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| Wednesday, September 13, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Crackdown on ticketless guards of
VIPs Warning against custodial
deaths Haryana
BJP to attack anti-people policies Govt to go ahead with property
tax Giving street kids a
chance Army chief lauds
Haryana |
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Vehicle thieves
held Declare results on time:
VC Four arrested for
robbing travellers INLD to celebrate Devi Lal’s birthday 5 killed
in bus-oil tanker collision Staff beat up
train driver 2,000 examined at
camp Deccan Horse to celebrate Jordan Valley
Day
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Crackdown on ticketless guards of
VIPs CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Two members of the personal security staff of the Governor of Haryana would wish to forget the evening of September 11 as quickly as possible. They were caught travelling without tickets on the Shatabdi Express from the Union Capital to Chandigarh. The checking yesterday appears to be a part of a special campaign launched by the Indian Railways against the “misuse” of official position and travel by persons who are otherwise not entitled to “free travel on airconditioned and special trains”. In recent weeks, a couple of cases have been reported where “unauthorised persons” travelling with sitting and former MPs were challaned and asked to pay the penalty for travelling without tickets. Investigations reveal that until recently no one ever asked for tickets from the security staff accompanying VIPs. The security guards, including commandos, have been travelling on the Shatabdi Express and other airconditioned trains for the past several years. For example when the Governor travels, two security guards and a personal attendant accompany the Governor. While normally a ticket is bought for the personal attendant of the VIP who travels in the same coach, no warrants of free travel or tickets are procured for the security guards or commandos. The matter relating to travel by security guards with VIPs, especially those on the “Z” list, is likely to be taken up with the Union Ministry of Railways by the authorities concerned, the sources said maintaining that incidents like the one yesterday were very “embarrassing”. While the VIP was travelling in the Executive Class, the escorts — Head Constable Bhawan Singh and constable Rajesh Kumar of Haryana Commandos — were in the service area, in the corridor of the coach. They had no tickets or authorisation to travel without tickets. The sources maintain that these commandos or security guards are not supposed to sit even if they buy tickets as they are required to stand on guard duty at the entrances to the coach. Investigations reveal that they were reluctant to pay the fare and the penalty as per the rules. On Shatabdi Express, a traveller without a ticket has to pay 100 per cent penalty on the actual fare from the origin of the journey to the final destination. In this case, though they were to travel up to Chandigarh only, they had to pay for the New Delhi-Kalka sector and 100 per cent penalty. Since their arguments failed, they had no choice but to dole out Rs 1,880 and that, too, travelling for most part of the journey standing in the corridor of the coach. It was only near Ambala that they relented and paid the fare and 100 per cent penalty before they were allotted seats in the C-8 coach. Otherwise this journey would have cost them only Rs 870 besides assuring them proper seats in the airconditioned coach (C-8) adjoining the Executive Class coach. The sources point out that under the rules most of the security guards are not entitled to travel in airconditioned chair cars and cannot legally claim reimbursement of the amount actually spent by them on the reservation of seats. Further, security duty demands that no prior information can be given as to who will go with a VIP on a particular journey. But in the case of MPs, it has been an altogether different story. Some days ago, a Janata Dal-Samata MP was travelling on the Guwahati Rajdhani Express occupying a four-berth cubicle on the train. Accompanying her were her mother and one more person. Under the rules, only her spouse is allowed to travel with her free. There were arguments after which the MP relented and her mother paid the II AC fare for the journey. In yet another case, an MP was found travelling on the Rajdhani Express with a companion other than his spouse. She was asked to pay the penalty and the normal fare. Sources point out that the Railways has been forced to launch this special campaign as the number of complaints of misuse of the free travel facility by VIP pass holders is on the rise. There have been instances when MPs accompanied by three to five personal guests refused to buy tickets. In yet another case about a fortnight ago, the Station Superintendent of Delhi Cantonment was allegedly manhandled by an elected representative of the people after which the rail staff went on strike and stopped train movement. But later, the Station Superintendent was placed under suspension. |
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Warning against custodial
