Chandigarh, September 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would be released on interim bail by the trial court till the decision of his petitions for the grant of regular bails in all three cases registered against him.

The dera chief is facing allegations of rape and also of murder, including that of journalist Ram Chander Chhattarapati.

Pronouncing the orders in an open court, Justice L.N. Mittal of the high court further directed that the interim relief would be subject to his surrendering the passport, if not already handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and several other conditions.

Disposing of the petition, Justice Mittal ruled: “The petitioner shall appear in the court of the committing magistrate on October 4 - the date fixed in all three cases.

If the petitioner appears in the trial court/Sessions Court, Ambala, on or before October 4 and files a petition for regular bail under Section 439 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the three cases, he shall be released on interim bail on furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Sessions Court till the decision of his petitions for regular bail.”

Giving details of the conditions, the judge further ruled that besides surrendering the passport, the petitioner would furnish an affidavit stating that he does not possess any other passport.

Also, he would not leave the country without the trial court's permission.

Furthermore, he would not tamper with the evidence and "shall not try to influence the witnesses directly or indirectly by making any inducement, threats or promise". He would also appear in the "committing court and the trial as and when required".

In his detailed judgement, the judge observed: “The petitioner deserves to be granted protection of Section 438 of the Code till the decision of his petition for regular bail under Section 439 of the Code by the trial court/ Sessions Court.”

During the long period of investigation by the CBI, spreading over several years, the petitioner was not arrested.

In view thereof, it can be safely said heavens would not fall if the petitioner is not put behind bars for some time more till the decision of his petition for regular bail.

Earlier during the arguments, petitioner's counsel S.K. Garg Narwana had contended that the purpose of Section 438 was to save a petitioner from police harassment and torture.

He also referred to a gamut of apex court judgements, particularly Gurbax Singh Sibia case, Adri Dharan case, K.L. Verma case and Sunita Devi case.

CBI counsel Rajan Gupta, on the other hand, contended that mere denial of pre-arrest bail would not automatically translate into the arrest of the petitioner.

It was solely the discretion of the investigation officer to arrest him 
or not.

Chandigarh, September 17
The financial commissioner-cum-principal secretary to the Haryana government has issued a stinker in the form of a memorandum to all heads of departments (HoDs) asking them to desist from the practice of seeking more funds under the planned and non-planned expenditure.

The memorandum has been necessitated following many departments putting forward additional requirements both on the plan and non-plan side.

The memorandum, issued on September 14, is short and curt, aimed at nipping requirements for “additionalities during 2007-2008” in the bud.

The HoDs have been told that the Budget estimates for 2007-2008 have already been drawn up keeping in view the commitment to meet targets under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, so as to get the benefit of the Debt Write Off Scheme of the central government as per the recommendation of the Twelfth Finance Commission.

The financial commissioner has said rather than looking for more grants from the government, the HoDs should review the schemes and projects under implementation to remain within the allocated budgets.

In a polite but firm tone, the HoDs have been cautioned against exceeding their planned expenditure, which will only lead to incomplete projects rather than departments getting more funds.

Sounding a financial crunch for the remaining period of the financial year, the government has clarified that “any excess expenditure over the budget estimates will not be considered at the stage of revised estimates unless the same is already got cleared from the finance department”.

In practical terms, this means that the state has allocated all funds available with it for existing projects and no new projects would be undertaken during the current fiscal. 

Chandigarh, September 17
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s decision to give panchayat land on a 99-year lease to those who made this land cultivable will resolve a dispute which remained unattended by successive governments, either deliberately or otherwise, for the past three and a half decades, often leading to a law and order problem in Kurukshetra and Kaithal districts.

The Tribune pleaded the cause of the lease-holders facing threat of dispossession, earning the wrath of the then Chief Minister Bansi Lal. It was perhaps for the first time that a Chief Minister, at least in this region, used the state’s advertisement policy as a weapon in an attempt to “tame” a newspaper. When this attempt failed, Bansi Lal imposed an “unofficial” ban on the entry of The Tribune in Haryana.

A large number of persons, mainly Sikhs, from various districts of the present-day Punjab were allotted land, both private and panchayat, in the early fifties on a long-term lease in what is known as old Karnal district, particularly in the Pehowa area, of Haryana. The land was allotted under the Land Utilisation Act in order to make waste and forest land cultivable in view of the acute food shortage in the country at that time.

