The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, September 29, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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H A R Y A N A

7 aspiring crorepatis held
FATEHABAD, Sept 28 — A financial scam involving more than Rs 1 crore has come to light with the arrest of seven persons from this town by the Rajasthan police. The accused include a local industrialist and his employees who are alleged to have duped the Jaipur branch of United Commercial Bank of more than Rs 1 crore.

HVPN decision draws flak
KAITHAL, Sept 28 — The decision of the HVPN to charge Rs 15 and Rs 25 per square yard from the plot owners of area of 100 square yards and more than this, respectively, has caused a lot of resentment among those seeking new electricity connections for domestic use.

CBI probe sought into custodial death
FARIDABAD, Sept 28 — A number of social activists have demanded a CBI probe into the death of a youth allegedly in police custody here a few days ago.

Ex-minister’s plea dismissed
CHANDIGARH, Sept 28 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition filed by former Haryana Congress minister Anand Singh Dangi seeking the transfer of three FIRs registered by the Vigilance Bureau, Haryana, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Recovery from pay of patwaris stayed
CHANDIGARH, Sept 28 — The Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court comprising Mr Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal today issued a notice of motion for November 22, to the state of Haryana and the Financial Commissioner, Haryana, on a writ petition filed by the Revenue Patwaris and Kanungos Association, Haryana, and 26 other petitioners and stayed the recovery from the pay of the petitioners.

Shekhar warns of fiscal slavery
PANIPAT, Sept 28 — Our country is turning towards slavery due to the wrong policies and decisions of previous governments. This was stated by the Chairman of the Samajwadi Janata Party, Mr Chandra Shekhar, while talking to mediapersons at the PWD Rest House here today.

REGIONAL BRIEFS

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Ambala
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Panipat
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EARLIER STORIES

	Public service byelaws put into cold storage September 28, 2000
	Task force mooted to check interstate crime September 27, 2000
	Fatehabad MC chief in soup September 26, 2000
	Staff resent govt move on khadi board offices September 25, 2000
	Sonepat prepares for Tau’s birthday September 24, 2000
	CAG finds bogus units under PDS September 23, 2000
	Rice millers adopt tough posture September 22, 2000
	Land grabbed by forging records September 21, 2000
	Helping labourers give up drugs September 20, 2000
	‘Viagra’ manufactured in Haryana September 19, 2000
	Goldsmiths turn into blacksmiths September 18, 2000

Schools facing financial crisis
AMBALA, Sept 28 — Most of the recognised schools of Haryana that receive 75 per cent financial grant from the state government, are facing the threat of closure. Many of these have not paid their staff for past 18 months due to the non-availability of the government grant.

Telecom engineers write to CJI
AMBALA, Sept 28 — The Telecommuni-cation Engineering Officers Association (TEOA) has sought judicial intervention to “save the interests of the employees of the Telecom Department”.

Shopping complex foundation stone laid
AMBALA, Sept 28 — GOC-in-C Western Command, Lt General Vijay Oberoi, yesterday laid the foundation-stone of a shopping complex, to be constructed by the Cantonment Board Ambala.

Poison control unit for PGIMS
ROHTAK, Sept 28 — The World Health Organisation has approved the setting up of a poison control and treatment centre at the PGIMS here in view of the rising number of poisoning cases in the state.

Convict escapes from custody
KURUKSHETRA, Sept 28 — A dacoit, Surender Mehla, yesterday escaped from police custody. His accomplices allegedly blow chilly powder into the eyes of the policemen. He was being brought from the district jail to a local court.

Contractors’ firm fined Rs 17 lakh
KAITHAL, Sept 28 — The firm of contractors constructing building of the local judicial complex here has been fined Rs 17 lakh by the Executive Engineer, PWD B&R here, for causing delay in completing the construction work.

Sadhu booked for raping minor
FARIDABAD, Sept 28 — A ‘sadhu’ (sage) residing at a temple at Palwal town here has been booked by the police on charges of “raping” a minor.

Zonal youth festival begins
ROHTAK, Sept 28 — The zonal youth festival of Maharshi Dayanand University commenced here today on the university campus school premises with a festive note. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mr J.K. Sharma inaugurated the festival.

