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Thursday,
May 15, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Electioneering
set to pick up momentum KU PAPER LEAK State may
give Fisheries Dept as additional charge Promoting
tourism at what cost? Dearness
relief for pensioners |
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HIGH COURT Revised
scales for judicial officers Farmers
continue to burn husk BKU
acting chief arrested Blood
banks raided 2 held
in kidnapping, murder case Manch
leader lashes out at WTO Speed
post centres to remain open Kaluchak
victims remembered Car
used by robbers found Railway
employee suspended Woman
duped
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Electioneering set to pick up momentum Fatehabad, May 14 The day after tomorrow, the Union Agriculture Minister, Mr Ajit Singh, will also address a public meeting in favour of the Haryana Vikas Party nominee, Mr Prahlad Singh Gillankhera. The AICC leader’s presence in Fatehabad may or may not persuade the electorate in favour of the party nominee. But it will definitely ensure the presence all senior Haryana Congress leaders, including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former party presidents Birender Singh and Harpal Singh and a former AICC secretary, Ms Selja, here tomorrow. These leaders have so far kept away from the campaigning in favour of the party nominee, Mr Dura Ram. Ms Selja and Mr Harpal Singh wield influence among some sections of the voters of this constituency. Ms Selja had represented the Sirsa Lok Sabha constituency, of which Fatehabad is a part, for a number of terms. Mr Harpal Singh had been MLA from the neighbouring Tohana. Senior Congress leaders now plan to stay here till May 21, the polling day. Meanwhile, the Congress today reiterated its demand for the deployment of the paramilitary forces in the constituency. A former party president, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, and the party spokesman, Mr Krishan Murti Hooda, in separate statements alleged that ruling party leaders were trying to intimidate the electorate and the Haryana police had failed to check them. The MLA son of the Chief Minister, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, however, denied the Congress allegation and described it as “a sign of frustration”. While the HVP President, Mr Bansi Lal, addressed public meetings in a number of villages, the Haryana Congress president, Mr Bhajan Lal, met advocates. Mr Chautala also addressed meetings in various villages of the constituency. The CPM will also organise a rally here on May 18. It will be addressed, among others, by Mr Subodh Roy, MP, and Ms Subhashni Ali, president of the All-India Democratic Women
Association. Mr Kuljit Kuleria, former president of the block unit of the HVP, and Mr Joginder Singh Rana and Mr Atma Ram Godara, two HVP activists, have joined the INLD and not the Congress as reported earlier. The Deputy Commissioner, Fatehabad, Dr R.B. Langyaan, said here that 37 sector Magistrates and 12 supervisory officers had been appointed to ensure smooth polling. |
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KU PAPER LEAK Karnal, May 14 A college Principal, on the condition of anonymity, maintained that the police theory was full of errors. He agreed with the Principal of IB College, Panipat, Dr K.C. Chaudhary, where two employees had been named the prime accused, that it was almost impossible to steal question papers from sealed envelopes kept in a double-locked almirah. The keys of the almirahs were with the superintendent of the centre and the Principal of the college, he added. How could chowkidars lay hands on the keys of the store when these were not with them, he asked. He maintained that there was more to it than what meets the eye. The question papers were received on the day before the examination, he added. How could the culprits get duplicate keys prepared, steal the question papers, get these photocopied and sell these at far-off places the night before the examination was to be held, he asked. Some principals pointed out that it was difficult to seal the question paper packets again in the same manner. Any effort to seal these could have been detected easily both by the centre Superintendent and the Principal of the college, they added. Dr Chaudhary had maintained that when the question papers were counted not a single question paper was found missing. This showed that those who had stolen the question papers were experts, they said. On the other hand, the two chowkidars were illiterate and one of them was appointed on part-time basis, they added. The students named in the FIR and arrested could not be considered experts, they claimed. Facts would be available only when Mr Rajesh Malik, president of the students wing of the Haryana Vikas Party, who was allegedly the kingpin in the scandal, was arrested, they opined. The university authorities could not wash their hand off the scandal so easily, they stated. |