deaths GURGAON, Sept 12 — Although it may take time for the police force in Haryana to get sensitised to human rights issues, the top brass has issued standing orders for strict punitive action against guilty personnel in cases of custodial deaths. The DGP, Mr S.P.S. Rathore, who was in Delhi told TNS on telephone that the action would range from the transfer of the heads of the police stations concerned, suspension and legal action against those guilty. He said there was a standing order, prohibiting the use of any third degree measure. An assessment of the situation was made at periodic intervals. These measures were in keeping with the efforts to usher reforms in the functioning of the police force, to make it people-friendly. The Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, is understood to have firmly told the top brass of the force to curb crime, including police custody deaths. Even though the rate of deaths in police custody in Haryana is very low in comparison to other states, the authorities do not want to take a chance. The police chief expressed satisfaction over the steps to root out corruption in the force. The accessibility of police officers to the public-right from the SP to the DGP — and the monthly darbars by the DGP were claimed to have been effective in injecting transparency in the functioning of the police force. Analysing crime in Haryana from the beginning of this year till the end of June, Mr Rathore claimed that the crime rate had reduced by more than a per cent. This was in sharp contrast to Delhi and the neighbouring states where there was an increase in the crime rate. According to the statistics of the National Crime Record Bureau, on an average the increase in the percentage of the crime was by over 3 per cent in the country. While the increase in Delhi was more than 4 per cent, Punjab had registered over 9 per cent increase in crime during the corresponding period. |
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Haryana
BJP to attack anti-people policies CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — Despite being a supporting party of the INLD government, the Haryana unit of the BJP has decided to exercise its right to publicly criticise any anti-people policy of the state government. The president of the party, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, says if the INLD President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, can express his opinion on any policy of the Central Government which he (Mr Chautala) finds not to his liking, the BJP, too, has its obligations towards its voters and supporters. It was in line with this thinking in the party that during the recent monsoon session of the Haryana Assembly, the leader of the BJP legislature group, Mr Krishan Pal Gujjar, not only opposed the two Bills aimed at imposing a number of taxes, which would affect mainly urban residents, but also specifically made it a point to mention that the opposition of the BJP to these measures must be put on record. It is another matter that much of what Mr Gujjar said was negated by his party colleague, Mr Chander Bhatia, MLA from Faridabad, who showered praise on the Chautala government. Mr Kataria says he will study Mr Bhatia’s speech in the Vidhan Sabha before making any comment on it. If necessary, the MLA’s comments will also be sought. But in any case indiscipline will not be tolerated. The BJP leader says that in the 34-year history of Haryana, the Congress had remained in power for most of the time. But whenever the Congress was “dethroned”, it could be possible with the help of the BJP or one of its incarnations. Unfortunately, he regrets, whosoever may have been the Chief Minister of the non-Congress governments, they all tried to damage the roots of the BJP, which could not even openly lodge a protest. Quoting a Haryanavi phrase, “Apna hukka, apni maroor; piya piya, nahin diya phor”, Mr Kataria says now the party will strive to become an alternative on its own in the state. He says since the INLD is a partner of the National Democratic Alliance, the BJP is supporting the Chautala government in Haryana. But despite being a supporting party, the BJP comes to know about major decisions taken by the Chautala government through newspapers. It is again through newspapers that the BJP has to voice its views on these decisions. Mr Kataria says in order to avoid such an embarrassing situation, he has urged the Chief Minister to form a coordination committee. Mr Chautala, he says, is not averse to the idea. Some differences have cropped up between the INLD and the BJP over the election of the president of the Panipat civic body. While the BJP says it has a rightful claim to the post, it is learnt that certain influential INLD leaders want their man to be elected the civic body chief. Mr Kataria recently expelled a woman municipal councillor of Panipat from the party for her alleged dubious role in connection with the civic body chief’s election, which was scheduled for September 9 but was postponed by the Returning Officer. Mr Kataria has made the Panipat election a prestige issue. |
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Govt to go ahead with property
