Quake jolts tricity

Chandigarh, February 10

An earthquake of moderate intensity shook the tricity about half an hour past Thursday midnight. The quake, measuring 5 on the Richter scale, hit parts of Punjab and Haryana and Uttarakhand. The epicentre of the quake was stated to be in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand and was also felt in many parts of the northern region. However, there were, however, no reports of loss of life or property from anywhere in Punjab and Haryana.

The tremors triggered panic in a lot of areas, particularly in the Yamuna Valley area of Uttarakhand, with people coming out of their homes. Though some houses reportedly developed cracks in the Barkot area of Uttarkashi, there were no reports of any major damage to life and property in the region, which was the epicentre of the devastating 1991 earthquake that left hundreds of people dead.

Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Sector 11 here, said that he had returned to the city after finishing his official assignment at Delhi. He said he was going to bed when he noticed tremors and virtually remained sleepless.

DAV College student held for petrol pump clash

Chandiagrh, February 10
Two months after the bloody attack at a petrol pump in sector 10, the police today arrested Chetan Munjal, a SOPU member, and student of DAV College. Munjal was wanted for attempted murder. He was allegedly involved in a brawl that took place on December 9 at the Sector 10 petrol pump and was booked for criminal intimidation and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons under sections 147, 148, 149, 324, 307, 506, IPC, in Sector 3 police station.

The clash between two student groups, Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), had resulted in serious injuries to a Landran College student. A police constable posted at the sector 16 General Hospital too sustained fractures while trying to control the mob.

The incident had occurred when three students of Landran College of Engineering came to the Sector 10 fuel station. As soon as they stopped at the petrol pump, they were attacked by armed assailants, who were in a Bolero jeep.

The victims were identified as Amrinder Singh, Jeevanjot and Amandeep Singh, students of Landran College of Engineering. The reason behind the clash was the support of injured engineering students to PUSU during the student counsel elections in PU in September, 2011.

The accused were identified as Ravneet Sidhu, Ballu, Chetan Majal, Aman Barnala, and Parry of SOPU. Chetan, however, was wanted all these days. Sources said that he was nabbed by the officials of Sector 11 police station and handed over to the Sector 3 police station.

Punjab for ‘unified command of police’ for tricity

Chandigarh, February 10

The State of Punjab today gave its nod for a “unified command of police” for the Tricity of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali for investigating cases of serious nature, murder and kidnapping included.

In an affidavit placed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab Deputy Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice, Om Parkash Bhatia, said the force could comprise police officers from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

He also suggested that the command or the committee could be of Punjab, Haryana and UT SSPs. The senior-most SSP could be heading it.

The affidavit placed before the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Mahesh Grover further suggested that the command could meet once a month on a fixed date. The meeting could be advanced if required by the circumstances.

The affidavit came on a petition filed in public interest for CBI probe into the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old boy Khushpreet. The petition has been filed by the World Human Rights Protection Council through chairperson-cum-advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal.

The petitioner is also demanding a strict action against the errant Chandigarh police officers, allegedly responsible for Khushpreet’s death.

Khushpreet was kidnapped on December 21, 2010, from Burail. He was later found brutally murdered on January 5 in Mohali, hardly at two kilometers from his house. After protests, the Chandigarh administration had ordered magisterial probe. His family has already returned the compensation offered by the UT administration.

Seeking CBI probe in the case, Lakhanpal submitted the police had failed miserably to solve the case. apparently dissatisfied with the probe report, Lakhanpal sought directions to register a criminal case under Section 304-A of IPC on the allegations of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the errant police officers.

The petitioner also sought directions to the UT administration to come up with a special cell to deal with similar situations and employ specially trained cops.

2 booked for immigration fraud

Mohali, February 8
The police has booked two persons running an immigration company on the charges of duping people of Rs 29.88 lakh on the pretext of sending them abroad. In a complaint to the police, Mukesh Kumar, resident of Nawanshahr, and others said that they had allegedly been cheated by Deepak Arora and Karandeep who were running a company by the name of Jet Immigration in Phase VI here.

