Capt to re-examine Ladhar case, HC told
Chandigarh, May 26
The Chief Minister would have a re-look on the previous government’s decision to let off senior IAS officer SR Ladhar with just a warning, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was today told.Ladhar had collected an arbitration fee from farmers for deciding disputes with the National Highway Authority of India. Additional Advocate-General V Ram Swarup informed the Bench of Justice Rajan Gupta that the competent authority — the CM — would re-look at the decision of October 9, 2012, taken by the then CM.”Taking a lenient view of the matter, if the officer complies with the orders of the government, a written warning may be issued to him and he may be instructed to remain careful in respect of government rules/instructions,” the CM had ordered.An affidavit filed by Chief Secretary Karan A Singh said the matter was being taken up with the competent authority. For the purpose, six weeks’ time was sought.The HC, on the previous date of hearing, had asked the state to specify whether the action amounted to “misconduct” or “offence”. The query came on a contempt petition by advocate HC Arora against IAS officer Sarvesh Kaushal and others for not complying with directions issued by a Division Bench in October, 2013.Arora earlier stated that in October, a Division Bench had directed the state to ensure remittance of the arbitration fee charged by Ladhar along with proportionate interest. The exercise was to be completed in a month from the date of amount deposit by Ladhar. Thereafter, the amount charged from individual landowners was to be refunded within the next month. Arora submitted that the respondents were unable to ensure compliance of judgment. — TNS
Court stays dismissal of Punsup DGM
Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 26
Just about a fortnight after the services of Punsup (Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited) Deputy General Manager were terminated on the allegations of possessing a false experience certificate, Justice Jaishree Thakur of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the operation of the impugned order.Justice Thakur said the court was prima facie of the opinion that it was a fit case where stay could be granted since a co-ordinate Bench was already seized of the matter regarding the genuineness of the experience certificate and challenge to the appointment was already pending consideration in different proceeding.“Hence, the effect and operation of the impugned order dated May 10 is stayed till the next date of hearing,” she added.The Bench was earlier told that the impugned order was passed in accordance with a condition in the offer for appointment. It specified that the appointment letter issued would be cancelled without issuance of notice, if deficit was found upon checking of certificates. It was added that the petitioner’s appointment was challenged by one Harmeet Singh, who alleged that the experience certificate was forged and fabricated.Justice Thakur observed that the stand taken by Punsup in an earlier written statement was that an inquiry, marked to Manager (Administration) for checking the authenticity of the experience certificate submitted at the time of appointment, found it to be “correct and genuine”. The Bench directed Punsup to conclude the inquiry. But apparently a fresh inquiry was initiated against the petitioner.Appearing before Justice Thakur’s Bench, the petitioner’s counsel, Akshay Bhan, submitted that once the High Court was seized of the matter regarding the genuineness of the experience certificate, the order of termination should not have been passed.
Not afraid of threats, don’t need more security: Amarinder
Capt Amarinder Singh. File photo
Chandigarh, May 25
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said he is not afraid of threats to his life from pro-Khalistan elements and that there was no question of enhancing his security.Three videos are rocketing around the Internet in which men, suspected to be based in Canada, are seen giving threats to the chief minister and Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)He dismissed media reports that the Punjab government has sought Z-plus security from the Centre for him and Bittu, saying the state police was “more than capable of protecting the people, including Congress leaders”.”There is no question of approaching the central government for more security. I have full faith in the capabilities of Punjab police, which is doing an excellent job,” the chief minister said.Singh in a statement said he was more than ready to take on “such forces which are trying hard to disrupt peace and harmony in Punjab. I will do everything in my power to thwart their nefarious designs”.The chief minister said he and his government will not be cowed down by the threats from such “spineless people who do not have the courage to come to Punjab and openly confront him”.He said if pro-Khalistan elements came to Punjab, his government will “take suitable action to ensure that they do not get away with their cowardly threats and attempts to revive terrorism in the state”.The Punjab government will retaliate in a suitable manner to ensure that peace in the state is not disturbed at any cost, he said.An official spokesperson in the Chief Minister’s Office also said Singh was not going seek additional security in the wake of the threats.The chief minister has clearly told his officials and colleagues in the government that there should be no move on their part to scale up his security cover, the spokesperson said.He said organisations like Sikhs for Justice, which was purportedly behind some of the videos doing the rounds on social media, “were being supported, overtly or covertly, by certain Indian-origin members of Canadian Parliament”.These elements were bringing a bad name to the NRI Sikh community and diluting the latter’s contribution to the development and progress of those countries, including Canada, he added. — PTI
182 schools record zero pass percentage
Ludhiana district tops the list with 30 such schools
As many as 182 schools in the state have recorded zero pass percentage in Class-10 examination of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB), results of which were declared recently.
Ludhiana district tops the list with 30 schools registering zero pass percentage this year, followed by Patiala with 24 schools, Jalandhar 21 and Sangrur 17.
This dubious distinction has also been achieved by 12 schools each in SAS Nagar and Bathinda districts, 11 in Hoshiarpur and 10 in Mansa.
When HT visited some government schools in Jalandhar with zero pass percentage, principals and teachers blamed the government for not providing them enough teachers. Some others blamed the Right to Education (RTE) Act under which they get “weak” students.
In Government Senior Secondary School at Khiwa in Nakodar, English lecturer Tej Pal Kumar was seen doing clerical work on a computer and when asked about the principal, he said the school does not have principal for the past four years and he is officiating.
Asked about the 0% result of the school, he said, “The RTE policy is responsible for it. A student who reaches Class 10 does not even know a basic formula of mathematics,” said Tej Pal. From the school, 11 students had given the exam and not even a single student could pass.
Moreover, he claimed, the school has no language teachers and even science and maths mistresses joined in November 2016.
In Government High School, Sarhali, all the 31 students have failed. “There are no teachers of social studies and English. Lack of a proper head in the school is another major problem,” said Leena, the school in-charge.
In Government Senior Secondary School, Nihaluwal, all 36 students who appeared in the exams flunked. Principal Harmeet Kaur said, “The school doesn’t have maths and English teachers.”