a resident of Baliali village in Kharar.

The police has detained the boys for quite some time and warned them against creating nuisance in the area. The driver of Innova was challaned for not having driving licence, using the red beacon and black films.

Chandigarh, February 9
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held the principles of lis pendens — Latin for “suit pending” — would apply in respect of transfers and alienations effected after the filing of special leave petition and before leave to appeal has been granted.

In current practice, a lis pendens is a written notice that a lawsuit has been filed concerning real estate. Recording a lis pendens against a piece of property alerts a potential purchaser or lender that the property’s title is in question, which makes the property less attractive to a buyer or lender.

The matter was referred to the Division Bench “owing to differences of opinion expressed by two single Benches”. The Bench was required to give its opinion on the question of law: whether the principles of lis pendens would apply in a case where sale has been effected after the filing of the SLP in the Supreme Court, but before leave to appeal has been granted.

Another issue before the Bench was: whether the effect of grant of leave to appeal is to be taken from the date of filing of SLP or from the date leave to appeal was granted.

In the case before the court — Yogeshwar Education Trust versus Gurmeet Kaur and others - the SLP was filed on July 19, 1982 and the leave to appeal was granted on April 13, 1987.

Taking up the petition ESA number 276 of 2004, the Division Bench of Justice MM Kumar and Justice TPS Mann ruled: In the absence of principle of lis pendens, transfer and alienation during the pendency of a suit would become permissible, which would result into defeating the rights of a claimant/plaintiff would cause failure of justice, and the principles of equity, good conscience or justice would be totally shelved.

The Bench added: “The order granting leave to appeal has to take effect from the date of filing the special leave petition and not from the date the leave to appeal was granted”.

Putting to rest the confusion because of different views in the judgments, the Bench asserted: The view expressed in Mewa Singh’s case by the Single Judge of this court, with utmost respect, is not correct and is hereby overruled, in as much as, this court has observed that the remedy under Article 136 of the Constitution is an extraordinary remedy and is not in the ordinary line of appeal and that the proceedings became pending only when leave to appeal was granted.

“Therefore, with utmost respect we overrule the view, especially when it comes into conflict with the observation made by the Supreme Court in Kunhayammed’s case”. 

Chandigarh, February 9
Central Administrative Tribunal directed the Comptroller and Auditor General of India to exercise his powers of relaxing rules and considered the case of medical reimbursement of an applicant wherein he was hospitalised as he had suffered from a heart attack due to misbehavior of a colleague.

The applicant, Raj Kumar Singla, was working as assistant accounts officer (AAO) in Accountant General, Haryana, when senior deputy accountant general asked him about final payment case of GPF regarding RC Sharma.

He informed the respondent that the applicant had not received any documents in this regard.

However, on inquiry by the applicant after returning from the office of the respondent, it transpired that the documents of RC Sharma were lying in the office of senior accounts officer.

The applicant immediately instructed the staff to bring these and got the case cleared on the same day with personal efforts. The assistant accounts officer called Singla in his office and shouted upon him by saying that the applicant had given him wrong information about papers of R.C. Sharma without listening to his explanations.

Following the incident a memorandum was issued to the applicant due to which he suffered from a heart attack on the same day.

Quashing the orders of denial of medical reimbursement by the respondent, the tribunal held, “The fact that it was a case of emergency and due to shortage of heart specialists in the PGI applicant was taken to Fortis Hospital which is though not recognized by the Central Government but by the state of Haryana. Therefore, respondents are wrong while observing that Fortis Hospital is not covered under CSMA rules and the applicant is not entitled to medical reimbursement. The respondents are thus directed to re-examine the case of the applicant.”

Pronouncing the order, the CAT further directed the respondent to exercise his powers of relaxing of rules while taking the matter sympathetically and pass appropriate speaking order thereon taking into consideration factual and legal position.

Chandigarh, February 9
The police has arrested a Mohali resident and recovered a stolen motorcycle from his possession after a couple of hours it was stolen from Sector 51, last night.

