Round-the-clock power by July: CM
MAHENDERGARH, Oct 17 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today reiterated that round-the-clock power supply would be made available in the state before next July.

Addl Sessions Judge to hear Minister's plea
GURGAON, Oct 17 — The District and Sessions Judge, Gurgaon, Mr P C Kathuria, has assigned a joint revision petition of the Haryana’s Cooperative Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, and others challenging a lower court’s order for the registration of criminal case against them, to the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoon.

Round-the-clock power by July: CM

MAHENDERGARH, Oct 17 (UNI) — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, today reiterated that round-the-clock power supply would be made available in the state before next July.

The facility would be provided in the Ahirwal region on a priority basis where a 50-km-long single circuit lines of 220 kv from Badshapur to Rewari had been laid at a cost of Rs eight crore, he said while addressing a public meeting at Kamania in this district.

He said the state government had accorded top priority to strengthening of power distribution system and augmenting power generation during the past two and a half years. As many as 23 new sub-stations had been set up and capacity of 105 sub-stations increased besides laying new power lines on 2900 km, he added.

The Chief Minister said the government had already spent about Rs 40 crore on strengthening the power system in this district. He said Rs 20 crore was being spent on setting up a 220 KV power sub-station here. He also announced that 132 kv sub-station would also be set up at Ateli and here. Besides, the state government had decided to increase the capacity of Nizampur, Mundia Khera and jartha power sub-stations in the district.

Listing other development works undertaken in the district, Mr Bansi Lal said 15 irrigation schemes had already been completed and work on 11 schemes was in progress. Similarly 15 flood control schemes had been completed and 20 other schemes were being executed speedily. On completion of on-going irrigation works, the state government would be able to provide adequate irrigation supplies in the Ahirwal region, he said.

He said NABARD had sanctioned Rs 77.19 crore for the augmentation of lift irrigation schemes in Rewari, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Mahendergarh districts. Work on these schemes would commence after the rains. He also said that more than 2.5 crore were spent on repair and renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru irrigation system and it had helped in giving irrigation to 20,000 acre in this district.

The Chief Minister stated the construction work of Rs 225 crore at the Hathni Kund barrage would be completed by the end of June next year and it would help in increasing irrigation supplies from 15000 cusecs to 20000 cusecs in the Western Jamuna Canal irrigation system.

Mr Bansi Lal again clarified that the state government had neither privatised the erstwhile state electricity board nor had it sold any property of the board to any private company. The state government had taken up a power restructuring programme with a view to curbing power theft and providing round-the-clock power supply to the people in the state. For this programme, he said the World Bank had sanctioned a loan of Rs 2400 crore to the state government.

Addl Sessions Judge to hear Minister's plea
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Oct 17 — The District and Sessions Judge, Gurgaon, Mr P C Kathuria, has assigned a joint revision petition of the Haryana’s Cooperative Minister, Rao Narbir Singh, and others challenging a lower court’s order for the registration of criminal case against them, to the court of Additional Sessions Judge, Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoon.

The case which has, put police role in it in question, would come up for hearing on November 11.

The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R Jain, acting as a Vacation Judge, entertaining the revision petition of Rao Narbir Singh and four others had stayed the implementation of the order for the registration of an FIR against them till further order. Giving relief to them, Mr Jain further ordered that the file relating to the case be put up before the District and Sessions Judge for appropriate order.

Earlier, the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gurgaon, Mrs Vivek Bharati, ordered that a private complaint under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (simple hurt), 427 (trespass) and 34 (assembly for furtherance of common intention to commit some crime) along with Section 27 (unlawful use of licensed arm) of the IPC Arms Act, 1959, against Rao Narbir Singh and others be sent to the police station, Sadar, with the directions to register the case and to investigate it.

The order was made on a complaint of Mr Jai Narain, a resident of Badshahpur village. Mr Kamal Bir Singh, a brother of Rao Narbir Singh, is also one of the accused in the complaint.

The counsel for Mr Narain alleged in the complaint that the minister sent more than 12 armed persons to dispossess illegally the complainant and his uncle from a piece of land owned by them. He charged that the men of the minister damaged standing crop of bajra on the land by running tractor on it. It was also alleged that the armed persons had also fired towards the complainant "to kill him". The counsel further said that the complainant fled the scene in fear even while the armed persons threatened to liquidate him or get him "implicated" in criminal case, it was added.

The complaint of Mr Narain is also that when he and his uncle went to the Badshahpur police post, which fell in the Assembly constituency represented by Rao Narbir Singh in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the police officer did not record their report.

