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Alva to meet party workers today
VCs dwell on semester system
Plot Allotment Scam
Rampant Corruption
State to have road safety fund
WHO BOTHERS ABOUT ROAD SAFETY? This photo was taken by Tribune lensman Ravi Kumar near Babarpur in Panipat on Monday, the concluding day of Road Safety Week. |
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2 houses set afire, tension in village
Protests against power shortage
Misbehaviour by Students High Court Dera chief seeks stay on proceedings Residents up in arms over land acquisition Hoteliers for cut in bar
licence fee A-category SCs stage protest 3 students killed in road accident 3 get 10 yrs in jail
for rape Sports kit, diet money for SC students Advocate killed as car catches fire Employees’ leader
shot dead Corporate Houses in Retail Business Weedicide banned
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Alva to meet party workers today
Chandigarh, January 7 While the floating of the Haryana Janhit Congress and the subsequent notice to three party MLAs, Bhajan Lal, Dharampal Malik and Rakesh Kamboj, is not on the agenda, the matter could come up for discussion at the general body meeting. The three along with suspended MP Kuldeep Bishnoi have not been invited for the meeting. To be attended by 35-odd Congressmen, including the Chief Minister, sitting and former MLAs and MPs, PCC and AICC members, the meeting will focus on strengthening the public-party ties especially in view of the Congress defeat in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat elections. Also, the party think tank of the state will deliberate on stepping up its publicity for various development works undertaken by the government as also countering the negative publicity of rivals, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) spokesperson Ved Parkash
Vidrohi, said. The general body meeting will be held at the Haryana Congress office in Sector 9 which has been scrubbed and spruced up for the AICC general secretary’s visit. HPCC president Phool Chand Mullana said she would be greeted with flowers after which she would address the general body. Later, she would chair the meeting of the newly formed state coordination committee of the ruling Congress party, seen as a bridge between the party and the government, at Haryana Niwas. In view of the changed norms of membership of the party and the drive for the years 2008 to 2010 yet to begin, the blueprint of the exercise will be taken up. Members will now be given membership for three years at a time and charged Rs 100 per year. Mullana and Congress MLA and chief of AICC’s farmers’ cell Shamsher Singh Surjewala, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Deputy Chief Minister Chander Mohan, HPCC vice-president Kuldeep Sharma, deputy chairperson of the state planning board Ranjit Singh and MLA Prasanni Devi are other members of the committee. The previous coordination committee had disgruntled Congress leaders and MLAs Bhajan Lal and Dharampal Malik as members. This committee, which did not hold a single meeting, was dissolved sometime back and the new coordination committee was set up by the party leadership. |
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VCs dwell on semester system
Chandigarh, January 7 Sources said during the course of the first meeting of the vice-chancellors of state universities here today, members debated on the introduction of semester system across the board, the rectification of the lop-sided teaching and non-teaching staff ratio in universities, introduction of job-oriented courses and emerging fields and overall development of student. Another important point that was discussed was the distance learning introduced by various universities. The Haryana Governor and chancellor of the universities, Dr A.R. Kidwai, was very particular in instructing the VCs that though distance education was a welcome step and a big source of revenue, the course content should not be diluted and compromised with. Members attending the meeting felt that the relation between the affiliated colleges and the university should be made more vibrant than just limiting it to holding of examinations. Kidwai invited more suggestions from the vice-chancellors before a final round of discussions is held to finalise the blueprint for imparting quality education in state’s universities and colleges. While the pros and cons of introducing semester system in colleges were weighed, it was also debated if it should be implemented across the board in all courses or limited to certain courses. From having an assessment round the year to scheduling it for a particular time was also considered. The Governor also invited suggestions for improving the existing examination system. It was also suggested that all universities of the state, Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, Murthal University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Kurukshetra University, MDU, Rohtak, Ch Devi Lal University, Khanpur Kalan Women’s University, should be connected via networking to enable them to share resources and course content. |
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IFTU demands CBI probe
Tribune News Service
Panipat, January 7 On the basis of information provided under the RTI to the trade union leader P.P Kapoor, he alleged that certain HUDA officials, in connivance with land sharks and other influential persons, had allotted several residential plots to more than 150 ineligible persons in Sector 25 (part II-A) in Panipat. The RTI papers include the affidavits submitted by the allottees that mention the nature of their jobs, residential address, personal details and other required information. Kapoor alleged that scores of the beneficiaries were employed in the managerial ranks in high profile companies while others had submitted false information in the affidavits. The up market residential areas of the town and other places were given as addresses of scores of the allottees. The scheme floated in 2001, was aimed at providing the industrial workers a unique opportunity to have a residential plot near their workplace. As many as 695 plots were reserved for the general category while others were reserved for others. He said labour law clearly mentions “any individual who is employed mainly in a managerial or administrative capacity is not a ‘worker’. These allottees do not fall in the reserved categories also,” he claimed. The list of the alleged beneficiaries includes at least 13 managers and senior managers posted at National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Panipat and one senior medical official at the same unit. Similarly, scores of plot holders had officially claimed to be posted as senior executives, production executives and employed with the trading companies. Kapoor also questioned how a person above the age of 60 could avail of the scheme meant for industrial workers. He said the enquiry initiated by state vigilance was mere eyewash as it had failed to come to any conclusion.
