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Haryana allows pvt buses on inter-state routes Two held for killing polio-hit child Narwana battle spills over to Rajasthan
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Another twist
in dairy tale Protest against attack on 2 traders Three get
10-yr jail for rape Non-bailable warrant
against doc couple
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Haryana allows
pvt buses on inter-state routes Chandigarh, November 22 The four Cabinet ministers who attended the meeting were Mr Sampat Singh, Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Dhirpal Singh, Revenue and Town and Country Planning Minister, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora, Transport Minister and Mr Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, Agriculture Minister. One Cabinet minister and the five Ministers of State, all having independent charges, could not take part in the meeting. An official release issued after the meeting said the decision to allow private operators to ply airconditioned buses on inter-state routes had been taken to provide better facility to passengers. The bus permits would be allotted by way of lease through the process of closed biddings. In all 60 permits would be issued for 18 inter-state routes. The release said that buses plying under this scheme would be 35 or 36 seater. A five-year permit and the right of operation would be given to the operators on lease by inviting bids and the route would be allotted to the highest bidder. The fare structure of the buses would be determined by the Transport Department of Haryana. The time schedule and fare table for each route would be issued by the Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority concerned. The release said that the Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Education Department to revise pay scales with effect from January 1, 1996, of the employees of various universities working on sports posts. The decision follows the approval of the recommendations made by a committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Technical Education, Mr Dharam Vir. The Cabinet approved a proposal of the Town and Country Planning Department to revise the commercial licensing policy. It was decided that the stretch of the Gurgaon-Mehrauli road passing through Sectors 24, 25, 25-A, 26 and 28 of Gurgaon be de-restricted from the proportionate area limits for the purpose of commercial licensing and check unauthorised use of land. The permissible floor area ratio (FAR) of 175 per cent would remain the same as is being allowed at present regarding commercial licensing. The Cabinet approved another proposal that the total area applied for grant of a licence would be considered for the purpose of area parameter of the approved policy. However, to ensure site development as per the provision of the zoning plan, the clear area of the site would be one acre after the excluding green belt and the service road. The Cabinet decided to grant permission to the existing lessees of major minerals to dispose of minor minerals and grant short-term permits to the existing lessees or contractors for disposal of newly discovered minerals. The Cabinet also decided not to entrust the audit of urban local bodies (ULBs) and panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India(CAG). The release said even though the 11th Finance Commission had recommended audit of ULBs and PRIs by the CAG, it was decided not to go by the Finance Commission’s recommendations since proper arrangements for auditing such institutions were already in existence. The Cabinet approved a proposal of the Department of Jails to suspend the finalisation of the Haryana Prisons and Prisoners Bill, 1989 till the finalisation of a model prison manual by the Union Government. The Cabinet promulgated an Ordinance to amend the Haryana Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Act, 1974. Following the ordinance, the HPSC would be empowered to make recommendations for appointments against the posts of subdivisional Engineer and other gazetted posts of the power sector corporations. The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Agriculture Department to levy market fee at the rate of 2 per cent on ginned cotton so that malpractices in transaction of cotton by ginning factories could be stopped. The Cabinet approved the draft of the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Second Amendment) Bill, 2003 to fix an age limit for candidates for appointment to the office of gram vikas sahayak. According to the amendment, only a person who is less than 32 years and more than 50 years of age can apply for working as gram vikas sahayak in an area in which he is not an inhabitant. The Cabinet approved a proposal of the Tourism Department to transfer a piece of land measuring five acres at Mirjapur village in Kurukshetra district to the Archaeology and Museum Department for setting up of a museum. The Cabinet also approved a proposal of the Urban Development Department to constitute an Improvement Trust at Bahadurgarh to undertake schemes for beautification of the town. A sum of Rs 15 lakh would be released by the Finance Department for the trust for 2003-04. The Cabinet decided to amend the existing rule 8(1) of the Punjab Superior Judicial Service Rules, 1963, following directions of the Supreme Court and recommendations of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. According to the amendment, 50 per cent recruitment in the Superior Judicial Service would be made by promotion from amongst the Civil Judges (Senior Division) on the basis of merit-cum-seniority and a suitability test. Twentyfive per cent posts would be filled up by promotion on the basis of merit through a limited department competitive examination of Civil Judges (Senior Division) having at least five years service. Also, 25 per cent posts would be filled from amongst advocates by holding a test consisting of a written examination of 200 marks and interview of 50 marks to be conducted by the High Court. |
