Chandigarh:

DR. Premawas conferred the IAPS Oration Award for the year 2025 at the 51st Annual Conference and 60 years (Diamond Jubilee) Celebration of the Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, IAPSCON 2025 held at Swosti Premium Beach resort, Puri, Odisha recently  for her pioneering research, exemplary mentorship, and distinguished service to the field of pediatric surgery.

Her topic for the oration was : “Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction: Less common aspects and the role of imaging” . Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction is a common pediatric urological problem causing incomplete or complete obstruction to the flow of urine from one or both the kidneys. It is diagnosed by ultrasonography and functional imaging. It is mostly due to an intrinsic obstruction which can be surgically corrected with excellent results. Rarely it is secondary to extrinsic obstruction from aberrant renal vessels.

Based on the vast experience in PGIMER, specific imaging features to preoperatively diagnose pelvi ureteric junction obstruction associated with aberrant vessels was described for the first time in literature thereby preventing any likelihood of injury to these vessels during surgery and preventing loss of renal tissue from ischemia. This as well as the imaging features and management of the extremely rare association of malrotation of kidney and extrarenal calyces with pelvi ureteric junction obstruction were highlighted in the oration.

DR. PREMA MENON, (MS, DNB, FRCS (England), M.Ch., FMAS, Certificate of Robotic console training) is Professor, in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh. She has shaped the career of over 100 M.Ch. trainees in Pediatric Surgery since joining PGIMER in 2002. Her clinical and research expertise spans a wide spectrum of pediatric surgical conditions including pelviureteric junction obstruction, posterior urethral valves, vesicoureteric reflux, anorectal malformations, Hirschsprungs disease, esophageal replacement, choledochal cyst, and pediatric thoracic surgery.

Her scholarly work includes over 205 publications with 14 book chapters and an h index of 25. Her research has been recognized with certificates of appreciation for high quality published work at PGIMER’s Annual Research Day in 2016 and 2018. She is a meritorious fellow of the Association of Minimal Access surgeons of India (FMAS) with a keen interest in pediatric laparoscopic and robotic surgery.

She has delivered over 60 CME lectures, chaired or judged over 50 scientific sessions and her work has been presented in 36 International Conferences, and 125 papers presented in National level conferences where her trainees have earned numerous awards. Her outstanding contributions have been earlier recognized by the IAPS-Purushottam Upadhyaya Research Foundation Gold Medal (2005) and the IAPS-Ethicon Travelling Fellowship Gold medal (2011).

SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB, 14th January 2026:

On the sacred occasion of Maghi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann visited Sri Muktsar Sahib, where he paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Tuti Gandi Sahib and addressed a large public gathering, reiterating the Punjab Government’s position on the tracing of 169 missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. On a day deeply rooted in Sikh history and sacrifice, the Chief Minister said the tracing of the saroops was a matter of duty rather than achievement.

The Chief Minister also announced that the Punjab government would make budgetary provisions for a ₹1,000 monthly assistance scheme for women in the upcoming budget and maintained that his government has fulfilled every commitment made to the people of Punjab. The AAP leaders said the scale of participation at the Maghi gathering reflected public confidence in the government.

Addressing a mammoth political conference organised to mark Maghi, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has so far fulfilled every promise made to the people of Punjab. “We have honoured every commitment made to the people, and now we will start a scheme to give ₹1,000 to every woman of the state. The required budgetary provision will be ensured in the coming budget. This government is fully committed to the welfare of all, and every promise made to the people of Punjab will be fulfilled by all means,” he said.

Recalling the historical significance of the sacred site, the Chief Minister said that the land had witnessed the supreme sacrifice of Sikh warriors led by Bhai Maha Singh ji and that the entire Sikh Sangat was paying tribute to their martyrdom. “People have converged here from across the state and are fortunate to be part of this gathering. This pious land and the sacrifices made here live in the heart of every Sikh across the world, inspiring them to stand against tyranny, injustice, and oppression,” he said.

Taking a dig at opposition parties, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that previous  governments suffer from weak memory and are merely waiting for their turn to plunder Punjab after elections. “The ‘jhaadu’ (broom), which is the symbol of AAP, has cleaned the political system, and that is why traditional parties are baffled. These leaders are attacking me only because I come from a common family, something they are unable to digest,” he said.

Stressing that people are supreme in a democracy, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the masses have made up their mind to teach opportunist leaders a lesson. “The massive turnout at this rally reflects the love and affection people have for the government and its policies. Other parties are also holding rallies, but Sukhbir Badal’s rally must have ended by now because hardly anyone would have gone there,” he remarked.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that even people brought in buses hired by the Akalis had joined the AAP rally. He added that the opposition is groping in the dark to defame the state government and is envious of its pro-people and pro-Punjab stance. “I will leave no stone unturned to safeguard the interests of Punjab and Punjabis at any cost,” he asserted.

