Haryana ministers,
MLAs to get more
CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The Haryana Assembly today cleared the way for an increase in the emoluments of elected representatives of the people when the House unanimously passed four Bills without discussion on the concluding day of the Budget session.

Spate of walkouts
in Vidhan Sabha
CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The HLDR member from Pehowa, Mr Jaswinder Singh, was named by the Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today when the MLA twice walked to the well of the House during zero hour...

2 get life term for killing relative

Haryana order on type test

Revised scales for Haryana staff

Husband, mother-in-law get life term

Teachers reject pay scales

Haryana ministers, MLAs to get more
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The Haryana Assembly today cleared the way for an increase in the emoluments of elected representatives of the people when the House unanimously passed four Bills without discussion on the concluding day of the Budget session.

The salaries of the Chief Minister, the Ministers, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition have been increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 11,000 per month. Besides, they have been extended a new facility in the from of Rs 1,000 per month to maintain an office in their constituencies or districts.

These two concessions will cost the exchequer Rs 17.28 lakh per annum (excluding the Leader of the Opposition).

The MLAs also created two new facilities for themselves in the form of sumptuary allowance and office allowance. Each MLA will now be paid Rs 1000 per month as sumptuary allowance and Rs 2500 per month as office allowance.

The conveyance allowance of the Leader of the Opposition (paid to him in lieu of official car) has been increased from Rs 6,000 a month to Rs 10,000 a month.

The telephone allowance of the MLAs has also been increased from Rs 4000 a month to Rs 5000 a month. Each MLA and his family will be entitled to spend Rs 70,000 per annum on travelling within or outside the country by any mode of transport.

These facilities to the MLAs (including the Leader of the Opposition) would cost the state exchequer about Rs 52 lakh per annum.

Former MLAs who remained a member of the House up to two years would be entitled to a monthly pension of Rs 1400. If his term exceeded two years but not more than five years, he would be paid a monthly pension of Rs 2500. For every additional year or part of it an additional pension of Rs 500 per month would be paid to him.

The families of the MLAs would also be entitled to family pension after their death.

Each MLA would be entitled to get a house loan of Rs 4 lakh (against 3 lakh earlier) and a car loan of Rs 4 lakh (earlier limit was Rs 2 lakh). They would also be entitled to take an advance up to Rs 1 lakh (against Rs 60,000 earlier) for effecting major repairs of their houses. The loans would be disbursed at a nominal rate of interest.

All the Bills were moved by the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, whom members of all parties had met on July 24 and requested for an increase in their emoluments.

The House erupted in laughter when Mr Birender Singh (Cong) requested the Speaker to ask the Chief Minister to first introduce the Bill regarding the enhancement of the emoluments of the MLAs. "The government may change its mind on our emoluments once we have passed the Bill concerning the Ministers", he said.

Earlier, the Haryana Budget for 1998-99 was passed with the adoption of an Appropriation Bill by the House, authorising the government to withdraw Rs 10785.84 crore from the Consolidated Fund during the year.

The Appropriation Bill, introduced by the Finance Minister, Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, was passed by a voice vote without discussion though the Opposition wanted to say something on the Bill.

The House also adopted another Appropriation Bill relating to Rs 48.20 crore excess demands for 1993-94 by a voice vote. Later the House was adjourned sine die.

Diwan to work for Bansi's ouster
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 29 — Mr Dev Raj Diwan, an Independent MLA, who withdrew his support to the Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, is planning to join the Congress.

This was indicated by Mr Diwan while addressing his supporters, including municipal councillors, panches and sarpanches, here yesterday. A large number of citizens and members of block samitis were present on the occasion.

Mr Diwan explained the reasons which compelled him to withdraw his support to the HVP-BJP alliance government and said that the Chief Minister had adopted a step-motherly treatment towards the electorate of his assembly constituency and failed to launch any worthwhile development scheme in the constituency. He deplored that despite his repeated requests, Mr Bansi Lal did not allocate funds for the development of the Sonepat assembly constituency and also remove the long-standing grievances of the people.

Expressing his full faith in the leadership of the AICC President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Mr Diwan said that he would soon meet Mrs Sonia Gandhi and would take a final decision to join the Congress.

Earlier, the workers attending the meeting urged Mr Diwan to join the Congress. Many workers said that the Congress was the only party which could deliver the goods to the people and provide a stable government at the Centre.

Later talking to mediapersons, Mr Diwan announced that he would continue his struggle for dislodging Mr Bansi Lal from power in the state. He maintained that no section of society was satisfied with the functioning of the present government.

He extended his full support to the demands of the agitating government employees and warned that repression let loose on them would worsen the situation further in the state.

