14-year-old pupil, beaten black and blue by madrassa teacher, dies
Our Correspondent

Ghaziabad, July 7
The death of a child, who was a student in a madrassa in Vijay Nagar, has created panic in the city. The child was reportedly severely beaten up by the madrassa maulvi (teacher) on June 19 and died 10 days later.

While the accused maulvi is absconding after the incident, some people are trying to suppress the facts lest the Madrassa Jamia Hijjatual Islam, Jannat Masjid, Miza Pur Colony, Vijay Nagar here, gets a bad name. A case of innocent kids being chained in a Bulandshahr madrassa had shocked the people and the administration alike last month. Wasim, 14-year-old son of Shaukat, resident of ward no. 2, Sector 12, in Mata Colony, was a pupil at the madrassa. Wasim had broken the Rehal (the stand on which the holy Koran is placed) on June 19. That was provocation enough for the maulvi and others to beat him black and blue.

As his condition was serious, he was not allowed to go home for three days. Instead, he was treated at the madrassa by a quack.

Shaukat, a father of nine children, is a small-time bangle seller. He took his son to the same quack as he could not afford proper medical treatment. Meanwhile, maulvis and others connected with the madrassa started exerting pressure on Shaukat to let bygones be bygones. If the incident became public, it would ruin the reputation of the mosque and the madrassa, they stressed. Beating the kids is a routine practice in the madrassa, it is learnt. Only last month seven-year-old Nargis, daughter of Atta Mohd of Mirzapur, was mercilessly beaten up. She was in pain for days and stopped coming to the madrassa after that.

After Wasim’s death, there is a feeling of fear and panic among other children. Wasim had been pinned down on a wooden plank by four persons and beaten up mercilessly, his friends said on condition of anonymity.

Although Shaukat had not filed a report with the police about his son’s death he had been warned of dire consequences by the community leaders. Neighbours had told the police that Wasim had died of some illness. But Wasim’s mother, Anwari, admitted that her son had died as a result of the beating received in the madrassa, the Circle Officer, Dr Dharam Veer Singh, said.

Racket in doctored documents busted
Tribune News Service

Fake degrees, mark sheets, certificates, income tax PAN cards, driving licences, ration cards, DTC bus passes and a number of other such documents, were seized from six persons arrested by a team of officials from the Special Cell of the Delhi Police in the Capital on Monday. — Tribune Photo Mukesh Aggarwal

RAF mans Dalit basti
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 7
On the directive of the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Parkash Chautala, the police have tightened the security measures by deploying the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at Juan village in the district.

According to a report, Mr Chautala has expressed concern over the murder of a youth and the cases of arson and looting thereafter. He has directed the district and police authorities not to allow anyone to take the law into his hand and commit atrocities on the Dalits in the village.

Mr Chautala halted at the PWD (B and R) rest house at Rai, about 13 km from here yesterday, for 10 minutes while going to Jind. He called the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Balwan Singh, and the Superintendent of Police, Mr Paramjit Singh Ahlawat, and held a confidential meeting with them to discuss the issue.

The Chief Minister gave some directions to them and left for Jind.

Meanwhile, the police have intensified their campaign to arrest the culprits allegedly involved in the murder of the youth — the names of whom have been mentioned in the FIR lodged by the parents of the victim.

Partap Singh (24), a youth along with two others was going towards his fields around 8 pm on Friday when he was waylaid by some persons of the village and murdered. The associates of the victim, however, escaped after the assault.

It is stated that an affair with a girl was the motive behind the murder. After the killing, a large of youths attacked the houses of Dalits and set the household articles on fire.

The incidents of arson and looting have caused tension in the village and many families of Dalits have fled with their milch animals. The Dalit basti has 200 families.

DSGMC ROW
Sarna faction seeks merger directive
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
The members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), led by its president, Mr. Paramjit Singh Sarna, today said they wanted a ‘’formal directive’’ to merge their faction with the Shiromani Akali Dal, even as the SAD claimed that their demand was an ‘’excuse’’ to divert attention from the revolt within the religious body.

‘’We are waiting for a formal directive from the united SAD after the patch-up between former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his long-time colleague Gurcharan Singh Tohra to merge our party with it,’’ said DSGMC General Secretary Bhajan Singh Walia whose faction, headed by Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna, has so far refused any fusion with the united Akali Dal. Mr. Sarna himself had said the same thing in Amritsar last week after he returned from a business trip abroad.

His remarks came in the wake of SAD-backed Senior DSGMC Vice President Shamsher Singh Sandhu’s promise to hold annual elections to the committee on schedule on July 24 despite Mr Sarna describing the move as ‘’illegal’’.

“We can take a decision about the merger after receiving a SAD directive,’’ Mr Walia said. He, however, ruled out the possibility of his faction accepting Mr Sandhu’s election announcement for July 24, when the one-year-term of the DSGMC executive expires.