They had been promised at the time of payments that they would be sent abroad. But they were not sent and the company had even failed to return their money.

The police has registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC.

UT Council takes up key issues today

House tax, linking vehicle purchase with availability of parking space on agenda

Chandigarh, February 8
The cost of living in the city would increase if the UT Administration’s advisory council gives green light to pass key proposals like the imposition of house tax and purchase of vehicles only with the availability of parking space with the buyers. The advisory council meeting, scheduled for tomorrow, will discuss these proposals and give its clearance for their implementation.

Sources in the Administration revealed that in view of increasing vehicles in the city, the authorities had come up with the recommendation that the buyers had to prove beforehand that they had parking space before the purchase of vehicle. Officials said as there was an acute shortage of parking space in commercial and residential areas in the city, this proposal had been mooted by the authorities.

The MC is also planning to increase the parking fee five times to manage the heavy rush of vehicles in commercial parking lots.

A senior official of the UT Administration said the Municipal Corporation authorities had been avoiding imposing house tax for the past two years for which a number of reminders had been given to them. The official said under the JNNRUM, the MC would have to impose 2 per cent of house tax to avail the grant-in-aid for a number of ongoing projects, but the MC had not tabled the issue in the General House meeting so far. The proposal of imposing house tax would also be discussed at the meeting.

The tax structure in the city reflects in the living standards. Chandigarh has a high per capita income, so it should be expected to pay a viable tax, said a resident of Sector 7.

Officials said the council would also finalise the decision about the construction of under passes, multi-level parking, mass rapid transport system and master plan of the city.

Sources said the authorities were thinking about preparing a report about the comparative study of a number of vehicles and the capacity of the roads of the city.

Officials said for the propagation of solar energy in the city, theauthorities would also table the solar city project to maximise the use of solar energy by the department concerned of the UT Administration. It would also earmark land for the setting up of infrastructure for solar plants.

SMOOTH SAILING

Participants make an effort to reach the finish line during the All-India Inter-University Yachting Championship organised by Punjabi University, Patiala, at the Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh on Tuesday. A total of 11 teams are participating in the meet. 

Sec 8 property dispute

SHO’s role under scanner

Chandigarh, February 6
The functioning of Chandigarh’s first-ever woman Station House Officer (SHO) Punam Dilawari came under the Punjab and Haryana High Court scanner today, with a notice being issued on a plea seeking initiation of action against her for her alleged unfair role in a Sector 8 property matter. A DSP-level officer will now look into the controversy; and the UT SSP too has been asked to step in.
Snapshots have been placed on court record, showing Dilawari standing near the gate of the Sector 8 house, while alleged attempts were being made to take over the possession of the property in violation of the High Court orders.
Taking up the matter, Justice Surya Kant of the High Court also directed that a police officer not below the Deputy Superintendent of Police rank “shall take over the inquiry into the complaint by the petitioner”, instead of the local SHO.
The directions, further hitting the somewhat already dented image of the Chandigarh Police, came on a petition filed by Manavjit Kaur and another. The directions came just over a month after the Chandigarh Police registered a case against Manavjit Kaur and two others at the Sector 3 police station on the allegations of manhandling Dilawari.
The dispute pertains to a portion of house number 506, Sector 8-B, Chandigarh. It’s sale is currently under challenge. Two of the respondents Satjit Kaur and Girish Pal Singh are co-owners of the property.
Referring to an order passed in December, 2011, Manavjit Kaur, in her plea, contended that the possession of the suit property was not to be delivered to anyone during the pendency of an application, which was directed to be decided within a month.
She added that it was apparent from the order that the co-owners were restrained from handing over the possession to any party. But on December 24 last year, Rajesh Kumar of Sector 44-B attempted to take the possession.
On January 31 at about 6.30 pm, he came on a scouting mission and on February 3 at about 1 pm, he along with his wife and eight-nine others, took forcible possession of the property.
“Punam Dilawari, the SHO was also present at the scene…. In the presence of the police, Rajesh Kumar, his family and goons brought their mattresses, table, chairs and furniture in the house and are in possession thereof.”
The same, she contended, could not have happened without the connivance of the co-owners as well as Dilawari and investigating officer Pardeep Kumar. “The mere presence of the police at the time of the incident is itself a testament of the true picture."
Before parting with the case, Justice Surya Kant also directed the UT SSP to personally visit the site and ensure the compliance of the previous order.

