IEP Chandigarh, October 6

On the directions of Punjab Jails Minister Harjot Singh Bains to take strict action in the matter of the escape of a prisoner, the Punjab Prisons department has suspended Deputy Superintendent Security Patiala Jail, Warrant Officer Patiala and two Warders today.

According to the orders issued in this regard, DSP (Security) Varun Sharma posted for prison security, Patiala Jail Assistant Superintendent cum Warrant Officer Harbans Singh, Jail Warder suspended Satpal Singh Ballot No. 707 and Mandeep Singh Ballot No. 562 have been suspended.

Apart from this, a show cause notice has been issued to Jail Superintendent Patiala Manjit Singh Tiwana and Assistant Jail Superintendent Patiala Jagjit Singh.

It is to be mentioned here that Amrik Singh, a resident of Dedna village of Ghagga block of Patiala district, was serving his sentence in Patiala jail from where he was admitted to Rajinder Hospital for treatment on the pretext of treatment. The prisoner escaped from the hospital due to the negligence of these staff members.

During the transfer of the prisoner from Patiala Jail to Rajindra Hospital, the rules set by the state government were also violated.

The Jails Minister categorically warned the officers and employees of the department that any kind of negligence will not be tolerated in such types of cases.

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

All the preparations have been completed by the Sports Department for the state level tournament which is last phase of the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Deya-2022’. The competitions of 29 sports will be held from October 11 to 22 in 9 different cities across the state.

Divulging the details, Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that after the successful organizing of block and district level tournaments, the sports department has completed all the preparations for the state level competition. As part of the firm commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make the state the number one in sports again, the number of sportsmen participating in these games organized by the sports department has reached around 3 lakh. The winners of the state level tournament will be awarded a total of Rs.  6 Crore. The first, second and third place winners will get a cash prize of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 7,000 and Rs. 5,000 respectively. Apart from this, there will be grading of the players who have got the certificate.

On the instructions of the sports minister, a meeting was held with the Principal Secretary of the department Raj Kamal Chaudhary and the Director Rajesh Dhiman with all district sports officers to take stock of the preparations. During the meeting, Mr. Chaudhary asked all the sports officers to make better arrangements for the transportation, accommodation, food etc. for the players who will participate in the state level competitions. He said that if any player faces any problem, he or she can coordinate with the District Sports Officer of the concerned district.

IEP Chandigarh, September 06

Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday warned the lending firms violating the RBI Fair Lending Practices Code that strict action would be taken in case any such case is brought to the government’s notice.The Finance Minister issued this warning while chairing the meeting of the Joint Front of Rural and Farm Labourer Unions. The front apprised the minister that many lending firms including some microfinance firms were resorting to pressure tactics and unfair recovery practices. Taking serious note of this, Cheema directed the Finance Department to report any such incident to RBI  recommending strict action including the cancellation of the pan India license of such institutions.During this high-level meeting which lasted for two hours, the demands of the front were discussed in detail by the finance minister. Senior officials from Police, Social Security, Power, Cooperation, Food and Civil Supplies, Rural Development, and Finance Departments were present at this meeting. The Finance Minister directed these officials to take action on all such demands where immediate action is possible.To fulfill the other legitimate demands of the front, Cheema sought a separate report from the concerned departments regarding the financial and legal implications. He also directed the concerned official to hold the meeting with the representatives of the front when and where needed to resolve their issues at the earliest.The Finance Minister also assured the Joint Front of Rural and Farm Labourer Union that he would soon arrange the front’s meeting with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to discuss those demands which could be resolved only at the level of the Chief Minister.ADGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla and Special Secretary Finance Yashanjit Singh were also present at this meeting.

IEP Chandigarh, 06 October

Describing Numberdars as an important part of the government, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is determined to restore their dignity.During a meeting with the unions of Numberdars here at Vit and Yojana Bhawan, Mr. Harpal Singh Cheema gave a patient hearing to their demands and issued directions to take immediate action on the legitimate demands. Cheema assured the union representatives that the government was considering their demands sympathetically.For the convenience of the Numberdars, the Finance Minister has directed the concerned officers and departments to reserve room for them at Kisan Bhawan (Chandigarh), arrange sitting rooms at district and tehsil complexes besides including them in the grievance redressal committees to be formed at the district level. Apart from this, the Revenue department was asked to ensure the involvement of Namberdars in the land registration process.Replying to the demand made by the Numberdars for increasing the honorarium, the Finance Minister assured the union leaders that he would soon raise the issue with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He said that the financial implications of this demand would be studied so that an appropriate decision could be taken.Special Secretary Expenditure Mohammad Tayyab was also present at this meeting.