Mr Walia’s comments drew a sharp response from Mr Dhindsa, also SAD Secretary-General, with the minister rejecting the demand as ‘’another excuse’’ from the DSGMC controllers who face a revolt and a virtual ouster. ‘’There is nothing like issuing formal individual ‘merger directives’ to splinter Akali parties. Moreover, Mr Tohra (who had supported Mr Sarna in last year’s DSGMC general elections) had directed all such groups to unite as one party when his Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal (SHSAD) merged with the SAD,’’ Mr Dhindsa said. In order to put pressure on the present committee, SAD leaders met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani last week and requested him to ensure timely elections in the DSGMC, which is known for jumping its both annual and general election schedules.

Setting the stage for a showdown with Mr Sarna, the Akalis have said they will hold an election meeting on July 24 with or without the approval of the DSGMC chief. Meanwhile, the police said they were keeping a close watch on the DSGMC office, located on the premises of Gurdwara Rakab Ganj near Parliament, following Mr Sarna’s dismissal of the SAD-backed notice for elections, as the body had in the past witnessed violent clashes in the run up to the polls.

HINT OF BIZARRE
Body of girl found stuffed in suitcase
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
A 22-year-old girl was found dead in mysterious circumstances in a hotel in the Nabi Karim area in central Delhi last night. The body, which was discovered by the hotel staff, was found twisted and stuffed inside a 30-inch suitcase.

A male companion, who booked the hotel room in his name and introduced the girl as his wife at the time of their entry, is absconding.

The police said that efforts were being made to trace the companion who is in his late twenties. A police team has been sent to Ajmer as the suspect, identified as Mahender Maurya, had given an Ajmer address in the hotel register.

On July 4, the suspect checked into hotel room no 406 in the morning. At around 2.30 pm, he brought the girl to the hotel. After that they never stepped out, which had aroused considerable suspicion among the hotel staff.

Last night, the hotel staff went and knocked at the door but there was no reply.

The hotel staff opened the door at around 9.30 pm with a duplicate key and upon entering the room found blood stains near a suitcase; a foul smell was also emanating from the bag.

The police was immediately informed. After a preliminary examination, the police said the girl had strangulation marks around her neck. A piece of cloth was also found stuffed inside her mouth. She was clad in a salwar-kameez.

This cricket stadium will be Lahli’s 
pride and Mohali’s envy
A. Gulati

Rohtak, July 7
The internationally acclaimed cricket stadium in Mohali may soon find its match in Lahli - a nondescript village situated on the Rohtak-Bhiwani road. The foundation stone of the stadium, to be constructed by the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) at a cost of Rs.8.5 crore, was today laid by the former president of the HCA and retired IAS officer S.K.Mishra.

This will be the first stadium in the state to be owned by the HCA, which was constituted in 1967. A large number of cricket fans, villagers and officer bearers of the HCA were present on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ranbir Singh Mahendra, Secretary of the HCA, disclosed that 12 acres had been acquired for the stadium at a cost of Rs.60 lakh.

The stadium will have state-of-the-art facilities. It will also house an academy, which would cater to the needs of 30 trainees at a time. He hoped that the first phase of the stadium would be completed within six months for which contracts have been given to Ahuja Builders. The blueprints have been finalised by Shiban Banjoo Associates.

Mr. Mahendra disclosed that in the first phase the stadium will have a seating capacity for 25,000 spectators, which will be enhanced to 45,000 at the completion of the second phase. The total expenditure on the first phase will be Rs.5 crores.

Later, talking to the NCR Tribune, the HCA secretary said “Once the agriculture land gives way to massive blocks of concrete, it will become a superb stage for international matches. On being asked to cite the reason for choosing the particular venue for the stadium, Mr. Mahendra replied that the place was well connected by rail and road. Moreover, the villagers had promised all kind of help to the HCA.

Going into the architectural details, Mr. Manmeet Singh of Shiban Banjoo Associates told the NCR Tribune that the pavilion will be located on the southern end. The main pavilion will include accommodation for players, a changing room, offices of the HCA, a gymnasium, dining facilities and an enclosure for prize distribution etc. In the upper echelon, VIP seats, press boxes, observers’ and umpires rooms will be constructed.

Once completed, this stadium will be the eighth in the country to be owned by any affiliated unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Mumbai Cricket Association (Wankhede Stadium), the Bengal Cricket Association (Eden Gardens), the Delhi and District Cricket Association (Ferozeshah Kotla), the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (Chepauk), the Karnataka State Cricket Association (Chinnaswamy, Banglore), the Maharashtra Cricket Association (Nagpur), the Punjab Cricket Association Mohali) and the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (Dharamshala) also have their own stadia.