According to the police, Satpal Singh of Sector 51, reported to the police last night at around 10 pm that his Enfield Bullet motorcycle (HR-05-1975) was stolen from his residence.

The police nabbed the accused along with he stolen motorcycle from the road dividing sectors 49 and 50 at around 11.30 pm.

Chandigarh, February 9
A 25-year-old engineer, Amandeep Singh, was killed while his friend was seriously hurt when the motorcycle they were riding rammed into a rotary near Hotel Southend last night.

The police said the victims were not wearing helmets at the time of mishap and were also under the influence of liquor.

The police said that Amandeep of Ghanour was working as engineer in a factory in Bhadurgarh in Patiala while his friend Ashish Wadha was working as engineer in Airtel at Mohali. Ashish was driving the Bajaj Pulsar motorcycle (PB-15-C-2412) while Amandeep was riding pillion.

The police said the motorcycle was apparently being driven at high speed as there were long skid marks suggesting that even after applying the brakes, the motorcycle rammed into the rotary. Amandeep died on the spot while Ashish sustained severe head injuries.

A police control room vehicle rushed the victims to the PGI, where Ashish was operated upon. His condition was stated to be critical. Meanwhile, the police handed over Amandeep’s body to the family after post mortem.

Amandeep’s friend, Sumit, who was following them on other motorcycle, said that Ashish could not judge the rotary and lost control over his motorcycle. He said they were parting last night and had come to Sector 35 to have dinner. They were on their way back to their rented accommodation in Sector 44, when the mishap occurred. 

Chandigarh, February 9
DAV-15 edged past DAV-8 by six wickets on the 5th day of the Inter-School Cricket Tournament for boys under-19 for Adviser's Cup being played at the cricket stadium Sector-16, here today.

DAV-8 had to repent their decision of electing to bat first as they could only score 112 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their allotted 22 overs.

Sahil Hansa (30 runs) of DAV-8 was the principal scorer. While Simran and Sagar also contributed with 19 and 17 runs, respectively. For DAV-15, Tanveer and Rozal pocketed 2 wickets each.

Replying, DAV-15 achieved the target losing four wickets. Lakhan Shandil and Kunal played were the top scorers as they made 38 and 27 runs, respectively, for the team. Sahil was only bowler to claim 2 wickets for 24 runs.

Another match of the day played at GNPS-36, spirited GMSSS-35 beat GNPS-36 by 22 runs.

GNPS-36 after winning the toss elected to field first. GMSSS-35 did not get the desired start as had expected. Harvinder and Amarpreet were the only contributors for them scoring 29 and 22 runs, respectively, which helped the team to score 126 runs in 25 overs losing 9 wickets.

For, GNPS-36, Karan was the wrecker in chief as he captured 3 for 13.

Batting second, GNPS-36 failed to perform with bat and got all out for 104 runs in 23.5 overs. Aashish(38) was the top scorer for them. While for the winning team, Kuljinder claimed 3 wickets for 20 runs along with Sourav (2 for 28 runs).

In another match of the day, riding high on Maninder (68) and Prashant’s (74) batting performance, DAV-8 deafeated Stepping Stones school-37 by 120 runs.

Chandigarh, February 9
Even after losing the final of the Punjab Gold Cup by the narrowest of margins, Indian coach-in-charge Harender Singh could see a silver lining as he said that he had set reaching the final as his team’s primary target. “I had set the target of reaching in the final for my team and it wasn’t a one-sided encounter. We gave a tough fight to the European championships and that says a lot about the potential of this team,” said the coach. “It was about grabbing a chance at the last moment and in today’s match they did it. I salute their team for that,” he added.

Appreciating the 18-member squad he said, “The boys have learn’t from their mistakes and to improve is a step by step procedure. We cannot expect everything from them at in an instant. I have seen that there is a scope for improvement and I am happy as we have enough time to work things out before the World Cup 2010,” the coach said, looking at things long term.