The complainant submitted to the court of Mrs Bharati that the disputed agricultural land (more than 22 kanals) was bought by his late father and his uncle. The land is situated in the revenue estate of Badshahpur Tehsil. The land was also mutated in favour of his father and his uncle. Since then they were cultivating the land. Following the demise of the father of the complainant, mutation of his inheritance has also been sanctioned in his favour and his family members, it was added.

According to Mr Narain, a piece of land of the minister and his brother was adjacent to his land, which has come under dispute. Mr Narain further alleged that as the price of the land in the area had shot up, the minister and his agents used to approach him to purchase the land.

"Mr Narain has further charged that earlier the minister and his brother, "in collusion" with the revenue officials had changed the name of "Girdawari" of the said land in their favour. Subsequently, a brother of Mr Narain had moved the court in which the order for status quo was ordered. The order for status quo was still pending in the court of Mr L N Jindal, Aditional Civil Judge (Senior Division), Gurgaon and was fixed for October 21.

Against this background Mrs Bharati ordered for registering a case against the Minister and others invoking the power invested with the court by Section 156 (3), Criminal Procedure Code. This provision is invoked by the court in rare cases.

Later, the Minister and the other accused moved revision petition for the withdrawal of the order of Mrs Bharati in the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Mr R Jain.

Mr Jain, in his order, said that he was of the considered opinion that there were some arguable points in the revision petition of the accused, while staying the order of Mrs Bharati.

However, the role of the police, especially in the interval, of Mrs Bharati’s order and the staying of its implementation by the court of Mr Jain has raised many eyebrows. Many feel that there was a politician-police nexus in the case. The accused had moved the court of Mr Jain on the seventh day of the order of Mrs Bharati. After the order for the registration of criminal case against the minister, the top brass of the police were reported to be in a tizzy till the accused got relief on the same day, of course, till further order.

According to observers, the development has grave political implications for the ruling HVP-BJP combine in the state because it comes at a time when the dust relating to the dismissal of the Rao Dharambir from the Cabinet was yet to settle down.

Student in trouble over department error
by Rajmeet Singh

PANCHKULA, Oct 17 — Could a student secure more marks than the maximum marks in a paper. Probably no. But the Education department of Haryana appears to have achieved the dubious distinction of having done so.

The error on the part of the department is costing a student of diploma in education of the 1995-97 batch at Government Elementary Teachers Training Institute, Morni, his future. He has been running from pillar to post to get the error rectified.

The student, Surender Kumar Verma, was able to persuade the authorities to rectify the mistake, but at a cost. His total marks in the first year of the diploma were reduced from detailed marks certificate (DMC) from 407 to 377.

He would have never taken up the matter with the authorities concerned had he not applied for a teaching job in Delhi. The decrease in the total had affected his chances of securing the job on merit, he alleged.

He claimed that he had a brilliant track record during his two-year diploma course but had to suffer due to alleged indifferent attitude of certain officials of the Institute.

Showing the documents in his possession, Surinder said the record of the internal assessment of the first year of the diploma which showed his original marks as 517 had been allegedly tampered with and changed to 407. The papers sent to the office of the Director of Secondary Education had, cutting, he alleged.

After repeated visits to the Chandigarh office, the record from the Morni institute was called for. To his utter surprise, it showed his total number in the first year of the diploma as 377. He said there was a big disparity between his record at the Chandigarh office and at the Morni office.

The Director of the Secondary Education, Haryana, Mr NC Wadhwa, when contacted said an enquiry had already been conducted into the case and the person(s) responsible for committing the error were being chargesheeted. He added that there was overwriting in the record sent from the institute.

Fine show by Vatika kids
Tribune News Service

AMBALA — The finesse in execution of various items in a cultural programme by students of Chaman Vatika more than matched any professional standards on the occasion of their annual function. An open air stage with the Indian flag in the background greeted enthusiastic parents. The school orchestra which played a medley of songs , both Western and folk , was only a minor indicator of the hard work and team spirit in putting up the show. After the national anthem, Saraswati vandana and the annual report by the principal of the school the audience settled down for a taste of evening with aesthetic touch. "Jungle lore " had tiny tots dressed as trees and animals swinging to foot tapping gentle melodies. The last sequence on Amitabh Bachchan's famous rendition "Mere paas aao" was delightfully amusing. The audience also had a taste of the oriental culture in the form of a Japanese dance with maidens dressed in traditional attires displaying nimble swaying movements with fans and umbrellas . "Punjaban in style" displayed vigorous movements inherent to the North Indian dance form "bhangra".