‘Lahli stadium a dream come true’ 
A. Gulati

Rohtak, July 7
It was an historical day for the cricket fraternity when the Haryana Cricket Association (HCA) laid the foundation stone of a stadium with international facilities. The HCA secretary, Mr Ranbir Mahendra, praised The Tribune for highlighting the need for such a stadium. A large number of former and present cricketers from Haryana, office bearers of the HCA and the local people of Lahli village were present on the occasion.

The people felt that the stadium would boost the economy of the area. The patron of the Haryana Cricket Association, Mr S.K. Mishra, who laid the foundation stone of the stadium, described the occasion “as a dream come true”.

Defunct AC in CM’s car raises hackles
Our Correspondent

Meerut, July 7
The failure of the air-conditioner in the Ambassador staff car — in which Chief Minister Mayawati travelled recently to the district — has again taken centre stage with the former seeking an explanation from the Chief Secretary.

The chief minister had suddenly descended on Baghpat on June 22 for an on-the-spot inspection of the Ambedkar villages. En route, the CM realised to her horror that the AC of the car was not working. The car (UP-32-Z-4305) was organised by the regional manager, UPSRTC. When the CM quizzed the driver, an employee of the UPSRTC, about the air-conditioner he came up with a rather tame explanation that the AC was operational only on high speed.

As chance would have it, the CM again travelled by that car on her way back. To her surprise, the fan in the car had also konked out. Initially, the district authorities sat over the matter, hoping that it would blow over. But that was not to be with the Chief Secretary sending a missive to the senior district officials, asking them to explain the circumstances in which the AC konked out and the persons responsible for requisitioning the car. In turn, the DM has sought an explanation from the UPSRTC officials.

Officials are tight-lipped over the episode but admit that stern action is likely to be taken for the faux pas. The Bulandshahr Khenja episode is recalled when the entire police department was shifted owing to an incident of alleged manhandling of the father of the chief minister by a local sub-inspector of Khurja Kotwali in August 2002.

DDA initiates JJ cluster rehabilitation
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
The Delhi Development Authority has finalised plans for in situ rehabilitation of residents of J J clusters in Delhi. Three clusters have already been identified for the pilot project.

Under the plan, which takes off on the Mumbai model, the residents of the JJ clusters will be rehabilitated in flats allotted to them at subsidised rates.

The expenditure incurred on the rehabilitation will be recovered by constructing commercial complexes on the land reclaimed after vacating the clusters.

A project team has been constituted for surveying the various clusters in the Capital; the team includes senior officials from the HUDCO and the DDA.

The feasibility of the rehabilitation cluster will be determined by its size, its density of population, the availability of vacant land for construction of flats etc.

Of the 14 clusters that were inspected, three have been selected.

These are: the cluster near Tehkhand Housing pocket, the one near Radhu Cinema in Guru Angad Nagar and the one in pocket eight, sector C, Vasant Kunj.

Congress MLAs plead for appointment of Lokpal
Our Correspondent

Rewari, July 7
Four Congress legislators of Ahirwal, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Deputy Leader of the Haryana Congress Legislature Party, Rao Dharam Pal, vice-president of the HPCC, Rao Narender Singh, general secretary of the HPCC, and Ms Anita Yadav, president of the Haryana Mahila Congress, have strongly pleaded for immediate appointment of a Lokpal in Haryana.

Addressing a press conference at Dharuhera yesterday, they said a legislation in this regard had already been enacted. Seeking the office of the Chief Minister also to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal, they wanted the assets of all politicians, including present as well as former ministers and legislators of Haryana, to be brought under the scanner of the Lokpal.

Condemning the proceedings launched by the state Vigilance Department against Rao Narbir Singh, a former minister, they alleged this was a case of political vendetta as well as highhandedness.

Taking strong exception to the Bill ( pertaining to the disposal of shamlat land of villages) passed in the recent Budget session of the Haryana Assembly in spite of the Congress Legislature Party’s opposition, they alleged the ruling party had “designs” on numerous precious pieces of shamlat ( common ) land lying between Gurgaon and Delhi.

The Congress leaders also condemned the Chief Minister’s recent statement in which he reportedly said that water and electricity connections of residents of all unauthorised colonies in the state should be severed. They wanted the Chief Minister to clarify the intent and purpose of his statement. Demanding regularisation of such colonies, they also warned that if such a thing was allowed to happen the Congress would oppose it tooth and nail. They said the denial of disbursement of development grants to legislators in Haryana was shameful when their counterparts in Delhi, Rajasthan and other neighbouring states were regularly getting it . Later, they jointly unveiled the statue of Rao Mata Din, a social activist and father of Rao Abhey Singh, a former sarpanch of Dharuhera.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Mahila Congress is currently engaged in a campaign which aims at securing signatures of 50,000 women to press its demand for provision of 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament as well as state assemblies.

