The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

SC stays high court order
Selection to HCS
by Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in appointing Mr Ajay Malik and Mr Arvind Malhan, two of the wait-listed candidates of the 1992 selection, to the Executive branch of the Haryana Civil Service.

Mr Justice V.N. Khare and Mr Justice Santosh Hegde today stayed the operation of the September 8 order of the Division Bench of the high court comprising Mr Justice V.S. Aggarwal and Mr Justice Amarvir Singh Gill on a special leave petition preferred by the Haryana Government against the impugned order.

Mr Ajay Malik, a son of Mr Balbir Singh Malik, a former IAS officer and member of the Haryana Public Service Commission, and Mr Malhan had moved the high court last year that they should be appointed to the Executive branch of the Haryana Civil Service after the apex court ordered the appointment of Mr Varinder Singh Hooda and two others to the service.

Mr Ajay Malik and Mr Malhan held that the names of Mr Hooda and others were placed much below theirs on the waiting list of the 1992 selection of HCS officers.

Mr Mahabir Singh, who represented The Haryana Government in the case, argued that Mr Ajay Malik and Mr Malhan had no claim for appointment to the HCS after remaining silent for seven years of the original selection in 1992. The Haryana Government had selected 12 HCS officers in 1992, of which seven positions were for candidates belonging to the general category.

Some of the candidates, including Mr Hooda and others, went to the high court, saying that before any fresh selection for vacancies, those on the waiting list should be considered. The high court, however, dismissed their plea.

They went to the Supreme Court in appeal against the order of the high court. The apex court upheld their appeal in 1999 and directed the state government to appoint them to the HCS Executive branch.

Both Mr Ajay Malik and Mr Malhan went to the high court after the Apex Court verdict. They maintained that they were placed much above Mr Hooda and others on the waiting list. The high court upheld their plea and directed the state government to give them the appropriate pay scales and due increments after giving them appointments. The high court, however, said that they would not be entitled to any arrears for the period they were not in service.

The Haryana Government went in appeal against this order.

Mr Mahabir Singh argued that after the 1992 selection, HCS appointments were also made in 1996 and 1998 and these candidates were not in contention and as such had no claim.

The Supreme Court, after hearing the arguments, stayed the high court order and issued notice to the state.

Shortage of English stenos hits PR work
by K. G. Dutt

KURUKSHETRA, FEB 12 — Shortage of English-proficient stenographers of the Haryana Public Relations Department in the district has hit the publicity campaign of the state government in English newspapers.

The Public Relations Officers at the district headquarters are not in a position to properly project the achievements of the government and its point of view in various English newspapers. Since the mushrooming of vernacular publications in the region, the main concern of the District Public Relations Officers seems to be to be on the right side of vernacular mediamen.

The press notes regarding the visits of Ministers to various districts and other handouts relating to developments activities in the districts are invariably issued in Hindi. The correspondents attached to English newspapers find themselves at a disadvantage to project the government’s point of view in a manner as is being done by the vernacular press. These correspondents have a tough time translating the press notes issued in Hindi into English.

Information gathered by this correspondent shows that there are no English stenographers in Panipat, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Sonepat district. The District Public Relations Officers mostly write English press notes in their own hands and later these are got typed from various sources. Even English typewriters in some of the Public Relations offices have gathered dust and no proper repairs are being undertaken as they have fallen to disuse.

A number of DPROs interviewed by this correspondent expressed difficulty in handing over press notes typed in English. They stated that during the visits of the Chief Minister or the Governor to various districts, the efforts of the department was to issue a press note in English also. But this exercise was done by the staff of the Public Relations Department from Chandigarh who normally accompany the Chief Minister on his visits.

The DPROs preferred to issue press notes in Hindi only because of the paucity of stenographers proficient in English and non-availability of good English typewriters.

In a related scenario, to keep pace with the advances in Information Technology, the State Government has made an effort to provide computers and even modems in various district Public Relations offices, but suitable operators for them are not available. For instance, in most of the DPROs offices on the G. T. Road, computer operators have not been appointed. Thus, a in some of the offices, computers are also gathering dust.

Hooda: fix Rs 700 as MSP
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, FEB 12 — The Haryana Pradesh Congress president, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today urged the Union Government to fix Rs 700 per quintal as the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat to protect the interests of farmers. Addressing mediapersons at the Chandigarh Press Club, Mr Hooda said that he anticipated that the Centre might lower the MSP of wheat. He threatened to launch an agitation if the government took such an “extreme” step.

The Haryana Congress chief apprehended the distress sale of wheat, as in the case of paddy, since the government had not made any attempt to increase its storage capacity.

Mr Hooda announced that the All-India Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, would highlight the problems faced by farmers at a kisan rally to be organised on February 25 in Delhi.

Making a scathing attack on the state government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Mr Hooda said it had lost its credibility within a period of one year of its assuming office “as there is resentment among government employees, farmers, traders and the youth in the state.” He added that Mr Chautala was yet to fulfil the promises he had held out to the masses during the elections.

He said with the levy of 4 per cent entry tax, many industrial entrepreneurs from Delhi were planning to go to Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh following the judgement of the Supreme Court.

