HIGH SPEED RAIL BETWEEN DELHI AND CHANDIGARH PROPOSED

The Haryana Government agreed in principle to take part in a joint venture for setting up a High Speed Rail Corridor between Delhi and Chandigarh which will halve the travelling time between the two cities to just about 90 minutes. This was decided at a meeting in New Delhi between Haryana Chief Secretary Prem Prashant and Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra. The Chief Secretary disclosed that a joint forum would also be formed for studying the modalities and feasibility of this elevated High Speed Rail Corridor which would cost around Rs. 25,000 crore excluding land. The High Speed Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation would act as the project development nodal agency. SHO CAUGHT ACCEPTING BRIBE The CBI today arrested Manimajra Station House Officer (SHO) Bishi Ram from the police station while allegedly accepting bribe. The trap was laid at around 5 pm when Bishi Ram was allegedly accepting an illegal gratification of Rs 5,000 from one Malkiat Singh, a resident of Manimajra. As per the complaint, Malkiat used to pay Rs 3,000 every month to Bishi Ram for not arresting him on charges of satta and gambling. This time, Malkiat refused to oblige Bishi Ram and reported the matter to the CBI. However, Malkiat is an accused in two cases of gambling registered by the CIA staff. Meanwhile, Control Room DSP Roshan Lal was also called to the police station in order to check the footage of CCTV camera installed inside the police station. SHO Bishi Ram was slated to retire on March 31 next year. Considered to be one of the best investigating officers of the UT police, Bishi Ram had served in the UT Vigilance for several years. He was posted as Manimajra SHO last year. During his tenure in the Vigilance, Bishi Ram had arrested several government employees while accepting bribe. He will be produced before the court tomorrow. SATHASIVAM IS LEGAL SERVICES CHIEF Justice P. Sathasivam, the senior-most judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court next to the Chief Justice, has been appointed chairman of the Punjab State Legal Services Authority. A government notification to the effect has been issued. Justice Sathasivam had joined the High Court here in April following his transfer from the Madras High Court. DUST STORM, RAIN BRING MERCURY DOWN IN REGION The Tricity witnessed a dust storm, accompained by mild rain, this evening. It was a welcome relief to the residents, who have been reeling under the effect of heat and soaring temperature. Heavy dust storms with speed ranging from 46 kms to 65 kms per hour was witnessed around 3 pm, forcing commuters to stop their vehicles as it also effected visiblity. The storm, accompained by light rain showers, lasted for about 24 minutes and also resulted in uprooting of several trees across the city, disrupting traffic movement. Certain areas in Panchkula also experienced electricity cut due to snapping of wires. It also brought a sharp dip in the temperature making it pleasant in the evenings compared to 44.4 degrees around noon. According to the Met Department, the dust storm was a result of induced cyclonic circulation over North-West Rajasthan and neighbouring area. “The cyclonic circulation was 3.1 km above the sea level which intensified the storms,” said Chattar Singh, Director, Met Centre, Chandigarh. PU'S MARK: 2 PHDS, ONE TOPIC PhD research work is dipping to new lows at Panjab University. Department of Laws has allowed two students to opt for the same topic, and their theses are nearing completion. It has not gone down well with the majority of faculty members. They feel allowing more than one person to do research on a similar topic is nothing but lowering the academic standards, and it does not happen in any reputed university. Requesting anonymity, a faculty member said this should be considered an academic crime. According to sources, the issue came to light on February 20 at a meeting of the board of studies when the agenda of appointing examiners for two PhDs was considered. The title of the first PhD thesis is "Status of women: a socio- legal study with special reference to female foeticide and infanticide" by Shipra Kaushal. SANT SAMAJ: CENTRE MUST BAN DERA The All-India Sikh Students Federation and the Sant Samaj today praised the Hindu community for its contribution towards making Punjab bandh a success today. Manjit Singh Bhoma, president of the federation, and leaders of the Sant Samaj said they were happy that people maintained peace and harmony. Addressing a press conference, Bhoma, who was accompanied by Sant Man Singh Pehowa, Sant Manmohan Singh, Sant Avtar Singh and Sant Dilbagh Singh, said the Union Government should impose a ban on Dera Sacha Sauda and its branches. They said the head of the dera should apologise. Without his apology, the issue would not be resolved. Bhoma said panthic organisations had not resorted to violence at any place during the past days. It was followers of the dera who had attacked members of panthic organisations at Bathinda and Sunam. He said the federation and the Sant Samaj would go by the directions by the Akal Takht with regard to the ongoing struggle against the dera. DEARNESS RELIEF RAISED FOR PENSIONERS UT administration has enhanced the rates of dearness relief to pensioners and family pensioners from 29% to 35% from January 1, 2007. Other terms governing grant of dearness relief to pensioners will remain unchanged. It has also been