This information was given to newspersons at Dharuhera by Congress legislator Anita Yadav, who is also the president of the Haryana Mahila Congress. .

She said that the signatures would be handed over to Ms Rita Joshi Bahuguna, president of the All India Mahila Congress, in Delhi on July 12.

She also informed that thousands of Mahila Congress activists from Haryana would take part in the dharna to be held by the All India Mahila Congress before Parliament House in Delhi on July 21, the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament .

Cong rubbishes claims of development
Our Correspondent

Jhajjar, July 7
Ridiculing the claims of the district administration on spending about Rs 270 crore in carrying out various development activities in the district, Ms Kanta Kaushik, district spokesperson of the Congress, alleged the district officials were behaving like INLD workers and misleading the people by issuing misleading statements.

In a press note issued in Bahadurgarh, Ms Kaushik said the people of the district were struggling with problems on account of lack of basic civic amenities. With regard to the huge amount spent in the name of development as declared by the administration, the Congress spokesperson asked the administration to explain where the money was spent and what sort of facilities were being enjoyed by the residents here.

She maintained, “ People, especially children and the aged, have to live in miserable conditions as erratic and low voltage electricity is being supplied. Even the cattle are experiencing tough conditions as almost 90 per cent of the ponds have gone dry in the village. Even after 55 years of Independence, womenfolk have to bring water in pitchers miles away from their homes”.

Ms Kaushik held that 90 per cent of the funds for various water supply schemes were being given by the central government and the remaining 10 per cent amount was to be contributed by the panchayats. Yet, the state government had failed to ensure sufficient drinking water. She said such a government did not deserve to be in power. Criticising the Bahadurgarh administration for shattered sewerage system, the Congress leader held that manholes had no lids near the Parnala road. Despite the officials concerned being informed about this no action had been taken to avert any possible mishap.

Ms Kaushik alleged that most of the colonies situated on the outskirts of the township had turned into huge garbage centres. There was no arrangement for cleanliness and sanitation while municipal sweepers were engaged at the houses of local INLD leaders and influential councillors. She appealed to the district administration to refrain from making such baseless statements regarding the development work undertaken in the district.

Medical aid found wanting despite high 
accident rate on NH 1
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 7
That the traffic load is heavy on National Highway 1 which links four states, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country goes without saying.

According to a report, this highway has been divided into four lanes with green cover on the central verge to prevent mishaps because of glare. Roads have been constructed at different levels. The number of accidents have come down by about 30 per cent. The Highway Patrol of Haryana police have played a major role in reducing accidents.

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials said that till 1998 the road between Murthal and Pipli near Kurukshetra had high accident rate of 4.42 per kilometre with fatality of 1.99. Many people were fortunate enough to escape major injuries when their vehicles were at a high speed and there was not much room on the road to avoid mishaps.

Most of the highways are the new racing tracks for high speed driving. Many of those who try to go in for a quick thrill have no clue about what the highways have in store for them. A large number of these speed devils end up mangled from serious accidents. That probably explains why the highways account for over 60 per cent of road accidents in the country even though they constitute just 35 per cent of the country’s road length.

Every fourth accident reported on a highway claims a person’s life and every second accident leaves a person seriously injured. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has identified road obstructions, parking on the wrong side, poor road engineering at intersections and encroachments on right of way as major causes of accidents on highways. The ministry claims that 31 per cent of accidents take place because of the casual attitude of cyclists, pedestrians or tractor-trailer drivers.

Medical facilities in most of the hospitals near the highways are inadequate. Moreover, in some of the hospitals there are no neurosurgeons to take care of accident victims, most of whom sustain head injuries.

The 100-bed Civil Hospital in this city, which is a district headquarters in Haryana, has virtually turned into a hospital as it lacks the basic medical facilities which a hospital should normally have. The doctors on duty in the emergency ward feel relived at getting rid of serious medical cases as they refer the patients to either the PGIMS at Rohtak or Delhi for further treatment. The patients are shown the doors of trauma centres and advised to get themselves treated there or in the private nursing homes or clinics.

During the past seven months, as many as 350 patients involved in road accidents or having bullet injuries or burns were given only first aid and referred to Delhi or to the PGIMS at Rohtak. Moreover, other patients suffering from various diseases were refused admission to the Civil Hospital as there were no adequate facility for their treatment.

This practice is being followed by the doctors posted in other health institutions also, including community health centres and primary health centres of this district who also refer such patients to other hospitals at Delhi and Rohtak.

This has resulted in the flourishing of business of private nursing homes and the clinics. The Health Department authorities complain about the shortage of funds and medical officers. On the other hand, the people suspect an unholy contract between government doctors and the owners of private nursing homes or clinics.

It is alleged that in some cases the referred patients had died on the way to other hospitals. The instructions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for providing an emergency ward equipped with all modern facilities for such cases are not being implemented.

