IP — new trend in home networking
AMBALA, Dec 1 — Not in the distant future, "Internet Protocol" will manage most of the communication between emerging Net appliances and people, in charge of strategic IT initiatives of Pacific Bell, California, US, Dr Jagdish Kohli says.

Woman shot dead at her residence
ROHTAK, Dec 1 — A young woman was shot dead, allegedly by two youths at her house in the local Housing Board (old) colony today.

Octroi abolition hits civic staff
ROHTAK, Dec 1 — While the decision to abolish octroi in the state might have come as a relief to traders and business community it seems to have affected the financial health of the municipal councils and committees in Haryana.

Commuters resent late running of trains
SONEPAT, Dec 1 — The late running of long-distance and suburban trains on the Sonepat-Delhi section of the Northern Railway has caused widespread resentment among daily commuters.

Youth festival concludes
HISAR, Dec 1 — The local Dayanand College won the folk song, Haryanvi solo group song (western), one-act play and group song (Haryanvi) competition at the three day Zonal youth festival of Kurukshetra University which concluded here on the local Dayanand College premises yesterday.

Dalits threaten conversion
KAITHAL, Dec 1 — Dalits of Faral village in Pundri sub-tehsil of the district have threatened to convert to Christianity from Hinduism if the state government and the administration failed to stop acts of atrocities allegedly being committed against them by the upper castes of the village.

Matric supplementary result declared
BHIWANI, Dec 1 — There has been a marked improvement in the pass percentage of matric supplementary examination of the Board of School Education Haryana.

• SHO suspended for taking bribe
• Haryana’s corpn’s relief steps
• Appointment raises eyebrows
• Woman kills paramour

Plea to promote Sanskrit
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Dec 1 —The BJP Vice-President, Mr K.L. Sharma has urged for more emphasis on the Sanskrit language to preserve the country’s cultural heritage and strengthen the spirit of nationalism.

Speaking at a public function organised here last evening by the All-India Brahman Maha Sabha in honour of Attorney-at-Law of Mauritius, Mr Damodur Chaturvedi Toolsee, he said Sanskrit should be promoted, specially in the dissemination of news through all media. Besides extolling the virtues of Sanskrit for having apt words for all kinds of expressions, he said it was acclaimed the world over for being a modern language. Empirical studies have led to the conclusion that the language jells with word processing in computer softwares.

Among others, the Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swami and a senior member of the Haryana unit of the BJP, Mr Sitaram Singla were present on the occasion.

Mr Sharma, who presided over the function, praised Mr Chaturvedi, who is on a personal visit to India for undertaking pilgrimage to all 12 Jyotir Lingas, saying that he had held aloft the flag of Hinduism in his own country.

Mr Sharma said in case the country attained its lost status of "jagat guru" in the comity of nation, it would solely be on account of its culture.He lamented that although the concepts relating to all walks of life were there in our ancient literature and teachings of various saints there was a tendency to import models for domestic problems.In this context he said that "Ram rajya" was one such concept with us in connection with good governance of a state.In a bid to put the issue in right perspective, he said it denoted all-round happiness, contentment, equity and justice — the hallmarks of good dispensation.

Referring to the principle of secularism, he said it was being observed since several thousands of years in this country as enshrined in the concept of ‘‘Sarva dharma sambhava". Voicing the BJP’s official stand of "appeasement to none", he debunked the practice of delinking fundamental rights from fundamental duties.

Mr Sharma expressed his resentment against those politicians who took to politics for self-aggrandisement. ‘‘Politics is to serve society.It is a tragedy that once a politician comes to power he flies off the tangent’’, he said.

Mr I.D. Swami, welcomed Mr Toolsee and like the senior BJP leader asked his countrymen not to forget its cultural heritage.

Mr Toolsee, who is also the president of various organisations of his country relating to Hinduism, including the Brahman Maha Sabha and Shri Sanatan Dharma Mandir Parishad, said the Hindus in his country drew inspiration from India. He fondly reminisced Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visits to Mauritius as Minister for Foreign Affairs and then as Leader of the Opposition. After his visit to Mauritius as Minister for Foreign Affairs, he had sent an idol of Lord Hanuman after his return to India which had been installed on a hillock near Ganga Talab. He expressed the hope that Mr Vajpayee would now visit Mauritius as Prime Minister of India next year.

