H A R Y A N A

M.D. University headless
ROHTAK, March 8 — Maharshi Dayanand University here is 'headless' once again. While its not clear when a new Vice-Chancellor will take over the demand to appoint a non-political academic to this post is picking up.

Poll process for 29 civic bodies cancelled
CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana State Election Commission had issued election programme for the conduct of general municipal elections to all wards of 19 Municipal Councils and 59 Municipal Committees on February 18, 2000.

First-timers ‘gear up’ for Budget session
Chandigarh, March 8 — A unique feature of the Haryana Assembly, which will meet for its Budget session starting from tomorrow, will be the presence of the freshers as more than half of the members have made their maiden entry into the House.

Proposal on surplus staff approved
CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana Cabinet today approved a proposal to absorb the surplus staff of the 29 municipal committees, which were abolished recently, in other departments.

‘Census operation 2001’ from May 15
ROHTAK, March 8 — Census operation 2001 will be formally launched in Haryana from May 15. Delivering her key note address at the divisional-level census conference here yesterday, Mrs Anita Choudhary Commissioner, Rohtak Division, said the census was going to be landmark in the history as the nation was on transition from one millennium to another.

1855 panches elected unopposed
HISAR, March 8 — Twentyseven panchayats out of 309 were elected unanimously in the district. Mr Apoorv Kumar Singh Deputy Commissioner, said here today that 1855 panches and 23 members panchayats were also elected unanimously.

218 file papers for council poll
YAMUNANAGAR, March 8 — Mr Dilbagh Singh has been elected unanimously from Ward No 30 of the local Municipal Council.

Board exams: mass copying reported
SONEPAT, March 8 — While elaborate police arrangements outside the examination centres set up by the Board of School Education Haryana for matric and higher secondary annual examinations have largely checked outside interference, reports of mass copying have been received from a number of examination centres in the city and elsewhere in the district.

• Postponement of HCS exams sought
• 480 in fray for 25 Faridabad seats
• Bandh observed in Kalanaur
• HCS examination postponed
• 66 in fray for 15 MC seats
• Vendor attacks RPF man
• Case against jail officer
  
  
  
  
  

M.D. University headless
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, March 8 — Maharshi Dayanand University here is 'headless' once again. While its not clear when a new Vice-Chancellor will take over the demand to appoint a non-political academic to this post is picking up.

The last incumbent to the post, considered a 'hot bed' of politics was Lt. Gen (retd) O.P. Kaushik, who completed his tenure of three years on February 25. According to campus watchers, his tenure was also marred by as all kinds of 'allegations' and controversies. While Mr Kaushik claimed to have improved the academic atmosphere, his detractors allege 'misrule' on various grounds.

Relations between the last VC and Registrar were strained, ever since the latter joined. The Vice-Chancellor even divested him of some of this 'powers' as registrar. Similarly the pro-Vice Chancellor Dr L.N. Dahiya who completed his second tenure on March 2, was nearly 'jobless' during the past three years.

Allegations of misuse of emergency powers (under Section 9 A-5 of the M.D. University Act) were also levelled, especially in the matter of temporary appointments. Former Chief Minister Mr Bansi Lal in 1998 imposed a 'blanket ban' on appointments and recruitments in the varsity.

A former president of the Maharshi Dayanand University Teachers Association (MDUTA) and convenor of the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisations (HFUCTO) Mr Vazir Nehra blamed the state governments for 'politicising' the academic atmosphere of the varsity.

He said 'fair' selection of a deserving person especially of academician should be made to the post of VC.

Eminent educationist and a former Professor of History, Dr Suraj Bhan has written a letter to the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of M.D. University to appoint a non-political and non-controversial person as new VC. He said the university should be given due autonomy and emergency powers of VC should be curtailed.

Poll process for 29 civic bodies cancelled
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana State Election Commission had issued election programme for the conduct of general municipal elections to all wards of 19 Municipal Councils and 59 Municipal Committees on February 18, 2000. The Haryana Government had abolished 29 Municipal Committees on March 2.

