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Friday,
August 17, 2001, Chandigarh, India  
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Distt Red Cross scam exposed Haryana
told to cut PGIMS seats SC stays order
on GJU
entrance test Cess to be imposed on milk plants Start work on
flyover: HVP People misinformed
on finance: HVP |
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Notices issued
to 2 ex-ministers Head Constable to be promoted for bravery IN FOCUS 965 disabled
given aids CM opens seminar on Lord Mahavir Four booked in
dowry death case 11
councillors of BJP resign Jail inmates clash, 4 hurt Man robbed of car HUDA draw of lots for plots
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Distt Red Cross scam exposed Kaithal, August 16 The Haryana branch of the Indian Red Cross Society has reportedly ordered an inquiry into the matter and according to preliminary reports, the investigating team has taken into its possession important records relating to the financial irregularities. According to information, the role of the former Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the District Red Cross Society, Kaithal, Dr Mahavir Singh, and the former secretary of the society, Ms Vijay Chaudhary, has come under cloud. A three-member team of the state branch has started investigation. According to reports, after revelation of serious irregularities in the maintenance of records and accounts, Mr R.S. Mor, newly appointed secretary of the district society, Kaithal, wrote a letter on July 26 to the present Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of the society, Mr Phateh Singh Dagar, and Ms Shashi Bala, secretary of the society. He highlighted various acts of omission and commission in which funds amounting to lakhs of rupees have been misappropriated. They include cash payments in violation of rules, presenting cheques not properly signed by the Chairman, getting printed duplicate receipt books and burning a cash book and getting prepared a new cash book. It is also learnt that in the four-page letter, it has been pointed that the said secretary was suspended about five years ago and remained suspended for about three years for various irregularities, but neither the inquiry report has been made public nor any action taken. Rather, the secretary was reinstated, pending inquiry. |
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Haryana
told to cut PGIMS seats Rohtak, August 16 Following the transfer of students of the Agroha Medical College to the PGIMS as per the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Haryana Government had requested the Medical Council of India (MCI) to permit it to increase the MBBS seats in the PGIMS here this year from 115 to 150. The MCI, accordingly, sent its inspection team to the PGIMS to determine whether the infrastructure required for the enhanced seats existed in the institute or not. The MCI team visited the PGIMS on July 24 and 25 and submitted its report two days ago through the Union Ministry of Health to the Haryana Government. Instead of permitting the PGIMS to increase the seats, the MCI has directed the institute that for adjusting 26 students (4th year) MBBS students transferred from Agroha, it (PGIMS) should reduce its MBBS seats this year from 115 to 89. Out of the 89 seats, 17 are to be filled from the all India quota and 15 have been reserved for NRIs (as paid seats). What is left for the Haryana candidates is 57 seats (28 in the open category and 28 in the reserved category). Interestingly, the MCI, after inspection, had allowed an increase of 35 seats last year and the same was to be renewed this year. Now all efforts of the PGIMS and the government are to maintain status quo, leave aside getting additional seats. As soon as the government learnt about the MCI report, the Commissioner Health, Mr G. Madhvan, the PGIMS Director, Mrs Anita Chaudhary, IAS, the Dean, Dr D.R. Yadav, and Dr M.S. Gupta, Professor, Medicine, rushed to Delhi and held discussions with the MCI and the Union Ministry of Health. What transpired at the meetings is not known but the immediate effect was cancellation of counselling slated for today and tomorrow for this year’s MBBS admissions. The main objection in the report is that a non-medical person cannot head the institution. It may be recalled that following the removal of Dr S.B. Siwach (without assigning any reason) from the post of Director, Mrs Anita Chaudhary, Commissioner, Rohtak Division, was handed over the charge, in contravention of MCI rules. The MCI regulations say the Director must be a medical man with a postgraduate degree and five-year teaching experience as professor in an institute recognised by the MCI. While the government knew that the second inspection of the PGIMS was due for an increase in the MBBS seats, in order to adjust the second batch of 26 students who were transferred from Agroha to this institute, it removed Dr Siwach in haste. The inspection was first fixed for March 14 and 15 but the government got it postponed twice, first to June 6 and 7 and again to July 24 and 25. Realising the importance of the inspection, the government on July 19 warned that strict action would be taken against the Head of Department concerned if any deficiencies were found in his/her department. It also constituted a five-member