 |
| Saturday,
November 11, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Civic
official named in scandal Naib
Tehsildar granted bail Selection
panel: KUTA decries govt move ‘Help working women look after in-laws’
Contractors
to manage civic amenities Power cuts
hit water supply Panipat
Museum inaugurated |
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3 top tax
payers honoured Help her to survive Lakhs throng
Kapal Mochan for holy dip 4 killed, 6
hurt in jeep-truck collision Haryana police to
launch website Land
resources week from Nov 14 7-yr-old
cases disposed of Computer
purchase terms revised
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Civic
official named in scandal FARIDABAD, Nov 10 — The scandal regarding ‘bogus appointment
letters’ to 15 youths for a job in the Municipal Corporation,
Faridabad, has put the authorities in a spot. The district police chief
has deputed a senior police official to conduct a probe. The name of a
senior MC official is being mentioned.
The scandal came to light about one-and-a-half-months ago when some
youths produced these appointment letters in the MCF office to verify
their authenticity. The authorities told them that the appointment
letters were ‘bogus’. It is learnt that the appointment letters were
issued in payment of several thousand rupees. The youths lodged a
complaint with the police. The police arrested Daya Ram, a resident of
Palwal. The accused admitted to receiving the money and issuing “bogus
appointment letters to some candidates.
It is alleged that the accused took Rs 25000 from one candidate,
22000 from another and Rs 20000 and 15000 respectively from two more who
were promised jobs in the MCF.
It is stated that all candidates were issued appointment letters on
the letterhead of the MCF. Naresh of a nearby village was given the
appointment letter on September 1 but after a week he was told that his
training, which was due to start from September 11, had been postponed
and he would be informed about the next date.
The Palwal police arrested Daya Ram after an investigation. The
situation took a dramatic turn when the accused told the police that a
senior official of the MC was involved in the fraud and he had given
money to him as well. But the Commissioner, MCF reportedly protested
over the inclusion of the name of the Corporation official by the
police.
The MCF authorities contested that his name had been included by
vested interests and who wanted to defame the official. A communication
in this regard was sent by the MCF to the SSP. The Employees Union of
the MCF has also protested over the matter and threatened to launch a
stir if the name of the concerned official in the police report is not
deleted. The Union has sought an independent and fair probe into the
issue. The SSP, Mr Ranbir Sharma, has asked the ASP, Mr Ravi Kiran, to
enquire into the case. |
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Naib
Tehsildar granted bail ROHTAK, Nov 10 — Rishi Parkash, Naib Tehsildar, Kalanaur, who was
arrested by the state Vigilance Bureau under Sections 217, 218, 418 and
120-B of the IPC and 13(I) D of the Prevention of Corruption Act on
November 3 has been granted bail by Mr Shiva Sharma, Additional Sessions
Judge.
Rishi Parkash was charged with causing loss to the state to the
extent of crores of rupees by not entering mutation in respect of 7.1
standard acres of excess land in favour of the state government. The
Chief Settlement Commissioner, vide orders dated March 17, 1994, held
that 7.1 standard acres excess land had been mutated in favour of Mani
Singh of the district.
The prosecution had alleged that Rishi Parkash, then a Kanungo, had
recorded on April 30, 1994 that there was stay regarding this land,
whereas the patwari concerned had entered the mutation before sending
the records to his superior. According to the prosecution, there was no
stay from any court and the then kanungo, Rishi Parkash, had made an
incorrect entry, allegedly in connivance with some other persons.
Granting bail to Rishi Parkash, the judge said there were debatable
points in the matter as to by whom and when the entry “stay from the
court” was made as there was neither date nor signatures under these
remarks.
Therefore, the judge said, the prosecution could not be allowed to
say that these remarks were made on April 30, 1994, and the accused was
not required to mention “complete particulars in case of any stay from
the court.”
The only mistake that appears to have been committed by the accused
is that he had not mentioned date under the remarks. These remarks
appear to have been made after May 3, 1994.
The accused, the order said, was in custody since November 3 while
other accused had not been arrested so far. The case would take a long
time and no useful purpose would be served by detaining the accused in
custody.
