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| Sunday, February
18, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Dr C. M.
Sharma made Dean, Academic Affairs Improper
upkeep led to “jhoola” tragedy Guidelines for safety of buildings
issued Entrance
test for engineering Relief
continues to pour in Criminal
escapes |
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4 arrested
for dual murder HIGH COURT
‘Janata-police
week’ ends tomorrow
Sadar Bazar shops issue 2 arrested
in murder case Man, son held in fake visa
case Rail traffic restored HVPN to
set up power station Internet service
breaks down
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Dr C. M. Sharma made Dean, Academic Affairs Rohtak, February 17 According to notification issued by the university, Dr Sharma will function as Dean in addition to his present duties till further orders. He will coordinate and supervise admission of students made by various university teaching departments and arrange accommodation for all university classes, including evening classes, diploma courses etc. Dr Sharma will see that routine work in all university classes is conducted in accordance with the decisions of the academic council, executive council and the university court. He will guide students proceeding abroad for higher studies and look after the Foreign Information Bureau. Meanwhile, the executive council of the university at a meeting held here yesterday refused affiliation to the Institute of Law being run by the Abhiyaman Education and Research Society,
Ballabgarh/Faridabad. The academic council had already declined affiliation to the institute. The executive council has also decided to request the state government to amicably sort out the problem faced by Readers promoted under the merit promotion scheme (in the pay-scale of Rs 3,000-Rs 5,000. It said the proposal to be sent to the government should inter-alia include a reference to the decision taken by Delhi University as well as an alternative proposal of linkages to the career advancement scheme (CAS) which means as and when a Reader under the Merit promotion scheme qualifies to be promoted under CAS, he may be considered for placement in the scale of Rs 3,700-Rs 5,700 on that date without the payment of arrears. It approved amendment to the statute envisaging appointments to the selection committee as per UGC state government norms. It deferred a decision on empowering the Vice-Chancellor by amending statute 21-A regarding the mode of appointments. The decision on the creation of post of hostel warden by way of transfer, was also deferred. The proposal for the revival of the Institute of Development Studies was also postponed. The Chancellor had reportedly advised the university to revive the institute that was closed a few years ago. |
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Improper upkeep led
to “jhoola” tragedy Faridabad, February 17 According to the police findings, while the tragedy was incidental in nature, but had the proper safety provisions been followed by the “jhoola” operator, the lives of the victims could have been saved. It is reported that there was not safety belt or lock system attached to the seats of joyriders. As a result, when the swing stopped at its maximum height all riders fell down. It has been found that the shaft of the “jhoola” broke down when the machine got into top gear after the first one abruptly and the swing suddenly acquired top speed and reached its maximum height and got stuck there. The police had also sought help of the experts of Forensic Science Laboratory, Karnal, to know the causes which led to the accident. The reason for the problem in gears of the swing is stated to be lack of proper maintenance and upkeep of the “jhoola”. The SSP, Mr Ranbir Sharma, said all four persons allegedly responsible for the tragedy had been arrested. They have been identified as Raju, the contractor, his assistant Jawahar, and the owners of the “jhoola”, Ayub and Javed. A case has been registered against them under Section 304-A of the
IPC. |
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Guidelines for safety of buildings
issued Chandigarh, February 17 Mr N.C. Wadhwa, Director Town and Country Planning Department, said they had been directed to examine all multistorey buildings, commercials, institutional, industrial (flatted factories) and other buildings by respective builders or organisations or societies or individuals for structural safety as provided in the National Building Code (NBC) of India and various codes of practice for earthquake resistant buildings laid down by the Bureau of India Standards. The builders concerned or companies or societies and individuals may be directed to obtain a certificate regarding the structural safety of the design against earthquake from competent structural engineers or proof consultants as provided in NBC. They may also be asked to certify that the construction is as per the structural design and, if found necessary, these buildings may be braced up or improved structurally to meet the required earthquake resistance standards. Similarly, for buildings which are under construction, such certificates may be obtained at the plinth level as well as at the completion level and, if necessary, the structures may be suitably amended or strengthened and braced up to with stand seismic effects in the area. In the case of buildings plans which have been submitted or will be submitted in future, the applicant must provide a certificate from the competent structural engineer. Certain institutions, including the National Council for Building Material at Ballabgarh, the Institute of Structural Engineers and various engineering colleges can provide such services. A committee has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Mr K.K. Bhugra, Chief Engineer, HUDA, to look into the building byelaws under the Haryana Urban Development Authority Act and the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restrictions of unregulated Development Act, to suggest the necessary amendments. Entrance test for engineering Hisar, February 17 According to official sources, the state government has approved seven agencies for conducting entrance examinations, counselling and admissions to various professional courses in the state. The test for the MBA and the MCA courses will be conducted by Kurukshetra University while Maharishi Dayanand University will conduct the test for B.Pharma course. The admission for Diploma in Engineering will be finalised by the Government Polytechnic, Ambala City, while the State Board of Technical Education will conduct the entrance examination for the course. The YMCA Institute of Engineering and Technology, Faridabad, will conduct the admission test for the lateral entry in engineering and technology courses. The Government Polytechnic for Women, Ambala City, will finalise admissions to diploma programmes in pharmacy, management and other non-engineering courses. The government has constituted a committee to work out the conditionalities of eligibility, domicile and reservation. The committee has been asked to submit its report by the month end. It will meet in Chandigarh on February 20. |