tax GURGAON, Sept 12 — Undeterred by the Opposition’s stand, the INLD Government will go ahead with its move to restructure property tax in Haryana. The Principal Opposition in the Haryana Assembly, the Congress, has decided to thwart this move. The Chief Secretary of the state, Mr Vishnu Bhagwan, who was here on Sunday to inaugurate a showroom of a Maruti Udyog Ltd, said the taxes according to the restructured format would be levied from the next financial year. Mr Vishnu Bhawan’s statement is the first authoritative voice after the Ordinance on the subject was deferred in the wake of strident criticism and agitation from wide-ranging quarters, including the Congress. The Congress President in Haryana, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has made it known that his party would oppose the government “tooth and nail” on the issue. As the Ordinance on the issue was deferred, it was not brought before the Assembly for ratification. Hence allowed to lapse. The government will have to either again bring a fresh Ordinance or get the obligatory approval for revising the tax straight from the Assembly. According to the Constitutional mandate, the state government cannot levy taxes to the detriment of the
assesses without getting the approval of the concerned Assemblies. With the arithmetic in the Haryana Assembly clearly in favour of the ruling INLD, the government will have no difficulty in sailing through. A senior functionary of the state government said as the restructuring was to be effected from next year, the government was taking it easy in finalising the details. The government is also planning a publicity drive to educate the masses on the issue. This was to blunt opposition to its proposed move. In the face of criticism, the Chief Minister had stated, about a month back, that his government had not taken a final decision to restructure the tax. But the statement from the top of state’s bureaucracy reveals that the state has indeed taken a final decision on the issue. Property tax would be levied on commercial sites, houses and all kinds of institutions. What the government plans to do is to assess the tax on the basis of market rates of the property to make the exercise practical and realistic. In effect, in the restructured format, the tax assessment will be on the basis of the market value of the land and the cost of constructions on it. The present practice of making the assessment on the basis of rental value is considered to be out of sync with the manifold appreciation in the value of land. According to well-placed sources, the government’s study on the issue is that in number of places in the state house taxes had not been revised for more than a decade. According to observers, in comparison to other kinds of immovable property, the revised scale will entail substantial increase on residential property, across-the-board. The government is said to be harbouring the view that the tax on immovable property forms the bulk of the revenue collected. Hence, as house tax should be “dynamic” (the assessment should keep pace with the appreciation in it), it should legitimately tap this area to replenish the coffers for future development works. |
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Giving street kids a
chance FARIDABAD: The Street Children Home, set up by the District Child Welfare Society, is providing yeoman service to poor and unattended children of this industrial town. This home, started a few years ago, has been providing free board, lodging, clothes and schooling to street children up to the age when they start understanding their responsibilities and when their parents think it suitable to withdraw them from the home, according to officials. There are nearly 55 children in the age group of 4 to 10 years in the home. Fortytwo of them are school going. Most of them are allowed to contact their families whenever they want to. Ten of them are deaf and dumb and arrangements have been made to give them vocational training so that they can become financially independent. Officials at the home say that most of the children do not want to collect garbage, polish shoes or work at roadside dhabas — work they may have been doing if they had not been admitted to the home. Some of the inmates have been doing well in studies and want to continue their education at the college and university levels. While the authorities allow the children to live in the home and study up to a certain level, some organisations and social activists have demanded that the facilities should continue up to the matric and plus two levels so that children are not forced to give up their education due to poverty or unfavourable conditions in their homes. The home claims to give vocational training in fields like TV and scooter repair and tailoring to those children who complete their education up to class VIII. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anand Mohan Sharan, said about Rs 1,000 a month was spent on each child. Education was totally free. The inmates were given free medical facilities and the expenses on medicines were met by the society. It is reported that the home has been facing a financial crunch as grants have not been received on a regular basis. It has to depend on donations or the help provided through the office of the Deputy Commissioner. The society is reported to have got a grant of Rs 2.50 lakh for 1997-1998. The society meets expenses totalling Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per year on the home. |
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Army chief lauds
