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| Monday, August 14, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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President sets up Governors’ panel CBI probe against DSPs sought Closure of cow shelters: PFA threatens stir Postal staff for
lifting ban on recruitment More watercourses
bricklined Growers of “satha”
having tough time |
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10,000 tubewell
connections soon: Chautala
KUTA decries
notification 2 youths ‘beaten up’ by cops Haryana sounds red alert
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President sets up Governors’ panel CHANDIGARH, Aug 13 — The President, Mr K.R. Narayanan, has constituted a committee of Governors primarily to investigate the implementation of various schemes launched by the Centre and the states for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Two persons having Haryana connections have made it to the committee, which has been asked to give its report by January 31 next. While the Governor of Maharashtra, Mr P.C. Alexander, will be the Chairman of the committee, the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, and the UP Governor, Mr Suraj Bhan, who belongs to Ambala district in Haryana, have been nominated members. The other Governors who are the members of the high-profile committee are Mr M.M. Jacob (Meghalya), Justice S.S Kang (Kerala), Mrs V.S. Rama Devi (Karnataka) and Mr M.M. Rajendran (Orissa). The decision to constitute the committee was taken at a two-day conference of Governors held in Delhi from July 12 at the initiative of Mr Suraj Bhan. Mr Suraj Bhan had expressed concern over the plight of Dalits and had asked the President how a Governor, who was bound by the oath of office to uphold the Constitution, could remain silent if the implementation of schemes meant for certain sections, particularly if they were under-privileged, was tardy. He stunned the conference when he revealed how
large-scale irregularities had been detected in the grant of scholarships to SC and ST students in UP. He said the state government awarded scholarships totalling Rs 380 crore every year to these students. However, a recent verification drive revealed that funds had been sent to non-existent or unrecognised schools or extra money was sent to certain schools. Funds were received in 98 institutions, but were never disbursed. In a comparatively smaller district of Firozabad alone, Rs 2 crore was found to have been misutilised. In Lucknow district Rs 1.22 crore was misutilised. Similar reports were received from certain other districts also. Based on these reports, the government registered 164 FIRs against the principals or managements concerned. Eight principals were suspended and disciplinary action was taken against 38 other persons. As many as 45 institutions were derecognised. Mr Suraj Bhan had also highlighted the poor utilisation and allocation of funds for the Special Component Plan (SCP) formulated by the Centre in 1978. He was also upset over the indifferent investigations into cases registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocity) Act. To take up the task assigned to it by the President in right earnest, the committee has decided to hold its first meeting in Mumbai on September 8 next. The committee is likely to hold its meetings in various regions of the country so that the views of even those Governors who are not its members can be ascertained. Constituting the committee, Mr Narayanan asked it to evaluate whether the programmes for the welfare of SCs and the STs were being implemented properly in conformity with their broad objectives and to record such observations as might help improve and strengthen the programmes and their implementation with a view to getting better social returns from such investments. The committee will also examine if the SCP and special Central assistance and tribal sub-plan funds are being efficiently, effectively and fully utilised. It will also identify the areas of slippage and suggest measures to mitigate any distortions in achieving the designated purposes of the schemes. It will also identify constraints and bottlenecks in the investigation and prosecution of cases under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocity) Act, 1989, as well as Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955. |