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Relief continues to pour in
Kurukshetra, February 17 At least 3,000 blankets, 1,060 tents, four truck loads of flour, 3 truck rice, 2 truck potato, 3 truck dals, 600 pair of shoes and slippers, one truck sugar, 4 ton milk-powder, 50 tins of ghee, one truck tea, 3 truck onion, one kerosene tanker, 1,910 darries, 500 bed-sheets, 20 quilts, 565 packets of clothes and medicines had been sent from Pehowa and Thanesar subdivisions of the district, she added. As many as 160 social workers and nine officials visited the affected areas for the relief work. Ms Arora said a local gurukul school had volunteered to adopt 50 orphans while Prerna, a social organisation would accommodate 15 old age people of Gujarat in the newly created old ago home. Kaithal: The reports of contribution for the earthquake victims of Gujarat continue to pour in from various quarters. The Deputy Commissioner, Dr Mahaveer Singh, said here on Saturday that relief material worth Rs 25 lakh had been dispatched till now. The District Primary Education Officer, Ms Shashi Prabha, handed over a draft for Rs 2.61 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner. Besides this, office bearers of the Bharat Vikas Parishad has donated a cheque for Rs 21,000 in the Red Cross account. Fatehabad: The Haryana Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh said here on Saturday that senior government functionaries were monitoring the relief operations in Gujarat. These officials were in constant touch with the state headquarters here and relief items were being sent as and when required. Mr Sampat Singh was here in connection with the preparation of the INLD workers “Chetna Shivir” to be held here tomorrow. He said the camp for the INLD workers from Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Bhiwani districts would be organised here tomorrow. Party workers from all 22 Assembly segments of these districts would take part in it. |
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Criminal escapes Fatehabad, February 17 Joginder Singh, a resident of Dhamtan Sahib village in Jind district had absconded from police custody on January 20, while he was being shifted from Ferozepore jail to Ambala. On February 14, he had allegedly shot two persons at Tohana in the district. The victims, Surender and Krishan, were the members of the FCI Labour Union and the police believes that Joginder acted as a contract killer and the double murder was committed due to the union feud. The police received a tip-off yesterday that Joginder was hiding in a house at Badopal village. They raided the house of Roshan Lal, where the accused had been hiding. But, Roshan’s wife noticed the police and raised an alarm. Joginder and Roshan fled the scene firing on the police party. The police returned the fire but the two managed to escape. |
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4 arrested for dual murder Panipat, February 17 Disclosing this Mr
P.R. Dev, SP, said here yesterday that Ram Phal of Model Town was stabbed to death by Sanjay and his father Kali Ram. The police arrested them and recovered a knife used to commit the crime. In another case, a milk-vendor, Dharam
Bir, was murdered in the first week of January while he was returning after selling milk to the customers. He also disclosed that due to timely intervention of the Samalkha police, two criminals, who had forcibly taken possession of a
tractor-trolly last evening after beating and throwing its driver into a ditch near Machhroli village, had been arrested. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, February 17 Pronouncing the orders on a petition by headmaster of a school in Kurukshetra district, Mr Munshi Ram
Popli, and three others, the Bench, comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice
V.S. Aggarwal, observed: “The petitioners were promoted as Headmasters of middle schools and their pay was fixed in a higher grade on account of higher responsibility as headmasters. They were drawing the salary since July 1998”. The Bench also observed: “By the impugned order, without issuing any show-cause notice, the pay scale of the petitioners had been reduced.....It is conceded in the written statement that no such notice was issued”. The judges concluded: “On this short ground alone, the petition deserves to be allowed. As the order results in civil consequence, the respondents should have issued a show-cause notice before reducing the pay of the petitioners. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed and the impugned order quashed. The respondents may pass fresh orders in accordance with the law”. Notice to Haryana Issuing a notice of motion to the State of Haryana and other respondents on two separate petitions, the Court stayed the operation of orders whereby annual increments of two JBT teachers were stopped for allegedly claiming LTC without undertaking any journey. In their petitions taken up by Mr. Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr. Justice
V.S. Aggarwal, Attar Singh and Raghbir Singh, both belonging to Sonepat district, had earlier alleged that certain persons with vested interest had lodged the complaint against them. Challenging the orders regarding stopping of their annual increment with cummulative effect, the petitioners had added that no notice regarding the punishment was served upon them. |
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‘Janata-police week’ ends tomorrow Chandigarh, Feb 17 Talking to newsmen this afternoon, the Director-General of Police, Mr M.S.
