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| Monday,
December 18, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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HML ‘retrenching’
employees Treasury
offices to be computerised NHRC seeks
Haryana’s reply Mid-day meals Improve amenities
within 3 months, says Civil Judge |
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| Substandard
bricks used in construction SONEPAT, Dec 17 — The Haryana Government has been suffering a huge loss owing to the use of substandard bricks and other material in the construction of watercourses and other allied works undertaken in this district by officials of the Command Area Development Agency. 3 die
after drinking poisonous milk Haryana Cong to
launch stir HFUCTO’s
charge against govt 10 HCS
officers may be promoted to IAS 7-yr-term
for raping niece Two
held for raping minor Gangman
suspended 10-yr
jail term for peddling opium
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HML ‘retrenching’
employees FARIDABAD, Dec 17 — After surrendering 17 most productive mines to the government recently, the state government-owned Haryana Minerals Limited (HML) has now started ‘retrenching’ its ‘surplus’ staff. About 15 officials, including the Senior Mining Engineer of the company, have been reportedly removed from the service. The company is likely to say ‘goodbye’ to another batch of officials and employees in the near future. According to sources in the HML, about 15 senior and middle management officials have been shown the door with the payment of three-month salary in advance. It is learnt that no prior notice has been served and no other benefits have been provided to the officials. This action of the management has sent a shock wave among about 800 other employees who foresee a ‘bleak future’, following the decision of the HML management to handover about half of the most productive mines to the state government. The ‘retrenched officials include the Chief of the Officers and Staff Association of the HML, Mr P.K. Saksena, Senior Mining Engineer and the Personnel Manager. It is learnt that the HML management in its recent order has stated that since the company has surrendered 17 of its mines to the government, it has been left with ‘surplus’ staff and so some of them have been relieved from their service. It is learnt that while the three-month advance salary has been released, the salary for over a month has been held back. Other benefits like gratuity, medical, earned leave encashment or voluntary retirement scheme have not been passed to these officials so far. The ‘retrenched’ officials had been posted at various offices in Faridabad, Gurgaon, Mahendergarh and Rewari. It is learnt that the removal orders of another 25 officials and employees may be issued any time. The company has been left with about 16 other mines in the area and there are about 700 employees left with the HML who are either permanent or working on contract and daily wage basis. |
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Treasury offices to
be computerised FATEHABAD, Dec 17 — The Haryana Government has decided to computerise all treasury offices by the end of next financial year. This move is aimed at ruling out any type of bunglings in the financial transactions with the government. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating a Sub-Treasury Office at Bhattu Kalan today, the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, said the government was committed to computerise important government works. He also reiterated the state government’s commitment not to allow the shortage of funds come in the way of the development. Mr Sampat Singh, said the Haryana Government had introduced the new industry, education and transport policies which were aimed at the Welfare of all residents of the state. He said the state government had ensured clearance of all canals and distributries and provided 24-hour power supply for the benefit of the farmers. New roads had been laid and old ones repaired. He said after the completion of some projects, no village of the Bhattu Kalan Assembly segment would remain without water. The minister also inaugurated a water channel at Bhodia Bishnoian village. Mr Anil Malik, Deputy Commissioner, later told mediapersons that Bhattu Kalan Sub-Treasury would fulfil the demand of the people. He said a new building for sub-tehsil and sub-treasury offices at Bhattu Kalan would soon be constructed on the Khara-Kheri road. Land for this purpose had already been provided by the panchayat samiti. He said transaction up to Rs 3 crore would take place in the sub-treasury and this would save the local people from going to Fatehabad for this purpose. The construction of the channel at Bhodia Bhshnoian village would also benefit farmers of Bhana village beside those of Bhodia Bishnoian. |
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NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (PTI) — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought reply from the Haryana Government on the alleged torture of a former state minister and his family members as part of political vendetta by the state government. Taking cognizance of the complaint by Congress leader Tejinder Pal Singh Mann, the NHRC directed Karnal district Deputy Commissioner and top police officials responsible for the alleged human rights’ violation and misuse of power to appear before the