committee to assist the Director in the inspection. But the team, it appears, has failed to manage the task assigned to it. Sensing the mood of the inspection team, the government hurriedly issued orders on July 24, the day of inspection, giving additional charge of Dean to Dr D.R. Yadav, Head, Fosensic Medicine. This was obviously done to circumvent the condition that Mrs Chaudhary being a non-medical person could not sign MCI documents. Unfortunately, the whole exercise proved futile as the documents were to be signed by the Head of the institution and the Dean is not the head of the PGIMS. Hence, the MCI did not accept this arrangement. The other objections raised by the MCI are stated to be contractual appointments made for 89 days just before inspection and non-medical head of the Bio-Chemistry Department. The MCI team has also suggested re-organisation of units in psychiatry and paediatrics as per the MCI norms. A crisis has been created by the adverse report of the MCI which has led to postponement of this year’s MBBS/BDS admissions. It is reliably learnt that immediate changes are on the cards in the PGIMS to remove the objections raised by the MCI. |
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SC stays
order on GJU entrance test Hisar, August 16 An official spokesman said here this evening that the university had gone in appeal to the Supreme Court against the decision of the High Court. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 3. The High Court had directed the university to hold a fresh test on August 26. However, in view of the apex court decision, the admission process is likely to be delayed by a few days. The High Court had issued directions on a writ filed by some of the candidates who had alleged irregularities and discrepancies in the question paper and answersheets. |
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Cess to be imposed on milk plants Chandigarh, August 16 Stating this here today the Chairman of the newly constituted Haryana Livestock Development Board, Dr A.L. Choudhary, said the quantum of cess was still to be decided for which a number of meetings had already been held. He said the cess would ultimately help the milk plants themselves as the quality milch cattle would mean increased availability of milk for the plants. He said in terms of milk availability, Haryana ranked second in the country having 627 gm of milk available per day per capita against the national average of 210 gm. In Haryana the livestock sector played a very important role in the rural economy and provided round-the-year employment to small and marginal farmers, landless labourers and weaker sections. This sector contributed about 30 per cent to the state GDP through agriculture. Dr Choudhary said Rs 76 lakh was distributed among owners of Murrah buffaloes producing more than 12 litres of milk every day last year. This scheme was initially launched in the districts of Rohtak, Sonepat, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, Bhiwani and Jhajjar. Now it had been extended to the entire state to motivate the animal owners to participate in the breed improvement programme started by the board. The scheme would also check the movement of quality milch cattle out of the state. He said the board had also started a livestock insurance scheme under which the premium was equally shared by the board and the animal owner. To upgrade the technology of artificial insemination to state of the art, Rs 7.3 crore had been allocated. Dr Choudhary revealed that a Rs 91.25 crore project was likely to be started with the help of the Union Government to make Haryana a disease-free zone for animals. The creation of this zone was a must to export animals and preserved semen to the buffalo-rearing countries in South America, Europe and Far East countries. Another project, the “broiler buffalo production programme”, was under consideration. Under this programme, farmers would rear male calves. Once the animals “fattened” , these would be purchased by certain companies for meat purposes. |
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Start work on
flyover: HVP Sonepat, August 16 In a press note, he said the scheme for the construction of the flyover was mooted during the regime of Mr Bansi Lal about 10 years ago, but the (INLD) government had put this scheme in cold storage for lack of funds. He said the land acquired for this purpose would have gone back to the owners had compensation not been paid in 1999 by the Bansi Lal government. He regretted that despite all formalities having been completed, the present government had not taken up the construction. Lashing out at the Chautala government for adopting anti-people policies, Mr Jain alleged that it had failed on all fronts. He said roads in this city were potholed and had not been repaired. He said most of the rural roads were in bad shape. He threatened to launch an agitation if work for the repair of Sonepat-Purkhas road was not undertaken immediately. The HVP leader also expressed his concern over the non-clearance of blocked sewers in many parts of the city and non-completion of the canal-based water supply scheme at a cost Rs 4.25 crore. He said Mr Surinder Singh, general secretary of the party, would address a workers’ meeting on August 26 at Ganaur. |
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People misinformed