Haryana CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 —The Chief of the Army staff, Gen V.P. Malik, who called on Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala today, appreciated the schemes implemented by the state government to rehabilitate ex-servicemen, besides providing incentives to dependents of soldiers killed while defending the integrity of the country. Mr Chautala said the district administration had been instructed to redress on a priority basis the grievances, if any, of dependents of soldiers, especially those who had sacrificed their lives in the Kargil operation. All Deputy Commissioners had been directed to visit the families of the martyrs and redress the grievances, if any. He said whenever the body of martyr arrived at his native place, a representative of the government was present to receive it. He had himself been present at such occasions not only to console the dependents of the deceased but to express gratitude of the government for the sacrifice made by the “brave sons of the soil.” Mr Chautala said the state government had reserved 15 per cent vacancies for ex-servicemen in its police force, but these had not filled for want of candidates. General Malik said only 1,000-1, 500 aspirants were being recruited into the Army annually as against 2-2.5 lakh candidates who voluntarily came to join the Army. The General expressed concern at private security personnel wearing Army uniform like outfits and requested the Chief Minister to take action. He appreciated the significant role played by soldiers hailing from Haryana in safeguarding the borders of the nation. General Malik also called on the Haryana Governor, Babu Parmanand, at Raj Bhavan. |
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Vehicle thieves
held SONEPAT, Sept 12 — With the arrest of three persons, including two students, the CIA staff today claimed to have busted a gang of automobile thieves operating in this city for the past about one year and solved about eight cases of auto thefts committed by them in different parts of the city. The Superintendent of Police, Mr A.S. Chawla, told mediapersons here today the arrested persons had been identified as Sandeep, alias Sonu, of Rathdhanna village, Jasbir alias Chhoti of Mehndipur village and Dinesh of Rajpur village. One of the culprits, Jasbir, he said, was a student of class IX in Saraswati School at Murthal village whereas another culprit Dinesh was a class XII student, Doon School of the city. He claimed that the police had recovered a Maruti car, five motor cycles and three scooters from the possession of the arrested persons. |
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Declare results on time:
VC HISAR, Sept 12 — The new Vice-Chancellor of Guru Jambheshwar University, Dr R.K. Chauhan said today that he would give top priority to the timely declaration of results of examinations conducted by the university. Addressing newspersons after assuming charge he said results must be declared quickly to enable students to find jobs or seek admission to higher courses. For this purpose it was necessary that the university conducted examinations in time. He said he would strive to make the university self-reliant financially by obtaining funds from the UGC, the All-India Council of Technical Education and other agencies. Dr Chauhan said to improve the academic atmosphere on the campus he would encourage holding of academic meets. Besides research programmes would be given a push through more funding and other means. Regarding the ban imposed on the recruitment of teachers by the Haryana Government, he said he would try to get the ban lifted. In addition he would ensure that the government funds meant for the university were released in time. On arrival Dr Chauhan was received by the Registrar, Mrs Deepti Umashankar, and other senior functionaries of the university. |
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Four arrested for
robbing travellers SIRSA, Sept 12 — A bribery case registered against Paramjeet on the statement of Gurdeep Singh of Kherpur Colony has become more complex as the police has registered a kidnap case against Paramjeet following a complaint by Gurdeep’s son. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has given an interim stay to Paramjeet’s arrest. According to sources, Gurdeep had filed another affidavit, alleging that Paramjeet and his brothers and nephews had kidnapped him and forced him to submit an affidavit in the court in Paramjeet’s favour. When the process of getting an interim stay for Paramjeet’s arrest was under way at Chandigarh, Gurmeet’s son Joginder lodged a complaint with the police that his father had been kidnapped on the basis of which the police found him in a hotel. Meanwhile, the police has arrested four persons allegedly involved in robbing travellers. The jeep used by them has been impounded. The suspects have been identified as Bijender, Rakesh, Ankesh of Ellenabad and Om Parkash of mamera Kalan. In another incident, a case of attempt to murder has been registered against two sons of a former sarpanch of Jodklan village in this district. They have booked for murdering Mehar Chand of the same village. |
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INLD to celebrate
Devi Lal’s birthday CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Indian National Lok Dal will celebrate the birthday of Mr Devi Lal, a former Deputy Prime Minister, at Sonepat on September 25 by organising a state-level rally to mark the occasion. This decision was taken at a meeting of the INLD presided over by the party President, Mr Om Prakash Chautala. Mr Chautala said that a committee of MLAs of Sonepat district had been constituted to celebrate the birthday of Mr Devi Lal. The Chief Minister said Gen V.P. Malik, Chief of Army Staff, had decided to settle at Panchkula, which was a matter of great pleasure. “His rich experience will go a long way in guiding us”. |
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Bachat puraskar
