 |
Friday,
July 18, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
|
Varsity dons’ foreign trip put off Rules for judicial officers’ selection may be
relaxed Lecturers pin hopes on Cabinet meeting Bridges that may fetch brides Farmers to begin ‘karza mukti’ agitation soon Probe widow’s charges, SP told |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Partap Singh seeks CBI probe into FCI
scam
Brig K. S. Sethi flags
off an Army motorcycle rally in Ambala Cantonment on Thursday. CBI chief recalls
Ambala days Give incentives to rice mills, says Hooda High Court: Notice issued in cable network case Evening classes
in RKSD college Date extended Rapist gets 7-yr
jail term Poppy-husk
trafficker jailed Youth on parole
killed
|
|
Varsity dons’ foreign trip put off Chandigarh, July 17 The team was to visit Australia, the USA and the U.K. The ostensibe purpose was to explore the possibility of signing formal agreements with James Cook University, Australia, and San Jose State University, San Fransisco, California, USA, for collaboration between these universities and Kurukshetra University. The MoUs were earlier signed between Kurukshetra University and the foreign universities in September, 2001, and March, 2003, respectively. The foreign universities and Kurukshetra University were to collaborate in hi-tech areas like management, computer sciences and electronics. The team, to be headed by the Secretary, Education, Mr M.L. Tayal, would have included the Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, Mr A.K. Chawla, his wife; Mr K.K. Kathuria, Director, Public Relations of the university, Mr Dinesh Kumar, Reader, Electronics, KU; Mr Shashi Ranjan Parmar, INLD MLA from Mundhal Khurd in Bhiwani district; and Prof Teja Singh, Chairman of the High-Power Committee on the 20-Point Programme. The constitution of the team had raised many an eyebrow. The university had ignored senior professors in favour of relatively junior teachers. Since the visit was to tie up agreements for collaboration in hi-tech area, teachers of subjects like botany, zoology or English, sceptics were of the view, would not have served the purpose of the visit. The sceptics pointed out that the team should have included eminent professors like Dr P.J. George(Electronics), Dr R.S. Dwivedi(Management) or Dr S.L. Gupta(Management), if the purpose of the visit was intended to be serious. The team was also to visit Cambridge and Oxford Universities in the U.K. |
|
Rules for judicial officers’ selection may be
relaxed Chandigarh, July 17 It was now being proposed to do away with the clause relating to the minimum three years’ professional experience. The proposal, which was expected to be endorsed in tomorrow’s meeting, would pave the way for recruitment of fresh law graduates as judicial officers. Justifying the step, an official said the move was in tandem with the recommendations made by the Sethi Commission as well as a Supreme Court order in a related case. The sources said the Cabinet would also examine four proposals from the Home Department, including one related to the changing of a rule governing the Home Guards and Civil Defence Department. The Cabinet would also examine proposals regarding transfer and acquisition of land. The Cabinet would also take up the issue of constitution of a board for controlling temples situated at Kurukshetra. Earlier, the Urban Development Department, the nodal department preparing the proposal, had wanted to bring an ordinance for creation of such a board. However, the Chief Minister turned down the move and asked the Urban Development Department to prepare a bill for the constitution of a Kurukshetra shrine board. |
|
Lecturers pin hopes on Cabinet meeting Chandigarh, July 17 The lecturers hope that the Cabinet, which is likely to consider a proposal for regularising the services of a large number of Class III and Class IV employees working on the ad hoc basis, will also consider their case sympathetically. In 1989, when the Janata Dal, the then incarnation of the Indian National Lok Dal was in power in Haryana, had decided to regularise the services of ad hoc lecturers. However, the decision could not be implemented by the Janata Dal Government, perhaps because it faced political instability in the state after the party supremo, Mr Devi Lal, joined national politics. During those years the state had witnessed a quick succession of Chief Ministers. It was left to the Bhajan Lal Government to implement the decision taken by the Janata Dal Government regarding the regularisation of the lecturers. The Congress Government regularised the services of about 175 college lecturers with effect from December 31, 1990. The ad hoc college lecturers hope that this time the Chautala Government would like to take the credit for regularising their services itself. A delegation of the lecturers recently met the INLD MLA from Rori, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, the younger son of the Chief Minister, to press their demand. |
|
|
