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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Wednesday, December 15, 1999 |
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ISI plan: security at oil plant
reviewed PANIPAT, Dec 14 — Following reports from central intelligence agencies about the plans of ISI-backed militant groups to sabotage oil installations in various parts of the country, a meeting was convened yesterday to deliberate on the threat to the refinery and the Kandla-Bathinda pipeline. Two Acts amended in Haryana |
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4 brothers' murder: one more held JHADLI (MAHENDERGARH), Dec 14 — The police today arrested Rajpal, one of the accused in the murder case here in which four brothers were killed on Friday last. With today's arrest, six of the 10 accused have been arrested so far. Panel recommendations for Haryana
pensioners HVPN
makes defaulters pay up ST
assessment procedure simplified Dowry
death alleged Jats
oppose second backward panel CPI
to launch campaign Two
die in mishaps Judge:
publicise Lok Adalats |
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ISI plan: security at oil
plant reviewed PANIPAT, Dec 14 — Following reports from central intelligence agencies about the plans of ISI-backed militant groups to sabotage oil installations in various parts of the country, a meeting between the officials of the Indian Oil Corporation’s Panipat Oil Refinery and security agencies was convened yesterday to deliberate on the threat to the refinery and the Kandla-Bathinda pipeline, which passes through Panipat. According to information given by the intelligence agencies, oil companies having LPG bottling units, storage depots of petroleum, gas based fertiliser units and other oil installations in different parts of the country were high on the hit list of the militant outfits. Sensing trouble, the oil companies have sought assistance from security agencies. The Pakistan-based Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar group) is reported to be making plans to hit the oil installations with explosives. The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Haneef Qureshi, said that in an operation in July this year at Rohad village in Jind, the Panipat police had nabbed two dreaded militants, but a third one, Ratandeep, had escaped. "The police believes that Ratandeep could be the man who could mastermind any such sabotage operation. Besides, the movements of ISI-backed terrorists have also been felt in the district," he told TNS. The ASP said that idea behind yesterday’s meeting was not only to review the existing security arrangements but also to formulate a strategy for conducting mock drills which would prove helpful in the moment of crisis. Besides, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the district police would also coordinate to ensure patrolling and other security arrangement in and around the oil refinery, he added. "For instance, at many places in the refinery they have kept private security guards while some places are manned by the CISF. Now this kind of an arrangement will have to be reviewed and intimated to us," Mr Qureshi said. Those who attended the
meeting included the Deputy General manager (Human
Resources) of the refinery, Mr Thomas Antony, Mr Haneef
Qureshi, Assistant Commandant of the CISF, Mr R. K.
Yadav, representatives of the Hindustan Petroleum
Corporation Limited. Bharat Petroleum Corporation
Limited, IBP and Balmer Lowrie Company Limited. |
Two Acts amended in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Haryana Governor today promulgated ordinances, amending the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, and the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994. The amendments will enable the government to authorise person or persons to look after panchayats and municipalities up to six months after the expiry of their terms. It is believed that the move has been initiated by the government to hold the impending panchayat elections in the state after the Assembly poll. Meanwhile, a press note here said the Haryana Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Mr Chautala, recommended to the Governor the proposal to issue an ordinance amending the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, making provisions for looking after the municipal corporation of Faridabad beyond December 23 when the term of the elected councillors comes to an end. The press note added that since the Haryana Municipal Act has similar provisions as contained in the Haryana Municipal Corporation Act, 1994, and so does the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, it was decided to bring similar amendments in these two pieces of legislation to meet such unforeseen circumstances where elections to these institutions cannot be held in the specified period. Accordingly, the Cabinet
decided to recommend the issuance of ordinances amending
these Acts, the press note said. |
Chautala holds court ROHTAK, Dec 14 — Time: 4.30 p.m. on Sunday: Scene: The lawns of the local canal rest house are packed with people from the rural areas of the Hassangarh Assembly constituency. They have been waiting for the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala to arrive. Suddenly, like a legendary maharaja, Mr Chautala enters. He is escorted by gunmen, Black Cat commandos and district officials. The gathering starts raising slogans in his praise. The durbar is reminiscent of the durbars of maharajas of yore. But unlike the old maharajas, Mr Chautala does not entertain individual problems. He is also careful not to project any individual. Mr Chautala is generous in responding to demands presented by almost all 36 panchayats in the assembly segment. He sanctions link roads for various villages connecting religious places or schools with main roads, and development projects worth over Rs 1 crore in just this one sitting. He is to hold another such durbar near Kurukshetra later in the day. Nevertheless, propriety is maintained. So he reads the demand charters very carefully, puts questions to the panchayats concerned and seeks clarifications. Mr Chautala is in a generous mood. Any genuine demand from any panchayat gets an on-the-spot approval. Thus without any hesitation, he sanctions the long-pending demand for link roads between Ismaila and Kultana, Kharawar and Dighal and Kheri Saadh and Pherawar. Nearly two dozen villages get the sanction for construction of retaining walls for ponds and the paving of village streets. He even sanctions a mini bank for Morekheri and Samchana villages. Acting the part of a maharaja to the hilt he is calm and his manner is charming. Like a good general, he knows his troops and calls the sarpanches and panches of most panchayats by name. He is seen directing the officials by name too establishing a personal chemistry. He uses the opportunity to instruct panchayats to remove encroachments from panchayat land. As if in compensation he adds that canal water will be provided at the tail-end of channels and if required, the government will not hesitate in constructing new channels. The durbar ends after
nearly two hours with every panchayat seeming satisfied.
