22102024-CT-01.qxd 10/22/2024 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune 70% DROP IN DENGUE CASES THIS YEAR: PUNJAB MINISTER TRIBUTES PAID TO POLICE MARTYRS, KIN HONOURED GOVT: FIR WITHIN 6 HOURS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST DOCTORS Health Minister Balbir Singh has said a 70% dip in dengue cases has been noticed this year. P2 Officials have honoured families of 17 police martyrs on National Police Commemoration Day. P2 To ensure the safety of doctors, the Centre has issued a circular for filing of FIR within 6 hours of incident. P3 » » MOHALI SARAS Mela: 600 artisans from various states to exhibit their skills, Sector 88, behind Manav Mangal Smart School, on till October 27 APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, and Dhanas Mohali: Sector 71 Panchkula: Sector 15 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com INBRIEF CHAIN SNATCHED IN SECTOR 45 Chandigarh: Two motorcycleborne miscreants snatched a gold chain from a woman. The complainant reported that the suspects targeted her in the residential area of Sector 45-A. A case was registered at Sector 34 police station. TNS MAN HELD FOR SNATCHING PURSE Chandigarh:The police have arrested a man in a case of snatching. The complainant reported that her purse containing ~3,000, a mobile phone and some documents was snatched by a motorcycle-borne miscreant in Sector 40 on Sunday. A case against was registered at Sector 39 police station. During the investigation, Parampreet Singh (33) of Moga was arrested. TNS Chandigarh: Two incidents of stabbing were reported in Ram Darbar. In the first case, Harsh alleged Vassu, Tushal, alias Pingu, Sahil and others stabbed Vansh. The victim was rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32. In another incident, Shail was allegedly stabbed by Vanshu and Vikram. He was admitted to the PGI. Two separate FIRs were lodged. TNS Scuffle at Dhakoli CHC, two women docs threatened Zirakpur, October 21 Two women medical officers were allegedly threatened and public property was damaged in a clash between two groups at the Community Health Centre in Dhakoli late last night. In her complaint, Dr Mausam Kapil, MD (Surgery), said the incident took place when following a fight, two groups came to the centre for a medico legal continued on page 3 TWITTER/THETRIBUNECHD Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 21 In a development which is likely to benefit research scholars, Panjab University is all set to digitalise the process of PhD thesis evaluation and has introduced an in-house software for the same. The move will benefit the students who have to submit around four to seven hard copies of the thesis and will also keep a check on examiners, as they will have to evaluate the thesis within a stipulat- FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Ready with chargesheet, UT police hand over case files to agency Amit Sharma Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 21 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the Sector 10 grenade attack from the Chandigarh Police. The transfer followed a communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in response to a request by the NIA. An official confirmed, “The NIA had requested the MHA to transfer the case to it. The latter then informed the Chandigarh Police. The case files and evidence have been handed over to the NIA.” Notably, the police were ready with the chargesheet and were planning to submit it in the court this month itself. They were also considering discharging the auto driver as his involvement in the case could not be proved. “We have conveyed this to the NIA, which will take the probe further,” said an official source. The incident took place on September 11, when two attackers travelling in an auto-rickshaw hurled a hand grenade at a house in Sector 10. Though no injuries were Cops and forensic experts examine the blast site in Sector 10. FILE NO CASUALTY, BLAST CAUSED LITTLE DAMAGE On September 11, two persons travelling in an auto-rickshaw hurled a hand grenade at a house in Sector 10. No injuries were reported, but the explosion shattered the window panes of the house SUSPECTS WITH PAK LINKS IN POLICE NET ■ A CCTV footage captured visuals ■ Their quizzing revealed attack of the explosion and the autorickshaw; its driver Kuldeep held ■ Days later, key suspects Rohan Masih and Vishal were nabbed by the Punjab Police was planned by Pak-based terrorist Rinda and US-based gangster Happy Passia ■ Rohan of Passia village in Amritsar was hired to carry out the attack reported, the explosion shattered the window panes of the house. A CCTV camera captured visuals of the explosion and the auto-rickshaw, which led the police to track the vehicle. Its driver Kuldeep was apprehended within hours of the incident. A team of the NIA had also visited the blast site on the day of the incident. The same day, a case under Sections 109 , 351 (2), 33, 61 of the BNS, Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, and NHAI mulls 4-lane road to cut travel time from Baddi to PGI Dushyant Singh Pundir Chandigarh, October 21 To reduce travel time for Himachal Pradesh residents coming to the PGIMER, the National Highways Authority India (NHAI) is all set to construct a four-lane road from Majri Chowk in Mullanpur to Baddi via Siswan. The 18-km stretch is a part of the ring road to be constructed around Chandigarh. Presently, motorists have to manoeuver through a single road from Baddi to New Chandigarh to reach the PGIMER. An official said the project was awaiting