Highlighting governance priorities, the Chief Minister said that the role of any government is to give wings to children so they can write new success stories in life. “Every file signed by me is aimed at benefiting the common man and the state. More than 63,000 youths have been provided jobs purely on merit, without corruption or recommendation. Every decision taken by our government is focused on the progress of Punjab and the prosperity of its people,” he said.

On strengthening public services, the Chief Minister said that more than 10,000 new police personnel are being recruited to enhance the efficiency of the Punjab Police. He added that several public libraries have been opened to help students study and excel, uninterrupted power is being provided to all sectors, and 90 percent of households are receiving free electricity.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that even villages at the tail end have received water for the first time, something opposition leaders never prioritised. “Those who do not know the result of 12 multiplied by 5 are daydreaming of coming to power,” he said, adding that people of Delhi are now repenting after electing a wrong government that has stalled pro-people decisions taken during the AAP regime.

He said that previous governments were responsible for brain drain due to flawed policies, but reverse migration has begun since his government assumed office. “The wise, brave, and hardworking people of Punjab are fully aware of the dubious character of leaders who were earlier rejected by them. Today, Punjab is making rapid progress in every field because our government has taken concrete steps for comprehensive development, including historic initiatives in health, education, and power,” he said.

Referring to infrastructure development, the Chief Minister said that work on over 49,000 km of roads is progressing at full pace. Reiterating the women’s assistance scheme, he said that the promise of ₹1,000 per month to every woman will be fulfilled through the coming budget, just as every other promise has been honoured. He added that while Sukhbir claims all development took place during their regime, they deliberately ignored the sacrilege incidents of Bargari and Behbal Kalan.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that exploiting religion for vested political interests has bruised the psyche of the common people and is an unpardonable sin. “They are hand in glove with forces inimical to the Sikh Panth and Punjab,” he said, adding that the SIT probing the case of 328 missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib has traced 169 saroops from a religious place near Banga, out of which 139 have no official record.

“This is not an achievement but our duty,” CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, adding that publishing of saroops is the responsibility of SGPC and that such institutions failed in their duty due to the Akalis. “These leaders cannot be forgiven for such sins and mischiefs,” he said.

Highlighting economic relief and healthcare initiatives, the Chief Minister said that 19 toll plazas have been closed, saving ₹64 lakh every day for people. He added that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics have been opened across Punjab, providing free treatment and medicines, and that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna will soon be rolled out to offer cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh.

Addressing the gathering, senior AAP leader and Punjab Prabhari Manish Sisodia said that the Punjab Government has taken exemplary steps for the welfare of people. “The massive participation in this rally clearly shows that people have made up their mind to give another chance to the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government. The work done by this government has received appreciation across the country, and people are eagerly waiting to re-elect the AAP due to its consistent pro-people initiatives,” he said.

On the occasion, Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Dr Balbir Singh, Dr Baljit Kaur, Harbhajan Singh ETO, Laljit Singh Bhullar, Lal Chand Kataruchakk, Hardeep Singh Mundian, along with MLAs Baljinder Kaur, Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi, and others were also present.

CHANDIGARH, January 14:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 319th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 333 locations on Wednesday leading to the arrest of 98 drug smugglers after registration of 74 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 44,481 in 319 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 5.4 kg heroin, 510 gram opium, 110 kg poppy husk, 724 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 4580 drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Over 120 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 72 gazetted officers have conducted 333 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 342 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

          The state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 47 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh, January 14 – Haryana Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Fisheries Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that an action plan should be prepared to provide markets near fish farmers so that they do not have to travel to distant areas to sell their fish.

Sh. Rana was speaking during a pre-budget consultation meeting with senior officers of the Fisheries Department at his office here today. Additional Chief Secretary of the department, Sh. Raja Sekhar Vundru, and other officials were present on the occasion.

The Fisheries Minister sought details regarding the utilisation of the budget allocated to the department in the previous financial year and directed officials to prepare a roadmap for seeking funds for various schemes in the upcoming budget.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that all schemes should be implemented at a fast pace, keeping in view the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. He also directed that priority be given to installing solar lights at fish ponds, which would reduce electricity expenses as well as help in controlling pollution.

During the meeting, officials informed that to promote white shrimp farming in saline water, an Integrated Aqua Park Centre of Excellence is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 98.90 crore in village Garwa of district Bhiwani and in Sirsa. They further informed that under the “Welfare of Scheduled Caste Families under Fisheries Sector” scheme, fishers and fish farmers are being provided a subsidy of 60 percent, subject to a maximum cost of Rs. 40,000, for the purchase of fishing nets.

Fisheries Minister Sh. Shyam Singh Rana directed officials to ensure that all schemes formulated for the benefit of fish farmers are implemented at the earliest so that their income can be further improved.

