Rohtak, January 30
Faced with a severe financial crisis, the PGIMS, the largest government hospital in Haryana, has decided to charge fees from patients for tests and treatment at the hospital here.

While the rate of the patient registration card in the OPD has been doubled to Rs 10 per patient, the latter would have to bear the cost of various tests and charges for ward facilities from February 1.

Around 6,000 patients report at the OPD of the PGIMS and the Post Graduate Institute of Dental Sciences(PGIDS) here daily.

The patient admittance fee which was free for the general wards would now be Rs 20 and for special wards, it would be Rs 180. The patients in the ICUs of the general and special wards would be charged Rs 250 and Rs 800 per day, respectively.

The PGIMS has been charging fees for tests like CT Scan and MRI from the general patients besides the card fee of Rs 5 per patient so far. It has been claiming that it was perhaps the only multi-specialty hospital in the state which provided free treatment or treatment at very nominal charges.

The budget of the PGIMS is around Rs 200 crore, but due to a slash in the financial help, the PGIMS is now faced with problems, including short supply of medicines and items of daily use in the hospital for the past about a year.

The PGIMS is among the few post-graduate institutes of medical science in the country which was selected by the union health ministry for a special upgradation project a few years ago.

While the authorities claim that the charges for some facilities, including the CT scan and MRI, had been brought down, patients availing themselves of the facility of X- Rays would have to pay at least Rs 20 per test in the OPD and general ward. The rates of ultrasound tests which had been Rs 50, Rs 25 and Rs 200, respectively, for the OPD, indoor and the private ward shave been revised to Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 200, respectively.

Nearly all tests related to the departments of biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, haematology and clinical pathology would now be chargeable.

The issuance of medical, birth, death and disability certificates would cost Rs 20 to Rs 100 per certificate.

The meals given to the patients admitted in the wards, which had been free so far, would cost Rs 20 per plate in the general ward and Rs 150 per plate in the special ward. An amount of Rs 50 will be charged for the food served to attendants.

Both the PGIMS and the PGIDS have are facing a severe financial crunch, forcing the authorities to seek more budget for buying medicines and items of daily use in the hospital. Various suppliers have stopped the supply of essential medicines and equipment in the wake of non-clearance of pending dues, it is learnt. 

Chandigarh, January 30
Residents of group housing societies, residential colonies of employers and commercial-cum-residential complexes of the developers, are up in arms against the decision of the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (HERC) recommending single-point power supply for them.

RS Chaudhary, president of the Alkananda Cooperative Group Housing Society, Gurgaon, termed the decision as “non-feasible” as the society management would not be in a position to recover power bills from its members. “Since most of the society members have individual power connections, there is no way the society managements could force the members to pay the power dues,” he asserted.

Chaudhary said the HERC’s decision could be challenged in the court of law as it defied any logic.

Terming the decision as “arbitrary and hasty”, Archana Sanghi of the Parvati Durga Women’s Cooperative House Building Society, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula, said why the power department wanted to wash its hands of collecting the power bills from the individual power consumers, which was its primary responsibility. “Collecting power bills from the members does not fall under the jurisdiction of the society management,” she asserted.

An office-bearer of a residents’ welfare association of the housing colony of a state government department said it would lead to bad blood among residents of a housing complex. Instead of cracking the whip on defaulters and those indulging in power thefts, the state government wanted to punish the honest power consumers through new power distribution regime, he alleged.

The presumption of the HERC that the power distribution companies did not have free and unhindered access to these premises being gated and manned by the security personnel was “childish” as nobody could obstruct a public servant from performing his duty, he added.

Recently, the HERC had finalised the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission (Single Point Supply to Employers’ Colonies, Group Housing Societies and Residential or Commercial-cum-Residential Complexes of Developers) Regulations, 2013, setting the stage for the implementation of a new regime in the distribution of power by the distribution companies.

Hisar, January 30
The main accused in the gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Bugana in Hisar has been found to be a juvenile. The accused, Pradeep, will now get the benefit of being a juvenile offender as his age at the time of the crime has been found to be seventeen and a half years. He is the one who raped the girl first and prepared an obscene video film on his mobile three months back.

It was due to his act that several others later raped the girl by threatening to make the video public.

Pradeep had waylaid the girl when she was returning home from the fields and raped her along with two others -- Baru and Goliya -- by taking her to a secluded place.

Pradeep had prepared a video of the rape on his mobile phone and circulated it among his friends through MMS messages.

Some days later, Kuldeep allegedly waylaid the girl and showing her the video on his mobile, forced her to meet his carnal desires under threat of making the picture public.

Later, Kuldeep again barged into her house with Mange Ram when she was alone and raped her putting her under threat.

