Sirsa, April 11
CBI sleuths today procured vital documents from officials of the revenue department in a case involving former Chief Minister and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets beyond his known sources of income here.

A team of four CBI officials, headed by A.K. Sharma, probing the case, got 111 copies of the registry of properties done during his tenure as Chief Minister from the officials, sources said.

After getting the documents, the CBI officials also visited Dabwali sub-division to inspect the properties of Chautala.

The sources said the CBI team called patwaris of the revenue department and obtained the copies of the registry required in the case.

The CBI officials had provided a list of required documents to the officials during their last visit to the district and asked the revenue department to get these ready. Till the filing of the report, the CBI officials continued to probe the matter.

The CBI officials remained silent over the issue when this correspondent made an attempt to contact them. Meanwhile, tehsildar O.P. Bishnoi confirmed that the CBI officials had got the copies of the land registry from the department.

The CBI had raided several places in May last year after it registered a case against Chautala, his family members and other persons on charges of the disproportionate assets case of income from July, 1999, to March, 2005.

Kurukshetra, April 11
Making new ways in the distance education experts at Kurukshetra University will start delivering lectures from radio from this month. The university will be the first in the region to start interactive academic sessions offering the phone-in service to be broadcast from All India Radio (AIR).

Director of the Department of Distance Education, Dr R. R. Rausaria, informed The Tribune that interactive programmes would start from April 15 using the Kuruksehtra station of AIR.

Initially, students of the undergraduate classes would be taught on radio while lectures for other classes would be broadcast from next month, he said.

He said every week one lecture on a particular subject would be delivered and students may ask the group of experts any question related to the subject.

As per the schedule 25 minutes would be slotted for the lecture whereas five minutes would be exclusively for the questions-answer session, he informed.

The programme would be broadcast from 9 am to 9.30 am on Sundays.

The Kurukshetra FM station covers audience in the radius of 60-70 km.

Sources said once the project gets started, private radio channels in others parts of the state might be roped in to extend it to more 
students.

The department offers 43 different courses and has enrolled about 35,000 
students.

The university had bought the air time of half an hour which might be extended depending upon the feedback, the source said.

The director said radio programmes would be in addition to the other printed and audio-visual methods already being offered by the university. The varsity authorities would pay Rs3,000 for the slot.

Hisar, April 11
The government has sanctioned Rs 17 crore for paying compensation to farmers whose crops had been damaged by recent rain and hailstorms.

Official sources said here that a special girdawari had been conducted to assess the loss to farmers and decide the compensation required to be paid.

The administration had decided to make a recording of the payments in order to ensure that the right person was given the payment. The disbursement would be made in the presence of class I officers of the government.

Any amount below Rs 500 would be paid in cash and the higher amounts through cheques.

Meanwhile, the district administration has banned the burning of wheat stumps and crop residue in the fields with immediate effect.

This has been done to rule out the incidence of fires triggered by the burning material in the fields. Besides, the practice causes traffic hazard due to smoke which reduces the visibility on the roads.

Fatehabad, April 11
Haryana DGP R.S. Dalal said today that the state government was endeavouring to make the police modern, trustworthy and people-friendly force of the country.

Dalal was speaking in a function after inaugurating the new district police lines here today. The police lines had been constructed on 86 acres of land at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore.

The DGP said the police was in a process of acquiring the latest means of communication and technology.

He said arrangements had been made to make all FIRs available on the website of the police so that people could download these from the site instead of going to police stations.

Dalal said the police had started the process of separating the job of crime investigation from that of law and order management.

He added that to start with, two police stations from each district had been chosen to separate the two important jobs of the police.

The DGP said the traffic management was an area of concern for the police as many people died daily in road accidents.

Yash Pal Singhal, IG, Hisar Range, O. P. Sheoran, DC , Saurabh Singh, A.S. Chawla, Vikas Arora, Subhash Yadav and Mohinder Singh, SPs of Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani and Jind districts were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the policemen exhibited their talent in martial arts, daredevil activities and the mock exercise of mob control. 

