1987 Ludhiana heist: SC acquits 9 convicted under TADA

Had been sentenced to 10-yr jail under TADA for looting Rs 5.7 cr from PNB branch

New Delhi, January 10

The Supreme Court on Tuesday acquitted nine people sentenced to 10-year jail under the anti-terror law TADA for looting Rs 5.7 crore from Punjab National Bank in Ludhiana that took place in 1987. The crime was then described as the biggest bank robbery in the country.

A Bench comprising Justices Pinaki Chandra Ghose and Rohinton Fali Nariman held that the CBI had failed to prove that the Rs 60 lakh recovered from the convicts were in fact part of the looted money, advocate RK Kapoor, who argued for a convict, said.

Among those convicted by TADA special judge, Ludhiana, on November 20, 2012, were Sikh Students Federation ex-President Daljit Singh Bittu and his close associate Gursharan Singh Gamma, who were allegedly working with Gen Labh Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force.

The special court under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), which now stands repealed, had convicted and sentenced 13 accused persons. Two of the convicts withdrew their appeals in the apex court as they completed 10 years in jail in the absence of bail, while two died.

Among those who had come in appeal to the Supreme Court were Balwinder Singh, Harjinder Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

In its judgment, the TADA court had held that it was clearly established that the robbery was committed with the intention to either overawe the government or strike terror in a section of people.

According to the prosecution, the accused had committed the crime on February 12, 1987 by donning police uniform to enter the Millarganj branch of PNB at 9.45 am

Sikh Students Federation ex-president Daljit Singh Bittu and his associate Gursharan Singh Gama were held guilty by the TADA Special Judge, Ludhiana, on November 20, 2012. The two were allegedly working with ‘Gen’ Labh Singh of the Khalistan Commando Force. The TADA court said it had been clearly established that the robbery was committed “with the intention to either overawe the government or strike terror in a section of people”.

The prosecution told the court that Bittu and his accomplices, who were in police uniform, entered the Millarganj branch of the PNB at 9.45 am and left with the money without firing a shot. They took away old currency notes, not touching the new ones valued at Rs 10 crore, as claimed by the then bank chief manager, SN Malhotra, in his complaint to the police. 

The robbers, he said, overpowered the guard and threatened the bank employees and customers, who were made to squat on the floor. The special court, which now stands repealed, sentenced 13 of the accused. 

Bittu and Gama withdrew their appeal in the apex court on completing 10 years in jail without bail. Two others died. Balwinder Singh of Tahl village  and Harbhajan Singh of Sarin village in Jalandhar district and Harjinder Singh of Lalton village in Ludhiana moved the Supreme Court.

The others convicted in the case were: Harjinder Singh of Lalton village in Ludhiana, Balwinder Singh of Tahl village in Jalandhar, Mohan Singh of Katran Kala village of Jalandhar, Saroop Singh of Basrampur village in Jalandhar, Gurjant Singh of Kothe Sher Jang Road, Jagraon, Ludhiana, Avtar Singh of Kurali, Jalandhar, Harbhajan Singh of Sarin Village in Jalandhar, Sewa Singh of Chakran Raju Singh village in Hoshiarpur, Assa Singh of Badala Mahi in Hoshiarpur and Maan Singh of Bhajan Nagar, Ludhiana.

The nine accused
Were lodged in different jails in Punjab: 
Maan Singh Dholewal (central jail, ludhiana)
Gurjant Singh and Harjinder Singh Lalli (nabha jail)
Harbhajan Singh, Saroop Singh, Balwinder Singh, Sewa Singh, Avtar Singh and Mohan Singh (model jail, kapurthala)

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ 7 ਜ਼ਿਲਿ੍ਹਆਂ ਦੇ ਡੀ. ਸੀ. ਬਦਲੇ

ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ, 29 ਜਨਵਰੀ - ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ ਅੱਜ 7 ਜ਼ਿਲਿ੍ਹਆਂ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰਾਂ ਸਮੇਤ 12 ਆਈ. ਏ. ਐਸ ਅਤੇ 2 ਪੀ. ਸੀ. ਐਸ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਤਬਾਦਲਿਆਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਹੁਕਮ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਹਨ | ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ 7 ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਤਬਾਦਲੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਅਜੀਤ ਨਗਰ, ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, ਅੰਮਿ੍ਤਸਰ, ਪਟਿਆਲਾ, ਮੋਗਾ, ਰੋਪੜ ਅਤੇ ਕਪੂਰਥਲਾ ਦੇ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਸ਼ਾਮਿਲ ਹਨ | ਰਾਜ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਹੁਕਮਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਕਪੂਰਥਲਾ ਦੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਦਲਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਾਂਗਟ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਹਿਬਜ਼ਾਦਾ ਅਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਨਗਰ ਦਾ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਲਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਇਥੋਂ ਦੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਸ. ਤੇਜਿੰਦਰ ਪਾਲ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਨੂੰ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਮੰਡੀ ਬੋਰਡ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰਵੀ ਭਗਤ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਅੰਮਿ੍ਤਸਰ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਵਰੂਣ ਰੂਜਮ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਅੰਮਿ੍ਤਸਰ, ਰਾਮਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਧੀਕ ਆਬਕਾਰੀ ਤੇ ਕਰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਕੁਲਦੀਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਏ.ਡੀ.ਸੀ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਮੋਗਾ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | ਕਰਨੇਸ਼ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਰੋਪੜ ਅਤੇ ਰੋਪੜ ਦੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਤੰਨੂ ਕਸ਼ਅਪ ਨੂੰ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਕਪੂਰਥਲਾ ਅਤੇ ਮੋਗਾ ਦੇ ਮੌਜੂਦਾ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਪਰਮਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ ਨੂੰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਮਿਊਾਸਪਲ ਕਾਰਪੋਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਪਟਿਆਲਾ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | ਹਰਭੁਪਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੰਦਾ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਸਕੂਲ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਨੂੰ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਡਵੀਜ਼ਨ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ ਜਦੋਂ ਕਿ ਆਰ .ਐਸ ਲੱਧੜ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਤੇ ਡਾਇਰੈਕਟਰ ਸਨਅਤ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਮਰਸ ਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਮੁੱਖ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਪਲਾਨਿੰਗ, ਸ੍ਰੀ ਰੱਜਤ ਅਗਰਵਾਲ ਡਿਪਟੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਲੁਧਿਆਣਾ ਨੂੰ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਨੁਰਾਗ ਵਰਮਾ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਰਾਜ ਦਾ ਕਰ ਅਤੇ ਆਬਕਾਰੀ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਨਿਯੁਕਤ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੋ ਪੀ.ਸੀ.ਐਸ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਤਬਾਦਲੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹਨ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਵਿਚ ਸੁਭਾਸ਼ ਚੰਦਰ ਨੂੰ ਐਸ.ਡੀ.ਐਮ ਫਿਲੌਰ ਅਤੇ ਦਮਨਦੀਪ ਕੌਰ ਐਸ.ਡੀ.ਐਮ ਫਿਲੌਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਹਾਇਕ ਕਮਿਸ਼ਨਰ ਜਨਰਲ ਅਤੇ ਸ਼ਿਕਾਇਤਾਂ ਜਲੰਧਰ ਲਾਇਆ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ | 

Bathinda-Chandigarh Highway Project: Sukhbir reviews arrangements for foundation stone laying ceremony

Bathinda, January 21, 2015

 The Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal today evening reviewed arrangements for the foundation stone laying ceremony of Rs 3342 cr highway project to be held at Multipurpose Stadium in Bathinda. He was accompanied by the Cabinet Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Mr Sikandar Singh Maluka.

Mr Badal said that the Union Cabinet Minister Mr Nitin Gadkari would be laying foundation stone of the four lane project of Bathinda-Chandigarh highway providing relief to the traffic plying on this stretch. The project would herald in a new horizon in the infrastructural development of state.

He said that Mr Gadkari would lay foundation stone of the Rs 3342 cr four laning project of Bathinda-Chandigarh road. He appealed people to reach Bathinda and be witness to the unprecedented developmental works being done in state such as laying the highway.