The president of the All-India Brahman Maha Sabha, Mr M.L. Sharma also praised the efforts of Mr Toolsee to propagate Hinduism.He recalled his visit to Mauritius saying that the country had become a focal point for Hindus staying in African and European countries. Several lakhs of Hindus visit Ganga Talab during the occasion of Maha Shivratri every year, he added.

HC strikes down 28 students’ admission
By Our Legal Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1— Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today struck down the admission of 28 students in the Jind Institute of Engineering, Jind, who had not taken the entrance test for admission to the engineering course for the 1998-99 session. Those students who did not qualify the test were allowed to be admitted as per decision of the state of Haryana and the Director of Technical Education on each paying Rs 3 to 5 lakh.

A petition against the admission of private respondents was filed by Mr Gurpreet Singh and four other students of the institute who were also aggrieved against the allotment of better disciplines to the students who had not qualified the common entrance test for admission or not appeared in the same, by which the petitioners were denied seats in better disciplines in the engineering courses.

The Judge, however, did not accept the plea of the petitioner for change of discipline at this late stage.

While quashing the admission of private respondents, Mr Justice Aggarwal directed that the private respondents should be refunded their fees within 10 days. The fees of those students who are similarly situated as private respondents were also directed to be refunded.

Mr Justice Aggarwal observed that admittedly the private respondents had not taken the entrance test. Even if they had taken the test, they were not qualified.

Some seats in various disciplines including certain much-sought-after disciplines in engineering colleges which had fallen vacant, had been offered to them. As per the admission brochure merit in the test conducted by the Regional Engineering College, Kurukshetra was the sole criterion. There was no other provision for admitting any other person. Any other person so admitted by any other decision which is not in conformity with brochure must be struck down. It violated the fundamental right of many others.

The Judge further observed that this court was aware that the private respondents too had studied but when their admission itself was void ab-initio, allowing them on compassion would be perpetuating the illegality.

Some seats in private engineering colleges remained unfilled and the principals of these colleges approached the authorities who allowed the seats to be filled by accepting money.

Is INLD, BJP honeymoon over?
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Dec 1 — Are the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the BJP drifting away? And is the INLD contemplating an alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the possible mid-term Assembly election? No possibility can be ruled out, well placed sources in the INLD said.

Although there is no reason for the alliance partners to part ways, but at the same time there is no compulsion to stay together. Earlier the situation was different. The INLD needed the BJP in Haryana, to stay in power. It now had adequate numbers to manage the government. The party had the support of 48 members in the Assembly without the BJP. Similarly, the BJP-led coalition at the Centre was comfortably placed, even if the five INLD members decide to withdraw support to the government. "There appears to be no interest in this love affair", the sources said.

The INLD supremo and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is reportedly not against the idea of forming an alliance with the BSP for the Assembly elections. But that is too premature as yet, the sources say.

The BJP, the INLD leadership believes, has grown ambitious after the Lok Sabha election results in Haryana. The claim of some of the leaders to contest 45 Assembly seats is not being taken kindly by the INLD. The tone and tenor of the speakers at the BJP's public rally in Rohtak last week reflected similar sentiments. The central BJP leadership has been insisting upon the state leadership for widening its base to emerge as a viable alternative.

Both parties have been treading a cautious path in their dealings with each other. However, the coordination committee formed by the two parties for improved governance and sorting out mutual issues and differences headed by the Chief Minister himself has not met for the past two months. This also has given rise to speculations. Moreover, none of the parties has deemed it necessary to deny the reports of differences between the two alliance partners.

One senior BJP leader, who served as a minister in the Bansi Lal government told TNS that there was a general consensus among the state leadership about assuming an aggressive role in the state politics. He pointed out that the BJP being a national party could not continue to play second fiddle to a regional party. "We can make timely arrangements, but we cannot thrive on long term subordination", he asserted. He, however, did not see any parting of ways between the BJP and the INLD. He was frank enough to admit that both parties would have to pay dearly if they go it alone in the next elections. "It will be suicidal for the INLD as that party had major stakes.

MLA accuses Chautala of discrimination
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The internal troubles of the ruling Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana came to the surface today with one of its MLAs, Mr Sat Narain Lather, accusing the party supremo, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, of discriminating against the districts of Jind, Rohtak and Sonepat and termed him a "liar".

Mr Lather had deserted the Bansi Lal government and along with 17 other HVP MLAs had formed the HVP(D). Later, he and 13 other HVP(D) MLAs had merged their party with the INLD.

He is among the five HVP(D) MLAs, who joined the INLD, but have not been made ministers.

