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CM takes it out on Chief Secretary
Bhajan accused of working against Cong candidates
Residents gherao DSP
Shortage of common medicines
in Haryana
Health officials wake up to check jaundice spread
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Students resent quote system in PGIMS
Illegal mining: four cops suspended
Need for quality education stressed
FIR case: dissenting judge to give reasons later
12 hurt in mishaps
Youth stabbed to death
One held in murder case
2 attempt suicide
MLA gives notice to House panel
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CM takes it out on Chief Secretary
Chandigarh, February 11 The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, took it out on the Chief Secretary, Mr Sunil Ahuja, for “obeying” the instructions of the Election Commission of India. Mr Chautala’s “outburst” came towards the end of the Cabinet meeting. He asked Mr Ahuja: “Aap Hamare Mulazam Hain Ya Election Commission Ke (Are you our employee or of the Election Commission)”. It is not known what was the provocation for Mr Chautala’s outburst. However, it is believed it was the refusal of the bureaucracy, headed by Mr Ahuja, to issue appointment letters to those persons who were selected by the Haryana Public Service Commission and the Haryana Staff Selection Commission before the elections. The appointment letters could not be issued because the model code of conduct had come into force. The Election Commission had also written to Mr Ahuja to inform all concerned about the ban on new appointments. Mr Ahuja had passed on the commission’s instructions to all departments. Informed sources say, Mr Chautala repeated his question a number of times. Mr Ahuja ultimately replied that he was the employee of the government. Mr Chautala reminded Mr Ahuja that earlier
he (Mr Ahuja) had told him that he was on deputation with the Election Commission. The sources say Mr Chautala asked his Principal Secretary, Mr B.D. Dhalia, to prepare the list of all those IAS officers who were refusing to implement the orders of the government on the pretext of the code being in force. He directed Mr Dhalia to initiate action against all such officers. It is learnt that a few days ago, Mr Ahuja, who was reportedly under pressure from the Chief Minister, had written to the Election Commission that he wanted to proceed on long leave. The Commission had refused to grant permission in view of the ensuing Assembly elections in the state. Meanwhile, the Opposition has reacted sharply to today’s incident. The officiating leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, said sensing his party’s defeat, Mr Chautala had gone “berserk and was out to destroy all democratic conventions and norms”. He said the bureaucracy should not feel threatened by Mr Chautala and should steadfastly work according to the rules and instructions of the Election Commission. Capt Yadav said if Mr Chautala victimised any bureaucrat, his party, on coming to power, would protect the officer. The former Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, said the Governor should intervene and tell the Chautala Government not to take any policy decision as it was now “only a caretaker government”. He alleged that Mr Chautala had no respect for democratic institutions as he was itching for a confrontation with the Election Commission. He said if Mr Chautala violated the instructions of the commission, it would mean the “breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state”, demanding urgent presidential intervention. Accusing Mr Chautala of violating the code, the Congress MP from Bhiwani, Mr Kuldeep Bishnoi, said the INLD leader wanted to do many such acts which were prohibited under the code. He said the Congress would complain to the Election Commission against Mr Chautala. He said he had come to know that Mr Chautala had asked officers to prepare a list of such persons who would be appointed in violation of the code. Describing Mr Chautala’s alleged intentions as a “challenge” to the commission, Mr Bishnoi said the Congress, on coming to power, would take action against those officers who would become a party to Mr Chautala’s gameplan. Meanwhile, it is learnt that another meeting of the Cabinet has been called for February 13. The agenda of the meeting is not known. Today the Cabinet decided to transfer 1484.10 sqm. of Nabha House, in Delhi for construction of the Mandi House Railway Station to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. Under an agreement reached with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Haryana Government, the Corporation will construct 12 residential quarters in lieu of quarters which would be demolished for the construction of this railway station. |
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Bhajan accused of working against Cong candidates
Hisar, February 11 In a written complaint addressed to the Congress President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, Mr Krishan Singla, press secretary of the District Congress Committee (Urban), has alleged that Mr Bhajan Lal had joined hands with the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and worked to defeat the Congress nominees. He said of the six Assembly segments in Hisar, the state Congress President made efforts to ensure the defeat to the Congress candidates in the Hisar, Barwala and Narnaund constituencies. He said Mr Bhajan Lal backed Independent candidates in Hisar and Barwala and the BJP nominee in the Narnaund segment. Mr Singla alleged that the former Chief Minister even asked his supporters to campaign for the candidates contesting against the Congress nominees. The DCC member asserted that in case of the Hisar seat, Mr Bhajan Lal openly asked the Congress workers to support Independent contestant Hari Singh Saini and ensure the defeat of Mr Om Prakash Jindal, Congress candidate. Mr Singla further alleged that the state Congress chief provided huge amounts of money to the Independent candidate for the Hisar seat. A number of Congress members, including DCC (Rural) president, also worked against Mr Jindal, he added. He pointed out that the issue had been brought to the notice of several AICC observers, but no action had been taken so far. |