forest clearance from the Punjab Government. According to the minutes of a meeting of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) held recently under the chairmanship of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, the project director of the NHAI gave a detailed presentation regarding the development of the ring road around the tricity area. The NHAI highlighted that the rapid development of Mohali, Zirakpur and Panchkula around Chandi- 18-km stretch part of ring road coming up in city’s suburbs AWAITS GREEN NOD FROM PUNJAB GOVT ■ The NHAI has planned a four- lane road from Majri Chowk in Mullanpur to Baddi via Siswan ■ The 18-km stretch will be a part of the ring road to be constructed around the tricity ■ While related projects are on course, the said stretch is awaiting forest clearance from Punjab garh had significantly increased traffic in the area. Further, Derabassi, Kharar, Morinda, New Chandigarh and Pinjore towns had also developed as suburbs. To decongest the traffic, the NHAI has prepared a plan for the development of the ring road around Chandigarh-tricity area. He said six projects were under the execution stage, while the DPR of one project was being prepared. It was informed that part of the ring road around Chandigarhtricity connecting Baddi in Himachal to New Chandigarh (Punjab) through Siswan was pending due to issues regard- ing forest clearance. He requested that these issues be resolved at the earliest so that the work on this stretch could be started. Meanwhile, the Zirakpur bypass project is back on the track after nearly 11 years. The NHAI will construct a six-lane 200-ft bypass to ease traffic congestion in Zirakpur. The project will provide an alternative route to commuters going to Shimla from Ambala side. The NHAI stated that a plan had been prepared to construct a bypass connecting Zirakpur and Panchkula. The route would provide a direct link to traffic heading to HP thus reducing conges, tion in the tricity area. Moreover, it is strategically important as it will offer a signal-free connectivity from the Chandimandir Western Command Headquarters to the Chandigarh airport. The proposed bypass will be nearly 16.5-km long, starting from Patiala-Zirakpur light point and ending at old Panchkula light point. An official said the project would remove traffic bottlenecks from several places in Zirakpur and Chandigarh. Sections 13 and 16 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act was registered at the Sector 3 police station. Days later, the main suspects — Rohan Masih and Vishal — were apprehended by the Punjab Police. An interrogation of the accused revealed that the attack was orchestrated by ISI-backed and Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh, alias Rinda, of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), and US-based gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia. Rohan, a resident of Passia village in Amritsar, was hired by Passia to carry out the attack. As per the police, the attack was aimed at retired Punjab Police officer Jaskirat Singh Chahal, who had previously stayed at the house. Sources said the attack was planned as a revenge for a 1986 incident in Nakodar, where four youths were killed in a police firing. Chahal was the SHO as that time. The victims were protesting a sacrilege incident. Chahal had vacated the house after a previous attack, linked to Rinda’s terror network, was thwarted. Chandigarh, October 21 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed more than 1,100 FIRs registered under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Epidemic Diseases Act and the Disaster Management Act for violating prohibitory orders issued by the authorities during the Covid pandemic across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. A Division Bench of the high court observed that the cases were initiated by the police, rather than authorised public servants, making these legally untenable. The court was of the opinion that legal proceedings could not be pursued in such instances, as they violated statutory provisions. “The Covid pandemic posed an enormous challenge to the mankind. It was an extraordinary and unprecedented situation. The law enforcement and other agencies, including those maintaining essential services, were overstretched and the general public at large was also facing great hardships as it was a compelling situation. It is apparent that there were instances where people had to venture out of their houses in search GOING PAPERLESS IN REGION, ONLY JNU HAS THIS FACILITY At present, PhD students submit around four to seven hard copies of their thesis. This practice will soon be done away with. After online submission, examiners will have to evaluate thesis within a stipulated time ■ Among the universities in the region, Jawaharlal Nehru University has ed time, failing which the software will de-assign the thesis and assign it to another examiner. This will be done not just for the scholars on the university campus, but for everyone enrolled with the PU. As of now, the scholars have software for evaluation of PhD thesis ■ Delhi University provides online submission option through e-mail, but doesn’t have dedicated mechanism ■ Similar is the case with other institutions, including Punjabi University, Chitkara University and Chandigarh University. to submit over four copies of the thesis, which costs them quite a lot. Under the new system, the copies will be uploaded online and the examiner will be receiving a mail to either accept or reject the task. Once the