Raising the banner of revolt against the Chief Minister, Mr Lather alleged that Mr Chautala was not serious about the development of Jind district in which Mr Lather’s constituency fell. The dissident MLA alleged that Mr Chautala was serious about the development of Sirsa district alone.

Mr Lather said he had convened a meeting of his supporters at his residence on December 18 where he would "expose" Mr Chautala. He said he had invited four former HVP(D) MLAs, Mr Brij Mohan Singla, Mr Narbir Singh, Mr Ramesh Kaushik and Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, to the meeting.

He threatened to launch an agitation in protest against "injustice" to Jind district in January next.

Claiming that he and his colleagues could pull down the Chautala government anytime, Mr Lather said they were giving a long rope to the Chief Minister so that Mr Chautala could not tell the people that his government was toppled before he could fulfil his promise of providing free power and water.

IP — new trend in home networking
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Dec 1 — Not in the distant future, "Internet Protocol" will manage most of the communication between emerging Net appliances and people, in charge of strategic IT initiatives of Pacific Bell, California, US, Dr Jagdish Kohli says.

In an exclusive interview to the The Tribune, Dr Kohli said a new trend towards home networking known as "ubiquitous IP", IP standing for Internet Protocol, is emerging.

"A British company, NCR, is working on a microwave oven with Internet component. The current time and temperature screen on the microwave oven will be expanded to an information display. The internal space of this device will be modified to include modular compartments to hold ingredients for cooking. The recipe for cooking your favourite dish will come from an Internet database", Dr Kohli says.

"A robotic arm will load the microwave oven by selecting appropriate quantities of ingredients from the IP refrigerator. The refrigerator will be equipped to send a message to the nearest grocery store if it is running low on supplies and so on and so forth", Dr Kohli added.

Speaking about IP cooperating appliances, Dr Kohli said IP would control temperature and humidity in homes and office buildings. Security could be monitored remotely from anywhere in the world. "Your building intelligent controller can direct the lawn sprinkler system to shut down when it's raining", he said.

He pointed out that a number of appliances talking to each other in similar fashion are the blueprints for the upcoming consumer and business markets.

On future implications, Dr Kohli said entertainment, communications, and education were major industries currently undergoing transformation by the developments in Internet services. The emergence of IP appliances would accelerate this transformation further. "Consumers will expect and demand more sophisticated IP services because of the convenience and value-added aspect of the emerging IP appliances.

Among other things, the following points summarise key implications of IP appliances — the dominance of the PC will soon end and a multi-billion dollar IP appliance industry will be unfolding in the coming years. Many companies will be positioning to create and deliver new IP services matching the needs of emerging appliances and new business models will be surfacing to take advantage of enormous revenue opportunities linked with IP appliances and services", Dr Kohli stated.

Dr Kohli, who has his roots in Ambala, said "the EchoStar Model 7100 satellite receiver is claimed to be the world's first satellite receiver with a built-in ultrafast, multi-gigabyte hard drive capable of recording and playing back simultaneously full-quality digital video. The disk drive makes possible a number of enhanced digital TV features, including TV pause ("freezing" a TV show for up to 30 minutes and resuming when the viewer is ready to watch again), DVR (automatic recording of several hours of high-quality digital video) and down-loadable video games. The DVR feature is planned to be available at the end of 1999 as a Web TV tm Plus and EchoStar service upgrade".

Citing another example, Dr Kohli said now we could turn our PC into a jukebox with Real Networks Real Jukebox. "Real Jukebox is a software digital music product that gives consumers everything they need to acquire, play and manage their personal music collections. Real Jukebox is based on Real System MP, which is an open and extensible digital music platform enabling integration with a wide range of Internet music services and hardware services. The beta release of Real Jukebox was made available on the Internet recently", he said.

On wireless communicator, Dr Kohli said "A number of companies such as Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola and others are working on the next generation mobile communicators. Nokia 9110 and Ericsson R380 are two examples of these future wireless devices. These devices integrate the functions of a PDA and a cell phone in a single unit. Adding a feature-rich Web interface to these devices will open up new business opportunities for the mobile workforce".

A new protocol called Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) has been defined by the wireless industry. This protocol aims at providing a number of new capabilities for people on the move. The WAP server is an exciting opportunity to distribute existing business services and to develop totally new ones. With this platform, a business can offer content and services that create strong brand presence both in the consumers' minds and the marketplace through mobile phones. The WAP server is a text-based mobile Web solution for information, transaction, entertainment and marketing, accessible wherever and whenever, says Dr Kohli.