When the leases expired in the early seventies, the lease-holders, who had worked hard to turn the waste land into gold mines, were told the vacate their holdings, leading to a hue and cry. The Tribune pleaded the cause of the lease-holders facing the threat of dispossession, earning the wrath of the then Chief Minister Bansi Lal. It was perhaps for the first time that a Chief Minister, at least in this region, used the state’s advertisement policy as a weapon in an attempt to “tame” a newspaper. When this attempt failed, Bansi Lal imposed an “unofficial” ban on the entry of The Tribune in Haryana. The police used to search vehicles on the state’s border to find out if they were carrying copies of the newspaper. Instructions were issued to government offices not to subscribe to The Tribune.

The Press Council of India pulled up the Haryana government for stopping advertisements to The Tribune. The lease issue went to the courts. Many obtained stay orders. However, ultimately the courts ruled against the lease-holders. While owners of the private land were able to get their land vacated in many cases, the lease-holders did not hand over the possession of the panchayat land to the panchayats in many cases.

The issue lingered on for all these years. In the Pehowa area, the issue was quite emotive. The lease-holders, mostly Sikhs, were confident that when the INLD would come to power, it would find a solution to their problem. For, they had been voting for the INLD for years because of its proximity to the Akalis in Punjab.

Haryana agriculture minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha, who represents Pehowa in the Assembly, says the lease-holders were badly let down by the INLD government. Many see this step of Hooda as more beneficial and of an immediate gain to a large number of Sikhs settled in the state than even the constitution of a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for Haryana, which is being demanded by a strong section of the community. 

Chandigarh, September 17
The move to rename “Jind” as “Jeend” has not gone down well with many people in the state who feel that meddling with a city’s name is not only undesirable but also unacceptable as it creates unnecessary confusion. Besides, in the specific case of Jind, historical and documentary evidence is available that suggests that “Jind” was spelt differently at different times in history.

A senior Haryana police officer, Rajbir Deswal, has supplied The Tribune with a large number of postage stamps, photographs and an envelope of a registered letter from the British era in which “Jind” is spelt as such and also as “Jeind”, “Jhind”, etc. But the most authentic of them all is a photograph taken by Deswal outside a court that spells the state’s name as “Jheend”.

The main objection of those opposed to a name change or a change in its spelling is that it must serve some purpose. “Merely changing the name for the sake of change leads to a lot of messing up with records and documentation, besides ignoring the sensitivity and disposition of the people towards a particular name which they have been used to for generations. ‘Jind’ connotes something; we must learn to respect historicity”, says Deswal.

During pre-Independence days Jind formed part of Punjab . Historically, Sardar Gajpat Singh is documented to be the first notable chief of Jind State who made Jind town his capital in 1746. A fief of the Delhi Empire, he was given the title of Raja. His empire gained strength after he married off his daughter Raj Kaur to Sardar Mahan Singh Sukarchakya, chief of the Sukarchakya Misl, in the Trans-Satluj region in 1774 at Badrukhan. Some historians believe that Maharaja Ranjit Singh was born at Badrukhan on November 13, 1780 . Incidentally, Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s wife was also named Rani Jind Kaur or “Jindan”.

There are several documents from the beginning of the current century that mention “Jind” State. One of the most important of these is the list of medals of the Third Afghan War, 1919, that mentions the Jind Imperial Service Infantry as one of the recipients of the award. Colonel-in-Chief, Jind Imperial Service Regiment, Suraj Mukhi is also listed in British records as a recipient of the Prince of Wales (1876) and KIH (1877) gold medals.

According to Prof M.R. Sethi’s narration about the history of Jind, as described on the website www.Jindcity.com, “mythologically, the son of Lord Inder, Jayant, named the city after his name. As per another mythological story, the city derives its name from Jainti, the goddess of victory, in whose dedication a temple was erected by the Pandavas. They offered prayers to the goddess to seek her blessing for success before launching the Battle of Mahabharata. The authenticity of the fact can be ascertained from the Mahabharata and the Padam Purana. Jind forms part of the Kurukshetra Bhumi i.e. divine land of 48 Kosa. That is why, unlike in other cities, the mortal remains of those who die in Jind are not taken to Haridwar for immersion in the Holy Ganges but are immersed in Jind itself in some holy pond or canal”. 

