Runaway couples cautioned

Think twice before ‘rebellion marriage’, says High Court

Chandigarh, April 12
Cautioning runaway couples against running down established social norms while racing towards the hymenal altar, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked them to “think twice” before according precedence to individual interests over that of society’s.

The assertion by Justice Rameshwar Singh Malik, aimed at easing tension between interests of individuals and a group as a whole, came while dealing with nearly a dozen protection petitions filed on a single day by runaway couples.

In one of the petitions, Kirti Goyal and another petitioner had sought directions to the State of Punjab and other respondents to protect their life and liberty on the ground that they “ had tried to persuade their parents and relatives, but in vain.”

Referring to Supreme Court judgments on the right to life and liberty guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, Justice Malik asserted: “It is equally important to note that freedom of the individual is not absolute, but subject to the established and time-tested social norms of a civilised society.

“Co-existence of freedom of the individual and social control is sine-qua-non (an essential element or condition) for sustainable progress of society and this is also an integral part of our Constitutional philosophy.

“Therefore, though the petitioners are entitled to protection to their life and liberty in the given facts and circumstances of the case, but at the same time, it is also expected of them and other young citizens like them that before running away from their homes for performing this type of rebellion marriage, they must think twice, besides, listening carefully to their parents who are not their enemies, but genuine well- wishera.”

Justice Malik also said: “Let us welcome the dynamic social change and evolution, but only subject to the social control and moral values which are centuries old and have not lost their shine even today ”.

Before parting with the orders in almost all the cases on the issue, Justice Malik said: “It is also made clear that this order shall not entitle the petitioners for any protection against their arrest or continuance of any criminal proceedings, if they are found involved in the commission of any cognisable offence...”

Punjab to ban mobile phones inside jails

Jail Staff to get walkie-talkie sets

Patiala, April 12
Following complaints of illegal use of mobile phones by prisoners, the Punjab Jails Department has decided to completely ban carrying of mobile phones inside the jails. As an alternative, jail officials will be provided walkie-talkie sets to ensure that even they do not carry their personal mobile phones inside the jails.

Sources said while a move of installing jammers inside the jails was still in the pipeline, officials had been briefed about banning the use of mobile phones inside the jails. "Mobile phones will be banned inside jails even for superintendents and others staff who will be provided walkie-talkie sets," they said.

An official said, "The state government's pilot project to install jammers in all jails is yet to see light of the day due to shortage of funds. However, a sum of Rs 4 crore has been earmarked for modernisation of jail equipment, including modern communication devices for jail staff".

In the recent past, over 1,000 mobile phones had been recovered from jail inmates across the state.

In a recent case, allegations were levelled against former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur for allegedly using her mobile phone inside the Kapurthala Jail in violation of the Jail Manual. However, once jammers are installed and walkie-talkie sets are given to the jail staff, such violations will be checked.

The sources said many criminals lodged in jails were allegedly running their gangs from there itself. The Jail Manual stipulates that there is no proper provision to book them for using mobile phone. "Punjab DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant is keen to get funds to buy jammers to curb illegal activities of inmates," said a senior jail officer.

At present, Punjab has seven Central Jails located at Patiala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, five districts jails located at Nabha, Sangrur, Faridkot, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur, two open-air jails located at Nabha and Kapurthala, one women's jail at Ludhiana and 10 sub-jails at Fazilka, Majha, Mukatsar, Patti, Ropar, Barnala, Malerkotla, Phagwara, Dasuya and Pathankot. Besides, there is a jail training school located at Patiala.

“We will surely implement many more jail reforms, including banning of mobile phones from inside jails soon,” said DGP (Jails) Shashi Kant.

JAMMING NETWORK

• In the recent past, over 1,000 mobile phones had been recovered from jail inmates across the state
• The government's pilot project to install jammers in all jails is yet to see light of the day due to shortage of funds
• A sum of Rs 4 crore has been earmarked for modernisation of jail equipment, including modern communication sets for jail staff.

Bill C-10 makes crossing U.S. border tougher if you have a criminal record

VANCOUVER - The recent passage of Bill C-10, the federal Safe Streets and Communities Act, has made crossing into the U.S. from Canada more difficult for anyone with a criminal record.

