12 students hurt in lathi charge
HISAR, Sept 30 — Twelve students were injured, two of them seriously, when the police allegedly lathi-charged them at Hansi when they tried to block the national highway.

HVPN directive to CEs
ROHTAK, Sept 30 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam has directed all chief engineers and superintending engineers in the state and Uttar and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigams to send details of the employees who were suspended under the Essential Services Maintenance Act during the tenure of the previous government.

Bid to burn woman, in-laws booked
PANIPAT, Sept 30 — A case has been registered at the local Model Town police station regarding the alleged attempt to kill a woman by her in-laws.

Mystery shrouds woman's death
FATEHABAD, Sept 30 — Mystery shrouds the death of a woman at Ghaswa village in this district. While the police has registered a case of suicide, a brother of the deceased alleges foul play in the incident.

Man murdered for enticing away girl
FATEHABAD, Sept 30 — Enticing away a village girl has cost a man his life some 11 years after the incident. The girl's brother, along with an accomplice, allegedly butchered the man with sharp-edged weapons yesterday.

• Students, teachers offer eye donation
• Petroleum Ministry to set up forums
• 4 booked for dowry death

HAUTA stir threat on pay scale issue
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Sept 30 — The Haryana Agricultural University Teachers Association (HAUTA) today threatened to launch an "aggressive agitation" in case the state government failed to issue the revised pay scale notification on the pattern of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) by October 10.

While the Haryana Government has already revised the pay scales of teachers in other universities in the state. HAUTA prevented the issuing of the revised pay scale notification for the CCSHAU objected to certain anomalies in it.

One of the main objections raised by HAUTA were about the denial of pay-revision benefits to those professors who had been promoted after January 1, 1996. All professors working in the pay scale of Rs 4500-5700 since January 1, 1996, were not to be given the revised scale of Rs 16,400-22,300. About 500 professors across the state were affected by this condition.

While three other universities in the state have implemented the revised pay scales, professors falling under this category are yet to get any benefits. There case has been assigned to a committee, which will decide each case on individual basis. HAUTA did not agree to this

FCI rejection scares millers
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Sept 30 — The procurement of paddy was delayed by over four hours in the local grain market today because of the rejection of samples of the rice milled at the local rice shellers by the FCI. Fearing losses due to the FCI's refusal to purchase the rice milled by them, the local rice millers refused to procure the crop from the grain market. With the government procurement agencies also showing back of enthusiasm in procuring paddy the procurement could not begin in time. It was only after a lot of persuation and announces by the President of the Beopar Mandal, Mr Mehar Chand Jhandai, that the millers agreed to start procurement at about 2 p.m.

According to sources, the samples of rice milled by the local millers were rejected by the FCI yesterday on the plea that the samples contained higher than specified limits of "small broken grains of rice."

The Assistant Manager of the FCI Mr Sardana, told this correspondent that the FCI purchased rice only in accordance with the specifications set by the Centre. These specifications allowed for 25 per cent breakage in the raw rice and 16 per cent for the parboiled one. In the same manner there were specifications for the raw and parboiled rice in case of damaged, discoloured, red-grained and de-husked rice. He said the FCI officials were not empowered to purchase the rice which failed to qualify the parameters set by the Centre.

Meanwhile, the arrival of paddy has gained momentum in the local grain market. Though it is not at its peak as yet but the traders expect the arrival to reach its peak within the next two or three days.

The traders are also sore over the failure of the authorities to provide watchmen in the grain market. They alleged that the authorities had failed to maintain cleanliness in toilets, which were already insufficient in number.

Kargil soldiers honoured
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 30 — The district administration has honoured seven injured soldiers of the Indian Army, from the district, by providing each an amount of Rs 25,000 for their gallantry in the Kargil conflict.

The secretaries of the District Red Cross Society and the Zila Sainik Board distributed the compensation amount to the soldiers on behalf of the district administration.

Those honoured were Havaldar Sri Bhagwan (Morkheri), Grenadier Ashok Kumar of the Three Grenadier Regiment (Bhalaut), Naik Jagat Singh of 4 Jat Regiment (Madina), Constable Rajesh Hooda of 4 Jat Regiment (Rurki), Havaldar Pratap Singh of 4 Jat Regiment (Kharawar), Grenadier Ram Avtar of 18 Grenadiers (Gudhan) and Rifleman Kaptan Singh (Ajaib).

