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Charges against IAS officer dropped
Gurdwara poll: Haryana says no to election body
Status of state poll commissioner may be elevated
No takers for family welfare scheme
Gurdeep confesses to links with Babbar Khalsa
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US doctors hold free medical camp
BJP leader praises Hooda govt
Haryana to recruit 7,100 English teachers
Six escape from jail, 5 rearrested
Four child prisoners booked for assault
Plea for opening more CSD canteens in Haryana
Vehicles running on LPG challaned
Centre ‘committed’ to improving healthcare
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Charges against IAS officer dropped
Chandigarh, October 19 Mr Saxena was chargsheeted by the state government in August for his alleged acts of omission and commission during his stint as Managing Director of Seeds Development Corporation Limited. The charges against him included instances of financial irregularities in the corporation during his tenure. The probe against Mr Saxena had started when the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was ruling the state. The inquiry was completed long ago but the file kept gathering dust. It started moving from July onwards. Subsequently, the approval of the Chief Minister was taken and Mr Saxena was served with a charge sheet for a “major penalty”. He was charged under Rule 7 of the rules governing the conduct of government servants and asked to give his reply. It is learnt that the government found Mr Saxena’s reply “satisfactory” following which it was decided to drop the charges against him. The 1955 IAS officer was earlier denied promotion in view of the charges pending against him. Official sources said that steps were now being initiated to promote Mr Saxena as Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary in the pay scale of Rs 22400-525-24500. His batchmates, Mr Ramendra Jakhu and Mr Sajjan Singh, have been already promoted Financial Commissioners. Mr Saxena was also facing a probe in connection with irregularities that allegedly took place in the Department of Lotteries when he was the Director. It is, however, his alleged role as the Managing Director of Seed Development Corporation Limited that had attracted the charge sheet against him. In view of the latest government move to give him promotion, it appears that the lottery probe against him, too, has been given a burial. |
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Gurdwara poll: Haryana says no to election body
Chandigarh, October 19 The office of the Chief Commissioner, Sikh Gurdwara Elections, had sometime back informed the governments of Punjab, Haryana and the Chandigarh Administration of its decision to hold elections of local gurdwara parbandhak committees in the third week of December. The notification in this regard is expected to be issued on October 21. According to sources, the Haryana Government has already conveyed its inability to the Chief Commissioner to hold elections as per the plan. The government is learnt to have taken the stand that since an eight-member committee headed by Haryana Assembly Speaker H.S. Chatha is already studying the need, jurisdiction, feasibility and organisation of a separate gurdwara parbandhak committee for Haryana, elections to local gurdwara committees would serve no purpose. The government has said that it will wait for the final report of the committee before taking any final decision regarding the holding of elections. It has, therefore, suggested that the elections be postponed. Incidentally, the term of the present committees ended in June, 2003, and all committees have been functioning for over two years beyond their term. The committees have a five-year term. On its part, the Chief Commissioner, Sikh Gurdwara Elections, has refused to accept the plea of the government and is going ahead with its plan to hold elections. “We have already informed the government about our programme and as far as we are concerned there is no change,” said Mr Gurdev Singh, Secretary, Sikh Gurdwara Elections. He is presently also functioning as Acting Chief Commissioner since the last incumbent demitted office some months back after the completion of his term. Incidentally, a writ has also been filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court by Mr Gurnam Singh, seeking directions to the governments to hold elections of local committees at the earliest. The next hearing of the case is on October 28. |
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Status of state poll commissioner may be elevated
Chandigarh, October 19 The Haryana Cabinet, at its meeting here on September 14, had decided that the SEC would now enjoy the same status and service conditions as that of a high court judge. The equality of status is in respect of travel allowance, rent-free accommodation and exemption from liability to pay income tax on the value of the rent-free accommodation, conveyance facility, sumptuary allowances and such other conditions of service as are applicable to a high court judge. The decision was a consequence of the meeting of the SECs held on April 20 in Hyderabad under the chairmanship of the Election Commissioner of India. It was decided at the meeting to raise the status of the SEC to that of a high court judge. As a result of the decision, the Haryana SEC’s office has now started demanding the elevation of the SEC’s position and bringing the SEC on an equal footing with a high court judge in the order of precedence of the state government. The government is expected to clear the proposal after obtaining approval from the Governor. Once the proposal is approved, the SEC will figure above the Chief Secretary and below the Ministers of State and Deputy Ministers in the official hierarchy. At present, the SEC figures below the Chief Secretary in the order of precedence. But since a high court judge comes before the Chief Secretary in the hierarchy, the same status is now being demanded for the SEC. Mr Chander Singh, a former bureaucrat, was appointed the SEC by the previous Chautala-led government. He was Finance Secretary in the Chautala regime when he retired from service. |
