MDU can’t sit on student’s compartment
result: Court
Jatinder Sharma

Rohtak, January 14
The Additional District Judge, Dr Shiva Sharma, has directed Maharshi Dayanand University to declare the result of Savita, BA-I student of Maharani Kishori Jat Kanya Mahavidyalaya, and allow her to continue her further studies.

The facts of the case are as follows: Savita appeared in the 10+2 examination of the CBSE in March 2001 and got compartment. She took the re-appear examinations in July 2001, in March 2002 and in March 2002, but she could not clear the compartment. She ultimately passed the examination in July 2002.

Savita had joined B A-I in August 2001 in Maharani Kishori Jat Kanya Mahavidalaya, Rohtak, and appeared in the examination in April 2002. The result was published by the university in `Dainik Bhaskar’ on June 1, 2002, which showed that she had passed with 246/400 marks. It was alleged that her result had not been declared and her detailed marks card had not been issued by the university on the ground that she had not qualified her 10 + 2 examination in two consecutive chances.

Savita, however, alleged the university had refused to declare her result even though she was allowed to appear in the BA-I examination. It was further contended that denial of declaration of result was illegal, null and void and ultra vires. She contended the university should be stopped from cancelling her result/candidature. The university opposed the suit and filed a written statement making preliminary submissions regarding no judicially enforceable right having been accrued to Savita to appear in the BA-I examination conditionally as per clause 7 (a) of the ordinance and that her application was frivolous and vexatious and needed to be dismissed with special costs. It was denied that the result of Savita was declared as passed with 246/400 marks.

On the contrary, as per the records, she had obtained 211 marks. It was alleged that the candidature of Savita had already been cancelled as she was allowed to appear in the BA-I examination only provisionally, subject to her passing the compartment examination in two consecutive chances. The entire claim of Savita was denied by the university and dismissal was sought with costs. The trial court, however, dismissed the application filed by her for ad interim relief vide order of October 19, 2002.

Aggrieved with the impugned orders of the trial court, she filed an appeal in the court of Dr Shiva Sharma for ad interim relief on the ground that she had a very good prima facie case and the balance of convenience in her favour and that she would suffer irreparable loss in the event of non-granting of ad interim relief.

Accepting the appeal, Dr Shiva Sharma said Savita was not guilty of fraud or misrepresentation and she was provisionally admitted by the college as also provisionally allowed by the university to appear in the examination and, therefore, it was not open to the university to withhold her result. No irreparable loss would be occasioned to the university by the declaration of the result of Savita whereas she would be put to irreparable loss incapable of being compensated in terms of money in case of denial of interim relief to her. “In these circumstances, it is found that she has got not only a prima facie case but the balance of convenience is also in her favour”, the Additional District Judge ruled.

“In view of my above discussion, I hereby accept the present appeal with costs and direct the defendant university to forthwith declare her result and allow her further studies”, Dr Sharma ordered.

CBSE EXAMS
Visually impaired can use computers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that visually impaired students can use typewriters or computers in the forthcoming class X and XII examinations. The concession has been made for those students who do not wish to use an amanuensis (scribes) to write the exam.

Among the concessions that have been made for the physically challenged students are an extra hour for writing the exam and separate checking of their answer sheets. The examination centers have been instructed to provide them rooms on the ground floor so as to avoid inconvenience to the students.

In addition to this there will be a separate question paper in Mathematics and Science for the visually impaired. “ They have been permitted to use amanuensis (scribes) and will be allowed an extra hour to complete their exams. They have also been allowed to study one compulsory language instead of two. The answer sheets of these students will be sent to separate nodal evaluation centers created for these students”, the official added.

The CBSE has also made some changes in the question paper for classes X and XII for the 2002-03 session. For the class X students the mathematics paper will have 25 questions instead of 35 and the Science paper will have 30 questions instead of 33. There will be eight questions of one mark each, seven questions of two marks, 11 questions of three marks and four questions of five marks each in the science paper. As for class XII, the Physics paper will have 27 questions instead of 30 with internal choice in three questions. The Mathematics paper will have 26 questions instead of 30, with internal choice in five mark questions and there will be no overall choices. The question papers have been designed according to the frontline curriculum.