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Authorities get tough with jail staff
Vishal Joshi Tribune News Service
Panipat, January 7 The jail authorities have been warned not to allow officials posted at the main gates to keep more than Rs 200 with them while on duty. Following complaints, they have been further directed not to make prisoners work at their residences. The rule to make inmates wear prison rings in the left ankle should be implemented strictly, reads a fresh warning released on January 3 to the jail authorities. Meanwhile, sources admitted that a “parallel system” was allegedly functioning in several jails where inmates were “favoured'” by the jail staff in exchange for money. The sources said raids would be conducted on a regular basis to check this, adding that there were several complaints against the functioning of jails in Rohtak, Karnal, Sonepat and Gurgaon. In the latest incident, the Gurgaon district police had submitted a report on December 31 last to the prisons department where 31 mobile phones were recovered from prisoners. Three officials of Sonepat jail, including deputy jail superintendent R.K. Khatak, sub-assistant superintendent Ram Phal and head warder Duli Chand were arrested by the local police. Jail superintendent Rai Singh Mandiwal is still missing, according to Sonepat SP Navdeep Virk. He said Khatak was also charged with manipulating mobile jammers installed in the jail. During a raid at Sonepat jail in the last week of December, IGP (prisons) M.S. Mann had observed certain irregularities on the campus. It was found that five prisoners undergoing life sentence reached late in the jail after 8 pm and without the ankle rings. The state jail department confirmed to The Tribune that another batch of five lifers in Sonepat jail was taken out regularly since October 10 last without permission. Interestingly, all of them belong to a nearby village and may have visited their homes.
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State to have road safety fund
Gurgaon, January 7 Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda stated this while speaking at the closing ceremony of the 19th National Road Safety Week here today. Stressing the need for improving traffic surveillance, Hooda said separate recruitment of traffic police personnel would be made.They would be given specialised training in traffic management. Expressing concern over the increasing number of deaths due to road accidents, he said more than 3,500 persons died in such mishaps in Haryana every year.The number of deaths could be minimised by changing the mindset of people and government policies alone could not achieve this. Regarding the steps taken by the state government for improving safety on roads, the Chief Minister said the government would set up five training schools for drivers involving an expenditure of Rs 40 crore. Besides, modern equipment for road safety would be made available to the traffic police, especially in the NCR, where there was heavy traffic congestion due to the rapid increase in the number of vehicles on roads. Financial commissioner of the transport department G. Prasanna Kumar said every year more than one lakh people died in road accidents in the country. A budget of only Rs 187 crore was provided for road safety in the 10th Five Year Plan whereas Rs 680 crore was spent on the control of TB which accounted for 37,000 deaths. Similarly, the budget allocation for malaria was Rs 1,370 crore which was a cause of death of 6,038 persons. Director-general of police Ranjeev Dalal said that as part of the road safety measures, the police had been provided with 10 interceptors, which resulted in the challaning four lakh violators and the recovery of Rs 14 crore as fine. Earlier, the Chief Minister went around an exhibition on road safety put up by various automobile companies, the police and the Red Cross Society and flagged off a run for road safety in which about 500 students participated. Hooda also honoured Haryana Roadways drivers having an accident-free record, traffic policemen and traffic observers under the community policing scheme. |
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2 houses set afire, tension in village
Faridabad, January 7 The police has registered a case against 40 persons in connection with the arson. Ballabgarh SDM Harshchand Jain claimed that the tension in the village had been defused as both sides had reached an understanding. The miscreants allegedly set on fire two houses of Balmikis in the Gujjar-dominated village in the Mewla Maharajpur assembly segment. While one house was gutted in the fire, the other was partially burnt. The miscreants also threw bricks at two other houses of Balmikis, damaging these. However, no injury was reported in the violence. Anil Balmiki, whose house was targeted first and which was gutted, reported the matter to the police. As soon as the news spread, Balmikis of Neemka and those from the surrounding areas gathered following which tension started building up. Soon, senior officers of the district administration and the police reached the village to control the situation. The mounting tension defied solution as both sides hardened