commission on January 3. Mr Mann in his complaint alleged that his family members were
illegally detained in prison in false cases, where they had to undergo the “uncontrolled tyranny” of the authorities which could be gauged from the fact that among the 15 persons arrested, only nine were produced before the Magistrate after a gap of 40 hours. The rest were not produced for more than a week and were kept in “most inhuman and uncivilised conditions” and were subjected to “barbaric torture”, he alleged. Mr Mann, through his counsel also alleged that his wife who was also taken into custody at midnight met with “inhuman treatment and was subjected to filthy abuses”. “The series of transactions indicating a course of action by the authorities concerned prima facie do not rule out the likelihood of systematic course adopted for the harassment of the petitioners, which if true, would be a serious violation of the petitioner’s human rights,” the NHRC said in its order. |
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Mid-day meals HISAR, Dec 17 — A scam in the supply of food to schoolchildren under the mid-day meal scheme has been unearthed. The Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr O.P. Indora, conducted an inquiry and found serious irregularities in the implementation of this scheme. On the basis of his report, a case has been registered against contractor Raj Kumar and some officers of Confed. So far, no officer or employee has been named in the case and no arrest has been made. The district administration has written to higher authorities of Confed to initiate departmental action against the officers and employees allegedly involved in the scam. The inquiry found that the quantity of foodgrain supplied under the scheme was less in October. The contractor allegedly kept the supply with him illegally for several days. The report said that the contractor and officers of Confed were hand in glove to pocket the money meant for the foodgrains. The mid-day meal scheme was introduced on October 2, 1995, for the children of primary schools. In 1998, the scheme was amended and rice and wheat were made available to the schools. Confed employees and contractor allegedly used to pilfer with huge quantities of the foodgrains kept in their makeshift godowns every month. The contractor allegedly kept the supply with him illegally for several days. The report said that the contractor and officers of Confed were hand in glove to pocket the money meant for the foodgrains. The mid-day meal scheme was introduced on October 2, 1995, for the children of primary schools. In 1998, the scheme was amended and rice and wheat were made available to the schools. Confed employees and contractor allegedly used to pilfer with huge quantities of the foodgrains kept in their makeshift godowns every month. |
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Improve amenities within 3 months, says Civil Judge AMBALA, Dec 17 — The Civil Judge, Ambala City, Mr Sandeep Singh in an order has directed the Municipal Committee, Ambala City, the Executive Engineer PWD (B&R), Ambala Cantonment, the Executive Engineer, Drainage and Public Health, Ambala City, the Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, and the State of Haryana to make proper arrangements for sanitation, drainage and roads in the premises of the Civil Courts within three months. The president of the District Bar Association, Mr Daljeet Singh Punia, advocates A.S. Punia, J. L. Gupta and J.K. Puri and six more had in a suit asked the court to direct the defendants to make arrangements for the drainage of rainwater and maintenance and repair of leaking roofs and walls of several courtrooms. The judge observed: “The claim of the plaintiffs and the explanation given by counsel for the defendants to the effect that proper drainage and the maintenance of roads cannot be done due to lack of funds is not very convincing”. The defendants cannot be absolved of their obligation by merely stating that since they do not have sufficient funds, they are unable to provide essential amenities to the general public, that too under the very nose of the courts”. The judge further directed that the judicial complex under construction as per the statement of the DW1 be completed within a year. |
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Substandard bricks used in construction SONEPAT, Dec 17 — The Haryana Government has been suffering a huge loss owing to the use of substandard bricks and other material in the construction of watercourses and other allied works undertaken in this district by officials of the Command Area Development Agency (CADA). According to sources, the bulk of the amount spent on the construction works has been misappropriated by certain officials entrusted with the execution of these works. A high-level inquiry into complaints in this regard is likely to expose the irregularities and misdeeds of the officials concerned. Meanwhile, representatives of various farmer organisations have alleged that some of the works for the construction of watercourses are substandard and if not taken care of at this stage, can cause a huge loss to the state
exchequer. They also pointed out that the irregularities cannot be exposed unless some of the CADA officials are transferred immediately. Secondly, the inquiry should be entrusted to a non-engineer assisted by the experts. They further alleged that some of the works executed by the CADA officials remained on paper only and these officials had made the payment for the works which actually had not been executed. |