Under this multi crore project there are seven highway projects including Patiala bypass four lane, Patiala to Sangrur four lane, Sanrur and Dhanaula bypass four lane, Sangrur to Tapa four lane, Tapa to Bathinda four lane, Sangrur to Dugal Kalan four lane and Dugal Kalan to Punjab-Haryana border four lane project.

IG Mr Paramjit Singh Umranangal, DIG Mr Amar Singh Chahal, Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Dr Basant Garg, SSP Bathinda Mr Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti and others accompanied him.

Punjab rolled out e-stamp for property transactions

Mohali, January 20
Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia launched the e-stamp service today.

The step would make property transactions convenient, besides ending public harassment and corruption, Badal said.

“The facility will obviate the need to stand in long queues for procuring stamp papers, besides ending the middleman culture. Now onwards, the common man will be able to deposit the stamp fee through wire transfers, drafts or cheques,” Badal said. It would also bring efficiency and transparency in the working of the Revenue Department, he added.

“People will be able to deposit stamp fee at thousands of branches of various banks near their places of work or residence. They people will now be able to deposit the exact fee instead of being forced to buy stamp papers of more denomination than needed, due to lack of availability and creation of artificial scarcity,” said Bikram Singh Majithia.

The state government’s next target would be to launch e-registration service, Badal said. “The state will witness the launch of e-registration facility in the next six months. It will complement the e-stamping measure. In fact, my aim is to make all government services online by July 2015,” Badal said.

“Following the launch of these two services, the people will not need to visit any department. They will be able to get their works done at nearby Sewa Kendras, to be set up in every ward soon. These centres will provide various services in a stipulated time frame and remove corruption automatically,” Badal said.

Adviser to Chief Minister Mahesinder Singh Grewal, Chief Parliamentary Secretary NK Sharma and Mohali Deputy Commissioner Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu were also present on the occasion.

Special features

• Each e-stamp will have a unique ID that can be verified online
• It will have safety features such as ultraviolet verification, microfilm, thermal fixtures and encrypted 2-D bar code
• In case an e-stamp gets misplaced, one can apply for a duplicate e-stamp

Punjab: 20 IAS, 21 PCS officers transferred

Chandigarh - The Punjab government on Wednesday ordered transfers and postings of 20 IAS officers and 21 PCS officers.

Special principal secretary to the chief minister, Ajoy Sharma, was given the additional charge of special secretary, water supply and sanitation department. Executive director, Punjab State Scheduled Castes Land Development and Finance Corporation, Alaknanda Dayal, was given the charge of director, social security and development of women and children, and in addition special secretary, social security and development of women and children.

Deputy commissioner, gurdwara elections, Punjab, Harjeet Singh, was given the additional charge of member secretary, Punjab State Commission for Backward Classes. Special secretary, technical education and industrial training, Dharam Pal, was given additional charge of controller, printing and stationery.

Additional registrar, cooperative societies, Arun Sekhri, was given additional charge of special secretary, power. Director general, school education, Pradeep Kumar Aggarwal, was given additional charge of secretary, school education. Managing director, Punjab Small and Export Corporation, Amit Dhaka, was given additional charge of additional secretary, industries and commerce.

Special secretary, personnel, Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, was given additional charge of executive director, Backfinco. Transport director Malwinder Singh Jaggi was given additional charge as secretary, Punjab state NRI commission.

Director, planning, Parveen Kumar Thind, was given additional charge of additional secretary, finance. Ferozepur additional deputy commissioner Amit Kumar was given the additional charge as deputy director, urban local bodies, Ferozepur.

The officers who got regular postings are Manjit Singh Narang as special secretary, transport, with additional charge of managing director, Pepsu Road Transport Corporation, and Ritu Aggarwal as special secretary, information and public relations, along with the charge as additional director of the same department.

Meanwhile, Adapa Karthik was transferred as ADC general, Kapurthala; Varinder Kumar Sharma as ADC development, Bathinda; Sonali Giri as ADC (general), Faridkot, with additional charge as ADC development, Faridkot; Apneet Riyait as ADC general, Ludhiana; MK Arvind Kumar as ADC general, Sangrur; Girish Dayalan as ADC general, Jalandhar; and Kulwant Singh as SDM, Nakodar.