The State Election Commissioner, Mr T.D. Jogpal today issued orders for the cancellation of the election programme in respect of 29 Municipal Committees which were abolished by the state government. These municipal committees are Buria, Chhachhrauli, Radaur and Sadhaura in Yamunanagar district, Pundri and Kalayat in Kaithal district, Indri and Nilokheri in Karnal district, Kalanaur in Rohtak district, Kharkhoda in Sonepat district, Farukh Nagar, Taoru, Pataudi, Haily Mandi and Punhana in Gurgaon district, Hathin and Hassanpur in Faridabad district, Ateli Mandi and Kanina in Mahendragarh district, Bawani Khera, Loharu, Tosham and Siwani in Bhiwani district, Julana and Uchana in Jind district, Narnaund and Uklana Mandi in Hisar district, Jakhal in Fatehabad district and Beri in Jhajjar district.

Mr Jogpal said that now elections would be held for the 30 municipal committees and 19 municipal councils on April 2, 2000, as per election programme notification issued on February 18, 2000. The municipal committees are Naraingarh in Ambala district, Kalka in Panchkula district, Shahbad, Ladwa and Pehowa in Kurukshetra district, Cheeka in Kaithal district, Taraori, Assandh and Gharaunda in Karnal district, Meham in Rohtak district, Gohana and Gannaur in Sonepat district, Ferozepore Zhirka, Nuh and Sohna in Gurgaon district, Hodel in Faridabad district, Mahendragarh in Mahendragarh district, Charkhi Dadri in Bhiwani district, Narwana and Safidon in Jind district, Barwala in Hisar district, Ellenabad, Rania and Kalanwali in Sirsa district, Fatehabad, Ratia and Tohana in Fatehabad district, Jhajjar in Jhajjar district, Samalkha in Panipat district and Bawal in Rewari district.

The municipal councils where elections would be held are Ambala city and Ambala Sadar in Ambala district, Yamunanagar and Jagadhri in Yamunanagar district, Thanesar in Kurukshetra district, Kaithal in Kaithal district, Karnal in Karnal district, Rohtak in Rohtak district, Sonepat in Sonepat district, Gurgaon in Gurgaon district, Palwal in Faridabad district, Narnaul in Mahendragarh district, Bhiwani district, Jind in Jind district, Hisar and Hansi and Hansi in Hisar district, Sirsa and Sirsa district, Panipat in Panipat district and Rewari in Rewari district.

First-timers ‘gear up’ for Budget session
By Shubhadeep Choudhury
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 8 — A unique feature of the Haryana Assembly, which will meet for its Budget session starting from tomorrow, will be the presence of the freshers as more than half of the members have made their maiden entry into the House.

Interestingly, while the debutant MLAs are clearly in an upbeat mood and seem to be enjoying themselves, those freshers, who have been saddled with ministerial berths by the Chief Minister, Mr Chautala, are reportedly following a rigorous schedule to prepare themselves for the session.

Twentyfour of the 46 elected members from the INLD are freshers, including four who were sworn as Ministers of State. For Mr M.L. Ranga, who has been given the portfolio of Minister of State for Health, last couple of days have been quite hectic. “I have been given a thorough briefing by the officials of my department, I also go through various reports prepared by my department during night”, said the former Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University.

Mr Bahadur Singh, who tasted victory from Loharu and subsequently became the Minister of State for Education, also admitted cramming up various papers pertaining to his department after the office hours. “In case a question is directed to me, I cannot let the government down”, said the elderly civil servant, albeit shyly.

While the more seasoned politicians seem to be unperturbed by the ensuing Assembly session( Finance Minister Sampat Singh, for instance, has gone to Delhi to attend the marriage of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar’s niece), the fresh MLAs also appear to be a relaxed lot compared to those saddled with ministerial responsibilities.

INLD legislator, Shashi Parmar, the victorious candidate from Mundal Khurd in Bhiwani district, said he was happy that finally his dream of becoming an MLA had come true. He had left it to the Chief Minister and INLD President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to decide what role he would perform in the Assembly. “ We are going to have dinner with the Chief Minister tonight when all these issues will be discussed”, said a beaming Mr Parmar, 33, who is the youngest MLA in the INLD team.