A solution can be provided by Commissionaires B.C., but getting a waiver won't be cheap and it could take as long as a year or more, according to Deb Barnett, supervisor of identification for the organization.

Barnett said a Canadian ``record suspension'' is most important for employment reasons. But the new crime law has extended the waiting period for that to five years from three years for less serious offences and to 10 years from five years for indictable offences.

Anyone with three indictable offences leading to prison sentences of more than two years each can't get their record wiped clean. Neither can someone convicted of sex offences against a child.

But getting a U.S. entry waiver is critical for travel to or through the U.S.

``This has some pretty major effects on people's lives,'' said Barnett.

She cited two cases of people who came directly to her office after being turned back at Vancouver International Airport.

One was heading to the U.S. to visit his dying sister in hospital. A random check revealed he had an assault on his record from a marital dispute more than 20 years in the past and he was rejected.

The other man was heading to his second home in Palm Springs, Ariz., to join family members who had travelled ahead of him. A random check of the man, who was in his 50s, turned up a marijuana possession from when he was 18.

``He had no idea they were doing this,'' said Barnett of the checks.

The Commissionaires are an independent, non-profit security organization that provides meaningful work for former Canadian Forces and RCMP members. There are other companies that also deal with the complicated process of getting what used to be called ``pardons'' but are now, since March 12, called ``record suspensions.''

Barnett pointed out that a Canadian pardon is not recognized by U.S. border guards.

That's where a U.S. entry waiver, which is granted by the Department of Homeland Security, is required. It costs $585 US, payable to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

All of this requires getting criminal record files, for which the Commissionaires charge a service fee. The fee for that is $399 but the total for the entire process averages $1,059.

Criminal records are kept in the Canadian Police Information Centre, which can be accessed by U.S. Customs. If a U.S. official has accessed that record it remains in their database even if that record is wiped out by a pardon in Canada.

That's why the entry waiver is critical.

Harper's drug stance may put him on the outs at Summit of the Americas

South American leaders advocate drug decriminalization

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is flying to a weekend summit in Colombia where his hard line on drugs will put him at odds with some Latin American leaders who are calling for a debate over whether drug use should be decriminalized.

Harper's position on Cuba also could run afoul of a possible consensus by countries in central and South America.

Harper is attending the Summit of the Americas, a conference of leaders from 34 nations that is held every three years.

The talks this year will include such issues as trade expansion, and Harper will meet with senior business executives from Canada and elsewhere who are attending the summit to discuss investment in the Western Hemisphere.

As well, it's expected many Latin American leaders will argue the time has come, after decades of being barred from the summit, for Cuba to be invited to the next gathering.

That will run counter to the firm positions of Canada and the United States, which insist Cuba should not be permitted to attend the next summit until the communist regime initiates democratic reforms.

Meanwhile, another issue — illicit drugs — is top of mind for some leaders. The escalating violence connected to warring drug cartels in Latin America has some nations insisting it's time for a new approach: softer penalties for drug use or perhaps even a decriminalized system in which governments regulate how the drugs are sold.

To varying degrees, the leaders of Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico and Costa Rica have spoken out in favour of exploring approaches other than the criminal to the problem of illegal drug use.

But on Thursday, Harper's director of communications said Canada will argue strenuously against decriminalization of illegal drugs.

"The prime minister would be a strong voice in that debate," said Andrew MacDougall. "The government's strategy is, in fact, completely in the opposite direction.

"A key priority for us is to fight illicit drugs, particularly the transnational organizations that are behind the drug smuggling. Here at home, we have put in place tough new laws to crack down on these groups, to put drug dealers behind bars where they belong."

Critics of the so-called 'war on drugs' approach note that Latin American drug cartels have grown more powerful as violence spreads throughout the region — claiming more than 50,000 lives in Mexico alone — and that drug use has only increased in rich nations such as Canada and the United States.

Suddenly, some leaders are looking to this weekend's summit in Cartagena, Colombia as a perfect opportunity to begin debate on a question that was once taboo: Why not remove the profits of the cartels by making the drug trade a legal — but highly regulated — business?

