Chandigarh, July 9
A day before a Bill on the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee is to be tabled in the monsoon session of the Assembly, the state government seems to find itself in a spot on the issue.

A day after proclaiming that the Assembly was empowered to clear the formation of the HSGPC, Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha, who headed a committee that recommended the constitution of the HSGPC, today made a U-turn and conceded that his report mentioned that the government “take the President’s assent” on the Bill.

“Forget my report and focus on the fact that we are empowered to form a separate body under Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. I have mentioned the point about the President’s assent in the matter, but it is up to the government. The Advocate General’s office and the legal remembrancer have also said the formation of the HSGPC is legal,” he said.

However, this “discovery” of the “requirement of the President’s assent” at the nth hour has sent the state government in a tizzy. This probably explains the hectic parleys with legal experts being held over the past two days and the constitution of a cabinet sub-committee today to “fine-tune the Bill”, as Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda puts it.

The committee headed by Public Works Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala with ministers Aftab Ahmed, Paramvir Singh and Geeta Bhukkal as its members, is likely to hold its meeting tomorrow morning. Sources say the committee is likely to study find a way out of the “sticky” situation the government finds itself in.

Hooda said Chattha had mentioned that it was up to the government to take the President’s assent on the Bill, but he chose to emphasise that the House was empowered to form the HSGPC, independent of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

“It is normal to send any Bill to the President for his nod. We will take a call on that. The HSGPC Bill will be tabled and passed in the House,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, according to the draft of the HSGPC Bill, sources said, a 21-member ad hoc committee would be entrusted the management of the gurdwaras to begin with. The committee will comprise the sitting members of the SGPC from Haryana while other members will be nominated by the state government. This committee will carry on with regular work till the elections are held and an elected body is in place. Also, the Bill recommends the setting up of a Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.

The government had constituted the Chattha committee in August 2005 and its report was submitted in March 2007, following which the government got it “legally examined”. Hooda, at a Sikh convention in Kaithal on July 6, had announced the formation of the HSGPC and the bringing of a legislation in the monsoon session.

Chandigarh, July 9
The fight between the SGPC and the Haryana Government is getting more intense with Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chattha calling SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar a “person with little education and who has difficulty in understands things”.

Chattha castigated Makkar for accusing the state government of “fabricating evidence to justify the setting up of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandak Committee (HSGPC)”.

“I cannot help if Makkar cannot understand what I had said. I had merely said out of 2.5 lakh affidavits received by the committee, many were invalid and, hence, rejected. The government considered nearly 1.4 lakh affidavits and all those who deposited the papers demanded a separate SGPC for Haryana,” said Chattha, who headed a state-government-constituted committee that recommended the setting up of the HSGPC.

Makkar told the media in Sirsa yesterday that Chattha had claimed in 2007 that the committee received 1.15 lakh affidavits in support of the HSGPC, but the number had risen to 2.5 lakh recently.

Coming down on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership as well as Makkar, Chattha asked: “What moral authority do they have over Sikhs of Haryana when they themselves opted for Punjabi Suba leaving aside members of the community living in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh?”

“The SGPC has lost moral right to control and run gurdwaras in Haryana after the Sikhs of Haryana lost faith in it,” he told The Tribune.

On Makkar’s statement that leaders who campaigned for the HSGPC were defeated in 2011 SGPC elections and, hence, the community had rejected their demand, Chattha said defeat in an election does not end the rights of the community. “The SAD has also lost elections several times,” he countered.

On being asked what the committee’s recommendation to the government was, Chattha said the panel had suggested that the HSGPC was vital for the Sikh community of the state and should be formed soon. 

Jind, July 9
The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) has called two meetings of its legislators to prepare a strategy for countering the Haryana Government’s plan to clear the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) Bill in the Assembly session, scheduled to begin from July 11.

The party said it wanted to be guarded in its opposition to the Bill so as not to sound “anti-Sikh”. And hence the two meetings, both to be held in Chandigarh, on Thursday and Friday.

“The meetings’ purpose is to counter the Congress from passing the Bill. If it is passed, Sikhs will not benefit. Instead the Bill will divide the community,” Julana legislator Parminder Singh Dhull told The Tribune. He, though, clarified that the party was not against Sikhs, but it would not allow the Congress to exploit the religious sentiments of Sikhs for votes.