The sexual exploitation of the girl by these youths continued for two and a half months till the girl resisted the rape attempt by Kuldeep's brother Rohtash and brought the matter to the notice of her parents, who informed the police.

The police had arrested six youths -- Pradeep, Baru, Goliya, Mange Ram, Kuldeep and Rohtash -- in this connection.

Taking the case on a fast track, the Hisar police submitted challans against all six accused youths before the court yesterday, within 10 of the registration of the FIR.

However, Pradeep had approached the court with certificates of his birth proof, claiming that he was a juvenile and he could not be tried as a normal offender.

The court pronounced him a juvenile today. Bimla Devi, an inspector who investigated the matter, said though the police had presented a challan against Pradeep, it will have to move afresh and proceed against him as a juvenile offender now.

Fatehabad, January 30
Additional District and Sessions Judge LN Jindal today sentenced three members of a family to life imprisonment for a married woman’s death.

Convicts Rohtash, Savitri Devi and Man Singh are husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law, respectively of victim Savita, whose body was found hanging in her marital home on May 31, 2010.

Savita’s father Kashmiri Lal had lodged a complaint that she was killed for dowry by husband and in-laws.

Sirsa, January 30
Another positive case of swine flu has come to light at Khatrawan village in Sirsa. Naseeb Kaur, 60-year-old woman of the village, has been found infected with the H1N1 virus.

Her sample has been found positive, confirmed the Deputy Civil Surgeon, Dr Viresh Bhushan.

The woman is getting treatment at a private hospital in Sirsa.

This is the sixth confirmed case of swine flu in Sirsa in the current season.

Two of those who tested positive for the H1N1 virus have died so far - one in a private hospital in Sirsa and the other in a Hisar hospital.

“We are waiting for the reports of six more suspected cases of swine flu,” Dr Bhushan added.

He said four patients were getting treatment for the disease, while the others have completely recovered.

Chandigarh, January 30
School education is set for a revamp in the state. In a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at improving the standard of education at the grassroots level, the Education Department has zeroed in on two schools -- Rajound (Kaithal) and Babain (Kurukshetra) in the educationally backward blocks to implement an innovative pilot project, the Area Research Programme (ARP).

“To be implemented with the involvement of community, including various stakeholders such as teachers, students, and NGOs, the ARP would focus on making the physical and learning environments of the schools functional to prepare an action plan to be replicated across the state,” Surina Rajan, Financial Commissioner-cum-Principal Secretary, School Education, told The Tribune here today.

Financial and human resources from NGOs, corporates, NREGA projects and district decentralisation plan funds are being put together, officials highlighted.

While district level officials of the Education Department have already done the ground work, senior government officials held a brainstorming session at Panchkula on January 24 to chalk out an action plan for the proper implementation of the ARP. Improving students’ learning levels, professional satisfaction of teachers and administrators and change of public perception about education were some of the issues deliberated upon at the meeting. It was decided to implement the major decisions at the grassroots level to reap the benefits of the ARP.

Emphasis is being laid on the maintenance of school buildings, libraries, computer labs, sport grounds, sciences labs and other entitlements of the students such as meals, uniforms, school bags and stipends.

Posting of requisite staff and their training, provision of teaching material and academic and managerial support from block and district level officials have been identified as key areas, officials asserted.

Chandigarh, January 30
A plea for shifting the site for the construction of the additional courts complex in Hisar due to its proximity to the statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar has failed to find favour with the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A Division Bench has ruled that the proximity of the statue to the additional courts complex would, rather, be a tribute to the great jurist. The observations came on a petition filed by the Hisar-based Dr B.R. Ambedkar Sabha.

In its petition against the State of Haryana and other respondents placed before the Division Bench of Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Ritu Bahri, the petitioners had sought directions for carrying out the construction of additional courtrooms on the eastern side of the existing court complex. The counsel for the petitioner had contended that currently the construction was being raised close to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park.

Taking up the petition, the Bench observed, “The grievance of the petitioner is that if the construction is raised on the proposed site, the statute of Dr B.R. Ambedkar would be at a distance of 10 feet from the boundary wall of the additional court complex. Therefore, the Additional Court Complex, should be shifted to another area”.

The Bench added that the counsel for the petitioner could not explain why the statute could not be shifted if it was too close to the boundary wall. “Dr Ambedkar, in whose memory the statute is erected, is the founder of the Constitution of India and in fact, his statue close to the court complex will be a tribute to the great jurist”.

Turning down the plea, the Bench added: “But it is open to the petitioner to shift the statute in the same park to another place. We do not find that any ground is made out for interference in the extraordinary writ jurisdiction of this Court. Hence, the present petition is dismissed.”