That's not an option being welcomed either by the Harper government, or by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration.

The Obama administration says it is open to a debate on the issue — if only to "demystify" decriminalization as an option and show that such a move would backfire and make matters worse.

Among those speaking most bluntly for decriminalization is Guatemala's president Otto Perez Molina, who was the former head of his country's intelligence service.

In an opinion article that appeared earlier this week in the British newspaper the Guardian, he outlined the merits of ending prohibition.

"We all agree that drugs are bad for our health and that therefore we have to concentrate on impeding their consumption, just as we combat alcoholism and tobacco addiction," he wrote.

"However, nobody in the world has ever suggested eradicating sugarcane plantations, or potatoes and barley production, in spite of these being raw materials in the production of the likes of rum, beer and vodka. And we all know that alcoholism and tobacco addiction cause thousands of deaths every year all over the world."

Molina added that "mainstream global drug policy today is based on a false premise: that the global drug markets can be eradicated."

Guatemala is pushing for countries to drop "ideological" considerations and explore a "realistic approach."

"Drug consumption, production and trafficking should be subject to global regulations, which means that drug consumption and production should be legalized, but within certain limits and conditions," he wrote.

Molina said a regulatory approach to recreational drug consumption would still face problems, such as how to "diminish" violence generated by drug abuse, strengthen public health systems to help drug addicts and prevent substance abuse — possibly by prohibiting drug sales to minors, banning mass media advertising, and slapping high taxes on drugs.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who is hosting this weekend's summit, also hasn't been shy about speaking in favour of new options.

Earlier this month, he told the Washington Post the discussion on drug policy is "not rational" and he wants to see an "open" and "objective" debate.

"If we find that there is a better alternative that will take away the profits from the criminal organizations and that maybe you can address the problem of consumption in a more effective way, then everybody will win."

RTE Act applies to all govt, private schools, rules Supreme Court of India

Private unaided minority institutions get exemption
New Delhi, April 12

The government got a shot in its arm today when the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act (2009) and ruled that the law would apply uniformly across India to all government, local bodies and private unaided schools.

By a majority view, a three-judge Bench of Chief Justice SH Kapadia and Justices KS Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said the Act would apply to all private and minority schools, which get grants from the government. All unaided private schools are also covered under the Act with the exception of unaided private minority schools.

All schools covered by the law will now have to compulsorily reserve in Class I (or nursery at entry level) at least 25 per cent seats of the total strength of that class for children belonging to weaker sections and disadvantaged group in the neighbourhood. Top Delhi institutions, including Sanskriti, Modern School, DPS, Vasant Valley would be covered under the RTE Act.

However, missionary schools in Chandigarh like St John’s, Carmel Convent, St Anne’s and Sacred Heart which get no grants from the government, will be exempted and not have to reserve 25 per cent seats for the weaker sections.

“Missionary schools are in any case enrolling children from the Economically Weaker Sections but with the additional 25 per cent quota, they were feeling extremely burdened. The SC order is a relief,” said Alka Sarin, advocate for Chandigarh’s missionary schools.

The SC’s order came on a bunch of petitions filed by private unaided institutions which argued that the law violated their rights under Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution which provided them the autonomy to run institutions without government interference.

Justice Radhakrishnan’s dissenting view that the law should not apply to unaided private and unaided minority institutions was overruled by Justices Kapadia and Swatanter Kumar.

The apex court said the law should be viewed as child-centric and not institution-centric. The court also ruled that the judgment would apply from today (Thursday). This means it won’t apply to admissions granted before today and post April 1, 2010 when the Act came into force. The law will thus apply prospectively.

Earlier, the SC had reserved its judgment on August 3, 2011, on petitions filed by the Society for Unaided Private Schools, Independent Schools Federation of India and others who primarily contested 25 per cent quota at entry level.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today thanked the apex court for upholding the interests of children before anything else. “The court has clarified a very complex issue. We welcome the court’s view that such legislations should be seen as child-specific and not institution- specific. It’s the future of children that will be secured through the law. We had always held what the SC has today ruled. Every school must now comply,” he added.