Talking about cordless communicator, Dr Kohli said with a new appliance introduced recently by Anigma, we would able to surf the Web in the bed, in the kitchen, on the patio or anywhere else in the house. "The device allows the user to connect to Internet wirelessly and carry this tablet like device wherever the user goes", he said.

Woman shot dead at her residence
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 1 — A young woman was shot dead, allegedly by two youths at her house in the local Housing Board (old) colony today.

According to some eyewitnesses and members of the family, the victim, identified as Kamlesh, alias Kamleshwari, was at her house with her sister-in-law when at about 11.30 a.m. two youths knocked at the door and when the woman opened the door, she was fired upon at point blank range. Her sister-in-law (wife of elder brother of her husband) was sitting in one of the bedrooms, feeding her child. She told the police that Kamlesh shouted and asked her not to come out and bolt the door of her room from inside or else she would also be attacked.

The deceased sustained serious injuries due to a volley of bullets fired on her. She succumbed to her injuries within a few minutes. Her husband, Narender Hooda, who is a lecturer in a Government School was away on duty at the time of the attack.

The deceased was married in May last and was reportedly two months pregnant.

The body has been sent for post-mortem. The cause of the crime is not known.

Meanwhile, two persons were killed and one was injured when an unidentified vehicle hit a motorcycle carrying three persons on Jind road last night. The deceased have been identified as Jagminder and Gulab Singh of Dimana village of Jind district.

Octroi abolition hits civic staff
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 1 — While the decision to abolish octroi in the state might have come as a relief to traders and business community it seems to have affected the financial health of the municipal councils and committees in Haryana. With the development and maintenance work coming to a near standstill in every town the fate of employees who have become 'surplus' due to the above decision hangs in balance.

According to sources staff salary of the majority of municipal employees has been delayed due to non-availability of required funds. Octroi which used to be sources of income of the state exchequer helped meet the salary expenses of the staff employed in these councils and committees.

The Rohtak Municipal Council will now be losing approximately Rs 1.25 crore annually on account of the abolition of octroi. While the council required about Rs 34 lakh as staff salary per month, the monthly income from octroi used to be over 12 lakh. The council requires about 20 lakh per month as salary for safai karamcharis alone.

While the state government has assured to adjust employees of the octroi department in some other department many of such "surplus" employees do not seem to be happy with their proposed shifting.

It is reported that while development work by the council has nearly stopped, any immediate grant for such works is not likely to be released. It is learnt that the repair and maintenance work of street lights and cleanliness has bee affected.

Now the council is depending on the revenue from the rent of its property, house tax and development fund for its survival. The council had received a grant of only Rs 62 lakh from the state government in March which is reported to be far from adequate. One can see the financial health of the council from the fact that it has not been able to deposit Rs 34 lakh towards provident fund and Rs 15 lakh towards the pension fund of the employees of the council.

Commuters resent late running of trains
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, Dec 1 — The late running of long-distance and suburban trains on the Sonepat-Delhi section of the Northern Railway has caused widespread resentment among daily commuters. Almost all suburban trains starting from Panipat, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Delhi on this section run behind the schedule. They have to cover a distance of at least 100 km or so, yet they usually run late leaving thousands of passengers, stranded at railway stations.

Commuters travelling by suburban trains are the worse hit. The extension of some trains to Ambala and Kurukshetra has proved to be a curse for the passengers. These trains never run on time and the passengers are left stranded at the railway stations for hours together.

Overcrowding in trains is another problem for the commuters, particularly women who have a tough time boarding Delhi-bound trains in the morning and Panipat-bound in the evening.

The Daily Railway Passengers Welfare Association has demanded a high-level probe into the cause of frequent late running of the trains on this section and urged the Railways to ensure that the suburban and long-distance trains run on time. It has demanded the addition of some more coaches in the suburban trains to meet the rush of passengers.

Youth festival concludes
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, Dec 1 — The local Dayanand College won the folk song, Haryanvi solo group song (western), one-act play and group song (Haryanvi) competition at the three day Zonal youth festival of Kurukshetra University which concluded here on the local Dayanand College premises yesterday.

About 700 students from the district and Sirsa and Fatehabad took part.

Following are the results of various competition:-

Group song (General): F.C. College for Women, Hisar first, CRM Jat College, Hisar, Dayanand College, Hisar and M.M. College, Fatehabad — second.

Folk song (Haryanavi solo): Dayanand College Hisar — first, S.D. Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Narwana, and Government National College, Sirsa — second.