Schools cold-shoulder govt’s holiday orders
Bijendra Ahlawat
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, January 14
It appears that the orders of the Haryana government, directing the closure of schools in view of the weather conditions, are not applicable to many institutions here.

The state government had ordered the ‘‘closure of all schools till January 17.’’ However, the diktat did not find favour with many leading schools, which have been functioning regardless of the government orders.

Students in all age groups, including primary and pre-primary sections, are attending their classes as the administration in these institutions believes that the chilly weather is bearable and closure would cause ‘irreparable’ loss to the students and hurt their academic session.

While some of the schools had declared a holiday last weekend (January 10 and 11) for small children, they decided not to go ahead with the `holidays’ declared by the Haryana government. The government had initially ordered the closure of all schools in the state till January 13; later it extended the date to January 17. But this did not wash with some of the schools. While the government-funded institutions downed their shutters, some of the prominent ones decided to give the directive a go-by.

It is reported that when some parents approached the school authorities, they were told that these orders apply only to government schools. Incidentally, similar orders had also been passed in Delhi and nearly all schools, including the leading ones, decided to adhere to the directions.

In Faridabad, however, some of the schools decided to stay open even on the day of ‘Lohri’ (January 13) and on ‘Makar Sankranti’ today. Some of them had even remained open on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

According to reports, some district authorities in Haryana decided to firmly enforce the special `break’ orders. For instance, the Rohtak district administration used its authority under Section 144 to execute the orders. Some district authorities reportedly imposed a penalty on school managements which attempted to keep their institutions open despite the orders.

Handloom items worth lakhs gutted
Tribune News Service

Panipat, January 14
Handloom products and raw material worth several lakhs of rupees were destroyed in a devastating fire on the premises of Abhitex International on the GT Road on Monday.

According to information, the fire, which broke out on Sunday night, probably on account of a short circuit, was noticed by the chowkidar on Monday morning. The fire first got to the packing store, destroying mats, bath rugs and canvas material, which were to be shipped overseas in a couple of days’ time.

Even as fire engines from the NFL, the Panipat Refinery, Tau Devi Lal Thermal Power Station and the local fire station were called for, the blaze spread to the nearby yarn store where a huge quantity of yarn was stored. The fire, which spread to the basement of the factory, destroyed the material stored there.

The fire personnel struggled late till Monday night to put out the blaze. However, no loss of life was reported.

Meanwhile, five persons were injured when a fire engine of the thermal station collided head on with a truck. The fire engine was on its way to extinguish the fire at Abhitex International here.

The injured have been identified as Rajbir and Ranbir, both firemen, Harish Chand, driver of the fire engine, Kashmir Singh, truck driver, and Masuk. They have been admitted to the local Civil Hospital.

Commuters rail against derailed service
R. D. Sapra

Sonepat, January 14
Suburban commuters in Sonepat and the surrounding areas are a harried lot as the railway authorities are allegedly apathetic to their problems, like late running of suburban trains and woefully short number of coaches.

According to a report, there are about a dozen trains linking New Delhi and Delhi stations with Sonepat but the rush is mainly on the morning and evening trains. Thousands of office workers, government employees, schoolteachers, students and milkmen travel on these trains.

The trains are generally overcrowded but the situation has deteriorated with the authorities reducing the number of coaches, forcing the people to either huddle into available space or travel on the footboards of the coaches. The number of second class coaches in most of the suburban trains is always inadequate. This especially inconveniences women passengers. Train services are frequently disrupted on account of protests by the commuters.

Milkmen invariably hold monthly season tickets (MSTs) but they carry more containers and travel in second class coaches without getting their containers booked. Their huge containers occupy most of the space. Moreover, they block the entry and exit doorways of the coaches. Passengers in general and women in particular have to face great hardships in boarding the coaches and getting down from them. The situation has become worst in the 1 DPM passenger train since it has been converted into an EMU train.