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No takers for family welfare scheme
Yamunanagar, October 19 Under the project, the government provides financial assistance to a couple who opt for permanent sterilization after the birth of first or second child. As per the original scheme, if either the husband or wife goes for permanent sterilization after the birth of a daughter within a period of three months, the couple was entitled to get Rs 500 per month till the girl baby attains the age of 20 years. If a couple goes for sterilization after the birth of second child boy or girl, the family was to get Rs 200 per month. The applicant must be a resident of the state and should not fall under the income tax bracket. The biggest ‘problem’ in the scheme was that the difference between the birth of first child and marriage should at least two years and the operation must be performed within three months of the birth of the baby, said sources, adding that the condition was very tough for rural poor couples. To make the scheme a success, the state government relaxed the conditions in November 2003. As per the modified norms, the condition of minimum two years difference between the birth of first child and marriage was done away with. Now the sterilization could be get done even after three months of the birth of the child. Sources said besides ‘tough’ qualifying conditions, lack of awareness regarding sterilization is said to be another reason why couples were not coming forward. The allurement of financial benefits also diminishes as the aid starts only after the sterilization. Sources said a few applications were forwarded to the department for approval but the applicants reportedly could not qualify. The CMO, Dr P.K Jain, when contacted claimed that many couples have made enquiries regarding the scheme. He, however, admitted that the most of the enquiring couples do not return back. |
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Gurdeep confesses to links with Babbar Khalsa
Kurukshetra, October 19 Stating this here today, district police chief Sanjay Kumar said he confessed to this during his interrogation after his arrest on October 17. He said the police had been successful in recovering the motor cycle that was given to Gurdeep by Sahibjeet Singh. He said Gurdeep also admitted that he had robbed Rs 22 lakh from a property dealer in Patiala with the help of Sahibjeet Singh, a resident of Patiala, and Gurbaj Singh, a resident of Pilakhani, Patiala district. Out of this, Rs 5 lakh was given to Hawara, while the remaining amount was distributed among the rest. He said the police had sent parties to Punjab, UP, Chandigarh and Delhi in search of Sahibjeet. Some of his hideouts had been raided and efforts were being made to nab him, Mr Kumar added. Gurdeep also admitted that he had arranged the car along with Baljeet Kaur and waited near Gurdwara Dhanna Bhagat, near Burail Jail. He drove the car in which Hawara, Bheora, Tara and Devi Singh fled escaped. They stopped the car near a road that led to Panchkoy in Khantmannpur village. Gurdeep removed his clothes and gave them to Hawara, while Baljeet gave Rs 9,000 to Hawara. Meanwhile, the police has registered a case under Sections 216 and 216A,
IPC, against Pritam Singh, a resident of Sujra village, and his two sons — Kuldeep Singh and Amrit Singh — for harbouring and helping
Gurdeep. |
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US doctors hold free medical camp
Kalka, October 19 Hundreds of people turned up at the two-day camp for seeking expert medical advice. From heart ailments to skin allergies, and from gyanaecological problems to dental ailments — the residents of this sleepy town, not used to the specialist medical care- lined up to get medical treatment as well as free medicines. “My daughter, Anuradha, has been suffering from lesions on her upper lip for the past two months. I have taken her to the local hospital and private doctors, but to no avail. Ever since I got to know of the American doctors coming here for treatment, I have been waiting to seek their advise,” says Rajeshwari of Doon. The American doctors, too, did not leave any one disappointed. Promising to teach a holistic health regimen, the American team comprising physicians, pharmacists, nurses and musicians left no stone unturned to teach personal hygiene. “Our emphasis is on improving the health of rural children, who after learning personal hygiene will teach it in their families, and ultimately, the whole community will benefit,” said Mr Scott Humphreys, Administrator of the group. So while the medicos examined the patients, the musicians in the group — Ms Joirre Mcinnis, Mr Matt Henderson, Ms Terry Rider and Ms Annette Haung — enacted skits and sang songs to create awareness about health and hygiene. Operation Mobilisation — a joint effort by the All-India Christian Council (AICC) and the Dalit Freedom Movement headed by Ms Nanci Ricks, has come together for providing education, medical help, economic development and creating human rights awareness among the rural population. Though the two organisations have been organising these camps in disaster-hit areas this is the first time that they have decided to organise camps in rural areas of Haryana and Punjab, informed Mr Sukant Kumar of the AICC. Ms Nanci Ricks, Executive Director of Dalit Freedom Movement, said that they were also planning to hold similar camps in rural areas of Amritsar and Abohar next week. |
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BJP leader praises Hooda govt
