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| Saturday, December 9, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Court judgement puts Chautala to test
Setback to striking employees Postal Department seeks
Army assistance Quiz Dangi in jail:
judge Samiti issue: 6 hurt in
clash |
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Power crisis renders
40,000 workers jobless Paddy scam case takes new
turn Manager, 5 others
suspended SC confederation
rally on Dec 11 Dahiya is new MDU
Registrar Refresher course
inaugurated Sites to be
auctioned at Shahabad ESI hospital for Manesar
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Court judgement puts Chautala to test CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 —The court judgement condoning the delay in filing the charge sheet against the former Director-General of the Haryana Police, Mr S.P.S Rathore, in the Ruchika molestation case has put the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, to test. Mr Chautala has always claimed to have great respect for the judiciary, the third pillar of democracy, and has always declared he would abide by the court decisions. While condoning the delay, the Special Magistrate for CBI cases in Haryana, Mr Arun Kumar Tyagi, held, persons responsible for government inaction (in not ordering the registration of a criminal case against Mr Rathore) also deserved prosecution and punishment under appropriate provisions of the law but unfortunately there is no prayer and proceedings for this purpose (before the court).” This puts the ball in the court of the Haryana Government. The government is now morally bound, some may say even legally, to act on what the court has said. The least the government can do is to form a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to identify all those persons because of whom the delay, either deliberately or otherwise, occurred. It will be then for the Chief Minister to initiate action against the guilty persons. Such a step will at least ensure that in future such a lackadaisical approach is not shown while dealing with complaints against the high-ups. Mr Chautala has shown the inclination to take the bull by the horns by launching criminal proceedings against certain former ministers for the alleged corrupt practices, notwithstanding the fact that his opponents term it as political vendetta. The fact that many of those facing corruption charges have been denied anticipatory bail by the courts puts an added responsibility on Mr Chautala to take the word of a court of law in all seriousness it deserves. There is another para in Mr Tyagi’s judgement which needs Mr Chautala’s attention. The judge said, “It is now well recognised that unconscientious state officials may exploit and misuse the provisions of the law barring cognisance after the expiry of the period of limitation. “In a case under the Forest Act in respect of illegal felling of trees it was observed by the Himachal Pradesh High Court that the conninvance of forest officials concerned is writ large because they sleep over the challans and let the period of limitation expire and ensure acquittals.” In the Rathore case a similar thing had almost happened, but for the perseverance of the complainant, Mrs Madhu Prakash, and the courts concern for justice. Meanwhile, Dr Naresh Mittal, who played no less an important role than Mrs Madhu Prakash and her husband, Mr Anand Prakash, in bringing the Ruchika molestation case to the trial stage, spoke to the press for the first time. In his letter to the Director of the CBI in which Mr Rathore had cast aspersions on the investigation by the agency and had also alleged that the case was the result of a conspiracy hatched by his rivals in the Haryana Police, the former DGP had claimed Dr Mittal could eliminate him (Mr Rathore). The Panchkula-based doctor, who stood by the Prakashes from the very beginning of the case, said now since the court had taken cognisance of the charge against Mr Rathore, they would move an application in the court for inclusion of Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the IPC in the charge sheet against Mr Rathore. He said they would also make every possible effort to ensure action against all those who were responsible for the delay in the registration of the case against the former DGP. He also gave details of how he was harassed by the police and other officers in order to press him to stop fighting the cause of Ruchika. He said a few years ago when the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) was to allot plots for nursing homes a bureaucrat had called him to his office. He was offered a plot in lieu of not pursuing the Ruchika case. When he declined the offer he was not given the plot. Dr Mittal said the allotment of plots was stayed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on a petition moved by him in which he had written about the offer made to him. He alleged he was also implicated in a criminal case in which the police had registered a case against a driver of a vehicle owned by him. The case took place when Mr Bansi Lal was the Chief Minister. The police had not included his (Dr Mittal’s) name in the charge sheet. But when Mr Rathore became the DGP reinvestigation of the case was ordered. His name was again cleared by the investigating officer. But, he alleged, a police official close to Mr Rathore made a statement against him in a court which issued him summons to face trial for allegedly preventing a public servant from performing his duty. Dr Mittal said the way Mr Chautala had sent Mr Rathore on long leave the day the court took cognisance of the charge against him had given him the hope that the Chief Minister would take action against those responsible for the delay. |
