Chandigarh, October 26
Haryana Education Minister’s action of cancelling transfers within days of ordering these has come under the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s scanner, with the Bench observing that the act may not be fair after all.

The state counsel has, in at least two of the cases, been asked by Justice Ranjit Singh to seek instructions as to what is being proposed.

In one of the petitions against the state of Haryana, the Director-General (Ayush) and three other respondents, Monika Hooda of Gohana in Sonepat district had earlier sought directions for quashing the action “by which her re-transfer was ordered in six days”.

She had also sought directions to the respondents against transferring her before the completion of two years from the present place of posting - Rohad in Jhajjar district.

Going into the background of the matter, she had asserted that on September 30, the Director-General issued transfer orders of the petitioner from Karoli in Mahendragarh. But just after six days on October 6, the petitioner was again transferred by violating the transfer policy dated October 6, 2004. Describing the respondents’ action as unjust, the counsel for the petitioner had added it was also discriminatory.

Taking up the matter, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “Pursuant to the order passed this morning, Dr Paramjit Singh, Director, Ayurveda Department, is present. As per oral assertion, the communication sent by the Advocate-General office was apparently not received.

“State counsel, however, contends that they have to explain the reason, as there was a radio communication, as well as demi-official letters written to the department concerned.

“Let the necessary explanation be furnished by tomorrow - October 27. State counsel has orally submitted that the transfer, cancelled at the asking of the Education Minister, may not be a fair one. He will also have instructions “as to what is being proposed”.

Similar orders were passed on the other petition by Sudesh Kumar. In the petition, the Director, Higher Education, Dheera Khandelwal, was present in the court on the court directions.

Chandigarh, October 26
The Supreme Court today stayed the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court directing a Haryana-cadre IPS officer, Bharti Arora, to present herself before the Special Judge, Kurukshetra, on October 27, so that the trial court could pronounce the orders kept in a sealed cover in 2008.

The High Court, in its order of October 14, had also directed the state Home Secretary and the Director-General of Police to ensure the presence of Arora along with two other police officers in the trial court on the specified date.

Arora faces an allegation of helping an accused in a drug trafficking case.

Appearing on behalf of the IPS officer, Bijender Singh contended before the apex court Bench comprising Justice Markandaya Katju and Justice Gyan Sudha Misra that the procedure adopted by the trial court was not in conformity with the procedure prescribed by the CrPC. He also contended that since the trial court had not considered the report of the IG, Ambala Range, and the call detail record of the accused obtained by the police, a specific prayer was made to the court for consideration of these materials and a personal hearing.

Bijender Singh said the High Court had also transferred the judicial officer on May 26, 2008, with a specific note in the order that the judge should relinquish the charge forthwith.

He said the court proceedings after the transfer of the judge were null and void as the Special Court ceased to exist till a new notification by the High Court. Staying the High Court orders, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the state.

Rohtak, October 26
The State Information Commission of the state has issued a show-cause notice to the officials of two state-government departments for allegedly delaying information sought by an applicant under the RTI Act.

The commission has asked the officials posted as state public information officers (SPIOs) to show cause why a penalty of Rs 250 subject to a maximum of Rs 25,000 should not be imposed on them for each day of delay caused by returning a valid RTI application to the complainant instead of forwarding it to the public authority concerned.

The action on part of the officials amounted to violation of the Act in terms of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act. The respondents have been directed to be personally present on November 26 after submission of their written reply by November 8.

The complainant, Satya Prakash, a local resident, had submitted an application seeking documents and information to the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Haryana State Social Welfare Board on four points regarding steps taken for removing corruption in the departments as well improving the attitude of the employees towards the common man while dealing with their cases.

An application fee of Rs 50 was deposited to the SPIOs concerned, but the officials in charge returned the application fee claiming that the information sought by him did not relate to their office.

Dissatisfied with the response, the complainant filed an appeal with the first Appellate authority on June 14, but did not receive any response.

The SPIO of the Social Welfare Board transferred the application to the office of the Director Women and Child Development, but the applicant claimed that he was not informed.

The State Commission of Information received the petition on August 9 and issued notices to the respondents. The commission found lapses on part of the SPIO-cum-Welfare Officer of the Social Welfare Board in processing the valid RTI application.

Chandigarh, October 26
Just over a month after a mob turned unruly during a reservation rally in Hisar, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was today told that three persons had been arrested and 39 criminal cases registered under various provisions of the law, including the Arms Act and the IPC.

The Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ajay Tewari was also told a substantial number of these cases were registered at Hisar and with the Government Railway Police.

A special investigation team, too, had been constituted on September 22 and efforts were on to identify the miscreants. National and local television channels had been contacted for the purpose.

The assertions came on a petition filed in public interest by a Ludhiana-based non-government organisation, the Anti-Corruption Federation of India, for directions to the state and other respondents “to appoint a claims commissioner to assess the loss and recover it from the culprits, including the organisers of the Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti. Directions have also been sought for protecting private and public property, along with the life and liberty of the residents.