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Two held for killing polio-hit child Kurukshetra, November 22 District police chief, K.K. Rao said here today investigation and interrogation revealed that Jarnail was innocent and he had been got discharged from the court while barber Jaswant’s cousin, Sanjeev was arrested and both of them were sent in judicial custody. Ravi, who was sleeping by the side of his mother, was lifted and taken to the nearby potato fields, where he was strangled and buried. Mr Rao said that Jaswant told the police that he was in debt and he knew that his neighbourer, Mela Ram Saini had deposited Rs 2.5 lakh each in the names of his elder son and deceased’s father, Rameshwar as well as his younger son, Jarnail, after his retirement. He thought that to get the total amount of Rs 5 lakh as ransom from his neighbour, he should eliminate his grandson, Ravi. Mr Rao said that Jaswant further told the police that following that he asked his nephew, Sanjeev to help him in his mission for which he offered him Rs 1 lakh of ransom. As per plan, Jaswant jumped the boundary wall of the house at midnight on November 12 and picked up Ravi, who was sleeping. Now, both Jaswant and Sanjeev, took the boy to the nearby potato fields, where Ravi was strangled and buried. Jaswant further told the police that after murdering and burying Ravi, both of them returned home. He (Jaswant) wrote a ransom note for Rs 5 lakh and dropped it in the courtyard of his neighbour, Mela Ram Saini. When he saw blood stains on his shirt, he washed these off, Jaswant added. Mr Rao said that on the basis of Jaswant’s statement in police remand, Sanjeev was arrested and he (Sanjeev), during interrogation, told the police that while murdering and burying Ravi, he accompanied Jaswant and both of them committed the crime. The ransom note was recovered from the possession of Jaswant, Mr Rao added. The district police chief said that the body was unearthed in the presence of the City Magistrate, a doctor from local L.N.J.P. Hospital and police investigating team and after its post-mortem, the body was handed over to the parents of the deceased. Jaswant and Sanjeev had been arrested under Sections 452, 364A, 302, 20 I and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, Mr Rao added. |
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Narwana battle spills over to Rajasthan Chandigarh, November 22 For Mr Surjewala, Rajasthan is merely an extension of his decade-old electoral battle with Mr Chautala. The two first locked horns in 1993, when they contested the Narwana Assembly byelection. It was crucial for both of them. The younger Surjewala was making his maiden attempt to enter the Assembly after his father, Mr Shamsher Singh Surjewala, vacated the Narwana seat following his election to the Rajya Sabha. Mr Chautala was seeking to end his two-year-long political exile imposed on him by his father, Devi Lal. Mr Chautala had not contested the 1991 Assembly elections in deference to the wishes of Devi Lal, who had declared that no member of his family, except him, would contest the Assembly elections. Mr Chautala had won the Narwana byelection, signifying his acceptance by the electorate of Haryana after the Meham episode. Three years later, Mr Randeep Surjewala won the Narwana seat, defeating Mr Chautala, among others. However, Mr Chautala again defeated his rival from the Congress in 2000. Now Mr Surjewala has moved the battle lines to Rajasthan. It is very crucial for the Rajasthan Congress to prevent a significant dent among Jat voters by the INLD. Unlike Haryana, the Jats in Rajasthan are traditional supporters of the Congress, whereas Rajputs are considered to be the supporters of the BJP. Any erosion in the Jat votes will be a loss to the Congress in Rajasthan. Established Jat leaders in the Rajasthan Congress, like Mr Paras Ram Maderna, Speaker of the state Assembly, Mr Balram Jakhar, a former Speaker of the Lok Sabha; Mr Natwar Singh, Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha and Mr Sis Ram Ola, all former union ministers, are not fond of the Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Gehlot, whom they see as an “usurper”. To overcome their hostility, Mr Gehlot needed the services of a Jat leader, who should not have any stake in Rajasthan. His choice was Mr Randeep Surjewala, who is not only young but also has his own battle to fight against Mr Chautala. Interestingly, the Congress has fielded wards and relatives of the established Jat leaders of the party, who all are in their eighties. So far Mr Surjewala has addressed 22 rallies spread over several districts like Alwar, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Tonk, Kota, Nagaur, Jaiselmer, Bikaner, Sikar, Hanumangarh and Ganganagar. He cautions farmers (read Jats) against falling prey to “false promises” being made by Mr Chautala and his sons. He tells them in detail how the police opened fire on agitating farmers in Kandela and how BKU leaders have been arrested for sedition under the Chautala Government in Haryana. He will campaign in Rajasthan continuously for eight days from November 22. His party plays his recorded speeches in villages. At many places either he addressed a rally after a member of the Chautala family had held a public meeting a couple of days ago or vice versa. How far he would be able to check the Chautala juggernaut, would be known only in the first week of next month. |
Residents resent poor civic amenities KAITHAL: Resentment prevails among residents over the poor civic amenities in the town. They blame their elected representatives and the officials concerned who have failed to perform their duties for the prevailing situation. The poor sanitary conditions, choked sewer lines and nullahs and potholes and unlit roads are some of the major source of nuisance for the public. Notwithstanding
the claims made by the authorities for launching special cleanliness
drives in the town, most of the roads, except those in the old walled
city, remain full of dust and the road users are forced to inhale the
dust. Doctors confirm allergy case are increasing and if the air
