18092024-CT-01.qxd 9/17/2024 11:38 PM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune CHANDER MOHAN PROMISES MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES CONGRESS LEADERS SLAM AAP GOVT OVER LAW & ORDER DIRECTOR SIDHU READY WITH YET ANOTHER FILM Congress candidate visits villages of Barwala division as part of his election campaign. P2 Senior leader Balbir Singh Sidhu says law and order situation in Punjab has reached a critical point. P2 Young film director Anmol Sidhu now trains his camera on the lives of orchestra dancers. P4 » » TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 33°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.4°C | MIN 24.5°C SUNSET WEDNESDAY 6.24 PM SUNRISE THURSDAY 6:09 AM » WEDNESDAY | 18 SEPTEMBER 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Hire staff through Employment Exchange: Mayor Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service WHAT’S ON CHANDIGARH Launch of book ‘Echoes of Faith; Tales of Explorations, Nature and Divinity’:By Novel Lavasa and Ashok Lavasa, Government Museum and Art Gallery, Sector 10, September 20, 6 pm Shades of Life: An audio-visual presentation of paintings by Aradhana Tandon, Alliance Francaise, Sector 36-A, September 18, 5:30 pm Chandigarh, September 17 To ensure transparency and corruption-free recruitment of outsourced/contract employees, Mayor Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor has directed officials to hire staff through the Regional Employment Exchange here. The Mayor said through the employment exchange, the civic body would be able to hire employees as per the eli- APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 15, 40, 46 and 52 Mohali: Phase11 Panchkula: Sector 25 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF CASH, GOLD STOLEN IN SECTOR 42 Chandigarh: A bag containing Rs 1.55 lakh and gold jewellery worth several lakhs was stolen from Community Centre, Sector 42. The police have registered a case on a complaint filed by Krishan Raj at the Sector 36 station. TNS IMMIGRATION AGENT BOOKED FOR FRAUD Chandigarh: Two cases have been registered against an immigration consultant for cheating people on the pretext of sending them abroad. Baghel Singh of Malerkotla alleged that Jai Karan Joshi and other employees of Golden Overseas, Sector 22, duped him of Rs 95,000 regarding providing visa of Kuwait. Jaswinder Singh of Hoshiarpur alleged that he was cheated out of Rs 1.10 lakh on the pretext of providing work permit of Iraq. The police have registered separate cases at the Sector 17 station. TNS Stresses need for transparency in MC recruitment WILL END EXPLOITATION OF POOR WORKERS cannot we have a transparent have hire staff ❝Whythe Employment Exchange. Thissystem? Iwill beaskedtoofficials tothe exploitation through way we able prevent of poor workers who struggle to make ends meet. ❞ Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor, MAYOR Many employees had raised loans to pay bribes. Employees hired through outsourcing complain of being asked for additional annual charges from their salaries when a new contractor takes over. “Why cannot we have a transparent system? I have asked officials to hire staff through the employment exchange. This way we will be able to provide employment to local residents. We will also be able to prevent unnecessary exploitation of poor workers who struggle to make ends meet,” said Dhalor. The sources said there were bleak chances that the directions would be complied with by the officers concerned as previous such attempts had been futile. A Mayor has no administrative powers. Initially, staff used to be hired through the employment exchange. The exchange has a large number of job applications pending with it. This issue is also expected to be taken up in the MC House. According to officials, there are a total of 7,172 posts in the MC and all of these are shown to have been filled in the budget for this fiscal. Many regular posts are lying vacant, while recruitment of outsourced staff has exceeded the required strength. Both parents must be involved in upbringing of kids, rules High Court Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Kalaripayattu performance: By Vallabhatta Kalari Group, Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, 6 pm gible qualification. The existing practice of hiring staff, which, in may cases, is allegedly done through connections or by bribing contractors, could be put to an end by adopting this new model. According to sources, the recruitment nexus is so deep that aspirants allegedly have to shell out from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh for getting posts of driver, gardener, sanitation worker and others in the corporation. Chandigarh, September 17 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that both parents are required to remain actively involved in the upbringing of a minor child to avoid the onset of parental alienation syndrome (PAS). The court also made it clear that parental alienation—where a child is distanced from one parent due to psychological manipulation— can lead to long-term adverse effects on the child’s mental health and development. The assertion came as a Division Bench of the High Court quashed a family court’s order dismissing a mother’s plea for custody of her minor daughter and son. Referring to the need for bilateral parenting where both mother and father provide affection and care, the Bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma asserted that it was essential for the child’s holistic development. In its detailed judgment, the court asserted that separating a child from one parent, particularly over an extended period, could lead to alienation and a reluctance to engage with the alienated parent, fostering resentment that could severely impact the child’s personality and Quashes family court order dismissing mother’s plea for custody of kids future. The court also rejected the mechanical and perfunctory manner in which the family courts determined the child’s custody, based solely on the minor’s expressed desire to live with one parent. It admonished the family court concerned for failing to thoroughly assess whether the PAS had influenced the child’s preference to go with one parent. The family courts in custody disputes must refer the matters to professional counsellors and psychologists for a deeper evaluation of the child’s mental state. “It is imperative that in custody disputes, the