SPECIAL FOCUS ON FARIDABAD
Authorities flummoxed over CM’s orders to cut water, power connections
Tribune News Service

Faridabad, July 7
The directions reportedly issued by the Chief Minister at the Grievances Committee meeting here on Saturday last to disconnect the water and power supply to unauthorised colonies in the town has not only led to panic among thousands of residents but has also put the district authorities in a tight spot. Although the officials have not issued any formal or official clarification so far, it is learnt that the authorities have claimed the CM’s orders were concerning new connections and not the old ones. It is stated that new water and power connections in unauthorised colonies will not be released.

The directions came as a shock to many, including political leaders and representatives of the people in the municipal corporation.

While many rushed to the civic body headquarters to derive the exact meaning of the directions, the development has also surprised the authorities concerned. Faridabad has one of the largest number of unauthorised colonies which house a population of more than three lakh. While a majority of the colonies are many decades old, nearly all dwellings have proper water and power connections. A majority of these houses had got the connections after they had paid development charges to the corporation and the electricity department several years ago.

The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) had put forward a list of about 50 unauthorised colonies for regularisation to the state government last year. None of these colonies was approved. This was done after a resolution was adopted and passed in the civic body here.

Now it is learnt that the list of unapproved colonies has been sent to the authorities at Chandigarh for formal approval. Mr Shiv Charan Lal Sharma, Senior Deputy Mayer of the MCF, said the government would have to approve the colonies which had paid development charges. He said if the water and power connections were withdrawn then lakhs of people would be badly affected. Mr Anand Kaushik, senior Congress leader from

Ballabgarh, said such an order depicted the ‘insensitive’ and ‘inhuman’ approach of the Chautala government. He said if there was any confusion about the order then the authorities must be held responsible for misguiding the Chief Minister for passing such directions. He said his party would oppose any order for disconnecting the existing power and water connections in unauthorised colonies. He charged that residents were being harassed for no fault of theirs. He said thousands of residents of such colonies had paid all kind of taxes and charges and any such order was highly condemnable. It was the Chautala government which had lifted a ban on releasing connections to such colonies, he added.

CBI probe sought into murder: The Haryana Vyapar Manch has sought a CBI probe into the murder of a businessman and his employee at Ballabgarh a few days ago.

A spokesperson of the manch said here on Monday the credibility of the Haryana police was at stake in view of the worsening law and order situation in Faridabad district. He said while the police had failed to solve a similar murder incident so far no arrest had been made in connection with the murder of cigarette dealer Ashok Madan at Ballabgarh town recently.

The manch has sought financial help for the kin of one of the victims.

FIA gets new chief: Mr Hari Ram Gupta has been elected president of the Faridabad Industries Association (FIA), which represents more than 400 entrepreneurs and industrialists. Other office-bearers of the association for the year 2003-2004 include Mr Sunil Gulati as senior vice-president, Mr S. K. Goel, Mr D. R. Saksena and Mr S. K. Jain as vice-presidents and Mr Rajiv Kapoor as general secretary. Mr D. P. Aggarwal has been made honorary treasurer of the FIA.

Rohini housing society in the dock 
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
The Registrar of Co-operative Societies has initiated proceedings under Section 32 of the Delhi Co-operative Societies Act against the management committee of a group housing society in Rohini for not holding elections and not furnishing the audit of the last four years.

The registrar has summoned the management committee on Tuesday. The residents of New Goodwill Group Housing Society in Sector 9, Rohini, are up in arms against the allegedly undemocratic attitude of the management committee. They have since approached the Registrar of Co-operative Societies and sought its intervention by furnishing the information sought under the Right to Information Rules.

The members allege that the management committee took arbitrary decisions without the approval of the general body and did not hold elections in spite of the directions of the registrar. “The elections were due in 2001 but till date, they have not been held. The management committee has refused to co-operate with the election officer,” said Vasant Sharma.

Mr Sharma and others allege that the rules are being flouted with impunity. “Can a member of a co-operative group housing society be treated as defaulter if he does not pay the maintenance charges that have been raised arbitrarily by the management committee without the approval of the general body?” they ask. They fear that the management committee intends to ‘grab the society’ by perpetuating their ‘rule’.

The row erupted after Mr Sharma and others refused to pay the maintenance charges on the ground that the same had been hiked without the approval of the general body. “How can anybody explain the same management committee holding office for 10 years?

We are in the dark about the audited accounts of the society,” says Mr Sharma. The office of registrar is not forthcoming about the matter.

The members have in the meantime approached the office of registrar again for getting the information under the Right to Information Rules. The distraught members have also formed a residents’ welfare association to supervise the civil works.

