Bhiwani, August 22
A spokesman of the Haryana Education Board today said someone, probably a publisher, had issued a fake circular no.13347-1515417 dated August 1, 2005, on behalf of the Secretary of the board to all the schools in the state asking all the headmasters to prescribe “New Science Practical Book” for the students of their schools.

The spokesman said the circular was fake and an attempt had been made to mislead the schools and the guardians of the students through the circular. He clarified that the booklet mentioned in the fake circular had not been prescribed by the board, rather the board had instructed all the headmasters in the state that they should prescribe on their own such a practical booklet as was in accordance with the syllabi of the board.

He said the fake circular did not have any signature on it, whereas no letter was issued by the board without signature. Not only this, all the letters issued by the board were posted through post office situated in the board’s campus and as such every letter bore the stamp of that post office. He said the so called blue prints of 9th and 10th Classes had also been issued with the fake circular, which did not confirm with the blue prints of the board.

The spokesman said a high-level enquiry had been ordered by the board into the matter and a strict action would be taken against the culprits.

Hisar, August 22
A youth of a nearby village shot dead his former beloved after she reportedly refused to go with him at Bahbalpur village, near here, today. After this, the youth also killed himself with the same pistol.

Bhal Singh Bishnoi of Budhakhera village in the district loved Naro of his village. Naro’s father married her to Rajpal. However, the affair continued and the lovers ran away from their house.

They started living together, but the society did not accept their relationship as they belonged to the same village.

A panchayat was held in this regard, which told Bhal Singh and Naro to separate.

The lovers had no other way but to obey the panchayat’s order. They started living separately, but Bhal Singh could not bear it. In the meantime, Naro’s parents sent her to her aunt’s house at Bahbalpur village.

Bhal Singh kept on trying to meet Naro, but in vain. He felt that Naro had developed an indifferent attitude towards him and had started avoiding him.

Today, he again went to Bahbalpur village with a pistol. He waited for Naro and on seeing her, fired at her. After this, he also shot himself dead.

A woman accompanying Naro informed the villagers of the incident. After this, the police was informed.

Both bodies have been sent to the Civil Hospital here for a post-mortem examination.

A case has been registered at the Sadar police station on a complaint by the girl’s father.

Rohtak, August 22
The Haryana State Electricity Board Workers Union has accused the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam authorities of aggravating the power crisis in the area by not making available essential electrical equipment to maintain the power supply.

In a statement issued here today, the union’s press secretary, Mr Bharat Bhushan, said there was an acute shortage of electricity meters, conductors, transformers and other equipment. The employees had been asking the authorities concerned for arranging for the same but this had not been done so far.

He said because of the shortage of equipment the employees were unable to maintain a regular supply. The suffering public responded by assaulting employees and damaging property of the Nigam.

He said several delegations had met the managing director in the past few weeks, but the authorities concerned had adopted an unreasonable attitude. He warned that if the equipment not provided in the near future, the union would launch a stir.

Mr Bhushan also criticised the state government for withdrawing the benefit of jobs for dependents of government employees who died while in service. He demanded immediate restoration of the benefit.

Kaithal, August 22
Elections for 29 wards of the Municipal Council here held yesterday amid allegations of bogus voting by supporters of some candidates. The Returning Officer, Mr Ashok Garg, declared the results last night.

Supporters of Sunita and other some contestants from ward no 8, alleging large-scale bogus voting, marched to the office of the Deputy Commissioner to lodge protest. They blocked the traffic at Pehowa Chowk for some time and later met the ADC, Mr Romesh Verma, at the DC Camp Office. Duty Magistrate M.S. Goyat was sent to ward no 8 polling booths from where wife of former MC chairman Arjan Gulati was contesting the election.

The Returning Officer assured them to take action. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr B.S. Malik, last evening said a polling officer was replaced when some candidates raised objection.

The District Magistrate, Mr B.S. Malik, and Mr Sat Parkash Ranga, SP claimed that the election was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any ward. However, exchange of heated words between supporters of some candidates outside some polling booths reported. The DC said after receiving complaints of bogus polling from polling booths of ward no 8 the Duty Magistrate was sent who found allegations as baseless.

