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Surender Sharma

Surender Sharma is a principal correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Punjab and Haryana high court.

Articles by Surender Sharma

Tarn Taran ‘gangrape’: HC seeks fresh inquiry report, asks govt to pay Rs 3 lakh to victim

The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought a fresh inquiry report from Tarn Taran police in an alleged gangrape case in which the police had declared two accused as innocents and failed to arrest two others, who were now proclaimed offenders.

The court acted on the petition of the victim in which she had sought direction for ensuring her safety, alleging threats from the accused and harassment at the hands of the police.(Representative image)

cities

Updated on Oct 23, 2016 10:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Distance education: HC asks UGC reasons for not recognising degrees

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to explain the rationale behind not recognising distance education degrees acquired by students for which examinations were conducted at centres outside the territorial jurisdiction of universities.

The high court bench of justice Jaswant Singh asked the UGC to explain the rationale behind not recognising distant education degrees.(HT Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Oct 16, 2016 03:52 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Drugs disposal: SC guidelines ignored, HC seeks report from Punjab, Haryana, UT

Lamenting that Supreme Court guidelines on storage and disposal of narcotic substances were not being followed, the Punjab and Haryana high court has sought reports from home secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

cities

Updated on Oct 14, 2016 11:06 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Can’t prosecute signatory for cheque bounce if firm not named accused: HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has said that a firm’s signatory cannot be prosecuted individually in a cheque bounce complaint unless the employer is named as an accused in the case.

The court said the signatory could not be held “vicariously liable.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Oct 13, 2016 11:06 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

10-yr-old awaits benefits after father’s death, mother asked to appoint herself as guardian

A 10-year-old girl, whose father died in January 2015, still awaits family pension and other such benefits offered to a legal heir of a deceased employee by Punjab government.

cities

Updated on Oct 12, 2016 12:20 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Sas Nagar

Punjab and Haryana HC’s word of caution to trial courts on dowry complaints

It can’t be forgotten that there is a tendency to rope in the relatives of the husband in a matrimonial dispute, the Punjab and Haryana high court has said, cautioning the magistrates that they were required to scrutinise the evidence and ask questions to the complainant and the witnesses to find out the truth.

cities

Updated on Oct 11, 2016 10:09 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

BDS management quota seats: HC rap for BFUHS V-C for not submitting admission schedule

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the vice-chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, to submit admission schedule to the BDS course under the management quota in Punjab medical colleges on September 28, failing which he has been asked to remain present to explain the “lapses”.

The high court bench asked the vice-chancellor to explain in the affidavit as to how many seats for the MBBS/BDS courses had been filled to date both under the government and private management quota.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Sep 27, 2016 11:22 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Jat quota stir: Haryana govt, HC slug it out

The beleaguered Haryana government’s assertions in Punjab and Haryana high court that criticism of investigation during hearings and further supervision by the court of February-2016 Jat quota violence cases “may not be in the interest of justice” has not gone down well with the court.

The division bench of justices SS Saron and Lisa Gill made it clear to the government on Saturday that it had never interfered with the investigations of the government and only wanted it to investigate matter in fair and transparent manner.(HT File)

india news

Updated on Sep 25, 2016 09:49 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC opens IIT doors for Karnal lad, 3,000 ranks below in merit of last admitted student

The Punjab and Haryana high court’s intervention has opened IIT doors for a Karnal student.

education

Updated on Sep 22, 2016 11:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Drug vehicles can be released to owner pending trial: Punjab and Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that the vehicles used for transporting drugs can be released to the owners pending trial.

cities

Updated on Sep 21, 2016 10:56 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Sangrur ex-serviceman’s widow wins court battle for dual pension

The right to get pension from the civil services is an independent right and cannot be declined on the ground that the person gets pension from the army as well, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held.

The court was hearing the petition of a widow from Sangrur, whose husband, Harbans Singh, had retired from the army in October 1994, joined Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL), and died in 2008.(HT File)

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Updated on Sep 09, 2016 02:10 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC okays PMET result system, but merit to see tweak; counselling on Sept 16-17

As list of invalid questions sees change upon court scrutiny, BFUHS directed to revise merit lists within three days

The test was organised for MBBS/BDS admissions to government and private medical colleges across the state.(Representative image)

cities

Updated on Sep 09, 2016 10:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Employee can’t be punished for decent criticism: HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has said that Constitution allows decent criticism and an employee can’t be chargesheeted for the same. “No authority is entitled to treat the exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of speech by a citizen as misconduct,” the high court said, adding that disciplinary proceedings against a person for the same are “unconstitutional”.

cities

Updated on Sep 04, 2016 01:11 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Lease of village common land to minister’s son under HC lens in Punjab

21 acres of cultivable panchayat land was leased out to Punjab minister Sohan Singh Thandal’s son Ravinder Singh for seven years at a rate of `2.51-lakh per annum on February 27, 2015

Akali minister Sohan Singh Thandal(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Sep 04, 2016 06:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Give employees freedom of applying elsewhere, says Punjab and Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the district and sessions judges of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh not to dissuade government employees from applying elsewhere for better career avenues.