FACE TO FACE
‘Anybody can run a Pathology Lab’ 
Nalini Ranjan

Dr V. H. Talib, Consultant and Head of Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, is one of the front-ranking pathologists. He is also the president of the Delhi Chapter of Indian Association of Pathological Medicine, vice-president of the Association of Laboratory Medicine and vice-president of the Indian Council of Pathology.

Recipient of several awards including the National Hakim Ajmal Khan Award-2000 for his work in the field of laboratory medicine, Dr Talib has been on the advisory board of several medical institutions like the Faculty of Medicine, Nagpur University, Manipal Institute of Technology, Education for Technical Sciences, Gangtok and National Board of Studies.

Born in December 1943, Dr Talib graduated in 1967 from Government Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra and finished his postgraduation in Pathology from the same institution. He also served as a Reader of Pathology for several years.

In 1974 he joined as the Assistant Director under the Directorate General of Health Services. He was conferred with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ in the field of Laboratory Medicine by the Indian Association of Pathology and Microbiology (Bihar and Jharkhand Chapter) in November 2001. He was also honoured with the ‘Indian Quality Award-2002’ by the board of trustee of World Institution Building Programme and Quality Institute of India.

He has contributed considerably to the field of medical laboratory technology and apprenticeship programme and has more than 10 books to his credit related to Pathology, Laboratory Medicine and Quality Methodology and more than 250 published research articles in the journals such as Indian Journal of Medical Research, Indian Journal of Cytology and

Hematology Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.His books on Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, Cytology, Clinical Pathology and Hematology are included in the syllabus for the undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses and is also used as reference books for medical practitioners. He has attended various national and international seminars and conferences on Pathology, Laboratory Medicine and Laboratory Management.

For many years, he was the WHO Immuno Hematology Fellow of Royal Free Hospital, London and Royal Free Hospital, U S A, in Pathology and Transfusion Medicine.

He was awarded the Honorary Fellow of the Indian College of Pathology (FICP) for his contribution as the founder member of the institute. Recently, he submitted his Ph.D thesis on ‘A Study of Laboratory Management’.

In an exclusive conversation with The NCR Tribune, he highlighted some of the vital issues related to the field of Pathology.

Pathology is believed to be the backbone of modern medical science. How do you assess the standard of this science in our country?

We need to catch up with developments in countries such as Canada, Germany and the United States of America. In the developed world, a three-tier diagnosis system is followed in the field of Pathology- pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical. However, due to the lack of advanced research in our country, we provide the final result on the basis of the first stage diagnosis itself.

It is unfortunate that there is no room for cross checking and quality control, with the result that a patient gets three different results from three different labs and clinics.

This explains our standard in this field. Most of the labs in our country are running on the basis of trial and error, which has an adverse impact on the life of the patient.

To my mind, the main reason behind this unfortunate scenario is that there is no proper regulatory body to oversee and manage this area of medical science in our country. There is no strict adherence to any system of license or registration for one of the most significant part of modern medical science.

In the absence of any regulatory mechanism, anybody is free to run a pathology lab. And there is no denying the fact that most of the privately run pathology labs are being operated by quacks. It is surprising that while there is a regulatory body for the doctors and separate regulatory councils for nurses and hospital technicians, we do not have any regulatory body for the people engaged in the field of Pathology. Who will regularise the license for these unorganised practitioners. Unfortunately, the apex body, National Board of Accreditation (NAB) has miserably failed to do so. There is no fool proof testing mechanisms. When we are using the cheapest testing materials available, then how can we expect better and error proof results out of it? Most of the works are being done on the ad hoc basis. The prevailing condition is not good in government hospitals. In the absence of trained lab technicians, even sweepers and ward boys are doing this job in some of our hospitals.

You are the founder member of the Indian College of Pathology and have been instrumental in starting the first of its kind course for trained laboratory technicians at the Safdarjang Hospital in 1985.Could you give some details about this course?

This course is a two-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology after the completion of Class XII. The course has the approval of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the Directorate General of Health Services and is approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE).

This is an apprenticeship programme under Apprenticeship Act 1961. Twenty-four candidates are being regularly awarded the diploma every year. They are trained people who should be given preference in the appointment of laboratory assistants in hospitals.

Apart from this, our department of Clinical Pathology has been upgraded and has been provided a national status in Laboratory Medicine. We have also successfully awarded postgraduate diploma in Laboratory Medicine to two candidates.

Your name had been proposed for the post of advisor in the Ministry of Health, Government of India. However, you were unable to make it to the coveted post. What could be the reason?

I do not know the reason. May be it could be due to the lack of networking on my part as I have been engrossed in my work.

However, it is also true that at a certain stage, it is not what you know, but whom you know that really matters. Apparently, I have not been able to cultivate the right kind of people. 