Punjab Government orders inquiry after teacher allegedly strips school girls

Chandigarh: A day after 13 girl students of a school in Gurdaspur were strip searched by a lady teacher for alleged theft, the Punjab government has ordered a probe into the incident.

Reacting to a report that the girls were subjected to humiliation after Rs. 500 went missing from the purse of one of the teachers, Punjab Education Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said strict action would be taken against any teacher found guilty, According to an official release.

He said the District Education Officer (Elementary) of Gurdaspur has appointed the inquiry officers and would be submitting a report in a fortnight.

He also issued instructions to all government schools in general that he would not tolerate any such incident in future.

According to Gurdaspur police, the teacher, who taught in a government girls middle school in a village in Gurdaspur district, found that a Rs. 500 note missing was from her wallet.

She later called seventh grade girl students and allegedly stripped them in a classroom to look for her note, police had said earlier.

The victims disclosed the incident to their parents, following which one parent registered a case against the teacher under section 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty of woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC and provisions of the SC/ST Act.

Absconding

The police said the students of Government Girls Middle School in Madiala village had alleged that their drawing teacher Harjit Kaur subjected them to strip search.

The accused is absconding.

3 DCs, 1 Commissioner, 4 SSPs in Punjab

CHANDIGARH - The Election Commission transferred three Deputy Commissioners, one Commissioner of Police and four Senior Superintendents of Police in Punjab on tuesday.

The DCs of Sangrur, Fazilka and Patiala districts have been replaced, an EC official here said, without producing any reason for the reshuffle.

The EC also ordered transfer of Ludhiana's Commissioner of Police, he said adding the SSPs of Ferozepur, Moga, Fazilka, and Mansa districts too had been replaced.

As per an order of the EC, Kavita Singh, IAS, has beenm posted as new Deputy Commissioner, Sangrur, Karuna Raju, IAS as Deputy Commissioner, Fazilka, and Priyank Bharti, IAS as Deputy Commissioner, Patiala.

Sanjeev Kalra, IPS has been posted as new Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, he said.

Rahul S, IPS, has been posted as new SSP Ferozepur while S Bhupati, IPS, as SSP Moga, Jagdale Nilambari Vijay, IPS, as SSP Fazilka, and Bikram Pal Singh Bhatti as SSP Mansa.

Poll shuffle
 New DCs: Kavita Singh (Sangrur), Karuna Raju (Fazilka), Priyank Bharti (Patiala);
 New SSPs: Rahul S (Ferozepur), S. Bhupati (Moga), Jagdale Nilambari Vijay (Fazilka), Bikram Pal Singh Bhatti (Mansa);
 Sanjiv Kalra posted as Commissioner of Police Ludhiana.

Punjab DGP Saini proceeds on leave

Chandigarh, April 2 - Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini has proceeded on leave.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has asked the Punjab Government to immediately recommend names of three officers for the selection of the new DGP till Saini remained on leave.
Sources said DGP Saini, whose transfer was sought by the Punjab Congress on the plea that he had been chargesheeted in a criminal case, today sent a leave application, which was accepted by the Election Commission. The new DGP was likely to be appointed within a day, said a senior official in the ECI.
The state government has been asked to suggest a panel of three senior-most IPS officers serving in the state. The new DGP will be appointed from amongst them by the ECI.
The state government is reportedly forwarding the names of 1981-batch IPS officer GD Pandey (serving as the DGP-cum-Commandant General of Punjab Home Guards), 1982-batch IPS officer Suresh Arora (serving as the DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau) and 1982-batch officer Sanjiv Gupta (serving as the DGP Security and Vigilance, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited).
The controversy about Saini arose after Congress spokesperson Sukhpal Singh Khaira repeatedly complained to the ECI, seeking Saini’s removal on the ground that he was chargesheeted by a special CBI court in November 2006 for kidnapping and disappearance of three persons.
Senior Congress leaders, including sitting MPs, had also approached the ECI seeking his transfer, alleging that he enjoyed close proximity to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and would not allow free and fair elections.
The Punjab Government had been constantly declining to remove Saini claiming that he had already overseen two elections since his appointment as the DGP. However, with the ECI getting active by gathering its own feedback and then transferring officers, the state government had got enough indication that DGP Saini would also be removed. To avoid that situation, Saini proceeded on leave today.