Bridges that may fetch brides Khol Fatehsinghpora/Khol Mola (Pinjore), July 17 These “bridges of hope” — as the villagers have now begun calling them, will bring a fresh lease of life for almost 800 residents settled in the two villages. It will not just mean a change in the social mileau — it will change the life of these villagers by providing at least the basic amenities of modernisation. A large number of bachelors in these villagers can now hope for a “bride”, over hundred children can now think of taking education from the next academic session, when the bridge will allow them to go to schools located on the mainland, and, residents can hope for medical aid available only across the river. The foundation stones for both the bridges were laid today by Mr Abhey Singh Chautala, son of Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala. Because these villages have remained cut off from the mainland and are inaccessible in the monsoons when the river swells, a large number of men in these villages have failed to find a bride for themselves. “No one wants to marry his/her daughter in these villages. Only if people are very poor, they will marry their girls here — only because they do not have to give dowry, “ says Lambardar Bachchan Singh of Khol Fateh
Singhpora. As a result, there are a large number of bachelors in these two hamlets, especially since the residents prefer to marry their own girls in villages across the river. Though located a mere 6 km from the National Highway 21 A (Pinjore- Nalagarh highway), even the basic amenities have eluded these villages located on the lower
Shivaliks. None of these villages have a telephone, there is no government high school, nearest medical help is about 20 km away-either in Pinjore on the one side, or the PGI, Chandigarh on the other side. Says Mrs. Bagson Kaur, a resident of Khol
Mola, “Sick patients have to be carried on cots to the hospital. There have been several instances when the sick people have died while being taken to the hospitals, and pregnant women have delivered on the way to the hospital.” Though there is a middle school in Khol Mola and branch of this school upto primary level is located in Khol
Fatehsinghpora, the girls of Khol Fatehsinghpora have to leave studies after Class V. Says former sarpanch, Kabal Singh,” How can girls cross the river and go to the school? The way to the Government Middle school in Khol Mola is also through a dense jungle, so we cannot let them study further.” So it is only the boys of the village who can have education, but that too, up to high school. In fact, the most highly educated youth of this village is Kulwinder Singh, who is now studying in Government Senior Secondary School,
Nanakpur. Being cut off from the mainland, the villagers have not seen a bus or any other public transport here. In fact, till two months ago, the only way to reach these villages was by foot, through a rough tract along a
choe. Even the ration for these villages is brought from the mainland, loaded on camels, once a month. A road is now being laid on both sides of the river, to Khol
Fatehsinghpora. While the stretch of road from NH — 21-A to one side of the river has been completed, the stretch of road across the river is partially completed.” The villagers say that the politicians meet them only during the election time, when they have to seek for votes. Last time, we had threatened to boycott the elections and subsequently, the government had decided to lay the road,” informs Prem Singh of Khol
Mola. |
|
|
Farmers to begin ‘karza mukti’ agitation soon Jind, July 17 He said adequate funds had not been given for research in the agriculture sector and the government had not implemented land-reform policies, but allowed foreign companies to purchase land in India. Mr Duli Chand was speaking at the conclusion of a two-day state-level convention organised by the sabha. Mr Phool Singh Sheokand, state president of the Kisan Sabha, presided over the convention. Mr Lamber Singh Tangar, general secretary of the Kisan Sabha, Punjab said despite the top position of Punjab in agricultural at production, a large number of farmers of Punjab were under debt. |
|
Probe widow’s charges, SP told Ambala, July 17 The complainant Ms Geeta Anand, has stated in her complaint that her husband, Promod Anand, had been working in a finance company located in Baldevnagar, Ambala City. She has alleged that some officers of the company had been indulging in unfair business activities and her husband used to oppose that. On January 14, while her husband was going to his office, he disclosed to her that some of his colleagues were threatening him of dire consequences. On the same day, at noon, she got a message from her husband’s office that he had suddenly fallen ill and had been admitted to the local Civil Hospital. She said when she reached the hospital, her husband was in a very serious condition and he was uttering the words “Rs 85,000” and “Gambhir”. In the meantime, on the advice of doctors, he was shifted to the Military Hospital, Ambala Cantonment, where he died. Later, doctors said that the cause of his death could be consumption of poison. Ms Geeta Anand has expressed suspicion that some of her husband’s colleagues might have forcibly given him some poisonous substance. She has stated in the complaint that she approached the Baldevnagar police, but the police official did not even register a case in that regard. Later, she approached the SP, Ambala, who listened to her patiently and marked the inquiry into the case to the DSP, Mr Uday Shankar. She said the DSP visited her house and recorded her statement, but since then no action against the accused had been taken. She has stated that she has a physically challenged son and two unmarried daughters to look after. Moreover, she has no means of livelihood. She has demanded that the inquiry into the case should he handed over to the CBI so that she could get justice. She has also sent a complaint letter to the Chief Justice of India.
