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Vigilance inquiry against 3 IFS officers recommended
BONDED LABOUR
Paid monthly bribes to police, Excise Dept, contractor tells court
Hisar molestation victim dies
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Factionalism comes to fore during Sirsa MP’s yatra
Govt not to sack JBT teachers till March 4
Education Dept divided over camps in schools
castration of ‘sadhus’
Private docs observe strike in Jhajjar
Khemka told to appear before NCSC
PHE Dept damages BSNL cables during digging
Lab technician booked for false charge
Civil Service Board set up
Khyalia joins AAP
Ex-minister Shanti Rathi dead
Cop among 2 held for smack smuggling
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Vigilance inquiry against 3 IFS officers recommended
Chandigarh, February 4 In an official communication to Principal Secretary, Forest Department, on January 30, KL Manhas, who retired as the PCCF on January 31, demanded the initiation of penalty proceedings against the officers for violation of the Supreme Court guidelines and national and state forest policies. The communication alleged that the officers also misled the National Green Tribunal (NGT) “with the sole aim of covering up the massive illicit felling of trees in Sirsa Forest Division of the most-valuable ‘shisham’ species and to facilitate illicit felling and wrongful gain to private contractors at the cost of the state exchequer,” According to the communication, the Conservator of Forests(West Circle), Hisar, moved a proposal to the PCCF in 2013 through the Chief Conservator of Forests, P-II, Gurgaon, for open auction of standing dead/dry/fallen trees to private contractors in Kalanwali range(Sirsa). “The PCCF granted approval to the proposal in violation of the provisions of the National Forest Policy(1988), the State Forest Policy(2006) and orders of the Supreme Court(January 15,1998). The auction of trees, including precious “Shisham’ trees, was conducted by the District Forest Officer (DFO), Sirsa, in the presence of Conservator of Forests(West Circle), Hisar, on July 29-30,2013.Later, the PCCF also granted permission for the auction of standing trees to private contractors in a forest area of Palwal district. On October 24, 2013, acting on a petition filed by the NGO Haryali Welfare Society, the NGT stayed the felling of standing trees by private contractors contending that “forest extraction should not be executed through private agencies.” Manhas claimed that in its order dated November 13 last year, the NGT passed a ‘confusing’ order on account of ‘wrong facts’ presented by the Forest Department before the tribunal. “In the garb of more revenue generation through private auctioning of trees in the forest areas, the then PCCF and two other officers seemed to have connived with private contractors,” the communication alleged. Charges against forest officials
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File status report on rehab plan: SC
Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, February 4 Appearing for the Union Labour Ministry, Additional Solicitor General Mohan Jain said the state government was supposed to provide one-room tenements in Faridabad to the rescued mine workers as part of the rehabilitation scheme, but had not constructed those so far. In April, 2013, the SC had directed the state government to take up the construction of the tenements in right earnest and ensure “at least some of those are completed within two months”. Taking note of long delays in implementation of SC verdicts in 1982 and 1991, the SC told the state to implement its order “without any further ado”. The cost of construction would be met either by the state government or the Faridabad Municipal Corporation even though it would be under a 1982 Central scheme for provision of housing sites and other facilities such as hospitals and schools. The scheme had been formulated under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976, aimed at eradicating the practice and rehabilitating those released from such slavery.
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Paid monthly bribes to police, Excise Dept, contractor tells court
Sirsa, February 4 While confirming the entries made by him in his account books, he said he paid Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 to the SHO of the Ding police station, the police staff and the special staff of the Sirsa police every month from November 2012 to March 2013, the period for which the accounts had been summoned in the court Additional District and Sessions Judge RP Goyal. Besides payments to the police, Amarjit Singh confirmed payment of Rs 13,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 16,000 to the Excise Department as “monthly” for January, February and March, 2013. Ding Police Station SHO Rajinder Gill said the allegations did not pertain to his tenure and denied that liquor contractors made payments to the police. Senior Superintendent of Police Saurabh Singh said he would get the matter investigated and take stern action, if anyone was found guilty. District Excise and Taxation Commissioner (Excise) RC Ranga also said he would get the matter probed, but added that the contractor could have made fake entries in to his account books. |
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Hisar molestation victim dies
Hisar, February 4 The victim (16), a high-school dropout, was alone in her house on January 27 when she was allegedly molested by the two youths Gurvinder and Sandeep. The girl consumed poison after the incident and she was rushed to a private hospital in Hisar. On being informed about the incident by the
hospital authorities, a police team went to the hospital on January 30 and started a probe, said the spokesperson. But the police weren’t allowed by the doctors to take the victim’s oral statement due to her critical condition. Later, in the presence of a magistrate, she gave a written statement in which she wrote about her molestation by the two youths. The police registered a case of abetment to suicide, assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty and house trespass under Sections 306, 354, 452 of IPC and POSCO Act against the two youths and arrested them. Three held for gang rape Hisar: The police today arrested three youths on the charge of gang rape of a minor girl in Nalwa
village in the district. The victim, who hails from Dhamana village, had on Sunday gone to Nalwa village, where the accused abducted her
and raped her. A police spokesperson said a case under Sections 376 D (gang rape), 365 (abduction), 342 (wrongful confinement) of the IPC and under the POSCO