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State may give Fisheries Dept as additional charge Chandigarh, May 14 One of the two is Mr Vivek Mehrotra, Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department, who was shifted to the department from the high-profile post of Finance Secretary. Mr Mehrotra will soon leave for Delhi to join as a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Mr S.P. Sharma, who was transferred as Commissioner, Women and Child Development Department (subsequently he became Principal Secretary) from the important post of Commissioner, Excise and Taxation, is going on a month's leave. Official sources said it was unlikely that either of the two posts would be offered as fulltime assignments. "The Department of Fisheries is a small department and it may not be offered as the sole charge to an officer. Similarly, Mr S.P. Sharma will rejoin duty after his leave and, therefore no officer is likely to be assigned exclusive charge of the department in Mr Sharma's absence", the sources explained. The government’s policy of giving two or more charges to IAS officers also drew flak from the Central Administrative Tribunal recently as the tribunal said it was creating an artificial scarcity for posting of cadre officers. A senior official said since neither of the two posts in question merited full-time assignments in view of the nature of the vacancies, they could be offered as additional charge. |
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Promoting
tourism at what cost? Morni, May 14 The natural scenic beauty of Haryana’s only hill station — humming cool breeze in the pines with soothing tranquillity — seems to be slowly losing its sanctity with more and more human interference in the area. The Irrigation Department of Haryana has diverted water from the lone waterfall that once used to fill up one of the natural lakes at Tikkar Taal. Besides this, the toe cutting of rocks for widening the roads and drying up of a large portion of the forest cover on the Morni hills has made the area vulnerable to soil erosion and even landslides. According to a survey conducted by The Tribune, there are at least 20 points on the 40 km hilly route, cutting from National Highway-73 to Morni, where possible threats of landslides during the rainy season are alive. Although the Public Works Department (PWD) has started repairing the road and raising road berms on the hillside of the road to prevent landslides, but the fragility of the rocks still indicate ‘high risks’. At a few points, workers of the PWD were seen cutting the rocks and setting up locally built wire boxes filled with stone walls, built across the main path to widen the road, further increasing the pressure on the fragile environment. Cutting towards the right side, just before Morni town, comes Tikkar village at a distance of about 12 km from the block headquarters. The village is scattered in small households in a vast area, having a Higher Secondary School with at least 500 students. It also boasts of an archaeological site with ancient rock carvings and two natural lakes. But in the words of Maghi Ram, a 19-year student of 10+2: “No doubt, the State Government has made efforts to exploit the tourism potential of their village that may in the long run benefit the locals but the area lacks transport facility”. “I have to trudge uphill to Morni, every day to get vocational training of English stenography”, he added. Reflecting the woes of a negligible number of hill people, in a non-hilly state, the young boy lashed out at the Haryana Government for exploiting their natural resources. Another resident of the village, Kamal Sharma, said the local people do not mind tapping the tourism, potential, hoping it may help improve the economic condition of their village but the basic facility of transport should be provided. It may be mentioned that the residents of Tikkar village have never seen a bus or any other private vehicle, coming down to their village, despite the fact that there is a metalled road. Moreover, Haryana Tourism has purchased a small piece of land, right on the banks of one of the natural lakes. A cafeteria and a dormitory, to accommodate at least 32 persons, have come up in the area. Silt deposits due to soil erosion in recent years have not only reduced the water level of the two lakes but also the area covered by water. One can see the dried area being used for irrigation by the locals. Tents are also pitched up from time to time, by the Tourism Department to accommodate adventure lovers. The locals say on many occasions, tents have been washed away during the rains. Water sports like boating, canoeing, kayaking and sailing besides trekking is being organised by the Tourism Department. According to senior officials of the Tourism Department 152 adventure camps were organised in this area, in the past couple of years. Unfortunately, to make things worse, the Irrigation Department has diverted the flow of water from the only natural waterfall for irrigation purpose, which once, used to fill up the natural lake with water. It is essential to not only look closely at the physical geography of an area but also to take into account the socio-economics of the surrounding community, because, the needs and actions of the community will, in the long term, have a knock-on effect on the environment despite the fact that the area constantly faces uncertainty. |