“We have a stiff schedule ahead as we are leaving on the night of February 11 to take part in a four-match Test series in Australia. From there we leave for New Zealand on February 19 to take part in another Test series against the hosts,” Harender added.

“These two tours are pivotal to our preparation for the World Cup and the boys will certainly get good exposure, which will help us correct whatever deficiencies that are there in our game,” pointed out Harender.

Chandigarh, February 9
The State Bank of Patiala (SBoP) team won the 1st Ashok Memorial Corporate Cricket Cup by defeating the HDFC Bank in the final match played at SD Senior Secondary School in Sector 32 here yesterday.

The HDFC team won the toss and elected to field first. Decent performances by Pankaj Dharmani (33 not out) and Sanjay Mahajan (29) enable the Patiala bankers to score a total of 149 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Amandeep and Madan Lal spearheaded the HDFC attack and claimed two wickets each by conceding 25 and 22 runs, respectively. Chasing the total, the HDFC team could not face the SBoP attack and were all bundled out after they scored 117 runs in 17 overs.

Gurinder Saini played a fine knock of 32 runs as he was supported by Charanjit Singh, who chipped in 27 runs. Tanpreet Singh took two wickets for 29 runs while Ranjeev Sharma dismissed three for 21 runs.

Rajiv Sirhindi of the State Bank of Patiala was declared the best batsman of the tournament for his two centuries, while Tanpreet Singh from the winning team was adjudged the best bowler.

Gurinder Saini of the HDFC Bank was declared man of the tournament for his good performances.

Brief score:

SBoP: 149 for five in 20 overs.

Pankaj Dharmani (33 not out), Rakesh Rehni (26), Sanjay Mahajan (29).

Amandeep (two for 25), Madan Lal (two for 22).

HDFC: 117 all out in 17 overs.

Gurinder Saini (32), Charanjit Singh (27), Tanpreet Singh (three for 29), Ranjeev Sharma (three for 21).

Chandigarh, February 9
It is unfortunate for our country as family of Indian hockey skipper Sandeep Singh, which has four Asian hockey gold medals to his credit, is forced to reel under financial constraints and is still putting up in a rented accommodation.

On one side where the Indian hockey skipper in the field is showing a ray of hope of bringing back the lost pride while on the other his family is finding it hard to afford his game.

Gurcharan Singh, Sandeep’s father, who has given all his efforts to make his son a star after getting a setback from his business is forced to ponder upon Sandeep’s game as it requires a lot of money to afford diet and practice.

“Though we all are working but as a hockey player I know how much money it demands to afford the diet and other requisites of the game,” said Sandeep’s brother, Bikramjit Singh, who is currently working with Air India.

“No government or any association ever supported us financially and it’s my father who knows what kind of circumstances he had faced to raise us as the hockey players,” revealed Bikramjit.

“Our place, Shahbad Markanda, has a lot of talented hockey players like Sandeep but due to financial constraints many of them have to leave the game.

However, I somehow kept my faith and did not care even for the elevating debt,” said Gurcharan Singh.

“When Bikram was twelve I wanted him to become as the legendary hockey player Surjit,” said the ambitious father.

“I think my long wait and hardships has paid off as Sandeep’s making it to the squad after two years that too as the captain is not expected and I am a proud father,” added the father.

Chandigarh, February 9
S. Ratia played a nett 69 card to cinch the Kingfisher Medal Round in the gold and silver division of the ladies section golf tournament at the Chandigarh Golf Club here today.

Madhu Brar finished one stroke behind at 70 with Ashu B. Singh occupying the third slot in the competition which saw 23 ladies teeing off.

Dalbir Sahi and Kiran B.M. Singh carded nett 75 each. But because of a better back nine Dalbir Sahi was declared the winner in the bronze division. Tina Jain finished third netting 75 with a better back nine.

The monthly medal round has become a major attraction with more and more ladies turning out for the Kingfisher Medal Round competitions.