Act was registered against the three youths on Monday. "The accused have been identified as Ruli Ram, Ishwar and Dharampal, who were
all nabbed from their village today," the spokesperson said. School clerk among two held for rape
Ambala: The Naggal police have arrested a clerk of a government school and his friend for raping a student of class XI last evening. The accused, Sushil Kumar and Baljinder Singh, were today produced in a local court, which sent them in a two-day police remand. The girl had come to Jansui village to attend a religious function. In the middle of the function, when she went to a washroom, the accused followed her. They forcibly took her on their motorcycle to a secluded place, where they allegedly raped her and fled. The girl managed to reach her home and narrated the incident to her parents. On the complaint of her parents, a case was registered against the duo. Station House Officer, Naggal police station, Prem Singh said the
rape was confirmed after the girl's medical examination at the Community Health Centre in
Chaurmastpur. Tragic tale
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Factionalism comes to fore during Sirsa MP’s yatra
Sirsa, February 4 Though Tanwar, who is on the last leg of his yatra that began from Narwana on January 28, has been able to bring both Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s faction leader Ranjit Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Selja’s faction leader Jagdish Nehra during his campaign in Rania Assembly segment, several others like former minister LD Arora’s daughter Sunita Setia, former minister Gopal Kanda’s younger brother Gobind Kanda, former MP Sushil Indora, former MLA Lal Chand Khod’s son Aneel Khod are keeping away from the yatra. During his drive ending on February 7, Tanwar has been able to get support from Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prahlad Singh Gillankhera, Fatehabad Congress president and minister Paramvir Singh’s brother Randhir Singh, Ratia MLA Jarnail Singh, CM’s OSD (Media) KV Singh and former MLA Bharat Singh Beniwal besides Ranjit Singh and Jagdish Nehra. Indora said, “Neither has he been approached for support by Tanwar nor does he have any intention to lend the MP any help.” Rahul Setia, husband of Sunita Setia, a delegate in the HPCC, and Gobind Kanda, who is also an executive member of the HPCC, said they would not support the yatra when it comes to Sirsa on February 6 and 7. |
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Govt not to sack JBT teachers till March 4
Chandigarh, February 4 The assertion by the state came during the hearing of an appeal filed by the removed JBT teachers. As the appeal came up for resumed hearing, counsel for the state informed the Bench that it had sought legal opinion from the Advocate-General's office regarding the continuation of their services. The final decision in the matter would be taken by the state government after getting legal opinion. Counsel added the state would not remove the teachers till the completion of the process. Taking on record the assertion, the High Court fixed March 4 as the next date of hearing. Taking up the matter, the Bench headed by Justice Jasbir Singh on the previous date of hearing had asked the Haryana Government to decide the fate of the teachers. The Bench had also summoned the case record on the appeal filed by the affected teachers against the orders. Justice K. Kannan had earlier asserted that the selection was vitiated “though not fully”; and also rejected the argument that the selection of candidates after 13 years could not be interfered with. Justice Kannan had also directed the government to prepare a single merit list; and made it clear that the state was not required to issue “show cause for removal” as the selected candidates were parties
to the writ petitions and the High Court order was rendered after hearing their submissions. |
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Education Dept divided over camps in schools
Chandigarh, February 4 The department conducted night camps in 10 blocks of as many districts. These were started by Chander Shekhar on taking over as the Director, Secondary Education. He was credited with organising night camps in Kaithal villages as Deputy Commissioner. After being transferred to the Education Department, he introduced the concept in government schools and began holding a camp in one block of a district every fortnight. The camps were not held over the last two months since the officer was initially on leave and schools were subsequently closed for the winter break. Sources said the idea had clicked with the field staff, but keeping the staff back long after school hours had not gone down well with the teaching staff, mostly women. Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal was approached by some woman teachers. Officials were of the view that such camps could be organised during the day. The department was of the opinion the concept of night camps worked well in villages where people were out for work during the day and could come to the camp to get grievances redressed. It said school work was a day job and night camps served little purpose. |
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Sirsa dera head told to respond on February 24
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 4 The dera head has been told to respond to the issue on February 24. As the case came up for resumed hearing, the petitioner alleged that two accused in the murder case of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati were castrated inside the dera. Taking note of the claim, the High Court told Haryana and both accused, confined in Ambala jail, to respond. Chauhan had been medically examined. He is seeking a CBI probe into the alleged castration of around 400 ‘sadhus’ at Dera Sacha Sauda headed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. His medical examination was ordered on his application for medical examination. In his petition filed through counsel Navkiran Singh, petitioner Chauhan had sought compensation for himself and like ‘sadhus’ who had been “rendered impotent and unable to procreate”. Directions were sought for providing adequate security to the petitioner and his parents. Navkiran Singh said the petitioner had faced hormonal imbalance due to the castration. He has lost body hair and developed breasts. “The petitioner has become incapable of having children and has to face humiliation at the hands of the public, who treat him as a eunuch,” he said.