Malik, said that several exhibitions would be organised to give the general public an insight into working of the police department. An interactive session with a few selected speakers from the public and the police each would be another attraction of the sammelan to be inaugurated by the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash
Chautala. Before the sammelan, the Chief Minister would lay the foundation stone of the Panchkula District Police Lines and a modern training centre besides presiding over the meeting of the Policemen Welfare Board. Mr Malik said though Haryana Police had started various welfare schemes for its men and officers, including its proposal to finance their own housing schemes, it continued to improve its expertise in handling newer areas of crime, including cyber crime. A two-day workshop for Deputy Superintendents of Police on cyber crime was organised in collaboration with
Hartron. From the next financial year, the training module of the officers up to the Inspector level would also include information technology. The government also proposes to reserve 5 per cent jobs for expertise in information technology at all the three entry levels — constable, assistant sub-inspector and Deputy Superintendent of Police. Mr Malik said that copies of the new Act dealing with the cyber crime had already been circulated to all police stations in the state. To give a civil face to the force, he said the
janta-police week was being observed throughout the state from February 13 to 19. Mr Malik said to improve the behaviour of policemen towards general public, some behaviourial scientists were being associated with the Police Training College at
Madhuban. The Haryana Police had also proposed appointment of a regular public relations officer to deal with the media on day to day basis. Talking about the
sammelan, Mr Malik said some of the exhibitions would be organised for educating the public about the detection of fake currency notes or for detection of laced eatables. A circle kabaddi match between Punjab and Haryana teams, a tug of war match, daredevilry show by motor cycle riders, display of driverless driving convoy, tent pegging and show jumping, mass band display, mass PT display, “mashal” parade and exhibition of forensic science laboratory of Madhuban would be the other major attractions of the
“sammelan”. |
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Sadar Bazar shops issue Amabala, February 17 Talking to mediapersons here today, BJP leader, Dr K.D. Sharma, said that facts clearly show that the Municipal Council has not suffered any loss as in being suggested in the Sadar shops matter. “The shops were built in 1950-51 and they were taken over by the Municipal Council from the Cantonment Board in 1977. The rent was fixed at Rs 156, which was increased to Rs 185 for one shop, after permission from the then Deputy Commissioner,’ he said. Dr Sharma said that in the case of shop number 3, the rent was increased to Rs 300. “This resolution has been turned down by the DC. It is more than apparent that there has been no loss in any way to the Municipal Council. The Ambala Cantt MLA, Mr Anil Vij, had claimed that there had been a loss which is wrong,” he alleged. Among others, Municipal Council President, Pandit Shankar Dass, Mandal president, Mr S.P. Bhola, general secretary Mr Shubhadesh Mittal and Ms Kataria were present. Dr Sharma observed that a resolution passed by the general body unanimously has not been actively considered. “At one point of time, there was a suggestion for hiking the rent to Rs 2,000 but there were no takers among the shopkeepers for this proposal. In essence, the proposal of Rs 2,000 was not acceptable,” he said. Sharply criticising the Executive Officer of Ambala Sadar, Dr
K. D. Sharma said that the official did not make any comments when the
resolution on Sadar shops was being considered but he gave his
comments much later. “He was pressurised,” he alleged. He
clarified that the responsibility for leadership of only the elected
representatives lies with the President Municipal Council. “The work
of demolition has to be carried out by the district officials and the
EO is responsible for it,” he said. Dr Sharma said that the
business regulation rule 1981, clearly states that any case can be
re-opened after a lapse of six months. He also alleged that the report
on the Sadar shops issue was politically motivated. On the
relationship between the BJP and Vikas Parishad, led by Ambala Cantt
MLA, Mr Anil Vij, Dr Sharma said that the BJP had whole-heartedly
supported the alliance “But, the same cannot be said for the Vikas
Parishad. We are still maintaining our stance but it is for Vikas
Parishad to make amends.” Dr Sharma said that the slum grant is
meant to be spent on the recommendations of the elected
representative. “Our distribution is more equitable and Pandit
Shankar Dass has written a letter in this regard to the authorities
concerned,” he said. Criticising the Netaji Subhash Bose park, Dr
Sharma said that drainage of water has not been given consideration
resulting in water-logging in the nearby areas. “During monsoon
season, the problem of water-logging is going to be acute,” he
said. He stated that the bus stand and the park have been inaugurated
twice. “We demand that proper auditing of the account of the park