decided to dispense with the issue of ready reckoner along with dearness relief orders. It would now be the responsibility of the pension disbursing authority, including nationalised banks, etc., to calculate the quantum of relief payable in each case. The administration has requested district treasury officers and public sector banks to arrange payment of dearness relief accordingly. The liability in respect of pre-November 1, 1966 service of the pensioners and family pensioners would be divisible amongst the successor states of erstwhile Punjab - Punjab, Haryana, HP and Chandigarh, it said. CITY POLICE SIT ON INTERPOL EXTRADITION PLEA The Chandigarh Police have not bothered to respond to a letter from the Interpol Wing of Central Bureau of Investigation seeking its cooperation in arresting the main accused in a multi-crore immigration fraud that rocked the city in 2005. The letter was sent 11 months ago. The Interpol Wing has, in fact, written several letters to the city police for the arrest and extradition of Joseph Emile who was living in Sector-9 when the fraud was detected. Police inaction in the case came to light when one of the victims of the fraud, Naresh Kumar, sought to know under the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the Interpol Wing about the status of the Red Corner Notice issued against Joseph in February, 2005. Naresh was informed that the Interpol Wing had directed the Chandigarh Police through a letter (no. IP-2/07/2006/4951) dated June 30, 2006, to send formal request for Joseph’s arrest and process his extradition documents for submission to the concerned authorities. Joseph Emile and his mother, Sheila Emile, allegedly committed an immigration fraud in the city to the tune of over Rs 5 crore. While Sheila was given a clean chit in the probe conducted by UT Police, her son Joseph remained a fugitive. Joseph has also been declared a fugitive by the CBI, and his picture with other details splashed on the website of Interpol, CBI. The Red Corner Notice issued against Joseph says he should be arrested wherever he is found and Interpol, New Delhi and ICPO-Interpol General Secretariat be informed immediately about it. Now, the Assistant Director (IP), CBI, National Central Bureau-India, Interpol Wing, New Delhi (vide CBI ID No. IP-30/12007 dated May 8, 2007) has again asked the Chandigarh Police to inform about the provisional arrest and extradition of Joseph at the earliest. DECLINE IN SEX RATIO CAUSE OF WORRY FOR UT ADMN The history of the women's movement in the west, transition from devi to dasi in India, role of women in the freedom movement, celebrating new female icons-- these and a host of revolutionary topics related to women will soon feature in the curriculum of Government colleges in the city to sensitise the youth towards gender issues to cater to the problem of declining sex ratio. A matter of grave concern all over the country, the sex ratio in the city beautiful was a woeful 777 per thousand males in 2001. The unfavourable sex ratio which has spread its tentacles in this French designed 'City Beautiful' will be taken up by the college authorities in a completely innovative and interactive technique aiming at changing mindsets and redefining the gender roles. A brainchild of Director High Education of the UT Administration Raji P Shrivastava, the topic of gender issues will form an active part of the course curriculum with agile students expressing their views and indulging in discussions on the topic in interactive sessions from the commencement of academic classes. While no exams will be conducted for the course, the seminar mode session at all Government colleges of the city throughout the year will make the issue occupy center stage and will actually provoke the thoughts of the youth and influence mindsets. "The basic aim is to sensitise the youth in the age group as the college students would be in the reproductive age group from a few years of their lives. The issue of skewed sex ratio and female feoticide are grave issues and to nip the issue in the bud through awareness by introducing this course is our aim," said Raji P Shrivastava. The broad methodology of the course includes a workshop technique to include interactive sessions, group work, narrating relavant stories and films, theatre as well as puppetry related to the same. In addition, a feedback session to evaluate the participant's understanding of the course as well as real life experiences will be shared by the students in the group. "The entire concept will make the present generation think and act on the issue of skewed sex ratio. As it has been observed that the sex ratio is dwindling in urban classes rather than the rural, sensitising the educated classes will prove to be a boon and is sure to work remarkably in changing mindsets," said AN Garg, Principal, Government College, Sector 11. SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM J&K ON CHANDIGARH VISIT Thirty-five school children, including 18 girls, from the remote areas of Kathua and Samba region of Jammu and Kashmir met Lt Gen Daljeet Singh, GOC-in-C of the Western Command at Chandimandir. Visiting Chandigarh, as part of a two-week educational tour, organised by the Army under 'Operation Sadbhavana', the students stated that the tour has been a great learning experience for them and they seemed to be enjoying every bit of their stay in the city. During his interaction with the children, Gen Daljeet Singh emphasised that these tours are an