The government, however, clarified that madrassas and Vedic schools won’t be covered under the RTE Act and a Bill amending the law would be taken up in Parliament soon to exempt these institutions. “These institutions are not schools as per the definitions of the RTE Act,” Sibal said.

Schools reserving 25 pc seats will be reimbursed expenditure to the extent of per-child-expenditure incurred by the state as a whole or the actual amount charged from the child whichever is less.

Anand Marriage Act gets Cabinet approval

Sikhs will be able to register marriages under 1909 Act 
New Delhi, April 12
Sikh couples will soon be able to get their marriages registered under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, instead of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
Accepting the long-standing demand of Sikhs, the Cabinet today approved amendments to the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, to provide for registration of Sikh marriages. A Bill to this effect would be introduced in Parliament when the Budget Session resumes later this month.
The Cabinet also approved the introduction of a Bill to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, to include registration of marriages as well. The move aims at utilising the existing administrative mechanism to maintain marriage records on the lines of records of births and deaths.
The amendment would allow couples to get their marriages registered independent of their religion, though the option of getting marriages registered under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriages Act would continue.
Though the Law Ministry note in respect of this amendment talked of compulsory registration of marriages, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal clarified, “Those who wish can get their marriage registered under this new law. The issue of mandatory registration will be discussed when the Bill reaches the Standing Committee .”
After Parliament passes the amendment Bill, Sikh marriage certificates won’t be issued under Section 2 of the Hindu Marriage Act (as is the case now). The Cabinet decision comes a year after the government decided to drop the proposal of amending the Anand Marriage Act and Salman Khurshid informed the Rajya Sabha of the decision.
The Tribune was the first to report the move on August 29, 2011, following which the Sikhs began fresh agitations for a demand that had once been approved by the Standing Committee on Law when Veerappa Moily was the Law Minister. But later the move fell flat.
Khurshid recently proposed religion-neutral registration of all marriages — a move which the Sikhs slammed. Former Chairperson of the National Minority Commission Tarlochan Singh wrote a protest letter to Law Minister Salman Khurshid, demanding amendment to the Anand Marriage Act and not a religion-neutral marriage registration law.
“This is the victory of Sikhs; we had fought for this right for decades,” Tarlochan Singh said today. Akali Dal’s Rajya Sabha member Naresh Gujral also welcomed the decision saying. “It’s sad that Sikhs who sacrificed so much for the country had to feel alienated over such a small demand. We thank the PM and the Cabinet as this decision reassures minorities that their interests are protected. We want to congratulate Tarlochan Singh, former MP, who spearheaded the campaign in Parliament.”
In the Cabinet, Information Minister Ambika Soni proposed that the amendment Bill be titled Anand Karaj Amendment Bill, 2012. This title is likely to be retained. So far, marriages amongst Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and other communities, except Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Jews, were covered under the Hindu Marriage Act.

Major step in recognizing Sikh identity
JALANDHAR: Not only has a long pending demand of the Sikh community, of recognizing their own marriage ceremony, been fulfilled with Union Cabinet's nod to Anand Marriage Act, but it has also come as a major step in addressing the issue of their search for an independent identity - which gained momentum some three decades back. 

Even as the Sikhs had their own marriage ceremony, initiated by third Sikh master Guru Amar Dass, and is centered around their holy book Guru Granth Sahib, but their marriages were registered under Hindu Marriage Act. Apart from the issue of identity, this had also been creating problems for NRI Sikhs - who are estimated to be around five million across the globe. 

"In our papers, we state our religion as Sikh but when our sons or daughters marry, they get the marriage certificate from the authority under Hindu Marriage Act. Members of our community have been facing problems due to this and would be at loss to explain this paradox even as the Sikhs don't consider themselves as part of Hindus," said Gurdarshan Singh Basra a UK-based NRI whose son recently married in Punjab. As Sikhs sought amendment in Article 25-B of the constitution - which clubs Sikhs, Jains and Budhists with Hindus - which was also a major demand of Dharm Yudh Morcha launched by Akali Dal and the demand epitomized by P S Badal tearing and burning this article in Delhi in early eighties. The demand for Anand Amarriage Act gained momentum in 2006, when Supreme court mandated registration of all marriages. The Sikhs' representative body, SGPC opposed registration under Hindu marriage Actand demanded that Anand Marriage Act be put in place. The clergy and Sikh groups then raised the demand for a separate marriage Act, after refusing to be clubbed under the Hindu Marriage Act. 

