13092023-CT-01.qxd 9/13/2023 12:57 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune 1,500 CLASS XI SEATS STILL VACANT IN GOVT SCHOOLS CSIR SCIENTIST’S WORK FOCUSES ON TB DIAGNOSIS PEDDLER ARRESTED WITH 20 KG OF GANJA, PISTOL Over 1,500 seats in Class XI are still vacant in govt schools even as the first-term exams are underway. P3 CSIR's Dr Ashwani Kumar has been awarded with the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for 2022. P3 UT police have nabbed a drug peddler and seized 20 kg of ganja & an illegal pistol from his possession. P3 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 80 PANCHKULA 90 MOHALI 78 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD GMCH docs to continue stir till given written assurance Jr Resident Docs' strike disrupts OPD services, patients harried The stipend Tribune News Service INBRIEF EMPLOYEE JUMPS FROM LIC BUILDING Chandigarh: An LIC employee reportedly killed himself by jumping from the LIC building in Sector 17, on Tuesday. The victim has been identified as Rajesh Singh (52), a resident of Sector 15. A police team reached the spot and started investigation. The police have ruled out any foul play. TNS MAN ATTACKED AT SECTOR 25 Chandigarh: A man was attacked at Sector 25 by a group. Sanjeev, a resident of the same sector, alleged Sonu, Jatin and others attacked his brother, Guddu. He suffered injuries and was admitted to the PGI. The police have registered a case at the Sector 11 police station and started investigation. TNS issue explained Chandigarh, September 12 The Chandigarh Administration today faced a healthcare crisis as around 100 Junior Resident (JRs) doctors, who assist senior consultants, of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, went on strike, affecting non-emergency and outpatient department (OPD) services. The strike, which comes after a week of discussions between the Resident Doctors and the Administration, revolves around the residents’ demand for a central residency scheme and stipend enhancement. While the administration today urged the doctors to call off the strike, the association has decided to go ahead with strike until it gets a written assurance. Patients were left in the lurch as they had to wait for longer periods in OPDs and emergency wards. Ashok Kumar, a patient who had come to the Medicine OPD said, “I have been waiting for continued on page 2 Chandigarh: The residents have been demanding implementation of the central residency scheme to enhance their stipend. At present, these Junior Resident doctors receive 50% of the remuneration provided to their counterparts at the PGI. They get a stipend of Rs 60,000, whereas their counterparts in the Central Government receive Rs 1 lakh. The central residency scheme outlines aspects such as the duration of residency, working hours, duties and, notably, the remuneration for Junior Residents, including postgraduate Junior Residents and Senior Residents. In contrast to the GMCH-32, all medical colleges under the Centre and UTs have fully adopted the central residency scheme. The scheme has been in effect at the GMCH-32 since 1997. However, in 2012, the remuneration for postgraduate Junior Residents at the GMCH-32 was adjusted to align with the pattern followed by the Punjab Government. Junior Resident Doctors raise slogans at the GMCH-32 in Chandigarh on Tuesday. NITIN MITTAL 2,600 PATIENTS TURN UP FOR CONSULTATION ■ Patients had to wait for longer periods at OPDs and emergency wards. ■ 2,600 patients turned up at GMCH OPDs, which is slightly higher than the routine footfall. ■ All surgeries routinely performed by the doctors. ■ Emergency cases referred to the GMSH-16 and the PGIMER as per the requirement. The accused was arrested by UT police from West Bengal. Goldsmith who stole 400 gm of gold nabbed Tribune News Service Snatchers target 2 in city Chandigarh, September 12 Two snatching incidents were reported in the city, exposing the tall claims of the police about intensive patrolling. In the first incident, 22-year-old Nitish, hailing from Delhi, reported that three persons on a scooter snatched Rs 200 and mobile phone from him at knifepoint. The incident occurred near the Sector 19/20/27/30 intersection. The police were informed about the incident, following which a team visited the spot. Chandigarh, September 12 A 35-year-old goldsmith, who had escaped with 400-gram gold worth about Rs 22 lakh, has been arrested by the UT police and the entire gold recovered from him. The accused, identified as Sanjeet Mandal, was nabbed from West Bengal by a team, led by Inspector Neeraj Sarna, Mani Majra SHO. During interrogation, it came to light that the accused had suffered a loss of about Rs 11 lakh while trading in The other incident was reported around 4 am at Sector 17. Harish, also from Delhi, was targeted by three masked persons on motorcycles, who snatched Rs 2,000 from him. The police have started investigation into the mater. Frequent incidents of snatching have instilled fear among residents. “It seems snatchers have become increasingly audacious. They are striking during the early hours without any apparent fear of the police,” said Vishal, a resident of Sector 38.