The milk vendors’ huge containers cause inconvenience to the passengers, particularly women, as the train halts for less than a minute at the railway stations.

On many occasions, the women passengers fail to enter the coaches or get down from them. The railway authorities remain silent spectators. They have failed to take any action against the erring milkmen.

Most commuters, including government servants and schoolteachers, also travel in second class coaches. Repeated representations regarding the number of coaches being inadequate have been made to the authorities concerned. Pleas are repeatedly made for the provision of separate coaches for the milk vendors but to no avail.

Suburban trains and long-distance trains running behind schedule has become a routine on this section. Frustrated commuters at times resort to pulling the chain to protest against the railway authorities’ failure to improve the train services.

The railway authorities, on the other hand, are beset by their own problems. Students living in Delhi or the nearby villages and studying in colleges at Sonepat are responsible for various irregularities, like pulling the chain and travelling ticketless. The railway staff are reluctant to take action against the erring students lest an agitation is sparked of. Usually, it is not possible to nab the chai-pulling culprit. Moreover, the stopping of trains at odd points has become quite the norm. The real sufferers are, therefore, office-goers and others with no one to delve into the pitiable state of affairs.

Moreover, the commuters face inconvenience at the Sonepat railway station also. The number of sheds provided at the railway station is inadequate. A large number of passengers have to brave the scorching sun or a downpour or chilly winds, as the case may be.

Machine used for altering chassis numbers seized
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, January 14
The Ghaziabad police busted a gang of auto thieves after an encounter last night, arresting two of the gang members. Eight cars have been recovered from them. The two thieves have been identified as Khalil Ahmed and Jan Mohd.

The police have also seized an electronic machine used for changing the chassis and engine numbers of cars and a countrymade revolver from them.

The Indira Puram police got a tip-off about the presence of three vehicle thieves in Simant Vihar. Barricades were quickly erected in the area. When a Tata Qualis coming from the Delhi side around 11.30 pm was signalled to stop, the driver pressed on the gas. The police vehicles in hot pursuit were fired upon by the occupants of the Qualis. The cops retaliated. Eventually, the Qualis was intercepted. The police arrested the two criminals. One of the gang members fled during the encounter.

Jan Mohd and Khalil Ahmed are residents of Gajaraula and Meerut, respectively. The one who escaped has been identified as Joginder Rana of Baghpat by the arrested duo.

During interrogation, the two confessed to having stolen the Qualis from Delhi. They guided the police to an abandoned GDA building from where six Maruti 800s and a Tata Sumo were recovered. Besides, Khalil had an electronic machine there to change the engine and chassis numbers of the vehicles.

The gang was active in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut and had stolen not less than 50 cars during the past one year, the Ghaziabad police said.

Khalil was such a dab hand at changing the engine and chassis numbers of the stolen cars that they looked absolutely original. The next step for the gang members was to get fake documents prepared and sell the vehicles at good premium, the police said. Some of the vehicles were sold to junk operators, too.

Delhiites add extra layers to fend off cold
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14
Even as Delhiites celebrated Lohri, marking the beginning of the end of the winter season, icy winds continued to blow, forcing the denizens to take extra precautions to layer themselves.

The Met office said the minimum temperature had touched 4.6 degree Celsius today, a two-degree rise over the previous day’s temperature.

The fog, which had been hampering the movement of trains and aircraft in the past few days, lifted early today enabling the airlines to adhere more or less to their schedules. There were only minor disruptions in the flight operations.

However, the trains arriving in and departing from the Capital continued to run behind schedule by several hours.
Schools in the Capital, which had been closed due to severe cold wave condition in the region, reopened today. However, there was demand for more protective school uniforms to brave the weather conditions.

A large number of devotees took a dip in river Yamuna, marking the Makar Sankaranti festival, braving the icy winds and the chilly and polluted water of the river.

COMMUNITY

Ambitious plan to keep Delhiites in the pink
Jeevna Bhinder

For the purpose of providing safe and healthy environment to the residents of the city, the Delhi government has launched a healthy city project in collaboration with the World Health Oraganisation.

