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| Saturday, February
10, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Bureau books officials for 54 cr fraud Power cuts, water shortage hit Bhiwani Rs 15-lakh project to upgrade FSL Move to grant NPA on slab basis opposed High Court |
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Traders hold
dharna, block traffic Ban on employing
unidentified persons Haryana
clarifies on jobs to kin 72 lakh to be spent on
development works CAT DA rules on family
pension revised Relief for quake
victims 5 of two families
die in mishap Woman gangraped
at gunpoint
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Bureau books officials for 54 cr fraud CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — The Haryana State Vigilance Bureau today registered a case against certain officials of the Industries, Excise & Taxation and Town & Country Planning Departments under Sections 406, 409, 418, 429 and 120-B, IPC for allegedly causing a loss of over Rs 54.63 crore to the state exchequer through cheating, fraud and misappropriation by misuse of their official power. A spokesman of the bureau said as a result of its inquiry these officials were involved in awarding illegal benefits to 416 industrial units in Karnal and Panipat districts from August 31, 1996, to June 22, 1998. He added that the bureau’s recommendations which had been accepted by the state government, included registration of criminal cases against these officials and recovery of this amount with interest to be effected from the beneficiary units. Investigations are in progress. He said out of the total loss, Rs 18.59 crore was caused by granting sales tax exemptions to 49 industrial units in the controlled area without obtaining permission for change of land use. Sales tax exemption of over Rs 4.33 crore was given to 15 units without NOC or approved plan from the municipal committees concerned. A loss of Rs 28.58 crore was caused where also tax exemption to 65 units were rejected. These units were still availing of the benefit and no recovery action had been taken by the department. |
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Power cuts, water shortage hit Bhiwani BHIWANI, FEB 9 —
Residents of various villages are also protesting against the power problem. Recently, residents of Dhanana, Jui, Behal, Khairpura, Nangla, Golpura, Golagarh, Patharwali, Jeetpura, Umarwas, Haripur, Asalwas etc have blocked the main roads. Bhiwani and all towns of the district are the worst hit. There is no time schedule for power cuts and authorities have failed to adhere to the power cut schedule announced by the government. The disposal house is the worst hit and the work of draining out the filth paralysed with the interruption of power. The nigam authorities disconnected the power supply which was especially provided through 132 kv transformer and its cost was being borne by the Irrigation Department. An official of the DHBVN on the condition of anonymity said the Irrigation Authorities probably were not aware of the change. Since, the change was made through a general feeder it would suffer power cuts time and again. The disposal house needed regular supply for the cleanliness of the city, he said. |
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Rs 15-lakh project to upgrade FSL CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — Haryana’s Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), based at Karnal, is the first laboratory in the country for which the Centre today sanctioned a Rs 15-lakh project to develop infrastructural facilities, besides standardising techniques on DNA testing so as to speed up criminal investigation. Mr M.S. Malik, Haryana’s Director-General of Police, said DNA testing had made administration of justice easy since the adoption of this technique in analysing criminal cases. Referring to a case of disputed parentage referred to the FSL by the Sessions Court, he pointed out that a person had sought divorce from his wife on suspicion of the child’s illegitimacy. The wife claimed that her husband had levelled this allegation to get more dowry and she opted to get the problem resolved through genetic testing. Blood samples of the husband, wife and the child were tested for the blood grouping systems. Consequently, the husband was excluded from being the biological father of the child. The court decided the case in favour of the husband granting him divorce against his wife. Mr Malik said with a view to increase the effectiveness of the genetic testing, efforts were made to introduce DNA identifiers in routine lab tests. Several other cases relating to forgery of documents and making people unconscious with intoxicants had also been solved by the FSL. He said the FSL had also detected a case of forgery involving valuable property. In this case, a receipt was stated to have been issued for transfer of land. On examination, the receipt was found to be forged. It was found that the revenue stamp containing the signature of the actual land owner was taken from some other documents and pasted on the receipt. Besides, the last letter of the signature was added to complete the signature. The examination conducted under different sources of light revealed that the ink on the last letter of the signature and the signature on the revenue stamp did not match. Similarly, a bank draft of Rs 20,000 was received by the FSL for examination. The draft was examined, which revealed that the original writing on the bank draft had been removed with a chemical eraser and the existing writing on the bank draft was rewritten. Under ultra-violet light, the original writings on the bank draft are seen as white under the subsequent writing. Hence, forgery was detected in the bank draft case. Mr Malik said there had been rapid advancement in genetic testing techniques during the last decade and DNA testing was adopted in the forensic set up to help criminal investigation and administration of justice. The blood grouping techniques had been in use in forensic science since the discovery of the first blood group system in 1900. Up to the 1980s nearly 60 different blood group systems including serum proteins and isozymes, were available for use in criminal investigation and parentage dispute cases. |