Group song (western): Dayanand College, Hisar — Hisar, CMK National College, Sirsa — second.

Sanskrit drama: F.C. College for Women, Hisar — first, S.D.M.M. College, Hansi. — second.

Classical vocal (solo): Government National College, Sirsa — first, F.C. College for Women, Hisar —second.

Classical instrument (solo): (percussion): CRM Jat College, Hisar — first, Government College Hisar — second.

Classical Instrumental (solo): (non-percussion): CMK National Girls College, Sirsa — first M.P. College, Dabwali — second.

One act play: Dayanand College, Hisar — first, S.D. Mahila College, Hansi and CRM Jat College Hisar — second.

Best actor: Subodh Diwan (Dayanand College, Hisar) and Raja (CRM Jat College Hisar).

Best actress: Sayda (SD Mahila College, Hansi) and Hamida Bai (Government College, Hisar) .

Light vocal (Indian): I.G. Government College, Tohana — first, Dayanand College, Hisar and CMK Girls College, Sirsa — second.

Western vocal (solo): M.M. College Fatehabad — first, Government College, Hisar — second.

Mime: CRM Jat College, Hisar — first, KM Government College, Narwana and S.D. Mahila College, Hansi — second.

Group song (Haryanavi): S.D. Mahila College, Narwana — first, Dayanand College, Hisar and F.C. College for Women, Hisar — second.

Solo dance (Haryanavi): Male M.M. College, Fatehabad — first, Dayanand College, Hisar and F.C. College for Women, Hisar, second, Female F.C. College for women, Hisar, — first, Government Girls College, Fatehabad — second.

Haryanvi skiti: K.M. Government College Narwana — first, DN College, Hisar — second.

Mimicry: Government College, Hisar — first, F.C. College for Women, Hisar and Government College, Sirsa — second.

Classical dance: CRM Jat College, Hisar — first, Government College, Hisar and CMK National College, Sirsa — second.

Folk Instrumental Haryanavi): FC College, Hisar — first., KM College, Narwana — second.

Western Instrumental (solo): CRM Jat College, Hisar — first, Government National College, Sirsa and F.C. College for Women, Hisar — second.

Group dance (Haryanavi): Dayanand College, Hisar, — first, MMO College, Fatehabad, — Mono acting: Government College, Hisar — first, F.C. College for Women — Hisar and CRM Jat College, Hisar — second.

Haryanavi orchestra: K.M. Government College, Narwana — first, Dayanand College, Hisar — second.

Dalits threaten conversion
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Dec 1 — Dalits of Faral village in Pundri sub-tehsil of the district have threatened to convert to Christianity from Hinduism if the state government and the administration failed to stop acts of atrocities allegedly being committed against them by the upper castes of the village.

In a memorandum sent to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti has alleged that the upper castes looted their houses and set them on fire. They also beat them up and took away the idols of Ravidas from the village temple on August 16. It further said the land was allotted to them by the village panchayat under the third-service scheme for constructing houses. They were legal owners and had the valid documents.

It said following this incident an FIR was registered against the accused. It alleged that in spite of the complaint lodged after the death of two Dalits on August 19 no case had been registered. On the other hand, the upper caste influential villagers occupied their plots forcibly in violation of the court orders. The Dalits said the administration also did not come to their rescue and the accused were left scot-free.

The Dalits stated that in 1998 bridegroom and the women folk of a family were insulted and not allowed to enter the village temple when had gone there to offer prayers on the occasion of the marriage of a youth of their community.

Following the incident the upper caste people allegedly imposed a ban on the entry of Dalits to the temple. A case was registered against the guilty at that time.

The Dalits have complained to the Prime Minister that in spite of their representations to the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Haryana Chief Minister following these incident no action was taken against the guilty and moreover they were not provided security.

When contacted, the Deputy Commissioner Dr Mahavir Singh, said the Dalits were allotted plots (residential) by the village panchayat, but the trouble arose when they started constructing residential houses on the land as a section of the village objected that the site was part of the mela site where the famous "Phalgu" fair was held.

The Dalits were offered an alternative site but they were adamant on constructing houses on the already allotted site following which tension mounted up.

He said the administration was keeping a watch on the situation and all efforts were being made by the administration to ensure safety of the Dalits and efforts were on to find an amicable solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, some activists of the Arya Samaj have reached the village to see that the Dalits do not convert to Christianity.

