Fatehabad, January 12
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today made an attempt to dent the citadel of his bete noire and former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal when he addressed the “vikas rally” here.

The platform for the rally was provided by none other than Bhajan Lal’s former protégé and nephew Dura Ram, who is now a parliamentary secretary in the state government.

While some speakers of the rally made direct and scathing comments on Bhajan Lal, the Chief Minister preferred to make a veiled attack on his political adversary.

As if in an attempt to scorn Bhajan Lal’s claims of being responsible for the overall development of the state during his tenure, Hooda announced a grant of Rs 1 crore for the construction of roads in Mohamad Pur Rohi village, the ancestral village of Bhajan Lal.

Hooda again made reference to the former Chief Minister when a demand for upgrading the local general hospital to a 100-bed hospital was placed before him, by saying that he was surprised that this area had its Chief Minister for 10 years and yet a hospital could not be upgraded.

In an attempt to further distance Dura Ram from his political mentor, Hooda said both times Dura Ram contested the assembly poll from Fatehabad, he supported his candidature for the Congress ticket, while his (Dura Ram’s) own relatives opposed the party ticket for him.

The Chief Minister also accepted a number of demands of the Fatehabad assembly constituency, including the construction of link roads and an additional grain market at Fatehabad, which were placed before him by local MLA Dura Ram.

The MLA had also demanded the construction of a bypass on the Hisar-Sirsa highway, which the Chief Minister assured that he would take up the matter with the NHAI. In his address, Hooda claimed that he took several decisions for the welfare of common people. He said the government had recently taken steps to improve education system and several incentives had been announced for Dalit children going to school.

He admitted power situation was still a problem area for his government.

Phool Chand Mulana, president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, and Kuldeep Sharma, its working president, launched a scornful attack on Bhajan Lal and his MP son Kuldeep Bishnoi, saying that the latter’s resignation from Parliament was like a postdated cheque that would never be encashed.

Ranjit Singh, deputy chairman of the state planning board, Paramvir Singh, parliamentary secretary, Haryana, Kulbeer Beniwal, Chhattar Pal Singh and Amir Chand Makkar, all MLAs, Randhir Singh, district president of the Congress and Indira Bishnoi, president of the women wing of the Congress also addressed the rally. Later, Hooda laid the foundation stone of a building of chambers for local advocates in the district courts. He also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the library of local Bar.

District and sessions judge Lachhman Sharma, additional district and sessions judge J.S. Dahiya, chief judicial magistrate Lal Chand, deputy commissioner O.P. Sheoran and Bar association president Suba Singh were present on this occasion.

Ambala, January 12
The arguments on framing charges against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh could not be begun even today. The CBI filed a reply to the two applications in the court, which were filed by the dera chief’s counsel on December 22.

Special judge of CBI court R.K. Saini adjourned the hearing for January 21. It is to be mentioned that the CBI has already filed challan against the dera chief and others in three cases, namely Ranjit Singh murder case, Ramchander Chatterpati murder case and a case of sexual exploitation of dera’s disciples, in this court while the arguments on framing of the charges are yet to begin.

Briefing mediapersons about the proceedings of the court, counsel for the dera chief S.K. Garg said he had received the reply of the CBI. He said he was considering to file an application in the court for exemption of personnel appearance of the dera chief.

On the other hand, counsel for the CBI said he had filed the reply and wanted that the arguments on framing charges should be initiated at the earliest. He alleged that counsel for the dera chief was delaying the process of arguments by raising unnecessary legal points. He said if any application for the exemption of personal appearance of the dera chief were filed in the court, the CBI would oppose it.

Meanwhile, tight security arrangements were made on the court premises today following the threat of Babbar Khalsa to “eliminate” the dera chief. Around 100 police officials were deployed in the court complex. The SP and Additional SP were also present.

Work in all courts, except the CBI court, remained suspended till the departure of the dera chief. Even the advocates were not allowed to enter the court premises. The court road was sealed and no private vehicle was allowed to pass. The dera chief reached the court at 10.25 am and remained there for 54 minutes.

As usual thousands of dera followeres gathered at the HUDA ground in Ambala City to have a glimpse of the dera chief. Later, the dera chief went there and addressed the devotees for around 10 minutes.

Chandigarh, January 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the formulation of a policy for the allotment of godown sites for storing LPG cylinders to different categories of individuals is in the domain of the state and courts cannot step in to include or exclude certain categories.

The ruling by a Bench comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Mahesh Grover, follows a petition filed by LPG agencies seeking directions to the state of Haryana and other respondents for granting them land for setting up godowns.

Pronouncing the orders on a bunch of three petitions, the Bench ruled: “The allotment of sites to different categories of individuals is a dictate of the policy, the formulation of which is in the domain of the state and the courts cannot step in to mandate a particular policy, much less offer prescriptions to include or exclude certain categories”.