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Residents gherao DSP
Faridabad, February 11 While the family of the victim was still waiting for any information about the whereabouts of the child, the police has unable to get any clue regarding the kidnappers so far. A controversy also seems to have arisen over the alleged demand of ransom by the abductors. The police has failed to confirm the report that the family of the victim had received a call demanding a ransom of Rs 15 lakh for the safe return of Anand though his family members had claimed that he had been abducted for ransom and the family had received a call yesterday. Police officials said a hunt had been launched and some teams had been dispatched to various places, including the neighbouring states of U.P and Rajasthan. The victim Anand Kumar Teotia, alias Golu, is son of an Army Havaldar posted at Nasik. It is reported that the police was also working on the theory that a relative or a person close to the family could also be involved in the incident, after it came to light that a threat had been made by a female relative of the family after some dispute a few months ago. The family members said it was impossible for them to pay any ransom due to weak financial position.
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Shortage of common medicines
in Haryana
Panchkula, February 11. The decision not to purchase any medicine containing psychotropic ingredients was taken by the Haryana State Druggist and Chemists Association today. This follows a directive given by the apex body of druggists, the All-India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD), asking chemists not to purchase any psychotropic medicines from the companies on February 25, and only sell the existing stocks of these medicines. A meeting of representatives of AIOCD and Indian Drug Manufacturers Association Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India and leading pharma companies was held with officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Union Ministry of Home Affairs, last evening, in order to sort out the issue of druggists and chemists being dragged under the purview of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. There are over 5000 different brands of 100 basic salts and their derivatives made with psychotropic
substances. These salts include anti-depressants like alprazolam, diazepam and analgesics like nitrazepam, epilepsy medicines like phenobarbitone and common anaesthesia medicines like buprenorphine. With depression and heart diseases being widespread, and analgesics (pain killers) being required by patients in hospitals, the decision of chemists not to buy further stocks has led to a shortage of these life-saving drugs in the state. Chemists all over the country have been protesting for almost a month against impositions being made on them under the NDPS Act. The chemists selling medicines containing psychotropic substances have always been under the purview of the NDPS Act. However, drug manufacturers and chemists have now been asked to fill transit forms in triplicate, while selling these
medicines. While two forms are to be sent to NCB, the chemists are to retain the third set for a period of two years after getting a receipt for it from the NCB. The NCB has decided to go strict against chemists reportedly following a large haul of prescription drugs being recovered by an international law enforcing agency to the drug mafia in Middle East Asia. These drugs were allegedly being sent so that these could be routed to those addicted to prescription drugs. Also, with prescription drug abuse on the rise, the NCB decided to check the sale and transportation of medicines containing psychotropic substances. Mr B B Singhal, president of the Panchkula Chemists Association, said that it was practically impossible for the medicine dealers to comply with such tedious provisions of preparing records for these medicines, as medicines having psychotropic substances were too many in number. Mr R.K. Khera, president of the Haryana State Druggists and Chemists Association, said that since drugs are manufactured under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, why should the sale be under the NDPS Act. "We are issued drug licence and the Drug Control Department is there to enforce that the drugs are not misused. The quantity of drugs in these substances is minimal but we are being dealt in the same way as any drug smuggler," he rued. |
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Health officials wake up to check jaundice spread
Kaithal, February 11 Though a number of residents of various localities, including Housing Board colony, and Ward No 1, 2, of the town have become victim of the disease and the residents had been crying for action from the Health Department, the authorities have lately moved into action. After receiving complaints from the public and media reports, SDM Guhla Dharam Pal Singh has directed the departments concerned to take appropriate steps. According to information, the authorities have detected some old rusted pipes carrying drinking water to the residential areas, which got contaminated by mixing with the sewer water at some places. The sewer lines are being cleaned with the help of machines. The department has taken steps to supply chlorinated drinking water in the residential areas. Water samples have also been taken from various localities for testing the presence of bacteria. The residents have alleged that had the department taken timely steps to tackle the situation, the spread of the disease could have been checked. |