pollution was not checked the situation may become alarming. The
people living near the two anaj mandis — one situated in the heart
of the town and the other adjoining the HUDA township — are the
worst effected due to dust and polluted air. Residents of many localities complain that safai karmacharis do not come on duty for months. This has led to poor sanitary conditions in the town. Heaps of garbage can be seen in all localities. The silt removed from drains, sewer lines and nullahs is hardly removed. Many sewer lines remain choked due to non-cleanliness of the drains. Most of the urinals built by the civic body stink and are surrounded by garbage. The garbage dumps near some residential areas are a permanent source of nuisance for the residents. The presence of pigs in residential areas is another source of irritation. Concrete roads in many parts of the town were constructed in the recent past, but the condition of the rest of the roads is very bad. The road users are put to great inconvenience. The condition of the busiest road from the bus stand to Jakholi Adda and another road from Hindu School Chowk to the Karnal road via Amargarh Colony and New Anaz Mandi is very bad. There is no permanent staff to replace the defective streetlights. |
Another twist
in dairy tale Ambala, November 22 The identification of a suitable piece of land to house the dairies which are to be shifted out is becoming a difficult task. It has now been decided that a committee, comprising dairy owners, Municipal Council officials and patwaris of villages adjoining Ambala Cantt, will search for a suitable piece of land. The search will be carried out by the end of this week. Another round of talks was held between the dairy owners and the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mr M.L. Kaushik on Wednesday. Mr Kaushik said the committee could suggest a suitable site for the shifting of dairies. “If no suitable piece of land is found, then the dairies will be shifted to the predetermined site,” he said. The dairy owners maintained that Ugada Bada village would be unsuitable for them. They said they would have to cross the cantonment area. Moreover, the village is located at a distance of 8 km from Ambala Sadar area. The president of the dairy owners’ association, Mr Hira Lal Yadav, said the dairies should not be shifted out till a suitable site was identified. “The dairy owners should be consulted before allocating any site. The site should be close to Ambala Sadar and there should be certain basic amenities,” he said. The dairy owners pointed out that the shifting out of dairies would cause losses to them, while the owners of the dairies located just outside the municipal limits would benefit. Municipal officials, however, assert that the shifting of dairies would help in easier maintenance of cleanliness in the city. “The menace of stray cattle will also be reduced once the dairies move out,” an official said. |
Protest
against attack on 2 traders Bhiwani, November 22 Three
unidentified youths had entered Padam Sales Corporation office in the
Lohar Bazar area last evening on a motorcycle and threatened two
traders — Padam and Prayag. The youths latter, shot at them before
snatching money and fleeing. The traders were admitted to civil
hospital and one of them was referred to medical college, Rohtak.
While one of the traders was shot, near abdomen, the other had a
broken jaw. The Beopar Mandal, Bhiwani, had convened a meeting and
decided to protest against the lawlessness on Saturday. Following the announcement, traders gathered at Lohar Chaupta today and held a meeting. Several leaders, including Beopar Mandal president Pyare Lal Rangwala, former minister Ram Bhajan Agarwal, HVP leader Shiv Kumar Agarwal, Rohtash Sharma and Dina Ram Jain addressed the traders. Mr Rangwala flayed the indifferent attitude of the police and said such incidents would not occur if the police was strict. District unit president of the BJP Tara Chand Agarwal condemned the incident and expressed concern on the increasing number of such incidents. Later, they took out a protest march to mini secretariat and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mr Rohtash Singh. |
Three get
10-yr jail for rape Kaithal, November 22 The police had registered a case under Sections 376, 366, 342 and 506 of the IPC on a statement given by the victim. The girl stated that Rajesh of the same village and his accomplice Ishwar took her to the house of Rampal, where the three raped her. She was kept in confinement in the house till the next day, when she was rescued by one of her relatives. After hearing arguments of the prosecution and the defence, the court held all three accused guilty. |
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Non-bailable warrant
against doc couple Ambala, November 22 The Additional Sessions Judge, Mr Sanjiv Kumar, cancelling the bail application of Dr Ajay Madan and Dr Namrata Madan on November 20 had directed them to surrender before the court of the CJM on November 22 to file a fresh bail application under Section 304, IPC. The couple had been granted bail by a Judicial Magistrate on October 29 and later the state had filed an appeal for the cancellation of bail in the district court. The police had registered a case against the doctor couple on October 24 when a four-month pregnant woman died in their centre during abortion. |
Work begins on planetarium
Kurukshetra, November 22 Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Arora said the planetarium would be developed under the supervision of the National Science Museum. It would be completed by April, 2005, he added.
He said a state-level museum would be set up near the planetarium. |
School Board exams from Feb 16 Bhiwani, November 22 Chairman of the Board, Brig. O P Chaudhary said that the middle class annual examinations would start from February 16, those of senior secondary, both academic as well as vocational would begin from March 12 and those of matriculation from March 13. |
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