Chautala should meet PM on SYL issue: CPM
Our Correspondent

Rohtak, January 14
The Communist Party (Marxist) feels that Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala should call upon the Prime Minister to persuade him to take immediate steps for the completion of the SYL canal as per the orders of the Supreme Court.

The state secretary of the party, Mr Inderjit Singh, said that another all-party meeting on the SYL issue would be prudent only after Mr Chautala meets the Prime Minister. He said that during the all-party meeting held on August 14 last, his party has stood for a meaningful dialogue and immediate steps for initiative of the central government.

Mr Inderjit Singh told the ‘NCR Tribune’ that the state committee of the party discussed the SYL canal issue and regretted that certain political parties were exploiting the vital issue for their narrow political gains. As a consequence, several areas in Haryana continue to face acute shortage of irrigation water.

The CPM leader in this context recalled that the Congress and NDA constituents, including BJP, have been in power in both Punjab and Haryana and the Centre simultaneously but instead of making serious efforts towards resolving the contentious issue, the ruling parties have been using it for electoral gains by rousing the regional sentiments and chauvinistic feelings of the people.

Consequently, of this a lot of mistrust has developed among the people in Haryana against the political parties. In the meantime, the CPM has expressed readiness to play its due role in all serious and responsible efforts towards an amicable settlement of the SYL canal issue.

The Haryana unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has severely criticised the proposed gherao of Prime Minister’s residence on January 15 by the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee. The party spokesman, Mr Pardeep Jain, has described the Congress decision as a political stunt. If the Congress was sincere towards the cause of the farmers of Haryana, the party should gherao the Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrinder Singh, Mr Jain said.

Bhajan supporter made campaign panel chief
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, January 14
The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr Bhajan Lal, today appointed Mr Om Prakash Beri as the president of the campaign committee in the district. The appointment of Mr Beri on this new post is being seen as a deliberate attempt to sideline Mr Raghubir Singh Kadian, the formal DCC chief.

With this appointment, Mr Beri has virtually become the supremo of the district Congress Party. Mr Bhajan Lal has assigned him the responsibility to activate the district unit of the party and mobilise the people for his forthcoming rally at the Ram Lila Ground in Delhi to press for the completion of the SYL canal by a central agency. The deadline set by the Supreme Court directing the Punjab Government to complete the SYL canal expires on January 15.

It may be mentioned here that the present DCC chief, Mr Kadian, who is the representative from Beri Assembly constituency, was a supporter of the CLP leader, Mr Bhoopinder Singh Hooda.

Mr Kadian had disassociated himself from the programmes organised by the Mr Bhajan Lal after his installation as the HPCC president. Mr Kadian also refused to share stage with him during his rally on December 29, terming it ‘somebody’s civic reception’ and refuting that the rally was an official function of the party.

Addressing a press conference at Bahadurgarh here today, the HPCC chief also cautioned against any indiscipline in the party. Blaming both Mr Bansi Lal and the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, for not taking interest in the completion of the SYL, Mr Bhajan Lal sought to get credit for the apex court’s judgement in favour of Haryana. He said that his government had filed the case in the Supreme Court in 1996.

30 pc NPOs in Capital ‘unregistered’
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14
Almost 30 per cent of the non-profit organisations in the Nation Capital Territory of Delhi are not legally incorporated, according to a latest survey.

While most of the unregistered NPOs are in rural areas in the country, in stark contrast, about 30 per cent of the NPOs in urban areas in the Capital are unregistered, said the survey conducted by Society for Participatory Research (PRIA).

The survey said there is an estimated 1.18 million NPOs in the country and they are mainly engaged in religious, community service and education sectors.

More than half of the NPOs in Delhi have primary activity as religious affiliation service, which is highest in the country, the report said, adding that 18 per cent are involved in community service.

While one out of the every eight adult persons in the Capital is working in the NPO, about 80 per cent of them are associated as volunteers.

As far as the funding is concerned, more than 41 per cent is generated through donations, followed by grants and self-generated income.

This figure of the Capital is quite contrary to the all India trend of more than half the resources of NPOs generated by self-generated means, with donations accounting for only about 13 per cent.