earnest effort by the Army to help the children from the backward and insurgency-affected areas of J &K. Thereby, such programmes will help them to gain exposure to the various opportunities that the country offers to the youth, to excel in all walks of their life. He wanted the young minds to share their experiences and ideas to the maximum in their native places. He also announced that the different schools to which these children belonged would be presented a computer by the Western Command and each child would be given a school uniform. During her interaction with the children, Mohini Daljeet Singh, president Western Command AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association), said she was happy to note that a large number of girls had come forward to be a part of this tour. On the occasion, she gave away presents to the visiting children. The highlight of the two-week tour of these children was their meeting with President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, on May14. During their educational tour, they also got an opportunity to visit Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border, Golden Temple at Amritsar; Hawa Mahal and Amer Fort at Jaipur; Taj Mahal at Agra; Science Museum, National Museum, Akshardham and Red Fort at Delhi; and the Indian Military Academy and Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehradun. At Chandigarh they visited the Rock garden, Pinjore garden, Sukhna Lake and the Sector 17 shopping centre. They also got an opportunity to interact and share their experiences with the children of Army School at Chandimandir. Widex to set up institute in Chandigarh Chandigarh-based Widex India Private Ltd, which controls over 60 per cent market share in the digital hearing aids market in India, is planning to start backward integration, which includes setting up an institute to train audiologists and a manufacturing facility for computer aided shells. Also, it has plans to set up its new headquarter in Chandigarh. These three projects are likely to attract an investment worth Rs 8-9 crore and would be funded through internal accruals and external commercial borrowings (ECBs). Speaking to Business Standard, Widex India Private Ltd Managing Director TS Anand said, “We are planning to set up an institute “Widex Institute for Speech & Hearing” to train audiologists in Chandigarh and would offer Bsc and Msc degree, which would be affiliated to Punjab university or Manipal university. Apart from that we also have plans to set up a manufacturing facility for computer aided shells for hearing aids and also a head office in Chandigarh.” The company is looking for space in Chandigarh for the proposed projects. He said that all these three project would attract an investment worth Rs 8-9 crore. So far the funding part is concerned it would be a combination of internal accurals and ECBs from its partner (Widex A/S of Denmark). Widex India is a joint venture of Widex A/S of Denmark. The company also unveiled a completely new standard in hearing aid technology—Integrated Hearing Science—for the Indian market. The hearing aid bearing this technology is called Aikia and Flash and is the company's new flagship on the mid-sector market. The launch of this new technology was coupled with opening of new Senso Hearing centre in Chandigarh. The centre is equipped with latest state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities and NOAH LINK technology. Talking about the hearing aids market, Anand disclosed, “The digital hearing aids market in India is estimated to be around Rs 40 crore and is estimated to be growing at 15 per cent each year. With a market share of over 60 per cent, Widex is the largest selling brand in the hi-end digital hearing aids market in India. These hearing aids are priced between Rs 12,000 and Rs 120,000." Widex India controls over 60 per cent market share in the digital hearing aids market in India. The company has a nationwide marketing network of 125 dealers in addition to 21 company owned exclusive Hearing and Speech Therapy Centres – Senso Hearing Centre, which provides world-class facility to dispense hearing aids. While disclosing other growth plans of Widex India, Anand said, “We have plans to open 3 more exclusive Senso Hearing centers on the franchisee model in cities like Ahmedabad, Mohali and Kolkata this year.” Delhi to Chandigarh in 90 minutes! The journey between Delhi and Chandigarh will take 90 minutes, once the high-speed rail corridor is constructed. The dream of a high-speed train between Delhi and Chandigarh is likely to be fulfilled with a nod from the Haryana government to participate in the joint venture for setting up the corridor. At a meeting today between Railway Board chairman J.P. Batra and chief secretary, Haryana, Prem Prashant, the state government said a joint forum would be set up for studying the modalities of the ambitious corridor. The chairman said the project cost for 500-km corridor was Rs 25,000 crore but this did not include the cost of land. The train would run at a speed of 250 km per hour and had better ambience and world class comfort. It would have a transit time of two to three hours for a distance ranging from 500 to 700 km. He said the high-speed train would also play a significant role in tackling the problem of global warming as it had a smaller carbon footprint. Those who represented the Haryana government at the meeting were Dharamvir, financial commissioner and principal secretary, PWD (Buildings and Roads), P.K. Choudhary, financial commissioner and principal secretary (Industries), Shakuntala Jakhu, financial commissioner and principal secretary (Town and Planning) and T.C. Gupta, chief administrator, HUDA. The project cost for 500-km corridor was Rs 25,000 crore but this did not include the cost of land. Delhi - Chandigarh high speed rail corridor CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Government on Saturday agreed in principle to take part in a joint venture for setting up a High Speed Rail Corridor between Delhi and Chandigarh which will halve the travelling time between the two cities to just about 90 minutes. This was decided at a meeting in New Delhi between Haryana Chief Secretary Prem Prashant and Railway Board Chairman J.P. Batra. The Chief Secretary disclosed that a joint forum would also be formed for studying the modalities and feasibility of this elevated High Speed Rail Corridor which would cost around Rs. 25,000 crore excluding land. The corporation would act as the project development nodal agency. RANK and BOLT award function held at Chandigarh SHIMLA, 26th May, 2007: V.S.Kokje, Governor presided over the Rank and Bolt Award function jointly organized by the Air-India and The Tribune at Chandigarh today. The students of Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab who excelled outside the field of academics were given RANK awards (Race for awareness and Knowledge) while BOLT awards (Broad-Outlook-Learner Teacher) were presented to the teachers of these States for adopting innovative methods for good teaching. Speaking on the occasion, Kokje stressed upon character building of students so that they could become good citizens. He said that it is imperative to get good marks in academics due to competition and added that the importance of social values should not be ignored. Imbibing the values in life lead to success, broadening the vision, enriching mind and improving personality, he added. Governor appreciated the efforts of Air-India and The Tribune for recognizing good students and good teachers. He called upon other organizations also to come forward to recognize the persons who are rendering their services for social causes. The Governor gave away awards to the State Award winners of Union Territory, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab. Global AIDS week of action in Chandigarh A participant lights candles during global AIDS week of action in Chandigarh May 25, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Microsoft expands to Chandigarh CHANDIGARH: Software major Microsoft today opened a facility here, as part of its strategy to boost its presence in the non-metros in the country. The company plans to service Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K markets. The move to set up a facility in this emerging IT hub, and also a strong market for small business segment, is a significant one. With its direct presence, Microsoft will enable the SMEs in the region to easily access a complete portfolio of its products and services and enhanced support from both the company as well as its partners. Announcing the company’s foray into Chandigarh, Neelam Dhawan, managing director of Microsoft, said that the entrepreneurial spirit of the region makes it one of the most dynamic business centers in northern India. "The region is home to nearly 25,000 Small and Medium Businesses, a majority of which are engaged in the automotive, textile, engineering and agro-processing industries,” she said. Dhawan said that the expansion is in keeping with Microsoft's vision to empower a broad section of businesses in the region to better understand the role that technology can play in driving growth and competitiveness of the local industry in the local and global arena. The city-based operations will strengthen the direct sales infrastructure of the company in the region. It also plans to bolster its partner network to increase reach and assist in scaling up business through the 'Microsoft Hub and Spoke model'. With this expansion, the company is well positioned to offer deeper functional expertise under the Microsoft Partner Program (MSPP) framework to provide localized solutions for the market. Elaborating on the geographical expansion plans Rajeev Mittal, group director, Small and Mid-Market Solutions and Partner, said, "We believe that our direct presence will help our partners provide enhanced solutions and services and support with faster turnaround time." Microsoft expands to Chandigarh Software major Microsoft has opened a facility in Chandigarh, as part of its strategy to boost its presence in the non-metros of the country. The company plans to service Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and J&K markets. The move to set up a facility in this emerging IT hub, and also a strong market for small business segment, is a significant one. With its direct presence, Microsoft will enable the SMEs in the region to easily access its complete portfolio of products and services and provide enhanced support from both the company as well as its partners. Announcing the company's foray into Chandigarh, Neelam Dhawan, managing director of Microsoft, said that the entrepreneurial spirit of the region makes it one of the most dynamic business centers in northern India. "The region is home to nearly 25,000 small and medium businesses, a majority of which are engaged in the automotive, textile, engineering and agro-processing industries," she added. Dhawan