Kurukshetra, Sept 17
The Kurukshetra Panorama and Science Centre celebrated World Ozone Day by organising a science quiz contest and poster-making contest for school students on its premises here .

Addressing the students, Prof S.K. Chakravarti, chairman, department of applied physics, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra, highlighted the uses of ozone layer, which protects our earth from the effects of ultraviolet rays.

Dr Raj Mehrotra, coordinator, Panorama and Science Centre, Kurukshetra, said September 16 would mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol, the landmark international treaty to protect the ozone layer.

The centre’s education officer, Kailash Chander, said about 250 school students participated in the written science quiz contest and poster-making contest.

The results were as follows:

Science quiz contest (classes 9 and 10):

1) Rupaali, Maharana Pratap Public School, 2) Eesha, Gita Niketan Residential Public School, 3) Utkarsh, Maharana Pratap Public School.

Science quiz contest (classes 6th to 8th):

1) Nardev, Maharana Pratap Public School, 2) Bhaavneet, Gita Niketan Residential Public School, 3) Dilawar Singh, B.R. International School.

Poster-making contest (classes 3rd to 5th):

1) Ashi Gupta, Aggarsain Public School, 2) Pragya, Aggarsain Public School, 3) Pranav, Maharana Pratap Pulic School.

Poster-making contest (classes 6th to 8th): 1) Arundhati, O.S.D.A.V. School, Kaithal, 2) Ritu, Saini Public School, 3) Amit, Saini Public School.

Poster-making contest (Classes 9 and 10): 1) Ankit Saini, Saini Public School, 2) Shweena Panwar, O.S.D.A.V. School, Kaithal, 3) Arpita, O.S.D.A.V. School, Kaithal.

Gurgaon, September 17
The district health authorities have sealed two ultrasound machines of Sodhi Nursing Home, Punhana, on a charge of violation of the Pre-Natal Sex Diagnostic Test (PNDT) Act.

Dr Daharmavir Saharan, civil surgeon, Mewat, and appropriate authority under the PNDT Act, said the machines had not been registered with either the local Civil Hospital or the Mewat health authorities. The team, which raided the nursing home, sealed the ultrasound machines.

He said cases had been registered under the PNDT Act against Kanwar Sodhi, owner of the nursing home, and the supplier of the machines. He said as per rules, a company could not supply unregistered machines to any hospital.

Saharan said last week a patient visited the hospital with an ultrasound report from the unregistered nursing home.

He said to crosscheck the availability of ultrasound machines in the nursing home, a fake patient was sent to the nursing home for ultrasound.

He said after confirmation of the machines, the authorities carried out a raid.

The violations were detected after a two-member team of the health department consisting of Dr Satish Yadav and J.K. Ahuja found two machines functioning in the nursing home on Monday.

The team found doctors using the ultrasound machines for disclosing the sex of the foetus.

Gurgaon, September 17
Labourers of Lakshmi Stone Crushing Company has allegedly beaten up forest department’s driver, who had gone with a team of forest officials to Shekhopur village for an inquiry into illegal mining.

Forest officer Satya Bahn said a truck full of stones was parked near the building of Lakshmi Company when the team of the forest department headed by R.P. Balwan reached the site of the stone crushing.

On inquiry, the driver of the truck told the officials of the forest department that the stones had been imported from Rajasthan.

The officials became suspicious and asked the driver to produce the papers of the consignment but the driver failed to produce any documents.

When the forest officials were preparing the seizure report of the truck, the driver signalled four trucks, filled with stones, coming to that side to return as the officials were inspecting the illegal mining.

Bahn said the forest officials directed their driver Sukhbir Singh to chase the trucks carrying stones.

When the driver went after them in a jeep, the truck drivers did not allow him passage and tried to run away, but the driver succeeded in stopping the trucks.

Labourers of Lakshmi Stone Crushers thrashed Sukhbir Singh with an iron rod and tried to run away with his vehicle. The other officials of the department rescued the driver.

A case has been registered at Sadarpur police station of Gurgaon in this regard.