“Therefore I grant bail to the accused on his furnishing a personal
bond in the sum of Rs 20,000 with a surety in the like amount,” the
judge ordered. |
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Selection
panel: KUTA decries govt move KURUKSHETRA, Nov 10 — The Executive Council of the Kurukshetra
University Teacher’s Association (KUTA) has condemned the proposed
move of the Haryana Government to set up a “combined selection
commission” for the universities and colleges teachers.
Talking to mediapersons here today, the KUTA, secretary, Mr R.S.
Yadav, said that at a meeting, held here on Tuesday the KUTA opposed the
formation of such commission by the government and decided to fight back
if such derogatory laws were passed arbitrarily.
He said the meeting felt that it was a dangerous move and was in
violation of statues, and norms of the university system because the
university stood for autonomy and democratic values. Hence, it must be
endowed with sufficient academic freedom so that new ideas for progress
of the society be cultivated, he added.
Mr Yadav, said, “the experiences have proved that university system
can not achieve its objectives under bureaucratic control. Consequently,
the Haryana Government’s decision would not only undermine the system
of higher learning but would also convert the universities into just
other government departments.”
The teachers were surprised that on the one hand, the government was
encouraging the establishment of autonomous colleges, but on the other
hand, it was destroying the independent functioning of the universities.
Mr Yadav further said the council was of the view that there had
already been excessive control in the functioning of universities in
Haryana through its nominees and appointing the vice-chancellors of its
choices. Therefore, it was apprehended that this commission was likely
to face a similar fate as that of the working of most of the state
public service commissions in India. |
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‘Help working women look after in-laws’
CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana Government has suggested steps to offer incentives to working women for looking after their in-laws. A state government team, which met the visiting parliamentary committee for the empowerment of women at the UT Guest House here today, asked the MPs to frame laws to give tax rebate to employed women for keeping their husbands’ parents in the same house with them and looking after them. It was also suggested by the Haryana team that parents who were dependent on their sons and working daughters-in-law and living with them, should be covered by a health insurance scheme. An official here said that even though traditionally it was the daughter-in-law who was expected to look after her aged in-laws, working women were often found to be unwilling to fulfil this responsibility, creating problems for aged persons. The state government, while appreciating the problem faced by working women in fulfilling their dual responsibility at home and at their place of work, felt that monetary incentives could be useful for persuading such women to look after their aged in-laws. It would not be possible for the state government to implement these steps since both income tax and insurance fell within the ambit of the Central Government, the official said. The Haryana team also raised two issues specifically related to women with the parliamentary delegation, including the modification of the Act relating to the determination of the sex of a foetus. According to officials here, this law in its present form was unable to prevent the practice of sex determination tests and the consequent abortion of female foetuses. Female foeticide is suspected to be fairly widespread in Haryana, which has shown a sex ratio of only 871 women for every 1,000 men. While the Health Department of the state government is already probing this phenomenon following a directive from the Supreme Court, the parliamentary delegation was also urged by the government team to enact more stringent measures for the prevention of the practice. “ Not wanting a female child is basically a cultural baggage, but a foolproof law against sex determination tests, which are carried out in the guise of finding out the physical condition of the foetus, is also needed as a deterrent against those nursing homes and clinics which are thriving on this business”, the official said. The Haryana team also urged the delegation to immediately change Clause 125 of the CrPC, which recommends that in case of divorce the woman may be given an allowance of Rs 500 per month by her former husband. The Haryana team suggested that alimony should be based on the financial position of the husband and in case the husband was an employed person, the amount could be cut at source and it could be made the employer’s responsibility to hand over the money to the divorced woman. “Particularly in the rural areas it is often found that the former husband is not even paying the paltry allowance of Rs 500 to his
divorced wife”, said the official. While the state government was also working on a law to increase the alimony, the issue was raised with the parliamentary delegation so that there could be an All-India Act which would ensure uniformity of the allowance in all states of the country, the official said. |
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Contractors
to manage civic amenities GURGAON, Nov 10 — To provide basic amenities to residents of
Sectors, the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has privatised a
number services. Residents welfare associations of the sectors have been
assigned the responsibility of supervising the working of the
contractors.
HUDA Administrator Anurag Aggarwal informed The Tribune that for the
first time in Haryana, maintenance of parks and cleanliness of streets
of sectors had been privatised on an experimental basis.