‘Fraud’ by Country Club

Chandigarh, February 5
High drama was witnessed at the Aroma hotel when some residents of Mohali alleged that they had been duped by a private company here. The residents alleged that the owner of Country Club had duped them after receiving a total of Rs 20,000 in 2000 from each person on the pretext of providing membership of the club. A total of 618 applied for the membership.

“In 2000, the manager of the company (Rajiv Reddy) came to Mohali and allotted us the slips of membership but later we found that it was a fraud,” said Harminder Singh.

Officials of the club said: “We do not know what happened 11 years ago. We have its franchisee and we are working for it,” said an official.

LIC Housing slapped Rs 20,000 fine

Failure to issue sale certificate to a Mohali resident

Chandigarh, February 5

District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has slapped a fine of Rs 20,000 on LIC Housing Finance Ltd. (opposite party no. 1) for its failure to issue the sale certificate to a Mohali resident.

The forum, comprising president PD Goel and members Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjit Kaur Sahota, has also directed the opposite parties to issue the sale certificate in favour of the complainant alone in respect of the properties and to further register the same in the office of the Sub-Registrar, Dera Bassi. The respondents have been directed to pay Rs 10,000 as litigation costs.
The complainant, Satish Kumar Saini, submitted that he, along with Jasbir Kaur, a resident of Sector 40-B, Chandigarh (opposite party no. 2), in response to the sale notice for the sale of six residential properties of opposite party no. 1 situated at Dera Bassi on June 19, 2007, showed their interest in purchasing the same on March 15, 2008. However, the opposite party no. 2 changed her mind and backed out of the aforesaid proposal. Consequently, the opposite party no. 1 entered into an agreement with him on April 15, 2008, and paid the entire consideration amount whereupon the opposite party no. 1 issued the “No Due Certificate” in his favour on March 31, 2009.
He alleged that the opposite party was supposed to issue and execute the sale certificate in his favour, which they failed to do, despite repeated requests. It was also averred that he had further executed an agreement to sell in favour of Ram Piari, a resident of Dera Bassi (opposite party no. 3), on February 7, 2011, and he could not execute the sale deed in favour of the opposite party no. 3 which was due on April 30, 2011.
The counsel for the opposite party no. 1 pleaded that the opposite party no.2 never backed-out from the proposal executed on March 15, 2008 and had written various letters showing her interest to get the sale deed registered in her name. She had paid Rs 8 lakh on April 29, 2008, out of the total consideration amount of Rs 12,75,770. It was alleged that the complainant had manipulated the original documents, as the opposite party had already issued the full and final payment certificate on April 18, 2009, jointly in the name of the complainant as well as the opposite party no 2. It is further clarified that the various sale certificates in the joint name of the complainant and the opposite party No. 2 were ready; but they did not turn up to receive them.
The opposite party no. 2 pleaded that there was no occasion for her to back out from the deal. She was the co-owner in the property to the extent of 2/3rd share, as she had paid a sum of Rs 8 lakh, out of the total sale consideration of Rs 12,75,770, whereas, the complainant had paid only an amount of Rs 4.55 lakh. It was asserted that the agreement to sell, dated 15.4.2008, and No Due Certificate dated 31.03.2009, are forged and fabricated documents.
The opposite party no. 3 initially appeared in person but subsequently did not turn up. Therefore she was proceeded against exparte vide order dated April 26, 2011. The forum said once the opposite party no. 1 had issued the No Due Certificate, then they were legally bound to execute/issue the sale certificate in favour of the complainant in respect to the properties. 

Aviva Life Insurance fined Rs 10,000

Chandigarh, February 5
The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum-I, in a recent order, has slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on Aviva Life Insurance Company for its failure to make payment to a Ropar resident, who was seeking money for the treatment of his kidney after surrendering the policy.