In race for the top job

GD Pandey DGP-cum-Commandant Gen of Punjab Home Guards

Suresh Arora DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau

Sanjiv Gupta DGP Security and Vigilance, State Power Corpn Ltd

In race for the top job

GD Pandey DGP-cum-Commandant Gen of Punjab Home Guards

Suresh Arora DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau

Sanjiv Gupta DGP Security and Vigilance, State Power Corpn Ltd

All arrangements in place for Narendra Modi's rally: Parkash Singh Badal

Assembly Polls: Parkash Singh Badal describes Congress' show as "trailer" for Lok Sabha polls

MALOUT: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said all arrangements had been made for the rally of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the state on December 21. 

"The decision of the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal ( Amritsar) to oppose Modi's visit to the state show these parties are opposed to democracy," he told reporters here. 

All arrangements to make the rally, organised by the SAD-BJP at Jagraon, a success were in place, Badal said after addressing gatherings during the Sangat Darshan programme in his Lambi assembly segment here. 

BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will address a rally at Jagraon in Ludhiana district on December 21, a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader said here on Thursday.

The rally will be organised jointly by the ruling SAD and the BJP. SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said the rally, which was earlier to be held in Moga, would now be held at the sugar mill ground in Jagraon.

Punjab to promote Medical tourism in big way: Sukhbir

Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal at the CII
gathering at New Chandigarh

Chandigarh, November 14, 2013 (PNW) Punjab Government would promote medical tourism in the state as this sector had a great potential to boost the state's economy, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Thursday.

Mr. Badal said the planned Medicity would be developed on 300 acres of land at New Chandigarh, with top-notch hospitals being established. He was speaking at an event organized by CII to present the Human Achievers Awards.

He said that New Chandigarh has the potential to emerge as the Medical Hub of North India as the state has already equipped with first-class infrastructure in the health sector comparing to the other states.

Mr. Badal also boasted that Punjab was already equipped with superlative health sector infrastructure as compared with other states of India. He added that previous governments had not paid attention to create medical facilities for the needy in the state. He also called on NGOs to come forward and save the girl child.

The deputy CM also used the occasion to honour 198 highest taxpayers as well as warn tax evaders, saying that the government would not only recover taxes but also register cases against tax evaders.

Speaking on the topic, he said, "We will not only recover the tax but also register cases against those evading tax."

During the past financial year of 2012-13, the state government collected Rs 14,544 crore tax revenue from nearly 2.35 lakh registered traders and manufacturers.

Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal honours top tax-payers

Chandigarh, November 14

Punjab Government today honoured, traders, businessmen and top corporate houses in the state for paying taxes regularly and, thus, being partners in the state’s growth.

As many as 198 tax-payers were honoured by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) was honoured for being the highest tax-payer in the state, with the company contributing Rs 2,367 crore as VAT. The award was presented to Sudeb Gupta, executive director, IOC.

The top 10 tax-payers were Indian Oil Corporation (Rs 2,367 crore), Markfed (Rs 458 crore ), HPCL-Mittal Energy Limited (Rs 375 crore), Bharat Petroleum (Rs 211 crore), Hindustan Petrolium (Rs 162 crore), Mahindra and Mahindra Commercial Vehicle (Rs 123 crore), TATA Motors Commercial Vehicle (Rs 120 crore ), Ambuja Cement (Rs 113 crore), Hindutan Lever (Rs 104 crore) and Samsung India Electronics (Rs 102 crore). State BJP president Kamal Sharma and Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sarup Chand Singla also addressed the gathering.

Trainee IAS officer killed, 4 hurt in road ccident

Chandigarh/Moga (PNW) - A trainee IAS officer from Bihar, Nishant Kumar (26), died and four others were injured when the vehicle in which they were travelling met with an accident on Moga-Barnala road, around 15 km from here, near Daala village, early on Wednesday.

The accident took place when driver Raj Kumar, who was among the injured, lost control of the car. The vehicle first hit a railing, then a tree and overturned.

Moga Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwaljit Singh Dhillon said: "The speedometer recovered from the spot showed the vehicle was being driven at 110 km. Also, it was a bit foggy at that time. We regard overspeeding as the cause of the mishap."