Gurgaon, January 30
The police today arrested an executive of a multi-national company (MNC) for allegedly molesting a BPO employee in DLF Cyber Park.

In a complaint to the police, the 22-year-old victim stated that Guarav Bhatia slapped her when she objected to his acts. She said when she was going towards the MG Road Metro Station, Guarav allegedly cornered her and molested her.

"I generally go with colleagues to take Metro train, but today I was alone. Guarav grabbed me from behind at an isolated place and started indecent activities. When I objected and tried to scream, he slapped me. I managed to flee and reached my office," said the victim.

“We have registered a case and arrested him from his office,” said Jagdish Prasad, SHO, DLF-II Police Station.

Held for bid to molest minor girl

Karnal: The police today arrested Rajpal, a resident of Chhapria in the district, for allegedly attempting to molest a 14-year-old girl.

In a complaint to the police, the girl’s mother stated that Rajpal (36) entered her house at around 9 pm last night when she and her daughter were alone in the house and tried to molest them.

When she raised an alarm, the accused fled and threatened to kill them.

The police registered a case under relevant sections the IPC and arrested the accused from Chhapria bus stand.

He would be produced in a court tomorrow, the police said.

Rohtak, January 30
A retired inspector of the Haryana Police was shot dead by three armed persons in the town this morning. Ramkishan Dahiya, who was posted as SHO, Meham, prior to his retirement on December 31, was killed around 10.20 am when he was supervising the construction work of his house at Shastri Colony on the Hisar Road here.

Sources said the assailants arrived at the spot and opened fire at him from a close range. Three bullets were fired by the assailants at him. Dahiya was placed under suspension just a day before his retirement. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Senior officials of the department, including the Senior Superintendent of Police, rushed to the spot, the district police chief later announced to set up a Special Investigation Team headed by DSP Sumit Kumar to inquire into the murder.

A spokesperson for the department said it was the first case of murder in the district this year. 

Yamunanagar, January 30
A large number of lawyers in the district yesterday for the second day boycotted the court in protest against closing of the entry point for parking of their vehicles in the judicial complex.

The lawyers organised protests on the judicial complex. Advocate Ranvir Singh said the authorities suddenly closed the entry point, making it impossible for them to park their vehicles inside the court complex.

Sonepat, January 30
The body of a 17-year-old girl was found lying in an abandoned well near the house of her grand maternal uncle Ram Mehar at Puthi village this morning. Neeraj, a resident of Pardhana village in Panipat district, went missing two days ago.

After receiving information, a police team reached the spot and fished out the body from the well.

After the post-mortem examination, the body was handed over to her family members.

Gohana DSP Yash Pal Khatana said a case had been registered at the Sadar Police Station and they were investigating the causes of her death.

Sources said Neeraj had come to Puthi village about two months ago to attend a marriage in the family of her grand maternal uncle.

She reportedly went missing on January 28 and a complaint was lodged by Ram Mehar on the same day.

Her body was seen floating in the abandoned well by some villagers this morning.

Yamunanagar, January 30
Even after two years of Kurukshetra University (KU) seeking action against a principal of Mukand Lal National College, who allegedly secured the post on the basis of fake documents, the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) has so far not initiated any action against him.

In April 2011, interviews for the principal’s post were conducted by a selection committee comprising two members of the college management and six government nominees. As per the criteria, 80 marks were to be allotted for qualification and personal achievements, including awards and honours conferred by accredited bodies, and 20 marks for the personal interview.

Information sought under the RTI Act by local lawyer and activist Suresh Kumar Sharma revealed that the selected candidate secured 29 marks against another candidate who had secured 48 marks. The selected candidate, who at that time worked as lecturer in the same college, was awarded 17 marks for participating in mime competitions during Millennium Theatre Mela hosted by Barnala-based Kala Mandir, a non-accredited organisation. While two marks were awarded to him for a research paper which was published after the date of filing the application had passed.

Information provided by the selected candidate in the capacity of principal revealed that he never participated in the said competitions as he had himself marked present in the college on the dates of competitions. Suresh Kumar said it stated that the certificates produced by him were not genuine.

Also, the candidate was never authorised by the college to participate in the competition.

Producing a copy of the certificates, Suresh also produced an empty certificate signed by the organising secretary and president of the Kala Mandir, which he claimed, could be bought from local stationery shops in Barnala and could be filled as per ones convenience.

When the candidate applied for the post and sought marks on the basis of these certificates, the management wrote to the DHE which clarified that marks could only be given for awards conferred by an accredited national or international body.

Suresh said the selected candidate produced certificates which had nothing to do with education and he even got selected on the basis of these certificates.