— TNS Forex and stock market. Earlier, he had lost about Rs 8.50 lakh in gambling. “The accused wanted to recover from the losses and pay his debts, for which he decided to steal the gold,” said a police official. Manish Bansal, who owns a jewellery store in Mani Majra, had reported that he had given 168 grams of gold to the accused for making ornaments. On September 6, when the complainant went to get the jewellery, he found that the accused had fled. continued on page 2 Chandigarh, September 12 A 28-year-old man was held while illegally carrying his friend’s pistol. The police said the suspect, named Rakhil Sharma (28), a resident of Pathankot, was arrested near a night club at Sector 26 with a pistol and live cartridges. A case under the Arms Act has been registered against him at the Sector 26 police station. During investigation, it was found that the weapon belonged to one of his friends from Pathankot and he had a licence too. The suspect took the pistol from a hotel room at Balongi, Mohali, where he and his friend were staying. —TNS Patients face inconvenience due to strike. A TRIBUNE PHOTO SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:06 AM FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Chain snatched in broad daylight Woman hurt as snatcher kicks her Tribune News Service Mohali, September 12 In a daylight snatching, a 60year-old woman was kicked and her gold chain snatched by a motorcycle-borne person at Sector 68, Mohali, today. The victim, Renu Sharma, was going to the market near her house around 11 am. While she was talking over the phone, a biker came from behind and snatched her gold chain. The biker also kicked her while fleeing the scene. “The biker snatched my chain, pushed me and even kicked me in the back,” she said. The victim struggled for a few minutes to get up and then raised the alarm. However, the snatcher sped away. The victim has sustained injuries in her knee, hand and back. The victim said there was an apparent lack of safety even during the daytime in the city with scarce police presence in sectors. She said snatchers were so audacious that they had no fear of getting caught while perpetrating crimes in broad daylight. “The incident has instilled fear in me as we are not safe even in a crowded VICTIM RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS The incident has instilled fear in me as we are not safe even in a crowded market. ❝ ❞ Renu Sharma market,” she added. The police were informed about the incident. A team reached the spot and started investigation. They scrutinised the footage of CCTV cameras installed in the vicinity. CTU revenue surges 55.5% in 2022-23 Up from ~57.07 crore in 2021-22 to ~90.94 crore on long routes Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 12 The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) has achieved a financial milestone with its revenue soaring by 55.5% during the fiscal year 2022-23 compared to the previous year. The surge in revenue can be attributed to a series of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing transportation services in the region. Pradhuman Singh, Director of UT Transport, said the CTU implemented several key measures, including the introduction of buses on long routes and the revival of old routes, leading to an unprecedented increase in income. A long-route AC bus of CTU at ISBT, Sector 17. PRADEEP TEWARI SEVERAL OLD ROUTES REVIVED Pradhuman Singh, Director of UT Transport, said the CTU implemented several key measures, including the introduction of buses on long routes and the revival of old routes, leading to an unprecedented increase in income. The audit team praised the CTU’s efforts in expanding services and serving the public better. Long route expansion The suspect in custody of the Chandigarh police. MAX 32°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.0°C | MIN 27.0°C In 2022-23, the CTU witnessed a substantial revenue of Rs 90.94 crore, up from Rs 57.07 crore in 202122 on long routes. Simultaneously, the distance covered by the CTU buses on these routes surged from 1.43 crore km to 1.83 crore km, showcasing a significant expansion in services. Sub-urban growth Sub-urban routes also con- tributed significantly to the CTU’s success as the revenue witnessed a growth of 26.7% from Rs 7.55 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 9.57 crore in 2022-23. The distance travelled on these routes increased from 27.58 lakh km to 28.95 lakh km. Pradhuman expressed his satisfaction with the department’s performance, highlighting that the CTU had surpassed the revenue generation target set by the Finance Department. He added that the Audit Team from AG (Audit) UT praised the CTU’s efforts in expanding services and serving the public better, terming it a notable achievement. On substantial rise in revenue, Pradhuman said a team of the AG (Audit), UT, had just concluded the audit of the CTU. “During scrutiny of the operational and revenue record of the CTU, the audit team appreciated