09032026-JTR-01.qxd 3/8/2026 11:01 PM Page 1 c m y b Jalandhar tribune ALLOCATION FOR EDU SECTOR INADEQUATE: TEACHERS’ UNION The allocation of Rs 19,279 crore for the edu sector in the Budget has drawn criticism from the teachers’ union. P2 » STOP ARMS SMUGGLING & MONITOR CITY BORDERS CELEBS ATTEND PRE-WEDDING EVENT OF KOMAL NAHTA'S SON Ensure public cooperation with authorities and conduct thorough review of crime-curbing strategies. P3 The pre-wedding event of film trade analyst Komal Nahta’s son turned into a star-studded evening in Mumbai. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 30°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 30°C | MIN 18°C SUNSET MONDAY 6.31 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 6:44 AM MONDAY | 9 MARCH 2026 | JALANDHAR Arms supply module busted Bricks, bouquets for govt over ~1,000 allowance for women on their day in Kapurthala, 5 pistols seized Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 8 On International Women’s Day, the state government’s move to fulfil its electoral promise of an allowance of Rs 1,000 for women has drawn mixed response from residents. While women have welcomed it, the exclusion of taxpayers and government employees from the allowance has disappointed women workers. The Rs 1,000 allowance to the women was one of the key electoral poll promises of AAP . Reminders of the promise had been repeatedly raised by the Opposition after AAP formed the government. As per the declarations made during the Budget today, 97 per cent of all women will be eligible for this scheme Mukh Mantri Mawan Dhian Satikar Yojana - and Rs 9,300 crore has been earmarked for the scheme in the Budget. Under the scheme, Rs 1,000 per month will be given to all Juvenile among two arrested |Were acting on directions of foreign handlers | Weapons bought from MP-based person Phagwara, March 8 The Kapurthala police have busted an arms supply module with the arrest of two persons, including one juvenile, and recovered five countrymade 7.65mm pistols from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday. The accused have been identified as Ajay Kumar, a resident of village Mehrajwala in Jalandhar, and 17years-old juvenile. DGP Gaurav Yadav said preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested persons were acting on the directions of foreign-based handlers, residing in the Philippines and the UAE. The DGP said the accused SSP Gaurav Toora adresses a press conference in Kapurthala. had procured illegal weapons from Madhya Pradesh and were supplying these to criminals. The recovered weapons were intended to be used for firing and extortion activities in the region, he said. The Senior Superinten- Minor girl’s objectionable video goes viral in Phillaur Ambulance to get police pilot: PSHRC Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, March 8 Member of the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) and Padma Shri awardee Jatinder Singh Shunty said ensuring timely medical assistance to critically ill patients is an essential aspect of protecting human rights. The commission has issued an advisory under which ambulances carrying critical patients after a call on 112 will be provided a police pilot to help them move quickly through traffic and reach hospitals without delay. Shunty was addressing officials and representatives of social organisations during an open public hearing and awareness meeting on human rights held at the District Administrative Complex in Hoshiarpur on Sunday. Upon his arrival, he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour by the Punjab Police. He stated that the objective of the commission is not only to address complaints, but also to spread awareness about human rights among the public. To make the grievance redressal process easier, the commission has launched a WhatsApp complaint num- Phillaur/Nakodar, March 8 The police in Phillaur have registered three cases, including the alleged circulation of an objectionable video of a minor, an abduction of a teenage girl and a burglary in Nakodar. Phillaur DSP Bharat Masih said a case under Sections 354-C and 506 of the IPC has been registered at Phillaur police station against Hardeep Singh, a resident of Thala village near Phillaur. The accused is absconding. The case was registered following a complaint lodged by Jasvinder Singh, also a resident of Thala village. In his complaint, he stated that his minor daughter, studying in Class IX, became the victim of harassment after an objectionable video of her was circulated on social media by an unidentified person. The complainant said local residents informed him that an objectionable video of his daughter had gone viral on social media. Later, the same video was allegedly circulated again. During inquiries, the complainant came to know that the person responsible for circulating the video was allegedly Hardeep Singh. When questioned by her father, the girl reportedly revealed that the accused had been threatening her for the past several days that he would make her video viral. Following the complaint, a case was registered and further investigation has been initiated by Inspector Meena Kumari. HEALTH & WELLNESS The Tribune is starting a Q and A column to address your health-related queries. Please mail your questions (not exceeding 40 words) at healthandwellness@tribunemail.com. The Tribune’s