The BJP’s six-member representation in the House also has three first-timers. Ms Veena Chhibber, the gutsy BJP MLA from Ambala city, said as a legislator her primary objective would be to make her presence felt in the House. Ms Sarita Narayan and Mr Kanwar Pal Singh, the other two “fresh” MLAs, said their association with the BJP would be useful for their stints as legislators.

While some of the freshers said they were not worried about heated debates, which often lead to a free for all in the Assembly, others hoped that everything would take place in the Assembly within a tolerable limit. Ms Chhibber of the BJP said she could withstand if the Assembly became ‘hot’. Ms Sarita Narayan, however, turned discernibly nervous at the mention of a tension-ridden session. “ I am not worried “, she mumbled slowly after being prodded by former Education Minister Rambilas Sharma.

The Health Minister, Mr Ranga, said he would expect that there would not be much of a pandemonium in the House. Mr Bahadur Singh said his experience as an SDM would be useful to deal with his shouting and screaming colleagues.

The freshers of ruling alliance, however, are confident. “ We are in an overwhelming number”, said Mr Shashi Parmar.

The Opposition Congress too has 11 freshers in its 21 member legislative party and they will be given a crash course in how to “take up issues” in the Assembly by seasoned campaigner and leader of CLP, Mr Bhajan Lal, in a meeting in the HPCC office here tomorrow morning.

Six of the 11 Independent members are also freshers. Most of the Independents, including the first-timers, are expected to lend support to Mr Chautala in case things become “hot” inside the House.

Proposal on surplus staff approved
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana Cabinet today approved a proposal to absorb the surplus staff of the 29 municipal committees, which were abolished recently, in other departments.

The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, here decided to take out certain categories of posts out of the purview of the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) and the Employment Department to absorb 828 employees in other departments.

It also approved the proposal to amend Article 55 of Schedule IA of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, regarding "release deed" by adding words, "spouse, grand-children, nephew, niece and coparcenar.

The amendment will enable the members of the same family or coparcenar to release their interest, share, part of claim in the ancestral property in favour of other members of the family through a "release deed" by paying nominal fixed stamp duty. Other persons desirous of releasing their share of the jointly-owned property in favour of other co-sharers, would be charged stamp duty applicable to conveyance deeds.

The Cabinet also agreed to amend the terms and conditions, upper age limit, qualifications and pay of the Chairman and members of the HSSC on the basis of the recommendations of the three-member committee headed by Justice N.K. Kapoor, a former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

As per the amendment the commission will consist of seven members, including the Chairman, out of whom two members would be such as have served the Union or the state government for at least 10 years. The Chairman and the members must be at least graduates. While the monthly salary of the Chairman will be Rs 20,000, that of the members will be Rs 16,000. Their term will be for three years, which can be extended for two years provided they would cease to be members on attaining the age of 70 years. The Government, however, will have the power to remove any member or Chairman after giving him one month’s notice.

The Cabinet approved the draft of the Punjab Ayurvedic and Unani Practitioners (Haryana Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2000, to extend the term of the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani system of Medicines up to November 25, 20001.

‘Census operation 2001’ from May 15
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, March 8 — Census operation 2001 will be formally launched in Haryana from May 15.

Delivering her key note address at the divisional-level census conference here yesterday, Mrs Anita Choudhary Commissioner, Rohtak Division, said the census was going to be landmark in the history as the nation was on transition from one millennium to another. Census was not merely a headcount but was the biggest source of collecting comprehensive data with information on demographer, economy, fertility, mortality, caste, tribe, language, religion, migration, education, health, employment, ageing, housing, household amenities, urbanisation, infrastructure, social and cultural characteristics of India, she said.

Census, she said, was also a powerful tool to measure the country’s success and failure in fields like population control, health care, economic development, poverty eradication, literacy campaign etc. But its importance depended on the collection of reliable data through the census, she emphasised.

The Director, Census Operations, Mr Sunil Kumar Gulati said the house-listing operations which would commence in Haryana from May 15, 40,000 enumerators and supervisors. The Deputy Commissioner of each district had been notified as principal census officer and would be responsible for the successful conducting of census operations in their respective Jurisdiction.

Mr Gulati said enumerators and supervisors would get intensive training from April 17 to April 28 and May 1 to May 12. Various questions related to census were raised during the conference and answered by the experts.