their respective stand. Several panchayats from both sides with the mediation of the district administration were of little help. Balmikis and members of other groups of Scheduled Castes from a nearby village also reached the spot and allegedly exacerbated the situation. According to a report, following the mediation of the district administration, led by additional deputy commissioner Sanjay Joon and the SDM of Ballabgarh, both sides reached an agreement. The SDM said pact was reached with the help of 11-members committees from each side holding talks and discussing the issue. According to the administration, the four-point pact states that the owners of the houses which were burnt will be given compensation; nobody from outside the village will be allowed to meddle in the matter; such an ugly incident will not be allowed to recur in the village; and the culprits behind to arson in the village will be handed over by the Gujjar community to the police by tomorrow morning. |
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Protests against power shortage
Bhiwani, January 7 According to information, residents of five villages gheraoed the Berla powerhouse and held power officials captive. Meanwhile, farmers of more than 10 villages, who has been facing acute power shortage, gheraoed the Dwarka and Rudrol powerhouses. They also threatened to launch agitation against the power crisis. Sub-divisional officer of the Berla powerhouse faced the wrath of the agitating farmers when he tried to pacify them. The farmers gheraoed him and held SDO Hari Chand Saini captive. Later, they blocked the Badhra-Jhojhu road near Berla canal for more than five hours. When executive engineer K.B. Sharma arrived, they shouted anti-government slogans and persisted to continue their agitation. The executive engineer had to restore the power supply to lift the blockade. Sources said farmers of five villages, including Kanhera, Mandhi, Neemad-Badesra, Chandwas, Berla and Kishkindha, reached the Berla powerhouse and met power officials. Officials said power cuts had been scheduled from behind but it enraged the farmers, who then brought out all officials and closed the feeder completely. They fell down trees on the Badhra-Jhojhu road and blocked the road. In another incident, residents of several colonies blocked the Bhiwani-Loharu and Charkhi Dadri road demanding regular power supply. Later, the blockade was lifted after the assurance of junior engineer Naranyan Prakash. Likewise, villagers of Nimriwali jammed the Bhiwani-Jaipur road and lifted it after the assurance of power officials.
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Roadways’ drivers block road Tribune News Service Jind, January 7 The staff of at least six buses of the roadways made an abrupt halt near the city police station at Narwana, a subdivisional town, and parked their vehicles on the road in such a manner that the entire traffic came to a standstill for about 45 minutes. They were angry over the alleged manhandling of the driver and conductor of a bus by a group of students who wanted to get the bus stopped at an “irregular stop”. It is reported that the students had asked the driver to stop the bus near the ITI campus. The bus was on the way to Patiala from Narwana. While the driver declined to oblige the students, the latter allegedly mobbed him and used abusive language while manhandling him. The driver then took the bus near the police station and parked it in the middle of the main road. Several buses passing the road also joined the protest and the blockade. The issue could be resolved only after the intervention of police officials, including the DSP of the area. Meanwhile, all nine persons arrested from the Balmiki Basti here in connection with the mob violence which led to the death of an ASI posted at the City police station at Jind on Saturday night have been sent to 14-day judicial custody by a local court. In another incident, Rohtash (50), a resident of Jalalpur village, was killed after he was run over by a train this morning. It is suspected that the victim had committed suicide due to depression.
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Notice to state on villagers’ plea Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 7 Petitioner Ved Ram and 49 others were seeking directions to the respondents for preparing revenue records and for carrying out necessary proceedings for the consolidation of holdings, besides demarcating land previously falling in the revenue estate of Palli village. The petitioners claimed that Palli village in Bagpat district of Uttar Pradesh was transferred to Sonepat district of Haryana way back in 1979 due to the change of course by the Yamuna. Yet, revenue records pertaining to the village had not been prepared even after 28 years. In their petition, directions were also sought to Haryana state for restraining its officers from interfering in the peaceful continued possession of their lands. The petitioners added that their village was located on the eastern bank of the Yamuna. Following a change in the course of the river, a dispute arose with the villages on the western bank. The case would now come up for hearing on April 2.