Punjab and Haryana high court, Chandigarh(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 31, 2016 11:39 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Divorced daughter eligible for freedom fighter’s pension: HC

Almost a year after a single-judge bench held that the divorced, unemployed daughter of a freedom fighter would not be entitled to family pension after the death of her parents, a division bench has reversed the decision.

cities

Updated on Aug 24, 2016 01:40 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Court slams Punjab govt for stalling admission of slain Major’s daughter

The Punjab and Haryana high court has deprecated the role of the Punjab government and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a Patiala college for “unnecessarily” trying to stall admission of a daughter of former army Major, who was killed in anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir, to the MBBS course.

cities

Updated on Aug 19, 2016 01:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Be a conciliator first, an adjudicator later: HC’s advice to lok adalats

The Punjab and Haryana high court has a word of caution for lok adalats in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh: Before taking an “avatar” of a court to decide a case on merit between the parties, try to be a conciliator first, then an adjudicator.

cities

Updated on Aug 12, 2016 04:39 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC quashes appointment of CPSes in Punjab, says it violates Constitution

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday quashed appointment of 18 chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSes) in the SAD-BJP government of Punjab, ruling that they are acting as “junior ministers” in contravention of the Constitution’s intent to limit the council of ministers to 15% of the legislature’s strength.

The judgment was pronounced by the bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Ramendra Jain.(HT Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Aug 13, 2016 10:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Don’t insist on biological father’s name: HC to passport authorities

Punjab and Haryana high court have ruled that the passport authorities cannot insist on keeping biological father’s surname in the passport, if it is proved that the parties, at the time of divorce, had agreed to keep the surname of the mother.

The passport authorities had told the court that under passport manual of 2010, parent’s name cannot be deleted from a passport, consequent to a divorce.(HT Representative Image)

cities

Updated on Aug 12, 2016 12:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Distance education degree hurdle for over 1,000 Punjab teachers

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that degrees awarded to students under the distance education programme, examination for which are conducted by the university outside its territorial jurisdiction without the UGC permission, is illegal.

cities

Updated on Aug 08, 2016 11:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Bhola drug racket case: HC seeks fresh status report on accused NRIs

The Punjab and Haryana high court has given more time to the special investigation team (SIT) probing the Jagdish Bhola drug racket case to submit a progress report on the role of NRIs, Satpreet Singh alias Satta and Parminder Singh alias Pindi, both perceived to have close links with a senior cabinet minister of the Punjab government.

Punjab and Haryana high court(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Aug 07, 2016 01:46 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Distance education exam centre outside state illegal: UGC to HC

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that degrees awarded to students under the distance education programme, examination for which are conducted by the university outside its territorial jurisdiction without the UGC permission, is illegal.

The UGC’s response came in a case wherein around 1,000 teachers of Punjab with such degrees were denied promotions by the government. The affected teachers had moved court in July.(HT File)

cities

Updated on Aug 06, 2016 09:55 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Can’t fire employee after retirement: Punjab and Haryana high court

Retirement is the end of employee-employer relationship, so a retired employee can’t be dismissed, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held. The bench of justice Kuldip Singh stated that the employer reserves the right to withhold pension, permanently or for a specified period, and use this money for recovering a loss, if the pensioner is guilty of grave misconduct or negligence during service. But the employee can’t be fired after superannuation.

cities

Updated on Aug 05, 2016 10:12 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Panchkula officers housing society in MDC Sec 6 heading for trouble

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) allotted a 2-acre plot to a group housing society of IAS, IPS and other senior officers at site number 1 in Sector-6, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula, in violation of rules in 2001.

A communication between two departments filed before the Punjab and Haryana high court reveals mandatory prior approval of the list of society members from the cooperative department was not taken.(Representative image)

cities

Updated on Jul 27, 2016 02:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Jat quota violence: Judicial officers question cops’ role, say dept lacks sincerity

The huge damages and widespread criticism of their role during the violent Jat quota stir notwithstanding, even after five months, the Haryana Police have not made “sincere efforts” to nab the accused.

The reports submitted by local magistrates of at least eight districts before the Punjab and Haryana high court have found that in most FIRs probe has been “improper and lacked sincere efforts”.(HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jul 24, 2016 12:43 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Municipalities must compensate owners for shamlat land, rules HC

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that village merger in a municipality does not divest the identifiable villagers of ownership of common land (shamlat land) and civic bodies will have to compensate owners to use such land. The order will have ramifications in Punjab too even as the verdict was on 100 odd petitions by residents of Haryana.