As the matter came to the notice of the KU Vice-Chancellor, he sought a reply from the college management, which admitted the wrong doing. Following this, the KU wrote to the DHE in October 2011 for necessary action. “But no action has been initiated in this regards so far,” said Suresh.

Rohtak, January 30
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar today inaugurated a women’s hostel complex of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) and Swaraj Sadan. She also unveiled a statue of Ch Ranbir Singh, a freedom fighter and father of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, during her visit to the university here today.

University officials said the Swaraj Sadan would house Ch Ranbir Singh Institute of Social and Economic Change which has been established recently besides having all the Research Chairs of the varsity. This building has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1.38 crore.

Notably, the hostel complex has been named Kasturba Gandhi Women’s Hostel Complex after freedom fighter, social worker and wife of Mahatma Gandhi.

Chandigarh, January 30
The installation of a statue of late Ranvir Hooda, father of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was today challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Acting on a public interest litigation filed by Rohtak resident Devender Sharma for removal of the statue, the Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri issued notice of motion to the Haryana Government, Rohtak Deputy Commissioner and Municipal Corporation for April 4.

The petitioner claimed that though the state government had formulated a policy on January 22, 2010, for removal/relocation of unauthorised construction raised by religious institutions at public places, the government was installing statues of its political figures at public places, which itself was a violation of its policy.

Chandigarh, January 30
Haryana has achieved the highest ever productivity of kharif foodgrains-2012-13 and also recorded the highest ever rice production of 39.76 lakh tonnes since the inception of the state in 1966. This has been achieved despite the state received about 36.8 per cent less rainfall as against the normal rainfall from May to September, 2012.

A spokesman for the Haryana Agriculture Department said in case of coarse rice, 23.54 lakh tonnes of production with a productivity of 40.03 quintals per hectare in an area of 5.88 lakh hectares had been achieved. “This has remained highest both in production and productivity since 1966-67,” he said. Similarly, the production of basmati rice was also achieved at 16.22 lakh tonnes with a productivity of 25.87 quintals per hectare in an area of 6.27 lakh hectares which was also the highest since 1966-67.

He said the state had made some other achievements in the agriculture sector. “The productivity of kharif foodgrains-2012-13 is 2,819 kg per hectare, which is the highest so far,” he said.

He said the state had also achieved productivity of cotton at 681-kg per hectare (Lint) and the total production of cotton was 23.84 lakh bales. Similarly, the productivity of bjara was 1,925-kg per hectare and that of maize 2,556-kg per hectare. Also, the productivity of sugarcane during 2011-2012 was 73,253-kg per hectare which was highest since 1966-67.

He said all these achievements could only be made possible as the state government supplied 254 lakh units of more electricity per day to the farm sector from May to September for kharif 2012-13 as against 2011-12.

Hisar, January 30
Hisar MP and HJC supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi said today the INLD's political fate had been sealed after former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala's conviction in the JBT recruitment scam.

Bishnoi, who was addressing public meetings in Ludas, Shahpur, Bhiwani Rohilla, Dhiranwas, Rawalwas Kalan and 11 other villages of the Nalwa assembly constituency, said the INLD decline had started with the Hisar LS byelection in 2011.

The INLD, Bishnoi said, lost the assembly byelections at Adampur and Ratia after Hisar and now, with the CBI court's decision on the father-son duo, curtains had finally fallen on the INLD.

Bishnoi pooh-poohed INLD leader Abhey Singh Chautala's claims that the conviction had generated a sympathy wave for his party.

"People know very well that Chautala and Ajay Singh have been imprisoned for corruption and for jeopardising the careers of over 3,200 youths for their greed. The people of Haryana are rather happy that the law has finally caught up with those who paid scant respect for democratic values when they were in power," he said.

Chandigarh, January 30
Rich tributes were paid to Father of Nation Mahatma Gandhi on his martyrdom day at several places in Haryana today. Governor Jagannath Pahadia also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Haryana Raj Bhawan here. A two-minute silence was also observed on the occasion.

Kurukshetra: Dr MM Goel, professor of economics, Kurukshetra University, said, “We need to convert Khadi and Village Industries Commission into a multi-national corporation capable of solving the problems poverty and unemployment of India.”

Kaithal: During a function at the Mini-Secretariat here, Deputy Commissioner Chander Shekhar and Superintendent of Police Kuldip Singh Yadav called upon all those present on the occasion to follow the path of non-violence as shown by Mahatma Gandhi and rise above caste, creed and regionalism.

Sonepat: Activists of the Congress led by DCC (Urban) president Pradeep Gautam garlanded the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. A two-minute silence was observed by officials of the Mini-Secretariat and a camp was organised by NSS units of the local Hindu Girls College and BPS Women University, Khanpur Kalan.