Another interesting aspect of NPO funding revealed by the survey is that foreign funds constitute nearly one-eighth of the total receipts in Delhi compared to only 7.4 per cent nationwide.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON GURGAON
Environment is the buzzword: EC-funded
project for Gurgaon
Ravi S.Singh
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, January 14
There is no age for education and acquiring new skills. The industrialists of Gurgaon with regard to updating their business practices on sound environment-friendly principles amply demonstrated this adage.

After undergoing a one-year training, imparted by Centric Austria (a cluster of 15 Austria-based consultative firms) in conjunction with Green City India Pvt Ltd (a consultative firm on environmental issues) on “Preventive Environment Protection” following the “Eco-Profit” approach, 15 local units were today awarded certificates at a public function.

The function was organised by the Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA), Centric Austria, Green City Pvt Ltd and the Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

Speaking at the certification ceremony, the Director of Centric Austria, Mr Gerhard Welhs, said that the Eco-Profit concept was devised in Austria and a project to assist the industries to work on sound environmental principles with this approach is funded by the European Commission. The EC has funded the project for training programme of the industries in Gurgaon under its ‘Asia-Invest’ programme.

Significantly, Gurgaon is the first city in entire Asia to launch the project. As the one-year training of 15 local industries was the pilot project, efforts will be made by all concerned, especially the GIA, to cover more units under the programme. Twenty more units here are claimed to have volunteered to join the club.

According to Mr Welhs, the efficiency of the companies can be increased by reducing their demand of raw materials and energy resulting in minimising the environmental impacts caused by adopting Preventive Environmental Protection. Thus, this approach looks into the production process along with all other activities of the industry and studies them from the angle of material and energy utilisation. It would help induce innovation within the companies themselves to bring the company as a individual and as a region, a step forward on sustained economic growth.

Speaking on the occasion, the GIA president, Mr J.N.Mangla, urged that more units should adopt the novel approach in their business practices.

The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Anurag Rastogi, said that it was a matter of pride that Centric Austria chose Gurgaon for launching the EC’s project.

Lawyer moves HC for rights violation
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, January 14
Rebuffed by the local police, a Supreme Court lawyer and local Congress leader, Mr Khazan Singh, has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for registration of criminal case against officers of the Haryana Government for the violation of his human rights.

He has also sought direction from the court for investigation of the case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the ground that the police was part of the state government, which was trying to shield the accused officials.

The District (Gurgaon) Bar Association had earlier given a call for bandh in response to which the lawyers had observed strike from December 19-24 to press for registration of criminal cases against the officers alleged to have violated the fundamental rights of Mr Singh, especially his right to life and liberty. The police authorities, however, have taken the stand that there was no merit in the allegations of Mr Singh.

Those accused by Mr Singh are the Estate Officer of Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Mr Pradeep Daggar, the District Revenue Officer (DRO), Mr Lalmun Verma and others.

According to the original complaint of Mr Singh, he was abducted at gun-point by Mr Daggar and Mr Verma along with more than dozen persons on the night of December17-18.

He was allegedly kept in confinement at a place near the HUDA’s main office for about four hours. He further alleged that he was mentally tortured by the accused and threatened with dire consequences if he did not withdraw the case he had filed in connection with closure of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra(KVK) of the Haryana Agriculture University (HAU). Copies of the complaint have been sent to the President, Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Governor of Haryana, the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Director General of Police, Haryana.

Significantly, Mr Singh had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the High Court against the closure of the KVK and charged that the Haryana Government had the ulterior motive of starting a casino on its sprawling 46-acre campus.

What is damaging from the point of view of the government is the allegation that someone in the government has entered into a deal with a UK-based firm for starting the casino and was angling to corner several crores of rupees in the deal.

According to Mr Singh, he was abducted when he had gone to the site of his school at 11 pm after receiving information that the HUDA officials were taking away documents and other property from the debris.