IEP Chandigarh October 6

The Vigilance Bureau Punjab on Thursday arrested Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Ashish Kapoor, PPS, now posted as Commandant, 4th IRB, Pathankot for taking bribe of Rs. one crore through different cheques. In this case DSP Intelligence Pawan Kumar and ASI Harjinder Singh has also been nominated as accused.

          Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau (VB) said in this regard the Bureau has registered a case under sections 7, 7-A Prevention of Corruption Act and 420, 120-B of IPC against the above mentioned accused. Further investigation in this case is under progress.

          Giving more details he informed that during posting as Superintendent Jail at Central Jail, Amritsar in 2016, he had got acquainted with a lady named Poonam Rajan of sector 30, Kurukshetra, Haryana who was under judicial remand in the Jail in some case. When Poonam Rajan, along with her mother Prem Lata, brother Kuldeep Singh and sister-in-law Preeti, was in police remand in a case FIR No. 151/2018 registered under section 420/120-B of IPC at police station Zirakpur, Ashish Kapoor went to the police station and fraudulently convinced Poonam Rajan’s mother Prem Lata to help her getting  bail and acquittal from the court.

          Adding further he revealed that after this Ashish Kapoor, in connivance with Pawan Kumar, the then SHO, police station Zirakpur and ASI Harjinder Singh, (No. 459/SGR), got Preeti, sister-in-law of Poonam Rajan declared innocent in the case. In lieu of that favour, Ashish Kapoor obtained signatures of Prem Lata on different cheques amounting to Rs. 1,00,00,000 and deposited them under the names of his known ones and got them encashed through ASI Harjinder Singh.

          The spokesperson said by doing so, the accused Ashish Kapoor, Pawan Kumar and Harjinder Singh have committed offence under Prevention of Corruption Act and 420, 120-B of IPC and have been nominated as accused the present case.

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

In consonance with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government’s commitment to create world class health care infrastructure in state, Health Minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra has approved the  purchase of new Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT-CT) & Positron Emission Tomography (PET-CT) for the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, in Sangrur at cost of Rs. 15 crore.

Disclosing this here, the Health Minister said that the state government is firm in its resolve  to create and provide state-of-the-art Health Care and Diagnostic facilities across Punjab. He said that 100 Aam Aadmi Clinics were also dedicated to the people of the state, where one can get heath services free of cost within the vicinity of their houses. He also added that more such clinics will come up soon in other parts of the state.

Mr. Jauramajra informed that approval has also been sanctioned to buy AMC/CMC for Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Sangrur with an additional cost of Rs. 7.50 crore. “Apart from this, budget plan for Rs. 60 crore has been approved against the Cess Collection,” he said while adding that Rs. 48.75 crore has been withdrawn from the State Treasury till date.

IEP Chandigarh, October 6

In a major bonanza for youth of the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced to start the process of filling around 2500 posts in the Police department.

Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that as per the ongoing process of providing employment to youth of the state, the Aam Aadmi government will recruit around 2500 more cops in Punjab Police to augment its workforce for effectively maintaining the law and order besides tackling unforeseen challenges. He said that these posts include 1156 of Constables in Intelligence and Investigation cadre, 787 Head Constables in Investigation cadre and 560 posts of Sub Inspectors in Investigation, Intelligence, district and Armed Police cadre. Bhagwant Mann said that while the exam for Constables will be held on October 14, 2022, that of Head Constables will be conducted on October 15, 2022 and that for the post of Sub Inspectors will be held on October 16, 2022.

The Chief Minister further said that the state government has already handed over appointment letters to 4374 constables in the force. He said that more recruitment is in the pipeline and the process will be completed very soon. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to provide employment to youth, Bhagwant Mann said that the entire process of the recruitment is being done in a transparent manner.

The Chief Minister further said that his government is focussing on providing maximum employment to the youth both in public and private sector. He said that till now more than 17,000 job letters have been handed over to the youth and more will be done in the future. Bhagwant Mann said that merit is the single thumb rule for the entire recruitment process.