Rotary Club to help banish hunger, illiteracy 
Tribune News Service

Gurgaon, July 7
The newly organised city unit of Rotary Club, Gurgaon, has set for itself an agenda for 2003-3004, the thrust areas of which will be to help eradicate hunger, illiteracy and polio.

This was announced by the newly inducted president of Rotary Club, Gurgaon, Mr Sunil Sabharwal, on the occasion of installation of new board of the organisation.

Speaking at a glittering public function relating to the installation ceremony, which was attended among others by the Zambian ambassador in India, Prof. Moses Musonda, and the president of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI), Mr P.K.Jain, Mr Sabharwal said that his unit of the organisation will take up the challenge of providing food for the starved.

The unit has already contributed 1800 bags of rice carrying 10 kgs each to the “Combat Hunger Programme” of district (Gurgaon) unit of the organisation.

He urged upon his Rotarian members to further intensify the project. Incidentally, Mr Sabharwal is also a member of the PHDCCI and a former president of the Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

According to him, the Rotary Club, Gurgaon, is imparting education to 1,500 children in its “Gurgaon Rotary Public School”.

Out of them, 20 per cent children are from the economically weaker section of society. This group is given education free of cost, he added.

He further said that although more than four and half crores of rupees as been spent on the school project, more needs to be done, for which the club shall try to get some matching grant this year.

It may be mentioned here that Mr Sabharwal was inducted as president and had assumed charge, a few days before the installation ceremony. The other new members are Mr Tribhavan Parnami-secretary, Mr Vijay Tandon-Treasurer, Mr P.P.Amarjeet Singh, Mr P.P.Subash Singla, Mr Ramesh Khurana, Mr O.P.Taneja, Mr Anil Kaushal, Mr Rohit Bhatia-Seargent At Arms, Mr S.K.Sharma-Editor and Mr Chander Gaba, president-elect.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr P.K.Jain, who appeared to be the star speaker, expressed the hope that the club would touch new heights under the leadership of Mr Sabharwal.

Mr Jain, who is also a past president of the club, said that although the organisation has achieved many distinctions in different fields, the real achievement has been the setting up of “Rotary Public School”.

According to him, it is considered to be one of the finest public schools not only in Gurgaon but in the country.

NCR BRIEFS
Two killed as tempo hits tree
Our Correspondents

Narnaul, July 7
In a road accident, two persons died and 22 occupants of the tempo were seriously injured yesterday afternoon on Singhana Road. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital Narnaul.

According to sources, an overloaded tempo was going towards Mohanpur village on Narnaul Singhana road.

As it reached near canal crossing and trying to overtake a canal cart, the driver of the tempo spotted a truck coming from the opposite direction.

The tempo driver lost control over the vehicle. As a result, the tempo hit a tree, injuring 22 persons. One person Sheo Chand of Dohar village died on the way to hospital. Some of the seriously injured were identified. They were: Chotai Lal Kundan, Rajbala, Ramgiri, Shesh Ram, Ishwar Singh and Shaitan Singh.

Link road to Jasrana village

Sonepat: The Zila Parishad today sanctioned a proposal to construct a link road from Sonepat-Gohana Road to Jasrana village via Guhna and Farmana at an estimated cost of Rs 3.10 crore. The proposal was put up in the meeting of the parishad held here in Panchayat Bhawan today.

The meeting which was presided over by the parishad chairman Raj Singh Dahiya, was attended by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr Rajiv Ranjan, 13 Zila Parishad members, four chairmen of block samitis and the officers of various departments.

The link road will be constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna. A number of other issues like scarcity of drinking water in the primary schools, repair of roads, removal of electricity wires passing over the houses in a Hariman Basti of village Chhannoli, cases of canal water thefts etc were raised in the meeting and the officers concerned were directed to take action.

Rs 7.92 cr spent for water to 46 villages

Rohtak: An amount of nearly Rs 7.92 crore has been spent to ensure the supply of piped water to 46 villages during the past nearly three years and 31 schemes of augmenting water supply are on at an estimated cost of Rs 18.15 crore in Rohtak district.

Claiming this here on Sunday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Ashok Yadav, said making the potable water available in the villages was one of the priorities of the chief minister. He said the chief minister would inaugurate a boosting station at Kultana village on July 7.

A sum of nearly Rs 21.55 lakh had been spent on this scheme and 4,067 people of the village would get 55 liter water a day from the said scheme.

The Deputy Commissioner said the government had made potable water available in 143 villages of the district and augmented the supply of piped water in 2,418 villages of the state by spending an amount of Rs 310.24 crore.

Besides, he said a target of augmenting water supply in 470 villages in the state had been set during the current financial year.

Couple consume poison

Faridabad: A couple in their thirties committed suicide by consuming poisonous substance at a village in Palwal subdivision yesterday. They also ‘poisoned’ two kids, of whom one died later.