Important inhabited sectors have been given to private contractors
for cleaning of the streets and carrying garbage to dumping sites. It
includes Sectors 4, 7, 7 (Extn), 14, 15-1 and 11, 17, 10-A, 22, 23-23A,
31 and 32 and Housing Board colonies of all the sectors.
Mr Aggarwal said to ensure that the contractor delivered their best,
satisfactory service certificates were being obtained from the Resident
Welfare Association before payment was released to the contractors.
The administrator remarked that the residents of the sectors could
easily approach the office-bearers of their associations for the
redressal of any grievance relating to cleanliness.
Mr Aggarwal added that the maintenance of parks and green belts of
Sectors 5, 6, 10-A, 15-1 and 11, 17, 22, 23-23A, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 38,
44, 45, 46, 55 and 56 had also been handed over to the private
contractors adopting the same method.
On an experiment basis, a new concept had also been introduced in
Sector 15-1. Four parks in this sector had been handed over to the
Resident Welfare Association. HUDA would pay salaries of gardeners on a
monthly basis to the associations if they felt that the work was
satisfactory. The association could also appoint its own gardeners to
maintain parks.
The administrator conceded that condition of internal roads in
various sectors was poor and they had not been recarpetted for a long
time. With the consultation of the Resident Welfare Associations, HUDA
had decided to recarpet the roads in Sectors 4, 7, 5, 12-A, 14, 17,
23-23A, 21, 15 and 31 by December 31. The officer requested the
association to keep a vigil on the contractors. |
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Power
cuts hit water supply SONEPAT, Nov 10 — Frequent power cuts and the non-supply of power
for six to eight hours daily to the main waterworks at Murthal by the
Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam (UHBVN) has adversely affected
drinking water supply in this fast-growing industrial city.
The results is that there is no water in certain areas for days
together. The city has a population of more than two lakh and residents
are reeling under a water crisis on account of the erratic power supply.
The public outcry has forced the Sonepat Public Health Department to
inform the district authorities about the ongoing power crisis and urged
them to direct the UHBVN authorities to ensure regular power supply to
the main waterworks at Murthal and the boosting stations in the city so
that the water supply can be maintained.
The Superintending Engineer of the department, Mr Goel, told this
correspondent here today that the erratic power supply and frequent
power cuts had disrupted the water supply in the city. He said residents
had started staging demonstrations in front of offices of the department
and were blocking traffic almost everyday.
Meanwhile, inquiries made by this correspondent have revealed that
officials of the UHBVN are diverting the bulk quota of power to certain
selected industries in Murthal subdivision and minting money as “nazrana”
from industrialists whereas people in villages are denied power supply
throughout the day.
Moreover, these officials have failed to check power theft on the GT
Road between Murthal and Ganaur.
Representatives of various farmers’ organisations today urged the
Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to order a high-level probe in
to the alleged bungling in the supply of power and take stern action
against guilty officials. |
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Panipat
Museum inaugurated PANIPAT, Nov 10 — The Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, inaugurated
Panipat Museum at the canal rest house in Binjhol, about 5 km from here,
today.
This museum has been set up here by the Archaeological Survey Of
India. More than Rs 21 lakh has been spent on the renovation as well as
its beautification. The layout, designing and display of the museum have
been planned and executed by Dr S.C. Saran and Mr Sanjay Manjul,
officers of the Archaeological Survey of India.
The museum consists of the galleries displaying significant events,
soldiers and other heroes of all three battles of Panipat through
paintings, sculptures and models. The cultural heritage of Haryana,
including the dresses, ornaments, utensils, agricultural implements,
households etc are also an attraction of the museum. All this
information was given to the Governor by Mrs Komal Anand,
Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, while welcoming
him.
After inaugurating the museum, the Governor went round all nine
galleries and showed keen interest in getting comprehensive information
about various descriptions, paintings, models and layouts.
Giving his remarks, the Governor described the museum as a fine
collection of the three Panipat battles, the landscape, the apparel in
use, Haryana culture, battle heroes, the ornaments used the style of
battles and persons involved. He remarked that the museum would provide
historical perspective to the new generation.
The Governor also asked the authorities of the Archaeological Survey
of India and the state government to organise a big cultural show at
Kala Amb where prominent persons of Panipat and the nearby districts as
well as those from other parts of the country should be invited.
