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Court tells Haryana to pay dues to
MLAs will pick CM: Singhvi
Cong rebels issued letters of expulsion
EC takes notice of paid news items
Crops in 44,000 hectares damaged
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Genetic variation in livestock disappearing, say experts
Warrants issued against son of
ex-SDM
Two more looters nabbed
Rs 5.75 lakh looted from accountant
5 hurt in road mishap
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Court tells Haryana to pay dues to
ex-Lokayukta
Chandigarh, February 10 The period from which the petitioner would be entitled to the relief is January 5, 1999, to March 31, 2001. Justice Vasishth had joined as Chairman of the Public Service Tribunal, Uttaranchal, on March 3l, 2001, and after that had been appointed Executive Chairman of State Legal Services Authority, Uttaranchal. In its detailed order, the Division Bench of Chief Justice, Mr Justice Roy, and Mr Justice Amar Dutt imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on the state government. It, however, did not accept the contention of the petitioner that the decision of the Chautala Government to remove him from the post of Lokayukta was malafide. Justice Vasishth had moved the High Court seeking compensation for the unexpired period of his five-year tenure. Appointed the Lokayukta on January 1, 1999, by the Bansi Lal Government for five years, the petitioner was removed from his post by the Chautala Government on September 18, 1999. The Chautala Government had repealed the Haryana Lok Pal Act, 1997, through an ordinance. The then Chief Secretary, Haryana, Mr R.S. Varma, had offered the post to Justice Vasishth on December 16, 1998, when he was a sitting Judge of the Allahabad High Court. He had been offered salary and allowances admissible to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Justice Vasishth in his concurrence letter of December 18, 1998, sought the guarantee of his tenure in the light of the experience of the former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice S.S. Sodhi, who had to quit as the first Lok Pal of Punjab after the change of government. Justice Vasishth had also sought protection under Article 310(2) of the Constitution which provides for compensation in case a person is removed from his post before the expiry of his tenure. Mr Varma conveyed the acceptance of his conditions to Justice Vasishth on December 22, 1998. The Haryana Governor signed the warrant of appointment, which also mentioned the protection to him under Article 310(2), on January 4, 1999. Next day Justice Vasishth took the oath of office. However, the Chautala Government, which came to power on July 24, 1999, repealed the 1997 Act on September 18, 1999, through an ordinance. Justice Vasishth had challenged the government’s action before the Supreme Court, which dismissed the petition “as withdrawn”. Justice Vasishth then approached the Allahabad High Court. The Haryana Government objected to the admissibility of the petition on the ground of territorial jurisdiction of the Allahabad High Court. The Division Bench of Mr Justice Pradeep Kant and Mr Justice K.S. Rakhra, without going into the merits of the case, upheld the objection of the state and dismissed the petition on July 13, 2003, following which the petitioner moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court. During hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Mr Sanjay Bansal, counsel for Justice Vasishth, contended that the legislature had no power to abrogate a contract entered into by a person with the government under Article 310(2). The ordinance and the Act which repealed the 1997 Act, he said, did not expressly abrogate the contract. He also argued that “a bare perusal of Section 25(2) of the Haryana Lokayukta Act, 2002, leads to an inescapable conclusion that a pre-existing contract sanctified by Article 310(2) remains unaffected by the repealing clause.” Moreover, he said, a former Lokayukta was debarred by the law from reappointment as Lokayukta or from any other appointment in any capacity under the state government. Therefore, natural justice demanded that Justice Vasishth must be paid compensation. |
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MLAs will pick CM: Singhvi
Chandigarh, February 10 "While personal aspirations are there, the final decision on who becomes the chief minister will be taken by the elected representatives themselves. This has been the tradition of the party," Mr Singhvi told The Tribune in an exclusive interview here. He was in the city in connection with the hearing of a court case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He also asserted that the party would get two-thirds majority and provide a successful government to the people. Talking about the recent happenings in Goa, where the BJP government was recently ousted by the Governor moments after it had proved its majority on the floor of the House, Mr Singhvi said that the Governor did nothing wrong. "Facts speak for themselves. The Governor did the right thing to save democracy. While the power to dismiss a government has to be used rarely and sparingly, in this case, the Governor was forced to intervene. His was not the sin but the reaction to the sin," he asserted. On the impending transfer of Chief Minister's post in J&K to the Congress by the People's Democratic Party would be a smooth affair, Mr Singhvi said that he saw no reason to worry on the issue. "Everybody knows that the Congress sacrificed its right on the CM's post in national interest. And, our decision has paid dividends. Look at the huge response to the elections to local bodies in J&K. The Congress-led UPA Government has announced huge package for the State. And, there is a semblance of peace in the State. All this is due to the sacrifice made by the Congress," the Congress Spokesperson boasted. |
