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| Monday, May 8, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
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MDU
council to meet today Order on incinerators
‘disobeyed’ Chautala may expand Cabinet LIC directed to pay additional
benefit Abhey Singh to file papers on May
9 Left Front MPs to hold stir on May
11 Stolen copper worth 40 lakh
recovered |
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DAV bodies to focus on
computer education Former minister released Ban on govt job recruitments
‘not clear’ Law & order worries
Chautala’s brother Panels formed to detect ineligible
pensioners Psychiatry course for Haryana docs Relief train leaves for Gujarat Escaped criminal shot in encounter Spurious engine oil factories
unearthed
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MDU council to meet today ROHTAK, May 7 — An emergency meeting of the Executive Council of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) will be held tomorrow at Chandigarh to nominate members on the selection committee being constituted by the government for the selection of a new vice-chancellor. The Executive Council had earlier on March 21 nominated Dr Sarup Singh and Dr Subhash C. Kashyap to the expert committee, but these names were not acceptable to the government. As such, the proceedings of the said meeting regarding this item were annulled by the Governor-cum-Chancellor on April 19. The exercise of power by the Governor-cum-Chancellor, Mr Mahabir Prasad, in annulling the proceedings (relating to nomination of members) has not gone down well among the academicians of the university. The Governor, according to some members of the Executive Council, had acted in haste and should have verified the veracity of ‘allegations raised by Mr Prem Prashant, Secretary, Education, and representative of the government on the Executive Council. Following the retirement of Lt-Gen O.P. Kaushik (retd) as Vice-Chancellor on February 26 last, the government, as per Section 9-A (I) of the Maharshi Dayanand University Act, has asked the Executive Council to nominate two members on the selection committee to prepare a panel for appointment of a new vice-chancellor. While the Executive Council was considering names for appointment on the selection committee. Mr Prashant walked out of the meeting, ordering deferment of the meeting after having failed to see his nominees through during the deliberations. Ignoring the ‘deferment order’ of the Education Secretary, the Executive Council unanimously nominated Dr Sarup Singh and Dr Subhash C. Kashyap to the selection committee. Interestingly, not a single objection has been received by the university against the proceedings of the meeting held on March 21 and circulated among members on March 23. As per the university regulations, a member must give his objections to the circulated minutes within seven days to the vice-chancellor in writing. As per the university regulations on meetings, there is no provision for any "government-sponsored" agenda. It is the "prerogative" of the Chairman, i.e. the Vice-Chancellor, to convene meetings of the Executive Council and decide agendas. Knowledgeable sources in the university said that the consideration of an agenda could be deferred only by the Vice-Chancellor through a majority vote of the members present at the meeting. No other member, including the Secretary, Education, had veto power or authority to defer any item. University officials and academicians allege that the office of the Chancellor has been used to reduce the university to a mere district office of the Education Department. The annulment orders of the Chancellor ipso facto implies that the Education Secretary, who is otherwise an ordinary member of the university’s Executive Council, has a power to veto any government-sponsored agenda item, which is against the autonomous spirit and character of the university. As per Section 9-F of the university Act, the government nominee has powers to veto a resolution having financial implications. The Chancellor appears to have enlarged the scope of this veto power against provisions of the university Act. Meanwhile, Prof K.K.
Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor, Indraprastha University,
Delhi, and Dr A.L. Chaudhary, former Vice-Chancellor of
Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, are likely to be
nominated by the Executive Council to the selection
committee. |
Order on incinerators
‘disobeyed’ AMBALA, May 7 — The Haryana Health Department has not been properly observing the directions of the Union Government to destroy the used disposable syringes, cotton, IV sets used in hospitals and even the waste and expired blood, body fluids, excretions, secretions and placenta in incinerator instead of throwing them in the garbage. The incinerators were installed so that the used disposable materials might not be recycled. According to information, a few years back the Supreme Court while giving the judgement in a public interest petition had directed the Union Government in this regard. Later, the Union Government had directed all its states, including Haryana, to install incinerators in their hospitals so that the used disposable materials could be destroyed in a scientific and consummate manner. The state government had installed the incinerators in various district-level civil hospitals which were financed under a World Bank scheme. Initially it was planned that the various nursing homes and other hospitals of the district would despatch their used disposable materials at the incinerator site installed in the civil hospitals. But neither the civil hospitals nor the nursing homes made any efforts, and practically the plan flopped. According to reliable sources in the Health Department, the state government in a letter circulated to all the civil surgeons recently had asked as to how many private nursing homes in their districts had been sending their used disposable materials to the incinerators to get them burnt. The sources said the reports received from almost all districts informed "nil". According to the sources, the incinerators installed in different civil hospitals have not been working regularly. The hospital authorities use them hardly once a week. The state government has not provided separate funds for running the incinerators. One of the Principal Medical Officers said, "We cannot put the incinerator in use regularly. If we put it to use daily, the annual maintenance grant provided to the hospital will be consumed in paying the electricity bill of the incinerator." Apart from the district-level civil hospitals, there exist a few civil hospitals and primary health centres at the subdivisional level where the disposable materials are used in huge quantity. These health centres generally throw their used disposable materials in the garbage which are collected by rag-pickers and sold to ‘kabaris’. In Ambala district apart from the district-level hospital at Ambala City there also exist around half a dozen primary health centres and two other civil hospitals located at Ambala Cantonment at Naraingarh while the incinerator is installed only at the civil hospital, Ambala City. Interestingly, there is no arrangements for transporting the used disposable materials at the incinerator site at Ambala City even from the civil hospital, Ambala Cantonment. A similar position has been prevailing in most of the other districts too. According to reliable
sources, the thrown used materials of the nursing homes
are generally sent to Delhi from where after resembling
they come back in the market for sale. These recycled
disposed syringes and other materials were readily
available in the market in the name of some non-popular
brands. Generally, the recycled materials cost cheaper
than the original ones and the dealers also get more
profit by selling them. |
Chautala may expand Cabinet CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, today held a ray of hope to those MLAs of his party who may be aspiring to occupy ministerial berths. While talking to newsmen here Mr Chautala hinted at Cabinet expansion in near future. He said he had always been saying that the Cabinet was expanded for two reasons — either for political compulsions or increased workload. He said he would increase the workload soon. As for political compulsion, he said, there was no threat to his government even though a section of the press had published recently that some INLD MLAs held a meeting to topple the Chautala government. Mr Chautala said his MLAs and partymen were committed to the party and could not be bought or allured by anyone. Criticising a newspaper group, he said by publishing such "baseless" reports the press would damage its own credibility, which would be unfortunate. He said the other three pillars no longer motivate the people, who had hope only from the press. Mr Chautala said the legislature was on auction, the executive was corrupt and there was widespread violation of judicial pronouncements. Even the electronic media did not enjoy that credibility as the print media had. He announced that improvement trusts would be reconstituted in the state to ensure the development of the urban areas. The revival of the trusts would not put any additional burden on the state exchequer because their staff was already working. The Chief Minister