During the house-listing operations, all habitable and inhabitable structures would be numbered and people living in these buildings would be enumerated. The questionnaire had been designed for gathering information on variable like the quality of housing in Haryana, number of kutcha and pucca houses, kind of material used in construction and number of households having access to telephone, power, safe drinking water etc.

Apart from this, information regarding the number of households having bank accounts, bicycles, scooters, cars etc would also be collected. The optical computer resolution (OCR) and optical magnetic resolution (OMR) technology and scanning data had been introduced for the first time for census.

Among others who participated in the conference included the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioners of Rohtak, Karnal, Panipat, Sonepat and Jhajjar districts besides the SDMs, City Magistrates and District Statistical Officers of these districts. Mr Gulati accompanied by Assistant Chief Principal Census Officer, Mr S.R. Puri presented a power point demonstration on census.

Mr Gulati said the information gathered through the census would be kept confidential. The data collected would be utilised for planning and development activities in the country, he added.

1855 panches elected unopposed
From Our Correspondents

HISAR, March 8 — Twentyseven panchayats out of 309 were elected unanimously in the district. Mr Apoorv Kumar Singh Deputy Commissioner, said here today that 1855 panches and 23 members panchayats were also elected unanimously.

He said five sarpanches, 277 panches and six panchayat samiti members were elected unanimously from Hisar-1. Similarly, three sarpanches, 199 panches and two member panchayats from Hisar-2, two sarpanches, 154 panches and five member panchayats from Adampur, one sarpanch, 140 panches, from Agroha block, two sarpanches, 240 panches and three member panchayats from Barwala block, three sarpanches, 171 panches and two member panchayat from Uklana block, five sarpanches, 343 panches and one member panchayats from Hisar-1, three sarpanches, 171 panches and four member panchayats samiti from Hansi-11 and three sarpanches, and 160 panches were unanimously elected from Narnaund block of the district.

SIRSA: With the overruling of objections raised by Santosh and Vishnu on the nomination of eunuch Parkasho about her eligibility to contest the election from a ward reserved for women, it has now become certain that an eunuch will fight election for the first time in the district, from Ward No 4 of Kalanwali Municipal Committee.

Now there are 70 candidates left in 13 Municipal Committee wards in Kalanwali. Renu Sharma from Ward No 2, outgoing President Hoshiar Singh from Ward No 3 and Balbir Kaur from Ward No 5 are seeking renomination.

218 file papers for council poll
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, March 8 — Mr Dilbagh Singh has been elected unanimously from Ward No 30 of the local Municipal Council.

Mr Rajiv Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, announced here yesterday that 218 persons had filed their nomination papers for the election of 31 wards of the council.

He said there were nine nominees from Ward No 1; six nominees from Ward No 2; five nominees from Ward No 3; 13 nominees from Ward No 4; six nominees from Ward No 5; four nominees from Ward No 6; seven nominees from Ward No 7; five nominees from Ward No 8; 10 nominees from Ward No 9; five nominees from Ward No 10; eight nominees from Ward No 11; five nominees from Ward No 12; four nominees from Ward No 13; six nominees from Ward No 14; seven nominees Ward No 15; 11 nominees from Ward No 16; six nominees from Ward No 17; 11 nominees from Ward No 18; two nominees from Ward No 19; nine nominees from Ward No 20; 12 nominees from Ward No 21; 13 nominees from Ward No 22; six nominees from Ward No 23; four nominees from Ward No 24; five nominees from Ward No 25; five nominees Ward No 26; seven nominees from Ward No 27; five nominees from Ward No 28; seven nominees from Ward No 29; one nominee from Ward No 30; and 14 nominees from Ward No 31. He said Ward No 3 and 23 were reserved for the Scheduled Castes, while Ward No 19 was reserved for a woman nominee of the Scheduled Caste. Ward No 25 and 26 are reserved for backward class nominees and Ward Nos 10, 12, 13, 15, 18, 24, 27 and 28 are reserved for women nominees.

Mr Sharma said for the Municipal Council, Jagadhri, Ward No 1, 13 and 19 were reserved for the Scheduled Caste, Ward No 3 and 6 for backward class nominees and Ward Nos 2, 7, 10, 14, 17, 19, 21 and 23 for women nominees.