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Students resent quote system in PGIMS
Fatehabad, February 11 Showing the quota system mentioned in the prospectus of the PGIMS, some medical graduates having the local domicile but having passed their MBBS course from Maharashtra and Tamil Naidu told this correspondent that there were a total of 82 seats of MD and MS in various streams at the PGIMS, Rohtak. Out of these 82 seats, 40 are open for graduates from throughout India. Seventeen others are reserved for the HCMS quota, which are to be filled from in service doctors working in the Haryana government hospitals and 25 seats are reserved for candidates of Haryana domicile. But, the students allege that the institute has reserved further preferential quota from these 25 seats in such a way that they their chance of getting admission in the institute has become difficult. Mrs Kanchan Munjal, mother of one such student, told this correspondent that the institute had reserved 10 out of 100 marks for candidates, who have passed their MBBS course from the PGIMS, Rohtak, and five out of 100 for those who have passed their plus two examination from Haryana. As the students are supposed to solve 200 multiple choice questions (MCQs) in the entrance test and each question carries half mark, it means that a student, who has passed his MBBS degree from the PGIMS, Rohtak, will start as if he has already solved correctly 20 MCQs even before sitting in the exam. Similarly, a student who has passed his plus two examination from Haryana will also start as if he has already solved correctly 10 MCQs even before sitting in the test. Students having Haryana domicile but having neither passed their plus two
examination from Haryana nor obtaining their medical degree from the PGIMS, Rohtak rue that the PGIMS has failed to provide level growing to them. They say it is not possible for them to solve 20 MCQs more than the number of MCQs solved by students of their caliber passing MBBS from the PGIMS. They say that if the PGIMS wanted to give benefit to its own students; it could reserve some seats for them out of these 25 seats. But the manner in which the preferential marks have been allowed, it has left little opportunity for them to compete in the entrance test. |
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Illegal mining: four cops suspended
Gurgaon, February 11 The IGP, Gurgaon range, Mr Swaranjit Singh, and the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Aggarwal are to file their replies in the apex court for failing to stop the illegal mining. The department has placed under suspension four personnel who were working as SHOs when illegal mining was allegedly at its peak in spite of the apex court’s May 6, 2002, order. The Supreme Court had on January 25, while issuing contempt notices to Mr Swaranjit Singh and Mr Anurag Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner, directed the state Chief Secretary to file within three weeks an affidavit giving detailed report of action taken against those responsible for violating its order. The other two officers are also stipulated to file their replies within three weeks. The four personnel who have been placed under suspension were posted as SHOs at Sohna, Taoru, Manesar and Nuh. Although the officials are tightlipped it is learnt that reason behind their suspension was their dubious role in misleading the authorities on the illegal mining issue. This led to making untenable submission to the court by the government side that no illegal mining was taking place after the court’s order. The concerned Bench of the Supreme Court while issuing the contempt notices observed that it has been taken for a ride as its order was being defied with the connivance of state government officials. According to sources, Mr Swaranjit Singh has set up a two-member committee to inquire into the incident. However, sources say heads of about 12 more police officials are on the chopping block.
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Need for quality education stressed
Ambala, February 11 The Tribune is the media sponsor for the national conference. Ms Anuradha Gupta, Member Secretary, AICTE, inaugurated the conference. Ms Anuradha Gupta, while addressing the delegates and the students, stressed the need for qualitative, technical and professional education. She said that to compete in today’s world quality education was the need of the hour. She emphasised the need for such conferences to be conducted on a regular basis as an essential part of management studies. The M M Institute of Management, Mullana, Ambala, in collaboration with the Yamunanagar Jagadhri Management Association, is organising the conference. Dr M.K. Sehgal, Director, M M Institute of Management, welcomed the dignitaries to the conference. Dr P.V. Narsimhan, Director-General, K.J Somaniya Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai, was the special guest of honour. Dr Arun Kumar Jain from the IIM, Lucknow, delivered the keynote speech. Mr Tarsem Kumar Garg, Chairman, M M Group of Institutions, presided over the function. He said that various contests had also been organised to acknowledge young talent. The programme covered two technical sessions. The first session consisted of papers on sub themes—Excellence in computer sector and growth opportunity, Health Tourism Industry- remedies to the world, Role of IIMs in making intellectual Indians. Ms Gupta released a book “Changing Paradigms in Management”, edited by Dr Sehgal. A souvenir of the conference was also released. The Tribune is organising a ‘Fill-n-Win’ contest at the institute. The contest is open only for participants and students. The prizes of the contest will be announced on the last date of the conference.