said that the expansion is in keeping with Microsoft's vision to empower a broad section of businesses in the region to better understand the role that technology can play in driving growth and competitiveness of the local industry in the local and global arena. The city-based operations will strengthen the direct sales infrastructure of the company in the region. Micosoft also plans to bolster its partner network to increase reach and assist in scaling up business through the 'Microsoft Hub and Spoke model'. With this expansion, the company seems well positioned to offer deeper functional expertise under the Microsoft Partner Program (MSPP) framework to provide localized solutions for the market. Elaborating on the geographical expansion plans Rajeev Mittal, group director, small and mid-market solutions and partner, said, "We believe that our direct presence will help partners provide enhanced solutions and services and support with faster turnaround time." A bit of Chandigarh in New York AUCTION: Christie's memorabilia sale of furniture by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret debuts next month at the Rockefeller Center. The art auction market may have softened a little bit in the recent past — even though both Christie’s and Bonham’s are claiming record high prices for some artists at their sales this week — but it hasn’t stopped the interest in Indian art from stretching out to include some very unusual collectibles. Coming up on June 5 is an auction, at Christie’s Rockefeller Center in New York, of “furniture and objects sourced from the city of Chandigarh”. Not quite a house sale, the 112 lots — not all of them from Chandigarh — include works by architect and designer Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, both of whom were involved with the building of the new capital of the state of Chandigarh in the 1950s. The collection that will be auctioned by Christie’s comes from government offices and private residences in the state capital. What is interesting is the way some of these objects have made it to the auction. While the provenance of some is private, and comes from the staff of those employed by Corbusier and Jeanneret, public fixtures and furniture from public buildings is more interesting. While some of it may have been moved out as a natural process of tendering for newer replacements in government offices or organisations, questions might still be raised on how furniture that has a value attached to it in terms of their designers, was allowed to move out of the city at all. The results of the auction will, no doubt, be closely watched in India where there is limited furniture that has been designed by well known architects, designers or even furniture manufacturers. Prime among those whose work is part of official India is that designed by Edward Lutyens and Charles Baker in the official residence of the President of India. For most part, offices and residences have been furnished by copies of catalogue designs by local carpenters. A number of the palaces, however, had ordered furnishings from the Continent, though often these never made it to India as ships and factories in the first four decades of the 20th century were bombed, and following independence, such orders ceased altogether. Still, the interest or otherwise, says an observer, could be an important pointer to growing interest in other than just art from India, and if the bids are successful, could also create a fresh market opportunity within India. On auction at Christie’s are chairs, benches, sofas, stools and armchairs made from sycamore, oak, ash, rosewood, bamboo, teak and leather. There are tables — centre, library, conference — and desks, bookcases and screens, storage units and consoles, cabinets and daybeds, and Corbusier’s wardrobes-cum-room dividers. The architect had also designed wall lights using steel, chrome, brass and aluminium. Reserve prices appear not to be too steep, with most under $30,000, and only a few objects carrying a base price over $100,000. Gurinder puts Chandigarh in command A Brilliant display of bowling by Gurinder saw Chandigarh tighten its grip over Bathinda on the second day of the final of the Punjab Inter-District (Under-17) Cricket Tournament for M L Markan Trophy being played at PCA Stadium in Mohali. Starting the innings today, Bathinda lost their way from the start as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Gurinder was the wrecker in chief for Chandigarh picking up eight wickets for 42 runs . Anshul Tripathi completed the rout by capturing the remaining two wickets. For Bathinda, Jashan Deep and Rajkamal were the top scorers with identical scores of 34. After bundling out Bathinda for a paltry total of 115 runs in 78.3 overs, Chandigarh made a confident start in the second innings. Openers Aayush and Shivam, who scored 25 not out and 24 not out respectively, helped Chandigarh to end the day at 54 for no loss. Earlier, on the first day of the final, Chandigarh had scored 335 runs in the first innings and has now an overall lead of 274 runs. Brief Scores: Chandigarh: 335 all out in 93.3 overs and 54 for no loss (Aayush 25 no, Shivam 24 no); Bathinda (first innings): 115 all out in 78.3 overs ( Jashan Deep 34, Rajkamal 34, Gurinder 8 for 42, Anshul Tripathi 2 for 19). Chandigarh firm to co-produce soccer flick Integrated media and entertainment company Compact Disc India Limited (CDI) will now be co-producing an international movie with Hollywood based production