Board exams: mass copying reported
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 8 — While elaborate police arrangements outside the examination centres set up by the Board of School Education Haryana for matric and higher secondary annual examinations have largely checked outside interference, reports of mass copying have been received from a number of examination centres in the city and elsewhere in the district.

According to official sources, Mr Jagdish Sihag, Secretary of the Board, in a surprise checking of an examination centre here, caught as many as 19 examinees engaged in copying. He immediately ordered the shifting of the examination centre to some other school. He also ordered the cancellation of the English paper in another examination centre where he found the examinees engaged in mass copying.

The sources also revealed that members of a Flying Squad at another examination centre in the city found two students engaged in copying. It is alleged that there was an unholy alliance between invigilators and examinees and even policemen on duty were a party in the racket of mass copying.

It is also alleged that some unscrupulous persons were selling photostat copies of English paper for Rs 500 each before the starting of the paper.

A tour of some of the local centres confirmed the selling of copies of the paper, but the authorities have failed to apprehend such persons.

Christian community feels convent
being singled out
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

AMBALA March 8 — The Christian community feels that the Convent of Jesus and Mary School at Ambala cantonment is being singled out by the district authorities after it denied admission to the ward of a VVIP. The Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, however, strongly denies it and says that the school is not a charitable institution so it must pay house tax.

The General Secretary of the Haryana United Christian Forum for Human Rights and Administrator of Shimla-Chandigarh Diocese, Father Thomas Anchanikal, talking to The Tribune from Chandigarh, said that the school is being singled out. “We strongly condemn the move to impose house tax on the school. Why has house tax notice been sent only to Convent of Jesus and Mary while all other schools have not been sent such notices now,” he asked.

He said that “we are waiting for the honourable court’s decision on March 14 on the matter and based on that we will chalk out our future strategy”.

Deputy Commissioner of Ambala, Ram Niwas said that the Convent of Jesus and Mary is not a charitable institution as “it is charging fees for its services rendered”. “A charitable institution is one which renders services free of charge. There are examples of such charitable societies like Red Cross Society and Bal Kalyan Parishad. They do not charge anything for their services and raise resources through donations,” Mr Ram Niwas explained.

He pointed out that if any institution feels that it is doing charitable work and wants exemption from house tax, then there is a laid down procedure for it. “The institution must file an appeal in the court of the Deputy Commissioner explaining they should be exempted from the house tax. This procedure, however, has not been followed by the school concerned,” he stated.

According to the Haryana Government, Local Government Department (Committees) notification dated June 13, 1978: “In pursuance of the provisions of sub section (2) of section 72 of the said Act, the Governor of Haryana notified the imposition of a tax with effect from April 1978 at the rate of 9 per cent of the annual value of buildings and lands in the limits of the Ambala Sadar municipality, payable by the owner on buildings and lands, with rebate of one percentum of the tax in case the tax is paid within the period of ten days from the date of delivery of the bill on demand.”

Yesterday, Additional Civil Judge (Senior Division), J S Dhanjal, stayed the recovery of house tax of Rs 1,05,000 imposed on Convent of Jesus Mary School, Ambala cantonment, by the Municipal Council, Ambala Sadar till March 14.

Counsel for the school pleaded that the MC be restrained from recovering the amount alleged to be due as house tax in the notice no. 1/13 dated nil, received on February 26. He submitted that the notice was served to put pressure on the school to give admission to the ward of a VVIP.

Counsel for MC pleaded that the suit was false and frivolous and he submitted that the institution is not charitable and religious.

CJM summons 4 cops in extortion case
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA March 8 — The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ambala, Mr A.K. Tyagi, has summoned the SHO of the police station in Mahesh Nagar and three other police officials on March 14 on the charge of wrongful confinement, extortion and beating, in a criminal conspiracy with the other accused, of a resident of Ambala Cantonment.

Mr Roshan Lal of Ambala Cantonment filed a criminal complaint in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against Raghubir Singh, Station House Officer, Mahesh Nagar Police Station, two ASIs, one Head Constable and two others for keeping him in wrongful confinement, extortion, beating and keeping him naked in the police station. Mr Roshan Lal is working with Dr R.L. Anand, who runs a pharmaceutical business.

Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, while hearing the petition, directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ambala, to make a preliminary inquiry into the allegations, record the evidence, take cognisance of offence and proceed with the matter.

The CJM observed in his order, “In view of the oral and documentary evidence produced by Roshan Lal in the context of law laid down in Nirmal Singh Hoon vs, State of West Bengal, 1973 (3) SCC 753, and Chandra Dev Singh vs Prakash Chandra Bose AIR, 1963 SC 1430, and the direction given by Mr Justice T.H.B. Chalapathi, there is prima facia evidence to be accorded reasonable credit and there is sufficient ground for proceeding against Raghubir Singh, SHO, Nar Singh, ASI, Janak Singh, ASI, S.N. Sodhi, Head Constable, Amarjit Singh Manchanda and Ravi Trehan for commission of offence under Sections 120-B,220, 330 and 385 of the IPC.”

According to the prosecution, Raghubir Singh and other police officials came to the house of Dr R.C. Anand on December 11, where Roshan Lal was sitting with his friends. The SHO expressed suspicion that Roshan Lal and others were involved in theft. Dr Anand and other residents of the area pleaded about the innocence of Roshan Lal and the other four persons but the SHO took them to the police station.

The prosecution further stated that the clothes of Mr Roshan Lal and others were taken off there and they were beaten by the SHO, other policemen and two civilians in the police station. They were tortured the whole night.

On December 12, after an assurance from Dr Anand and other residents, the police released the five persons. On December 16, the SHO came again and took Mr Roshan Lal and Mr Mohinder Singh to the police station, where they were beaten.

On the advice of a civilian present in the police station, Mr Roshan Lal and the other four persons paid Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,500 to the police officials. Mr Manchanda, who had lodged the complaint of theft, gave in writing, “The police has taken action against Roshan Lal and his companions on the basis of suspicion. They have no hand in the theft.”

Mr Roshan Lal later made a representation to the DIG, Ambala range. Since no action was taken, he approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard.

Chautala calls for gender equality
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today appealed to the people to work unitedly so as to achieve the goal of gender equality in letter and spirit as it was the "birthright of each daughter of the country".

In a message issued here on the occasion of International Women's Day, the Chief Minister said the Haryana Government had recently constituted a women's commission to safeguard their interests. Also, a new scheme known as "kanyadan" was introduced to give Rs 5100 on the marriage of girls belonging to the Scheduled Caste families living below poverty line. He said that the widow as well as old-age pensions had been doubled to Rs 200.

He said two new working women's hostels were under construction at Yamunanagar and Panchkula which would raise the number of such hostels to 14 in the state.

Carrying of firearms banned in Sonepat
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 8 — Sudhir Rajpal, District Magistrate, has promulgated an order under Section 144, Cr. P.C., banning the carrying of firearms, including swords, gandasas, lathis, barchha, kulharis, jallies, knives and other weapons, in the district.

According to official sources, the order will come into force on March 10 and continue until April 10.

This step has been taken to ensure free, fair and peaceful polls for the zila parishad, panchayat samitis, gram panchayats and civic bodies on March 12 and 16, as well as April 2.

By another order, the District Magistrate also banned the assembly of five or more persons within the radius of 200 metres around the examination centres set up by the Board of School Education Haryana for the matric and higher secondary annual examinations in the district.

This order which comes into force with immediate effect will continue until March 29.

Army recruitment drive from today
Tribune News Service

AMBALA March 8 — A four-day recruitment drive by the Army will start at Kharga Stadium in Ambala Cantonment tomorrow.

According to the recruitment officer, the persons keen to join the force, must report at the stadium at 8:30 am for physical and medical tests. On March 9, Sikh, Sikh Mazhabi. Gorkha. Ahir, Murgil and Gujjar youths can report. On March 10, Rajput and Jat youths can participate, while on March 11, OIC and Brahmin youths can participate. On March 12, children of serving Armymen, children of ex-servicemen and children of Army widows can participate. A combined test would be held on March 26, a press note said.