|
|
|
Partap Singh seeks CBI probe into FCI scam Rohtak, July 17 The money was withdrawn from the FCI’s account with the SBI by a contractor Jaswant Singh through four cheques. Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Pratap Singh released a copy of the letter dated July 2, 2003, written by him to the Union Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh, a copy of which, according to him, had also been sent to the Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh. Mr Pratap Singh alleged that four blank cheques were mysteriously stolen from a cheque book of the FCI, Sirsa branch, in May this year. Contractor Jaswant Singh, a resident of Chatargarh Patti in Sirsa district who had opened an account in the name of Jaswant and Company in the main branch of the SBI in Sirsa about three months ago, allegedly withdrew about Rs 64 lakh from the FCI, Sirsa branch, through three of the four cheques which had been removed from an FCI cheque book, he said, adding that one of these cheques amounting to Rs 3.95 lakh was deposited in the bank account of the firm. which had no business dealings with the FCI. Senior FCI officials did not act promptly in the matter and there was delay in intimating the SBI about the four cheques which had gone missing from the FCI cheque book, he alleged, adding that the FCI Assistant Manager Krishan Chand lodged an FIR at the Sirsa city police station in this regard a week of the incident. —
PTI |
|
|
Army men set out on motorcycle rally Ambala, July 17 The rally is being organised by 108 Medium Regiment. The regiment has the distinction of being the first artillery regiment to have been awarded the Chief of Army Staff unit citation for display of indomitable resolve, valour and exemplary performance during Operation Vijay in Drass sector. The unit delivered accurate and devastating fire from its Bofors guns causing heavy damage and casualties to the enemy and evicted them from their positions. Naib Subedar Nageshwar Mahto sacrificed his life during the war. Thirteen personnel of the regiment were decorated with gallantry awards for their valour during the war. The
motorcycle rally was flagged off by Brig K.S. Sethi. The rally comprises two officers, two junior commissioned officers and 10 jawans riding on 10
motorcycles. The team will cover a distance of around 3,000 km. It will culminate at Tiger Hill to coincide with Vijay Divas celebrations. Major Amitabh Roy will lead the rally.
|
|
|
CBI chief recalls
Ambala days Ambala, July 17 Talking to Chandigarh Tribune on Wednesday , Mr Sharma said he hailed from Fatehgarh village in Ambala. “I belong to Ambala. I did my schooling up to class VIII from the school in my village. After that I did my matriculation from
Jatwar,” he said. “I used to walk or cycle down to Jatwar from my village,” he added. Wearing a yellow T-shirt and trousers, the CBI director said after his schooling in village, he moved to Ambala city. “I did my graduation from DAV College. I studied BA honours English. Then I went to Kurukshetra University to do my MA in English,” he stated. After completing his education, Mr Sharma took up a lecturer’s job at DAV college, Ambala city. Then he taught English at SA Jain college, Ambala City before going to Nehru Memorial College in Mansa. Mr Sharma spoke about his love for The Tribune. “I was always fond of reading The Tribune. As a matter of fact, The Tribune was not subscribed in our village. But, in a neighbouring village Dr Nand Kishore used to get The Tribune copy,” he said. “So, I used to take the copy of The Tribune from him and read it. I used to read The Tribune even if it was a day old,” he stated. Even after joining the Indian Police Service in 1966, Mr PC Sharma continued to read The Tribune. He is from the Assam cadre. “I used to subscribe to the The Tribune at Mount Abu and also in Assam. I used to read The Tribune for the good language,” he said. Mr Sharma said he used to love reading Mr Prem Bhatia’s column. “I still remember Mr Prem Bhatia’s editorial `Slap in India’s Face’. We also visited the The Tribune office in Ambala cantt to see how a newspaper is printed,” he reminisced. He said that he belongs to an agriculturist family. “My father and my grandfather always laid stress on quality education. Even though my grandfather did not have formal education, he always said that children must have good education. My father, Mr Keshav Ram Sharma, encouraged me to dream big and never make compromises with education,” he said. “In those days, the teachers did a remarkable job of inculcating values among the students. They would have a broad vision and teach to know more beyond self,” he said. “I remember I had a teacher Mr Mohan Lal. He used to tell us to do a good deed everyday,” he added. Recalling his school days, Mr Sharma said that while studying in a village school, he never got opportunity for sports. “I used to walk or cycle to attend school. Later, while studying in DAV College, Ambala city, I used to reside in