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Legal services stall a big draw in Surajkund Mela
Faridabad, February 4 She said it was the second consecutive year
that a legal stall had been set up at the mela. About 1.68 lakh persons had visited the stall last
year, she said. Supreme Court Judge Justice RM Lodha (Executive Chairman of NALSA), Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice
Sanjay Kishan Kaul and and HC Judge and HSLA Executive Chairman Justice Satish Kumar
Mittal visited the stall yesterday. She said the stall had been set up to spread legal awareness among masses. On objectives of the HSLA, she said more than 750 legal literacy clubs had been established at the school and college levels in the state in the past couple of years. |
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Stop foeticide, say girls on Basant Panchami
Karnal, February 4 Kites of various shapes, sizes and colours with photos of famous women bore the message ‘Stop female foeticide’. “I am a girl and thank my parents who gave me birth to see this beautiful world. If people stop female foeticide, there no need to organise a programme like this,” said Kavita, flying a kite. “Female foeticide is a sin. Do not kill girls because they are like beautiful flowers. It is a good effort to start spreading awareness against this social evil,” said Rani, also flying a kite. “It is nice to be a part of this occasion for creating a movement in favour of spreading awareness against female foeticide. I have three daughters and am proud to be their mother,” said Sumita Singh, local MLA. |
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Private docs observe strike in Jhajjar
Jhajjar, February 4 Dr Rakesh Garg, district secretary of the IMA, said all ultrasound centres and private nursing homes and clinics remained closed following the strike call given by the IMA and NIMA against the health authorities. The protesting doctors have also threatened to launch a statewide agitation against the state government if their demand is not accepted. Five doctors in the district have been booked under the PNDT Act during raids conducted by officials of the Health Department in the past 15 days. |
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Khemka told to appear before NCSC
He directed the Chandigarh Police to conduct an independent investigation into a case registered against Ravinder on a complaint filed by RP Singla, allegedly close to Khemka. Ravinder had alleged that Singla and Khemka had teamed up to harass him as he had spoken against them. Ravinder and Singla are locked in legal battle over commercial property in Sector 44. Recently on a complaint filed by Ravinder, the state government had decided to recommend a CBI inquiry against Khemka for alleged irregularities in the award of a Rs 8 crore contract to a Gujarat firm.
— TNS |
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PHE Dept damages BSNL cables during digging
Sirsa, February 4 Among the cables damaged during the excavation work include the dedicated Internet lease lines of two banks and an insurance company. Telephone and Internet connections of several consumers in the town and some villages went out of order soon after the incident. However, BSNL officials stopped further work on the site. The BSNL officials also lodged a complaint with the police. The officials alleged that the PHE authorities had damaged their cables at several places in the past too, but despite that they were not taken into confidence before starting digging works. “It takes them a few seconds to disrupt our services, but we need months to restore the services,” said a BSNL official. Public Health Engineering SE Angad Bishnoi could not be contacted for his comments. |
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Lab technician booked for false charge
Rewari, February 4 The lab technician had alleged that while the SMO had been pressing her to have sexual relations with him, the office clerk too was seeking similar favours for easy and speedy promotion. A police official said the FIR against had now been cancelled.
— OC |
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Civil Service Board set up
Chandigarh, February 4 He said the board would guide and advise the government on service matters, especially transfers and postings in respect of IAS officers and would ensure the minimum tenure of IAS officers on cadre posts and ex-cadre posts.
— TNS |
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Khyalia joins AAP
Hisar, February 4 "I joined AAP by becoming its member online. I will work as per the wishes of the party and will contest if the party asks me to. I will continue social work in the field of blood donation." Khyalia (59), a 1997-batch IAS officer, was serving as Administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, here when he quit. |
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She served as a Cabinet minister in the state during her terms as MLA. She left the Congress and joined the HJC in November, 2012 MP Jitender Singh Malik, former ministers Shyam Dass Mukhija and Ved Singh Malik, among others, reached her residence to pay homage. — OC
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Cop among 2 held for smack smuggling Ambala, February 4 Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Surender Pal Singh said the police official had been placed under suspension. He said ACP Hitesh Yadav would probe the matter. He said the police had solid clues against the arrested police official. He said it was also revealed that the smack was to be handed over to Bijender through Mahender. Earlier too, the smack smuggled from Barabanki was in the notice of Bijender, he added. The DCP said he had directed all the police stations of the district to launch a special drive against drug smugglers. He said both the arrested accused would be produced in the court tomorrow.
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Chandigarh, February 4
Sonepat, February
4