	7 aspiring crorepatis held From Sushil Manav FATEHABAD, Sept 28 — A financial scam involving more than Rs 1 crore has come to light with the arrest of seven persons from this town by the Rajasthan police. The accused include a local industrialist and his employees who are alleged to have duped the Jaipur branch of United Commercial Bank of more than Rs 1 crore. According to an FIR lodged by Mr Rajinder Nath, Branch Manager of the Bhagwan Dass road branch of UCO Bank in Jaipur, with the Vidhansabha police on September 22, a person named Dev Raj came to his bank on July 22 and introduced himself as the proprietor of Param Silk Mills and applied for opening a current account in the bank. He was accompanied by Rattan Chand, who introduced himself as a partner in he Sharda Mills, Fatehabad, and offered to stand as introducer for Dev Raj. Rattan Chand told the bank Manager that he had a cash credit limit of Rs 1.15 crore in the Fatehabad branch of UCO Bank. The signatures of Rattan Chand were verified by the Senior Manager of the UCO Bank. Dev Raj deposited Rs 5500 in the bank and a current account was opened in his name. A cheque book bearing numbers from 828326 to 828350 was issued to him. On August 2, the bank received a cheque for $ 3,23,369 from the United States Hosiery Austin Texas (USA) issued in the name of Dev Raj. The cheque (No 2221-04223424) was sent by the bank to its Johri bazar branch, which deals with foreign cheques. The Johri bazar branch, informed the bank that Rs 1.46 cr had been deposited in the account of Dev Raj on September 8. Dev Raj allegedly withdrew Rs 45 lakh from the bank vide cheque no 828326 on the same day and Rs 51 lakh vide cheque no 828327 on September 18. The Johri bazar branch of UCO Bank received a fax message from Standard Chartered Bank New York, informing them that the cheque they had sent for clearance was issued for $ 3369 only and not for $ 3,23,269. Someone had forged the cheque and put the digits 32 before 3369. As the fax landed in bank, the bank officials swung into action and lodged an FIR on September 22. Dev Raj, who was in fact a driver with Rattan Chand had left his job by then. He disclosed the matter to his brother, Ish and a local property dealer, Ram Lal Gandhi. The three then allegedly conspired to withdraw the rest of Rs 51 lakh still lying in the account. But when the three went to the bank to withdraw the money, they were arrested by the Jaipur Police. In his statement, Dev Raj has alleged that he was only an employee of Rattan Chand and the money has been appropriated by the latter. The Jaipur police yesterday raided Sharda Mills here and took Rattan Chand and his two drivers, Amrit and Kapoor, to Jaipur. Rattan Chand has claimed that he had applied for funds to a Delhi-based finance company and the cheque was issued to him by that company.
	HVPN decision draws flak From Our Correspondent KAITHAL, Sept 28 — The decision of the HVPN to charge Rs 15 and Rs 25 per square yard from the plot owners of area of 100 square yards and more than this, respectively, has caused a lot of resentment among those seeking new electricity connections for domestic use. After this policy coming in to force the financial burden of those desirous of building new residential buildings has substantially increased as they have to pay development charges to the civic bodies at the rate of Rs 60 per square yard while getting their construction plan sanctioned. Also, they are now being asked to pay Rs 15 or Rs 25 per square yard, according to the size of the plot owned by them while seeking new electricity connection from the HVPN. The local HVPN authorities say they had received instructions from the higher authorities in this regard. According to information available, the General Manager, Commercial, vide circular No. 15 and 21 issued this year has directed the Engineer-in-Chief, SEs and other officers to charge this amount from those who were seeking connections in unauthorised colonies. However, the HVPN authorities were not exempting those who had got their residential