Gurgaon, October 19 The Chief Minister is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the scheme to be financed by NABARD, a central agency during his two-day tour of Rewari district, commencing on October 22. Rao Shiv Ratan, a leader of the Ahirwal belt in South Haryana, said that it was the first time in the past 50 years that any government was taking such a step which addressed water scarcity in the area. The scheme envisages drawing in flood water of the Yamuna in the national capital via the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal network in Rewari to the barrage. Storage of rain and flood water in the barrage would re-charge the underground water table of at least 50 nearby villages. Also, the scheme will help farmers for irrigation in the area. He said that the Haryana unit of the BJP had got the scheme through with the good offices of NDA government. However, the INLD government headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala played the spoilsport and did not send the proposal to NABARD, he added. At that time the cost outlay for the scheme was Rs 4 crore. Now it has increased to Rs 6 crore. He said although the Chief Minister had assured the people of the Ahirwal belt to solve the water crisis, but Captain Ajay Singh, incumbent minister for Irrigation in the state, also helped. When pointed out that he was praising the Chief Minister he said if the Chief Minister and his government were doing a good thing for the public, he deserved unqualified praise from all quarters. |
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Haryana to recruit 7,100 English teachers
Chandigarh, October 19 This was stated by the
Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, while reviewing the
functioning of the Education Department here today. The Chief Minister
said a special team had been constituted to keep a check on the
attendance of teachers. All block education officers had been provided
with vehicles to visit primary, secondary and senior secondary schools
and ensure the attendance of teachers. All vacant posts in the aided
schools would also be filled at the earliest, he said. Mr Hooda said it
had also been decided that no leave for going abroad would be given to
teachers during the academic session. As far as possible, teachers would
not be transferred when the session was on. He said the universities
in the state would be told to start new courses in emerging areas of
technology. He asked the department officials to think of changing the
examination system and starting semesters and credits and relative
grading in educational institutions. |
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Six escape from jail, 5 rearrested
Sonepat, October 19 According to sources, the rearrested prisoners include Sandeep and Manoj and the names of others are yet to be known. Officials of the district administration as well as the district jail are tightlipped and declined to say anything about the incident. The sources also say that a group of persons visited the jail to meet some prisoners and they handed over knives to them. After that, the prisoners assaulted four constables with knives before they escaped from the district jail. They also assaulted driver Ashok of Vikaspuri who was standing outside the jail after they failed to take away his vehicle. The driver was immediately hospitalised. The injured constables were identified as Hem Chander (26), Dhanpat (27), Birbal (44) and Rajesh (29). They were rushed to the Civil Hospital wherefrom Hem Chander, Dhanpat and Birbal were referred to PGIMS at Rohtak. |
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Four child prisoners booked for assault
Sonepat, October 19 According to police sources, Bhupinder is still in the Civil Hospital and undergoing treatment. However, tension still persists at the Bal Sudhar Graha and the police is keeping a strict watch on the child prisoners. Mr Subhash Chander, DSP, Headquarters, visited the Bal Sudhar Graha to take stock of the situation. The Bal Sudhar Graha has a capacity of 50 child prisoners, but as many as 187 child prisoners are housed in it. All child prisoners are not able to get space for sleeping at night and most of them have to wait for their turn to sleep. This is the main cause of resentment among the child prisoners. Moreover, there are 28 child prisoners who are above the age of 18 years.
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Plea for opening more CSD canteens in Haryana
Chandigarh, October 19 Presiding over the 37th Rajya Sainik Board meeting here today, Haryana Governor, A R Kidwai, suggested that ex-servicemen should set up societies on the pattern of successful models in the country. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was also present at the meeting On the persistent demand for setting up defence colonies in various districts of the state, the board was informed that a survey was already being conducted to assess the demand and feasibility of such colonies. The Flag Day Fund Trophy was awarded to Zila Sainik Board, Rohtak. Zila Sainik Board, Gurgaon was awarded the Jind Trophy for its performance in providing employment and loan assistance for self employment to ex-servicemen and their wards during last year. |
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Vehicles running on LPG challaned
Hisar, October 19 As part of the drive, owners of six such vehicles were challaned, whereas six others were told to discontinue the practice. Apart from this, several tea shops and dhabas where domestic LPG cylinders were being used were raided. Thirteen cylinders were seized from 10 premises and a dhaba owner was booked. Deputy Commissioner Arun Kumar Gupta, said here today that following inspection by the Food and Supplies Department, supply to nine depot holders was suspended and they were issued show-cause notices. Fine was imposed on four others, he added. |
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Centre ‘committed’ to improving healthcare
Kalka, October 19 She was addressing a large gathering here, after inaugurating a medical health check up camp organised by Dalit Jan Kalyan Samiti here yesterday. The two day camp has been jointly organised by the Dalit Freedom Movement and All India Christian Council. As many as 18 doctors, paramedics and musicians from USA (under Dalit Freedom Movement) have come here to hold the camp. The camp was organised on the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti. She said the government was committed to improving healthcare and education. She lauded the Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, for coming up with welfare schemes for the lower socio-economic strata.
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