Others injured are Shashi Ranjan, Harsh and Ajit, all IAS trainees. While Harsh is from Kanpur, Ajit and Shashi Ranjan are from Bihar. "They were returning from a party thrown by an officer in Jalandhar," said a source.

The impact of the crash was such that the engine of the Innova car, which carried a red beacon, flung out and landed in nearby fields. Nishant died on the spot.

"The four were going to Takhtupura village. They had come to Moga for training," said Amit Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner.

There were different stories over who was driving the vehicle. While Dhillon hesitated and said: "I am not aware of it," Singh said "the driver was driving it".

Sources, however, said: "The driver has denied that he was driving. On the other hand, the injured officers are claiming that the driver was driving. But the driver has not got any injuries despite the fact that the front of the car got badly damaged."

Punjab to have single-stage VAT regime

Chandigarh, October 22
In a major relief to traders, the Punjab Government has decided to remove the multiplicity in Value Added Tax (VAT) on all commodities by imposing it right at the manufacturing level. The move will not only simplify the taxation procedure, but also eliminate the practice of doing business without proper accounting of sales.
The decision to implement the single-stage taxation regime was taken by the state Cabinet yesterday. It decided to bring a Bill to this effect in the forthcoming session.
Once cleared by the Assembly, the government would ask all major manufacturers selling their goods across the state to charge entire VAT component from the distributor itself. The simplification of tax structure is the main thrust of the new trade policy, which would be announced on November 14.
Of the 2.25 lakh registered VAT dealers in Punjab, only 900 pay more than Rs 1 crore as VAT in a year. A large number of dealers do not pay any VAT, by not accounting sales in their books.
With the new taxation structure in force, Punjab will be amongst the few states to have brought in a single-stage taxation regime. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the step would go a long way in ensuring that all trade in Punjab was accounted for.

Simplifying Things

* The new taxation regime will provide that VAT is imposed right at the manufacturing level;

* The manufacturers will pay the entire VAT and then collect it from the remaining people in the supply chain (ie distributors, wholesalers and retailers etc.);

* Besides simplifying the taxation procedure, it will also eliminate the practice of doing business without proper sales accounting.

PGI's Sangrur centre to focus on liver, kidney diseases

SANGRUR - The satellite centre of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), whose foundation stone would be laid by union minister for health and family welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad in Sangrur district on Thursday, would focus on special treatment of liver and kidney diseases.

As per sources in the PGIMER administration, besides normal specialities, emphasis will be laid on establishing superspeciality departments of hepatology (liver diseases) and nephrology (kidney diseases). "The decision has been taken done in view of high prevalence of alcoholic liver diseases and kidney diseases. The facilities will be augmented as per requirements," said Manju Wadwalkar, spokesperson for the Chandigarh-based premier institute.

The Punjab government has allocated 25 acres to the institute for setting up the satellite centre. The centre would have a 300-bedded hospital in the first phase with an outreach community health services programme in a predominantly rural population. The centre would have key medical and surgical departments with provision for residential quarters for faculty and staff.

According to the District Human Development Report 2010 of the United Nations Development Programme, the common causes of mortality in Sangrur district are respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, skin-related diseases, hematological diseases, ophthalmic diseases, diabetes, hypertension and cancer.

A population-based cancer registry (PBCR) has already been initiated by the PGIMER in the district in partnership with Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.

There will also be the provision of 24-hour emergency services along with out-patient (OPD) and in patient services (ward care).

According to a press release of the institute, the Sangrur centre will serve as a referral centre for health services in adjoining districts as well as to the PGIMER. Training of health staff and consultancy services to state health services would also be provided.

Presently, Sangrur district has one district hospital, three sub-divisional hospitals, six community health centers, 39 primary health centres and 68 subsidiary health centres, including rural dispensaries and 194 sub-centres.

According to the PGIMER, the satellite centre would fulfil the need for a specialist teaching and training health institution in the area.
 

Chief guest

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be the chief guest at the satellite centre's foundation stone-laying function at Ghabdan village in Sangrur district. Minister of state for health and family welfare Santosh Chaudhary and Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla would be the guests of honour.

The foundation stone of a satellite centre of the PGI is scheduled to be laid at Sangrur on 10 October, Thursday.

