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| Wednesday,
May 16, 2001, Chandigarh, India   
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Tiger safari in Morni proposed Telecom dept ignores its own war
hero Orders to register cases against
JEs Delegation inspects railway
stations Eunuchs’ dispute: hearing on May
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Probe ordered into missing woman
case Villagers seek Mahant’s
removal Karan Dalal kin’s 16 shops
demolished Evidence in Sampat case
recorded Truck driver killed in accident Ordinance on levy of tax on
vehicles Brick-kiln workers
hold protest march Society against use of polythene bags 299 posts of lecturer to
be filled Lift wheat below specification: CM
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Tiger safari in Morni proposed Chandigarh, May 15 The plan for a tiger safari was reportedly drawn up following a visit by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of Haryana, to the Morni Hills on April 26 when Mr Chautala asked the assembled officials to tap the tourism potential of the picturesque spot. One of the persons accompanying the Chief Minister reportedly suggested that a lion safari could be created, but it was ruled out by the Forest Department as the tropical rain forest of the Morni Hills could never be a natural habitat for a lion. Wildlife experts of the Forest Department felt a tiger safari in the hills could be a good idea and subsequently worked on the plan, which was recently submitted to the state government. Forest Department sources said the setting up of the safari would cost around Rs 4 crore. Besides, Rs 1 lakh would be needed annually for feeding each tiger with goat meat or buffalo meat. Once the tiger safari is set up, it will invariably attract tourists which will take care of the running costs of the establishment, officials here feel. Though the cash-strapped state government is finding the initial expenditure of Rs 4 crore a bit on the higher side, forest officials are trying to persuade the authorities concerned to fund the project. The issue will come up before the Chief Minister for consideration tomorrow when he will hold an important meeting here on the beautification of the Morni Hills. According to the proposal submitted by the Forest Department, ten felines — two males and eight females —imported from zoos, will be released in a 25-hectare enclosure created inside the forest . The area will be covered by chain link fencing followed by a concrete boundary wall. Though the beasts will be picked up from those bred in captivity, the Forest Department will take all precautions against freak attacks by the animals on tourists. Two vans, which would be modified to withstand an attack by a tiger, will be put into service to take visitors around. While the construction of the fence and the concrete wall will require about Rs 2 crore, the remaining money will be spent on creating cubicles and water holes for the tigers, the construction of a metalled road inside the forest and other necessary paraphernalia. A treatment room for ailing tigers, provision for postmortem in case of unnatural death of a beast and an office complex will also be set up. The safari will require 10 staff members, including a vet, who will be sent to the Morni Hills from other Forest department offices on deputation. Wild leopards and deers which are found in the Morni Hills or sneak into the jungle periodically, are expected to keep away from the proposed safari area once the fencing starts coming up. It was decided to have only two males in the safari to prevent clashes as the males usually start demarcating their territory once they are released in the wild. Female beasts were less territorial and eight of them could be accommodated in the earmarked forest, said an official. |
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Telecom dept ignores its own war
hero Ambala, May 15 Although, his services were commended by the Indian Air Force authorities, the Telecom Department failed to acknowledge his contribution during the war. A fortnight ago, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, office of Chief General Manager, Haryana Circle, wrote a letter to Mr R.L. Chopra stating, “Your case has been examined and it is to inform you that there is no policy of this department to grant or recommend any gallantry award to its employees. Your services were already commended by the Air Force authorities at that time.” Mr Chopra, a resident of Lal Kurti, told this correspondent, “In 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, I was the only civilian who worked with the Indian Air Force to maintain the communication network of 7 wing, 16 SU, Air Defence Area and the advance headquarters at Ambala cantt. “The war was won because of the communication set up. There was no breakdown in the communication network even for a minute during the period of war. I worked round the clock like a uniformed man, risking my life. Bombs fell near me and I was saved by sheer luck only,” he recollects. Mr Chopra said a rumour went out that I was directly hit by a bomb and that was conveyed to one of my brothers. When my brother contacted my officer in charge, the officer told him that he had not ordered me to be in the IAF station at night, he said. “What a pity,” he exclaimed. “Incidentally, I was married on August 4, 1965 and I was granted one day casual leave for my marriage as it was felt that the Air Force communication set up could not be maintained in my absence,” he said. “I was considered a hero by the IAF. The Western Air Command recommended a gallantry award to honour me. A civilian in Air HQs objected to the proposal on the ground that I was not part of the establishment and was not paid by the IAF. Rather my department could be asked to suitably honour me. But it was not agreed to and it took nearly seven years for the Air HQ to clear the objection and recommend my name to the President of India for a gallantry award,” he said. But by then the Indo-Pak war of 1971 had started and new heroes were being honoured. “What to talk of a gallantry award, not even a word of appreciation was sent to me by any of the authorities concerned,” he said. He lamented that no one remembered his name during the 50th year of Independence. “IAF held its functions but no one thought of a hero of 1965. I was totally forgotten,” says a disillusioned Mr Chopra. According to a copy of communication (No WAC/6632/10/Sigs/48 dated October 10, 1965) from the then Group Captain K.S. Chopra, Chief Signals Officer, HQ, Western Air Command to Mr Marcus Delima, PMG, Ambala, “It gives me much pleasure in appreciating the services rendered by Mr Roshan Lal Chopra during the recent fighting with Pakistan.” “At great personal risk Mr Chopra kept working in the airfield and maintained the vital landline communication during the air raids. He displayed exemplary devotion in the performance of his duty with utmost efficiency and drive and attended the work whenever called for. His services are highly recommended,” the letter states. Mr R.L. Chopra feels sad on his contribution to the 1965 war effort being ignored by the telecom department but he desires that if civilians are involved in the efforts, no hurdle should come in the way of honouring them for their efforts.