Their maharaja has lived up to expectations. |
4 brothers' murder: one more held JHADLI (MAHENDERGARH), Dec 14 — The police today arrested Rajpal, one of the accused in the murder case here in which four brothers were killed on Friday last. With today's arrest, six of the 10 accused have been arrested so far. According to the Station House Officer (SHO), Kanina police station, Mr Kurdaram, the other accused are likely to be arrested by tomorrow. The police has already obtained seven days' remand of the accused arrested earlier. They are to be produced in the court of a judicial magistrate on December 20. One of the accused, who has already been arrested, is Durga Prasad, brother-in-law of the leader of the BJP in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Mr Ram Bilas Sharma. Meanwhile, normalcy has returned in this village. The residents, who had left their houses, fearing an attack from the residents of the adjoining Chittroli village, have come back. Significantly, no politician today visited the residence of the deceased in Chittroli. A former Union Minister and Congress leader, Col. Ram Singh, has demanded action against the assailants. He said the development reflected the deteriorating' law and order in south Haryana. Yesterday, the police produced five of the 10 suspects in the sensational murder in the court of the Judicial Magistrate in Mahendragarh. Those arrested include Durga Prasad and his son, Nand Kishore Sharma, alias Babli. On Friday last, the suspects hailing from this village had allegedly assaulted Mr Nityanand of the adjacent Chittroli village resulting in his death. His four brothers who had rushed to the spot for his rescue were also attacked, resulting in death of three of them. The youngest survived as he fled the spot. He along with a few persons of Chittroli have received injuries. The police had registered an FIR under Sections, 302, 148, 149 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint of Mr Gopi Ram Yadav, father of the deceased. Incidentally, all the suspects of this village are relatives. According to Mr Dutta Ram Sharma, sarpanch of this village, Mr Nityanand had come here with two other persons and had tried to kidnap a grandson of Mr Durga Prasad. On the alarm raised by the inmates of the house, his relatives attacked him. His brothers and some residents of Chittroli had come to the spot after the two unidentified youths, accompanying Mr Nityanand informed them of the attack on him. Significantly, the suspects have not registered a counter-FIR. This village is dominated by the Brahmin community. The deceased are from the Ahir community. The violence on Friday has roots in developments that took place more than a year ago. Mr Prasad was a regular visitor to the house of Mr Lal Chand, one of the suspects in the murder case. He used to force himself in the house of Mr Lal Chand. At Mr Lal Chand’s house and reported the matter to the police. He was arrested and released on bail the next day. On the following day Ms Anita Sharma, sister of Mr Lal Chand Sharma, was found missing. Reports have it that the girl was seen at the house of Mr Nityanand in Chittroli, Mr Harphool Singh Dhankad also concurs with this development. A day after the girl was found missing, she was located by her relatives at the nearby Khedi bus stand in a semi-conscious state. The day after she died in mysterious circumstances. Although the police registered a case against the girls’s relatives in connection with her death and tampering with evidence, no arrest was made by the police. The Superintendent of Police, Mahendragarh, Mr R C Sharma, said that no arrest was made as there was no witness in the case. The sarpanch of this village and other residents alleged that Mr Nityanand used to visit their area and misbehave with women. He had also faced trial in a court on the charge of kidnapping a boy in Charkhi in Bhiwani district. The Rajasthan police was on the look-out for him in connection with several crimes. The sarpanch of Chittroli also confirmed this report. According to the relatives of the deceased, Mr Gopiram had visited Jhadli on the day of the violence to meet its sarpanch for transferring his name from the voter list from Chittroli and for change in the venue regarding payment of house tax. He wanted to become a resident of Jhadli. The sarpanch of Jhadli said that the deceased met him on the issue and he had rejected the proposal. Mr Datta Ram Sharma said that Mr Nityanand and his associates had been doing rounds of the village and crossed the house of Mr Durga Prasad several times in a menacing manner. According to him, the relatives of Mr Durga Prasad and the family members of Mr Nityanand were at daggers drawn since the death of the girl. Inquiries reveal that both the sides had made a bid on the lives of the rivals before the