plans sanctioned from the municipal council or the municipal committee under whose jurisdiction their area lies by paying development charges at the rate of Rs 60 per square yard. A number of persons who had got their plans sanctioned and paid the development charges to the civic body have questioned the wisdom of the HVPN authorities. They say that either the civic body should levy development charges where the colony is unauthorised or the HVPN should grant them connections without charging any amount. Interestingly, 80 per cent of the colonies on the outskirts of the walled town lie in the unauthorised category and the municipal council has been sanctioning plans as per the government policy after receiving development charges from those constructing new houses.
	CBI probe sought into custodial death From Our Correspondent FARIDABAD, Sept 28 — A number of social activists have demanded a CBI probe into the death of a youth allegedly in police custody here a few days ago. In a letter to the Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), these activists have demanded strict action against the policemen allegedly responsible for the death of the youth, Manak, a resident of Jeevan Nagar here. The victim had ‘died’ on September 12 last. The petition to the NHRC has pointed out that Manak was arrested by the police on the charge of stealing a bicycle, but allegedly due to the severe beating given to him at the police chowki of Sector 29, he died. It has been further alleged that the policemen demanded a bribe of Rs 500 from the wife of the victim, when she came to the chowki to meet her husband. The woman was neither allowed to meet him nor told about the ‘condition’ of her husband, till she got the news of his death. The police allegedly attempted to make it out to be a case of road accident. The police is said to have claimed that Manak was killed in a road accident when he tried to escape from police custody while being taken for the recovery of the ‘stolen’ bicycle from a nearby spot. The signatories to the letter, including Mr Surender Singh Bhati, advocate, have alleged that Manak was kept in illegal confinement and subjected to third-degree ‘torture’, resulting in his death. They said that the police initially placed his body in a hospital as that of an ‘unidentified accident victim’, but when his wife exposed the matter, he was shown to have been “hit by a speeding vehicle while trying to escape from police custody.” The activists further alleged that the police had tampered with hospital records to hush up the matter.
	Ex-minister’s plea dismissed From Our Correspondent CHANDIGARH, Sept 28 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a petition filed by former Haryana Congress minister Anand Singh Dangi seeking the transfer of three FIRs registered by the Vigilance Bureau, Haryana, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Mr Justice V.M. Jain handing down this order said, “No case is made out for ordering the transfer of investigation of the cases referred to in the present petition from the Vigilance Bureau to the CBI or any other agency”. “This is specially so when nothing has come on record to show that the Investigating Officer of the bureau is in any manner prejudiced against the petitioner”, Mr Jain observed further. Furthermore, Mr Justice Jain said, “Neither the Investigation Officer nor the Chief Minister of Haryana, against whom the petitioner is alleging enmity, have been impleaded as parties. Three FIRs under Sections 218, 406, 409, 418, 468, 471 and 120-B and Section 13 (1) (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act were registered at Ambala, Rohtak and Hisar against Mr Dangi by the Vigilance Bureau on April 8, June 6 and July 6 last, respectively. The petitioner filed various applications for the grant of anticipatory bail which were dismissed by the High Court. Mr Justice Jain said, “The police has been unable to arrest the petitioner in spite of the issuance of non-bailble warrants and dismissal of his anticipatory bail applications”.