By a strange coincidence, a few days after he had filed the PIL in connection with the KVK, the HUDA officials swooped down on a Senior Secondary School run by him in Bindapore village on December 16 and razed the entire building. According to many, the entire operation was swift and a strong contingent of police force was stationed at the site.

Mr Singh alleged that the school was on about 13 acres of land owned by him and his kin. HUDA had wanted to acquire the land against which he had moved the High Court.

He alleged that the demolition was done against the guidelines formulated by the court in the case.

What has added poignancy to the case is his allegation that the Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Assembly and local MLA, Mr Gopi Chand Gehlot, a leader of the ruling INLD, is behind the drive against him. Both are political rivals and are natives of Jharsa village.

Haryana to simplify industrial norms
Abhay Jain

Gurgaon, January 14
The Director of Industries, Haryana, Mr Devinder Singh, assured the industrialists that the state government would do its best to clear the bottlenecks coming in the way of simplifications of procedures related to different industrial departments.

Mr Singh said that he is, in principle, in agreement with the entrepreneurs that an effective single-window agency or fast track clearance department should be in existence so that the industrialists could approach it and apply all formalities and resolve the issues concerning different departments under a single roof. Mr Singh was speaking at an Interactive Session with the industrialists organised by Gurgaon Industrial Association (GIA) here two days back.

The director said that he would personally study such agency/department, already functional in other parts of the country. While advocating the policy of decentralisation of power, being executed by the state government, Mr Singh said that the power delegated to the lower level always help in better management. Casting apprehensions on the working of local pollution department, the GIA president, Mr J N Mangla, said the regional office of the pollution department is misinterpreting the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

A number of local small and tiny units are being harassed unnecessarily by the pollution officers, added the president.

Clarifying the position of the department, the Regional Officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Mr B S Singroha, announced that the department would not enforce the closure of 16 industrial units (12 rubber and 4 plastic), working in the residential, falling in the areas of local Municipal Council if these units remove their generator sets from their units.

The 16 units were asked to close down as the electricity generators installed on their premises were causing the pollution, said the officer. They have to remove the generator and give an undertaking on an affidavit that they would not install generator, said the officer. However, Mr Devinder Singh directed the department to take a lenient view of all units working in the residential areas and give them sufficient time to shift to other places, if they have to, as per the order of the High Court.

Mr J N Mangla said that the present set-up available to the industry was not empowered enough to accord sanctions, clearance/ approval at the local level. These officers should be upgraded or senior functionary of the government should be independently posted here, suggested the president. The GIA said that the Quality Marking Centre has been serving the small industries in Gurgaon who are engaged in manufacturing rubber and engineering goods for a long time. The department should be upgraded instead of closing down the centre, the association pleaded.

Mr Devinder Singh assured that he would look into the matter.

The GIA said that the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation Limited had issued the notices to the industrial units in Udyog Vihar, Phase 1 to V and Maruti Industrial Estate (Sector 18) Gurgaon for obtaining occupation certificates.

The industrial units were allotted plots way back in 1976 to 1978 onwards. The requirement of occupation certificate was never insisted upon at that time. Now the buildings having been occupied for the last 20 years and at this stage, it is not possible to comply with the formalities of HSIDC, viewed the GIA.

The Director of Industries observed that he would study all the issues raised by the GIA and try to resolve them soon.

Malhotra to chair BJP transport committee
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14
The Delhi state BJP has constituted a committee to formulate an integrated transport policy. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, a member of Parliament will chair the committee.

Ms Anita Arya and Lal Bihari Tiwari, members of Parliament, Mr Jagdish Mukhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Mr Subhash Arya, Leader of the Opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Mr Nand Kishore Garg, member of Legislative Assembly and Mr Mewa Ram Arya, the Delhi BJP spokesman are members of the committee. The Delhi state BJP president, Mr Madan Lal Khurana, on Tuesday told mediapersons that Mr Omesh Saigal would be the secretary of the committee. Mr Saigal is the former chief secretary of Government of NCT of Delhi and member secretary of National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board. The committee has been given 30 days time to draft its report.