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Dera chief seeks stay on proceedings Chandigarh, January 7 Directions have also been sought for staying the filing of the charge sheet in the matter by the police till decision on his petition for quashing the first information report (FIR) registered against him. He has contended that the police, for mala fide reasons, intended to file the charge sheet in the matter, even though the petition seeking the quashing of the FIR was still pending before the court. It was scheduled to be taken up for further hearing on January 21. Describing the FIR as an abuse of law, counsel for the petitioner contended that the same was initially registered under Section 294-A of the IPC at the behest of the ruling SAD-BJP combine as the party members wrongly attributed their defeat in the Malwa area to the dera's support to the Congress. The petition is expected to come up for hearing before the appropriate Bench within a day or so.
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Residents up in arms over land acquisition Rohtak, January 7 The publication of a land acquisition notice in newspapers recently has sparked unrest among inhabitants of the area, who claimed that they had been living here for the past nearly 20 years and the said move would uproot them. Though the locality is unauthorised, yet the people living and working here for a long time are finding it difficult to leave the place. Moreover, the land rates expected to be paid by the government are much less than the prevailing market price. The affected residents today met the local deputy commissioner at his camp office and apprised him of the situation. They also submitted him a memorandum opposing the proposed land acquisition. The delegation of residents, including Pratap Singh Malik, advocate Sanjay Lall, Rajinder Pal Takkar and Baldev Shastri, pointed out that thousands of residents and plot holders would be affected by the move as nearly 100 small industrial units and hundreds of houses were located there. Later, talking to The Tribune, the representatives of the affected residents said they had built their houses on the said land as long as 20 years ago and had been living there since then. “In the given circumstances, we will be ruined if the authorities concerned go ahead with the proposed move to acquire land for development of sector,” they maintained. The residents added that most of them were not in a position to buy residential plots elsewhere for resettlement. The residents, who have formed a joint struggle committee to oppose the move, stated that the land beyond drain no 8 which was lying unused could have been acquired for the development of a sector. Urging the government to reconsider its decision in this regard, the affected residents have asserted that they would be left with no alternative but to launch protest against the move. |
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Hoteliers for cut in bar
licence fee Chandigarh, January 7 Representatives of various hotel and restaurant associations as well as the managements of clubs met state excise and taxation commissioner Arun Kumar here today. They urged the officer to incorporate their demand in the state's excise policy for the next financial year. Among those who met Arun Kumar were representatives of the Sirhind Club, Ambala, and those of hotels of Yamunanagar and Ambala. The Panchkula Hotel Association was represented by J.S.
Shinghari, Romil Mahajan and Vinay Gupta. Shinghari told Arun Kumar that due to the high licence fee for bars, nine out of 20 districts in the state do not have even a single bar licence for private restaurants or hotels. These districts were Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Jind, Kaithal, Mahendragarh, Rohtak, Sonepat, Rewari and Sirsa. The districts of Jhajjar, Karnal, Kurukshetra and Mewat had only one bar licence each. The highest number of bar licences was in Gurgaon(57) while Panchkula, which bordered Chandigarh, had only eight licences.
Shinghari said coupled with the high bar licence fee, 20 per cent VAT on liquor served in the bars made their establishments highly uncompetitive. Mahajan said with the opening of airconditioned
ahatas, people were not patronising bars. The situation had become more difficult for the bar owners following the government's decision to allow retail malls to keep liquor after paying just Rs 25,000 per annum. Representatives of the Sirhind Club also wanted the licence fee for clubs to be reduced. They pointed out that while beer was available at about Rs 25 per bottle, the clubs had to sell it at about Rs 50 per bottle. Arun Kumar reportedly assured the delegation that he would convey its feelings to the government. |
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A-category SCs stage protest Bhiwani, January 7 The demonstrators burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister and jammed Ghantaghar Chowk for hours. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner addressed to the Chief Minister. They protesters assembled near local Nehru Park. State president of the Haryana Dhanak Mahasabha Ajit Bamla said the Indian Constitution clearly said the responsibility of ensuring reservation for Dalits was with the state government but it was discriminating with these castes. Ajit said the indefinite fast being observed outside the office of the DC, Rohtak, for their rights had entered the 14th day and agitators had vowed to continue their struggle until the state government passed the SC categories A and B Bill on the tune of the Punjab government in the Assembly. He said if any untoward incident happened with the people who were fasting, the Dalit Mahapanchayat would award him the status of category A martyr and another person would replace him. To restore category A, a Dalit mahasammelan of A-category SCs would be held at Rohtak on the Martyr Day on January 23. During the demonstration, the police stayed with the protesters to avert any untoward incident. Raising anti-government slogans, they sat on dharna and demanded restoration of their category. The demonstrators tried to burn banners of the state government at places but the police prevented such attempts. |