The atmosphere became tense outside the Modern School polling booth where supporters of different candidates levelled allegations of bogus voting against each other and as the chances of clash grew, DSP Surinder Malik reached the spot and controlled the situation.

Mr Rakesh Sardana from Ward 13 and Jyoti Mittal from Ward 24 have already been elected unopposed. The following have been elected as Municipal Councillors. Ward 1: Azmero Devi; Ward 2: Shakuntla; Ward 3: Dalip; Ward 4: Kulwant Singh; Ward 5: Balkishan; Ward 6: Pawan Thareja; Ward 7: Dharam Veer Bhola; Ward 8: Bimla Gulati; Ward 9: Om Parkash Narula; Ward 10: Subhash Chand Jawahra; Ward 11: Urmila Kaulia; Ward 12: Harbans Lal; Ward 14: Asha Rani; Ward 15: Premchand Goel; Ward 16: Sarla Devi; Ward 17: Kamal Dev; Ward 18: Tara Devi; Ward 19: Shaluntla Dala; Ward 20: Arjan Singh; Ward 21: Jai Pal Ward 22: Gurmeet Kaur Ward 23: Ram Phal; Ward 25: Sunita Bansal; Ward 26: Dharam Pal; Ward 27: Rajesh Mittal; Ward 28: Ranveer Saini; Ward 29: Bhagat Ram Saini; Ward 30: Lalita Malhotra and Ward 31: Surinder Ranjha.

Faridabad, August 22
Over three lakh employees of the Haryana government seem to be shocked over the recent announcement to withdraw the ex-gratia job benefit scheme . Offended by the move, leading organisations have announced that they will oppose it and launch an agitation to get the decision reversed. The Sarva Karamchari Sangh, Haryana (SKS) and its affiliated bodies have announced demonstrations, and gheraos from August 24.

Criticising the decision, a spokesperson of the SKS said here today, that it was quite a shock for about 3.5 lakh employees and their families ,as it was perhaps the first time that any state government had withdrawn a scheme meant for the welfare of its employees. He said the decision of the government to pay only compensation to the dependents of the deceased , was like a cruel joke.

Describing it as illegal and unjustified, he said the Sangh and the other government staff unions would not accept it and would not rest till it was reversed. Stating that the employees would be resorting to peaceful means of agitation to pressurise the authorities to withdraw the decision. He said a similar move made by the Bansi Lal government in 1996 had to be withdrawn due to protest by employees.

Changes in the ex-gratia benefit made during the Chautala regime had also been opposed by the staff bodies which had demanded implementation of the scheme in the shape as it existed before 1990. According to the Sangh, as many as 2500 applications for the ex-gratia jobs had been pending with the government and the authorities concerned had been delaying the recruitment deliberately without any valid reason. He claimed that over 7000 employees of the Power Department had lost their lives in accidents while on duty in the past 38 years, while about 2500 employees of the Haryana Roadways had also lost their lives in accidents during this period. Claiming that providing only cash compensation, which was meagre, was against the interests of employees. He said at the meeting with the Transport Minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala, on June 8 last, the latter had promised a favourable response.

Meanwhile, the All-Haryana Power Corporation Workers Union has announced demonstrations from August 24 at the subdivisional level against the move. It said it would support any action plan adopted by the SKS in future.

Chandigarh, August 22
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the Haryana government to tell how its nodal officers will coordinate with the office of the Advocate-General, Haryana, to ensure timely compliance with court orders.

This poser was put during the hearing of a contempt petition filed by Mr Gian Chand, praying for initiation of contempt proceedings against senior Haryana cadre IAS officer M.L. Tayal.

Earlier, counsel for the Haryana Government informed the Bench of Mr Justice M.M. Kumar that nodal officers had already been appointed in various departments, boards and corporations to monitor and ensure compliance of court orders.

Sometime back, following an order of the High Court, the Chief Secretary of Haryana had sent a missive to all heads of departments, Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners, Managing Directors and CEOs of al government boards and corporations and the top brass of the five universities. The purpose of the letter was to reiterate the instructions issued on March 22, 2004, on the issue of non-compliance of orders and directions issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The officers were told to strictly comply with the government instructions and appoint nodal officers.