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Dearness
relief for pensioners Chandigarh, May 14 Finance Minister, Sampat Singh said here today that the pensioners drawing revised pension or family pension would be given DR at the rate of 55 per cent of the pension with effect from January 1, 2003, thus registering an increase of 3 per cent. The pensioners, who were drawing unrevised pension or family pension up to Rs 1750 per month would now get DR at the rate of 286 per cent of the pension. Those drawing pension exceeding Rs 1750 but not more than Rs 3000 would get DR at the rate of 214 per cent. Those getting pension above Rs 3000 would get DR at the rate of 185 per cent of the pension, subject to the maximum of Rs 6420. He said the state exchequer would have to bear an additional burden of Rs 5.84 crore during the current financial year as a result of the increase in DR. |
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HIGH COURT Chandigarh, May 14 Pronouncing the orders on her petition seeking the grant of anticipatory bail in an alleged cheating and forgery case, Mr Justice Virender Singh also asked her to join the investigations as and when required. The IAS officer was apprehending arrest in a case registered on May 3 under Sections 406, 420, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. According to the prosecution, the case was registered after an inquiry was conducted into the allegations against the IAS officer on a complaint of her mother. She had accused Asha Sharma of getting documents pertaining to her house forged. As per the allegations, Ms Sharma had requested the then Assistant Enforcement Officer to “make available from the Estate Office the original file of a Sector 36 house for inspection”. Complying with her request, a clerk had handed over the file to the petitioner. Later on, certain papers were found to be missing on inspection, the prosecution had claimed. Seeking the grant of bail, the petitioner today denied the allegations. Claiming to be innocent, Asha Sharma contended that she had been implicated in a false case. After hearing the arguments in the case, the Judge observed that the petitioner “interalia contends that the allegations in the present case are contradictory to civil court findings and mainly relies on an order passed by Civil Judge (Junior Division), Chandigarh, dated January 6, 2000.... Notice of motion for September 9. Arrest shall remain stayed till then. Further, the petitioner shall abide by all conditions laid down in provisions of Section 438 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure”. |
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Revised
scales for judicial officers Chandigarh, May 14 A Junior Division Civil Judge (entry level) would commence with a basic pay of Rs 9,000 as against Rs 2,200 now while a District Judge would commence at Rs 16,750 against Rs 3,200 at present. A Senior Division Civil Judge would get Rs 12,850 against Rs 3,000 now while a District Judge in the Selection Grade would get Rs 18,750 against Rs 5,900 at present. For District Judges, a supertime scale commencing at Rs 22,850 had been introduced. The arrears till March 31, 2003, would be deposited in the GPF accounts of judicial officers while the arrears for April, 2003, would be paid in cash. The retired judicial officers would be paid the arrears in cash. |
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Farmers
continue to burn husk Sirsa, May 14 According to information, the administration had imposed the ban in order to raise stock of fodder for the drought-affected areas of Rajasthan. Yesterday huge flames were seen from a field adjacent to a makeshift godown of wheat near Bajenkan village in the district. |
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BKU acting chief arrested Kaithal, May 14 |
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Blood banks raided Karnal, May 14 This created a flutter not only in the medical stores and private hospitals but also among government doctors as well. According to Mr Maheshwari, two private blood banks were raided out of which one blood bank showed great irregularities. Blank papers bearing the signatures of medical officer was found, including blank labels and medical certificates, he added. He further said this particular blood bank had no signatures of the medical officer on the essential report of the patients of hepatitis-B or HIV.