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HIGH COURT Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, February 11 The Chief Justice and Mr Justice Dutt delivered the majority judgement, Mr Justice Bali dissented. But, he said that he had not had the time to prepare his judgement and would state the reasons for his dissent as soon as possible. The matter related to a bunch of petitions — Dharamvir versus State of Haryana and 11 other petitions. On August 30, 2003, a Special Lok Adalat at Narnaul in Haryana had accepted the pleas of the parties in criminal cases to quash the FIRs as they had reached compromises. After Mr Justice Bali expressed his dissent through a short note, the Chief Justice wrote that the practice of disposing of cases and giving the reasons later had been depreciated by the Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court 20 years ago. He also listed the events leading to the pronouncement of the judgement. However, Mr Justice Bali claimed that he had received a copy of the majority judgement yesterday and had been informed about some changes having been made in it. He said that he did not agree with his brother Judges in so far as their view on the High Court’s power under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as also Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution were concerned. The High Court, he maintained, had absolute power in quashing the FIR in non-compoundable offences of all kinds and not just matrimonial cases.
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12 hurt in mishaps
Sonepat, February 11 The injured have been identified as Rakesh Jain, Subodh Jain, Meena Jain, Ravi Jain, all residents of Karnal, and van driver S.K. Verma of Gharaunda. All the injured persons were rushed to a private hospital at Kundli village where they were stated to be out of danger. They were on their way from Prashant Vihar, Delhi. In another incident, seven persons, including a woman, were injured when a three-wheeler carrying them overturned on the Sonepat-Narela road near Ratdhanna village, about 5 km from here, last night. The injured have been identified as Ram Prasad of Narinder Nagar, Kishori Devi of Patel Nagar, Rajoo of Kabirpur village, Ram Dhari and Ashok of Fazilpur village, Mahesh of New Jiwan Nagar and Dharambir of Braham Colony. They were going to Narela for attending a social function. |
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Youth stabbed to death
Panipat, February 11 There was a number of stabbing marks on different parts of the body. It is understood that the body of the youth had been thrown in the plot after killing him with some
sharp-edged weapon. The police sent the body to Bhim Sen Sachar Hospital for a post-mortem examination. |
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One held in murder case
Sonepat, February 11 According to police sources, the arrested person was identified as Ram Parsad of Khapra village in Purnia district of Bihar. The main culprit, Gulab Chand, is still at large. The parents of the victim had told the police that Chander Mohan and Gulab Chand had purchased a plot at Panipat jointly. Gulab Chand and Ram Parsad had sold it without informing Chander Mohan. When Chander Mohan came to know about the sale of the plot a dispute started between him and Gulab Chand.
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2 attempt suicide
Panipat, February 11 An unknown person reportedly committed suicide by throwing himself in front of a running train near Kaund village. In another incident, a housewife, Preeti, of Hari Singh Colony consumed some poisonous substance reportedly to end her life due to some domestic problem. |
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MLA gives notice to House panel
Ambala, February 11 Mr Vij sent the notice seeking disassociation of two police officers from holding enquiry into the February 2 incident as he claimed that a false case had been filed against him. The notice had been served under Haryana Vidhan Sabha rule number 278 and 279. Mr Vij after a dharna by him at Ambala Sadar Police Station he was assured by the then officiating Deputy Commissioner Mr M.L. Kaushik that three police officers would be shifted out. But, only the Ambala Sadar police station incharge was shifted out while two other police officers were still there. He alleged that the two police officers had also campaigned against him during elections. “After the election, these two police officers are cooperating with the BJP against me,” he alleged. |
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