on finance: HVP Rohtak, August 16 Mr Bansi Lal had demanded the imposition of a fiscal emergency on the state in view of the ‘dismal’ state of economy at the meet-the-press programme organised by the district unit of the Haryana Union of Journalists (HUJ) here on August 12. The Finance Minister had termed the demand as illogical and claimed that the state was not facing any financial crisis. The HVP general secretary, Mr Ram Chander Jangra, today alleged that the Finance Minister did not explain several issues which could expose the ‘miserable’ financial position of the state. He asked why was a bond of Rs 1,200 crore given to the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for five years at the rate of 13 per cent interest in lieu of its power supply to the state. Moreover, he said, a similar bond of Rs 700 crore was likely to be given to the NTPC soon. He questioned why the government was forced to pay the interest for such a huge amount for five years if it had a sound financial position. Commenting on the government claim of providing grant to the municipalities, the HVP leader said the government was mum about the number of municipalities dissolved and the employees retrenched. He said nearly 1,600 employees of the Faridabad Municipal Corporation only had been sacked after the Chautala government assumed office. Mr Jangra alleged that the government was unnecessarily trying to get credit for the announcements made at the ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ programmes as the funds for it were provided by the Union Government. |
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HVP leader chargesheeted in corruption case Rohtak, August 16 Mr Dass faces charges under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act for actions pertaining to the period when he was Urban Development Minister in the erstwhile Bansi Lal-led HVP-Bharatiya Janata Party Government.
UNI |
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Notices issued
to 2 ex-ministers Hisar, August 16 Dharambir, a Congress MLA from Tosham constituency, and Vinod Marya have been asked to appear before the vigilance police on August 22, the Superintendent of Police (Vigilance) said. He said notice has been sent to Dharambir for accumulating property worth over Rs 75 lakh, more than his known source of income. Dharambir had knowingly avoided appearing before the vigilance in the past, he added. Marya, also charged with accumulating wealth, was a minister in the Bansi Lal Cabinet. Meanwhile, the department also recommended departmental action against seven gazetted officers, 17 officials and 10 others on the basis of inquiries conducted by it. The Vigilance Bureau has also recommended the recovery of over Rs 3.10 lakh, besides the registration of cases and initiation of departmental action, a bureau spokesman said.
PTI |
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Head Constable to be promoted for bravery Chandigarh, August 16 Describing the exemplary act of the policeman, the release said Mr Ramesh Kumar was on duty at a naka on July 31 when he received information about an absconding criminal coming toward his naka in a car stolen from the market. As per the information, the criminal was to commit a robbery. The Head Constable, who was unarmed, signalled the car to stop. However, instead of stopping the vehicle, the criminal tried to run over Mr Ramesh Kumar. The policeman flung himself on the bonnet and smashed the windscreen. While grappling with the criminal, Mr Ramesh Kumar fell unconscious. The criminal then abandoned the car and ran away, the release said. The DGP, accompanied by the SP of Faridabad, visited the Head Constable at the Indian Spinal Injury Centre, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, where he was operated upon, the release added. |
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IN FOCUS Ambala The lift was ready for operation in all respects from the day it was installed. But it has not worked because it has not been decided which department will employ the lift operators and pay their salaries. Atleast three operators are required for the smooth functioning of the lift. The Health Department says that they have no provision in their rules to pay the salaries of liftmen. The PWD (Works) has also expressed its inability to provide liftmen. An officer of the department says that they are to look after the maintenance of the building. They have nothing to do with the operation of the lift. The only agency that can spare funds to pay liftmen is the District Red Cross Society. The Civil Surgeon of Ambala has written a number of times to the Directorate of Health to guide him in this regard. The residents of Ambala have also approached the Health Minister but the lift remains stationary. In the original building plan finalised by the then Deputy Commissioner, Mr R.N. Prashar, there was provision for a ramp. After the transfer of Mr Prashar, the new Deputy Commissioner amended the plan and made provision for a lift. The non-official member of the hospital construction committee had, however, opposed the installation of a lift in place of the ramp. The guarantee period of the lift has also expired. If the lift is now put into operation and it develops a snag, the company may not accept responsibility for it. Recently, a ramp was constructed in the other block of the hospital. The maternity ward has also been connected with this ramp. Now the hospital does not need a lift. One of the doctors of the hospital said that it should be removed and installed somewhere else. |