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Setback to striking employees CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — It seems that the perseverance of the striking Class III employees of Haryana Government is being tested with Harynana’s stand to go by the court order on the controversial government order reverting seven Under Secretaries belonging to reserved categories to Superintendents. The affected Under Secretaries had filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 24, following which the court ordered status quo vis a vis the position of the Under Secretaries. The case is now being heard by the court and the next hearing will be on Monday. Ironically, even as the Advocate-General of Haryana is defending the state government’s interpretation of the Supreme Court order in the Ajit Singh Janjua case — which led the government to issue the order on October 6 reverting seven Under Secretaries to Superintendents — the striking employees are accusing the government of reluctance to carry out the order for creating a Scheduled Caste vote bank for the INLD. According to the official version, the October 6 order was stayed by the government as the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, was abroad at that time. On his return to Chandigarh also , the order could not be carried out in view of a contempt petition filed in the Supreme Court by the Under Secretaries accusing the state government of incorrect interpretation of the SC order in the Ajit Singh Janjua case. The employees’ strike, spearheaded by the General Category and Backward Classes Employees Welfare Organisation, was first launched on October 17 demanding that the seven Superintendents who enjoyed the benefit of accelerated seniority and became Under Secretaries after March 1, 1996, be reverted to their original posts. The strike was called off on November 9 following a meeting of the agitators and the state government representatives in which the strikers were persuaded to wait till November 13 when the SC order on the contempt petition was to be announced. The strike was resumed again from the afternoon of November 13 as the employees felt that the government was dilly-dallying with the implementation of the October 6 order. The state government, however, explained the delay saying that Supreme Court clarified “that the dismissal of the contempt petition should not be construed as any expression of opinion on the issues raised in the petition”, and it verbally asked the state government to wait for seven days so that petitioner could approach some other forum which was understood to be the High Court. The affected Under Secretaries, meanwhile, could file their petition in the High Court only on November 24, even as the seven-day deadline set by the court expired on November 20. Talking to the TNS today, Mr Prithwi Singh Layal, an employee leader, who was arrested and kept in the Ambala Jail for 20 days before he was released on bail on Tuesday, alleged that four officers, including two from the Chief Minister’s office, had pulled the strings and persuaded Mr Chautala to not carry out the October 6 order in the three days period between November 20 and November 24. These officers were also responsible for the November 22 agreement between the state government and the strikers, following which the strike was withdrawn unconditionally, going astray, he alleged. Meanwhile, the strike was successfully observed for the 23rd day today with the employees gathering at their usual meeting place in front of the 30 Bays Building. There was no fresh development except for the removal of Ms Promilla Sharma, an employee who was on indefinite fast, by the Chandigarh Police last night. She has been admitted in the Sector 16 General Hospital here. |
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Postal Department seeks
Army assistance AMBALA, Dec 8 — To tide over the crises emanating from the strike by postal employees, the assistance of Army has been sought by the Postal Department for movement of the mail with in Haryana and some of the nearby states. This will enable the clearance of the mail detained in various post offices and RMS offices. The Chief Post Master General,
Haryana, Mr Tej Pal Sharma, said Army Postal Service has agreed to provide their vehicle to transport the mail of the Haryana Postal Department. The mail detained in the mail offices have almost been cleared, he added. Meanwhile, the postal services remained crippled through out Haryana as the nationwide strike of the Postal Department entered its fourth day. The mail sorting work at the main RMS office at Ambala Cantonment Railway Station has totally been paralysed as except one or two officers almost all the employes have not been attending the office. According to the RMS sources, around 2,000 mail bags are lying unsorted in Haryana circle. The speed post services, saving transaction and sale of stamps and booking of money order and registered letters have also been affected badly. Not only the business houses but the everybody was depending on the courier services which is causing a big revenue loss to the Postal Department. Mr Tej Pal Sharma, Chief Post Master General, Haryana, told that the strike had been causing the loss of around Rs 5 lakh daily to the circle. He said that there were 2,650 post offices and sub-post offices already working in the state. Out of them 2,300 are existing in the rural area. He said there were around 10,000 employees working in Haryana circle of the Postal Department, out of them around 35 per cent employees, most of them from rural post offices, were attending their offices. However, the employees unions claim that more than 95 per cent of the employees have been boycotting the office and supporting the strike. The postal authorities have made some emergency arrangement for the delivery of the letters but it has not been proving effective at any level. The postal services at main post offices at Ambala city and Ambala Cantonment remained paralysed for the fourth