Page 14 - Punjab

SC issues contempt notice to Punjab for not implementing pension scheme

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a contempt notice to the Punjab chief secretary for failing to implement a three-decade-old pensionary benefits scheme in the state. Observing the court couldn't be taken for a ride, a bench of Justices Abhay Oka and N Kotiswar Singh asked the chief secretary to answer why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for the violation of the undertakings. "In spite of repeated undertakings given to the high court, compliance has not been made by the state government. Therefore, we issue showcause notice to K A P Sinha, chief secretary, State of Punjab calling upon him to showcause why action under the Contempt Of Courts Act 1971 (both civil and criminal) should not be initiated against him," the court said. The bench said if the official felt some other officer was at fault, he was "free to file an affidavit" giving the names or other details of the officers responsible for the court to initiate action. The matter would be heard aga

SKM protest: Punjab police stops farmers from heading to Chandigarh

Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha were stopped from going to Chandigarh for their week-long dharna beginning Wednesday in support of their various demands, with multiple barricades and checkpoints set up across Punjab and security stepped up at all entry points of the Union Territory. The Morcha, which is a conglomerate of more than 30 farmer bodies, had given a call for the dharna in Chandigarh starting March 5 in support of their various demands. Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General of Police H S Bhullar said the protesting farmers will not be allowed to reach Chandigarh at any cost. "Wherever any farmer came out (on roads), police of that area stopped them," Bhullar said. Farmers, who left for Chandigarh in tractor-trolleys and other vehicles on Wednesday morning, were stopped by the Punjab Police at many places. In Moga, Krantikari Kisan Union district Moga president Jatinder Singh said they were stopped at Ajitwal in Moga district by the police when the

Police detain SKM leaders ahead protest; Punjab CM warns farm unions

In Ludhiana, SKM leaders including Harjit Singh Giaspura, Balwant Singh Khirnia, Avtar Singh Mahlo, Manmohan Singh Deol and Dilbag Singh were allegedly detained

'Punjab becoming a state of dharna', says CM Mann amid protest tensions

Midnight raids spark outrage as Punjab CM Mann says, 'Punjab is becoming a state of dharna' defending police action ahead of farmers' 'Chandigarh Chalo' protest

Punjab to deploy anti-drone tech to check drug inflow from across border

The Punjab government will take the help of anti-drone technology to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border, Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday. Finance Minister Cheema, who is leading a cabinet sub-committee to monitor action against the drug menace and Cabinet minister Aman Arora on Tuesday witnessed the demonstration of the anti-drone technology by three companies in Mohali. Speaking to reporters, Arora said drugs, arms and ammunition are coming from Pakistan as he stressed upon the use of anti-drone technology to check the inflow from across the border. "It is the primary responsibility of the government of India and the BSF to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border," Arora said, adding the Border Security Force (BSF) has 50 km of jurisdiction. "But we have been seeing over the past many years that the BSF is not getting 100 per success (in checking smuggling from across the border)," he

Viral pastor Bajinder Singh faces sexual harassment charges in Punjab

Pastor Bajinder Singh, who claims to possess healing powers, has been accused by a woman of inappropriately hugging and touching her

Punjab Police launches massive anti-drugs op across state, Cong takes dig

Punjab Police has launched a statewide operation against drugs, conducting raids at 750 locations as the cabinet sub-committee on the drug menace held its first meeting on Saturday, officials said. Around 12,000 police personnel were involved in the operation being carried out as part of an anti-drug campaign. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday set a deadline of three months to make the state drug-free. As part of the state government's renewed push against the drug problem, action is being taken against drug peddlers and in some places, their properties were also demolished. Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Saturday appealed to all political parties that instead of playing politics, they should extend their support to the state government's anti-drug campaign to save Punjab. The meeting of the cabinet sub-committee was also attended by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. Addressing the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Si

Farmers' protest: SC to hear petitions related to the case after March 19

The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing over the farmers' protest observing two rounds of talks took place between the Centre and the agitating farmers, who have raised several demands, including the legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said a third round of talks was scheduled on March 19. The bench therefore posted the matter, including petitions seeking contempt action against Punjab government officials over providing medical aid to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, post March 19. Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh said two ministers of the state had participated in the meeting. The bench appreciated the work of the apex court-appointed high-powered committee for providing a platform to the agitating farmers to raise grievances and took on record its interim report. The bench, which has kept the report with itself for time being, fixed an honorarium for chairman of the committee Justice (retd)

'Punjab is priority:' AAP minister who held 'defunct' dept for 20 months

Punjab minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal faced criticism after a government notification revealed that the department he held for 20 months did not exist

From farm to follicles: How toxic wheat led to mass baldness in Maharashtra

Over 300 villagers in Maharashtra's Buldhana suffer sudden hair loss, with tests revealing high selenium levels in Punjab-sourced ration wheat as the likely cause