Chandigarh, January 14 – The National Informatics Centre (NIC)-Haryana organized a regional workshop on ‘MedLEaPR’ (Medico Legal Examination and Post-Mortem Reporting) on January 14, 2026, at the Chandigarh Judicial Academy.

Representatives from 9 states and union territories, namely Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi attended the workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by Hon’ble Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Supreme Court of India. The inaugural session commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp ceremony, followed by the felicitation of dignitaries.

Hon’ble Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi, Justice Jagmohan Bansal, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, and Sh. Varindra Seth, DDG & State Coordinator, NIC Haryana were present on the occasion.

On the occasion, the dignitaries formally unveiled the Compendium on MedLEaPR, highlighting its significance as a comprehensive reference document aimed at medico-legal examination and post-mortem reporting practices through the MedLEaPR platform. The MedLEaPR mobile application was soft-launched by the Chief Guest, Justice Rajesh Bindal, Judge, Supreme Court of India.

Sh. Sudhir Rajpal, ACS, Health, Haryana, appreciated the initiative taken by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in implementing MedLEaPR and emphasized that suggestions and feedback received during the workshop will further strengthen and improve the platform, making medico-legal reporting more reliable, standardized and efficient.

Hon’ble Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, highlighted that MedLEaPR streamlines medico-legal and post-mortem records, addressing delays, standardization and authenticity issues through secure digitization and integration. He expressed confidence that the launch of the MedLEaPR Compendium and Mobile Application, supported by ongoing training, will further enhance reliable and accountable medico-legal reporting.

Justice Rajesh Bindal highlighted the significance of the MedLEaPR system as a major reform in medico-legal and post-mortem reporting. He appreciated the technical support provided by NIC Haryana and emphasized that collaboration between judicial and technical experts was key to developing a robust, PAN-India digital solution at minimal cost.

State Nodal Officer of MedLEaPR from 9 States and UTs shared their implementation strategy, best practices, challenges and future way forward.

Sh. Sarbjeet Singh, Deputy Director General and State Informatics Officer (SIO), NIC Haryana, expressed appreciation for the enthusiastic participation of State Nodal Officers, NIC State Coordinators and Master Trainers of MedLEaPR in the workshop.

Chandigarh, January 14 – Haryana Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister, Sh. Shyam Singh Rana directed officers to upgrade veterinary hospitals and dispensaries across the state where medical equipment and modern machines are required. He said these facilities should be equipped at the earliest with advanced infrastructure to ensure timely and effective treatment of animals. He also directed that new buildings should be constructed in place of old and dilapidated structures to improve the overall quality of animal husbandry services.

Sh. Rana was chairing the pre-budget consultation meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department at his office here today. Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Department, Sh. Vijay Singh Dahiya, along with other senior officers, was present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the expenditure status of the budget allocated to the department in the previous year’s general budget presented by the Finance Minister. He directed officers to ensure transparent and effective utilisation of the remaining budget within the prescribed time frame so that maximum benefits reach livestock farmers.

During the meeting, the Minister was informed that from the year 2020–21 till October 2025, grants amounting to about Rs. 390.31 crore have been provided to gaushalas in the state. An approval of Rs. 69.74 crore has also been given for the rehabilitation of stray cattle and development of related infrastructure, out of which Rs. 80.56 lakh has already been distributed as fodder subsidy for rehabilitated stray animals.

The Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister said that to provide employment opportunities to Scheduled Caste livestock farmers, special schemes are being implemented under which 20,032 beneficiaries have been covered so far. Similarly, under the sheep and goat rearing scheme, a subsidy of 90 percent is being provided for setting up a unit of 15 female and one male animal, benefiting 3,891 beneficiaries. To empower women beneficiaries, interest subsidy is being provided on bank loans taken for establishing dairy units with 20 to 50 milch animals. Besides this, a subsidy of 25 percent is being given for setting up dairy units with 2, 4, and 10 milch animals, under which 14,168 dairy units have been established so far, he added.

He said that for the conservation and promotion of indigenous cattle breeds such as Hariana, Sahiwal, and Belahi, incentives ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 20,000 per animal are being provided to farmers rearing high milk-yielding cows.

Sh. Shyam Singh Rana said that the animal husbandry sector is the backbone of the rural economy of the state and is playing an important role in increasing farmers’ income as well as generating new employment opportunities. He directed officers to ensure that the benefits of all schemes reach the last person in a transparent and time-bound manner and that the animal husbandry infrastructure is further strengthened.

Chandigarh, January 14 — The Haryana Right to Service (RTS) Commission has termed the practice of issuing electricity bills on an average basis for a long period and subsequently serving consumers with one-time excessively high bills in cases related to UHBVN as a serious case of administrative negligence.