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Orders to register cases against
JEs Fatehabad, May 15 The order was given after a complaint by Raja Ram, a farmer from Jhalnian village, during a meeting of the District Grievances and Public Relation Committee here yesterday. Raja Ram had complained that he had applied for a telephone connection on January 2, 1998, and had deposited a security amount of Rs 2000 for the purpose. He was allotted seniority number 60. The Junior Engineer had allegedly demanded Rs 2000 as bribe for installing the connection. When he expressed his inability to pay the same, Darbara Singh refused to install the connection while connections of those with higher seniority numbers were installed. In a complaint related to the Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN), the minister asked the administration to register a criminal case against a Junior Engineer. Amrik Singh, an Armyman, had lodged a complaint stating that he had obtained a power connection after correspondence from his place of posting. But the nigam had imposed a fine of Rs 15000 on him. The Xen, DHBVN, told the minister that during a routine check it was found that there was no record of the power connection with the nigam and it implied that the complainant had got an illegal connection installed in connivance with a Junior Engineer of the nigam. The complainant, however, denied any connivance on his part and said he had applied the connection in good faith and irregularities, if any, were on the part of the nigam officials. The minister asked the administration to book the Junior Engineer for fraud and revoke action against the complainant. He also asked the authorities to issue connection to the complainant as per his seniority. |
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Delegation inspects railway
stations Rohtak, May 15 The delegation comprising Mr Jagdamba Prasad Yadav, Mr Banarasi Das Gupta and Capt Inder Singh, MPs, inspected the offices of the Station Master and Assistant Station Master and parcel room. The Rail Yatri Sangh and Ms Sarita Narain, MLA from Kalanaur, apprised them of various problems and submitted a demand charter. In her 12-point demand charter, Ms Narain sought electrification of the Rohtak-Delhi line and starting of some EMU trains on this busy route. She demanded starting of a train from Delhi to Amritsar via Rohtak during the day. She urged the railway authorities to start work on laying a rail track from Rohtak to Rewari via Jhajjar as the survey in this connection had already been completed. Besides, she demanded laying of a rail track from Rohtak to Hisar via Meham. She sought setting up of a station at Lakhan Majra village and a halt station at teh PGIMS here for the convenience of the commuters and patients. She said another exit at the railway station towards Vaish College could help in diverting a crowd of passengers. Besides, she demanded starting of some passenger trains from Rohtak to Delhi during the day and that the railway crossings between Kalanaur and Lahli villages and near Samar Gopalpur village should be manned in view of the rising number of accidents. She also urged the delegation to expedite work for raising the level of platforms at the railway stations of Rohtak and Bhadurgarh as an amount of Rs 50 lakh had been sanctioned for the purpose for each of the stations nearly two years ago. |
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Eunuchs’ dispute: hearing on May
31 Ambala, May 15 Last month, the eunuch Shabnam, chela of late Malika Rani of Ambala City, had filed a suit in a local civil court against Indira, chela of Shiv Dayal and Reshma, chela of Indira, for permanent injunction restraining them from interfering in the areas of Mahesh Nagar, Babyal, Bud Mandi, Dayal Bagh and Dilip Garh, where the plaintiff had customary right of singing and dancing at the time of marriage and birth of children. This area falls in Ambala City, which includes old village of Chabana. Recently the Civil Judge, Ms Narender Kaur, in a judgement, observed that the law had not given any monopolistic right to a particular person or sect to exercise the exclusive right of begging. If there was some internal arrangement with regard to right of singing and dancing, such a right was not enforceable. Any such agreement that a particular person would perform the act of singing and dancing in particular are would be against Section 25 of the Contract Act and Article 19 of the Constitution. The Judge said in her order, “Every citizen has a right to do any work anywhere in India within the frame work of the Constitution.” Mr J.S. Kohli, advocate for the plaintiff, stated during the argument that the right of dancing and singing at the time of marriage and birth were exercised by eunuchs within their specified area as per the custom prevalent between the parties and no other eunuch had a right to interfere in the area of each other. He said a few years back a dispute had arisen and a stay was granted. Later the appeal was dismissed by the Additional District Judge of Ambala. In the end, a compromise