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Cong rebels issued letters of expulsion
Chandigarh, February 10 The letters, having signature of Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief Bhajan Lal, stated that the recipients had been expelled from the primary membership of the Congress for a period of six years. The expelled candidates are Deep Chand from Sadhaura constituency, Hira Lal Yadav from Ambala cantonment, Bhim Sain Mehta from Indri, Jai Parkash Gupta from Karnal, Ram Pal Singh and Jai Pal Sharma from Gharaunda, Master Ram Singh from Radaur (SC), Dinesh Kaushik from Pundri, Tejendra Pal Singh Mann from Pai, Sajjan Yadav from Salhawas, Ramesh Dalal and Naresh Sharma from Badli, Ashok Gupta from Bahadurgarh, Dev Raj Diwan and Rajiv Jain from Sonipat, Baldev Singh Balmiki from Kalayat (SC), Brij Mohan Singla and Mahabir Prasad from Jind, Parminder Singh Dhull from Julana, Bachan Singh Arya from Safidon, Harsh Kumar from Hathin, Shakrullah Khan from Ferozepur Jhirka, Habibur Rehman from Nuh, Nirpender Singh from Badhra, Satpal Sangwan from Dadri, Shankar Dass Sharma from Bhiwani, Rattan Lal Pahari from Loharu, Anant Ram from Barwala, Vinod Bhayana from Hansi, Mangat Ram Lalwas from Ratia (SC), Om Prakash Keharwala from Ellenabad (SC), Ms Shakuntla Bhagwaria from Bawal (SC), Bijay Somani from Rewari, Virender Yadav from Mahendragarh and Mula Ram and Radheshyam Sharma contesting from Narnaul. Among the rebel candidate all but two are contesting as Independent candidates. The candidates representing parties are Dev Raj Dewan from the Nationalist Congress Party and Ram Pal Singh from Ekta Shakti. Dev Raj Dewan, Bhim Sain Mehta, Jai Parkash Gupta and Mula Ram are among the MLAs who won the 2000 assembly elections as Independent candidates and joined hands with the Congress in the fag-end of the Om Prakash Chautala regime. Five members of the erstwhile Haryana Vikash Party (HVP) also figure in the list of expelled candidates as they jumped into the fray as Independent candidates despite HVP’s merger with the Congress. Rajiv Jain, Satpal Sangwan, Nirpender Singh, Anant Ram and Harsh Kumar fall in this category of Congress members. |
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EC takes notice of paid news items
Karnal, February 10 Mr R.S. Doon, District Electoral Officer-cum-District Magistrate, Karnal told The Tribune yesterday that he had sought a detailed report from all 58 candidates who had contested the elections from the six Assembly constituencies of the district and also from vernacular newspapers concerned within 15 days from the date of polling regarding the advertisement rates of their newspapers and the billing done in these particular paid news items, photograph and features. “I have also asked the District Public Relations Officer to compile a detailed file of such paid news items, photographs and features so that these may be cross-checked with the details furnished by the candidates themselves and the newspapers concerned”, he said. He said, “not only the expenditure on these paid news items, photograph and features but also the undue influence created on the voters through print media by this wrong practice is also a violation of the poll code. He said the rates of advertisements approved by the Department of Public Relations would also be compared with the actual billing done by the newspapers. “I will send a detailed report of these paid news items, photograph features and the undue influence created on the voters through this wrong practice to the EC through the Election Observer (Expenditure) for necessary action”, said Mr Doon. “It is a serious issue and may even lead to the cancellation of the election of a particular candidate, besides, stern action against the political parties even after the declaration of results if found guilty of creating undue influence on the voters by such wrong practice”, commented a senior official posted on poll duty by the EC. Ms Rekha and a candidate of the ruling party from the Gharaunda constituency, said she was forced to adopt such practice of purchasing space in the newspapers for publishing news items, photograph and features in her favour as her rival candidates through this wrong practice had tried to influence the voters. Another candidate from the Indri constituency alleged that a number of candidates had also purchased extra copies of the newspapers running into thousands in which such paid news items, photograph and features were published and then circulated them through the agents in their respective areas free of cost. |