Before that National Commission for Minorities Chairman Tarlochan Singh had started pushing papers in union government in 2003 but things would not move beyond a point. "Nod for Anand Marriage Act is meeting their rightful demand and is a major step in recognizing their independent religious identity which was ordained by the Guru himself. It is heartening that it is coming on the eve of Baisakhi when 10th Sikh master Gur Gobind Singh gave final shape to the formation of Khalsa Panth- an independent religious entity," said former IAS officer and prominent Sikh intellectual Gurtej Singh who had also contributed to the authoring of Anand Marriage Act passed by Pakistan. 

GLADA recently razed 5 out of 114 unauthorised colonies

Ludhiana, April 11
Colonisers and developers have joined hands to seek their political masters’ support, with the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA) intensifying its crackdown on unauthorised colonies on the periphery of the city after the expiry of one-month notice period.

Upset over demolition of internal development works in five out of 114 unauthorised colonies, which were put on a month’s notice by GLADA on March 1 earlier this week, the Ludhiana Property Dealers’ and Colonisers’ Association has raised a hue and cry that the regulatory action was against what the ruling SAD-BJP coalition had promised in its election manifesto.

Besides taking up the matter with the state government at an appropriate level, the colonisers said they would submit a memorandum to the chief administrator of GLADA tomorrow for seeking an immediate halt to the demolition drive.

If the proliferation of unauthorised colonies in and around the city and total failure of the developers of such colonies to go for compounding on payment of stipulated licence fee and external development charges (EDCs) on the basis of total area of the colony as per the policy formulated by the government for this purpose is any indication, it is easy to gauge that the unscrupulous colonisers and property developers want the regulatory body to close its eyes towards their unlawful activities and give them a free hand to loot the gullible buyers by passing off plots in unlicensed colonies without making adequate provisions for internal and external development and basic amenities.

That the developers of unlicenced (and unauthorised) colonies, especially those who have some connections with the ruling alliance, have chosen to seek shelter under the wings of politicians is also not strange since it is no secret that most of the unauthorised colonies are developed under the patronage of politicians. “It is a matter of record that politicians of all hues put pressure on us as and when we launch a drive against unauthorised colonies or carry out demolitions,” confided an official of the field staff of GLADA.

Additional Chief Administrator of GLADA Jaswant Singh said regulatory actions being taken against unlicenced developer was strictly as per the policy of the government and laid down standard procedures. “Our brief is very clear, we have to implement the policies of the government in letter and spirit and action initiated to check unplanned and unregulated growth will continue in a relentless manner.”

Corruption intolerable, says Sessions Judge

Interaction with lawyers at Bar room

Ludhiana, April 11
Corruption in the judicial system will not be tolerated at any level. If anyone is found to have indulged in it, strict action will be taken.

This was stated by Sessions Judge Gobinder Singh during interaction with lawyers at the Bar room at the district court complex here today.

He said the menace had been eating into the system and the common man was the worst sufferer. He appealed to lawyers to extend full co-operation in eradicating the evil.

He further said instructions had been issued to all judicial officers to respect members of the District Bar Association.

He sought the co-operation of Bar members in not seeking long adjournments so that the disposal of a large number of pending cases was speeded up.

Association president Jagmohan Singh Warraich put forth sentiments of lawyers. He stressed the need to respect Bar members when they appeared in court.

He said junior lawyers should be encouraged. He added that the judicial system could work more efficiently if relations between the Bench and the Bar were cordial.

India drags US to WTO on visa fee hike

 

New Delhi: India has dragged the US to the WTO challenging the visa fee hike which discriminates against the Indian software companies sending professionals to the US on short-term contracts.

"Yes, we have sought consultations with the US on the issue," a senior Commerce Ministry official said.