The order will have ramifications in Punjab too even as the verdict was on 100 odd petitions by residents of Haryana.(HT File Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 23, 2016 11:19 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

HC directs registrar to frame service rules for Mandi Gobindgarh society

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed registrar cooperative societies to frame service rules for Mandi Gobindgarh Cooperative House Building Society Limited.

The direction came from the high court bench of justice Kuldip Singh on a bunch of petitions challenging recovery notices worth lakhs slapped on four employees.

cities

Updated on Jul 22, 2016 04:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line: Land compensation increased by 10 times

The Punjab and Haryana high court has increased the compensation by up to 10 times for the land acquired for the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line. The land acquisition was carried out between 1999 and 2002.

The land owners in Kambala and Kambali villages of SAS Nagar will get a compensation at a rate of Rs 1.76 crore per acre instead of Rs 17 lakh decided by a lower court. All the landowners will be entitled to 50% severance charges, the court ruled.(HT Photo)

cities

Updated on Jul 17, 2016 01:08 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

SPOs who fluffed four chances can’t be cops: HC

Hired during Punjab’s militancy days, the 150-odd special police officers (SPOs) seeking posts of constable got their 25 petitions dismissed in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

cities

Updated on Jul 16, 2016 11:33 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySurender Sharma, Chandigarh

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Surender Sharma

Surender Sharma is a principal correspondent at Chandigarh. He covers Punjab and Haryana high court.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought a fresh inquiry report from Tarn Taran police in an alleged gangrape case in which the police had declared two accused as innocents and failed to arrest two others, who were now proclaimed offenders.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to explain the rationale behind not recognising distance education degrees acquired by students for which examinations were conducted at centres outside the territorial jurisdiction of universities.

Lamenting that Supreme Court guidelines on storage and disposal of narcotic substances were not being followed, the Punjab and Haryana high court has sought reports from home secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has said that a firm’s signatory cannot be prosecuted individually in a cheque bounce complaint unless the employer is named as an accused in the case.

A 10-year-old girl, whose father died in January 2015, still awaits family pension and other such benefits offered to a legal heir of a deceased employee by Punjab government.

The beleaguered Haryana government’s assertions in Punjab and Haryana high court that criticism of investigation during hearings and further supervision by the court of February-2016 Jat quota violence cases “may not be in the interest of justice” has not gone down well with the court.

The Punjab and Haryana high court’s intervention has opened IIT doors for a Karnal student.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has held that the vehicles used for transporting drugs can be released to the owners pending trial.

The right to get pension from the civil services is an independent right and cannot be declined on the ground that the person gets pension from the army as well, the Punjab and Haryana high court has held.

As list of invalid questions sees change upon court scrutiny, BFUHS directed to revise merit lists within three days

21 acres of cultivable panchayat land was leased out to Punjab minister Sohan Singh Thandal’s son Ravinder Singh for seven years at a rate of `2.51-lakh per annum on February 27, 2015

The Punjab and Haryana high court has asked the district and sessions judges of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh not to dissuade government employees from applying elsewhere for better career avenues.

Almost a year after a single-judge bench held that the divorced, unemployed daughter of a freedom fighter would not be entitled to family pension after the death of her parents, a division bench has reversed the decision.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has a word of caution for lok adalats in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh: Before taking an “avatar” of a court to decide a case on merit between the parties, try to be a conciliator first, then an adjudicator.

Punjab and Haryana high court have ruled that the passport authorities cannot insist on keeping biological father’s surname in the passport, if it is proved that the parties, at the time of divorce, had agreed to keep the surname of the mother.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that degrees awarded to students under the distance education programme, examination for which are conducted by the university outside its territorial jurisdiction without the UGC permission, is illegal.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has told the Punjab and Haryana high court that degrees awarded to students under the distance education programme, examination for which are conducted by the university outside its territorial jurisdiction without the UGC permission, is illegal.

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) allotted a 2-acre plot to a group housing society of IAS, IPS and other senior officers at site number 1 in Sector-6, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula, in violation of rules in 2001.

The huge damages and widespread criticism of their role during the violent Jat quota stir notwithstanding, even after five months, the Haryana Police have not made “sincere efforts” to nab the accused.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed registrar cooperative societies to frame service rules for Mandi Gobindgarh Cooperative House Building Society Limited.

The Punjab and Haryana high court has increased the compensation by up to 10 times for the land acquired for the Chandigarh-Ludhiana rail line. The land acquisition was carried out between 1999 and 2002.

Hired during Punjab’s militancy days, the 150-odd special police officers (SPOs) seeking posts of constable got their 25 petitions dismissed in the Punjab and Haryana high court.

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