Introduction of high-speed trams, improving the connectivity of areas hitherto ignored by extending Delhi Metro’s services and giving an impetus to the long-forgotten Ring Railway figure prominently in the ambitious transport policy the BJP wants to hardsell.

Govt policies pique CPM

Rohtak, January 14
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed concern over the ‘worsening’ situation in the state. In a statement here today, Mr Inderjit Singh, state secretary, CPM held the ‘disastrous’ policies of the state government and the Centre responsible for the deterioration in various fields.

He said the farmers in the region were on the verge of collapse as they suffered heavy losses due to the drought like situation and the ‘inordinate’ delay in getting compensation from the government.

The CPM leader condemned the role of police in different incidents including that in Khanak, Loharu and Dulina. He also expressed concern over the ‘deteriorating’ law and order situation and alleged that a sense of insecurity prevailed among the people. He alleged that murder, dacoity, rape, kidnapping, robbery and theft had become common in the state and the police had miserably failed to put a check on the rising crime rate.

Agrasen Samman

Mr Surender Gupta, the senior vice- president, Haryana unit of Akhil Bhartiya Yuva Aggarwal Sammelan was honoured with ‘Maharaja Agrasen Rashtriya Samman’ at the National Youth and Women Festival-2003, held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh recently. OC

HVP promises to weed out corruption
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, January 14
The Haryana Vikas party (HVP) will withdraw some of the taxes, ensure adequate power and water, unemployment allowance to the jobless and ensure a corruption-free administration, if it was returned to power in the next elections.

The HVP general secretary, Mr Surender Singh, stated this while addressing a public meeting at Chhainsa village in the district. He promised that the HVP would fulfil the expectations of the people as they were fed up of the ‘misrule’ of the Chautala government.

He alleged that Haryana had become a den of corruption. The INLD had imposed unnecessary taxes and the people were clamouring for basic amenities, including water and power.

He promised that entry tax, store tax and sales tax on shopkeepers, traders and other service professionals would be removed and the government would take care of the jobless youths by providing unemployment allowance. He alleged that various sections of society were being harassed and the industrialists and businessmen here were forced to pay heavy bribes.

Worker dies as muffler gets trapped in machine
Our Correspondent

Noida, January 14
A worker of a factory in Sector 8 died when his muffler, wrapped around his neck, got trapped in a machine. The Sector 20 police had refused to register a case as desired by the factory management, it is learnt. An FIR was filed by the brother of the deceased later.

The death of the worker, Zubair, has been recorded as accidental. Zubair had tried to save himself but got electrocuted in the process, it is learnt.

The management of the factory, which manufactures door hinges, is understood to have offered suitable compensation to the family. Zubair’s brother, Karar Hussain, in his report to the police said it was an accidental death and that there was no negligence.

Group set up to implement Transport Policy
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 14
The Government of NCT of Delhi on Tuesday constituted a Delhi Transport Planning Group that will be mandated to put into action the Transport Policy unveiled late last year. The Delhi Transport Minister, Mr Ajay Maken, told mediapersons that the Delhi Transport Planning Group will be in place till such time as a statutory body like the Integrated Metropolitan Transport Authority was set up. The Delhi Transport Planning Group will deal with the high capacity bus system, electric trolley bus and light rail transit system.

The Delhi Transport Planning Group will have the Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, as chairperson and comprise Delhi Transport Minister, Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (PWD), Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. The other members are the Joint Secretary (Department of Training and Personnel) of Government of India, Mr O.P. Agarwal, Prof Dinesh Mohan of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Mr B.I. Singhal, who was working for RITES Limited. The Transport Commissioner will be the member-secretary.

Besides the Delhi Transport Planning Group, a core group had been set up with the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary (finance) to implement high capacity bus system and electric trolley bus. The core group comprises the Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, MCD Commissioner, Principal Secretary (planning), Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Delhi Transport Corporation, Joint Commissioner of Traffic Police and the Engineer-in-Chief of PWD. The Transport Commissioner will be the convenor and Mr B.I. Singhal the consultant. The minister said a two-member core group comprising Transport Commissioner and Mr O.P. Agarwal has been set up to frame a draft legislation for an Integrated Metropolitan Transport Authority.