Kaithal, April 11
As many as 17 students of local OSDAV School were awarded gold medals by the DAV College Managing Committee at a function held at Delhi 
recently.

Principal Suman Nijhawan said here today that the medals were awarded to meritorious students, who had secured more than 90 per cent marks in X and XII examinations, conducted by the CBSE, during the 2005-2006 academic session.

He said the awards were given by Arjun Singh, human resource development minister. G.P. Chopra, president, DAV committee, and Swami Sumedha Nand were also present in the function held at Talkatora Stadium.

The students included Shagun Aggarwal, Ena Gupta, Preeti Sheokand, Vandana, Sukriti, Sahil Garg, Deepansh, Anu, Saloni, Bhawna, Pearl Malik, Dhara, Ajay, Shilpa, Rohit Bindlish, Paheli Garg and Kanika Gupta, the 
principal added.

Taraori (Karnal), April 11
Parents keen on getting their wards admitted in newly introduced government-run English-medium Sanskriti schools at Taraori are facing problems from private schools. Fearing losing students, several unrecognised private school managements have been denying school leaving certificates (SLC) to them.

They have demanded intervention of the authorities to get SLCs to ensure admission in the Sanskriti schools.

To impart quality education in the English language, the Education Department from the current academic session has started Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School. Each of the 20 districts has been allotted one Sanskriti school from Class I to XII.

There is no ceiling on admitting students in these English medium schools which have nominal fee on par with conventional government schools.

Inquiries revealed that the owners of private schools in the area were harassing parents by not issuing SLCs.

Parents said though they were interested to send their children to the English medium schools were creating hurdles.

In Karnal district a Sanskriti school is located at Taraori township, 25 km from Karnal.

The craze for affordable education could be gauged from the fact that over 500 admission forms have been sold. In the past 10 days, 225 students have taken admission, confirmed principal Vinod Sharma.

Sources said most of the entrants were from the “English medium” schools with unqualified staff which now fear-great loss to their “business”. Fakir Singh, a senior citizen, wants his grandchildren to join the school but a private school in Taraori has denied them certificates.

He also charged the school management with harassing him.

Sources in the state Education Department confirmed similar complaints were received from different areas.

These new English medium schools have indeed posed a challenge to the owners of “teaching shops” charging a hefty fee. Stung by the popularity among the masses certain schools are attempting to stall the newly introduced system.

Suresh Kumar, another resident of Valmiki Basti, Taraori, and several others too have made representations to the state Education authorities about the harassment at the hands of the private schools for not issuing SLCs.

Rohtak, April 11
Deputy commissioner R.S.Doon today directed the local municipal authorities to initiate legal action against the property dealers involved in filling up the pond ("johad") located at Rahad with loose earth.

The DC who was on a visit to inspect the flood-prevention measures along with other administrative officials, was approached by residents of colonies adjoining the pond.

The residents told him that some persons were illegally filling up the pond with loose earth.They said certain property dealers wanted to grab the pond situated on "shamlat" land for vested commercial interests.The residents further complained that if the pond was filled up, rainwater would enter their houses during monsoon.

On hearing this,Doon asked the executive officer (EO) of the municipal council to get an FIR lodged in this regard and confiscate the JCB machine and dumpers being used for the purpose. He also directed the EO to get barbed-wire fences erected around the pond.

During the inspection of flood-prevention measures, Doon asked the officials concerned to get all drains constructed for the disposal of rainwater cleaned by 
May 31.

The DC asked the power nigam authorities to provide uninterrupted electricity supply for water disposal through independent feeders. The officials concerned assured him that the work on the rainwater disposal of Sector 14 would be completed before the advent of the 
monsoon.

Rohtak, April 11
Haryana finance minister Birender Singh will reply to the budget-related queries of the people in a live phone-in programme of Akashvaani Rohtak from 12.30 pm to 1.30 pm on April 12.

An official spokesperson of Akashvaani Rohtak said here today that the live broadcast was being organised under the phone-in programme "Helpline".