announced that the revenue boundaries in the state would be reorganised based on the resolutions adopted by village panchayats. While the number of districts would not be reduced, depending upon the circumstances new districts might be created. Meetings with all MLAs, irrespective of political affiliations, would be held at the district-level to seek their views on the development of the area. But priority would be given to under-developed areas. Denying that he had ever instigated the people not to pay their electricity dues. Mr Chautala said he had asked the partymen to persuade the defaulters to clear their dues without which the power utilities could not function. He said the power tarrif would be raised only after ensuring round-the-clock power supply. He did not specify any date. He said there was no
political vendetta against the Liberty Group of
Industries, based in Karnal. He said there were several
complaints against the group regarding the evasion of
sales tax and exploitation of labourers. Mr Chautala
claimed that his government was committed to industrial
development of the state. But no one could be allowed to
violate the laws of the land. |
LIC directed to pay
additional benefit KAITHAL, May 7 — The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, headed over by Mr H.K. Moudgil, has directed the local Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) branch to pay Rs 1 lakh additional sum to the mother (nominee) of a person who had insured himself under the double benefit accidental policy and was later murdered. According to the facts of the case, Baljit Singh, son of complainant Ganga Devi, had insured himself for Rs 1 lakh in 1993. The insured person paid the premium regularly. He died on Sept 1,1996 and an FIR under Section 302, IPC, a case was registered with the police alleging that the victim was murdered. The complainant alleged that being nominee she was entitled to receive the double benefit policy. In spite of a claim filed by her before the LIC authorities, she was paid only Rs 1,20,100, including bonus, against the assured sum of Rs 1 lakh. The LIC refused to pay the claimed amount taking the plea that the insurer was not murdered but had committed suicide. The complainant took the case to the consumer forum and requested it to issue directions to the LIC to pay the amount as claimed by the nominee as per conditions of the policy and also demanded a compensation of Rs 25,000 for harassment and mental agony. The complainant brought to the notice of the court that the insurer was murdered and accordingly an FIR under Section 302, IPC, was lodged with the police. The forum held that the
LIC had violated the terms and conditions under the
Insurance Act and hence directed it to pay a sum of Rs 1
lakh, including benefits with 12 per cent interest, and
Rs 3,000 as compensation for harassment and mental agony
and Rs 1100 as costs within one month of the receipt of
the order. |
Abhey Singh to file papers on
May 9 CHANDIGARH, May 7 — The Ruling Indian National Lok Dal today formally announced the candidature of Mr Abhey Singh, the younger son of the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for the Rori Assembly by-election scheduled for May 26. Though the candidature of Abhey was a forgone conclusion, the formal announcement was made by Mr Chautala after a meeting of the state executive of the party, the Legislature Party and other office-bearers. He said unanimous resolutions in favour of Abhey had been received from every village falling under the Rori Assembly constituency. Even at today’s meeting the partymen wanted Abhey to contest from Rori. He said he had to bow to the wishes of the partymen. Abhey Singh will file his nomination papers on May 9. Before filing of the papers, a public meeting will be held at Kalanwali, which will be addressed, among others, by Mr Chautala. Mr Chautala said after
May 9 he would not visit the constituency again because
he had to undergo a minor operation on May 16. |
Left Front MPs to hold stir
on May 11 ROHTAK, May 7 — The Lok Sabha members belonging to the Left Front and like-minded opposition parties will stage a dharna in front of Parliament in Delhi on May 11 in response to a nationwide strike call by the National Platform of Mass Organisations’ (NPMO) against the economic and other policies of the NDA government at the Centre. This was announced by Mr Hannan Mollah, MP and member of the Central Secretariat of the CPM, while talking to newsmen here today. He said the day-long dharna would be staged inside the main gate of Parliament House by the MPs belonging to the CPM, CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc the Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP). He said while the Congress party and some other opposition parties had yet to confirm their participation in the dharna, he was hopeful that the entire Opposition would unite on the issues, which he said, were being ‘ignored’ by the Union Government. Mr Mollah, who is also
the joint secretary of the All-India Agricultural Workers
Union, a constituent of the NPMO has appealed to the
people to make the strike and bandh a complete success. |
Stolen copper worth 40 lakh