Spate of walkouts in Vidhan Sabha
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The HLDR member from Pehowa, Mr Jaswinder Singh, was named by the Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today when the MLA twice walked to the well of the House during zero hour to say something on the reported refusal of the State Government to Pay over Rs 3.5 crore as compensation to the families of those killed during riots after the assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi in 1984 as advised by the National Minorities Commission.

Earlier, the Speaker had informed the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, that he had disallowed call attention motion on the issue. Whatever Mr Chautala and Mr Jaswinder Singh said were expunged by the Speaker.

As zero hour started Mr Chautala wanted to know from the Speaker what his ruling was on the carrying of kirpans in the visitors' gallery by Sikhs, which was their constitutional right. The Speaker told him that he had checked with Parliament that the visitors were not allowed to carry kirpans inside Parliament and the same rules were prevalent in the Haryana Assembly. He said an MLA was of course entitled to carry a six-inch-long kirpan in the House.

When the Speaker did not allow Mr Chautala to say anything more on the issue, the HLDR members staged two walkouts in quick succession. After their second walkout during zero hour the Speaker announced that zero hour was over. However, on their return, Mr Chautala and Mr Sampat Singh wanted to enquire about their another call attention motion about the blockade of the G.T. Road at Panipat and Sonepat by a mob protesting against unsatisfactory power supply. The Speaker stuck to his stand that zero hour was already over, leading to another walkout by the HLDR members.

Earlier, Capt Ajay Singh and Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala (both Congress) were informed that their call attention motions had also been disallowed.

The Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, however, assured Capt Ajay Singh that proper investigations would be conducted into repeated incidents of looting at a petrol pump in his constituency.

During question hour the government ruled out the possibility of paying any compensation to those farmers whose land had been waterlogged, leading to a walkout by the HLDR members.

The Irrigation Minister, Mr Harsh Kumar, told Mr Sampat Singh that 21,839 hectares in the entire state was waterlogged. He said a high-level expert committee had been constituted to give its recommendations to solve this problem. Steps had also been taken for construction of drains to check waterlogging.

Congress to intensify stir
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 29 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress will intensify its ongoing campaign to expose the failures of the HVP-BJP coalition government in Haryana. It was stated by the HPCC chief Bhupinder Singh Hooda here today.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the one-day meeting of the leaders of the women cell of the party Mr Hooda said the campaign of party started a few months ago had met with great success as people from various sections of the society had started looking towards the party after the Bansi Lal government's alleged failure on various fronts. Claiming that none of the election promises including the 24-hour supply of power and water, employment and abolition of the octroi had not been fulfilled so far, he said law and order situation in the state had gone out of control of the state government. As a result he said two independent MLAs in Haryana who had supporting the state government so far had agreed to support the state Congress. He said ongoing programme of protests and demonstrations of the Congress workers and supporters would be intensified in the near future so that the grievances of the people could be highlighted.

Earlier Mrs Prasanni Devi, president of the Haryana Mahila Congress presided over the workers' meeting which was also attended by the vice-president of the All-India Mahila Congress Ms Sudha Joshi. The members expressed serious concern over the unprecedented hike in the prices of several essential commodities and deteriorating law and order in the Haryana state. Expressing confidence in the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi the leaders said that party was getting rejuvenated after take over by Mrs Gandhi.

2 die in mishaps
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, July 29 — Two persons died in an accident between a Haryana Roadways bus and a four-wheeler tempo carrier near Asauda bypass on the national highway No 10 last evening.

According to a report the one of the victims has been identified as Satish Sharma, resident of Gandhra village in the district. However, the other deceased could not be identified. Both of them died on the spot. Two other persons travelling in the four wheeler were injured and have been admitted to the hospital.

Meanwhile in two separate incidents in the town an amount of about Rs 2.10 lakh was stolen by unidentified persons from two spots. According to information a trader identified as Man Singh who had collected an amount of Rs 1.10 lakh from the local mandi and had been moving towards Shiela bypass here was deprived of the money when he put the cash bag on his side and started washing his hands at a nearby hand pump near the medical gate here last evening. In another incident an amount of Rs one lakh belonging to Mr Om Prakash was stolen from his scooter when it was parked in the model town market here on Monday evening.

Traders flay attack on jeweller
From Our Correspondent

REWARI, July 29 — Traders and shopkeepers of main markets of the town observed a bandh today in protest against the assault on jeweller Manoj Jain. He was shot at by armed youths who unsuccessfully tried to snatch his money bag at the Sarafa Bazar chowk here last night.

One of the assaulters' Anand, was overpowered by Manoj and others while his two other accomplices — Sube Singh Yadav (35) of Rajasthan and Deepak (22) of Uttar Pradesh managed to escape.

Anand (20) of Kasni village in Jhajjar district has been arrested.

Irate shopkeepers organised a rally and resorted to road blockade at the Jhajjar chowk here. They shouted slogans against the SP and the DC demanding their transfer.