Panjokhra. I used to like volleyball and badminton. But, they were not serious pursuits,” he said. Mr Sharma said that he was always into academics. “My hobby was and still is reading. I am a voracious reader. Also, I am fond of old films. During my studies days, I would watch the movie whenever I would have a little spare money,” he said. The favourite actress of Mr Sharma is Madhubala and the favourite actor is Dev Anand. “I continue to love old songs and old movies. But my wife has a better knowledge of the oldies,” he added. Talking about his work as the CBI chief, Mr Sharma said that he has always faced challenges with confidence. “I have witnessed turbulent times in Assam. I have spent long years in the CBI. There are challenges but it is a satisying profession. There is a general perception that CBI is only for catching people,” he said. “The CBI is playing a significant role in identifying corrupt elements. However, we do that without any spirit of vendetta. We do that with a spirit of idealism. The CBI is definitely playing a crucial role in the criminal justice system,” Mr Sharma said. With a smile, Mr Sharma said he managed to keep tension at bay by undertaking his tough job with a degree of detachment. “Happiness should not be found only in the job. There are hobbies and family in which a person can find happiness,” he said. “I am keen to do certain things for my village. I am keen that the medical facilities improve, there is improvement in the school and the dharamshala is repaired. I am happy to meet old friends,” he said.
|
|
|
Give incentives to rice mills, says Hooda Chandigarh, July 17 In a statement issued here today, Mr Hooda said while Punjab had given several incentives to rice mills, the Haryana Government had imposed several taxes on rice millers, which had forced them to shift to other states. He said in Haryana the rice millers had to pay 2 per cent sale and purchase tax whereas no such taxes were being charged in Punjab. Mr Hooda said on the one hand Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was spending a huge sum of money on his foreign visits to woo industrialists and on the other the already established industry was being forced to shift outside the state due to the wrong policies of the government. He claimed that more than 300 rice mills had either closed in Haryana or had shifted outside the state. He said the Chautala Government should give some special incentives to the rice mills. |
|
HIGH COURT Chandigarh, July 17 |
|
|
Aug 10 declared
holiday Chandigarh. July 17 |
|
|
Evening classes
in RKSD college Kaithal, July 17 Mr Y.K. Mangal, president college governing body, said here yesterday that the university has accorded sanction to start M.A. classes in Hindi, English and economics and B.A. 1 and B.Com-1. |
|
|
Date extended Chandigarh, July 17 Mr M.K. Midha, member secretary of the Haryana Haj Committee, welcomed the decision. |
|
|
Rapist gets 7-yr
jail term Hisar, July 17 According to the prosecution, Ajay Kumar, a resident of Uttar Pardesh, was working as or labourer at Kuleri village in the district. He kidnapped a minor girl of the same village last year and took her to the fields. Later he raped her. The police had registered a case against him on the complaint of the victim’s father. In another case, the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Dharmpal Chauhan, sentenced three youths for injuring a constable. According to the prosecution, Constable Rajesh Kumar had gone to the house of Pawan Kumar at Patel Nagar here to serve a summon two years ago. When he knocked at the door, three persons — Ashok Kumar, Rajesh and Lala — all friends of Pawan Kumar, suddenly attacked him with sticks. The court sentenced Rajesh Kumar to four years' imprisonment while two others were sentenced to one-year imprisonment each. |
|
Poppy-husk
trafficker jailed Fatehabad, July 17 He was carrying the contraband in a truck and had concealed the contraband under 50 bags of tobacco. He was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. |
|
|
Youth on parole
killed Fatehabad, July 17 The youth, Karan Singh, 35, was coming to Fatehabad in his car when some unidentified assailants shot him killing him on the spot. Karan was serving a prison term for the murder of Rameshwar, a resident of
Bhodiakhera. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 123 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