The petition also questions the grant of compensation to the victims of the fatal incident on the grounds that it could not have been given if they were a part of the rioting mob.

Gurgaon, October 26
This time, the people of Haryana will not have to wait for Diwali to witness fireworks. For, the ruling Congress regime in the state as well as the major Opposition party, the INLD, are all set to stage parallel shows of strength in the name of celebrating Haryana Day on November 1.

The Congress show, themed “Chak De Haryana...?Chak De India”, is slated for Sonepat, while the INLD leadership has zeroed in on Gurgaon to celebrate “Haryana Samman Diwas” in memory of its mentor, the late Ch Devi Lal.

With both parties making all-out efforts to ensure the success of their respective functions, the political atmosphere of the state has already started charging up.

Engaged in a bout of one-upmanship, leaders of the Congress and the INLD are busy devising ways and means to attract sizeable crowds to their venue.

Past record shows that as far as the headcount at rallies is concerned, the INLD has always had an edge over the Congress.

This time, the INLD leadership has decided to celebrate the 97th birth anniversary of Ch Devi Lal, which actually fell on September 25, on Haryana Day.

Top INLD leaders, including party commander and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his sons Ajay Singh and Abhey, are leaving no stone unturned in mobilising resources for the function’s success. During his recent tour of south Haryana to invite people for the rally, Ajay Chautala asserted that the Hooda government had been reduced to a regime of announcements.

“The state’s infrastructure is in poor shape and the people are reeling under an acute shortage of water, electricity and other basis amenities,” he maintained, adding that Hooda’s hometown Rohtak had become Haryana’s crime capital.

On the other hand, the ruling Congress camp’s USP is the cash-and-kind awards to be doled out to the state’s players who have brought laurels to the country in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.

The Chief Minister can also make some major announcement for the state “ like the formation of a new district” on this occasion.

While it would be interesting to note whether the ruling Congress regime is able to put up a better show than its formidable opponent, the INLD, the political-oriented massesof the state do expect a big blitzkrieg on the appointed day. 

Sirsa:Local MP Ashok Tanwar, who has been spearheading the Congress campaign to mobilise support for the November 1 rally, addressed meetings of Congress workers at Sirsa and Fatehabad today.

Former Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board Ranjit Singh, former OSD to Chief Minister KV Singh, former MLA Mani Ram Keharwala and DCC chief Malkiat Singh Khosa were present at the meeting held at the Congress Bhawan here.

DCC president Randhir Singh, former MP Atma Singh Gill, former minister Ram Swaroop Rama and District Mahila Congress chief Usha Dahiya attended the meeting at Arorwansh Dharamshala in Fatehabad.

The INLD has also launched a campaign in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts for its rally on Haryana Day.

Abhey Singh Chautala has addressed several meetings in the district.

He will now address meetings in villages of his Ellenabad assembly constituency for the next four days.

Chandigarh, October 26
The absence of any announcement regarding the president of the Haryana Congress by the high command, which today appointed presidents of its many state units, is seen as a temporary reprieve for incumbent Phool Chand Mullana.

If the high command had to continue with Mullana, it could have included his name in today’s list. Incidentally, the three neighbouring party units of Haryana-Punjab, Himachal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh-have got their new presidents.

One reason for the delay in the announcement of a new party president for Haryana can be the proposed “Chak De Haryana…Chak De India” rally by the state Congress at Sonepat on November 1. The high command might have held back the announcement so that Mullana may be one of the stars of the rally, considered to be prestigious for the ruling party in view of a parallel rally planned by its rival, the INLD, at Gurgaon the same day. Another reason could be that the high command is yet to zero in on a person acceptable to CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and his detractors in the party represented by Union Minister Selja and RS member Birender Singh.

It is no secret that the two factions are keen on having their own man as the party chief. Some Congress men say a decision might have been delayed because both AICC general secretary in charge of Haryana Prithiraj Chavan and Hooda were not in Delhi today.

But this does not seem plausible because the high command would not have made up its mind about the state unit chiefs today itself. Chavan must have already given his report by now. Reports suggests while an MP may be made president, another may be designated as working president to keep various factions in good humour. 

Hisar, October 26
Indian National Lok Dal legislator Ajay Singh Chautala yesterday asked Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi as to who was responsible for two Indias, one of the poor and the other of the rich, as mentioned by the latter during his interaction with students throughout the country.

Addressing party workers on the lawns of Nehru Library of Haryana Agricultural University here, after he was refused permission to hire the university auditorium for the purpose, he said since the Gandhi family had ruled India most of the time, they should own responsibility for the sorry state of affairs.

He regretted that the HAU administration had refused him permission to address students in the auditorium while the same venue was allowed to be used by Rahul Gandhi. He said the Congress should not indulge in politics at places of learning.

Ajay Chautala criticised the Hooda government’s publicity campaign on completion of one year in government. He alleged the government had limited development projects to the district of Rohtak.