The district lost nine soldiers during the Kargil conflict. An ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh was provided to each of the bereaved families from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Besides, an amount of Rs 51,000 was distributed to each of the martyrs' families by the district administration as immediate financial assistance.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Arun Kumar, said a Vijay Dwar (victory gate) was being constructed near the local Shantmai Chowk to martyrs would be carved on the gate to create a sense of patriotism among the youth, he added. A memorial has also been erected at the Shaheed Chowk here which would depict the heroic deeds of the martyrs.

Notice to EC: bar on CM’s voting
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 30 — Taking suo moto notice of newspaper reports and a representation made by former Minister Kanti Parkash Bhalla assailing the order of the Election Commission preventing the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, from Exercising his frenchise in the last Lok Sabha elections, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Election Commissioner, Mr J.M. Lyngdoh, for October 6.

Mr Justice T.H.B Chalapathi, who handed down this order, also issued notice to the Union of India through its Home Secretary, the Election Commission and the Haryana Chief Minister. They have been directed to file their reply by October 6. The Judge also directed the Registry to send the notices forthwith.

In his representation Mr Bhalla had stated: "Om Prakash Chautala is a leader of the masses. Therefore, to prevent such a popular leader of the masses from exercising his right of casting of vote is totally illegal and as such, Mr J.M. Lyngdoh must be brought to book and punished so that in future no person can even dare to pass such order/directions."

Before taking up the petition the Judge called the Haryana Advocate-General, Mr Mohan Jain, and then observed: "The right to vote though not a civil right as held by the Supreme Court in V.P. Ponnuswami vs the Returning Officer and others, that right to franchise is certainly a statutory right as conferred under Section 62 of the Representation of the People Act and that the statutory right to vote cannot be interfered with by any authority unless any limitations have been imposed by the law".

In his two-page order Mr Justice Chalapathi said: "The governments in this petition and also in the newspaper reports clearly show that one of the Election Commissioners restrained the Chief Minister of the state from entering the constituency and thereby deprived him from casting his vote. It appears that no written order has been passed by the Election Commissioner. It is not known under what authority the Election Commissioner, Mr Lyngdoh, has passed the verbal order".

"It appears that no written order has been passed by the Election Commissioner, the Judge observed and added: "It is not known under what authority the Election Commissioner has passed the verbal order. There cannot be any doubt that interference with the right to exercise franchise amounts to an offence under Section 171 (c) read with Section 171 (a) of the Indian Penal Code."

The Judge directed that a copy of the petition filed by Mr Bhalla be communicated to all — the Union Home Secretary, the Election Commission, Mr Lyngdoh and the Haryana Chief Minister.

12 students hurt in lathi charge
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Sept 30 — Twelve students were injured, two of them seriously, when the police allegedly lathi-charged them at Hansi when they tried to block the national highway.

Reports reaching here said students of Government College here went in a procession to submit a memorandum to the SDM against the alleged misbehaviour of two of their teachers with some students.

The students staged a dharna on the national highway. The traffic was blocked for some time as a result. The police had to resort to a lathi charge to disperse the students. Two of the seriously injured students in the melee were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Hansi. The rest were discharged after first aid.

The students alleged police high-handedness. They claimed they were peacefully proceeding towards the SDM's office, when some policemen started hitting them with rifle butts. They have demanded suspension of the police officials responsible for the lathi-charge.

Official sources, however, denied that the students were lathi-charged. They said the police exercised restraint despite provocation by the students.

HVPN directive to CEs
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 30 — The Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) has directed all chief engineers and superintending engineers in the state and Uttar and Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigams to send details of the employees who were suspended under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) during the tenure of the previous government.

According to sources, the HVPN authorities have sought the details in 24 hours.

The then Bansi Lal government had suspended nearly 700 employees of the HVPN under ESMA for taking part in the "banned" strikes observed on September 16 and December 11 last year. It is learnt that 67 of the suspended employees belong to Rohtak and Jhajjar districts. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, announced the reinstatement of the employees at Jan Kalyan Divas observed at Hisar on September 25.