Punjab announce new film policy, set up rural cinema halls

New Delhi, September 28
Punjab will come up with a new film policy within two months that will enshrine the concept of rural cinema halls claimed to be first of its kind in the country.

Aimed at providing entertainment facilities to villagers, the state proposes to set up cinema halls in villages having one or two screens with a capacity of 100 seats.

"It will help entertainment of rural masses at low costs and provide impetus to production of more Punjabi and other languages films in the state," said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal while deliberating on the film policy for Punjab drafted by the National Film Development Corporation.

Chaired by Sukhbir, the meeting was attended by Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur and Principal Secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha, besides corporation chairman Ramesh Sippy and its Managing Director Nina Lath Gupta.

Four-laning of Zirakpur-Bathinda highway in limbo

The Zirakpur-Bathinda National Highway

Centre terminates contract, says start process afresh

Chandigarh, June 24
The four-laning of the Zirakpur-Bathinda national highway is set to be delayed by a year as the Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways has decided to terminate the contract of the project given to two private companies.

"Ministry officials have conveyed to us at a meeting in Delhi to prepare for fresh tendering, which will take at least six to nine months as the process to terminate the existing contract has been set in motion," said Ashok Singla, Chief Engineer, PWD, Punjab.

The Rs 2,500-crore contract for four-laining of the 215-km-long highway, considered a lifeline for connectivity of the core Malwa region, was allotted in March last year.

"At the meeting, officials of both the companies informed the ministry that they would not take up the work on this project due to escalation in the prices of raw material used for road construction and unnecessary delay in getting various clearances," said Singla.

A decision on whether to forfeit Rs 50-crore security of both the companies would be taken by the ministry officials concerned. However, the companies have taken the plea that their security should be refunded. The PWD has been handling the project on behalf of the Union Ministry and the National Highway Authority of India.

To make a fresh beginning, a consultant would be appointed in a few days. "Immediately after appointing the consultant, a detailed project report will be prepared. Fresh financial model of the project will be prepared and the traffic load on the highway will be assessed afresh," said Singla.

After this, the project report would be sent to the Private Public Participation Appraisal Committee of the Union Government for clearance. "We are sure to prepare a fresh project report by July-end. Finally, this project will go for approval to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, headed by the Prime Minster," he said, adding: "We hope to start the work early next year."

Hits Roadblock 

• The Rs 2,500-crore contract for four-laining of the 215-km-long highway was allotted in March last year
• Contractors had refused to take up the work due to escalation in the prices of raw material and undue delay in getting clearances

HC notice to UT, Punjab on PIL

Chandigarh, April 8
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Centre and authorities in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on a public interest litigation seeking a ban on cancer-causing agents.

The PIL claimed there was a nexus between government officials and the industry, due to which carcinogens made their way into the consumer market. “The unholy nexus and collusion between the industry and public servants leads to a situation which results in mortality and morbidity of a large number of people, which is no less than cold-blooded murder,” the PIL filed by Hemant Goswami said.

He has sought a ban on “all cancer-causing agents identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)”.

In his petition, Goswami stated: “The WHO and its affiliate IARC has, in its over 50 years of research, identified hundreds of agents (carcinogens)... Despite such carcinogens having been clearly identified, the government does nothing and such cancer-causing agents frequently make way into the market... and are used in various industries to which people are exposed, and thereby it has resulted in increased cancer prevalence in India”.

He also sought suitable arrangements to compensate and provide damages to anyone exposed to carcinogens at his workplace or otherwise.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal targets Centre on pesticide use

New Delhi, March 18, 2013- Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, member of Parliament from Bathinda, raised the issue of indiscriminate pesticide use and its fatal affects on thousands of lives in the Malwa region.

She demanded strict implementation of guidelines of the union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers at the ground level to save lives as well as agri-lands from pesticide pollution.

During zero hour, Harsimrat said pesticides were being used by farmers to garner high yield of crops. She said this pollution was not only harmful to human beings but also to the ecosystem.

Blaming "ill-managed" agri-related policies of union ministries, Harsimrat said due to the meagre increase in minimum support price every season, farmers of the country were forced to use pesticides to the maximum for high yield; as a result, 90% of pesticides got mixed in the soil and water.