was reached at that no eunuch would interfere in the customary rights in the area of the other, which had been allocated to them. The counsel for the plaintiff, Mr C.M. Sehgal, said the plaintiff was not a eunuch by birth and had no customary right of singing and dancing by birth. The plaintiff was never brought up by Malika Rani, who never bequeathed the right to the plaintiff. The counsel admitted that one eunuch did not interfere in the area of other eunuch. The plaintiff had now started interference in the domain of the defendants. The Judge observed in her order that neither the plaintiff nor the defendant could restrain each other, nor could they claim to exercise the exclusive right of singing and dancing in the particular area by restraining the other. The Judge said in her order, “No serious questions of fact are involved in the present case and no evidence is required by the parties, keeping in view the legal position of the point. On view of the law laid down in the Bibi Khusra vs Ram Piyari Khusra case, this issue is decided in favour of the defendants and against the plaintiff.”
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Probe ordered into missing woman
case Faridabad, May 15 The kin of the woman, who was living with her in-laws at Sadpura village, claim that she could have been murdered and her body disposed off. The police has, however, not registered a case of murder. Ms Kasturi Devi, mother of the victim, Bimla Devi has written and sent several representations of the authorities, including the Chief Minister, Governor, NCW and the National Human Rights Commission. However, she is still to hear about the whereabouts of her daughter. In response to her application, the NCW had asked the Inspector-General (IG), Gurgaon range, to conduct a probe and report back. The IG on April 26 last informed the NCW that the inquiry conducted by the police was inconclusive and no trace of the victim could be found. Another inquiry has been assured into the case. Though the in-laws of the woman had reportedly told the police that she was not mentally sound and had gone to an unknown place on her own, the police inquiry has stated that there was no proof of this claim and the woman was healthy. Brother of the victim, Mr Karamvir Singh, who works at the ESI office here, alleged that the police had not taken the case seriously and suspected that his sister might have been murdered by her husband and her in-laws as she was being mistreated by them. He demanded registration of a murder case and the immediate arrest of her husband and other family members. The victim’s husband was an employee in the district Public Relations Department and was suspended by the department. He is stated to be absconding. Rohtak, May 15 Mr Dharamvir Nandal, president of the Math Bachao Committee, said a large number of people residing in the neighbouring villages had strong faith in the dignity of the Math. However, he said their sentiments were hurt when the Mahant of the Math was booked by the police in different cases. Moreover, he said the Mahant went underground for several days instead of assisting the police in investigation. Mr Nandal said the cheap and criminal tactics adopted by the Mahant had tarnished the image of the Math which forced the devotees of the Math to block the national highway in protest against the Mahant. |
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Karan Dalal kin’s 16 shops
demolished Faridabad, May 15 According to official sources, these shops belonged to Mr Mehar Chand Dalal, a brother of Mr Karan Singh Dalal and some of his other relatives and had been constructed about 19 years ago. It is alleged that they had unauthorisedly constructed 15 shops on the prime land of the market committee and had given those on rent. The demolition of the shops was carried out at about 5.30 p.m. yesterday, after the SDM, exercising the powers of the Collector ordered these shops to be evacuated. A heavy police force was present at the scene. The authorities claimed to have given ample opportunities to these persons to prove their ownership. A family member of Mr Karan Singh Dalal alleged that the demolition of the shops was illegal. He said a case in that regard was still pending in a local court and they had been given a stay order in this regard. He alleged all this was a part of political vendetta unleashed by the Chief Minister. He said this would not prevent Mr Dalal, from ‘exposing’ the government’s misdeeds. He claimed that these shops were constructed in the year 1964 and they had valid documents for the ownership of land as it was purchased in an open auction. He said no notice was given and demolition was done abruptly. Hisar, May 15 Both Mr Sampat Singh and Mr Partap Singh were present in the court during the proceedings. The court had summoned 11 witnesses for the defence. The summons, however, could be served only on nine of them. Seven of them appeared in the court. However, the court could record the evidence of only five during the hearing. The main prosecution charge against the finance minister pertained to the house