With a view to settling political scores, alleged Mr Hooda, Mr Chautala had implicated several political leaders in false cases in the state. He came down heavily on the “Sarkar Aapke Dwar” programme of the ruling alliance and termed it “political propaganda”. He added that no budgetary allocations had been made for the implementation of such programmes.

He reiterated that the long-standing territorial, water-sharing and capital disputes between Punjab and Haryana should be resolved separately instead of clubbing these issues. He said the Congress favoured a separate capital for the state.

Replying to a question, the Congress chief claimed that there was complete unity and understanding in the state party organisation, including its top leaders.

Town planning cell to monitor development
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, FEB 12 — The Haryana Cabinet today decided to set up a town planning cell in the Directorate of Local Bodies to ensure proper and planned development of commercial and residential complexes within the municipal limits of the state.

This cell will prepare town development plans and technical parameters for the grant of licences within municipal limits under the Haryana Development Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, and Rule 1976. It will also prepare the proposal for fixing the change of land use charges and licence fee.

The Director of Local Bodies has been authorised to grant licences and implement the provisions of the Haryana Development and Regulation or Urban Areas Act, 1975, and Rule 1976 and provisions of the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Area Restriction of Unregistered Development Act, 1963. The government also sanctioned a sum of Rs 18 lakh for strengthening the town planning cell of the Local Bodies Department.

It was noticed that a number of big commercial complexes were being developed within the municipal limits merely after getting the building plans of these complexes approved at the local level. In the absence of any provision of law, no scrutiny fee, licence fee, service charges, conversion charges and external development charges were charged from the builders by the committee while approving the plans for these commercial projects. This led to depriving the municipal committee of the resources. With this decision, the committees would be able to generate funds on account of collection of licence fee, conversion charges, service charges, scrutiny fee and external development charges from licensees.

At present, the Director of Town and Country Planning grants licences to private colonisers for the development of residential and commercial colonies in urban areas under the provisions of the Haryana Development and Regulation or Urban Areas Act, 1975 and rules framed thereunder.

The Cabinet also decided to allot a plot measuring 100 sq yd to the Maharaja Aggarsain Charitable Trust in new Grain Market at Hisar for the construction of a free charitable hospital.

Infighting in Haryana Congress
From Rahul Das
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Feb 12 — All is not well within the Congress in Haryana. The infighting within the Congress came to the fore today when the Kalka MLA and Mr Bhajan Lal’s son, Mr Chander Mohan, threw a challenge to the state party President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, to try and stop the forthcoming rally.

Mr Chander Mohan, While criticising Mr Hooda, said: “Let them try and stop the rally. We are determined to hold it.”

He said that the rally was being held with the permission of the party President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi. “There is absolutely no rethinking on the rally by Mrs Gandhi,” he said.

Mr Mohan admitted that “small” differences were always there in all parties. “However, we are working towards making the March 4 rally a success,” he said. About 198, former MLAs and MPs participated in a meeting to discuss the rally,” he said.

He stated that an invitation through a letter had been extended to Mr Hooda. “We are raising our voice against the state government and the difference is in the method employed by us and them,” he said.

Instead of Congress Bhavan, a meeting of the Bhajan Lal supporters was today held at Ambala City Park with regard to the rally.

Today’s meeting showed that the Congress rank and file is sharply divided. A number of Congress office-bearers and activists, including the Ambala District President could not be seen in the meeting.

A Congress leader, considered close to Mr Hooda, said that efforts must always be made to ensure that one considered all views before coming to a decision. “Although we are also fighting against the state government, the divergent views on the matter acts as a roadblock towards harmony within the party,” he said.

Hearing in Ruchika case adjourned
Tribune News Service

AMBALA, Feb 12 — The Special CBI Magistrate in Haryana, Mr A. K. Tyagi, today adjourned hearing in the Ruchika molestation case till March 12. Former Director-General of Police, Haryana, Mr S. P. S. Rathore, was present in the court.

Mr Tyagi said the case was being adjourned to wait for the high Court’s order. “It is, however, clarified that in case no order is received by that date, then the court shall proceed further,” he said.

The counsel for Mr Rathore submitted that the arguments in the case in the high court had been heard and the judgement reserved. The Prakashs had also come to the court today.

The CBI had filed a charge sheet in the Ruchika case against Mr Rathore in the court in November. The CBI had also filed an application for condoning the delay in filing the challan in the court. On December 5, the court condoned the delay in the chargesheeting and took cognizance of the charges against Mr Rathore.

MDU to curb ragging menace
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, FEB 12 — The Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) administration is all set to curb the menace of ragging in its teaching departments and affiliated colleges.

According to sources, as per the proposed move, a fresh column will be included in the migration card in which it will have to be mentioned whether the student concerned had been indulged in ragging or been punished for the same.

The university administration had constituted a four member committee under the chairmanship of the Pro Vice-Chancellor to suggest measures to check ragging.

The recommendations of the committee have been included in the agenda which will be put forward for approval in the 147th meeting of the Executive Council of the university slated for February 16.

The committee was constituted in view of the report submitted by a high-level committee of lawyers set up to devise measures to check ragging in accordance with the orders passed by the Supreme Court.