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3 students killed in road accident Rewari, January 7 The mishap occurred while they were going from Sidhravali to Dharuhera to take tuition from a teacher in the Housing Board Colony of Dharuhera. While Manish died on the spot, Neeraj and Ravinder were rushed to Raman Munjal Hospital, Dharuhera, in a critical condition where they were declared brought dead by doctors. Sources said while Mahesh was a student of class XII at Rao Lal Singh Public School, Sidhravali, Neeraj and Ravider studied in a public school at Bilaspur. Ashok Kumar, father of Neeraj and resident of Saharanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, is an employee of Speedomax Company of Dharuhera while Manish was the son of Lalit Mohan, an employee of Hero Honda Motors Ltd, Dharuhera, and resident of Nainital district in Uttarakhand. All lived in a rented accommodation at Sidhravali village. The Bilaspur police in Gurgaon district has registered a case under sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC in this regard. |
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3 get 10 yrs in jail for rape Yamunanagar, January 7 Additional District and Sessions Judge Darshan Singh found Sanjeev (Khezrabad), Deepak (Arraiyanawala) and Dinesh (Guru Nanakpura, Jagadhri) guilty under sections 120 B, 366 A and 376 (G) (2) of the IPC. The three were given 10 years each and Rs 3,000 fine each under section 120 B and seven years and Rs 2,000 fine each under section 366 A of the IPC. The judge sentenced them to 10 years each under section 376 (G) (2) of the IPC and also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each of them. The victim was kidnapped and raped on April 16, 2006. |
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Sports kit, diet money for SC students Chandigarh, January 7 Under the scheme, it was proposed to provide incentives to them and a sports kit costing up to Rs 2000 per annum per student. He said the kit would be provided to 125 boys and 125 girl students belonging to Scheduled Castes categories who would participate as a team member in any of recognised disciplines at inter-college, inter-university, state and national-level events. |
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Advocate killed as car catches fire Sonepat, January 7 The injured have been admitted to a local private hospital. The body of Varun has been sent to the PGIMS, Rohtak, for a postmortem. According to reports, they were returning to their residences after having dinner at a dhaba when the accident took place. Varun lost control of the car while taking a turn near the Subham garden on the outskirts of the town and the vehicle hit a pole. An electric wire allegedly fell on the vehicle and it caught fire. However, Sunil and Gaurav managed to come out of the vehicle but Varun could not. A case has been registered with the police.
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Employees’ leader shot dead Rohtak, January 7 According to police sources and eyewitnesses, Jai Karan Nandal, a pump operator posted at the Government College for Women, was going on his motorcycle on the Sonepat road. He was near Sheila Theatre when two youths, also on a motorcycle, fired at him from close range. Somebody informed the police, following which a PCR Gypsy reached the scene. The police took Nandal to the PGIMS, where he was declared dead by the doctor. A case has been registered and investigations are on in this regard. The deceased belonged to Bohar village in the district and was staying in Ram Gopal Colony. |
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Corporate Houses in Retail Business Tribune News Service Faridabad, January 7 They submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda through the district administration. The members alleged that chains of retail business like Reliance Fresh and Subhiksha would not be tolerated in the district. They said thousands of vendors and shopkeepers would lose their livelihood because of these stores. The party members cautioned that if the government did not heed to its demand of removing the retail stores by corporate houses, they would do the needful.
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Weedicide banned Jhajjar, January 7 According to information, two farmers of Dighal village, Virender Singh and Mehtab Singh, had sprayed the weedicide to control weed in the crops. After its spraying, one and a half acres of wheat crop of Virender and half an acre crop of Mehtab was found to be “burnt”. They complained to the agriculture department following which deputy director Chand Ram inspected the fields. |
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Train services disrupted Panipat, January 7 Railway sources said the 132-kv overhead feeder line of BBMB to the Panipat thermal plant line fell on the railways power supply line. The incident took place at 8.30 am near gate number 54-C, near Diwana station, here. Railway officials reached the spot for maintenance and normal services were restored at about 10.30 am. |
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To provide better road safety facilities and check the increasing number of road accidents, the Haryana government is planning to create a road safety fund and frame a road safety policy for the state.