Om Prakash Chautala, INLD chief, is close to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who has been opposing the formation of a separate gurdwara committee for Haryana.

Karnal, July 9
Agitated over the announcement of a proposed separate Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) by the Haryana government, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, today criticised the Congress government for playing divide and rule politics and said, "If Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is a sympathiser of the Sikhs in Haryana, then he should have announced the separate committee earlier. He is playing an election card, which will not be tolerated."

Attacking the government over the issue of an affidavit, collected in support of a separate SGPC in 2007, Makkar alleged, "The government claims to have 1.15 lakh affidavits from Haryana Sikhs in 2007, which have increased to 2.5 lakh on the announcement of the committee at Kaithal last week. This shows that the state government is playing with the emotions of the community's people. These affidavits are false and fabricated."

Addressing the gathering here, Makkar said, "Hooda is wooing the Sikh community by announcing this kind of committee, which is not possible. Without notification of the Central government, no implementation can be done.”

Interacting with the mediapersons at Dera Kar Sewa here today, he demanded the resignation of Bhupinder Singh Assandh, an elected member of the SGPC from Karnal, who demanded a separate committee for Haryana Sikhs.

Makkar said Bhupinder Singh won from Karnal as an SGPC member against the issue of separate committee. "The issue is not of a separate committee, it is an issue of the integrity of the Akal Takht."

While Makkar left after addressing the gathering, SGPC supporters led by senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk took out a protest march and raised slogans against the state government.

Chandigarh, July 9
The Sehajdhari Sikh Party today submitted a memorandum to Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia, demanding the inclusion of Sehajdhari Sikhs within the definition of the Sikh in the HSGPC Bill.

In a press release, the party said Sehajdhari Sikhs were recoganised as Sikhs in the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925. “Since on the basis of the Punjab Reorganisational Act, 1966, the HSGPC Bill is being proposed, it is mandatory under the law that Sehajdhari Sikhs should be included in the proposed HSGPC Bill,” the release stated.

The party said that by making a section of the community happy and ignoring the majority of Sikh population might cost dear to the Hooda government in the elections. — TNS

New Delhi, July 9
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today met Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and threw her weight behind him to lead the party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Following the meeting, the Congress officially said the matter related to a change in leadership in Haryana should be treated as closed and that Hooda would stay the state Chief Minister, besides leading the Congress in the elections.

Speaking to The Tribune, Congress general secretary in charge of Haryana Shakeel Ahmed said after the meeting, “Bhupinder Singh Hooda will continue as the Haryana CM and he will lead the party in the upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana.”

The Congress decision strikes a blow to Hooda rival and Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh, who had met Sonia a week ago and told her that he would not contest elections on the Congress symbol if Hooda were to stay CM.

“The signal from the central leadership is now clear. Adversaries can decide what they want,” said top Congress sources, adding the party could not afford any longer to send out confusing signals to voters and workers. “The message for the Haryana Congress men is they should stay united and fight under Hooda.”

Birender Singh has, meanwhile, been giving signals that he would quit the Congress if Hooda was not replaced. But Congress leaders today clarified their future strategy in Haryana by backing Hooda as their leader in the state and leaving his rivals free to chalk out their future strategy.

At today’s meeting, Sonia is learnt to have told Hooda to proceed with his state election plan. Sonia’s meeting with Hooda follows hectic discussions on the issue within the party over the past week.

The Tribune has learnt from top sources that Shakeel Ahmed briefed Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi last Saturday on why Hooda was the party’s best bet in the state and why the party needed to end its confusion around his leadership. Shakeel then met Sonia on Sunday – a day Sonia normally gives no appointments — and briefed her on the Haryana issue.

Today’s meeting was the last in a series to take a final call on Haryana leadership issue ahead of polls.

Chandigarh, July 9
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the Haryana School Teachers Selection Board to verify the thumb impression, signature and photographs of candidates who took the Haryana Teachers Eligibility Test (HTET) before releasing the final merit list.

The directions by the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ajay Tewari came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest.

The HSTSB had advertised around 10,000 posts of JBT teachers in 2012 in which candidates qualifying the HTET were eligible to apply. The petitioner placed on record an inquiry report in which the HTET certificate of around 8,300 JBT teachers selected in 2009 were examined. The petitioner told the court only 1,093 candidates were genuine, while others were found to be doubtful. The inquiry was conducted on high court directions.