day consectively. The businessmen and the traders were the worst affected. However, the Chief Post Master General, Haryana, said during the strike period a sale of stamps worth Rs 23,570 and cash receipts of Rs 15,11,530 was made in the circle and about 40,000 ordinary letters and 742 speed post were also delivered during the period. The RMS sources said when if the strike ended before Monday, it would atleast one week to clear the unsorted mail lying at the different post offices. The sources added that if the strike continue long, the situation would become more grave as after December 10 the rush of the new year cards will start. CHANDIGARH: The Army postal services will assist the postal department from tomorrow in exchange of bags from Chandigarh to different head posts offices in Punjab. The Assistant Post Master General (S), Punjab Circle, Mr Sarwan Singh, in a press release said the help of the Army would also be taken in the exchange of mail bags from Delhi. At least 14 more post offices started providing essential services
to the public, he said, adding that from tomorrow more post offices were likely to be reopened with the employees reporting back for duty. He said that today 593 post offices remained partially open and essential services were provided. He said saving bank transactions were performed and postal stamps and postal orders were sold. Speed-post articles and registered articles were delivered with the help of inspecting staff and officers. The Chief Postmaster General, Punjab Circle, has appealed to the employees to shun the path of agitation and report back for duty for the convenience of public. |
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Letters pile up as strike continues KURUKSHETRA: Keeping in view the inconvenience being caused to people due to the postal employees’ indefinite strike, counters for the booking of speed post articles, money orders, registration of letters and parcels etc are being kept open at the Head Post Office here and at Kaithal, Ladwa, Amin, Pundri and Kurukshetra University post offices. Claiming this here today, Mr Harbans Lal Sharma, Superintendent, Kurukshetra division said people had been requested not to post their urgent letters in the letter boxes but hand them over the counters of the post offices. YAMUNANAGAR: Postal employees of the district remained on strike for the fourth day today and held protest march. Mr Karnail Singh, branch secretary of the Postal Employees Union, claimed that the strike was total and would continue till their demands were accepted GURGAON: Postal employees of the local Head Post Office and sub post offices closed their post offices and assembled in front of the Head Post Office. They demonstrated in favour of their demands and against the alleged anti-employee policy of the government. |
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Quiz Dangi in jail:
judge ROHTAK, Dec 8 — Disallowing custodial interrogation of former Revenue Minister Anand Singh
Dangi, the Special Judge, Mr Shiva Sharma, has, however, allowed the State Vigilance Bureau to interrogate him on the jail premises on December 9 and
10. Dangi, who faces charges underSections 218/406/409/418/ 420/467/468/471 and 120-B of the IPC and Section 13 (1) (D) of the Prevention of Corruption Act had surrendered in the court of the Special Judge here on December 4 on the directions of the apex court. He was remanded in judicial custody till December 18. While filing its comments on the bail application of
Dangi, the State Vigilance Bureau has sought permission for custodial interrogation of the former Revenue Minister. Counsel for Dangi opposed the request for police remand on the ground that his client apprehended danger to his life and sought adjournment, submitting that the special leave petition
(SLP) filed by Dangi regarding transfer of the case investigation to the CBI was pending in the Supreme Court and had been listed for December 11. The Special Judge allowed the State Vigilance Bureau to carry out interrogation of Dangi on the jail premises on December 9 and 10 from 9 am to 5 pm by the Superintendent of Police, State Vigilance Bureau, Mr Sadhu Singh. The Superintendent of Police, State Vigilance Bureau, would be assisted in the interrogation by not more than two police officers of the rank of inspector or
above. Dangi, the order said, would be at liberty to have his advocate present besides him during his interrogation. The Judge has also advised the district police chief and the Superintendent, District Jail, to ensure the security of
Dangi. The Judge fixed December 18 for arguments on the bail application of
Dangi. Earlier, when the court began proceedings, the public prosecutor sprang a surprise by submitting that the state had no notice about the surrender of Dangi in this court on December 4. He was answering a query from the court as to why he had not made an application for the custodial interrogation of Dangi on December 4, the day he surrendered. The Judge said that the plea of the Public Prosecutor was too unconvincing to be accepted. The state had prior information about the surrender and had made elaborate arrangements in the court precincts and had virtually converted the court premises into a high-security zone, the Judge said. |
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Samiti issue: 6 hurt in
clash SIRSA, Dec 8 — At least six persons were injured in a clash over the constitution of the Gram vikas samiti in Bharokan village in the district. In some villages like in Maujdeen demands are being raised for the reconstitution of their village gram
samiti. The issue has become a bone of contention as leaders of the ruling party defend the move whereas the opposition parties apprehend misuse of power. The state government had announced to form rural development samities for rural development. Though the Chief Minister has assured due representation to all communities and sections of society in Maujdeen village the panch from a reserved category has been excluded giving rise to apprehensions that the gram samities are meant to give access to a few from the backdoor to prevail upon the constitutionally elected