As per the procedure of the World Trade Organisation, consultation is the first stage of a complaint launched in the global trade body.

The US had raised visa fee in 2010 to fund its enhanced costs on its securing its border with Mexico under the Border Security Act. India has been protesting against the measure and raising its concern for the last 18 months.

The law substantially increased the fees for H1B and L1 categories of visas for applicants which employ more than 50 persons in the US or have more than 50 per cent their employees admitted on non-immigrant visas (the 50:50 rule).

Before India's complaint goes to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the Geneva-based WTO, the parties to the dispute are required to engage into bilateral consultations. The process takes about two months.

"The date and place (of these consultations) have not been finalised," the official said adding the US measure is violating of the WTO rules.

Some of the top Indian companies - TCS, Infosys, Wipro and Mahindra Satyam - were affected by the US action on visa fee. The US is the largest market for the Indian software exports. 

ਅਪਰਾਧਿਕ ਮਾਮਲਿਆਂ ਵਾਲੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਰਤਾਨੀਆ 'ਚੋਂ ਕੱਢਣ ਲਈ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ 'ਚ ਸੋਧ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ-ਥਰੀਸਾ ਮੇਅ

ਲੰਡਨ,9 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ - ਬਰਤਾਨੀਆ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਥਰੀਸਾ ਮੇਅ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਮਨੁੱਖੀ ਅਧਿਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਦੁਰਵਰਤੋਂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਵਿਦੇਸ਼ੀ ਅਪਰਾਧੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਦੇਸ਼ 'ਚੋਂ ਕੱਢਣ ਲਈ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ 'ਚ ਸੋਧ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸਕੀਮ ਬਣਾਈ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਥਰੀਸਾ ਮੇਅ ਨੇ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਨੂੰ ਦੱਸਿਆ ਕਿ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਗਰਮੀਆਂ 'ਚ ਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਜਿਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੱਜਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਦਿਸ਼ਾ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੋਣਗੇ। ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ 'ਚ ਸਖਤੀ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਹਨ, ਸਿਰਫ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਲਈ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ, ਬਲਕਿ ਬਹੁਤ ਸਾਰੇ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਅੰਦਰ ਵੀ ਡਰ ਹੈ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਗਰਮੀਆ 'ਚ ਅਸੀਂ ਨਵੇਂ ਨਿਯਮ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਆਵਾਂਗੇ ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਦੀ ਗਲਤ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਹੋਣੀ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਹੋ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਗ੍ਰਹਿ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਈ ਮੇਲ, ਟੈਕਸਟ, ਫੋਨ ਤੇ ਇੰਟਰਨੈੱਟ ਦੀ ਵਰਤੋਂ ਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਨਿਗ੍ਹਾ ਰੱਖਣ ਦੀ ਸਕੀਮ 'ਤੇ ਵੀ ਆਲੋਚਨਾ ਹੋ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਅਜਿਹਾ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਆਮ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦੀ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਅਜ਼ਾਦੀ 'ਚ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਦਖ਼ਲ ਹੈ। ਇਮੀਗ੍ਰੇਸ਼ਨ ਮਸਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਮਾਹਿਰ ਵਕੀਲ ਹਰਜਾਪ ਸਿੰਘ ਭੰਗਲ ਨੇ ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਕਾਈ ਟੀ ਵੀ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਸ਼ੇਸ਼ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਬਣਾਏ ਜ਼ਰੂਰ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਖ਼ਤੀ ਨਾਲ ਲਾਗੂ ਨਹੀਂ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ।

ਭਾਰਤ ਤੋਂ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ 'ਚ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਦਾਇਗੀ ਬੈਂਕਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਤੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰਾਂਗੇ-ਡਾ. ਲੀਚ