The petitioner argued before the court that if the result of JBT teachers was announced without verifying the thumb impression on their HTET certificates, there were chances of selection of many candidates who had fraudulently cleared the test.

Taking up the mater, the Bench held the board could declare the result only after verifying HTET certificates of candidates with school board education records. 

Case file

* The HSTSB had advertised around 10,000 posts of JBT teachers in 2012 in which candidates qualifying the HTET were eligible to apply

* The petitioner placed on record an inquiry report in which the HTET certificate of around 8,300 JBT teachers selected in 2009 were examined

* The petitioner told the court only 1,093 candidates were genuine, while others were found to be doubtful

Chandigarh, July 9
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today quashed the result of National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), Stage-I, in Haryana.

Justice GS Sandhawalia also directed the state and another respondent to re-conduct the examination on August 24. The direction came two months after the High Court stayed the process of conducting the second stage of the examination.

The orders by Justice Sandhawalia came on a petition filed by Arundhati Dixit and six other candidates. The petitioners through counsel Sameer Sachdeva were seeking directions for quashing the first stage result of examination conducted by the Haryana State Council of Educational Research and Training. Directions were also been sought for “immediate re-conduct” of the examination in a fair and transparent manner as “widespread manipulations and bungling” was apparent.

The examination is a national-level scholarship programme aimed at identifying and recognising students with high intellect and academic talent. Considered one of the prestigious examinations in India, approximately 1,500,000 students appear in the scholarship exam every year and 1,000 scholarships are awarded.

In the petition, Sachdeva asserted that 85 matriculation students in Haryana State pool, selected in stage one examination, were to compete further during the stage two examinations for all states to be conducted by the NCERT on May 11.

But the result declared on February 20 on official website by the SCERT showed a handful of students from same school and same examination centre hijacked 53 slots out of 85 in the entire Haryana state pool.

Sachdeva added after the declaration of the result many parents, students and faculty members tried to contact official respondents personally and telephonically. But the authorities concerned did not pay heed to “valid queries”.

Taking up the matter, Justice Sandhawalia asserted: “The state, in principle, has decided to re-conduct the examination. Accordingly, the present writ petition is allowed. The result of the NTSE Stage-I, in the State of Haryana, is, accordingly, quashed….

“Since the NTSE, Stage-II examinations are held up at national level, it would also be appropriate that the result of the NTSE, Stage-I examination be declared within two weeks from August 24 and necessary steps be taken in furtherance thereof”.

New Delhi, July 9
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Haryana Government to submit a report on the death of two inmates at a leprosy centre in Dabwali (Sirsa district) after they inhaled a poisonous gas in a septic tank on June 25.

The National Human Rights Commission has asked the Chief Secretary to submit the report within four weeks. One of the victims, Rajinder, fell unconscious after he opened the cover of the tank to clean it. Govind, who intervened to rescue him, met the same fate.

The inmates of Dabwali Kusht Ashram rushed the victims to hospital, where they were declared brought dead. The inmates blame the tragedy on the institute’s negligence. The institute does not have a proper sewer connection. Hence, they rely on a deep tank in the premises to collect waste. The tank is cleaned at regular intervals. The National Human Rights Commission has observed that the incident raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims.

Faridabad, July 9
The maiden General Budget of the Modi-led NDA government at the Centre is keenly awaited as it is expected to provide much-needed relief to commoners reeling under inflation and at the same time spur growth and investment.

“The Budget presentation this year is much awaited in view of the problems being faced on account of the policies of the previous government,” said Ram Kumar, president of the Senior Citizens Welfare Society of Sector 7 here.

He said while the Modi government’s first budget was expected to bring relief on all fronts, curbing price rise should be the priority. The government was also expected to provide relief to the common man by raising the tax exemption limit to Rs 4 lakh.

Expressing similar views, another retired government official OP Miglani said the tax exemption limit should be raised considerably in view of rising prices and lowering of the value of money in the market.

Demanding control on prices of drugs and medical facilities, retired teacher Rani Chaudhary said the government should provide medical treatment to senior citizens at affordable rates.

Sirsa, July 9
Residents of Ther Mohalla today blocked vehicular traffic on the Rania road in protest against choked and leaking sewers in their locality.

Residents alleged that the sewer lines in the Ther Mohalla were damaged and due to the leakage of sewage contents, cracks had developed in several houses of the area.