Matric supplementary result declared
From Our Correspondent

BHIWANI, Dec 1 — There has been a marked improvement in the pass percentage of matric supplementary examination of the Board of School Education Haryana. The result of the supplementary examination held in September, 1999 was declared today. The pass percentage this year was 65.02 per cent as compared to 62.13 per cent last year. The pass percentage was 56.28 per cent in 1997 and 42.55 per cent in 1996.

The Board Secretary, Prof Jagdish Sihag, told mediapersons here today that 52,247 candidates appeared for the examination this time and 33,970 were declared successful while 6,911 were got compartment.

Prof Sihag said the performance of girls had been better than that of the boy. The pass percentage of girls was 72.35 per cent in comparison to 62.22 per cent of boys.

He said the result of this examination would be published in three Hindi daily newspapers and would also be available at the offices of the District Education Officers, District Public Relation Officer, District-level Co-ordination Centres of the board and at board Head Office at Bhiwani.

He said the board would sent fail/compartment/re-appear cards of the candidates within one a week and pass certificates within 15 days of declaration of the result.

Prof Sihag said the candidates desirous of appearing in annual examination in March 2000 for compartment/re-appear/improvement of marks and additional subject could send their forms without any late fee till December 17, 1999, and after this date with a late of Rs 200 would be payable till January 3, 2000. He said a late fee of Rs 300 would be payable if the forms were deposited one month before the commencement of the examinations.

Haryana’s corpn’s relief steps
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 1 — The Haryana Financial Corporation has announced a substantial relief for the units assisted by it. This includes waiver of penal interest as well as liberal reschedulement of the repayment of loans.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of the corporation said the concessions would be available to those units that were on default as on November 15.

He said the Board of Directors of the corporation had approved a scheme for the clearance of default in one go. Under the scheme, borrowers would be given option to pay 50 per cent of the amount payable by March 2000 and the balance 50 per cent during the next financial year 2000-2001 in equal monthly instalments, provided the instalments during this period were paid by the borrowers along with the monthly instalments.

He said in view of the latest policy of the state government, no penal interest would be charged. However, the benefit of the waiver of penal interest would be passed on to the original borrowers after they had paid at least half of the payable amount by March 31, 2000, and the balance along with future instalments up to March 2001. The scheme would also cover Working Capital Term Loan Accounts. This benefit would, however, be available only once during the currency of the loan. Those borrowers who had already taken this benefit under earlier schemes would not be eligible now. The scheme would continue up to March 31, 2000, and proposals proceeded and accepted up to this date would be eligible for the benefit.

Appointment raises eyebrows
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Dec 1 — Dr Sarla Malik who retired yesterday as Professor and Head, Public Administration Department, in M.D. University has been appointed Director, Distance Education.

Many eyebrows are being raised on this appointment. Highly informed university sources said as per chapter 23 (Vol 3) of the university calendar, a teacher can be re-employed for a research and teaching job only. Such teachers cannot be given any administrative responsibility as per university statues.

A senior university official, however, said that the appointment was temporary, Dr Malik has been holding the charge of the Distance Education Department even before she attained the age of superannuation on November 30.

SHO suspended for taking bribe
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Dec 1 — Mr Harmesh Singh, SHO, city police station was placed under suspension for allegedly accepting bribe in a murder case. The suspension orders were issued by the Superintendent of Police, Mr Sohan Lal.

A departmental inquiry has been ordered into the charges levelled against the said SHO. The inquiry will be conducted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Mr Jagdish Naggar. The SP is reported to have asked for an early completion of the inquiry.

Police sources said, the suspended SHO had allegedly taken Rs 14,000 from 11 accused in the murder case of Zile Singh of Suryanagar here last month. The said SHO had allegedly delayed action in terms of the registration of the FIR against the accused and their arrest. The matter was brought to the notice of the SP. After preliminary investigations he found the role of the SHO doubtful and ordered his suspension.

The SP said, SHO Barwala Harish Kumar had been posted in place of Harmesh Singh till a regular appointment was made under instructions from the DGP, Haryana.

Woman kills paramour
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, Dec 1 — A woman allegedly killed her lover in NH-one after both of them had a drinking session.

According to the police the woman Sonu (25), was in love with Atiq who wanted to marry her. On Saturday night she came to Atiq’s shop where both of them allegedly consumed liquor. Atiq again insisted on marrying her but she refused.

When Atiq fell unconscious due to excessive drinking Sonu is stated to have strangulated him with her dupatta and escaped.

Later, police arrested Sonu who is claimed to have admitted killing Atiq.