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CBI probe against DSPs sought KAITHAL, Aug 13 — A Haryana Judicial Officer, Mr M.M. Dhonchak, has demanded a CBI probe into the conduct of various investigating officers, including DSP Hari Singh and DSP Hazari Singh, who were posted here a few years ago. Mr Dhonchak who appeared as complainant in the court of Mr R.K. Khanagwal, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, yesterday in connection with a case registered against a Sub Inspector and a constable, who were booked under various Sections of the IPC following a complaint lodged by Mr Dhonchak, who was the Judicial Magistrate here in 1993. This request was made by Mr Dhonchak during the course of recording his statement. When Mr Dhonchak was posted here as Judicial Magistrate, Class I, in 1993 during the hearing of a case under the Excise Act, he imposed a fine of Rs 100 on Constable Dalip Singh, Who was posted as Assistant Moharrar at Malkhana, Kaithal, for his non-appearance in the court. For non-payment of the fine the constable was sentenced to seven days’ simple imprisonment and Sub Inspector Rattan Singh Rana then SHO City, who was present in the court, was directed to receive the sentence warrant and take into custody Constable Dalip Singh. However, the Sub Inspector allegedly did not comply with the court orders. Following this Mr Dhonchak sent a complaint to the then SP Kaithal to register a case under Section 225-B of the IPC against Constable Dalip Singh and under Sections 221/222/223, IPC, against Rattan Singh Rana. The case was registered accordingly. Following registration of the case, Malhar Singh, Inspector, investigated the matter and submitted a report for cancellation of the FIR on the ground that no sentence warrant was handed over to Rattan Singh by Mr Dhonchak to arrest Dalip Singh, constable. The matter did not end here. After perusal of the cancellation report, the Chief Judicial Magistrate, on December 14, 1996, directed that the investigation into the case be conducted either by the SP, Kaithal, or by a police official not below the rank of DSP. The SP ordered reinvestigation into the FIR lodged by Mr Dhonchak. The matter was investigated by two DSPs, Hazari Singh and Hari Singh. The SP was informed by DSP Hari Singh, vide letter dated July 31,1997, that all persons concerned relating to this case were joined in the investigation and no case was made out. On the basis of this report, a second cancellation report was sent to the court. The CJM served a notice on Mr Dhonchak to appear on August 11 and make the statement on the cancellation report. However, taking exception to the role of police in doing the reinvestigation, Mr Dhonchak, appearing before the court, sought a CBI probe to prevent recurrence of such incidents and ensure that a magistrate does not feel helpless in bringing the guilty to book out of fear that an FIR lodged by him might be falsified by the police. |
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Closure of cow shelters: PFA threatens stir FARIDABAD, Aug 13 — The Haryana unit of the People for Animals (PFA) has warned that it will stage a demonstration in Delhi if the Government of Delhi fails to withdraw its decision to close down cow shelters (goshalas) in the national Capital. In a statement here today, Ms Sharda Kadian, spokesperson of the PFA, Haryana, said the decision to close down “goshalas” in the Capital was totally unjustified and seemed to be politically motivated. She said PFA activists of Haryana and Delhi would be forced to bring thousands of animals on roads of Delhi “very soon” as a protest. She said all main roads in the national Capital would be blocked by PFA activists and animals. She said instead of opening more “goshalas” or providing active support to organisation to deal with the problem of stray cows, the Delhi Government had taken a decision which could not be justified in any way. According to the PFA, Haryana, a large number of animals, especially cows, which are rescued or victim’s of road accidents were being sent to the cow shelter at Bawana and the animal hospital in Rajouri Garden for treatment. There is a need for more cow shelters and animal hospitals in the national Capital region (NCR). |
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Postal staff for
lifting ban on recruitment KARNAL, Aug 13 — The National Union of Postal Employees at its sixth conference, which concluded here today, demanded the lifting of ban on recruitment in view of the acute shortage of staff in savings bank branches of the head post offices in Haryana. The conference further demanded the cancellation of mass transfers in the circle. These orders had been passed in violation of the transfer
policy, a conference resolution said. According to Mr O.P. Suri, circle secretary of the union, the conference called for removal of anomalies of wages of Hindi typists, wire men, para-medical staff of P and T dispensaries. The conference wanted that the employees should be given transport allowance on the basis of actual pay drawn instead of pay scales. It demanded HRA/CCA on the basis of revised pay scales from January 1, 1996. The conference further urged the government to upgrade 10 per cent of the BCR posts into HSG-I cadre. It further demanded the immediate upward revision of pay scales of TBOP and BCR which were pending since 1998. Mr Jai Parkash Gupta, MLA, (Karnal), who inaugurated the conference supported the demands of the postal employees. Delegates from all over Haryana attended the three-day conference. |
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More watercourses