family courts refer the matters to professional counsellors and psychologists for a deeper evaluation of the child’s mental state. An assessment must be conducted to ascertain if Parental Alienation Syndrome has affected the child, and such a report must be provided to the Family Court to assist in rendering a more informed and holistic decision,” said the Bench. Referring to the facts of the case in continued on page 2 Snatchers target 3 women Chandigarh, September 17 Three women were targeted by snatchers in the city. A resident of Sector 7 reported that a pedestrian snatched her gold chain near her house. She raised the alarm but the snatcher managed to escape. The police have registered a case at the Sector 26 station. A scooter-borne man sped away after snatching the purse of a woman near her house. The victim, a resident of Sector 40, reported that her purse contained Rs 6,000 cash and documents. In a similar snatching reported from Sector 38, a scooterist snatched a woman’s purse containing Rs 300 and a mobile phone. The police suspect the same snatcher was involved in both incidents. Separate cases have been registered at the Sector 39 police station. — TNS Youths block the Hallo Majra Chowk to protest police action against a violator during a Ganesh visarjan procession on Tuesday. TRIBUNE PHOTOS: RAVI KUMAR Devotees block road after traffic cop action High drama at Hallo Majra light point as police take away keys of violator’s bike Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 17 High drama was witnessed at the Hallo Majra light point when a religious procession heading towards Zirakpur was stopped by the police for traffic violations. CHALLANS TO BE ISSUED Eyewitnesses said the number plates of many bikes were covered with cloth. According to a police source, traffic violators will be issued challans based on CCTV footage. Several people, who were part of the “Ganesh visarjan” procession, were riding triple on motorcycles fitted with modified silencers. A number of devotees were hanging out of trucks. The procession was first stopped at Poultry Farm Chowk, where youths started arguing with police officers. It was again stopped by the Devotees enter into an argument with a cop; and (right) police personnel chase a traffic violator. police personnel stationed at the Hallo Majra light point. The youths argued with the traffic officers after one of them pulled the keys of a motorcycle for traffic violation. The youths blocked the road in protest, which led to snarl-ups. Sources said people, who were part of the procession, misbehaved with two police personnel. As more youths joined the protesters blocking the road, additional police personnel arrived at the spot and managed to control the situation. The police officers returned the motorcycle keys to the protesters, after which normal traffic at the chowk was restored. Eyewitnesses said the number plates of many bikes were covered with cloth. According to a police source, traffic violators will be issued challans based on CCTV footage. Class XII student on mission to empower trans-persons 2 arrested for duping Silky Bajaj REVIVING THEIR BUSINESS Tribune News Service Chandigarh, September 17 Moved by their plight, Class XII student of Vivek High School here has been working for the amelioration of the transgender community in the Tricity. The socio-economic stigma the community faces in everyday life was too much to bear for 18-year-old Ishnoor Singh, who launched SoulSpectrum — a student-led initiative — in April 2023. Ishnoor is so enthused by the work he’s done since then that he has launched the Delhi chapter of SoulSpectrum, in collaboration with likeminded youngsters. “It all began with the mindset of doing something for ■ Actor Ayushmann Khurrana had Volunteers of SoulSpectrum at a transgender temple in Sector 26; and (inset) Ishnoor Singh. the community. I did a lot of research before I decided to work for the community,” Ishnoor shared. “In the beginning, it was all about creating awareness about the problems they face, but as I picked up lessons along the way, the focus of SoulSpectrum moved to something more substantive — now the focus is on making them financially independent.” Beaming with pride with the success he has achieved in just over a year, Ishnoor said: “We helped transgender individuals from Chandigarh set c m y b donated the food van to Dhananjay Chauhan in 2021. However, problems arose when the authorities did not grant the required permissions to Dhananjay to set a food business. For two years, Dhananjay was unable to set up his business. Finally, lady luck smiled on Dhananjay in 2023. ■ SoulSpectrum left no stone unturned and helped Dhananjay set up business and break stereotypes within 3 months. up a food truck business in Zirakpur — probably the firstever such business run by transgenders in the region. We helped this group, led by Dhananjay Chauhan, with various aspects of the business. We did a location survey, and helped with business and strategic planning. Finally, we helped identify the location for the business, taking into account factors like potential patrons in the area.” Ishnoor and his band helped Chauhan obtain official permissions required to set up the business, while volunteers chipped in donations for the vehicle rent. This business now serves as a source income for almost 15 transgenders. SoulSpectrum has helped another trans individual, Mona, revive tea stall business. When Mona ran out of continued on page 2 elderly man of ~4.8L Chandigarh, September 17 Two cyber fraudsters, who had duped an octogenarian of Rs 4.80 lakh, have been arrested by the Cyber Crime Investigation Cell (CCIC) nearly two years after the crime. The accused, identified as Ravi Kumar and Baljogeshvar, alias Zimmy, are residents of Patna. The 84-year-old victim, a resident of Sector 37, had received a call from a man, named Cheema, from Canada who claimed he was one of the relative of the elderly person. The fraudster told the victim that he had been MODUS OPERANDI The accused used various means such as impersonation and emotional manipulation to make their victims transfer large sums. Both accused Ravi Kumar and Baljogeshvar had access to multiple bank accounts. arrested following an argument with Canadian nationals at a restaurant and needed money to engage a lawyer to get bail. The elderly man fell into the trap and transferred Rs 4.80 lakh in two transactions in separate bank continued on page 2