The university committee had suggested that the steps recommended by the committee of lawyers should be adopted in the University Act and Statute after requisite changes and alterations.

A proposal for setting up an institute of development studies on the university campus has also been included in the agenda.

Encroachments under admn’s nose
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, FEB 12 — The government land near the Kabri Railway crossing in the town, valued at about Rs 1 crore, has been encroached on by the land mafia. However, despite knowing about the encroachments, the district administration, the Industries Department and the police have so far failed to remove these.

According to information, a 2-acre piece of land of the Industries Department in the Panipat industrial area was left for a green belt. A board of land of ownership was also erected on the land.

However, at least six persons reportedly started encroaching on the land, by putting up temporary wooden structures. Later, they also removed the property board and replaced the wooden structures with permanent ones. Hence, they were able to encroach on over 2,000 sq yd of the prime land.

Only then did officers of the district administration and the Industries Department reportedly took notice of the encroachments. Mr Kulwant Kalsan SDM, and Mr Pushottam Lal, General Manager of DIC, along with revenue officials inspected the site a few months ago. However, they did not initiate any action.

Another government board was erected at the site but it was also removed. A written complaint was reportedly lodged in a police post adjacent to the encroached land, but no action was taken by the police.

The encroachments have allegedly been made in connivance with officials of the police, Industries and Revenue Departments.

The General Manager, DIC, says he has informed the higher authorities of the department at Chandigarh as well as the Deputy Commissioner, Panipat, about the encroachment.

	Illegal colony demolished Tribune News Service AMBALA, Feb 12 — A colony, which was being established on 18 acres of land in Ambala Cantonment, was demolished today. The demolition took place on the direction of the Deputy Commissioner by a team led by Mr Aniruddh Sharma. The team, which was accompanied by police personnel, used one bulldozer, 12 labourers and two tractors, a release said. The members of the local Colony Association informed the DC that the colony being demolised was part of the colony approved by the authorities. The demolition drive was later brought to a halt and now a decision would be taken on the basis of the report to be submitted by the authorities concerned. Another colony, which was being established on 20 acres of land, was demolished in a day long operation. An official said that there were no old houses built on the area and two houses were coming up when the demolition team began its work.
	4 sentenced to life imprisonment From Our Correspondent KAITHAL, FEB 12 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr R. C. Bansal, sentenced Mukesh (20), Narinder (25), Mahabir and Mohinder (28) to life imprisonment, for murdering Jai Parkash, a photographer in September 1977. According to prosecution, Mahabir, an accused asked Jai Parkash to accompany him for taking photograph of his son’s birthday. Subsequently they murdered Jai Parkash and threw his body into a canal. The court also fined Rs 1,000 each and in default of payment directed that they will have to further undergo an imprisonment of six months.
	Trader kidnapped, robbed From Our Correspondent FARIDABAD, Feb 12 — A trader from Hodal was kidnapped, robbed and assaulted by some unidentified miscreants yesterday. According to police sources the victim Rajender, alias Raju, a ‘gur’ trader in Hodal was intercepted by four car-borne youths near Pech colony. While certain local residents tried to ‘intervene’ the trader was pulled inside the car and taken away. He was beaten up and left in the nearby fields. The accused reportedly took away cash from him. The victim was recovered today from the fields near Gahlab. He has been admitted to a hospital here. A case under Section 392 and 364 of the IPS bas been registered.
	Ex-minister’s son remanded From Our Correspondent KAITHAL, FEB 12 — Mr Arun Shorewala, son of former Haryana Finance Minister, Mr Charan Dass Shorewala, was remanded in police custody by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mr N.P. Dewat, here today. He was arrested following the registration of a criminal case against him, a few months ago. His elder brother and co-accused in the case, Anil Shorewala, is also facing trial in this case. He was granted bail by the Additional Sessions Judge. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the police was in search of Charan Dass in criminal cases registered against him.
	Student crushed to death From Our Correspondent JHAJJAR, FEB 12 — A student of the local Polytechnic College was killed today when a Haryana Roadways bus ran over him near the college. According to sources, Ramesh Kumar, tried to board the bus coming from Delhi on a speed breaker near the college. The driver of the bus reportedly applied the brakes suddenly. Unable to firmly grip the handle of the front gate of the bus Ramesh fell down and was crushed under the rear wheels. He was rushed to the Rohtak Medical College where he died. Enraged over the incident, students blocked the Bahadurgarh-Jhajjar road for three hours.
	Martyrs’ gate inaugurated From Our Correspondent SONEPAT, FEB 12 — The President of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC), Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, inaugurated a martyrs’ gate in the memory of Kaptan Singh at Tihar Khurd village, about 25 km from here, yesterday. Mr Kaptan Singh, a BSF jawan, was killed by a group of militants in Jammu and Kashmir recently and the gram panchayat of the village constructed the gate in his memory. A large number of people from nearby villages also joined the function, which was turned into a political one. Most of the speakers, including Mr Hooda, lashed out at the anti-people and anti-farmer policies of the Chautala government, but failed to pay rich tributes to the martyr.