Sanjhi dance was presentation of a traditional wedding with an amalgamation of the Rajasthani and Haryanvi songs and ethnic practices. The grand finale came in the form of a medley, "It happens only in India".

However the presentations which stood out in the entire evening were the gymnastics, karate and skating. The adaptation to acrobatics and physical flexibility is quite natural at a younger age. What was impressive was the harnessing and its subsequent display. Spectacular tableaux was the highlight of the gymnastics show. The "karate kids" impressed with their prowess.

Mr L.M. Jain, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Haryana, was the Chief Guest of honour. He also distributed prizes to students who brought laurels to school in various disciplines.

The venue was jampacked.

Robbers' gang busted, 2 held
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA Oct 17 —An interstate gang of robbers has been busted following the arrest of two persons under Sections 392, 307 and 34 of the IPC.

This gang was involved in robbing a commission agent, Mr Sham Lal, and his brother Faqir Chand of Rs 75000 at gun-point around 11 a.m. from near Ambedkar Chowk here on October 8.

The district police chief, Mr Y.P. Singhal, said here yesterday Bijender, a resident of Sua Kailana village in Sonepat and Rajesh, a resident of Malpur village in Panipat district had been arrested in this connection while their third accomplice, Ramesh, alias Bora, a resident of Pipli Khera village in Sonepat district was at large.

Mr Singhal said both the arrested persons had been remanded in police custody and an intensive interrogation was in progress by the crime branch of the district police.

Narrating the gang's activities, Mr Singhal said this was an interstate gang of robbers and all its members were unemployed. This gang was "affiliated" to the Sonu gang and the robbery of Rs 75000 at Kurukshetra on October 8, was committed under the leadership of Ramesh, alias Bora, who was involved in dozens of other cases and was wanted by the police. He said this gang was actively operating in and around Gurgaon and Delhi. The gang members use mobile telephone during their activities and whenever they find the opportunity, they commit robberies on the G.T. road adjoining areas in Karnal, Sonepat and Panipat also.

Mr Singhal said during interrogation they told the police they stole a Maruti car used in the crime at Kurukshetra, from near a park at Rohini, Delhi, in the early hours of October 7 when the car owner had gone on a morning walk. They told the police after stealing the car, they came to Kurukshetra and parked their car at some distance from the local State Bank of Patiala branch. They saw two persons coming out from the bank.

At this juncture, they decided to rob them of their money. They said when both Mr Sham Lal and his brother started for Ismailabad they (the robbers) started chasing them.

They told the police Rajesh on gun-point snatched the money bag from Mr Faqir Chand and all of them fled towards the G.T. road. On their way, Ramesh, alias Bora, took the robbed money and threw away the empty money bag on the roadside.

Mr Singhal said they further told the police when they reached Nilokheri, 20 km from here, Bijender and Rajesh boarded a bus while Ramesh rushed his stolen car towards Delhi.

Plan to multiply Murrah buffaloes
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — The Haryana Government has launched a comprehensive programme to identify, improve and multiply the Murrah buffaloes. Under this programme, top quality buffaloes were identified and their male calves purchased, reared and made available to panchayats by the government at subsidised rates. The government has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for breed improvement of buffaloes through artificial insemination during the current financial year.

Dr HS Dahiya, Director of Animal Husbandry Department, said Haryana was the repository of some of the best cattle and buffalo genetic resources in the country. In addition to trading in milk and its products, the state had long been the prime source of the finest-milking Hariana cows and Murrah buffaloes as well as the most sought-after Hariana bullock for the rest of India.

A cash incentive to each breeder was being given with a memorandum of understanding that he would not sell his buffalo until next lactation.

Mr Dahiya said a cash prize of Rs 6,000 was being awarded to breeders of "A" category buffaloes whose daily peak yield exceeded 18 litres, Rs 5,000 to "B" category buffaloes with 15 to 18 litres and Rs 1,000 to breeders of "C" category buffaloes with 12 to 15 litres daily peak yield. The department had already identified 783 such top-quality Murrah buffaloes.

Implement amendment, demand mayors
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Oct 17 — The All-India Council of Mayors of Municipal Corporations has expressed anguish at the delay in the implementation of the 74th amendment of the Constitution which has affected working of the civic bodies.

This was conveyed in a memorandum submitted to the Union Home Minister, Mr L K Advani, by a delegation of the council in Delhi. It urged the Home Minister to implement the provisions of the amendment.