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Crops in 44,000 hectares damaged
Fatehabad, February 10 When the farmers came to know that the SDM had come to Fatehabad to attend a meeting, they blocked the Fatehabad road. The police intervened and the blockage was lifted after half an hour. |
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Genetic variation in livestock disappearing, say experts
Karnal, February 10 This was quite evident from the research papers and other presentations made by around 250 scientists from across the nation who gathered here in the National Bureau of Animal Genetics Resources (NBAGR) today to attend the two day second national symposium on “Domestic animal biodiversity: status, opportunities and challenges”, organised by the Society for Conservation of Domestic Animal Biodiversity (SOCDAB). The symposium focussed mainly on present status of animal genetic resources of the country, their conservation and improvement strategic through latest technologies. By and large all scientists were of the view that with expeditious transformations in the lifestyle and food habits of the people, there was a mounting burden on the livestock to produce milk, meat and eggs. While inaugurating the symposium, Dr S.P.S. Ahlawat, Director of the NBAGR and President of the SOCDAB, said it required a fresh look on the status of animal genetic resources, acknowledging the significant contribution made by farm animals towards the national economy, analysing the programmes and policies directed towards their development, conservation and bringing in necessary changes in these programmes in view of the newly emerging technologies for speedy development. He was of the opinion that stage has come to strengthen the National Gene Bank and critically evaluate the vast animal genetics resources of our country to further increase the contribution of the livestock sector to our national GDP. Stressing upon the importance and impact of biotechnology as a tool, the chief guest at the symposium, Dr C.D. Mayee, chairman of the Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), said it could revolutionise the agricultural sector of the country. He highlighted the importance of the agriculture sector in sustaining the country’s economy and felt that the theme of this symposium was relevant in the present situation when the agriculture production was being effected with the advent of globalisation. Ms Neerja Rajkumar, Joint Secretary, Poultry and Dairy Development, Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of India, was the guest of honour, appraised the gathering about the national cattle and buffalo breeding programmes and the importance of notified breeding policy for each state that would go a long way for organised improvement, conservation and sustainable use of farm animal genetic resources. |
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Warrants issued against son of
ex-SDM
Kaithal, February10 The complainant, Mr Shambhu Dayal, said when Mr Chahal was posted as SDM at Guhla few years ago, he transferred the registration of a car stolen from Delhi in the name of his son and subsequently sold it to him. The matter came to light when the Jhajjar police busted a gang of vehicle thieves in 2001 and some link was allegedly established with the former SDM. It is learnt that the court had earlier issued warrants against Mr Chahal, but he was bailed out.
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Two more looters nabbed
Panipat, February 10 One of their companions, Somender, alias Sonu, of Dhansoli village, had already been arrested when they were making a plan to loot the State Bank of India on Tuesday, while the fourth member of the gang, Surender of the same village, was still absconding. According to police sources, the CIA staff raided the Dhansoli houses of the accused after a tip-off on Wednesday night and nabbed Jitender and Sudhir. The police was conducting their preliminary interrogation till the filing of this report, the sources added. Earlier, the police had arrested Somender on Tuesday when he was standing in a suspected condition in the locality. During his search, a desi pistol was seized. |
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Rs 5.75 lakh looted from accountant
Jind, February 10 According to Ms Kamani Sharma, Principal of the school, three teachers were also present in the office of the accountant. When they raised the alarm the youths fled on their motor cycle which was parked outside the school building. The police set up a naka to nab the robbers. However, they escaped. |
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5 hurt in road mishap
Kaithal, February10 According to information, occupants of another vehicle, who belonged to Bhunbhar village of Sirsa district, noticed the accident and rescued those entrapped in the ill-fated vehicle. The injured, identified as Pargat Singh, Namdhari, Kapoor Singh, Ujagar Singh and Bahadur Chand, have been admitted to Narwana Hospital.
— OC |
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Cold claims life in Panipat
Panipat, February 10
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