incident on Friday. The incident has assumed political overtones as the suspects are relatives of the leader of the BJP in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. With assembly elections round the corner, political opponents have obviously pitched in their lot to bring the issue on the centre stage. Prof Sharma hails from Mahendragarh district. In a significant development, the police authorities have kept out the district police Chief, Mr R C Sharma, from the investigation into Friday’s incident. The relatives of the deceased had alleged that the police chief had always played a partisan role in favour of the relatives of the BJP leader in disputes between the two parties. Talking to Tribune News Service, Mr R.C. Sharma rebutted the allegations against him. He further said that it was at his insistence that the investigation into the case has been handed over to the Rewari police. Meanwhile, several
political leaders opposed to the BJP, including Rao
Inderjit Singh of the Congress and Mr Raghu Yadav of the
BSP, have expressed concern over the incident and said
that it reflected the deteriorating law and order in the
state. |
Panel recommendations for
Haryana pensioners CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today decided to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission in case of pre-1986 pensioners and family pensioners. It has been decided to review the pension or family pension of all pre-1986 pensioners and family pensioners who were in receipt of the pensions like retiring pension, superannuation pension, compensation pension and invalid pension as on January 1, 1996. The pay of all those government servants who retired prior to January 1, 1986, and were in receipt of pension as on January 1, 1986, and also in cases of those Haryana government employees who died prior to January 1, 1986, would be fixed on a notional basis in the revised scale of pay for the post held by the pensioners at the time of retirement or on the date of death of government employees, introduced subsequent to retirement death of government employees consequent upon promulgation of revised pay rules on implementation of recommendation of successive pay commissions or award of judgement of court or due to general revision of the scale of pay for the post etc. The notional pay so arrived as on January 1, 1986, will be treated as average emoluments for the purpose of calculation of pension and accordingly the pension will be calculated as on January 1, 1986, as per the pension formula then prescribed. The pension so worked out shall be consolidated as on January 1, 1986, by taking into account the existing pension or family pension, dearness relief up to CPI 1510, i.e. 148 per cent, 111 per cent and 96 per cent of basic pension interim relief 1 and 11 and fitment weightage at the rate of 40 per cent of the existing pension and will be treated as the basic pension for the purpose of grant of dearness relief in future. In the case of family pension, the notional pay as on January 1, 1986, will be treated as the pay last drawn by the deceased government employee or the pensioners and family pension will be calculated thereon at the rate in force as on January 1, 1986. This family pension will be consolidated as on January 1, 1986, by adding together the existing family pension, dearness relief up to 1510, i.e. 148 per cent 111 per cent and 96 per cent of basic family pension, interim relief 1 and 11 and fitment weightage of the rate of 40 per cent of the existing family pension. The government also decided that with effect from January 1, 1986, family pension would be calculated at a uniform rate of 30 per cent of basic pay in all cases instead of the old slab system and would be subject to a minimum of Rs 1275 and maximum of 30 per cent of the highest pay in the government. The benefit of increased rate of family pension introduced with effect from January 1, 1996, might also be extended to pre-1996 family pensioners from the same date. Accordingly, in case of those pre-1986 pensioners whose family pension had been calculated on notional pay under the slab system, family pension as on January 1, 1996, would be recalculated at the rate of 30 per cent of the notional pay as determined on January 1, 1986. In the case of existing
pre-1986 pensioners in whose case the pension had not
come into operation as pensioners are / were alive as on
January 1, 1996, while updating their pension on the
basis of national pay as on January 1,1986, the family
pension might be revised, consolidated and updated. |