He also alleged that government jobs were up for sale to the highest bidder, the government had failed to create sports infrastructure, guest teachers were being harassed and the Hansi-Butana Canal had failed to take off. The government was bound to fall under the weight of its contradictions, he claimed. 

Fatehabad, October 26
As married women across the country celebrated Karva Chauth by observing fast for their spouses, a woman in red roamed aimlessly on the streets of Bhattu Kalan.

Going without food was not a matter of choice for her, like other women, but a compulsion.

The red salwaar kameez she wore was not for the auspicious occasion. She has been wearing it for days, say locals.

Karva Chauth means nothing to this woman living on the mercy of others ever since her husband abandoned her in a bus.

She says her husband, a resident of Katava village in Rajasthan, boarded a bus, along with her, and got off on the sly, leaving her in the lurch.

She does not remember the date when this happened. The distraught 25-year-old woman faintly remembers the name of her parental village. She says she wants to go back to her husband, but does not know how to reach out to him. She says she had no dispute with her husband.

“We spotted her in our locality a few days back. She was wandering aimlessly. She seems to be a victim of circumstances,” said Vidya Devi from Partap Nagar locality.

“She never asks for food. Sometimes, people provide her food on their own,” she said. Another resident said the abandoned woman, who called herself Parveen, was from Amravati in Maharashtra.

“She says the names of her brother and sister-in-law are Nasir and Jubeda.” However, she does not speak much and mumbles only a few words.

Residents maintain that Parveen is not mentally ill, but suffering has affected her mind. 

Rohtak, October 26
The state unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), has asked the state government to restore the right of students to hold elections in colleges and universities in the state.

Demanding a check on commercialisation of private educational institutions, the parishad has submitted a demands charter to the government. It had warned of an agitation if the government fails to act positively to its main demands by December 26.

The leaders of the ABVP called upon the student community to unite under a common banner and raise their voice against the “suppression” of their rights by the state and central governments.

He said while leaders of the Congress campaigned for its candidates (NSUI) in Delhi, they were mum on the denial of the polling right to students of Haryana. The state government banned elections to students bodies in 1996.

The ABVP recently wrested three important posts in the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) poll. Buoyed by these results, the state unit leaders of the parishad challenged the ruling party to test its popularity among the student community in Haryana.

Sunil Ambekar, national organising secretary of the ABVP, claimed that students from the middle and poor sections were at the receiving end of the faulty policies of the government. He said allowing the private sector in higher education had not solved the problem, but promoted the growth of education mafia.

He said starting new colleges and universities in the state in the recent past had only deteriorated the condition with no check on the practice of donations and no authority to ensure that such institutions had adequate infrastructure and staff. 

Jhajjar, October 26
To mount pressure on the state government to meet their demands, candidates, who have qualified the State Teachers Eligibility Test (STET), started a relay fast under the aegis of the Patra Adhyapak Sangh in front of the residence of Haryana Education and Health Minister Geeta Bhukkal here today.

As many as 11 STET-qualified candidates under the leadership of sangh president Rajender Sharma sat on fast and raised slogans in favour of their demands. As per the sangh press statement, the strike will continue till November 1 and thereafter a demonstration will be held at the Commissioner Range of the state.

Sharma demanded that the state government should appoint all STET-qualified candidates as regular teachers in government schools prior to March 2011 by removing all guest teachers posted there without further delay.

Reiterating their long-pending demand, he said the government should advertise only as many posts of the subject concerned, which were actually required or vacant so that the education system was not hampered.

Sharma urged the government to complete the interview process of SS teachers and lectures at the earliest after enhancing the number of advertised posts.

Meanwhile, the district police authorities have deputed police force to keep a tab on the protesters. 

Fatehabad, October 26
A mock drill conducted by the district police yesterday has landed it in an unsavoury controversy.

Several Sikh organisations today submitted a memorandum, addressed to Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to Deputy Commissioner Vijay Singh Dahiya, accusing the district police of showing Sikhs in poor light during the mock exercise.

The Sikhs were incensed at an “Amritdhari Sikh” being portrayed as a terrorist in the mock drill and alleged that the act was a deliberate attempt to denigrate the Sikh community.

A deputation of Sikhs comprising Sukhwinder Singh Khalsa, state president of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Sabha, Baldev Singh Khalsa, a member of the SGPC from the Hisar constituency, Mohinder Singh Wadhwa, state secretary of the Haryana Akali Dal, Baljit Singh, president of the Bhai Kanhaiya Sewa Dal, Fatehabad, and Tarsem Singh, a member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc), met the DC and alleged that the religious sentiments of the community had been hurt by the police action.

The religious leaders warned that Fatehabad was a peaceful district and the police action could trigger untoward incidents.

The Sikhs demanded that the Police Department should apologise to the Sikh community for this act.

Later, SP Jagwant Singh Lamba issued a press note terming the incident as an unintentional lapse on the part of a police “jawan”.

“The cop was supposed to don the kirpan under his shirt, but inadvertently, he wore it above his clothes,” Lamba claimed. The SP said he regretted the mistake committed by one of his cops and assured that such an incident would not be repeated in the future.