HC stay on panel’s directive paves way for PGI non-faculty staff promotions

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stay on the directives of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste ordering the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research to cease the functioning of its department promotion committees. This enables non-faculty employees to be eligible for promotion to vacant positions, which will enhance staff strength and improve patient care services. The court has passed a notice of motion for August 17, 2023. The NCSC's directives had resulted in numerous high-ranking positions remaining vacant, reducing the efficiency of the hospital.

Congress councillors to attend Chandigarh MC meeting to discuss waste processing plant

Congress councillors in the Indian city of Chandigarh have agreed to attend a presentation on an integrated waste processing plant, six days after a similar meeting was missed. The meeting, organised by the mayor and municipal corporation, was boycotted by the party over concerns that important project details would not be shared with other parties. The new facility, which will process 600 tonnes of waste per day, is designed to help tackle the city's daily waste generation of 550 tonnes.

Attack on businessman, pilot in Mohali: Police identify SUV used by assailants

Police have tracked down the registration number of a Toyota Fortuner car used by assailants who attacked a businessman and his pilot friend on Airport Road in the Indian city of Mohali. The vehicle was purchased one day prior to the crime and a manhunt is now underway to arrest the perpetrators. One of the victims is from the same village as an August 2021 murder victim, Youth Akali Dal leader Vikramjeet Singh. A case has been registered against the unidentified assailants.

Mohali mayor appears before Vigilance in connection with mutation of land on Airport road

The Mayor of Mohali in Punjab, India, Amarjeet Singh Sidhu, has appeared before a flying squad of the state's Vigilance Bureau as part of an inquiry into the alleged illegal mutation of a strip of land near to the city's airport. Sidhu, who was questioned for two hours, has been asked to return to the bureau on 7 June to provide further information. The vigilance officers are reportedly investigating whether the land, which is 40 ft wide and 250 long, was mutated by Paras Mahajan, a business partner in a real estate project.

GMADA and Mohali MC hold joint meeting to discuss development projects

Officials from the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and the municipal corporation have held a joint meeting to discuss the development of the city. GMADA’s engineering wing revealed plans for a tertiary water pipeline and the municipal corporation asked for funds for a fire lift and mechanised sweeping machine and for work on Sectors 76 to 80. GMADA chief administrator Rajiv Kumar Gupta said that both GMADA and the municipal corporation are responsible for the city’s development and that there are some areas where the jurisdiction overlaps.

Chandigarh Chitkara student shines at National Tech Week

A student from Chitkara International School presented his project, “The Communicator Mask”, which makes use of technology to enhance voice clarity while ensuring safety and protection of the speaker, at National Technology Week 2023. The mask was developed as a solution to mask-related communication barriers during the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected people with hearing disorders. Meanwhile, in other news, the Haryana assembly has announced that an estimate of ₹1.1 crore has been sanctioned for construction of parking at district court; the Chandigarh Traffic Police has initiated a campaign to raise e-rickshaw drivers' awareness of traffic rules and guidelines; and Panjab University has postponed all exams for undergraduate and postgraduate students that were to be held on Wednesday.

Three years on, Chandigarh cops who retired during Covid pandemic still await farewell

Over 50 Indian police personnel who retired during the pandemic are still awaiting a proper send-off or memento of appreciation. Former Chandigarh SP Roshan Lal has written to the inspector general of police Raj Kumar Singh to arrange a farewell for the retirees. Lal, who began his career as a constable, was promoted to sub-inspector for his work that was crucial in nabbing a terrorist. The IG has confirmed that those who did not receive a farewell amid Covid will be honoured at a special police function. 

Punjab cabinet expansion today, Minister Nijjar quits; MLAs Gurmeet Khudian, Balkar Singh set to be inducted

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will add two new members to its cabinet, Balkar Singh and Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on 6 June. Singh and Khudian are both first-time legislators, but Singh is a former police officer. Ahead of the expansion, Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, the local bodies minister, resigned over his public support for Daily Ajit’s editor-in-chief, Barjinder Singh Hamdard, who is under scrutiny over alleged funds misuse. 

NCERT drops references to Khalistan demand from class 12 political science textbook

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has removed references to the demand for a separate Sikh nation Khalistan from the class 12 political science textbook after objections from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. The Sikh body had alleged that the NCERT misrepresented historical details about Sikhs in its Class 12 political science textbook. The dropped sentences are now rewritten as “the resolution was a plea for strengthening federalism”.

New help desks set up at Ludhiana Railway Station

India's Ludhiana Railway Station is to undergo a major redevelopment, with a new multilevel station to be built and the existing British-era building demolished. The station sees around 100 passenger trains each day and has an average footfall of 1 lakh passengers. As part of the redevelopment, two new customer service centres have been created on both new entry points to the station. The project, which will cost INR4.78bn ($72m), will take three years to complete.

Spice of Life: Turning the clock back on our summer holidays

Growing up in Delhi in the 1970s and 1980s, a visit to Calcutta during summer vacations was a welcome escape for the writer. Her maternal aunt's sprawling mansion in one of the suburbs was a second home and the verdant surroundings made the writer forget the monotony of life in the capital. The beautiful pond with its unruffled waters in front of the house was a favourite haunt, and evenings were spent trying tangy Bengali snacks from the nearby market. The mansion is now in a dilapidated state, and flats and buildings have come up in the area, denuding the place of the greenery and calmness it once symbolised.

Spat over watching IPL match: Veteran opens fire at wife, daughter, held

A retired armyman in India opened fire at his wife, daughter and brother-in-law (wife's husband) after an argument over watching the final IPL match between the Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans. The man also opened the cap of an LPG gas cylinder before firing at the police when they arrived at the scene. The police arrested the accused after a two-hour stand-off. The incident took place in Baddowal village of Mullanpur Dakha. A case of attempt to murder has been lodged against him.

Moose Wala’s 1st death anniversary: Lahore cops arrest singer’s fan over invite for aerial shooting

A teenager has been arrested in Pakistan for inviting people to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Indian singer Sidhu Moose Wala with firing guns in the air. The social media post, by 15-year-old Sharjil Malik, was reported to police by a neighbour. Moose Wala was eulogised guns in his music and videos and was shot dead by six attackers in Punjab last year. Malik was released after his father promised he would not indulge in such activities again.

Ludhiana: Sanitary worker, two aides held for robbing employer of ₹20,000

Police in Focal Point, India, have arrested a sanitation worker and two accomplices who allegedly robbed a shopkeeper of INR20,000 ($270), injuring him with a sharp-edged weapon. The police recovered INR17,000 in cash, one motorbike and two sharp-edged weapons believed to have been used in the crime from the suspects. The accused have been charged with robbery and causing injury.

Ludhiana: Court rejects anticipatory bail plea of suspended PUNSUP official

Jagandeep Singh Dhillon, the suspended district manager of the Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation (PUNSUP), has been denied anticipatory bail by a local court in relation to the alleged INR20bn ($270m) foodgrain transportation scam, which also involves former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Dhillon was booked on 19 September 2022 along with retired district food and supplies controller Surinder Kumar Beri, and two commission agents. Dhillon is accused of irregularities surrounding tenders, transportation and storage of foodgrains, with bogus billing also taking place.