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965 disabled
given aids Panipat, August 16 Presiding over the concluding function of the camp which was jointly organised by the District Red Cross Society and Sri Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata
Samiti, Jaipur, the Haryana Agriculture Minister, Jaswinder Singh
Sandhu, appreciated the efforts of organisers particularly of the Mahaveer Samiti and said to help the disabled, the state government had upgraded three polytechnic institutes at a cost of over Rs 2 crore and had also reserved 25 seats for admission of disabled candidates. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr
M.R. Anand, said the District Red Cross Society with the cooperation of voluntary organisations would organise more such camps for the physically challenged in the district. |
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CM opens
seminar on Lord Mahavir Kurukshetra, August 16 Mr Chautala said he had requested the Union Railway Ministry to introduce a mail train between Bihar and Punjab connecting all religious towns on its route. He told the organisers to apply to the Kurukshetra Development Board for the allotment of a piece of land for constructing a Jain museum here. In his presidential address, a former MP and Chairman of the Indian Wildlife Welfare Board, New Delhi, Justice Gumaan Mal Lodha (retd) lamented that Professor Jha of Delhi University in his controversial book ‘Holy Cow’, had attacked Lord Mahavir by saying that he (Lord Mahavir) used to eat chicken. |
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Four booked in
dowry death case Faridabad, August 16 According to a complaint lodged with the police, the victim identified as Ms Sharda, who got married to Rupesh of Bhakri village in the district, on November 14, 2000, died under mysterious circumstances at her in-laws’ house yesterday. While the in-laws have claimed that Sharda had committed suicide by hanging herself, the brother and sister of the victim alleged that she was killed by her in-laws for not bringing a ‘scooter’ in dowry. Sharda was reportedly seven months pregnant. She belonged to Tigri village in Delhi. Her younger sister is also married to a member of the same family. The police has registered a case against Sharda’s husband, mother-in-law and two brothers-in-law under the Dowry Act. |
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11 councillors
of BJP resign Panipat, August 16 The resignation letters addressed to the state unit party President and MP, Mr Rattan Lal Kataria, were handed over today to the district unit president Dr Manohar Lal Suneja. The councillors who have resigned included, Mr Shyam Sunder Kamal, Mr Harish Sharma, Mr Sanjay Bhatia, Mr Devi Ditta Mal Rewari, Mr Radha Rani, Sunita Narain Dass Punia, Amarjeet Khurana, Sunita Khurana, Mahender Kumar and Sudesh Rani. According to the district Party President, Dr Manohar Lal Suneja, the councillors have stated that a number of requests were made to the government for holding the elections but no initiative had been taken since the past 15 months. The councillors have demanded that election for council’s Chairman should be immediately held. In the 31-member municipal council, the number of Congress councillors are 10 and INLD 10, including Neelam Narang who was expelled from the BJP. |
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Jail inmates clash, 4 hurt Hisar, August 16 According to jail officials, two inmates Jitender Jogi and Surinder Hakla, who are also involved in more than 36 cases of murder and dacoity, and their associates attacked Fauji when he was standing in queue for dinner. It turned into a group clash soon. Fauji’s leg was fractured and he also received serious head injuries. Another inmate Ishwar Singh also sustained injuries. Two jail officials were injured when they intervened. The injured were taken to the hospital under tight security. The officials said keeping in the view their backgrounds, the criminals were kept in separate cells amidst tight security but they had clashed at the time of dinner. Sources said it was a fight for supremacy. Members of both groups had also exchanged hot words during hearing in the local court earlier also. |
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Man robbed of car Rohtak, August 16 According to police sources, Karan Singh of Jhajjar district was coming from Bahadurgarh to Jhajjar in his car when another Maruti car overtook and intercepted his vehicle. The four occupants of the car allegedly took away the vehicle and escaped. |
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HUDA draw of lots for plots Chandigarh, August 16 While stating this here today, a spokesman of HUDA said that the authority would also auction commercial plots on a freehold basis in Mandi township, Hansi, on August 22 and the Urban Estate, Hisar on August 21. |
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Civic
byelections: holiday on Aug 19 Chandigarh, August 16 |
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