UNI |
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2 held in kidnapping, murder case Kurukshetra, May 14 The district police chief, Mr Desraj Singh, said here today that two persons, Raj Kumar alias Raju and Anil Kumar, both residents of the same village, had been arrested under Sections 364-A, 302, 20 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. A case was registered on the intervening night of May 10 and 11 that Abhishek had been missing since evening and might had been kidnapped for ransom. Abhishek’s mother Sushma told the police that her neighbour Raj Kumar tailor had taken Abhishek from her lap and offered him a peach. Another neighbour Anil was loading wheat bags on a rehri nearby at that time. Raju handed over the child to Anil who took Abhishek to his residence while Sushma went inside when she came back she found all three of them missing. On this information, search of Raju and Anil was started. They were taken into police custody today. They confessed that they had planned to kidnap Abhishek for ransom. They said when Anil took Abhishek to his residence, Raju too followed him. Both of them strangulated Abhishek to death and put the body in a gunny bag, which was placed with wheat bags on the rehri. They tied the body to a heavy stone and threw it into the Bhakra canal. Efforts are being made to take out the body of Abhishek. Kidnapping of Abhishek and another six-year-old boy, Amit, on April 26 has created panic among village residents. The irate villagers had threatened blockade of the highway yesterday if the child was not traced. |
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Manch leader lashes out at WTO Sirsa, May 14 He was here in connection with rath yatra of the manch. Elaborating on the economic policies of the government, he called for the help of the media in highlighting the decisions being taken by the government under the pressure of the WTO. He said the manch had decided to launch an awareness campaign. Presenting a gloomy picture of the interference by the WTO in agricultural policies, Mr Maheshwari stressed the need to create a pressure group of developing nations in the WTO. |
Speed post centres to remain open Ambala, May 14 Chief Post Master-General, Haryana circle, K. Noorjehan said that May 15 and 16 were postal holidays and the post offices would be closed. “However, to provide the public facility of booking and delivery of speed post mail and purchase of stamps, it has been decided to keep open all 10 national speed post centres of Haryana,” she said. She said the national speed post centres which would remain open on these two days were at Ambala Cantt General Post Office, the Kurukshetra Head Post Office, the Karnal Head Post Office, the Panipat Head Post Office, the Hisar Head Post Office, the Rohtak Head Post Office, the Panchkula Sector 8 Mukhya Dak
Ghar, the Yamunanagar Head Post Office, the Gurgaon Head Post Office and the Faridabad Head Post Office. |
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Kaluchak
victims remembered Ambala, May 14 Amandeep Kaur (15) and Jitendra (13) were killed by militants. The family belongs to Naneola village. The Anti-Terrorist Front of India organised a function to mark the first death anniversary of the two children today. The function was presided over by DSP Raj Gopal. President of ATFI Veeresh Shandilya said the death of the children would not be forgotten. He said India should not extend a hand of friendship to Pakistan but should answer bullet with bullet. “This will be a true salute to the martyrs. People do not want the government restart Samjhauta Express and the Indo-Pak bus service,” he said. The Front demanded that a school should be named after the children. Dr Shandilya said terrorism could come to an end only when strong action was taken against Pakistan. |
Car
used by robbers found Ambala, May 14 The car was recovered from Shalimar Colony. It is being ascertained whether it was stolen or the number plates had been switched. The number plate was that of a car which was stolen from Urban Estate in Ambala city. The UHVPN Union today demanded compensation for Ranjit Singh who had showed exemplary courage in challenging the robbers. The union said the two other employees who had tried to foil the robbery should also be awarded. |
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Railway
employee suspended Kalka, May 14 The employee had demanded strict action against him. The officer who was beaten up is a senior section engineer in the tool shop. |
Woman
duped Ambala, May 14 The incident took place when the woman, a resident of Ambala City, had gone to deposit Rs 8,000 in the bank. A man, who was present in the bank, told her that the bank was about to close so she should quickly fill up the deposit form even as he holds the money. When she filled up the form, the woman realised that the man had allegedly vanished with her money.
TNS |
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IAS officer bereaved Chandigarh, May 14 |
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