DELHI DIGEST
Domestic help raped

New Delhi
A 20-year-old woman domestic help was allegedly raped by her employer in Sector 7 in Pushp Vihar in Malviya Nagar. The accused Satish Gupta (30), working in a call centre in electronic city in Gurgoan has been arrested and taken in the police custody. The victim, a resident of Jharkand, was working in the house of Gupta from December 21. The girl alleged that she was raped from January 6-9 when there was no one at home. The girl later informed the placement centre from where she was employed, and the medical examination of the victim confirmed the rape.

Auto driver held

An auto driver was arrested by the Kalyan Puri police for robbing a passenger of money and wristwatch after offering him biscuits laced with drugs. His associate who offered the biscuits to the passenger is still at large. The victim, Kanahaiya Lal, resident of Shakarpur hired an auto to Shakarpur from Anand Vihar on January 9. The auto driver Shamshad and his associate offered Lal biscuits and robbed a bag containing Rs 17,000, clothes and a wristwatch from his possession.

Charas seized

Two persons were arrested by the Civil Lines police for allegedly carrying four kilograms of charas yesterday afternoon in the North district. The police acting on an information arrested the accused Hari Das (38) and Dayalu Ram (30), both residents of Manali and seized two kilograms of the contraband from their possession. The accused told the police that the drugs were brought from Manali and were to reach Goa.

Suicide by maid servant

Harjeet Kaur, alias Rani, a domestic servant of Wing Commander Harsh Saurabh, reportedly committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan in servant quarter.

NCR BRIEFS
Prisoner on parole fails to turn up
Shiv Sharma

Bhiwani, January 14
The police have launched a manhunt to arrest a prisoner who did not turn up after his leave. According to reports, the Jail Superintendent has registered a case with the local police stating that Chhaju Ram, son of Kundan Lal, who was undergoing imprisonment in a case had gone on leave for six weeks but had not returned after the lapse of due period.

Industrialist dead

A noted industrialist P D Makharia passed away after a brief illness here today. He was 95. A man of discipline and enthusiasm, Makharia was on the board of several educational institutions. During 1960, he was the general manager of local TIT mill, a Birla concern. In the seventies, he set up his own cotton industry ‘Saraswati Spinning Mill’.

During his tenure, he took pains to establish the TIT educational institutions, of which TIT Engineering College is very famous in Bhiwani.

His last rites will be performed at about 1 pm tomorrow, Makharia’s family sources said. He is survived by six sons and a daughter.

Dowry harassment

The police have registered a case of dowry harassment against 10 persons on the complaint of one Mamta, daughter of Phool Singh, resident of New Basti here today. No arrest have been made in this connection.

Eight injured

At least eight persons sustained injuries in two separate accidents that took place in the district. According to reports, six persons, identified as Ram Singh (43), Mahipal (46), Ramrati (37), Meena (23), Sandhya (30) and Mandeep (18) were injured when the jeep in which they were returning to their village ChuChakwas from Jhojhu, reportedly collided with a Maruti car. The incident took place near Loharwada, around 37 km from here.

Thousands take dip

Sonepat
Thousands of people had their holy dip in the Yamuna near Bega, Memarpur and other ghats about 15 km from here today on Makkar Sankranti.

He said it was constructed at a cost of nearly Rs 8.5 lakh. Dr R.K.Bharadwaj, principal of the college, said that the students of the college could deposit their fees and the teachers would get their salaries from the extension counter now. OC

CRIME

Husband, in-laws booked for dowry death
Our Correspondent

According to a report, the police action followed the order issued by Mr Sudhir Jeewan, a Judicial Magistrate of Ganaur in a complaint filed by Mr Jagbir Singh, father of the girl, alleging that she was being harassed by her husband and in-laws, and the police have failed to take any action against them.

Thieves break into posh showrooms
Our Correspondent

Then they proceeded to commit a theft in another showroom (C-21). They took some valuables and then broke open the lock of another showroom. The thefts were discovered in the morning by the owners of the showrooms.