She said lack of control over indiscriminate use of pesticides was leading to hazardous problems in our health system. Harsimrat said studies conducted by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and other organisations in the Malwa region had proved that injudicious use of pesticides was one of the reasons behind increasing incidence of cancer in this belt.

She asked the union government whether it planned to have a dedicated body to look into strict implementation of laws and create awareness at the ground level to educate farmers about side effects of indiscriminate use of pesticides.

She said pesticide content had been found in blood samples of Malwa farmers, besides uranium content in hair of children.

She said the matter concerned the ministries of environment, chemicals and fertilizers, and health and family welfare. She said the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers should strictly monitor the pesticides which were allowed to be registered and used in the country.

Harsimrat slammed union minister Jayanti Natarajan for her comments that the situation was not as alarming as sounded by the Bathinda MP and said the limitless use of pesticides produced cancer in the state. She said it was a known fact that the national average of cancer was 100 cases per lakh population, while in the Bathinda constituency, the figure was 134.

3 IAS, one PCS officer transferred

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government today transferred three IAS and one PCS officer in the state with immediate effect.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesman of the Punjab Government said Ravneet Kaur, IAS, Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, has been posted as Secretary, School Education, vice Husan Lal and in addition, Secretary, Higher Education and Languages vice G. Vajralingam.
Husan Lal, IAS, Secretary, School Education, has been posted as Secretary, Home Affair and Justice. Lal will look after the work of Secretary Jails, Punjab.
Parveen Kumar Thind, IAS, ADC (G), Fatehgarh Sahib, has been posted ADC (D), SAS Nagar, against vacant post.
APS Virk, PCS, Secretary (Examination), Punjab Public Service Commission, Patiala, has been posted as ADC (G), Fatehgarh Sahib.

Ramlila at PU: 77-yr-old tradition continues uninterrupted

Chandigarh, October 19
77 years ago, in 1935, Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club began staging Ramlila inside the then campus of Panjab University in Lahore. Years passed, the country went through Partition and the university campus kept shifting to different places. But there was never a year when this stage was not lit up during the festivity.
“This Ramlila, in fact, reflects upon the ups and down which the university saw over the years,”[ said Deepak Kaushik, general secretary of the Hari Naam Sankirtan Prachar Mandal under whose aegis the Lahore-born Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club has been organising this Ramlila on the Chandigarh campus of Panjab University since its inception here in 1956. Kaushik, who is engaged with this Ramlila since 1991, said that after Partition, the university shifted from Lahore to Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Shimla and Solan, before coming to Chandigarh. But the staging of Ramlila continued uninterrupted, he said.
Members of the mandal, who all are from the PU, say that people like Master Khem Raj Behal, Tara Chand Gandhi, and Babu Mohan Lal started the Arjuna Amateur Dramatic Club which was active in staging plays and cultural activities against the British rule. PU employee Rajan Sharma, who is a part of this Ramlila since the age of four, and currently plays Rama, says that the contribution of Prof Lekh Raj Sharma, former head of chemical engineering department, had a big contribution in keeping this Ramlila alive when it moved to Chandigarh, along with the campus, from Solan. “He remained the president of the club for thirty years and inspired several generations on the campus to remain attached to our roots,” he says.

Vaikunth Nath Bhandari, one of the oldest members of the club, said that after Lekh Raj, this Ramlila was on the verge of closure in the early 90’s. But the efforts of late Prof Biri Chand, ex-chairman of UBS, revived it and helped creating the team of young people who are taking this Ramlila forward.

Here, Lord Rama converses with Sita in Urdu

An interesting part of this Ramlila is that though it was uprooted from Lahore years ago, it still has the rustic ‘Lahori’ flavour. Here, the dialogues are still delivered in pure Urdu and generations after generations have ensured that the original language remains unchanged.

Sushil Puri, one of the members, says, “We never used any special or professional artistes to attract crowds. From young to old, everyone delivers their dialogues in Urdu.” 16-year-old Karan Sharma, performing the role of young Rama, says that he had some problem in learning the dialogue initially but, having participated here for last many years, is now used to it.

13-year-old Anurag, playing the role of young Shatrughan, says that he enjoys being a part of this festival. The members here believe that the tradition of this stage will hopefully continue in future too.