and acknowledged the performance of the CTU in its audit note on record and marked it as an achievement and also put this on record under the ‘Best Practices’ head,” he said. continued on page 2 Record reasons before acting in cheating cases: HC Five-day rain forecast Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service ~200, mobile phone snatched at knifepoint Finance Secretary and Health Secretary, and discussions with the Director of Health. ■ The Director Principal, GMCH-32, on Tuesday incorporated revisions with regard to stipend suggested by the Finance Department into the proposal and submitted it to the department. Man arrested with pistol FRAUD: WOMAN LOSES ~1.23 LAKH Chandigarh: A woman has been duped of Rs 1.23 lakh by a fraudster. The complainant reported that she was cheated on the pretext of delivering a parcel. A case has been registered at the cybercrime police station and investigation started. TNS ■ Meetings held between the GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6:31 PM » WEDNESDAY | 13 SEPTEMBER 2023 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST Chandigarh, September 12 In a significant judgment liable to change the way students are proceeded against on the allegations of adopting unfair means of cheating during examinations, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that the reason behind the action was not only required to be spelled out but also communicated to the candidate by the educational institution concerned. The ruling by Justice Vikas Bahl of came on a petition filed by a student against Panjab University, challenging its decision of disqualifying him from appearing for any university examination for two years, including the one he WHAT COURT OBSERVED This Court is aware that the respondent-university at the time of considering the case of a candidate with respect to unfair means is not required to give any elaborate reasons for passing the order of punishment to the candidate, but is at least required to briefly state the facts of the case and the . –– Justice Vikas Bahl ❝ ❞ was found guilty in. Also challenged was a communication/order dated June 9, vide which he was informed that his appeal/request had been rejected in the matter. Among other things, senior advocate Gurminder Singh with counsel RPS Bara contended that the petitioner found some written notes lying on the table when he reached his sitting place. He was about to throw the same outside the room, when the supervisory staff caught the petitioner. Justice Bahl asserted the court was aware that the respondent-university at the time of considering a candidate’s case regarding use of unfair means was not required to give elaborate reasons for passing the punishment order. “But it is at least required c m y b to briefly state the facts of the case and the reasons more so, when the matter has been referred by the Vice-Chancellor to a committee for reconsideration and communicate the same to the candidate so as to indicate that the committee has applied its mind to the grounds raised by the candidate,” Justice Bahl asserted. Referring to the facts of the case in hand, Justice Bahl observed the impugned order dated June 9 was the only communication addressed to the student after the ViceChancellor placed the matter before the committee for reconsideration. Its perusal showed that none of the grounds/pleas raised by the petitioner in his appeal/representation was considered by the respondent authorities. A regulation of the Panjab University Calendar, under which he was found guilty, was invoked without any observation that the petitioner was found to be in “mala fide possession” of material relevant for the examination subject. Justice Bahl also took note of another regulation on debarring the student from passing in a particular paper, as a disciplinary measure, if he was found to be in possession of books/notes which could be of assistance, but were with him due to inadvertence. It was also observed which of the two regulations would apply to the present case had continued on page 2 Chandigarh, September 12 The local Meteorological Department has issued a rain forecast for five days. According to the department, weather is expected to be generally cloudy with rain/thundershowers from September 13 to 17 over the city. The maximum temperature is likely to fall by two or three degrees. The city today recorded 35°C of maximum temperature, which is two degrees above normal. The minimum temperature was 27°C, which is also two notches above normal. The city today witnessed drizzle in some areas. So far, the city has seen 36 per cent more rain than normal in the ongoing monsoon season. More rain is expected this month till September 30 when the monsoon season officially ends. It may break the past years’ record. From June 1 to till now, a total of 1099.1mm rainfall has been recorded by the department. Commenting on the weather systems, officials said, “The Monsoon trough at the mean sea level continues to pass through Jaisalmer, Shivpuri, Ranchi, Digha and southeast to the east central Bay of Bengal.” — TNS