HVPN makes defaulters pay up ROHTAK, Dec 14 — Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam officials have disconnected power supply of as many as 1726 defaulting consumers in the towns of Rohtak and Jhajjar districts since December 7. Mr M.P. Tyagi, Superintending Engineer, Uttar Haryana, Bijli Vitran Nigam, said as many as 1318 such consumers immediately deposited an amount of Rs 37.80 lakhs as power bills and the Nigam reconnected their supply. Mr Tyagi said the Nigam had identified 14,404 consumers in both districts and against whom an amount of nearly Rs 8 crore was pending. He said tubewell consumers in the villages had been exempted from the surcharge if they paid their pending power bills till January 10. He appealed to the defaulting consumers to pay their bills so that steps to improve power supply could be taken. However, the Nigam was
not getting a satisfactory response from rural areas,
according to official sources. Farmers have gone by the
Bhartiya Kisan Union to hold back the payment of their
electricity bills on the ground of low voltage and
prolonged power cuts. The union has been demanding
exemption from paying the arrears of power bills for the
past several years. At many times, the villagers beat up
Nigam employees who went to disconnect the power supply
of defaulting consumers. |
ST assessment procedure
simplified CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Haryana Cabinet today approved the proposal of the Department of Prohibition , Excise and Taxation to abolish the certificates or declarations in form ST 14, ST 14A, ST 15, ST 15A, ST 15B and STD 4. Traders and entrepreneurs in the state had been demanding the abolition of various types of certificates and declarations prescribed under the Haryana Government Sales Tax Act, 1973, and the Haryana Government Sales Tax Rules, 1975, for claiming deductions from gross turnover or for claiming concessional rate of tax. The traders will now submit a list of sales and purchases dealerwise only and give a list duly signed by an appropriate assessing authority to the other trader. It will be considered similar to the ST 14 and ST 15. A press note issued by the government said this would simplify the procedure of assessment and facilitate the disposal of assessment cases which remained pending due to non-receipt of certificates or declarations from the dealers for various reasons. The Cabinet also exempted the bus passengers travelling on Lahore-Delhi-Lahore route from payment of passenger tax as a gesture of goodwill. With this exemption, the state exchequer would bear a financial burden of Rs 12.30 lakh per annum . The Cabinet also
approved the proposal to simplify the system of
self-assessment of tax. Under the scheme, the tax details
submitted by the traders having an annual sales up to Rs
50 lakh would be trusted without calling them to the
office of the sales tax and without checking their
account books. This scheme would be implemented from
January 1, 2000. The cases of tax assessment pending till
this date would also come under its ambit. |
Dowry death alleged SONEPAT, Dec 14 — Poonam, a housewife, died at Kharkhauda town, 19 km from here, yesterday. According to a report reaching here, she allegedly died of poisoning at Medical College and Hospital, Rohtak. Mrs Ram Murti, mother of the victim in a report had alleged that Sanjay, husband of the victim, and his mother had poisoned her daughter for allegedly bringing inadequate dowry. Meanwhile, two more dowry cases of harassment were reported in the district today. In one case Mrs Santara Devi, a housewife of Dodwa village, in an FIR, alleged harassment by her husband Ravinder of Delhi, mother-in-law, Risali, and two other members of the family for not bringing sufficient dowry. In another case Mr
Rameshwar of Mullaha Majra village in an FIR alleged that
her daughter had been harassed by her husband, Satbir,
and her in-laws for more dowry. |
Jats oppose second backward
panel SONEPAT, Dec 14 — The Haryana Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti today opposed the setting up of a second backward commission headed by Mr Som Dutt Jangra and observed that it was a delaying tactic to deny the Jats the benefits of reservation in government jobs. Mr Tara Chand Mor, co-convenor and spokesman of the samiti, told mediapersons here that as the Gurnam Singh Commission had already given the Jats the backward status, there was absolutely no need to set up the Som Dutt Jangra Commission on this issue. He said when Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Chief Minister, continued to say that every word of Mr Devi Lal was a law to him, why had he set up another commission. He said Mr Chautala was playing politics in giving reservations to the Jats of Haryana. Mr Mor also announced that the samiti would provide evidence before the second commission to include the Jats in the OBC list for government jobs in Haryana as well as at the Centre. He also declared that the samiti would continue its agitation till the Haryana Jats got the benefit of reservation. Meanwhile, Mr S.N.