Artistes of national repute should also be invited to be a part of this
cultural show. This cultural mela, he said, would go a long way in
attracting a large number of people from all corners of the country.
This would help in highlighting the importance of the three battles of
Panipat, our national heroes and the rich Indian culture among the
domestic as well as foreign sectors, said the Governor.
Mr Prem Prashant, Financial Commissioner, and Secretary, Education
Department, Haryana, and Mr M.R. Anand, Deputy Commissioner of Panipat
also spoke. |
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3 top tax
payers honoured SONEPAT, Nov 10 — Three highest income tax-payers — Mr Shiv
Narain Kadian, Dr Nandni Mittal and Mr Madan Lal — were honoured by Mr
L.S. Negi, Additional Income Tax Commissioner, Rohtak Range, at a
function held on the premises of Shiva Shiksha Sadan here last evening.
Mr Negi presented the commendation certificates to them in the
presence of a large gathering of prominent citizens and officials of
various government departments and praised their honesty for paying tax
voluntarily.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Negi said under the Samman Samaroh
Scheme introduced by the Ministry of Finance, these tax-payers would be
issued income tax clearance certificates for a period of three years to
enable them to make foreign trips. Such income tax-payers were free to
purchase and sell property without getting any further clearance from
the department.
He said the income tax returns of such tax-payers would be accepted
for three years on their face value without an inquiry into their
income. He said their cases if referred in appeals, would be dealt with
on a priority basis and decided within 15 days. The excess tax if paid
by them would be refunded immediately, he observed.
Mr Negi said these tax-payers would be nominated as members of the of
the advisory committee constituted by the department and the meeting of
such committees would be held at least once in three months.
He disclosed that there were 2.25 crore tax-payers in the country and
the department was earning Rs 60,000 crore annually as income tax.
According to Mr Negi, the department has issued a vision document for
five years to guide tax-payers and officials to create a friendly
atmosphere and win the confidence of tax-payers. He said facilities,
including library, drinking water, telephones and photostate machines,
had been provided in the office of the department for the benefit of
tax-payers.
He disclosed that a website had been launched by the department to
guide tax-payers on legal aspects and seek help from the department in
case of any difficulty. He said income tax return forms would be
supplied to the assesses through different offices in the region to
remove any inconvenience to them.
Mr B.P. Aggarwal, Income Tax Officer, highlighted a number of schemes
for the benefit of the people for increasing the number of tax-payers
and assured them of all possible help by the department to remove their
difficulties.
Mr Chander Shekhar Telephone District Manager and Mr Devi Dass, a
former MLA, were the guests of honour on the occasion.
Children of Shiva Shiksha Sadan presented a cultural programme on the
occasion. |
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Help her to survive AMBALA, Nov 10 — Ms
Vimla does not have any arrangement of her own to go for the treatment
of her heart valve which may give her a new lease of life. She is a
widow and does not have any source of income. Her two sons were
massacred by extremists after pulling them out from a bus near Jammu in
1992. Her husband could not bear the loss of his sons and died after a
few months of the incident. But she did not lose heart and decided to
fight the fortune all alone. Unluckily she also fell ill. When she got
herself examined, she was told by the doctors that the valve of her
heart had stopped functioning and it would have to be changed at the
earliest. She made an appeal to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash
Chautala, through the District Red Cross Society for financial
assistance. Mr Chautala agreed to provide her the expenses of valve and
the operation. But it was not sufficient. She was in need of Rs 30,000
more for other expenses. She met the Deputy Commissioner, Mr D.D. Gautam
in this regard and narrated him her requirement. The Deputy
Commissioner accepted her request and made an appeal to the social
organisations and the residents of the district today to provide
financial help to her through the Red Cross Society. Ms Vimla is hopeful
that citizen of Ambala will help her and she would be all right again.
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Lakhs
throng Kapal Mochan for holy dip YAMUNANAGAR, Nov 10 — More than seven lakh pilgrims from different
parts of the country thronged Kapal Mochan, about 25 km from here, today
to take a holy dip in three different sarovars tomorrow morning on the
eve of Kartik Purnima. Pilgrims arrived today from all corners of the
country. The administration claimed the figures would be record breaking
this year because of peace in the entire region.
The main emphasis of the mela is Hindu-Sikh unity. The pilgrims are
mostly from the Malwa region of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country.