Youths from Ambala, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Panchkula and Chandigarh can participate in the Army recruitment drive. The candidates must be born between March 1, 1979, and March 1, 1984. They must bring their education certificates mark sheets and character certificates. Those from particular communities must bring SDM-certified caste certificates. Children of serving personnel must bring a certificate from the OC unit and children of retired Army personnel must bring the discharge book.

66 in fray for 15 MC seats
From Our Correspondent

KALKA March 8 — A total of 66 candidates are in the fray for election to 15 seats in the Municipal Committee, after the expiry of last date of filing nominations. Among those who filed their nomination papers on the last day are Sanjay Kumar from Ward 3, Ashok Kumar, Jamna Dass and Mohan Lal from Ward 4, Surinder Kumar and Satish Kumar alias Kalka from Ward 5, Kanwar Sain Singla and Ashok Kumar from Ward 7, Sukhwant Kaur, Joginder Kaur, Sudha Rani, Kanta, Sudesh and Amarjit Kaur, from Ward 8, Seema Bahadur, Usha Rani and Raj from Ward 9, Kamlesh and Deepa Tiwari from Ward 10, Karvinder and Punit Kumar from Ward 12, Anju Sharma from Ward 13, Davinder Kumar, Chander Kant, Anil Kumar and Yogesh Kumar from Ward 14, Sanjay Sharma, Sharanjit Singh, Jamna Dass and Ujjala Bakshi from Ward 15.

358 file nomination papers
From Our Correspondent

AMBALA March 8 — As many as 358 candidates have filed their nomination papers for Ambala City and Ambala Sadar Municipal Council elections. According to official information, 31 municipal councillors for Ambala City and 29 for Ambala Sadar are to be elected.

The independent MLA from Ambala Cantt, Mr Anil Vij, has filed his candidates from all 29 wards. The BJP and Congress have also filed their candidates from almost all wards.

In Ambala City, the defeated independent candidate in Assembly election and former Chairman of Ambala City Municipal Council, Mr Nirmal Vij, has also filed his candidates from two dozen wards. The INLD has also put its candidates in several wards in Ambala City and in Ambala Cantt. The INLD has not been contesting the Municipal Council election on their party symbol.

Pension benefits for HUDA staff
From Our Correspondent

SONEPAT, March 8 — The Haryana Government has decided to grant pension benefits to the employees of HUDA on the pattern of other state government employees.

This was stated by Mr R.K. Nagar, President of the state unit of the joint action committee of the HUDA Karamchari Union, at a meeting of the employees here yesterday.

He said Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana Mr S.C. Chaudhary, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Town and Country Planning, and Mr N.C. Wadhwa, Chief Administrator, HUDA had assured the union that their demands would be accepted soon.

Gujjar elected Leader of Legislature Party
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, MLA from Mewla Maharajpur, was unanimously elected the Leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.

Mr Gujjar was elected first as an MLA from the same constituency in 1996. He was the Transport Minister in the Bansi Lal Cabinet from 1996 to 1999.

Mr Gujjar’s name was proposed by Vaid Kapoor Chand, BJP MLA from Shahabad. It was seconded by Mrs Veena Chhibber (Ambala) and Ms Sarita Narayan (Kalanaur).

Among those who attended the meeting of the BJP Legislature Party were the party President, Mr Om Prakash Grover; General Secretaries Manohar Lal Khattar and Kailash Chand Sharma; former Leader of the BJP Legislature Party Ram Bilas Sharma; and Mr Chander Bhatia and Mr Kanwar Pal, both MLAs.

The meeting also discussed the strategy to be adopted in the Vidhan Sabha, considering the fact that the BJP is supporting the INLD government from outside. According to BJP sources, the party would leave the posts of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to the INLD.

Rs 8 cr for flood protection works
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today reiterated his commitment to make Haryana free from floods and directed the state Irrigation Department to take up flood protection works on a war footing.
The Chief Minister, who was reviewing the flood protection works and World Bank-aided Water Resources Consolidation Project (WRCP) here, said that flood protection works would not suffer for want of funds.

On a suggestion of the Commissioner and Secretary, Irrigation, Mrs Urvashi Gulati, the Chief Minister sanctioned a sum of Rs 8 crore for completing various flood protection works which were in progress. He also directed that Rs 12 crore required for implementation of new flood protection schemes be provided in time.

The Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Verma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, and other senior officers of the state government were present at the meeting.

Show-cause notice issued to Arya
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — Infighting in the Haryana Congress continues unabated, notwithstanding reverses suffered by the party in the recent Assembly elections.

The party President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today issued a show-cause notice to Mr Bachan Singh Arya, the defeated party candidate from Safidon, asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him for allegedly carrying on malicious propaganda in the press against the former (Mr Hooda) and thus violating the party discipline.

Mr Arya had demanded the resignation of Mr Hooda from the post of the party President, after accusing him of committing irregularities in the ticket distribution.

The show-cause notice, issued today, asks Mr Arya to file his explanation within 15 days. Otherwise disciplinary action as enshrined in Clause 4(e) of the Disciplinary Action Rules framed under the party constitution would be taken against him.

Postponement of HCS exams sought
From Our Correspondent

KURUKSHETRA, March 8 — The district unit of the Haryana Rajkiya Adhyapak Sangh (Registered) has demanded the postponement of the Haryana Public Service Commission HCS (Executive) Examinations scheduled to be held from March 17 this month.

Stating this here yesterday the unit President, Mr Kirpal Singh, said the examinations should be postponed until April 1, otherwise a large number of school heads, lecturers, teachers and non-teaching employees, who were performing duties in the Haryana School Education Board annual examinations for 10th and 12th classes, would be deprived of taking the HCS examinations. This would defy the rule of equal opportunity for all taking a competitive examination.

Bandh observed in Kalanaur
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, March 8 — Residents of nearby Kalanaur town observed a bandh today in protest against the state government's decision to disband its municipal committee.

Kalanaur in Rohtak and Beri in Jhajjar district are some of the small towns whose municipal committees have been disbanded', reportedly in view of the financial crunch following abolition of octroi, last year. The authorities also decreased the number of municipal wards of Rohtak town from 34 to 31 this year.

Meanwhile, 13 members of panchayat samitis and 698 panches have been elected unopposed for the panchayat elections due to be held on March 12 and 16 in the district.

Vendor attacks RPF man
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, March 8 — Subhash Chander Sharma, chowki in charge, Railway Protection Force (RPF), Panipat, was reportedly attacked and injured by an unauthorised vendor. The Government Railway Police (GRP) has arrested the vendor Suresh Kumar. Mr Sharma has been admitted to hospital.

According to information, Suresh Kumar who used to sell snacks in the trains, entered RPF chowki and attacked Mr Sharma with a dagger. However, the RPF personnel present in the chowki nabbed him.

It is learnt that, Mr Sharma had stopped Suresh's children from selling snacks, in the trains. This infuriated Suresh who attacked Mr Sharma.

Sources revealed that a large number of unauthorised vendors were selling snacks, cold drinks, tea, coffee and other unhygienic and substandard items in the trains in connivance with the GRP, the RPF, railway officials.

480 in fray for 25 Faridabad seats
Tribune News Service

FARIDABAD, March 8 — A record number of 480 candidates are in the field for contesting 25 seats of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation being held on April 2.

According to official information released here today 504 persons had submitted their nomination papers of which 17 were rejected during scrutiny.

The highest number of 54 candidates are in the fray in ward 10 and the lowest 11 each in ward 14 and 16.

The elections are being fought on non-party lines.

Case against jail officer
From Our Correspondent

HISAR, March 8 — A case has been registered, under the Prevention of Corruption Act against the Deputy Jail Superintendent of Central Jail here on the charge of allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from four criminals, who escaped from the jail on February 27.

Later, three of the four criminals were nabbed from Hanumangarh and Nohar in Rajasthan. They admitted to giving bribe to the jail superintendent.

HCS examination postponed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, March 8 — The Haryana Public Service Commission has postponed the H.C.S. (executive branch) and other allied services examination, 1998, scheduled to be held from March 17 to April 1 here in view of the panchayat/municipal elections in the state till further orders.

Admission certificates already issued to the candidates may be deemed to have been withdrawn, according to the Secretary of the Commission, Mr Ramesh Krishan.