Subedar Suman, Mayor of the Municipal Corporation here, who accompanied the delegation, said the memorandum also sought parity with the Central ministers as desired in the guidelines issued in 1969, the mayor’s vehicle be included in the convoy of a dignitary whenever he visited the city on an official tour.

The remuneration packet and the facilities provided to the Central minister should be extended to a Mayor.

The council wanted that the voting rights given to the nominated councillors of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation be withdrawn.

They also demanded that they be allowed to levy tax on the Communications Department using the land of the corporation for laying underground telephone cables.

Care for juvenile kids stressed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — To provide protection, security and care to juvenile and neglected children, voluntary organisations should be involved actively to devise a common strategy for the solution of this problem.

These views were expressed by the main speakers at a five-day orientation course held under the Juvenile Justice Act 1986 which concluded today. The course was organised at Anganwari Workers Training Centre in Panchkula.

The main objective of the course was to acquaint the persons working for the benefit of delinquent and neglected children with the latest development in treatment methodologies.

The participants were from juvenile observation homes, special and after-care homes and the speakers were from the Food Preservation and Nutrition Centre of Gol, Panjab University, the Department of Health, Social Defence and Security and the Haryana State Council for Child Welfare.

HPCC forms relief panel
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, President, Haryana Pradesh Congress (I) Committee, has constituted a state-level Relief Committee of the Haryana PCC comprising the following: Mr Birender Singh, Mr Dharampal Yadav, vice-presidents, HPCC, Mr Paramvir Singh, general secretary, HPCC, Mr Sunil Sareen, member, AICC, and Mr B.R. Ojha, president, DCC, Faridabad, Urban.

The committee, constituted on the pattern of the Central Relief Committee of the AICC, will monitor the provision of relief to persons affected by natural calamities. It will also undertake the collection of materials and funds.

Mr Hooda also formed a seven member Ethics Committee under the chairmanship of Mr Inderjit Singh, MP. Mr Lachhman Dass Arora, Dr K.R. Punia, Mrs Prasanni Devi, Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, Mr Vasudev Sharma and Mrs Kartar Devi will be the other six members.

Meham drain brings misery
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Oct 17 — Instead of being a boon to the flood-prone villages of Meham sub-division, the Meham drain has brought miseries to the areas it intended to serve.

The digging of the Meham and Lakhanmajra drains where the major projects undertaken by Mr Bansi Lal immediately after taking over as Chief Minister in 1996. The sole aim of constructing these drains was to protect these villages from floods of the like witnessed in 1995.

While digging work at the Lakhanmajra drain has been stopped following protests by Bahu-Akbarpur residents.

The Meham drain is proving counter-productive. All the villages from which this drain passes are today facing flood like situation.

The 43 km-long Meham drain originates from near Kharak-Bainsi and passes through Nindana, Ajaib, Bharain, Ballambha, Mokhra and Muradpur Tekna villages of Meham sub-division.

The fields in almost all these villages have been submerged by rain water because of the faulty alignment of the main drain and its link-drains.

In Ballambha (Behlawa) Bainsi and Nindana villages water has even entered abadi areas. The dewatering process has been adversely affected by the unprecedented rains.

Woman, 3 daughters found dead
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Oct 17 — A woman and her three daughters have been found dead under mysterious circumstances at their house at Bahadurgarh town in Jhajjar district.

According to a complaint lodged with the police, the victims identified as Naresh (40) and her daughters, Rekha (18), Savita (15) and Meenu (10) were allegedly poisoned by the in-laws of the woman over some dispute. The bodies were recovered from their house in the Katcha Bagh locality.

A case has been registered under Section 302 of the IPC against the father-in-law, mother-in-law and brother-in-law of the woman on a complaint by a relative of the deceased.

But some local residents suspect that the woman and her daughters might have committed suicide due to some financial problem and strained relations with her in-laws, who were living separately.

The bodies have been sent for a post-mortem examination.

More aid for dead bread-earner's kin
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 17 — The Haryana Government has increased the financial assistance of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 in case of natural and unnatural deaths of primary bread-earners of persons living below the poverty line.

A spokesman of the Social Welfare Department said under the National Family Benefit Scheme, a component of the National Social Assistance Programme, a one-time financial assistance is given to the bereaved family in case of natural or unnatural death of a primary bread-earner of the family.

He said this assistance was being given to those poor families who were below the poverty line and the death of the primary bread-earner occurred in the age-group of 18-64 years.