According to the Commission’s spokesperson, in a case from Bahadurgarh, the Commission found that the consumer either did not receive bills for a long time or was issued negative bills, which were not payable. Thereafter, an electricity bill of approximately Rs. 2.38 lakh was suddenly issued. Even after the complaint was lodged, the rectification was carried out in a phased and incomplete manner, exposing the irresponsible working of the concerned officials. The Commission also observed that the mandatory prior notice and minimum time limits prescribed under the Electricity Supply Code were not followed.

Exercising its penal powers under Section 17(1)(h) of the Haryana Right to Service Act, 2014, the Commission ordered the imposition of a Rs. 5,000 fine on two CA officials responsible for preparing incorrect sundry entries and directed each of them to pay Rs. 1,000 as compensation to the consumer. In addition, the Commission expressed dissatisfaction with the SDO officials who approved the incorrect sundry and directed that their names be recorded in the Commission’s records.

The Commission further ordered that the consumer be paid additional compensation at the rate of Rs. 500 for each billing cycle wrongly issued since July 2022. This amount shall initially be paid by the corporation from its own funds and may later be recovered from the erring agency or officials.

In another case from Hisar district, electricity bills were issued on an average basis in two power accounts of a consumer from March 2020 to February 2024. Earlier, bills used to reflect a bi-monthly consumption of around 160 units, but later, one account suddenly showed consumption of approximately 45,000 units, resulting in a bill of more than Rs. 3 lakh, while the second account reflected consumption of about 20,000 units, leading to a bill of Rs. 98,000. The Commission termed this as imposing an excessive financial burden on the consumer and causing severe mental harassment.

The Commission also found that as per the provisions of the Electricity Supply Code, 2014, neither prior notice was given to the consumer nor the mandatory minimum period of 30 days for payment was allowed. The reasons for the excessive billing were also not clearly explained.

The Commission’s spokesperson stated that the Commission considered the Rs. 1,000 compensation per account awarded by the SGRA to be inadequate. Treating each wrongly issued bill as a separate case, the Commission directed that compensation be paid at the rate of Rs. 500 per incorrect bill for both accounts. This compensation shall initially be paid by DHBVN from its own funds and may subsequently be recovered from the erring agency or officials.

The Commission has directed the concerned officers to determine the exact number of wrongly issued bills in both accounts and to release the compensation at the earliest. The Managing Directors of both power distribution corporations have also been urged once again to formulate a clear policy to deal with such situations.

Chandigarh, January 14 –  Additional Secretary to Government, Haryana, Secretariat Establishment, Sh. Samwartak Singh, I.A.S. highlighted  the importance of millets (Shri Anna), stating that millets are not only rich in nutrition but also play a vital role in promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Sh. Samwartak Singh was addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest at the inauguration of the Millet Mela organised today at the CISF Camp premises of the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh.

He said that creating awareness among the general public about balanced and nutritious food through such events is the need of the hour, and the initiative taken by CISF in this direction is commendable.

During the programme, doctors from Dietician Department of PGI Chandigarh, Dr. Kumari Muskan and Dr. Angel Preet provided detailed information to the present officers, CISF personnel and their family members about the consumption of millets, their appropriate quantity and also emphasized on the health benefits of millets. The doctors explained that regular consumption of millets in balanced quantities helps in managing diabetes, heart disease and digestive disorders and is highly beneficial for overall health.

Various types of millet-based products and dishes were displayed at the Millet Mela, giving attendees an opportunity to understand their usage and importance.

Commandant, CISF Unit Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat, Chandigarh, Sh. Lalit Panwar, employees of Punjab and  Haryana Civil Secretariat, media persons, CISF personnel and their family members were present on the occasion.

Chandigarh, December 14 – National hockey player Olympian Navneet Kaur met with Haryana’s Energy, Transport, and Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij at his office in Chandigarh today. During the meeting, Sh.Vij expressed pride in Olympian Navneet Kaur, captain of the Hero Hockey India League champions SG Pipers from Ranchi and the Championship’s Best Player, and gave her his blessings.

Sh. Vij said that Haryana’s pride, Olympian Navneet Kaur, has created history with her outstanding performance in the Hero Hockey India League 2025-26. He expressed hope that she will continue to bring glory to the country in upcoming tournaments. Sh. Vij emphasized that the state government remains committed to promoting sports talent.

Notably, Navneet Kaur, vice-captain of the Indian women’s hockey team (from Shahbad), led SG Pipers to victory in the final as captain. The team won the gold medal in the championship held in Ranchi, where Navneet Kaur was honored not only as captain but also awarded the title of ‘Championship’s Best Player.’

Navneet Kaur’s performance serves as an inspiration for Haryana’s youth. Having represented the country at the Olympic level, she has proven through her hard work, leadership, and sporting skills that Haryana’s sports sector excels on the global stage.