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3 die after drinking
poisonous milk JIND, Dec 17 — Three members of a family died at Dumerklia Kalan village in this district yesterday. The dead include Bhajan Lal, his wife Bala and their one-year-old daughter Kiran. It is believed that they died after consuming poisonous milk as a dead lizard was found in the pot in which the milk had been boiled. They were reportedly cremated without giving information to the police regarding their death. Bhajan Lal was an employee of the Public Health Department and was posted at
Narwana. |
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Haryana Cong to launch stir ROHTAK, Dec 17 — The Haryana unit the Congress will launch a statewide agitation against the Chautala government on December 21. Prof Virender, President, District Congress Committee (Rural), said here yesterday that Mr Bhupender Singh Hooda would arrive here on December 21 after being re-elected as the HPCC chief. He said the Congress committees of Rohtak and Jhajjar districts would jointly organise a function to honour him at HUDA complex. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the leaders of the local Congress committees and Jhajjar districts held at the residence of Ms Kartar Devi, general secretary, HPCC yesterday. |
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HFUCTO’s charge against govt ROHTAK, Dec 17 — The Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation (HFUCTO) has charged the Union Government with violating the agreement reached with the federation. In a statement here yesterday, Mr Wazir Nehra, convener, HFUCTO, said employees all over the country had been getting the benefit of revised pay scales and service conditions since January, 1996. He said the step to extend the date for providing the benefit of promotion to teachers was not justified and it would cause financial loss to the teachers concerned. Mr Nehra demanded immediate release of the arrears pending on account of revision of pay scales since January 1996, and cash payment of the amount due after January 1998. |
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10 HCS officers may
be promoted to
IAS CHANDIGARH, Dec 17 — Ten members of the Haryana Civil Service (HCS) are likely to be promoted to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) soon. A departmental promotion committee, which met in Delhi on December 14 and 15, is believed to have recommended the names of Mr O. P. Indora and Mr Virender Verma (both of the 1975 batch); Mr O. P. Langyan (1976 batch); Mrs Suprabha Dahiya, Mr Chander Prakash, Mr R.S. Doon, Mr Subhash Goel, Mr Mehtab Singh Sehrawat, Mr C.R. Rana and Mr Rajbir Singh (all of the 1980 batch). Their names have been recommended for two vacancies of 1998, four of 1999 and four of 2000. Last year the Chautala government had promoted 27 HCS officers, who had been denied promotion for the past six years by the governments led by Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Bansi Lal for unknown reasons. |
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7-yr-term for
raping niece HISAR, Dec 17 — A maternal uncle who had raped his niece has been sent to jail for seven years. The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr K.C. Sharma, found Nafe Singh guilty of the rape charge and awarded imprisonment for seven years and imposed a fine of Rs 8,000 on him. The accused raped his niece after giving her some sedatives in 1999. In another case, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr P.L. Ahuja, today sent Mohinder Singh to jail for 10 years and imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on him for possessing 1 kg of opium. |
Two held for
raping minor SIRSA, Dec 17 — The district police has arrested two persons for raping a minor. Police sources said today a 14-year-old minor of Kherekan village had gone out to feed cattle when she was gagged and abducted by Hathee and Rajender of the same village. She was taken to a house in the local Housing Board Colony and raped. A case was registered after the medical report. |
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Gangman suspended SONEPAT, Dec 17 — Mohinder, a gangman of railway crossing 21 near Rathdhanna railway station, was placed under suspension yesterday by the authorities of the Northern Railway in connection with the alleged collusion of a tractor trailer with the Delhi-bound Flying Mail on December 12.According to official sources, an inquiry will be held in this regard tomorrow. No one was hurt in the collusion. Meanwhile, the Northern Railway has sanctioned the construction of a block section at Harsana railway station near the town. Under the scheme, four lines will be laid within the next two months to check delays in the arrival and departure of trains on the DUK section. |
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10-yr jail term for
peddling opium HISAR, Dec 17 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr P.L. Ahuja, has sentenced Mahender Singh to 10-year imprisonment and fined him Rs 1 lakh on the charge of peddling opium. According to the prosecution, Mahender Singh of the nearby Chaudhariwali village was caught at Sarsana village of the district while carrying 1,200 gm of opium last year. |
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