Ghost department in Punjab? Minister held fake portfolio for 20 months

AAP minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal managed a non-existent department for 20 months, a Punjab govt notification reveals, sparking sharp criticism from the Opposition

BJP slams AAP after minister ran non-existent dept for 20 months in Punjab

According to a Punjab government Gazette notification, Dhaliwal who oversees NRI Affairs dept was allocated the charge of the Department of Administrative Reforms, which they now says does not exist

Bajaj Electricals gets Rs 14.08 cr demand from GST authority in Punjab

Bajaj Electricals Ltd on Friday said it has received a demand of Rs 14.08 crore from GST authority in Punjab for alleged mismatch in input tax credit (ITC) claimed by it. In a regulatory filing, Bajaj Electricals Ltd said it has received an assessment order dated February 20, 2025, from the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, Mohali, Punjab alleging liability on reverse charge mechanism, a mismatch in the input tax credit (ITC) claimed by it during FY 2020-21. "Consequently, a total demand of Rs 14.08 crore has been imposed on the company, which includes an alleged tax demand of Rs 7.45 crore, interest of Rs. 5.89 crore, and a general penalty of Rs 75 lakh," it said. The company is currently exploring various legal options and necessary steps, including filing an appeal before the relevant appellate authority, the filing said, adding there is no impact on financial operations or any other activities due to this.

Punjab govt launches career counselling initiative for class 12 students

The Punjab government has come out with an initiative to reach out to class 12 students to assist them in their academic and professional endeavours. The initiative is aimed at supporting the aspirations of students passing out from government schools in Punjab, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, adding the government would reach out to class 12 students with questions about their future plans to understand and nurture their dreams. Bains said the department has circulated a 'Google Form' to all the students appearing for class 12 board examinations. According to an official statement, the form, accompanied by a message from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, invites students to share their immediate plans and long-term goals -- ?be it higher education, entrepreneurship, or competitive exams. The data collected will enable the state government to develop suitable support mechanisms to assist students in their academic and professional endeavours, Bains said. "This

Punjab Police crackdown on corruption, malpractices: 52 officials dismissed

The dismissals included one inspector, five assistant sub-inspectors (ASIs), four head constables (HCs), and 42 constables

Punjab CEO asks political parties to appoint booth level agents by Feb 28

Punjab's Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C on Thursday said that he has written a letter to all recognised political parties of the state to appoint their booth level agents by February 28. The chief electoral officer (CEO) said the booth level agents appointed by all recognised political parties will work closely with the booth level officers of the respective polling stations and help eligible citizens to file applications for inclusion, removal, modification and transfer in the electoral roll. Every recognised political party should send a list of 23 district representatives (or more), who are authorised to appoint booth level agents in respective districts, to the office of the chief electoral officer by February 28, the CEO said in a statement here. He urged all recognised political parties to take necessary action to the instructions issued by the Election Commission of India with an aim to maximise transparency in the process of preparation and revision of electoral roll and al

Punjab has no water to spare for any state, Mann tells Ravi-Beas tribunal

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said the state does not have a single drop of water to share with any other state. Mann stated this before the Ravi Beas Water Tribunal set up for adjudicating river water disputes between Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. At a meeting with the tribunal led by its chairman Justice Vineet Saran, members Justice P Naveen Rao and Justice Suman Shyam, and registrar Rita Chopra, the chief minister reiterated that the state has no spare water to share with any other state and there is no question of sharing even a single drop of water with anyone. Punjab has no surplus water to share with any other state and reassessment of availability of water is required as per international norms, Mann said, according to an official statement. He also urged the tribunal members, who are in Punjab for a site visit of the Ravi water system, to deliver justice to the people of the state. Mann pointed out that Punjab's 76.5 per cent blocks (117 out of 153) a

PSTET result 2025 announced at official website; check link to download

The Punjab State Council of Educational Research and Training (PSCERT) has announced the Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test (PSTET) 2025 results today, Feb 19, 2025 at https://pstet.pseb.ac.in

Mann slams Oppn for 'spreading rumours' that Kejriwal wants to be Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday slammed the opposition parties for "spreading rumours" that AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal wanted to become the chief minister of the border state following the party's rout in the Delhi Assembly polls. "Is it possible?" Mann questioned when he was asked that the opposition party leaders claimed that Kejriwal would be the next chief minister of Punjab. "They (the opposition) say whatever comes to their mind. They earlier had said so," said Mann while speaking to reporters in Sardulgarh. They only spread rumours, alleged Mann as he slammed the rival party leaders. Following the debacle in the Delhi assembly elections, Kejriwal had met Mann, state ministers, and party MLAs in Delhi on February 11. Several opposition party leaders had targeted Kejriwal for calling the meeting of Punjab MLAs.

Row over Sikh immigrants deported without turbans, SGPC condemns US

SGPC member Gurcharan Singh Grewal condemned the incident, labelling the deportation of Sikhs without turbans as a serious affront to their religious identity