Any person could dial 01262-255446, 255447 and 255448 during the duration and ask any question regarding the budget from the finance minister, the spokesperson said, adding that the minister would instantly reply to the question.

Kurukshetra, April 11
The Dilbagh murder case has been cracked following interrogation of Manjeet alias Vicky, an accused, who admitted his crime yesterday. He was brought here from the Karnal jail on production warrant.

After interrogation, Manjeet was produced in a local court today and sent back to the Karnal jail.

A reward of Rs 75,000 had been declared on the head of Manjeet, a resident of Narwana, for the murder of Kaithal trader Narender Arora.

The district police chief said during the interrogation, Manjeet, admitting his crime, told the police that he, accompanied by Sonu, Rajesh, Mintu and Jeeta, shot Dilbagh in a bus near Pindarsi village on December 8, 2005, when Dilbagh was being taken to Hisar by the police after attending a local court.

He was shot dead in the running bus. However, the police had seized the pistol used in the crime.

Although, Gaziabad resident Mintu was arrested when the police cordoned off the bus, yet being minor, the police had sent him to the Sonipat jail where he was strangulated on the same night. Rajesh had already been killed in an encounter while Jeeta was in the custody of the South Africa police and Sonu had already been jailed. After the strangulation of Mintu, the murder case was being considered as a blind murder committed by Surender Geyong gang, he added.

Chandigarh, April 11
The Haryana urban development authority (HUDA) has revised its extension policy for completing construction on plots allotted by it.

Earlier, an allottee could complete the construction within 15 years from the date he was offered possession of the plot. However, the period was reduced by HUDA a few months ago to seven years.

On persistent public demand, HUDA has now decided that the allottees could complete the construction within 13 years of the offer of possession of the plot. The 13-year period would be in addition to the two-year period stipulated after the offer of possession is made by HUDA.

An official spokesman said here today that those allottees who had already availed of 15 years or more by December 31, 2006, would have to complete the minimum required construction on their plots and apply for the occupation certificate by December 31, 2007, provided they had got their building plan approved by June 30, 2007, instead of December 31, 2006 as per the previous guidelines.

He said HUDA would resume the plots of those allottees who would fail to complete the minimum required construction by the due date. 

Karnal, April 11
A Rajya Sabha member and veteran farmer leader Sharad Joshi has urged farmers to make the optimum use of online trading to get suitable prices of their produce. He urged the government to evolve a system to offer maximum price to the farmers instead of the minimum support price (MSP).

The leader also stressed the need to make the farmers aware about the new avenues, particularly the contractual system, to sell their produce at competitive rates in the open market.

Due to unfriendly policies of the Centre, the farmers were suffering at all levels. He alleged that the Congress-led governments had not paid any attention towards the farmers.

Joshi was in the town this morning to address a convention of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU).

He urged the farmers to come out of routine exercise to sell their produce in the local mandis. The farmers were getting a meager sum of Rs 850 per quintal whereas they could earn higher while making use of the latest selling avenues.

He said several food units needed enough foodgrains and farmers could be benefited, if they opt for advance agreements with the buyers.

He said in the contractual system, the buyer placed his orders in advance.

He said the farmers did not oppose procurement by governmental agencies, but their interests should not be suppressed.

He admitted that the rural population was not fully aware about the concept of online trading.

Yamunanagar, April 11
The municipal committee of Jagadhri is contemplating legal action against seven persons who had been allotted plots at the newly constructed dairy complex at Kail village, but they did not turn up to take possession even after the expiry of the notice period yesterday. Their plots may be cancelled.

Those who had taken possession will have to complete construction within two months. An official of the MC said after the two months, no dairy would be allowed to function within the municipal limit.

In March, the MC had sent notices to plot owners to take possession by April 10. By yesterday, 145 persons had taken possession. Five plots are disputed and hence the allottees did not take possession.

Kaithal, April 11
The Cheeka police has arrested two youths on the charge of eve-teasing and threatening a teacher of a private school.