Chhikara of Juan village and Mr Suraj Bhan of Ganaur have
been nominated as the convenor and co-convenor of the
local unit of the samiti. |
CPI to launch campaign PANIPAT, Dec 14 — The Haryana unit of Communist Party of India (CPI) has decided to launch an extensive public awareness campaign against the anti-people policies of the Central and State governments. The decision was taken at a meeting of the party’s State executive committee here last evening. Giving information about the decisions, the State Secretary of the party, Mr Raghbir Singh, said on the occasion of party’s raising day December 26, the party would organise seminars throughout the State to make the people aware about the anti-farmer and anti-labour policies of the governments of Haryana and the Centre. With the cooperation of other like-minded parties, the party would organise "economic independence day" against the entry of multi-national companies and patent laws on January 11,2000, he said and added that "save constitution week" would be organised from January 19 to 25. At the meeting, he said, pro-trader policies of the Chautala Government were criticised. It was demanded that the farmers whose paddy was procured at the rates lower than the support prices should be given compensation, octroi employees should be suitably absorbed in other government departments and the staff of the municipal councils and municipal committees should be paid their salaries on time. It was also decided at
the meeting to extend full support to the proposed
dharnas in support of a law for agricultural labourers on
December 21 and a week-long Jan Jagran Abhiyan from
December 21 to 28 by the All India Trade Union Congress. |
Two die in mishaps SIRSA, Dec 14 — A head-on collision between a jeep and a private bus, 30 km from here, left one dead and 14 injured. According to information received today, the accident took place yesterday when a family of Jeewan Nagar was returning in the jeep after attending a marriage. It collided with a private bus coming from the opposite direction. Guddi (30) died on the spot. The bus driver has absconded. A case has been registered. In another case a woman died and a man injured in a wall collapsed in the district. According to information
received today, an aged woman died at Sherpura village as
the wall to which she was giving a mud coat collapsed.
Another man, Moda Ram, who was working there was
seriously injured. |
Judge: publicise Lok Adalats FARIDABAD, Dec 14 — Mr Justice V.K. Bali of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has called upon judges to decide cases at Lok Adalats not as judges alone but as human beings also. Addressing a meeting of session judges and judicial magistrates of seven districts here yesterday Mr Justice Bali also wanted the judges to be personally involved in deciding the cases. They should also give wide publicity to the concept of Lok Adalats so that their benefit could percolate to the poor residing in remote villages. He was happy over the
working of the Lok Adalats in Haryana. Mr K.C. Gupta,
District and Sessions Judge of Faridabad, said the
disposal of cases by the Lok Adalat in the district was
the highest in the state. |
Three-strikers hospitalised SONEPAT, Dec 14 — The condition of three employees of the cooperative sugar mill, namely Krishan Singh Kataria, Satpal Singh Lathwal and Ishwar Singh, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike since December 11 last, worsened here yesterday and they were taken away to the hospital. The employees of the
mill have been agitating since December 1 last to press
their demands. |
Cane growers to get Rs 8.7 cr SHAHBAD, Dec 14 — Following the enhancement of sugarcane price by Rs 13 to Rs 15 per quintal in Haryana by the state government this year, the farmers here would get an additional amount of Rs 8.70 crore from the Shahbad Cooperative Sugar Mill on account of their produce supplied to the mill as compared to last year. The Managing Director of the mill, Mr R.C. Bidhan, said here yesterday that the mill had chalked out a Rs 3.10 crore comprehensive cane development programme for next year with a view to benefit the farmers of the area and to improve the quality of the sugarcane. The mill would spend Rs 25 lakh for the expansion of its cane yard for the convenience of the cane growers, he added. Mr Bidhan stated that
the mill was crushing 40,000 quintals of cane daily
against its capacity of 35,000 quintals per day. |
Hisar to have women's college HISAR, Dec 14 — Hisar will soon have a separate government college for women. The foundation stone may be laid by the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, next month. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Apoorv Kumar Singh, told reporters here today that 28 acres had already been acquired opposite Guru Jambeshwar University. He said the work would be started with the contributions made by the local people totalling Rs 42 lakh. Besides, Mr Devi Lal had donated Rs 10 lakh for the college on his birthday. The district administration has also decided to create a data base carrying details about all 273 villages in the district. The data will be recorded in compact disc. He further said the old
age-pension survey had been completed in the district and
there were about 56,000 pensioners in the district. |
Hisar university control
changed CHANDIGARH, Dec 14 — The Haryana Cabinet today decided to transfer the administrative control of Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, from the Education department to the Technical Education department. The budget of the university for 1999-2000 which was with the Education department will be released by it and the budget provisions for the year 2000-2001 and thereafter will be made by the Technical Education department. The Cabinet also
approved the proposal of the Education department to kept
out of purview the posts of teacher in those schools
which had been upgraded so as to fill these posts through
direct recruitment. In all, 137 schools had been upgraded
of which 126 schools had been upgraded from high to
senior secondary level. The total posts of these schools
are 1231. |
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