ਕੈਲਗਰੀ, 10 ਅਪ੍ਰੈਲ - ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਐਕਸ ਸਰਵਿਸਮੈਨ ਇੰਮੀਗ੍ਰਾਂਸ ਐਸੋਸੀਏਸ਼ਨ ਕੈਲਗਰੀ ਦੇ ਦਫਤਰ ਵਿਖੇ ਪਾਰਲੀਮਾਨੀ ਸਕੱਤਰ ਡਾ. ਕੈਲੀ ਲੀਚ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਹਿਊਮਨ ਰੀਸੋਰਸਿਸ ਤੇ ਸਕਿਲ ਡਿਪਲੋਮਿਟ ਤੇ ਲੇਬਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਭਾਰਤ ਤੋਂ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ 'ਚ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਅਦਾਇਗੀ ਬੈਂਕਾਂ ਰਾਹੀਂ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲੇ 'ਤੇ ਵੀ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਰਾਹਤ ਮਿਲ ਸਕੇਗੀ ਇਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਵਟਾਂਦਰਾ ਵੀ ਜਲਦੀ ਕਰਨਗੇ। ਡਾ. ਲੀਚ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਸੀ ਸੀਨੀਅਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ 4 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਡਾਲਰ ਦੀ ਆਮਦਨ ਤੱਕ ਰਿਆਇਤ ਦੇਣ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਸਰਵਿਸ ਮਨਿਸਟਰ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਕਰਕੇ ਥੋੜੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ 'ਚ ਹੀ ਇਸ ਮੁੱਦੇ 'ਤੇ ਅਮਲ ਯਕੀਨੀ ਬਣਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ। ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਸ਼ੋਰੀ ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਟੈਕਸ ਦਾ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਸਮੇਂ 'ਚ ਭਾਰਤ ਤੇ ਕੈਨੇਡਾ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਦੀ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਵੇਲੇ ਸਮਝੌਤੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਹੱਲ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਸੰਭਾਵਨਾ ਪ੍ਰਗਟਾਈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਅੰਤਰਰਾਸ਼ਟਰੀ ਵਪਾਰ ਸਮਝੌਤਾ ਕਮੇਟੀ ਦਾ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਹੋਣ ਦੇ ਨਾਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਮਾਮਲਿਆ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ ਲਈ ਯਤਨ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਹਾਂਗਾ। ਅਖੀਰ 'ਚ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬਜ਼ੁਰਗਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਮੱਸਿਆਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਲ ਲਈ ਪੁਰਜ਼ੋਰ ਸਿਫਾਰਸ਼ ਕੀਤੀ। ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਸ. ਫੁੱਮਣ ਸਿੰਘ ਵੈਦ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ, ਸ. ਹਰਗੁਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਮਿਨਹਾਸ, ਡਾ. ਮਹਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ, ਬਿਕਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸੰਧੂ, ਹਰਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਰਾਏ, ਪ੍ਰੋ. ਮਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਤੇ ਹੋਰਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕੀਤੇ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਬੁਲਾਰਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਤਕਲੀਫਾਂ ਵੀ ਪਾਰਟੀਮਾਨੀ ਸਕੱਤਕ ਡਾ. ਕੈਲੀ ਲਾਚ ਤੇ ਐਡਵੋਕੇਟ ਦਵਿੰਦਰ ਸ਼ੋਰੀ ਸੰਸਦ ਮੈਂਬਰ ਦੇ ਧਿਆਨ 'ਚ ਲਿਆਂਦੀਆਂ। ਜਿਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਹੱਲ ਲੱਭਣ ਲਈ ਦੋਵੇਂ ਮਹਿਮਾਨਾਂ ਨੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਦਿਵਾਇਆ। ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਸੇਵਾ ਸਿੰਘ ਪ੍ਰੇਮੀ, ਜੋਗਿੰਦਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਬੈਂਸ, ਸਤਪਾਲ ਕੌਂਸਲ, ਗੁਰਬਖਸ਼ ਸਿੰਘ ਧਨੋਆ, ਪ੍ਰੀਤਮ ਸਿੰਘ ਕਾਹਲੋਂ, ਮੋਹਣ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਿੱਧੂ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਹਾਜ਼ਰ ਸਨ।