examiner accepts the checking task, he/she will have to evaluate the thesis and convey his opinion within a stipulated period of time. “It will be a boon for the scholars. The unnecessary expenditure on printing the copies and the c m y b CASES CLOGGING JUDICIAL SYSTEM A large number of such cases are clogging the judicial system, which is already under strain due to a huge backlog. It would be expedient and in the interest of the justice if these cases, registered under Section 188 of the IPC by the police and not by the authorised officer, are quashed by this court. — HC Bench ❝ ❞ of food, medicines or due to other emergent situations and in process, they violated the prohibitory orders issued by the authorities,” the Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Lapita Banerji said. The court added it being a constitutional court was required to impart complete justice. Section 482 of the CrPC empowered it to exercise its jurisdiction to prevent the “abuse of the process of law to secure the ends of justice”. Similar powers could be exercised under Article 226 of the Constitution, wherein the high court’s jurisdiction as a constitutional court was wider. Referring to the legal provisions, the Bench observed Section 188 of the IPC dealt with disobedience to orders duly promulgated by public servants. Section 195(1)(a) of the CrPC, at the same time, made it clear that the courts would not take cognisance of a complaint under Section 188 unless it was initiated in writing by a public servant authorised to do so. “In the event, the complaint is not continued on page 3 Festive vibe With Diwali round the corner, shoppers at a decked up market in Sector 15, Chandigarh, on Monday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Farm fire FIR in P’kula Amid fiscal crunch, as air quality declines Mayor calls special Panchkula, October 21 A farmer of Kanauli village in the Chandimandir area was fined and an FIR was registered against him for burning paddy stubble. He has been booked under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Section 223 (a) and 280 of the BNS. The development assumes importance in the backdrop of deteriorating AQI in the tricity area. The police said a monitoring team for a crackdown on farm fires was formed at the village level. The team, after receiving an active fire location, found that a farmer, Mam Raj, had burnt paddy residue. The farmer was fined Rs 2,500 and an FIR was lodged against him by the Chandimandir police. —TNS PhD thesis evaluation to go digital at PU, scholars rejoice Akashdeep Virk SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 6.29 AM Month after Sec 10 grenade HC quashes 1,100 FIRs filed for violation of Covid norms attack, NIA takes over probe Tribune News Service TWO STABBED IN RAM DARBAR MAX 32°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 32.8°C | MIN 18.7°C FILE PHOTO WHAT’S ON MAINLY CLEAR SKY SUNSET TUESDAY 5:45 PM » TUESDAY | 22 OCTOBER 2024 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST delays on the examiner’s end will be done away with,” said a research scholar. Since the transition to the digital mode is a sudden change, the examiners may find it hard to switch and demand the hard copy, considering which the authorities have kept a provision of maximum of two hard copies for now. “We will be discouraging the need for a hard copy. Eventually, we plan to go paperless and hope to discontinue the provision of two hard copies as well,” said an official. Earlier, a committee was formed to consider the demand for the digital evaluation of PhD thesis. The committee recently finalised an early November date after which the scholars will be asked to get the thesis copy uploaded on the software. “The software was developed earlier. It was facing some glitches which have been cleared now. We are awaiting a final nod from the vicechancellor regarding the launch date,” said an official, who is part of the committee. House meet today Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 21 Mayor Kuldeep Kumar called a special meeting of Municipal Corporation (MC) on Tuesday to discuss the financial problems being faced by the civic body. During the last MC House meeting held on September 26, BJP councillors had raised the issue of stalled developmental works in the city. One of them, Maheshinder Singh Sidhu had stated that the MC was about to face a deficit of Rs 125 crore this fiscal. The BJP councillors had asked the Mayor to hold a special all-party meeting to find a way out. Meanwhile, UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria also called a meeting on October 24 to discuss allocation for budget to the MC. Facing severe shortage of funds, the MC hasn’t been able to float tenders for development works since May. MC COMMISSIONER TAKES CHARGE Punjab-cadre 2008-batch IAS officer Amit Kumar on Monday assumed charge of the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, nearly two months after Anindita Mitra was relieved of the charge. He will attend the special House meeting on Tuesday. The Mayor has been requesting the Administration to release a special grantin-aid of Rs 200 crore. He has also been demanding an additional grant as the expenditure of the MC has gone up by 121 per cent against a corresponding increase in grantin-aid to the tune of 70 per cent in the past 10 years. Further, no revenue generating departments have been transferred to the civic body. With the implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the wages of the contractual and daily wage staff have also increased.