recovered FARIDABAD, May 7—Imported copper wire rods worth over Rs 40 lakh stolen from the Delhi Customs custody were recovered from a godown in Sector 15-A here yesterday. The stolen goods were imported from Zambia by a Delhi firm. The stolen wire bundles were so heavy that they were lifted with the help of cranes by thieves . The operation to arrest the inter-state thieves was launched jointly by the Delhi police and the local police. Mr Ranbir Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police, said the involvement of dealers, the transport company and the owners of the godown could not be ruled out. The firm owning these
rods said it had paid full import duty to the Customs
before clearance of these rods and an FIR regarding the
theft had been lodged at the Okhla police station. |
DAV bodies to focus on
computer education FATEHABAD, May 7 — DAV institutions throughout the country will now lay special emphasis on imparting computer education to students. This was stated by Padma Shri Mr Gian Parkash Chopra, President of the DAV College Managing Committee, New Delhi, and president of the Arya Pradeshik Pratinidhi Sabha, while talking to mediapersons last evening. He halted here on his way to Mandi Dabwali. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Sarla Chopra, Mr T.R. Gupta, Secretary of the DAV College Managing Committee, Mr T. Kulwant and Mr K.L. Manuja, both Regional Directors of the DAV Public Schools. He said computer, infotech, science and technology were the need of the hour. Therefore, the DAV institutions had decided to lay special emphasis on computer education for children. There was no dearth of talent among Indians, but it was not being utilised properly. Mr Chopra also addressed the staff members of the local DAV Centenary Public School, on whose invitation he had stopped over at Fatehabad. Mr Chopra announced that the DAV College Management Committee, New Delhi, would send 51 large trucks of fodder to draught-hit Rajasthan and adopt a district of Rajasthan for meeting the need of fodder. Earlier, addressing teachers and members of the school management committee, Mr Gupta claimed that the DAV institutions had been providing the best education services in the country through a blend of science and vedic education. The D.A.V. institutions had been the vanguard of the freedom movement in the country with its students, late Lala Lajpat Rai and Bhagat Singh, sacrificing their lives for the country. He said that though we had attained political freedom, we were yet to achieve economic and social freedom. The local DAV Public
School Principal, Mrs I.P. Bhatia, claimed that her
school was the first in Haryana to introduce the ‘no
home work, no bag’ scheme for primary children. |
Former minister released ROHTAK, May 7 — In compliance with the order of the Supreme Court delivered on May 5, the state Vigilance Bureau today released a former Town and Country Planning minister. Mr Siri Kishan Das after interrogation for two days. The next hearing regarding bail application of the former minister is scheduled for tomorrow in the Supreme Court. Mr Das was charged of spending an amount of nearly Rs 11.40 crore on laying and repair of roads in Rohtak alone out of a total amount of about Rs 13.35 crore allocated for repair of roads in Panipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Sirsa and Rohtak after floods in 1995 in connivance with the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anil Kumar. The then Superintending Engineer (HUDA), Mr R.K. Garg allegedly enhanced the estimated budget for the repair of roads considerably. A case in this connection was registered against the former minister, the then Deputy Commissioner and the then Superintending Engineer under Sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and under Section 13(1) D of Prevention of Corruption Act in the local office of the Vigilance Bureau. It was also alleged by the bureau that the roads laid or repaired by HUDA were damaged soon after wards as the work was below standard to benefit the contractor concerned. When this correspondent contacted the former minister after his released. He said Rs 10.20 crore was released for laying and repair of roads in Rohtak city alone over a period of three years (1996-99). He said the amount was granted by the flood relief fund. Regarding interrogation,
he said he was not interrogated but was harassed for two
days. He said he was unable to move due to a fracture in
his hip bone but alleged he was detained in the vigilance
office from 9 am to 5 pm without any real interrogation. |
Ban on govt job recruitments
‘not clear’ SONEPAT, May 7 — The President of the Haryana Pradesh Janata Dal (U), Mr Ved Parkash Vidrohi, today accused the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, and his son, Mr Ajay Chautala, MP, of double-speaking in so far as the ban on recruitments in government jobs in the state were concerned. In a signed press statement issued here, he said all heads of government departments had been informed in March last that the state government had imposed a ban on fresh recruitments. Despite repeated announcements made by the Chief Minister and his son contradicting the imposition of the ban, the state government had not officially withdrawn the circular issued earlier in this respect. Mr Vidrohi also said there were a large number of vacancies of teachers in government schools and these posts had been lying vacant for the past few years. He demanded the immediate appointment of teachers in these schools. The Janata Dal leader