Residents Sohan Lal, Jai Prakash, Avtar Singh, Rajesh Kumar, Anil Kumar, Bhagwan Dass and Sardari Lal alleged that their sewer lines were damaged for the past one year, but the Public Health and Engineering (PHE) Department was not paying heed to it despite several reminders.

Activists of the Indian National Lok Dal, including its district president Padam Jain, urban unit president Manohar Lal Mehta and municipal councilors, Om Prakash Sharma and Bant Gurjar, also joined the demonstration.

Angry residents clashed with drivers of the vehicles and did not allow any of them to pass through road.

People had a tough time, as they were stranded on the road for several hours in extreme hot and humid weather conditions.

Mauji Ram, SHO of the City Police Station, went to the agitators and tried to pacify them.

However, they insisted that senior officers of the PHE department should come to the site to see their problems.

Eventually, Rakesh Sharma, Executive Engineer in the PHE department, went to the agitators and after seeing the damaged sewer lines, assured them that it would be replaced soon.

Faridabad, July 9
Krishan Pal Gurjar (in pic), Union Minister of State for Transport, Roads and Shipping, has defended the Railway budget and described it bountiful for the state in view of several new trains for the region.

In a statement here today, Gurjar claimed that the Railway budget had focused not only on improving commuting facilities but also on the modernisation, electrification and expansion of the railway network across the state and the country.

He said while the budget speaks of providing high speed trains, the government had also assured to improve services and facilities, besides security of women passengers by announcing to deploy women cops in all the trains.

Claiming that at least five new trains passing through the state would result in better commuting facilities for the people, he said criticism by a few Congress leaders was “baseless as such leaders had no right to criticise in view of the sloppy work done by them in the last 10 years” to improve railways infrastructure and facilities across the country. He said the new train between Bikaner and Rewari, the Satabadi Express between Delhi and Bhatinda, the high speed trains to Chandigarh and Agra from Delhi and Amritsar–Saharsa Jansadharan Express trains would benefit people of the state as all these trains would be passing through the state. 

Sirsa, July 9
Former state minister and Rajya Sabha MP Kumari Selja’s confidant Jagdish Nehra may soon quit the Congress.

Nehra was keen for the Congress ticket from Rania Assembly segment in 2009, but the party fielded Ranjit Singh, a former minister and Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s confidant. This time too, Hooda has announced Ranjit Singh’s candidature twice at public fora. State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar, however, is unhappy with Ranjit Singh over his role in the Parliamentary polls and was vocal about it twice during party rallies

Speculation has been rife on the veteran Congress leader’s exit from the party since Wednesday when he called a meeting of his core supporters at his farmhouse near Panniwala Mota village. Sources close to the veteran leader said Nehra might join the BJP in very near future, though he evaded the question. Nehra, who remained minister twice from 1982 to 1987 and 1991 to 1996, is reported to have shared with his supporters how he was being ignored in the party. Nehra’s supporters are reported to have assured him their full support in whatever he decides.

“I have been neglected by the party and have decided not to take it lying down anymore. I am seeking the party ticket from Rania, which was denied to me the last time. Even if the party fails to accommodate me this time, I will contest the Assembly election from Rania,” he told The Tribune. 

Faridabad, July 9
In what is being viewed as the direct effect of the Congress drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls, Neeraj Sharma, son of state Labour and Employment Minister Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, joined the BJP on Wednesday.

President of the Congress Block Committee (NIT) for many years, Neeraj was considered close to some in the corridors of power in Delhi and Chandigarh. He had also served as OSD to the Jharkhand Chief Minister in 2006.

While Neeraj’s father was a former senior deputy mayor of Faridabad, his elder brother Mukesh Sharma presently holds the post. His father had won as an Independent in the last Assembly elections from Faridabad’s NIT segment after he was denied the Congress ticket. He had defeated Congress candidate AC Chaudhary.

Political analyst Yogesh Sharma said such developments were common after change of political guard at the Centre or in the state. He said more Congress workers and supporters were expected to exit the party before the polls.

Neeraj, it is learnt, could be vying for the BJP ticket from one of the Assembly seats in view of the changed political scenario. Some BJP leaders have been advocating that a leader from the Brahmin community get the ticket from Faridabad. BJP sources said some local leaders have already opposed Neeraj’s arrival and are against giving any post or ticket to those who join the party before the polls.

