H A R Y A N A

Centre Director told to return fee
Fatehabad, May 4
The District Consumer Forum has imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on the Director of a computer centre here and asked him to return the fee collected from a student, along with the interest accrued thereupon. The director was accused of causing loss of fees and one academic year to a student because of his negligence.

Magistrate’s bail plea: hearing adjourned
Ambala, May 4
The Special Judge for CBI cases, Dr B.B. Prasoon, has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of Mr R.C. Powaria, City Magistrate, Fatehabad for May 7 here today.

2-yr-old blood bank awaits employees

Ambala, May 4 A blood bank which was inaugurated with much fanfare two years back in Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt is yet to become fully operational. A blood bank, which is yet to become fully operational. —Photo N. Chopra

VHP camp begins on June 8
Sirsa, May 4
Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Togadia will visit a regional camp being organised by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal at Jhuthara Dharamshala here from June 8-17. But the date of his visit has not been officially declared as yet.

Centre Director told to return fee
Our Correspondent

Fatehabad, May 4
The District Consumer Forum has imposed a fine of Rs 7,000 on the Director of a computer centre here and asked him to return the fee collected from a student, along with the interest accrued thereupon. The director was accused of causing loss of fees and one academic year to a student because of his negligence.

Satbir Singh, a resident of Bangaon village, had filed a complaint with the forum against Balraj Singh, a director of the local centre of the government computer enterprises ET&T. The complainant had deposited an annual fee of Rs 4,500 with Balraj Singh in August, 2000, for a computer course. The director had issued identity card and other documents to the complainant.

Satbir Singh had alleged that he had attended classes in the centre regularly but the director neither organised the examinations, nor any course certificate was issued to him. When his kin approached the centre Director regarding this, he told that ET&T centre had been closed and he had taken franchisee for some other computer training company. He told them that they would have to pay Rs 2000 more if they wanted to get certificate of the new course.

Satbir Singh lodged a written complaint with the forum on December 12, 2001, and demanded Rs 2 lakh as compensation for fraud and for causing him a loss of Rs 4500 and an academic year. The forum has told the centre director to refund the fees to the complainant with an interest of 12 per cent pa and also pay him Rs 5000 as fine and Rs 2000 as legal costs.

Magistrate’s bail plea: hearing adjourned
Our Correspondent

Ambala, May 4
The Special Judge for CBI cases, Dr B.B. Prasoon, has adjourned the hearing of the bail application of Mr R.C. Powaria, City Magistrate, Fatehabad for May 7 here today. Mr Powaria had filed a regular bail application in this court on April 30. The CBI has registered a case against Mr Powaria under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Arms Act in July last, for issuing arms license by misusing his official position as public servant.

Earlier, while granting anticipatory bail to him, the High Court had directed him to apply to the trial court for regular bail to the satisfaction of arresting officer within a period of one month.

The CBI counsel informed the court that they had filed an appeal against the order of the High Court for granting anticipatory bail to Mr Powaria. CBI counsel said this trial court had no jurisdiction to hear the bail application of Mr Powaria. Since case was registered in Delhi, therefore the bail application should have been filed in the court of the Special Judge, Delhi.

The counsel of Mr Powaria, while opposing it, stated that this court was fully competent to hear the bail application of the petitioner accused.

2-yr-old blood bank awaits employees
Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

Ambala, May 4
A blood bank which was inaugurated with much fanfare two years back in Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt is yet to become fully operational.

Although refrigeration of blood is being done at the new blood bank, testing of the blood has to be carried out at the blood bank located in Civil Hospital, Ambala City, from where it is transferred to the new blood bank.

Union Minister Sushma Swaraj had inaugurated the blood-bank building, constructed from the funds provided by Mr Swaraj Kaushal, the MP under the MP Local Area Development scheme on July 15,2000. Equipment for the blood bank was donated by Rotary Club, Ambala, Rotary Club, London and Rotary International, USA.

A recent direction from a senior district health officer for shifting some support equipment from the blood bank as it was not yet fully operational has stirred up a hornet’s nest. Rotary Club members are up in arms over the direction since they feel that the purpose of contributing for a much-needed blood bank would be defeated.

President of Rotary Club, Ambala, Dr Anil Jain, said that the support equipment in the blood bank was provided so that it became functional and there was medical intervention during times of need. “We have learnt that a direction was given by the Civil Surgeon for sending a refrigerator to Ambala City,” he said.

Dr Jain said that if the support equipment in the blood bank was transferred, it would be difficult to get it back. “The blood bank needs to be made fully operational since Ambala Cantt is sandwiched between the national highway and the state highway, where a number of accidents take place,” he said.

He said “We have been told that the blood bank, which was inaugurated two years back, is only, partially operational since trained manpower like lab technicians and blood transfusion officer were yet to be appointed”. “Once the blood bank becomes fully operational, absence of support equipment will be a handicap “he added.

Former president of Rotary Club of Ambala, Capt (Retd) Baldev Singh, said that it was sad that efforts made by us will come to a nought if support equipment was shifted. “We demand that the blood bank should be made fully operational at the earliest,” he said.

However, Civil Surgeon, Dr S.L. Kaushik, said only temporary shifting of the refrigerator of the blood bank at Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantt to Ambala City was required but it was eventually not carried out as the refrigerator in Ambala City was repaired.

The new blood bank is partially operational, since staff needed to man the blood bank for 24 hours is not yet available. Right now there is only one Laboratory technician while we require at least three Lab technicians, one reliever, one staff nurse and two Class IV employees, besides the Blood Transfusion Officer, he said.

Dr Kaushik said that he had taken up the matter with higher authorities. “About 25 units of blood are stored in the new blood bank and the tested blood is sent from Ambala City blood bank,” he said. “I must stress that no patient has been refused blood and we always make arrangements for blood,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner Ambala D.D. Gautam, said he would take up the issue of making the new blood bank fully operational with the authorities concerned. The question of allowing “shifting of support equipment, does not arise. The equipment meant for the blood bank will be utilised there itself and no transfer will be permitted,” he said.

VHP camp begins on June 8

Sirsa, May 4
Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Togadia will visit a regional camp being organised by the VHP and the Bajrang Dal at Jhuthara Dharamshala here from June 8-17.

But the date of his visit has not been officially declared as yet. The camp will be attended by Bajrang Dal Convener Surinder Jain and VHP National Organising Secretary Vinayak Rao Deshpandey.

The purpose of the programme is to impart training to workers to inculcate moral values and a sense of self-defence in them. UNI 

Pardeep Chaudhary is HPSC member
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, may 4
The Haryana Government has appointed Mr Pardeep Chaudhary (41) as a member of the Haryana Public Service Commission.

Governor Babu Parmanand administered the oath of the office and secrecy to him at a function at the Haryana Raj Bhavan here today.

Mr Chaudhary hails from Panchkula and is a graduate from Panjab University. He was Chairman of Confed and a General Secretary of the INLD. He quit both these offices in the wake of his appointment as an HPSC member.