bricklined CHANDIGARH, Aug 13 — The Haryana State Minor Irrigation and Tubewell Corporation (HSMITC) has bricklined 24,068-km length of 5,674 watercourses providing additional irrigation facilities to 1,98,200 hectares so far. Giving this information here today, a spokesman for HSMITC said about Rs 88 crore would be spent on modernisation, lining, repair and rehabilitation of watercourses, drilling and sinking of deep tubewells, anti-water logging measures and artificial recharge schemes during the current financial year. As many as 670-km length of watercourses would be bricklined at a cost of Rs 22 crore. Out of this 216-km length of 47 watercourses had been lined, thus irrigating an additional 1,540 hectares up to June. Besides, Rs 6 crore had been provided for the rehabilitation of 183-km length of watercourses. He said the government had declared the HSMITC an approved body for drilling tubewells for other departments. |
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Growers of “satha”
having tough time FATEHABAD, Aug 13 — With no government procurement agency coming to their rescue, growers of “satha” are being forced to sell their crops at the lowest prices. “Satha” started arriving in the grain market about a week ago. Since then between four thousand and five thousand bags of paddy have been arriving in the market daily. Farmers from
far-off places like Jakhal Mandi and Tohana had been bringing their crops to the grain market. The reason, according to sources was that the farmers got better prices here than in other mandis. However, now the prices have fallen and the farmers are selling their crops in distress. Against the reserve price of Rs 520 per quintal, the farmers are getting between Rs 275 and Rs 375 per quintal. In the absence of official procurement agencies, millers are exploiting the farmers. Secondly, the price of rice in the market too, is very low. Farmers have demanded that the government should change its policy and make a provision for the special procurement of “satha”. |
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10,000 tubewell
connections soon: Chautala JIND, Aug 13 — Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, talking to mediapersons here today, said that 10,000 tubewell connections would be released to farmers in due course so that the production of foodgrains could be raised. He said sufficient power was being made available to the agricultural sector by purchasing power even at higher rates from neighbouring states. The Prime Minister had been requested to help the state to tide over the power crisis. It had also been decided to purchase the wheat of farmers at the support price up to February 28 next so that farmers could get a remunerative price for their produce. He said the government had also paid the highest sugarcane price of Rs 110 per quintal to growers. He said farmers had been benefited to the tune of Rs 42
crore. |
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KUTA decries
notification KURUKSHETRA, Aug 13 — The Kurukshetra University Teachers Association (KUTA) executive committee, has resented the arbitrary implementation of the revised pay package by the university authorities by issuing a notification regarding the work load and code of professional ethics for the university teachers. In a signed statement released to the press here today, the KUTA secretary, Dr D.S. Yadav, said “this notification was in contravention with the composite scheme of the University Grants Commission pay package and the provisions of the Haryana Government’s notification. The KUTA executive committee held a meeting in the regard here yesterday. |
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2 youths ‘beaten
up’ by cops SONEPAT, Aug 13 — Two youths, namely Rajesh Kumar Dahiya and Suresh Kumar Dahiya were allegedly beaten up by two policemen in plainclothes near the bypass of Gohana road yesterday. According to a report, the two were coming here on a motorcycle from Gohana when they were stopped near the bypass by the policemen. As a result of the beating, Rajesh Kumar Dahiya sustained injuries. When some passersby tried to intervene, they were also threatened with dire consequences by the policemen who allegedly took out cash and a mobile phone from the pocket of Rajesh before leaving the scene. |
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Haryana sounds
red alert CHANDIGARH, Aug 13 — A red alert has been sounded in Haryana in view of Independence Day and the proposed visit of the former Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr Mahendra Chaudhary, to Rohtak on August 17. The Director-General of the Haryana police, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, held a meeting with senior police officers here on August 11 to assess the security threat following reports from the Intelligence Bureau that ISI-sponsored terrorists could indulge in nefarious activities. The state headquarters has issued instructions to all district police chiefs to keep a special tab on parked vehicles. It is learnt that the state government has decided to give security of the level of head of state to Mr
Chaudhary. |
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