Past mishaps

* July 8, 2014: Woman and her daughter killed, while her husband and driver injured as a car fell off foot of the flyover near Nirmal Kutiya

* September 15, 2013: Five persons killed, while 12 others seriously injured when a Volvo bus fell off the flyover from the same point

Rewari, July 9
The State Information Commission (SIC), Haryana, has issued bailable warrants against the then Executive Officer of Rewari Municipal Council, Suresh Chauhan, while hearing a petition under the Right to Information Act.

In the particular case, Chauhan neither appeared before the commission nor furnished complete information to the RTI applicant despite being served notices in the regard. The commission also slapped a penalty of Rs 1,000 on TR Sharma, the then MC Secretary, for not complying with the RTI Act.

Chauhan has now been directed to appear before the commission along with records pertaining to the applications on August 13. The commission has also made it clear that he will have to appear in person and no further opportunity shall be granted later on.

Sanjeev Jain, owner of Arihant Jewellery store in Rewari, had on September 24, 2011, sought information from the Rewari MC about house tax rates and its criteria for computation besides house tax details of certain shops located at Chowk Bazar.

“When Suresh Chauhan, the then State Public Information Officer (SPIO)-cum- Executive Officer (EO) of the MC, failed to provide information even after three months, I filed an appeal before the first appellate authorities of Urban Local Bodies Haryana which directed the SPIO to provide the sought information,” said Jain.

He added that the SPIO then furnished him incomplete and irrelevant information on January 16, 2012. He maintained, “Thereafter, I knocked at the door of the SIC, which also directed the SPIO to be present before it on the next hearing and to give me the sought information, but the SPIO neither appeared before the commission nor furnished the complete information.”

Therefore, the SIC issued bailable warrants under section 18 (3) of the RTI Act against Chauhan, who is now posted at MC, Panipat, with the direction to appear before it on the next date of hearing.

The SIC also imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 on TR Sharma, the then SPIO-cum-Secretary of the Rewari MC, now retired.

“The penalty amount shall be deducted from the pension of Sharma, while the First Appellate Authorities of the Rewari MC shall send a compliance report in this regard to the commission by August 15. A copy of this order along with the bailable warrants shall also be sent to the SP, Panipat, for its execution,” said the SIC’s order.

What complainant says

* Jewellery store owner Sanjeev Jain had sought information from Rewari MC, EO Suresh Chauhan, about house tax rates and its criteria for computation

* When Jain did not get any information, he filed an appeal before the first appellate authorities of Urban Local Bodies Haryana, who directed Chauhan to provide the sought information, but he failed to do the same

Rohtak, July 9
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) has decided to launch a vigorous campaign to replace single and three-phase defective meters this month as meters are available in sufficient quantity . The nigam will also provide meters to the prospective consumers.

A spokesman said here on Monday that defective meters would be changed on a priority basis.

To maintain power supply during the paddy season, the nigam had also decided to extend the period of engagement of 10 persons for each operation subdivision for another two months. Earlier, the subdivisions were allowed to engage 10 persons up to July 31. These persons would help restore power supply in the event of breakdown and assist their supervisors in carrying out day–to–day activities. — TNS

Kaithal, July 9
PWD and Industries Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala laid the foundation stone of a Rs 13 crore bypass that will link Dhand road with Khurana road in Kaithal today.

The 5.3-km road would be 18 feet in width and is scheduled to be completed by March 2015. Surjewala said the road will go a long way in reducing congestion and traffic on inner roads in the town. In the second phase, this road would be extended 4.7 kilometre to Khanouri.

Surjewala said the 4.5-km Titram road-Khanouri road bypass, including the railway underbridge built at a cost of Rs 55 crore, will soon be opened for traffic. This, he said, would help smooth traffic flow. 

Rohtak, July 9
Haryana Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) chief Ram Bilas Sharma has stated that the first list of BJP nominees for the forthcoming Assembly elections would be released on August 15.

Sharma, who was here today to attend a state-level convention of the party’s women wing, said the coming Assembly polls in Haryana would be contested under his leadership, but the decision on the state’s Chief Minister would be taken later on.

He further stated that the final decision on the BJP-HJC alliance in Haryana would be taken by the BJP parliamentary board.