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Move to grant NPA on slab basis opposed SONEPAT, Feb 9 — The Central Executive Committee of the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association (HCMSA) today opposed the move of the state government to grant Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) to the Medical Officers working in government hospitals, dispensaries and Primary Health Centres on slab basis instead of 25 per cent of the basic pay as earlier announced by the Chief Minister. A press note issued here today said the NPA on the Central pattern was already being given to the doctors serving in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi and there was no reason why the Haryana doctors should not be given the same. The association also appealed to the Chief Minister to order the release of the NPA as per his assurance. Resentment prevails among the state government doctors against the non-grant of NPA equal to 25 per cent of the basic pay by the government. Many doctors pointed out that the move of the Finance Department to grant the NPA on slab basis was also against the interest of the doctors. They said the Medical Council of India had already asked the state government to grant NPA to the doctors on the Central pattern. |
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High Court CHANDIGARH, FEB 9 — In a petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr O.P. Chautala’s brother, Mr Partap Singh Chautala, has sought directions for transferring a corruption case registered against the Finance Minister, Mr Sampat Singh, to any other court outside the state. The petition is expected to come up for hearing on Tuesday. Claiming to be the complainant in the case against the minister, the petitioner has stated that the first information report was registered under Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Civil Lines Police Station in Hisar in January, 1993. The allegations, according to the petitioner, were that Mr Sampat Singh had acquired assets disproportionate to his know sources of income. He has added that the challan in the case was presented in March, 1996, and the charges were framed in October, 1997. Describing Mr Sampat Singh as a close associate of the present Chief Minister, Mr Partap Singh has stated that the accused has tremendous influence in the state, particularly in his native district — Hisar. The Finance Minister, the petitioner has added, openly claimed that he would get the results in his favour. Mr Partap Singh also stated that an application for transferring the case was filed earlier also but was dismissed in July last year. |
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Traders hold
dharna, block traffic HISAR, FEB 9 —
Traders of small-scale industries today blocked the Hisar-Delhi national highway in Hansi town, 26 km from here, to show their resentment against the hike of power rate from Rs 60 per kv to Rs 200 per kv by the Haryana Government. Earlier, they held a meeting under the chairmanship of Shilu Baba, president of the Hansi Sarv Vyapar Mandal and condemned the government for its “anti-trader” policies. The traders took out a procession in Hansi town and raised anti-government slogans. They demanded withdrawal of hike in rates. They later staged a dharna on the Hisar-Delhi national highway for about one hour resulting in the blockade of traffic on both sides.
— PTI |
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Ban on employing
unidentified persons SONEPAT, Feb 9 — The District Magistrate, Mr Sudhir Rajpal, has issued an order under Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the working of unidentified domestic servants in private houses and hotels etc, within the municipal limits of the city and Ganaur, Kharkhauda and Gohana towns in the district. According to official sources, the District Magistrate has also directed the owners of houses, dhabas, hotels and restaurants not to employ any unidentified person. He also warned that if any person was found guilty of the violation of the order, he would be liable for punishment under Section 188 of the IPC. He directed the owners of houses to give information about their tenants along with their photographs and addresses to nearby police stations. The sources said the step had been taken to check the rise in the incidents of crimes by servants. |
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Haryana
clarifies on jobs to kin CHANDIGARH, FEB 9 In a circular the Chief Secretary asked all the heads of departments that the dependents of the employees who were working on the lowest post of class III such as constables, clerks and drivers were to be offered class IV posts only as per the orders passed by the Supreme Court. These instructions would come into force with immediate effect. Cases already decided would not be reopened.
