17012023-TTC-01.qxd 1/17/2023 RAFAEL NADAL SURVIVES A SCARE AT AUS OPEN SPORT /thetribunechd 12:30 AM Page 1 13 IN KARNATAKA, CONG PROMISES ~2,000 TO WOMEN BACK PAGE CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 7 NO. 17 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2021-2023 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 tuesday | 17 january 2023 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com Want govt nominee on committee for shortlisting judges: Law Minister to CJI PU Vice Chancellor quits amid graft allegations Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 16 Panjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar has tendered his resignation, the development coming about two months after he was accused of corruption and malpractices. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who is the university chancellor, accepted Kumar’s resignation on January 13, said officials. He has appointed Renu Vig, PU’s Dean of University Instructions (DUI), as the VC till further orders. When contacted on phone, Kumar said the “PR (Public Relations) Department would speak on the COLLEGIUM TO TAKE FINAL DECISION PM Narendra Modi leads a roadshow in New Delhi. MUKESH AGGARWAL Adopt Guj model to win all 9 Assembly polls: Nadda Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 16 The BJP national executive on Monday began brainstorming for the upcoming elections with party president Jagat Prakash Nadda asking leaders and cadres to gird their loins to win each of the nine Assembly elections in 2023. He cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “tireless pursuits” and the party’s recent Gujarat win as sure-shot recipes for victory. “Buck up to win each of the nine state elections this year as a prelude to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections; 2023 is an BJP NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEET VEER BAL DIWAS PART OF POLITICAL RESOLUTION important year for the party, we must not lose any poll,” Nadda said in his inaugural address at the two-day meeting which will pass resolutions on three subjects — political, financial and India’s G-20 presidency. Addressing delegates with PM Narendra Modi, top Union Ministers, CMs and Deputy CMs of the BJP-ruled states in attendance here, Nadda said continued on page 10 RIJIJU JUSTIFIES LETTER TO CJI ❝ The contents of the letter to the CJI are in conformity with the directions of the SC Constitution Bench…. The Constitution is supreme, nobody is above it. Kiren Rijiju, LAW MINISTER New Delhi, January 16 More than seven years after a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court asked the Centre to finalise Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) in consultation with the Chief Justice of India through incorporation of additional appropriate measures to streamline the working of the Collegium system, the issue continues to hang fire. Now, the Centre has proposed the setting up of a “search-cum-evaluation committee” to streamline the functioning of the Collegium ■ Sources said the Law Minister has sought the RICHEST 1% OWN 40% OF INDIA’S WEALTH: OXFAM MC chief’s husband chairs meeting as ‘proxy’ The richest 1 per cent in India now own over 40 per cent of the country’s total wealth, while the bottom half of the population together shares just 3 per cent of wealth, an Oxfam study showed on Monday. BACK PAGE Deepender Deswal EDIT: WORSENING INEQUALITY setting up of a “search and evaluation committee” with representation from the Central and state governments in the selection of judges for the SC and the HCs, respectively. ■ The panel will suggest names to the Collegium, which will take the final decision POISON PILL FOR JUDICIARY: CONG The Collegium needs reform. But what this government wants is complete subservience. Its remedy is a poison pill for the judiciary. Jairam Ramesh system, sources said, adding that the panel will shortlist and suggest names for appointment of judges to the Collegium, which will take Tribune News Service Bhiwani, January 16 Amid widespread criticism of ‘sarpanch pati’, a practice where effective political power and decision-making authority is wielded by husbands of elected panchayat the final decision. Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has written to CJI DY Chandrachud suggesting inclusion of a government nominee in the panel women representatives, a case of a ‘chairperson pati’ has come to light in Bhiwani. While Preeti Tanwar is the chairperson of the Bhiwani Municipal Council, her husband Bhawani Pratap Singh has allegedly been exercising undue influence on the that will provide proper inputs on “suitable candidates” to the Collegium, they said. Such a panel will continued on page 10 work of his spouse. Bhawani, who is also a member of the civic body from ward number 7, is learnt to have chaired a meeting of the council today, acting as his wife’s “proxy”. Sources said the meeting was called by continued on page 10 Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service COURTING CONTROVERSY ■ Accused of ignoring seniority for promotions; ‘role’ in multitasking workers’ recruitment scam and JE bribery scandal ■ Prof Raj Kumar was appointed PU VC on July 23, 2018 ■ Was given a three-year extension in 2021 and his tenure was to end on July 23, 2024 issue”. An official statement that was released later said Kumar had resigned due to continued on page 10 IN BRIEF SC declines to hear PIL on Joshimath crisis NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a PIL seeking its intervention to declare the imminent subsidence of Joshimath in Uttarakhand as a ‘national disaster’. INSIDE ‘Severe cold’, further dip in min temperature NEW DELHI: Punjab, Haryana and Delhi will continue to reel under ‘severe cold wave’ conditions for the next 48 hours with a further dip in minimum temperature by 2°C, the IMD has warned. INSIDE