They recalled a similar incident in which Rs 50,000 were looted from a cashier by three armed youths at a petrol station near Lisana village, about 4 km from here, on July 26.

The failure of the police to nab the culprits involved in these incidents had emboldened the criminals, traders said.

Mr Arvind Gupta, Mr Ratnesh Bansal and Mr Sada Nand Thukral, leaders of various traders organisations, led a demonstration which was supported by HLD(R) leaders.

Meanwhile, Mr Manoj Jain, who received bullet injuries, was discharged from the hospital here last night.

The police has registered a case of attempt to murder and robbery.

Computerised rail reservation at
Sonepat station
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, July 29 — The Northern Railway has decided to introduce computerised reservation of tickets for Jammu Tawi and other cities on August 15 from railway station. Mr Kishan Singh Sangwan, a Haryana Lok Dal (Rashtriya) MP told mediapersons here today that this followed a series of representations made by him to the Railway Minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, and senior officials of the Railways, highlighting the problems of the travelling public

He said that the ongoing projects like raising of platforms and construction of bridges at all railway stations on the Delhi-Panipat section would be completed by the end of September.

According to Mr Sangwan, the Railways had allocated Rs 8 lakh for the construction of a waiting room and providing other facilities at Ganaur railway stations in this district. Shelters for the waiting passengers would be built at Sandal Kalan, Ganaur, Rajlu Garhi and Rathdhanna railway stations.

Referring to the demands of the computers of Rohtak and Bahadurgarh, the HLD(R) leader disclosed that a computerised reservation centre would be set up at Rohtak soon.

Meanwhile, representatives of various railway passengers' associations have demanded a high-level probe into the use of substandard material in raising the platforms.

2 get life term for killing relative
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, July 29 — An Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R.C. Bansal, today convicted Pawan Kumar and Jang Bahadur to life imprisonment for murdering their relative, Jai Pal, on October 1, 1995.

The deceased, who hailed from Thumber village, was killed at Barara. The cause of the crime was said to be dispute over property. A case under Section 302 of the IPC was registered against the accused on the basis of a complaint lodged by Mr Rakam Singh.

The judge also fined the accused Rs 1000 each.

Haryana order on type test
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — A spokesman of the Haryana Government today clarified that the condition of passing the type test would be applicable to only those employees who were appointed as clerks on or after March 27, 1974, and were subsequently promoted to the post of Assistant or on some other post lower or equivalent to the post of Assistant without passing the requisite type-test. However, those already promoted as Deputy Superintendent, Superintendent or Under Secretary or equivalent would not fall within the ambit of these instructions.

Revised scales for Haryana staff
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 29 — The Haryana Government has decided to extend the revised pay scales and assured career progression (where applicable) from January 1, 1996, to the employees of Haryana civil secretariat, Financial Commissioner, Revenue, Haryana Public Service Commission, Legal Remembrancer and Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

This was disclosed by Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, Finance Minister, here today.

He said the officers and officials of Groups 'A', 'B' and 'C' working in these offices would draw their salary in the revised pay scales with effect from August, 1998, due to be paid in September, 1998. The arrears from January 1, 1998, to July 31, 1998, will be paid in cash and the arrears for the period from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 1997, would be deposited in their respective GPF accounts.

He further said that the salary in respect of drivers stands revised from June and Class IV from February, 1998.

Husband, mother-in-law get life term
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, July 29 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Sirsa, Mr K.K. Chopra, today awarded life imprisonment to Mrs Raj Kumari and her son Surinder Kumar in a criminal case.

According to the prosecution, Mr Suraj Kumar had complained to the police that his sister Sunita was tortured by her husband Surinder Kumar and mother-in-law Raj Kumari during the 10 years of marriage. She was beaten, threatened and asked to get money from her parental house and then finally murdered by them.

The Judge also awarded the convicts a fine of Rs 2,000 each or a further rigorous imprisonment for six months each.

Teachers reject pay scales
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA, July 29 — The Haryana College Teachers Union has once again rejected the unilaterally announced grades for teachers by the Human Resources Development Ministry on July 25.
A spokesman of the union, Mr U.V. Singh, said here yesterday that the grades had been announced without consulting the teachers' organisations, thus ignoring the basic democratic norms. He said that although these grades seemed to be lucrative, yet in reality more than one lakh teachers in the selection grade either did not get any benefit or the benefit they got was very little.
Those were in the grade of Rs 4,100-8,150 were placed by the Fifth Pay Commission in the grade of Rs 14,300-18,300 whereas the teachers in the same grade had been placed in the grade of Rs 12,000-18,000. The grades given to the demonstrators and instructors were similar to those of JBT teachers.
Mr U.V. Singh said the HCTU would organise a dharna on August 4 and would go on mass casual leave that day. The teachers, he said, would go on strike on August 11.