panel of doctors will answer all your healthrelated concerns. Our Correspondent ber 9855475547. Citizens can submit complaints regarding any human rights violation through WhatsApp, and the commission has assured that action will be initiated within two days. During the meeting, Shunty also announced that human rights core groups will be established in every district with the participation from civil society and NGOs. He said the commission is also planning to set up district-level branches to ensure quicker access to justice for victims. With this initiative, Punjab is likely to become the first state in India where such human rights core groups will function across all districts. Issuing strict directions to officials, the commission clarified that no government or private hospital will be allowed to withhold a patient’s body due to unpaid bills. Private hospitals have also been directed to ensure the availability of mortuary facilities and ambulance services. The commission further instructed the authorities to provide assistance for the cremation or burial of unclaimed or economically weaker persons and install mortuary boxes in rural areas. dent of Police (SSP), Kapurthala, Gaurav Toora said acting on reliable inputs, police teams had arrested Ajay Kumar and recovered one pistol from his possession. Further investigation has led to the arrest of his 17year-old accomplice and recovery of four more pistols from his possession. The SSP said the probe has revealed that the accused had bought weapons from an unidentified person in Madhya Pradesh with the cost of Rs 87,000. Further investigations are underway to establish links in this case to completely unmask the network, he added. A case had been registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station, Sadar, Kapurthala. Various branches of the St. Soldier Group of Institutions celebrate International Women’s Day with great enthusiasm in Jalandhar. A TRIBUNE PHOTOGRAPH women. This scheme won’t include members of the SC community who will instead get Rs 1,500 per month. Seema Sharma, a Jalandhar-based woman, said, “The declaration has come as a huge solace. At least the government has spared a thought for women. The promise was long awaited but now it has been declared. The scheme will be a boon for women from poorer sections, who have no alternative means of livelihood.” Gurjit Kaur, district president of the ASHA Workers and Facilitators Union, said, “Whenever there is a declara- 245 commerce lecturers face demotion after seniority list revision Rishika Kriti Dept gives lecturers 21 days to submit objections Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 8 Nearly 245 commerce lecturers across Punjab, many of whom have served in the Education Department for more than a decade, are facing the demotion following a proposal by the Directorate of School Education (Secondary), Punjab, to revert them on the basis of a revised seniority list, covering promotions made between 2008 and 2024. The move has put several experienced lecturers at risk of losing posts they have held for years, triggering resentment among educators who say it could reverse years of service in the lecturer cadre. According to a letter issued on March 3, the list of lecturers falling within the proposed reversion zone also includes teachers posted in Jalandhar and nearby districts. Among them are lecturers serving at School of Eminence, Bajwa Kalan (Jalandhar); Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS), Khera Dona, GSSS, Khiran Wali in Kapurthala; GSSS Bhatlan, GSSS Railway Mandi and GSSS Ghagwal in Hoshiarpur. FILE Our Correspondent The department has given the affected lecturers 21 days to submit their objections. After examining the responses, the authorities may proceed with a final decision regarding the proposed move. The proposal cites judicial directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court which had earlier quashed the 2019 combined seniority list of the master cadre and directed the department to prepare a fresh list in accordance with service rules. The court also observed that promotions to lecturer posts, 75 per cent of which is filled through promotion from the master cadre and 25 per cent through direct recruitment must be based strictly on the revised seniority list. Following these directions, the department undertook a review of promotions granted between 2008 and 2024, which has now placed several lecturers within the proposed reversion zone. Union condemns move Meanwhile, the move has drawn sharp criticism from the Democratic Teachers Front (DTF), which argues that the lecturers were promoted strictly according to the rules and seniority lists that were in force at the time. The union has also questioned the manner in which the recent provisional seniority list was prepared, alleging that it ignored service rules, court directions and objections raised by teachers during the process. Vikram Dev Singh, DTF state president, said, “After serving in the lecturer cadre for more than a decade, it is deeply unjust that these commerce lecturers are now going to be demoted. Many of them were promoted strictly as per the department’s own seniority list and rules prevailing at that time and have since completed their probation and continued teaching for years. Demoting them now will undermine their professional dignity. If the