owned by his wife Krishna Devi in Sector 15 here. The prosecution had alleged that the house was built with funds which were beyond the known sources of income of the minister. However, the defence had claimed that the house belonged to Ms Krishna Devi who built it with her own money. Two treasury officers posted at Hisar and Chandigarh appeared on behalf of the defence and presented evidence regarding the payments made to Mr Sampat Singh by the government in the period during which the prosecution had claimed that he acquired property beyond his known sources of income. They gave details of the payments earned by the minister both in his capacity as a minister and legislator. A cousin of Mr Sampat Singh, Mr Dalip Budania, deposed about the share of Mr Sampat Singh in the family property and the details of the money paid to him by way of sale proceeds of a family property in Defence Colony here which was sold several years ago. Among others, who recorded their evidence were the manager of a local bank, two friends of the minister and a resident of Rohtak. The judge has fixed May 21 as the next date of hearing on which the evidence of the remaining six defence witnesses will be recorded.
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Truck driver killed in accident Sonepat, May 15 According to a report, Howa Singh, a truck driver of Silana village, parked his truck and went to a dhaba for taking his meal. He came back and while he was putting water into the radiator of his truck another truck hit him from behind. He died on the spot. The truck driver, however, managed to escape. As soon as the news about the alleged killing of the truck driver spread, a large number of people assembled at the dhaba and assaulted its employees. Two employees of the dhaba were injured in the melee. The SDM, Dr Sultan Singh, asked the villagers to lift the blockade but they declined to do so till the truck driver was arrested. The police has registered a case.
Chandigarh, May 15 The statement added that following promulgation of the ordinance, the registering authorities would ensure that the owner of a vehicle, brought from outside, get ‘no objection certificate’ from the sales tax department before the vehicle is registered. |
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Brick-kiln workers
hold protest march Sonepat, May 15 They also demanded increase in their wages. They marched through the main bazars of the city and reached the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) where they held a demonstration. Mr Ram Diya Ratewal, president of the Batha Mazdoor Vikas Manch, who led the procession, submitted a memorandum to the ADC demanding increase in the wages of the brick-kiln workers and enforcement of all labour laws in the district. The ADC assured the worker on the issue. |
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Society against use of polythene bags Yamunanagar, May 15 The rally was flagged off by District Education Officer, Mr Rajinder Pal Singh Panwar, from Dasehra ground which concluded at the Agrasen Chowk, Jagadhri. Thousands of schoolchildren along with their teachers participated in it. The mohalla-level committees opened by the HES in the E-block of professor colony has started its campaign against the use of the polythene bags. The society plans to expand its activities to other parts of the district. Prof S.L. Saini has appealed to the administration to implement “free protection act” like the one in Chandigarh and Delhi. He also appealed to the administration that their society must be given financial aid to buy a tractor trolley and a water tanker. |
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299 posts of lecturer to
be filled Chandigarh, May 15 The Minister of State for Education, Mr Bahadur Singh, said these posts were five each for the subjects of Punjabi, psychology and home science, 38 for commerce, 20 each for computer science and physical education, 77 for English, 50 for geography, 12 for political science, 56 for history, two for public administration and nine of sociology. |
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Lift wheat below specification: CM Sirsa, May 15 Mr Chautala, was going to his farm house at Tejakhera from the Sirsa Air Force
Station, when he decided to visit the grain markets and purchase centres located in the district. He visited the grain markets at Sirsa,
Kalanwali, Odhan and Dabwali and inspected the purchase and lifting of wheat in these centres. The Chief Minister also enquired from farmers about the status of wheat procurement by the government procurement agencies. |
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Hailstorm damages wheat bags Ambala, May 15 The commission agents said the upper portion of the wheat bags got wet, which needed to be taken out and
dried, before again putting back into the bags. Meanwhile, the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, paid a surprise visit to the Mullana anaj
mandi.
60 lakh tonnes of
wheat procured Chandigarh, May 15 Chandigarh, May 15 |
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