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72 lakh to be spent on
development works KAITHAL, FEB 9 In the meeting presided over by the chairman of the council, Mr Kamal Choudhry the budget for the next year was discussed and it was decided to collect Rs 115 lakh through house tax, Rs 48 lakh through rent, Rs 50 lakh through cess on stamp duty and Rs 45 lakh through development charges, which will come to Rs 3.45 crore and against this, the expenditure to be made has been estimated to be Rs 3.43 crore. The major expenses which will be incurred on development works and beautification of town Rs 72 crore and Rs 2.45 crore will be spent on salary hike of employees. Mr Choudhry said until the state government finalised its new house tax policy, no fresh tax will be imposed by the council. In the meeting, it was decided to improve sanitation of the town and to take steps to improve condition of parks. It was also unanimously decided to get a fresh survey of respective wards done to make fresh assessment of house tax. |
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CAT CHANDIGARH, FEB 9 —
Mr Justice G.C. Garg and Mr G.S. Maingi, who constituted the Tribunal Bench, issued notice to the Haryana Government for March 29. In his application Mr Nirmal Singh stated that the post had been in existence since 1976. Successive Chief Ministers posted senior and inconvenient officers to this post from time to time. The post has been held by S.P.s, D.I.Gs., I.Gs, A.D.G.Ps. and Directors-General without any change in the nature of their duties and responsibilities. Mr Nirmal Singh stated that there was no work on this post. Therefore, there was an infructuous expenditure on the State exchequer. He added that but for one senior scale stenographer no supporting staff had been attached with this post. Even the Accountant-General of Haryana has raised an audit objection to the functioning of the post of Officer on Special Duty (Rules). Mr Nirmal Singh told the Bench that there was only one cadre post of Director-General-cum-Inspector General of Police. However, as many as six ex-cadre posts of Directors-General of Police have been continuing as on December 31, 2000. Mr Raj Kumar, counsel for the applicant, told the Bench that Mr Nirmal Singh shot off several communication to the State Government drawing its attention to this glaring irregularity. The applicant had even opted for central deputation under these circumstances instead of sitting idle. The applicant claimed to have urged the State Government to put him on any other post which is equivalent to the Director-General of Police, counsel argued. |
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DA rules
on family pension revised CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 —
Following the principle of differentiation, the import of the pronouncement by the Supreme Court is that wherever the family pensioner is employed on his or her own merits, he or she would be entitled to dearness allowance or relief on the family pension as well. In case a recipient of family pension also gets service pension in respect of past government service, the dearness relief will be determined on the total amount of the two pensions as provided in the instructions issued earlier by the Finance Department. If the recipient of family pension or extraordinary pension is employed or re-employed in the Central or state government on his or her own merits, dearness relief would also be admissible on the family pension or extraordinary pension. |
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Relief for quake
victims HISAR: Employees of Guru Jambheshwar University have donated one day’s salary to the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund Mr
R.K. Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh to the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash
Chautala, here on Thursday. Students of the university also collected Rs 27,000 for the purpose. SONEPAT: The Samaj Kalyan Shikhsha Samiti of Garhi Brahmanan village on Friday decided to adopt 50 elderly persons who have been rendered homeless in the Gujarat earthquake. The samiti also urged the district administration to arrange transport to bring them here. BHIWANI: The Local Bal Seva Ashram has decided to adopt 100 orphaned children below 10 years of age. The president of the ashram, Dr B.K. Bhandari, said here on Thursday that the officials concerned in the affected areas of Gujarat had been intimated. Court officials working at Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, Loharu and Siwani under Bhiwani Sessions Court have collected Rs 73,500 for the victims of Gujarat earthquake. According to Mr N.S. Ahlawat, Sessions Judge, a bank draft has also been sent to be deposited in the UT Red Cross Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund. The Kendriya Arya Samaj has sent commodities of daily use and a six-member to Gujarat. Gram Panchayat and Yuva Mandal, Manheru, have also sent a truck loaded with sarees, tents, flour, sugar, ghee
etc. |
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5 of two families die in mishap HISAR, Feb 9 — Five members of two families were killed and seven injured when the jeep in which they were travelling was hit by a van on the Moonak-Tohana road near the Ghaggar bridge today. Sources said the jeep carrying two families were hit by a milk van killing Mandeep (3) and Mansi Devi (25) on the spot. The injured were taken to the Civil Hospital at Tohana, where Sunheri Devi (27), Mahinder Singh (40) and Jaggi (7) succumbed to their injuries. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Inder Mohan, the driver and the conductor of the van escaped after the incident. The police had registered a case. — UNI
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Woman gangraped
at gunpoint FARIDABAD, Feb 9 — A married woman, who took a lift in a vehicle near Hodal town in the district, was allegedly abducted and gangraped by four persons at gunpoint yesterday. According to a complaint lodged with the police, the woman, who was waiting to go to Punhana village from the Hodal bypass, was given a lift by four persons in a car. They took the vehicle on the kutcha road. When the woman asked them where they were going, one of them brandished a revolver and raped her in the car. This act was followed by the other three. Later they dropped her at a lonely place. The accused reportedly belong to Gurgaon district. The woman was referred for a medical examination. This is seventh such incident which has been reported since January. |
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Akademi plans poetry competition CHANDIGARH, Feb 9 — The Haryana Punjabi Sahitya Akademi will organise a poetic recitation competition in Punjabi at the Government College, Ambala Cantonment, on February 13 among college students of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh in the memory of Dhani Ram Chatrik, a renowned poet of Punjabi. The Director of the Akademi, Maj A.S. Shergill (retd), said each college could sponsor one team comprising two students who should not take more than five minutes for reciting or reading a poem. |
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