apprehended foul play in the recruitments of B.Ed. and
other categories of teachers as the state government had
earlier invited applications for direct recruitments, but
later entrusted the work to the Staff Selection Board. |
Law & order worries
Chautala’s brother SIRSA , May 7 — Mr Partap Singh younger brother of Haryana Chief Minilster, Mr Om Parkash Chautala said it was not fair to allow any senior official hold a crucial post while lacling an inquiry by the CBI while demanding the dismissal/termination of the services of the DGP facing charges. He was talking to newspersons here. Alleging a cock-eyed approach in the clearance of encroachments on the panchayat land Mr Partap Singh demanded that the process should begin with the "influential" persons. Panchayat roads and ‘phirnies’ should be cleared off on priority he demanded. Expressing concern over
the deteriorating law and order situation in the state he
alleged that the government was using the police for
oppressing their political rivals and the industrialists
were also being harassed. Mr Partap Singh also questioned
the silence of the Congress on the misbehaviour with Dr
Sidhu in the suicide case of his lab assistant. |
Panels formed to detect
ineligible pensioners ROHTAK, May 7 — The ineligible beneficiaries for old-age pension will be identified in the district from May 9 to 25. Stating this here, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajesh Khullar, said different committees comprising HCS officers, Tehsildars and Medical officers, had been constituted for the purpose. He said pension would be distributed in the presence of members of the committee and ineligible pensioners would be detected. The Deputy Commissioner said the had asked the pensioners to reach the respective offices along with their identity cards or ration cards as per the schedule. Pensions would be distributed in the offices of the tehsil sub-tehsil in rural areas and in the office of the Municipal Council in urban areas under the surveillance of an HCS officer. The pensioners from Ward
Nos. 1 to 35 in the town would be disbursed pension from
May 9 to 21 in the office of the Municipal Council.
However, the pensioners who failed to reach the venue as
per schedule, would get pension on May 22 and 23 in the
same office, he added. |
Psychiatry course for Haryana docs ROHTAK, May 7 — The state government has reportedly decided to give ‘special training’ to government doctors in psychiatry to provide better treatment to patients suffering from mental disorders. The Union Health ministry will provide funds under the national mental health programme and Pandit B.D.S. Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences will provide the two weeks training to batches of 15 doctors at a time. According to sources, the PGIMS, which is only post-graduate institute in the state, has been chosen as a nodal point for implementation of the programme in Haryana. According to Psychiatry
Department sources at PGIMS, a batch of doctors from
Kurukshetra district has already completed a course in
the recent past. |
Relief train leaves for Gujarat SONEPAT, May 7 — A special train carrying fodder and cattle feed for the drought-hit areas of Gujarat was flagged off by the Haryana Speaker, Mr Satbir Singh Kadyan, here today. Mr Sudhir Rajpal, Deputy Commissioner, said the relief materials, collected by the Sonepat and Panipat administrations, consisted of 600 metric tonnes of dry fodder and 15 tonnes of cattle feed and other goods. Another goods trains
carrying relief materials will be flagged off on May 9. |
Escaped criminal shot in encounter BHIWANI, May 7 (FOC) — Raju, a notorious criminal wanted in several cases was killed in a police encounter at Mittathal village yesterday. He was lodged in jail in Churu, Rajasthan from where he escaped. The police reached his village and asked him to surrender. But he fired at the police party and was killed in retaliatory fire. The police sent his dead
body for post mortem. Gang members Gaurav, Mahesh and an
unidentified boy who were with Raju escaped. |
Spurious engine oil factories
unearthed SIRSA, May 7 — The police unearthed two factories manufacturing spurious engine oil, and grease during a raid at two houses. According to information received today the police raided a house on Rania road, which was being used by Narinder, a resident of Khanna Colony for manufacturing spurious engine oil. In another raid on the premises of Suresh Kumar the police recovered a large quantity of spurious engine oil and packing material of standard companies worth Rs 4 lakh. Narinder and Suresh had
been arrested under Section 420 of the IPC and under
Section 7/10/55 of the Essential Commodities Act. They
were produced in the court and sent to 14 days ‘
judicial custody. |
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