Going into the background of the matter, the Bench observed: “The chief administrator, Haryana Urban Development Authority, Panchkula, vide order dated April 13, 2007, had rejected the representation made by the petitioner-All India LPG Distributors Federation, Gurgaon, for allotment of 16 godown sites for existing LPG Distributors. The sites were being allotted to oil companies on 15 years leasehold basis at a monthly rent for further allotment to their dealers holding authorised licences etc. The policy was applicable to the LPG godown sites as well”.

“In the petitions, the LPG distributors and others had earlier contended that the storage of cylinders was not hazardous. Therefore, HUDA, engaged in the development of the urban areas, could make a provision to earmark sites within the city so that the needs of the residents could be met.”

The Bench held: “We are not impressed with the contentions raised by the counsel for the petitioners. Admittedly, the petitioners are merely agents of the oil companies, and it is their duty to provide for sites to facilitate their own business interest.

The respondents are not obliged to provide the sites to the agents, especially in view of the categoric provisions of the policy, which lays down that the oil companies can apply for allotment of land/sites for setting up of LPG godowns”. 

Kaithal, January 12
Due to the alleged adamant attitude of HUDA officials, an allottee of a commercial plot has failed to get justice even after fighting and winning a long legal battle for 32 years. However, all this has failed to dampen the spirits of the allottee and now he has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court with a request for initiating contempt proceedings against the local estate officer of HUDA for not implementing court orders. According to information the hearing is fixed for January 15.

A plot was allotted to Sushil Kumar under the JKR scheme after an open auction in 1975. Kumar and other allottees came to know that the land, where this plot was situated was under illegal occupation of some persons and the place also lacked civic amenities. All pleas to get this land free from illegal possession and provide civic amenities fell on deaf ears following which the allottee stopped further payments and HUDA took the plot back.

Aggrieved from this action Kumar approached the HUDA officials following which the HUDA administrator, Panchkula, directed the estate officer, HUDA, Kaithal, to get this land vacated and offered to allot an alternate site to Sushil Kumar. But in the year 2000 the estate officer showed his inability to get the land evicted. After failing to get any other plot Sushil Kumar filed a case in the High Court and brought it to the notice of the court that due to illegal possession of the allotted land he was unable to take physical possession of the land.

A local commission sent by the court found that the illegal occupants were not evicted from this land. The High court in its orders observed that the petitioner had been allotted the plot in an open auction in 1975 and HUDA’s plea that the allottee knowingly did not take possession of this land did not find favour with the court. A Division Bench while deciding CWP ordered the HUDA to allot an alternate site to Sushil Kumar. The SLP filed against this order was dismissed by the Supreme Court in August last. Another LPA filed in the High Court was reportedly dismissed by another Division Bench in October last. Sushil Kumar has alleged that HUDA had still offered him to take possession of the original plot which was still under illegal occupation.

Hisar, January 12
The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) has banned the use of power guzzler incandescent bulbs in all low tension (LT) and high tension (HT) supply factories, their residential colonies, hospitals, street lighting and staff quarters.

It is now mandatory to use energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), T-5 tube lights, LEDs or induction bulbs on the premises of all such DHBVN areas comprising Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani, Mahendragarh, Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat and Faridabad districts.

A spokesman of the DHBVN said here today that industrial consumers had been asked to replace all the existing incandescent bulbs by January 31 at their cost. With effect from February 1, any industry found using incandescent bulbs would face immediate disconnection without any notice.

He said as per an estimate, total number of lighting points in all the 42,000 LT and HT industries in the DHBVN area was around eight lakh. Replacement of all of the traditional yellow bulbs and T-12 tubelights would result in saving of about 48 MW power.

DHBVN has already made CFLs mandatory for new connections of any category. The government of Haryana has made use of CFLs or T-5 tube lights in government buildings mandatory. Use of efficient lighting system is mandatory for all industrial units and commercial complexes having more than five KW load.

Rewari, January 12
The police here has booked a newly married woman, Nita Yadav’s husband Harish Yadav, father-in-law Jagjit Yadav and mother-in-law Sumitra Yadav, all residents of Narnaul, on charges of making a bid to eliminate Nita by administering poison to her, subjecting her to cruel treatment and criminally intimidating her to seek dowry from her parents.

A case under Sections 498-A, 307 (attempt to murder), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 506 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against them following a complaint filed by Nita’s father Krishan Kumar Yadav, a resident of Kakodia village, near here.

According to the complainant, his daughter got married to Harish on November 27, 2007. He alleged that when they failed to meet the demand for a car or Rs 6 lakh in dowry, Nita’s in-laws gave her poison on December 14. He alleged that when her condition worsened, she was admitted to a hospital in Narnaul from where he brought her to Rewari and admitted her to a private hospital.

Eventually when all attempts for a rapprochement failed, Kumar lodged a complaint following which the police booked Nita’s in-laws. Meanwhile, ASI Ram Swarup has been deputed to investigate into the matter.

The head constable who was responsible for keeping a vigil on the undertrial was suspended by the SP for negligence on duty. Thereafter, both the head constable and the undertrial have been booked.