company, Motion Pixel Corporation. This will be a 90 minute 3D animation film called Goaaaaal!, based on the game of soccer and featuring the Brazilian soccer star, Ronaldo. CDI has inked the deal with Motion Pixel Corporation for a record $20.15 million. As part of this covenant, CDI will produce the animation content - right from the storyboard to the post production job. Motion Pixel has worked on the script, and will be engaged in the voice overs and music for the movie. CDI will produce the animation content over a one year period from their state- of- art studio in Chennai. Goaaaaal! is centred around soccer superstar Ronaldo and a young girl who dreams of becoming a soccer world champion. Unlike most other animated movies, Goaaaaal ! will feature real life sports personalities and celebrities and will create animated versions of them. Academy award winning actor Ben Kingsley, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas and Christina Aguilera have been signed in to lend their voices to the film. Talking to TNS here today, Suresh Kumar, chairman of the Chandigarh-based company said that though CDI had been doing a lot of outsourcing animation work for major Hollywood producers for the past couple of years and was one of the largest animation film outsourcing companies in South East Asia. “But this is the first time that we will be co-producing a Hollywood movie. The cost of production of the movie will be raised through internal accruals and through finance by a leading London based bank,” he said. The movie is slated for an early 2009 global release, in consonance with the FIFA Federation Cup. CDI chairman said that they now proposed to produce at least four international ventures each year (two being outsourced ventures and two stand alone productions/ co-productions). Besides, animation, CDI will also be producing a $ 20 million live action movie with Sir Ben Kingsley called ‘Guru of Sex’, based on the life of Osho Rajneesh. Kumar added that the company was also coming up with a multimedia knowledge park and a multi media college at Jaipur. “We are in talks with the governments of Rajasthan and Kerala for setting up the multimedia knowledge park, which will have all world class facilities in animation. Priority sport wushu not really a priority for Chandigarh THE importance being accorded to wushu, a game in which kicks, punches and throws are used simultaneously can be measured from the fact that recently the Union Ministry of Sports had given priority status to it and also from the fact that in the Doha Asian Games 2006 Indian athlete Bimoljeet Singh had won a bronze medal in the sport. But in Chandigarh, this discipline has remained in the back seat in the list of priority sports of the administration. Chandigarh athletes have performed quite well in this game. Ramesh Singh won a gold medal in the 2003 South Asian Championship and was the national champion in 2002, but it all went unnoticed. Now he is a qualified coach but there is no job for him as the Chandigarh administration is not taking any decision on inducting coaches for this discipline. According to Chandigarh Wushu Association (CWA) secretary Sudarshan Kumar, "Till date the administration has not given any support to the game either in terms of space allocation or any financial support. All the expenses are borne by the association. As of now we are running its camp and coaching in a hall of the labour department." Adding that the association was organising the Junior Wushu National Championship from May 26 to 29, he said they were taking adequate measures like covering all the athletes under an insurance scheme. He also said that all the preparations were satisfactory from the association's side but his priority would be to get gradation of certificates done by the Chandigarh administration and to get a team of medical specialists in case of any eventuality. However, the association has not received any communication from the administration's side in this regard, he stated. In recent years, Indian wushu athletes have performed better than in most other sports in international tournaments. At present, wushu is quite popular in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh. But in Chandigarh, no importance is being given to the sport. According to K S Bharti, president of the Chandigarh Wushu Association, though wushu has been included in the priority list, they have received no communication from the administration till date. He said that he was hopeful that in the near future it was quite possible that the association would get support from the administration. No plans for wushu “As of now there is no proposal with the department to provide any special facilities for the sport.” HC notices to Punajb, Haryana, Chandigarh on safety of Sacha Sauda The Punjab and Haryana Hhigh Court has issued notices to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh administration on a PIL seeking directions to the authorities in these states to ensure the life, liberty and property of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa in Haryana and of its followers from certain Sikh organisations. The petitioner, Manjit Singh, an advocate, also submitted before the division bench of Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover that safety of the sub-deras at various places must be ensured noting that Sacha Sauda had three crore followers in and outside India. More on ITChandigarh.Com © 2007, Fastrack Computing, S J Edutech P Limited