According to legend, one can get rid of sins by taking a holy dip in the
three sarovars of Kapal Mochan, Rin Mochan and Surajkund.
It is said Kapal Mochan Dham relieves the sins of all three eras. It
had been the workplace of Maharshi Ved Vyas, who wrote the Mahabharata.
It is said the Pandavas washed their weapons after the battle of
Kurukshetra here. Guru Gobind Singh also visited here.
The administration claimed it was an incident-free mela. No untoward
incident has been reported as yet. However, Gurdeep Singh (53), a
resident of Fatehgarh Panchgaria of Sangrur district in Punjab died of
an epileptic fit this morning. His body has been sent to his native
village, informed Dr D.R. Chugh, Civil Surgeon, Yamunanagar. He further
stated that a 75-year-old woman had a fracture. |
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4 killed,
6 hurt in jeep-truck collision
ROHTAK, Nov 10 (UNI) — Four persons, including two women, were
killed and six injured in a collision between a jeep and a truck near
Karotha village, about 10 km from here, on the Rohtak-Jhajjar road
today.
The deceased have been identified as Satbir, Satpal, Mukhtiari and
Ram Kali. The mishap occurred when the jeep, carrying passengers from
here to Jhajjar, collided head on with a truck coming from the opposite
direction.
The injured have been admitted to the medical college hospital here.
The police has registered a case in this regard. |
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Haryana police to
launch website CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana police will be launching its own website sometime next week, official sources said here today. The website will enable the citizens to lodge any complaint with the police or give suggestions through its helpline. The website would
portray the history of the police since the days of the British as well as detailed information regarding various branches of the police establishment. The site would also have information regarding missing persons, unidentified bodies, recovered vehicles and wanted criminals. The website, launched through the NIC, would also be useful for the cops, the official said. |
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Land
resources week from Nov 14 CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana Government will observe National
Land Resources Conservation Week from November 14 to focus the attention
of the people on problems relating to land resources and degradation.
An official spokesman said the State Land Use Board of Haryana would
take up different activities for the awareness of the land user during
the week. Emphasis would be laid on areas having land degradation due to
alkalinity, salinity, waterlogging, wind and water erosion. An essay
competition for students up to the plus two level would be held and the
first three winners would be given a cash prize of Rs 3,000 Rs 2,000 and
Rs 1,000, respectively. |
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7-yr-old
cases disposed of ROHTAK, Nov 10 — The local courts in the district have disposed of
all cases which were lying pending for over seven years.
Stating this, the District and Sessions Judge, Mr R.S. Madan, said
the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had through a
letter written to him, commended the judicial officer’s working in the
district.
He claimed that the judges working in the lower courts and the
district courts had been working overtime for the speedy disposal of
cases — both civil and criminal.
Mr Madan said the District Legal Services Authority had constituted a
panel comprising 10 advocates for providing free legal aid to the
poor. |
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Computer
purchase terms revised CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana Government today revised the
conditions relating to the purchase of personal computers by government
employees.
A spokesman for the Finance Department said employees drawing a
pay of Rs 8,000 per month and above would now be eligible to get an
advance of Rs 60,000 or the actual price of the computer, whichever was
less.
The amount advanced would be recoverable in not more than 100 equal
monthly instalments. He said the revised limit would be admissible to
those employees also whose applications for the advance were pending for
sanction. The cases already decided or sanctioned would not be reopened. |
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Training programme
for science teachers CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana State Council for Science and Technology, in cooperation with the National Council for Science and Technology, will organise a state-level training programme on November 15 at DAV Secondary School in Sector 8 here.
A spokesman for the Haryana council said under the programme training would be imparted to science teachers and scientists of the state. Posts of Principal
to be filled
CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana Government today relaxed the ban imposed on the filling of vacant posts of Principal in government as well as government-aided private colleges.
This was stated by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Bahadur Singh.
Chautala greets
people CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today greeted the people of Haryana on the eve of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.
In a message Mr Chautala described Guru Nanak Dev as a symbol of compassion and love. He said the Guru belonged to entire humanity.
Cabinet meeting
CHANDIGARH, Nov 10 — The
Haryana Cabinet will meet here on November 15 at 9 a.m. under the
chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala.
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