Rewari, September 17
The Khol police has booked six persons - Naveen, Raju, Satpal, Anil, Om Prakash and Hoshiar Singh - all residents of Dahina village, 24 km from here, on a charge of murdering Krishan Yadav of the same village whose body was found lying at the railway crossing near the village on Saturday evening.

They were booked on a complaint filed by Pawan Kumar Yadav, brother of Krishan Kumar.

The post-mortem examination of the body was conducted at the Civil Hospital here yesterday, which stated that his death was caused by a head injury. The police believes Krishan Kumar received the head injury when his motorcycle rammed into a tree near the railway crossing.

However, Pawan Yadav complained to the police that his brother was done to death by the six, who had personal enmity with his brother.

Kaithal, September 17
A constable found under the influence of liquor while on duty was suspended by SSP Anil Kumar here today.

According to a press not issued by the police department, constable Kitab Singh was found to be under the influence of liquor by the SHO on sentry duty at the Siwan police station yesterday. The cop was medically examined and the report confirmed that he was drunk. — OC

Chandigarh, September 17
Taking up a petition challenging the induction of sportspersons Joginder Sharma and Mamta Kharab as deputy superintendents of police, a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, comprising Justice Ashutosh Mohanta and Justice T.P.S. Mann, today issued a notice of motion to Haryana and other respondents for December 11.

While Sharma is a cricketer, Kharab was bestowed with Arjuna Award for excellence in women hockey. Seeking the quashing of the appointments, Ambala resident-cum-Arjuna Award winner boxer Jatinder Kumar in his petition asserted that no criterion had been laid down for making the appointments. Moreover, the entire process was carried out in a hurried manner.

Rohtak, September 17
A delegation of prominent local residents today met deputy commissioner R.S. Doon and submitted a memorandum for being forwarded to the President, Prime Minister, UPA chairperson and the Haryana Chief Minister.

In the memorandum, it has been alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to bring a bad name to the Jat community in the garb of seeking justice in the murder case of a Dalit youth at Gohana.

The delegation, led by Narender Singh Malik and Dr Prem Singh Dahiya, met the deputy commissioner and submitted the memorandum signed by a number of residents of Rohtak, Gohana, Sonepat, Jhajjar and other places.

It has been stated in the memorandum that like terrorists, the criminals also don’t belong to any caste or community.

The memorandum claims that Lara’s murder was a result of gang-war and hence, it was not appropriate to view the murder from a communal perspective.

It further points out that the killed youth had a criminal background and seven criminal cases were registered against him between 2001 and 2007.

Alleging that the deceased youth was engaged in heinous criminal activities like murder, loot and extortion, the residents have urged the government to refrain from any move to provide compensation, assistance or job to the next of kin of Lara.

At the same time, the memorandum maintains that it would be wrong to defame all persons of the community of a criminal or wrongdoer.

The signatories have observed in the memorandum that there was a dire need to rein in the political outfits, organisations and persons indulging in caste-based politics to further their vested interests.

“There should be no space for vote-bank politics in the country,” they assert.

Kaithal, September 17
A drug inspector was caught while taking a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a chemist here today. He has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act and will be produced in court tomorrow. However, employees of the health department protested against the arrest.

According to inspector Sher Singh, in charge of the state vigilance bureau here, Prem Singh, a chemist of Rajound, wanted a licence for wholesale business of drugs.

He had moved an application with the department but a recommendation report of the drug inspector was mandatory. When Prem Singh contacted drug inspector Sunil Dahiya, he allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 to clear his file.

The complainant contacted vigilance officials, following which a trap was laid and the drug inspector arrested. — OC

Jhajjar, September 17
The case pertaining to injuries to a lineman after power supply on the line was switched on from the powerhouse while repair work was going on at a transformer in Bamnoli village about two weeks ago has taken an interesting turn with the complainant turning out to be the accused.

The police arrested operator Sunil Kumar, posted at the sub-station, today and sent him to judicial custody.

The police said he had complained that three villagers barged into the power house in an inebriated condition. They beat him up

and forcibly switched on the main line, resulting in an electric shock to the lineman who was at work.

The injured lineman, Raghunath Singh, is being treated at a private hospital in Bahadurgarh.

The police got suspicious when during interrogation, Sunil fumbled on some queries. Following sustained interrogation, he confessed to his crime.

He said he had an altercation with Raghunath some days ago after which he wanted to teach him a lesson.