yojana winners CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Haryana Small Savings Department today conducted the third draw of the Haryana Pragatisheel Bachat Puraskar Yojana in the case of investments made under various small savings schemes between April 1 last year and March 31 this year at Panchkula. The first prize of an AC Maruti car went to an investor from Jind whose coupon number was E-435688. The second prize of 500 gm of 24 cart gold went to the holder of coupon No. B-576089 of Ambala. The third prize of a tractor was won by the holder of coupon No. B-379341 from Karnal. |
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Order on census
staff’s ACRs CHANDIGARH, Sept 12 — The Haryana Government today asked all heads of department to record appreciation in the ACRs of those employees who did good work in the ongoing census work. An official spokesman said the heads of department were also directed to record adverse comments in the ACRs of those employees who showed negligence in this work. |
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5 killed
in bus-oil tanker collision SONEPAT, Sept 12 — At least five persons were killed on the spot and 12 others injured, some of them seriously, when a Punjab tourist bus collided with an oil tanker on the G.T. Road near Qumashpur village, 12 km from here, today. According to preliminary reports, the driver and the conductor of the bus were among the dead persons and they have been identified as Sulakhan Singh and Sukha respectively. However, other victims have not been identified so far. The oil tanker also overturned in the accident. The police has registered a case and further investigations are on. Meanwhile, 11 of the 12 injured passengers have been identified as: Raj Kumar and Rajiv Bhasin, both of Delhi, Achal, Hari Bhajan and Kashmir Singh, all of Gurdaspur, Bhupinder of Khem Karan, Karamjit, Tahel Singh, Bhaga Singh, Kulwant Singh, all of Amritsar, and Gurdeep. All injured persons have been admitted to the Civil Hospital in the city.
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Staff beat up
train driver PANIPAT, Sept 12 — A train driver, Dalchand of the Loco Department,
Ghaziabad, was allegedly beaten up by four staff members under the influence of liquor at Baholi railway station here yesterday. According to information, four railway staff members, including the station superintendent, asked Dalchand to move the train immediately.
Dalchand, however, wanted to talk to the control before starting. He got down from the engine to contact the control, but was reportedly overpowered by them and beaten
up. Dalchand later informed the control and the control has asked the Loco inspector stationed at Panipat to submit his report at the earliest. |
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2,000 examined at
camp PINJORE Speaking on the occasion, Mr C. N.
Dhar, Executive Director of HMT Limited, who was the chief guest, said that similar awareness campaigns should be organised in different spheres of health to educate the masses about the preventive care to achieve the objective of health for all. The three-month campaign conducted in six phases was organised jointly by the HMT Ladies Club, the Haryana branch of the Indian Dental Association and the Bhojia Dental College and Hospital,
Bhud. Dr Hardip Kaur, Senior Medical Officer ( Dental), HMT Limited, who coordinated the campaign, pointed out that healthy teeth were the basis of overall good health, an aspect which was commonly ignored. Healthy teeth contests for various categories were also
organised. As many as 140 persons having perfect teeth were identified to compete for 10 titles. The winners were Ritiaka and Gaurav ( 2 to 5 years), Sweeta and Ajay ( 6 to 12 years); Ritu and Amit ( 13 to 25 years) and Ila Verma and Vijender Yadav ( above 25 years). The oldest participant, 59- year-old K.S
Verma, who had his 32 teeth intact and the youngest participant,
Harsimran, (7 months) were also honoured during the prize distribution function. Later, mementoes, trophies and certificates were presented to the winners and the participants. |
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Deccan Horse to celebrate Jordan Valley
Day AMBALA, Sept 12 — Deccan Horse will be celebrating the 82nd Jordan Valley Day and the third
post-Indepence re-union of the regiment from September 21 to 23.To mark the occasion, a special sainik sammelan will be held and a cultural programme by soldiers and their families will be performed. Games and bara khana will also take place.The chief guest on the
occasion will be Lt-Gen T. S.
Shergill, Colonel of the regiment, and the invitees include all serving and retired officers, JCOs and other ranks of the regiments.Deccan Horse was raised in 1790 by the Nizam of Hyderabad as “Asaf Jah’s Irregular Cavalry”. The regiment
participated in World War I. During this war on September 23, 1918, at Khan Ei
Sumariyeh, Jordan Valley, Ris Badlu Singh was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. To commemorate this battle, the regiment celebrates Jordan Valley Day on September 23 every year. For its valour and distinguished service, the title of “Royal” was conferred in 1919.The regiment, which has won over 300 gallantry awards of which 32 are post-independence, has participated in World War II in Burma and showed its valour during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. |
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