panchayats. This has evoked sharp reactions from various political parties, including the ruling alliance partner
BJP. Mr Jaimal Singh, district unit general secretary of the BJP is of the view that panchayats have been constitutionally given sufficient powers to carry out development works which they will be able to do with the grants given to them by the
Centre. He questioned the validity of imposing a nominated body upon elected self-governing bodies like panchayat and said: “If it is implemented, the people will lose faith in the necessity of local bodies. It would amount to imposing self-styled “inspector” upon the
panchayats. Will this follow with regard to the elected assembly too?” he asked. Senior Congress leader and former minister Jagdish Nehra called it an encroachment on the rights of the
panchayat. It was baseless that the new development samities be formed to give representation from reserved section which already exist in the panchayat Act. He alleged that this move was for planting goons belonging to the political party in power to misuse the powers and money of the Central Government without any constitutional
accountability. A member of the zila
parishad, Mrs Pushpa Mehta, said the ruling party had vested interests in the formation of fresh
samities. She expressed her surprise at the way zila parishads were being ignored in the matters of rural
development. Mr Krishan Godara, District Congress President, said this would create deep differences instead of paving way to progress. He opined that there were sufficient financial provisions in the panchayati raj to execute developmental works if only the governments willed. Leaders in the ruling party, however, think that the formation of such samities will put a positive check on the contractors by hampering commission and extortions at the cost of quality of work. The District President of the
INLD, Mr Padam Jain, argued that this would not only improve the quality of work but also eradicate corruption. President of zila parishad Radhey Ram said the constitution of these samities would enhance the powers of the panchayats manifold and it will also help to communicate directly with the
Chief Minister. |
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Power crisis renders
40,000 workers jobless SONEPAT, Dec 8 — The on-going power crisis since the beginning of November this year, has not only affected the functioning of the industries. But also rendered nearly 40,000 workers jobless. The long spells of power cuts, both scheduled and unscheduled, have had a telling effect on industrial production as a large number of small scale units are reported to have already been closed. More are on the verge of closure. Many units are finding it difficult even to pay wages to their employees or repay the loans and instalments to the finance agencies. The power crisis has further aggravated due to the stoppage of the supply by the BBMB frequently during the day and at night. Moreover, the 100-MVA transformer installed in 220 KV power sub-station at Fazilpur had collapsed last month and the authorities of the UHBVN had so far failed to replace it. The Domestic Consumers Association held a protest meeting here last evening. They urged the state government to order a probe into the working of the UHBVN. The industrialists said they were unhappy over lay-offs and retrenchments of workers due to the non-availability of power. Production in their units have slumped to non-profitable levels, they added. Meanwhile, most of the areas in the city remained without water for the whole day yesterday following the disruption of drinking water supply system on account of non-availability of power at the main waterworks at Murthal and the boosting stations. The officials of the Public Health Department are worried about the erractic water supply and alleged that authorities of the UHBVN were indifferent to their complaints. |
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Power corp
men to join strike on Dec 12 SONEPAT, Dec 8 — The All-Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union has decided to join the proposed nationwide strike on December 12 in protest against the privatisation policy of the Centre and the state government. This was stated by Mr Devinder Hooda, chief organiser of the state unit of the union, while addressing a meeting of the employees held here yesterday. Mr Hooda accused the BJP-led NDA government of working under the pressure of the World Bank and other multinational companies and warned that if it continued such policies the union would launch an agitation on this issue. |
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Paddy scam case takes new
turn KAITHAL, Dec 8 — The paddy scam in which the Haryana Government had lost crores of rupees and farmers were forced to make a distress sale of paddy took a new turn when Jai Singh Dahiya, an inspector, who was earlier booked under Sections 409/420, IPC, was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The anticipatory bail filed by him has been withdrawn by Dahiya’s counsel and the court of the Additional District Judge, Mr H.S. Bhangoo, dismissed it as the case would now be heard in the court of the special judge. The stay granted on his arrest also stands vacated. Meanwhile, a
trader, Sat Pal, who is a partner in a local firm, was arrested yesterday and produced before the CJM, Mr N.P.Dewet, who remanded him in police custody for one day. The police had asked for his remand in connection with the recovery of some documents related to the scam. |
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Manager, 5 others