The Chief Secretary had also reiterated that any lapse in this regard, if it caused embarrassment to senior officers, would be the responsibility of the nodal officer and he would be charge-sheeted for major penalty.

It was during the hearing of Mr Gian Chand’s petition that the High Court had expressed concern over the large number of contempt petitions being filed due to violation of its orders.

The court had also noted that it was expected that a mechanism should be evolved by which such grievances leading to filing of contempt petitions were redressed by the respondents.

Chandigarh, August 22
The Haryana Government and the Centre today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to further strengthen the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the state.

The MoU was signed by the Union Panchayati Raj Minister, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, and the Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

According to the MoU, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj will assist the state in capacity building and the training of elected representatives and officials of Panchayats. This may include “exposure visits” to other states in order to familiarise themselves with the best practices.

The Union Ministry will also pursue the devolution of Central funds through untied block grants, and systemic reform of Centrally-sponsored schemes, including the establishment of a panchayat empowerment incentive fund, to bring these in conformity with the constitutional provisions for good governance at the district and sub-district levels. The Union Ministry agreed to support initiatives in computerisation and e-governance of panchayats in Haryana as part of the national e-governance action plan. It also agreed to provide the state government with technical assistance in undertaking further PRI reform, including activity mapping and fiscal devolution.

It was felt that with a view to accelerating and sustaining development, there was need to strengthen the PRIs so that they functioned as institutions of self-government in the letter and spirit of Article 243 G of the Constitution. Under the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, panchayats at all three levels have been entrusted with duties and functions with regard to all 29 matters listed in the 11th Schedule of the Constitution.

According to the MoU, the Haryana Government will take several steps to further empower the PRIs, including the supervision and monitoring of most of the schemes being implemented by different departments, disbursement of old-age pension, supervision of veterinary centres up to the hospital level, repair and maintenance of water resources and amendment to the relevant rules vesting financial powers in the panchayat samitis instead of the CEOs.

Mr Aiyer will release the activity map of Haryana in regard to the PRIs in November next.

Ambala, August 22
The Haryana Transport Minister, Mr Randeep Surjewala, today said CNG buses would be introduced in the state soon.

Mr Randeep Surjewala had come here to inaugurate a night shelter at the main bus stand in Ambala Cantt. Mr Surjewala, however, asked a senior employee of Haryana Roadways, Mr Krishna Madan, to inaugurate the night shelter.

Mr Surjewla said besides CNG buses, the government had also decided to buy 500 to 600 buses every year.

He said the buses which were over five years old would not be put into service.

He said the Chandigarh bus depot had been computerised and computerisation was on in six other depots in the state. He said the computerisation process would be completed in the next 18 months.

Mr Surjewala stated that computerisation would not only enable better management, but would also lead to an analysis of each Haryana Roadways bus to find out about the profit earned and loss suffered.

Mr Surjewala said a rest room was going to be built in the big bus stands for the benefit of long route drivers and conductors.

He said it had been observed that the long route bus drivers and conductors did not get proper facilities.

He said a new local bus stand would be built in Ambala Sadar and they would try to give better connectivity to the main bus stand from GT Road.

He stated that a sum of Rs 12 crore had been sanctioned by the government for setting up a solid waste management plant in Ambala. He said five industrial hubs were going to be developed in Haryana and one cluster would be developed in Ambala.

Mr Surjewala said new shops would be constructed in the bus stand for the convenience of passengers.

The night shelter will have various facilities, including air cooler, aquaguard water filter and invertor. While charge for a single bed would be Rs 50, a family room would cost Rs 150.

Sirsa, August 22
Farmers in this cotton belt are keeping their fingers crossed as cotton plants have started withering due to attacks by worms and viruses. Experts have cautioned farmers to keep a constant vigil.

Though officials say the situation is not serious, farmers are a worried lot. Inquiries revealed that spotted boll worm had started showing its impact in the cotton fields.

The Head of Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Dr D. Monga, said Bt cotton did not require any spray after 110-115 days of sowing but now since the spotted boll worm had shown its presence, the farmers should be extra cautious.