	Shekhar warns of fiscal slavery From Our Correspondent PANIPAT, Sept 28 — Our country is turning towards slavery due to the wrong policies and decisions of previous governments. This was stated by the Chairman of the Samajwadi Janata Party, Mr Chandra Shekhar, while talking to mediapersons at the PWD Rest House here today. The former Prime Minister said even water was being imported, besides grain, milk, butter and cosmetics. Local industries were on the verge of closure due to stiff competition by multinationals. Unemployment was increasing. The crime graph, too had gone up, he alleged. The SJP leader addressed his party workers at the local Community Centre and called upon the public to unite against “economic slavery”.
	Schools facing financial crisis From Our Correspondent AMBALA, Sept 28 — Most of the recognised schools of Haryana that receive 75 per cent financial grant from the state government, are facing the threat of closure. Many of these have not paid their staff for past 18 months due to the non-availability of the government grant. It was said by several speakers in the conference of principals and office-bearers of management committees of various schools of the district that was organised here today. The convener of the conference, Mr Muni Lal Bansal, said the government was not giving a good treatment to recognised schools. He said, earlier the government used to give the grants regularly to these schools. However, in 1996, the then Chief Minister, Mr Bansi Lal, had announced a 25 per cent cut on the grant to these schools, which had now been raised to 50 per cent. He said teachers of these schools had not been paid because of this only. He said these schools had been giving quality education to students. He also said students of these schools got most top positions in the middle and matriculation examinations of the state. He said 1.25 lakh teachers of government schools were being paid regularly, while 4,500 teachers of recognised schools were starving.Mr Vidhya Sagar Gupta, President of the School Principal Association of the Ambala Unit, said these schools could not be run without a regular grant from the state government. He said teachers had not received arrears according to the new grade? Representatives of various schools criticised the working of the Haryana School Education Board. A Principal said the board charged Rs 20 from each student for enrolment form, but did not provide it to the schools. Similarly, the admission forms for matriculation examinations have to be given by the schools, while the board gets what students pay for it. The principals urged the Chief Minister to direct the Education Department to release the grant in time. Mr Kirti Prashad Jain, Secretary of SA Jain College, and Mr Sudesh Jain, President of SA Jain School, also addressed the conference.
	Telecom engineers write to CJI Tribune News Service AMBALA, Sept 28 — The Telecommuni-cation Engineering Officers Association (TEOA) has sought judicial intervention to “save the interests of the employees of the Telecom Department”. In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India, the association has sought the letter be treated as a petition to safeguard the interests of the association members in particular and other employees in general. The letter states that at the time of respective recruitment, the employees of the erstwhile P and T Department had high hopes of being a privileged class of the Central Government. The letter points out “as per the media reports, the would-be corporate sectors will mainly seek benefits from the urban areas where density of utilisation is the maximum and will be neglecting the rural areas where the necessity is supreme.” It is, therefore, prayed that the conversion of the Telecom Department into a corporate sector may be deferred to save the interests of lakhs of employees.
	Shopping complex foundation stone laid Tribune News Service AMBALA, Sept 28 — GOC-in-C Western Command, Lt General Vijay Oberoi, yesterday laid the foundation-stone of a shopping complex, to be constructed by the Cantonment Board Ambala. The Cantonment Board, Ambala, in its endeavour to strengthen the much needed local infrastructure will build an ultra modern, Amba Commercial Complex, comprising 51 showrooms/offices/shops, 20 booths and 10 display cubicles. The Amba complex is going to come up at the important intersection between the Railway Road and Jagadhari Road and is located near the railway station and ISBT. Lt General Vijay Oberoi said that the complex would provide a good opportunity for socio-economic development. “The complex is going to be a revenue-earner for the board, and will go a long way in providing various services. The design is eco-friendly and will help in cleaning the area by the plantation of more trees,” he said. The Cantonment Executive Officer, Mr S. S. Chahal, speaking on the occasion, said the commercial complex is being constructed while ensuring aesthetically and functionally accepted norms of construction, including modern features like optimal day lighting, thermal comfort and rain water harvesting. “There is going to be ample space for parking and the complex is in harmony with the environment and its surroundings,” he said. The complex is being constructed on a self-financing basis at an estimated cost of Rs 240 lakhs. The project is expected be completed by September 2001. Incidentally, there was an unpleasant start to the foundation-stone laying function. A safai karamchari working at the site of the shopping complex died following electrocution. There have also been murmurs of protest by the shopkeepers of Regiment Bazar which is located opposite the proposed Complex. The shopkeepers opine that they stand to lose business with the setting up of the new complex. The civil administration along with the local police was present at the foundation-stone laying function to ensure that there was no untoward incident.
	Poison control unit for PGIMS From Our Correspondent ROHTAK, Sept 28 — The World Health Organisation has approved the setting up of a poison control and treatment centre at the PGIMS here in view of the rising number of poisoning cases in the state. Disclosing this at a press conference here yesterday, Dr S.B. Siwach, Director, PGIMS, said nearly 600 patients died due to poisoning every year. He revealed that a 12-bedded ICU would be commissioned here in the next three months. Besides, he said, the administration was planning to construct an additional block above the OPD in view of overcrowding. Dr Siwach said the institute had proposed to the government to allocate five seats of the MBBS course under the NRI quota to generate funds for the institute. He said the step could earn an amount of nearly Rs 2 crore. He informed that 90,000 patients were registered at the PGIMS every month for treatment but there was a shortage of doctors as well as the paramedical staff. Applications for the post of teachers had been invited by the institute while permission had been sought for making appointments on a contract basis also, he added.
	Convict escapes from custody From Our Correspondent KURUKSHETRA, Sept 28 — A dacoit, Surender Mehla, yesterday escaped from police custody. His accomplices allegedly blow chilly powder into the eyes of the policemen. He was being brought from the district jail to a local court. He was the main accused along with five others in a robbery case. A cashier of Punjab National Bank branch on the Salarpur road here was carrying Rs 2 lakh from the main branch to the new grain market branch on January 18 last year. The Karnal police arrested him. He was jailed in February this year. This was the second such incident in which a culprit escaped from police custody. Convict Laxmi Narayan escaped by breaking the jail 20 days ago. He was, however, rearrested within two days. Meanwhile, police parties had been sent to different areas and raids were being conducted to apprehend Surender Mehla at the earliest possible. Both the policemen, under whose custody he was being carried to the local court were arrested after the incident yesterday. However, the district police chief was not available for comments.