must be done,” he said. 2 arrested in murder case Sonepat, February 17 According to a report, another accused Rajesh of Khewra village has also been arrested on the similar charge. However, the main accused, Shiv Kumar, alias Minto, is still at large. Four mobile phones and Rs 20,000 in cash have also been recovered from the victim’s car. The accused, during the course of interrogation, have reportedly disclosed that on February 4. Shiv Kumar telephoned Dhindsa at Karnal that he was waiting for him at the Bahalgarh Chowk near Sonepat and requested him to pick him up on his way to Delhi. While Dhindsa picked him up from the spot another person Rajesh boarded his car near Rai. The duo then kidnapped Dhindsa at gunpoint and drove him forwards Bahadurgarh. On the way, Dalbir arrived in a car and he too boarded Dhindsa’s car. Shiv Kumar allegedly hatched a conspiracy to extract a ransom Rs 1.5 lakh for Dhindsa’s release. Dalbir allegedly sent a message for ransom to the General Manager of the company where Dhindsa was working, on phone. The General Manager reportedly paid the amount to the accused at the fixed place. But instead of freeing Dhundsa, the accused demanded Rs 5 lakh more from the General Manager, which he declined to pay. The accused, later, took Dhindsa to Panipat where they served him meal in a hotel. In the evening they took him to Bhanwar village where they allegedly shot him dead and threw his body near the road. After committing the crime, they fled the scene. The police, however, took the lead by tracing the mobile number and arrested them. |
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Man, son held in fake visa
case Faridabad, February 17 The accused had promised to get immigration visa for Balwinder Singh of Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Balwinder Singh had come into the contact of Shiv Singh and his son Rupinder when he had gone to the USA Embassy in Delhi to enquire about the prospects of going to the USA for a job. Balwinder and his brother Lakhwinder, who hail from Purana Chhata village, met Shiv Singh at the latter’s residence in March 1999. According to an agreement reached between the two parties, Rs 5 lakh was to be given for the work. They were promised that required documents would be arranged within a month or so. While some money was paid in advance, the rest of the amount was handed over after the complainant was given the visa. He was promised to be flown to the USA by May. But Balwinder and his family got suspicious, when they did not receive any travel documents by the due date. They were told that the visa date had been extended by six months, even then they failed to get any document after apse of that period. Later, they decided to contact embassy officials for verification of the visa papers. They got a shock when they were told that the visa given to them was fake. They met Shiv Singh and demanded a refund of the money. The accused reportedly issued a cheque for the amount, but it got bounced. Balwinder eventually got a case registered against them. The SSP, Mr Ranbir Sharma, said both Shiv Singh and his son had been arrested and were in police custody. |
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Rail traffic
restored Sirsa, February 17 The traffic on this route was restored today at about 3 a.m. According to the local station superintendent the cause of accident could not be confirmed but he has not ruled out the possibility of sabotage as fish plates from the track were missing from about 150 metres. He said a four member inquiry committee had been constituted to find out the cause of the derailment. A Bikaner-based Divisional Superintendent Engineer (Construction), Senior Divisional Operating Manager. Divisional Mechanical Engineer and Inspector, Railway Protection Force are the members of this committee which is likely to submit its report by February 20, he added. |
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HVPN to set up power station Fatehabad, February 17 According to the HVPN sources, a sum of Rs 42.26 crore had been earmarked for various projects for improving power transmission in the district. The Ahrwan substation is the second project under this scheme. The HVPN plans to set up two more 132 kv substations, one each at Rattia and Fatehabad. The sources said 63 km long 220 kv powerlines will be laid between Mayyar village (Hisar) and Fatehabad to supply power to the new substation. The substation will also be connected with the Narwana-Sirsa powerline. Power generated from Chamera Panipat Thermal Plant and Bhakra Hydroelectric Project will also be available to the district after the completion of the project. Meanwhile, the ruling INLD and the district administration are gearing up for the proposed visit of the Chief Minister. Mr Chautala will also address a ‘Chetana shivir’ for party workers. |
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Internet service
breaks down Hisar, February 17 Since last night Internet users trying to access the Net on the login number 172222 have been getting a recorded message “all lines on this route are busy.” The service broke down yesterday afternoon and has not been restored till this evening. No official was available at the local telephone exchange to attend to the problem as Saturday being a holiday. The General Manager, Telecom, Mr Ramesh Arya, was stated to be out of town. |
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Scrap house tax: HVP Sonepat, February 17 The HVP workers submitted a memorandum demanding scrapping of the new house tax. |
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