He said the cotton sown between April 15 and May 1 had reached a crucial stage.

Other varieties of cotton, including the 1098, 8108, Sikandari and Sikandarpuri Badshah have been affected by leaf curl virus. Caused by the white fly, the carrier of the virus has shown its effect on the crop in different parts of the district, say experts.

According to the Deputy Director, Agriculture, Mr Pardeep Kumar Meel, though the situation is a little worrisome, it is not alarming.

Ambala, August 22
One more person has been arrested by the local police in the Raj Kumar murder case. Hardeep Kumar, alias Happy, was arrested this afternoon from Khudda village. He is a neighbour of one of the accused in the murder case. He is also said to be involved in helping undertrial Baljeet Singh escape from outside the Ambala Central Jail.

The police had been on the lookout for Happy after preliminary investigations had revealed that he was involved in the Raj Kumar murder case, which had taken place in Sarsehri village, as well as the Baljeet Singh escape case.

An informer had tipped off the police that Happy had been spotted near Khudda village. A raiding team was formed and Happy was arrested. Happy has told police officials that on July 8, Nishan Singh, Kaka, Rajesh and Amrik Singh were in a Santro car while Shailendra, alias Sanju, was on his motorcycle and they were planning to help undertrial Baljeet Singh escape. As soon as Baljeet Singh was brought to the Central jail overbridge to catch a bus for Safidon, they helped him escape.

While Nishan Singh and Baljeet Singh got down at a Pir, the rest went towards BD Flour Mill where they abandoned their car.

Happy has stated that on August 9, a plan was hatched to get money from a Sarsehri resident, Raj Kumar. The plan was that if Raj Kumar did not pay up, they would shoot him.

After shooting Raj Kumar, the assailants handed over their motorcycle to Happy, who was waiting near Chandpura. The assailants then fled on Happy’s motorcycle.

The police has recovered a countrymade revolver which has a ‘Made in Japan’ sign engraved on it. Thirteen cartridges have also been recovered.

Ambala, August 22
A blood-donation camp was held at DAV College (Lahore), Ambala City, in the memory of martyr Major Amit Ahuja today.

The college Principal Mr J.S. Nain, said the NSS unit of DAV College, Ambala City, organised the blood-donation camp in which a number of students donated blood.

The Deputy Commissioner, Ambala, Mr J.P. Kaushik, inaugurated the camp.

He paid floral tributes to martyr Major Amit Ahuja.

Mr Nain said the camp was held with the help of martyr Major Amit Ahuja’s parents.

They donated a sum of Rs 12,000 as scholarship to the poor and needy students.

The camp was coordinated by Prof R.S. Parmar, Prof N.S. Nehra, Prof Sangeeta Bahl and NSS programme officers.

Chandigarh, August 22
The Haryana Government today appointed Mr Alok Nigam, Special Secretary, Finance, as Secretary to Governor, A.R. Kidwai.

Mr Nigam has been appointed in place of Ms Sumita Misra Singh, who was earlier posted as Secretary to Governor last week.

According to informed sources, the government had appointed her after Dr Kidwai had requested it to do so. However, Dr Kidwai had second thoughts about his choice after he came to know that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had passed severe strictures against Ms Singh, following which an inquiry was ordered.

The inquiry officer had exonerated her of all charges.

Sonepat, August 22
With the arrest of two youths, the Mohana police today claimed to have solved a case of theft relating to theft of Rs 4 lakh in cash from a motor cycle on July 25 last at Juan village in this district.

The youths were identified as Pardeep and Kala, of Juan village, and they have confessed to their involvement in the theft. During interrogation, they have also named some of their accomplices who were also involved in this case. The police has registered a case and launched a massive hunt to arrest them.

It is stated that Raju, a resident of Qumashpur village, had lodged a complaint with the Mohana police station on July 25 last alleging that a sum of Rs 4 lakh had been stolen from his motor cycle which he had parked outside the house of his brother-in-law, Mr Inderpal.

He wanted to purchase some land at Jasia village and had kept Rs 4 lakh in cash in the motor cycle.