Mr Bharat Bhushan, leader of the Haryana State Electricity Board Workers' Union, has thanked the Chautala government for taking the timely step.

Bid to burn woman, in-laws booked

PANIPAT, Sept 30 — A case has been registered at the local Model Town police station regarding the alleged attempt to kill a woman by her in-laws. A complaint to this effect has been lodged by Rajni, alias Deepika, against her in-laws, residents of Jododa village in Saharanpur district.

According to the police, Rajni had alleged in her complaint that kerosene was poured over her by her husband and mother-in-law with the intention to burn her alive. But she managed to run out of the house and shouted for help and was saved by neighbours. Later, she was brought here by her brothers.

She alleged in her complaint that her husband and in-laws had been harassing her for bringing more dowry since her marriage in 1991. In October, 1992, Rs 50,000 were given by her brother to her husband. But her in-laws continued to torture her even after that and kept on demanding more money.

She alleged that her husband and mother-in-law had demanded Rs 1 lakh from her brothers last month on the pretext of constructing two rooms in their house. But when her brothers could not fulfil the demand, her husband and in-laws conspired to burn her alive last week.

Mystery shrouds woman's death
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Sept 30 — Mystery shrouds the death of a woman at Ghaswa village in this district. While the police has registered a case of suicide, a brother of the deceased alleges foul play in the incident.

According to reports, Kairo Devi (24), a resident of the village died of poisoning yesterday. According to one version she had consumed pesticides as she had failed to persuade her husband to quit habit of drinking. The police had registered a case under Section 174 of the IPC.

But, Mr Rajinder, a brother of the victim, alleged that his sister had been murdered by her husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law and sisters-in-law as they had been harassing Kairo Devi for bringing insufficient dowry.

Man murdered for enticing away girl
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Sept 30 — Enticing away a village girl has cost a man his life some 11 years after the incident. The girl's brother, along with an accomplice, allegedly butchered the man with sharp-edged weapons yesterday.

The victim, Raja Ram (35) of Jakhal village in the district, was a married man and had enticed a girl of his village to another village in Punjab about 11 years ago. He come to Jakhal yesterday to meet his first wife, but was allegedly murdered.

The deceased's brother Jile Singh has lodged a complaint with the police in which he has alleged that Joga and Naseeb killed his brother. Joga is the brother of the girl.

Students, teachers offer eye donation
Tribune News Service

KARNAL, Sept 30 — More than 150 students and teachers of the Government Post-Graduate College here yesterday volunteered to donate eyes to an eye bank.

The offer was made at a blood donation camp organised on the college campus, according to Dr R.S. Sharma, Principal of the college.

Dr Sharma said more than 100 students had given their names for blood donation yesterday. But the organisers could collect only 27 units of blood due to reasons best known to them.

He also handed over a draft for Rs 1 lakh to the Deputy Commissioner for the Chief Minister's Kargil War Heroes Relief Fund. The college staff has donated two days salary towards this fund.

Petroleum Ministry to set up forums
Tribune News Service

ROHTAK, Sept 30 — The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has decided to set up petroleum consumers grievances redressal forums at all districts in the country.

Mr Sandeep Jain, District Coordinator, Oil Industry, said here yesterday that the Deputy Commissioner would be the chairman of the proposed forum and the District Food and Supplies Commissioner, besides the District Coordinator would be the members. Representatives of petrol stations, gas agencies and prominent citizens would also be inducted as members.

Mr Jain said the current year was being celebrated as Customer Service Year.

4 booked for dowry death
From Our Correspondent

SIRSA, Sept 30 — A case has been registered against four persons for poisoning Sarbjeet Kaur and her baby, resulting in the death of the former.

According to a press note released by the police today, Baldev Singh, the husband of Sarbjeet Kaur, his brother, father and sister-in-law, belonging to Panihari village in the district, were booked under Sections 302, 307, 304-B and 34 of the IPC for conspiring to kill Sarbjeet Kaur and her one and a half-year-old daughter on September 28. The condition of the daughter is still serious. The case was registered following a complaint of the deceased’s brother, Mr Baljeet Singh of Dhani Bisla in Fatehabad district. He alleged in his complaint that his sister was harassed for dowry.