department intends to revise the seniority list, it should implement any amendments prospectively rather than retrospectively so that teachers who have already served long in the cadre are not penalised for administrative lapses.” Gurinder Singh Sodhi, under whose tenure the letter was issued, said,” I cannot comment on the matter as I have now been transferred from the post. Despite several attempts, State Education (Secretary) Sonali Giri was not available for comment. tion of allowances or increments, we, the government workers, are sidelined. But when important projects have to be completed or duties assigned, our services are relied on. We do tireless work all year and it would have been nice if we also received the promised allowance.” Stray dogs kill calf in village near Phagwara Phagwara, March 8 Panic spread in Baghana village near Phagwara after a pack of stray dogs attacked and killed a calf in the village late Saturday night, triggering anger among residents over the rising menace of stray animals. The incident occurred when a group of stray dogs attacked a buffalo calf tied in a courtyard. The dogs reportedly bit the calf severely on several parts of the body, leaving it critically injured. The calf succumbed to its injuries. Villagers alleged that the animals often roam in groups and have also attacked goats and poultry in the past. Locals expressed fear that the stray dogs could also pose a danger to schoolchildren and the elderly people. Village resident Kalyan Chand, who provided information about the incident, said he noticed a group of 10–12 dogs attacking the calf. By the time the dogs were chased away, the animal had suffered fatal injuries. They demanded that the authorities take immediate steps to control the growing population of stray dogs and urged the local administration to launch a special drive to catch stray dogs. — OC New power connections go digital as PSPCL streamlines process Rishika Kriti Tribune News Service Jalandhar, March 8 In a strong push towards digitisation, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) in Jalandhar has shifted the process of applying for new electricity connections largely to an online mode, encouraging consumers to submit applications through its official portal instead of visiting Suvidha Centres. Officials said the online facility for new electricity connections had technically been available for the past two years. However, the department has intensified efforts to ensure that most applications are submitted digitally in order to reduce physical footfall at Suvidha Centres and streamline the approval process. The move is aimed at making the application process more convenient for consumers, who earlier had to stand in long queues at Suvidha Centres to submit documents. Officials said the online system allows applicants to complete the process at their convenience from home while also reducing the workload on staff at Suvidha Centres who previously had to manually verify documents, scan and upload these to the PSPCL SAP software. Under the new system, consumers need to visit the official PSPCL website and select the option for applying for a new electricity connection. Applicants must first create a user ID by filling in their personal details and then upload the required documents while making the necessary online payment. Two stage approval process Officials said the digital system will also allow applicants to track the status of their applications. Depending on the load applied for, the application will go through a twostage approval process. Initially, the Revenue Accountant will verify the documents and, if found correct, forward the application to the SDO for final approval after which the electricity connection will be released. In case any discrepancy is found in the application or c m y b documents, the department will return the application for correction. However, consumers will be able to monitor each stage of the process online, making the system more transparent compared to the earlier manual procedure. Gulshan Chutani, Deputy Chief Engineer, said, “It has been rolled out as part of a statewide initiative aimed at promoting digital services and improving efficiency in handling consumer applications. At the same time, consumers who are not wellversed with the online system can still visit our Suvidha Centres where the staff will assist them in submitting applications online,” he said. However, officials clarified that only applications for new electricity connections and load extension have been shifted to the online system. Other services such as change of name, change of category, load reduction and temporary connections will continue to be processed through Suvidha Centres. Consumers express concerns While the move is aimed at improving efficiency, some consumers have expressed concerns over the shift to the online application process. Residents pointed out that elderly people and those unfamiliar with digital systems may find it difficult to apply online without assistance. There are also apprehensions about document uploading issues and payment glitches that could delay the process. Consumers said although the availability of assistance at Suvidha Centres is reassuring, awareness and proper guidance will be necessary to ensure that applicants do not face difficulties during the transition to the digital system.