suspended SIRSA, Dec 8 — Five employees, including Manager of the Haryana Warehouse Corporation here, have been suspended for selling hundreds of quintals of wheat from the local godowns. According to information received today, the unauthorised selling came into light when employees of the Food Corporation came to load wheat bags in a special train last month. They found that many bags had only a few kilograms of wheat and a large number of bags were found torn which created suspicion about unauthorised selling of wheat and involvement of employees of the corporation. The officials of the Confed reported the matter to the headquarters and an inquiry was conducted during which it was established that a large quantity of wheat had been allegedly sold by the employees. On the basis of this report, the Managing Director of Warehousing Corporation had suspended District Manager J.P. Sharma, Godown-keeper Guggan Singh, Madan Lal and two others in this connection. |
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SC confederation
rally on Dec 11 GURGAON, Dec 8 — A rally will be organised on December 11 at the Ram Lila Maidan, Delhi by the All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations which has been struggling hard for the last three years to get “anti-reservation” orders of the Department of Personnel and Training withdrawn. Mr Ram Raj, Chairman, All-India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations, said this in a statement issued here today. He said when the united front government was in power the Department of Personnel and Training allegedly issued five anti-reservation orders in 1997. Two orders have been withdrawn following our resistance, he said. They are agitating for the withdrawal of the remaining orders and the enactment of the reservation Act which should be put in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, he said. He said recently the country had gone for massive liberalisation by inviting multinationals and removing restrictions on import. The rally will also seek reservation in the private sector, the enactment of the reservation Act and the scrapping of the constitutional review commission. They will also gherao Parliament. |
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Dahiya is new MDU
Registrar ROHTAK, Dec 8 — In a significant development, Dr Satpal Singh Dahiya, Reader in the English Department, Maharshi Dayanand University, was today appointed the Registrar of the varsity. He replaced Dr Preet Singh. The Vice-Chancellor, Maj-Gen (retd) Bhim Singh Suhag, issued orders in this connection under Statute 2 (3) of the University Act this evening. Dr Dahiya was a gold medalist in his BA (Honours) and went on to do his PhD in English. He has to his credit publication of several research papers on several American writers in various journals. He has held senior academic as well as administrative posts in the university during his long teaching career. He was recently nominated the Chancellor’s nominee on the university court. He has also been a member of the Academic Council. Talking to The Tribune after taking over charge, he said transparency and efficiency in the varsity functioning would be his top priority. He said he would try to decentralise powers to facilitate early disposal of cases which had piled up in the Registrar’s office. Besides, he would strive for the completion of different schemes and projects which had come to a standstill, he added. |
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Refresher course
inaugurated KURUKSHETRA, Dec 8 — Emeritus professor of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, S.S. Guraya inaugurated a three-week refresher course in life sciences here last evening in the Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University. While delivering the inaugural address, Professor Guraya elaborated on the recent advances in autocrine, paracrine, juxtacrine and telecrine regulatory machanisms and emphasised that any disturbance or alteration in intercellular and inter cellar communication leads to digfunctioning and disease. Although a lot of studies have been made on the use of these factors in vitro system, their role needs to be verified to impart these growth factors multitude of roles in medicine and research. He further stressed that Indian scientists need to update their knowledge. He also stressed the role of teachers in the changing scenario and urged scientists and teachers to work to improve the health of the soil, air and water. Prof Girish Chopra, Chairman, Department of Zoology of the University and Course Coordinator, highlighted the achievements of life sciences in the 20th century and claimed that the “21st century will be truly the era of biology.” Prof J.S. Yadav, Dean, Science Faculty of the University, presided over the function. |
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Sites to be
auctioned at Shahabad CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) will auction commercial sites on a freehold basis in the Urban Estate shopping centre-III, Shahabad, on December 15. While stating this here today, a spokesman of HUDA said 16 sites for single-storeyed (without basement) booths would be auctioned. |
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ESI hospital for Manesar CHANDIGARH, Dec 8 — The Haryana Government today decided to open an ESI Hospital at Manesar. An official spokesman said more than 2,600 industrial workers of 25 industrial units in the area would benefit. He said the total expenditure of the new hospital would be borne by the ESI Corporation during the first three years. Thereafter, the expenditure would be shared between the corporation and the state government in the ratio of 7 to 1. He added that the state government had sanctioned 14 posts for this hospital, including two of medical officer. |
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