The forum, comprising president PD Goel and members Rajinder Singh Gill and Madanjit Kaur Sahota, observed that the complainant wrote to the insurance company that he had already submitted the request for the cancellation of the policy with complete documents. Therefore, there is no question to submit a fresh request for surrender of the policy. The forum also directed the insurance company to pay Rs 22,010 to the complainant as the value of the surrendered policy.

The complainant, Swarn Singh, submitted that he had took a policy from the insurance company with a premium of Rs 10,000 per year. According to the terms and conditions of the policy, he deposited three premiums of Rs 30,000. However, as he was diagnosed with kidney failure in the past year and for treatment, he approached the company for refund of the money after surrendering the policy along with a request form on March 2011. He further stated that he received an email from the company on May 4, 2011, stating that the request for surrender of the policy had been cancelled. He was also advised to submit a fresh request for the same. On May 7, 2011, he informed the company that as he had already submitted the request for cancellation of the policy with complete documents at its Chandigarh branch, so it is not possible for him to submit a fresh request. He further submitted that he was suffering from a kidney disease and a surgical operation was done on him on May 16, 2011, at the PGI, Chandigarh.

The counsel for the insurance company submitted that the complainant was requested to reapply for the cancellation of the policy through e-mails on May 4 and May 9 in 2011. Moreover, he did not make a fresh request and the policy was not cancelled. The company did not refuse to release the value of the surrendered policy. Hence, the policy was not cancelled and the complainant was duly intimated about it. He was assured that in case he wishes to cancel the policy, he should make a fresh request for cancellation but he did not do so. Hence, there has been no deficiency in service on the part of the insurance company.

BDS student attacked in hostel

Panchkula, January 5
A final-year student of the BDS College, Barwala, was injured after some unidentified youths attacked him with iron rods and sticks at his hostel room, late last night.According to information, the victim, who has been identified as Sahil Abrol, a native of Ludhiana, was sleeping in his room when some youths knocked at his room about 1.30 am. As Sahil opened the door, one of the youths allegedly pointed a pistol on his temple and others started beating him with rods. He received serious injuries on his head and legs.

Hearing the screams, the students sleeping in the other rooms of the hostel reached to his rescue but the assailants had fled from the spot taking the advantage of the darkness. The victim was taken to the Civil Hospital in the college ambulance where his condition was stated to be out of danger.

Sahil’s mother, Savita Devi, said her son had received serious injuries but no official of the college had reached the hospital to enquire about his health.

Residents’ no to linking car sale to parking space

Chandigarh, February 5
Representatives of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) are totally disagreed to the plans of the UT Administration of allowing the sale of car to only those who have parking space outside their houses. The representatives raised objections to the proposal discussed during a meeting of the Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh (FOSWAC) held today. The issue is a part of the agenda for controlling traffic congestion, which would be discussed by the Administrator’s Advisory Council at a meeting scheduled for February 9.

The chairman sought the members’ views on the points of the agenda mainly relating to traffic congestion to be taken up at the scheduled Administrator’s Advisory Council meeting.

Some members residing in CHB multi-storeyed flats expressed their reservation in linking the purchase of vehicles to the availability of parking space as no such parking space has been provided or earmarked by the CHB authorities, especially for those living in the upper floors.

Many members were of the view that the restriction on the purchase of vehicle in the city will encourage the purchase of vehicle from the adjoining towns of neighbouring states depriving the city of tax revenue.

Suggesting a way out, the members stressed the need of providing multi-level parkings in commercial areas and community parkings in residential areas to solve the problem of traffic congestion.

While discussing the other issues SS Bhardwaj of RWA- Sector 51 and JC Verma of RWA-Sector 40 C said the CHB authorities had created four zones for carrying out survey to list out the violations or need-based changes made by the occupants of these small houses all these years under the nose of the enforcement staff. They apprehended that after the survey, notices would be issued to the occupants and demolition may also follow. They suggested for holding a meeting with the Chairman of the CHB to sort out this issue.

The RWA members expressed their concern about the poor functioning of the Primary Schools and Health Centres transferred to the MCC by the administration some times back due to a shortage of teachers, doctors and insufficient infrastructure.