The SSP said here today that a woman teacher of a private school, residing at Shakti Nagar, Cheeka, had lodged a complaint with the police that on April 6, when she was going to her residence on her moped, two motorcycle-borne youths blocked her way and used foul language. When she raised an alarm, the accused threatened the teacher of dire consequences and fled.

The police registered a case and arrested accused Virender Datt of Kaithal and Hardeep Singh of Faral. The police also seized their motorcycle.

Yamunanagar, April 11
The Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) will launch a campaign against defaulters of electricity bills. Measures to check power theft in Panchkula, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat and Jind districts will also be stepped up.

A spokesman of the UHBVN, in a release, said today that instructions had been issued to all sub-divisional officers to disconnect power supply of five non-paying consumers in the domestic category and two tubewell consumers every week. The feeding service line (low tension / high tension) or cable would also be removed after disconnection.

The spokesman said Haryana power utilities had purchased power on even higher rates (up to Rs 7.25 per unit) to cater to the requirement of the consumers. The financial health of the power distribution corporations did not permit supply of power if bills were not paid.

Panipat, April 11
Farmers of Dadlana village today held a meeting in the aftermath of announcement of award for their land that is to be acquired for setting up of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) petrochemical hub.

According to sources, the farmers were still adamant on their stand and were terming the award of Rs 19.15 lakh per acre as "unfair".

Sources said some of the farmers also raised the issue of small parts of their land being left out of the acquisition plan. They stated that a plot measuring an acre or half would be of no use once the IOC acquires their major chunk of land. They demanded that either a useful part of land be left out of the plan or their entire land be acquired. — TNS

Chandigarh, April 11
Flip-flop action by a senior Haryana bureaucrat regarding the annual confidential report (ACR) of his subordinate official has been questioned at a recent meeting of the Haryana state agricultural marketing board (HSAMB).

Dharam Vir, who is now financial commissioner and principal secretary, PWD (B&R), had recorded adverse comments in the confidential report of Surinder Mohan Sharma, subdivisional officer (SDO) in the HSAMB.

Dharam Vir had worked as chief administrator of the HSAMB and had supervised Sharma’s performance in that capacity. Back in 1997 he rated Sharma as below average and also recorded that Sharma was a man of doubtful integrity in the confidential report of the SDO for the year 1994-95.

“Surinder Mohan Sharma managed to become executive engineer to current duty charge against all norms of administration even after losing his case in the Supreme Court. He had no control over his work and several contracts failed during his period. The internal audit reveals several irregularities. Under the circumstances I rate him ‘below average’ and ‘integrity doubtful’ ”, wrote Dharam Vir in the ACR of Sharma on February 6, 1997.

As a result of Dharam Vir’s comments, Sharma, who had “managed to become executive engineer to current duty charge” was again made an SDO.

In a turnaround seven years later, Dharam Vir wrote that his earlier remarks might be deleted and the ACR treated as “Good”. Dharam Vir, in a letter to the chief administrator (CA) of the HSAMB on September 8, 2003, wrote that his earlier remarks were not supported by the records made available to him. While the letter mentioned that the records in question were made available to him by the CA’s office, the exact nature of the records that led Dharam Vir to change his mind was not spelt out in the letter.

The minutes of the meeting of the HSAMB, held under the chairmanship of Shadilal Batra, MLA, recorded that the comment made by the then CA (Dharam Vir) in 2003 was uncalled for in the light of the comments made by him in 1997 and a reference might be made to his appointing authority. A participant in the meeting owned responsibility for suggesting the matter be referred to the higher authorities for examination.

The meeting decided to delete the adverse comments from his ACR and he was promoted as an executive engineer with effect from November, 2003.

Chandigarh, April 11
Activists of the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh today sat in dharna outside the offices of the District Magistrates at all district headquarters of the state in protest against what they described as "non-fulfilment" of the promises made by the state government and the policies of privatisation and outsourcing being followed by the latter.

In a statement general secretary of the sangh R.C. Jagga alleged the present government had abolished the policy of giving jobs to the dependants of those employees who died in harness. The government had not initiated the process to fill hundreds of posts in various boards and corporations. It had also refused to regularise the services of ad hoc and temporary workers.