Yamunanagar, July 9
Rajbir Deswal, Inspector General of Police, Karnal range, has set a deadline of August 20 for the police officials of the district to put a blanket ban on illegal mining.

“I am getting reports that illegal mining is going on at a few places in the district. Police officials must put a blanket ban on illegal mining till August 20, otherwise they should be ready to face action,” said the IG at a press conference today.

He said under the guidance of Superintendent of Police, Yamunanagar, Shashank Anand, the district police officials had been successful in solving most of the cases of crimes.

“There are four districts under the jurisdiction of the Karnal range. Like other districts, the Yamunanagar police are also doing their best to control crime,” said Deswal.

He said being a bordering district, cattle smugglers maneuvered their ways through the district to smuggle cows to Uttar Pradesh for slaughtering. He said the police should take more steps to stop the smuggling of cows.

He said a special drive would be run to nab proclaimed offenders on range level. He also held a meeting of police officials of the district and took stock of law and order situation. The meeting was attended by SP Shashank Anand, DSP Ajay Rana, DSP Rajesh Kumar, DSP Suresh Kaushik and DSP Virender Vij.

Rohtak, July 9
Residents of Kakrana village in the district today locked the government school building at the village in protest against non-appointment of junior lecturers to teach senior secondary classes at the school.

Teachers as well as students received an unusual welcome as they reached the school today, with the school building being locked by the villagers. The protesting villagers also staged a protest and raised slogans against the state authorities.

Kakrana sarpanch Ramesh Kumar said the state government had upgraded the village high school to senior secondary level with effect from this academic session.

Following the upgrade of the school, 21 students got admitted to Class XI at the school. However, no junior lecturers have been appointed at the school to teach senior secondary classes till date.

Irked over the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities concerned and non-appointment of junior lecturers despite assurances by the district education officials as well as the local MLA, the villagers today locked the school premises to register their protest. School headmistress Kailash Kumari conceded that students had been admitted provisionally to Class XI before the summer vacation and on a regular basis from July 1.

She said the district authorities had been apprised of the requirement for junior lecturers at the school and they had assured that the demand would be met soon, but the villagers’ patience ran out as no appointments were made till date. The primary wing of the school is also in doldrums with only four teachers to teach 184 students. Primary wing in charge Suresh Devi said the officials concerned had been apprised of the shortage of teachers, but no step had been initiated in this regard.

Jind, July 9
Frequent instances of clashes between outsiders and students have compelled the authorities of PG College, Jind, to install barbed wire fences on its premises.

Girl students appreciated the move saying the college management has taken the right decision to control eve-teasing on the college premises. Barbed wire fences at the cost of Rs 2.50 lakh have been installed at all outer walls of the college and many temporary small gates constructed by a housing board colony have been closed permanently. Many clashes and eve-teasing incidents have taken place on the college campus recently when outsiders entered the college after scaling its wall and clashed with students, while many times stray incidents of eve-teasing led to a clash between college students and outsiders.

“We thank the college management for this initiative as eve-teasing can only be checked here if outsiders are stopped from entering the college,” said Shruti, a student of the college.

”With barbed wire fences in place and all college gates locked, we hope not to see any outsider 
inside the college,” a girl student said.

The management is reconstructing the main gate of the college as per the latest decision and had installed CCTV cameras also. From the start of the next session, the college will have only a single gate for all students and college staff to enter and exit. A permanent security guard has been deputed on the main gate and entry would be strictly restricted to college students and staff only.

“We have done the barbed fencing on the housing board wall as it was the main point from where outsiders were easily entering in the college and creating problems,” said college principle Dr Ved Parkash Sheoran.

The barbed wire fence around the boundary wall of Jind PG College. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Sonepat, July 9
A case of alleged cheating of Rs 1.38 crore has been registered in the Gannaur police station against five persons –Ajai Jain of Gannaur, Jitender Jain and Subhash Goyal of Pritampura in Delhi and Shaurabh Goyal and Gaurav Goyal of New Delhi. The case was registered on the complaint of Subhodh Jain of Pandav Nagar in Delhi.

Subhodh Jain stated that he came in contact with the alleged accused in 2012. The accused promised to arrange a land for him in Himachal Pradesh to set- up an automobile unit there.

However, he alleged that the accused took Rs 1,38,40,000 from him but did not complete the sale deal of the unit. When he demanded his money back, they refused to return the amount. — OC