According to reports, the couple identified as Karamvir and his wife Ramesh Devi, had been fed up with domestic quarrels and decided to end it all. They also gave their son, 9 and daughter, 6, some poison-laced substance. While the boy died, the girl survived. TNS

DELHI DIGEST
Two held for picking pockets in gurdwaras
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7
With the arrest of two youths, New Delhi Police today claimed to have busted a gang who used to pick pockets inside gurdwaras on Sundays. They were identified as Parvinder Singh and Devender Singh.

They were arrested from near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib on the charge of possessing illegal arms. During interrogation, they disclosed that they were members of a notorious gang of pickpockets operating in the Capital. They operate throughout Delhi, but their main targets are gurdwaras particularly on Sundays, police said.

They have operated in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Rakab Ganj, Sisganj, Nanakpyan and Nanaksar. They also targeted cinema halls like Vishal, Milan, Satyam, Vivek, Rachna, Regal Rivoli and Plaza. Besides, they operated at railway stations and ISBTs, snatching away the bags of innocent travellers. In the evening, they used to go to busy markets like South Extension, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Kamala Nagar, Chandni Chowk in search of their prey. They have been arrested earlier also, the police said.

DU supplementary results declared: The results of the following annual supplementary examinations have been declared by the Delhi University. Students have been asked to contact their colleges for details.

B.Sc. Hons-Biochemistry, III, III, Anthropology/Chemistry/Botany Part I, II and III, B.Sc Geology III, M.Sc Physics I and IV, M.Sc Geology I, M.A. Geography I and II, M.A. Philosophy I and II, M.A. Linguistics I and II, M.A. English II, Bachelor of Mass Media and Communications II, IV, VI, B.A. Hons. Economics, Business Economics I, II, III and bachelor of IT IV.

Spurious spare parts: As many as 4,000 packages of spurious spare parts were seized by court commissioners from five dealers in Karol Bagh. The Hero Honda had filed proceedings in the court against the Ramesh auto centre, New Satyam Motor Cycles, Onkar Auto Agencies, Mittal Auto Agencies and Getex Automobiles that they were selling counterfeit spare parts of their company.

The commissioners seized spare parts like brake pads, clutch plates to air filters, oil pump assemblies, oil seals and valve springs and many other items. 

Dreaded criminal held near Bahalgarh
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 7
A dreaded criminal Pawan has been arrested by the CIA staff during the ‘inakabandi’ near Bahalgarh village in this district. According to a report, the police also recovered a country-made pistol and a live cartridge from his possession. A case under the Indian Arms Act has also been registered with the Rai police station.

The culprit is said to be the member of a criminal gang led by Rajesh Chitania who was allegedly killed in the police encounter on July 17 last year. The culprit Pawan belonged to Shimla Gujran village in Panipat district.

Pawan, during the course of interrogation, told the police that he had allegedly killed one Ramaneek of Ugrakheri village on the behest of Rajesh Chitania on July 6 last year and threw his body into a drain. He was wanted in this case.

The criminal also told the police that he along with Rajesh Chitania and Harvinder, had looted a motorcycle from Jhatipur village near Samalkha and a case in this connection had already been registered with the Samalkha police. When Rajesh Chitania was killed in the police encounter, he was riding this motorcycle.

The police are still investigating the case and trying to get information about other associates of Rajesh Chitania.

According to another report, the CIA staff has also arrested another dreaded criminal, Sunil of Bawana village in Delhi and recovered a country-made gun from his possession. The gangster had escaped after the encounter with police party near Bhatgaon village on June 30. He is involved in a number of loot, murderous assault, assault

and Indian Arms Act cases. He entered the world of crime about 20 days ago after meeting a notorious gangster Surinder, alias Baba, of Kurar village who is still at large along with three others.

Woman succumbs to injuries
Our Correspondent

Sonepat, July 7
A young housewife Mrs Vedo of Giaspur village died on the way while being taken to the PGIMS at Rohtak for treatment yesterday. According to a report, she was seriously injured in an attack by the neighbours after a dispute. The police have registered a case of murder and started investigations.

However, no arrest has been made in this connection as the alleged assailants are at large. According to another report, mystery shrouds the death of a housewife Mrs Rekha (20) in her house at Gautam Nagar area of Gohana town, 35 km from here last night.

The police have sent the body for a post-mortem. Meanwhile, two youths Mahipal and Jagbir sustained injuries in a quarrel on the Sonepat-Gohana Road near the bypass here yesterday.

Both the injured were immediately hospitalised. They are stated to be out of danger. The police have registered the case and investigations are on. However, no arrest has been made in this connection.

Booked for rape bid: The police have registered a case against a youth Kuldeep of Rudhra village on the charge of attempting to rape a minor girl of the village and launched a hunt for him. According to a report, the youth immediately fled when the girl raised the alarm and a large number of people assembled at the site.