New Delhi, January 21
The Supreme Court today issued notices to the state of Haryana on a petition filed by Reliance SEZ Limited seeking transfer of the petition pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court to the apex court.

This will enable all petitions challenging the validity of the Land Acquisition Act, 1984, to be decided once and for all by the apex court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justices R.V. Raveendran and Dalveer Bhandari issued the notices after hearing senior counsel Harish Salve, who contended that it would be in the interests of justice, if the honourable court transferred the petitions pending in the High Court involving the challenge to the validity of the Land Acquisition Act.

According to the petitioners in the High Court, which included farmers, land acquired for SEZ cannot be called for public purpose as it is for commercial activities, which cannot be in public interests.

The petitioners have said the government is forcibly acquiring fertile land of the farmers to the tune of thousands of acres at throwaway prices without providing them adequate compensation.

According to them, land is being taken away by force without the consent of the farmers, although barren and waste land should be utilised for the purposes of SEZ.

There had been violent protests in various places like Nandigram in West Bengal, Dadri in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Orissa, Punjab and Haryana against the forcible acquisition of land. — UNI 

New Delhi, January 21
Premiershield Risk Management Enterprise, a Rs 100-crore security and risk management enterprise, will soon be partnering with the Haryana government to upgrade three Indian Technical Institutes (ITIs) in the state.

“Skilled manpower development is the buzz word today and we are keen to contribute in this sphere. Therefore, we have decided to partner with the Haryana government to upgrade the three ITIs in the state,” chairman and managing director of Premiershield Worldwide Pawanjit S. Ahluwalia told The Tribune here today.

“Negotiation with the Haryana government is on for the upgradation of ITIs in Sona, Ambala and Kalka and soon it will be formalised,” he said. Finance minister P. Chidambaram in his 2007-08 Budget had proposed Public-Private Partnership for the upgradation of 1,396 ITIs across the country into centres of excellence in specific trades and skills.

The finance minister had said the Centre would provide financial assistance by way of seed money, an interest free loan up to Rs 2.5 crore will be granted to each ITI for upgradation and revision of courses. He also set aside Rs 750 crore for this purpose in the Budget.

Premiershield, which specialised in 10 verticals in risk management from manned guarding to electronic security to facility and brand protection, was fully equipped to turnaround the ITIs, Ahluwalia said. Pointing that market for risk and security management in India and other neighbouring countries were growing phenomenally, Ahluwalia said his company would soon make its foray into Bangladesh.

Chandigarh, January 21
As part of the cat and mouse game being played between the Congress and former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, the latter today sent in his resignation from the Vidhan Sabha to the Speaker. Two more MLAs, Dharampal Malik (Gohana) and Rakesh Kamboj (Indri), close associates of Bhajan Lal, also followed suit.

However, the catch is that the resignations will be effective from June 1, 2008.

Bhajan Lal’s MP son Kuldeep Bishnoi too had sent in his resignation from the Lok Sabha with effect from June 1, 2008.

Earlier, the Congress had filed petitions before the Speaker seeking disqualification of the three MLAs on the grounds that they had joined a new party, the Haryana Janhit Congress (Bhajan Lal) formed by Bishnoi at Rohtak on December 2 last.

The three MLAs were also suspended from the  Congress.

The notices sent by the Speaker had come back to him without being served on the respondents.

Congressmen had started claiming that to avoid disqualification, the three MLAs had gone underground and were avoiding receiving the notices.

In his characteristic “controlled aggression”, Bishnoi, who returned from the USA yesterday, today announced the resignations of the three.

The resignations are a message to supporters as well as detractors of Bishnoi that Bhajan Lal cannot be browbeaten by the threat of disqualification.

According to informed sources, first it was decided that the three MLAs should quit the Vidhan Sabha with immediate effect. However, later it was decided to make the resignations effective from June 1 next.

The reason for postponing the effective date is said to be that the organisation of the new party is yet to be set up. Bishnoi told TNS that if the party structure was in place before June 1, the three MLAs might resign from the House sooner than June 1.

The resignations are also an indication that the three will not deny their joining the new party, if they reply to the Speaker’s notices. However, it is highly unlikely that they would reply or would join the disqualification proceedings.

Since all senior functionaries of the Vidhan Sabha were busy today with the cremation of the father of Speaker Raghuvir Singh Kadiyan, it could not be confirmed if the resignations, which have also been faxed, had been received in the Assembly.

Legally, since the resignations are from a prospective date, the Speaker has nothing to do with them at present and the three MLAs continue to be members of the House. They are still subject to the discipline and rules of the House. It means they can still be disqualified.

Sources say if Bhajan Lal is disqualified and a byelection held, it may be Bishnoi who will try to enter the Vidhan Sabha by contesting his father’s traditional Adampur seat. 

Gurgaon, January 21
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and his two associate MLAs, Dharampal Malik from Gohana and Rakesh Kamboj from Indri, today sent their postdated official resignation to the Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Dr Raghubir Singh Kadian.

In their resignation, they have requested the Speaker to implement the resignation from June 1.

Kuldeep Bishnoi, MP and son of Bhajan Lal, disclosed this here while interacting with mediapersons.

All three were suspended from the party last week on the basis of complaint of their indulgence in anti-party activities.

Kuldip said the trio sent the resignations by fax and by courier. He said the decision of resigning was unanimously taken by Bhajan Lal and Malik and Kamboj.

Malik and Kamboj were also present at the press conference while Lal could not come due to health problem.

He said a formal announcement of the postdated resignation by them from the Vidhan Sabha was made during the Rohtak rally on December 2, 2007.

While criticising the law and order situation and provision of basic amenities to the people during the present government, he said this was the main reason of resigning from the party.

While referring to Mange Ram Gupta, he said he was earlier very close to Bhajan Lal but changed side on being offered a ministerial berth in the Hooda ministry. Bishnoi revealed that even Malik and Kamboj were offered ministerial berths but they turned down the offer and took the decision to resign from the party.

He said before the Rohtak rally, a number of issues were put before Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Sonia Gandhi. They took the step of resignation as Hooda and Sonia paid no heed to their suggestions.

While referring to the notice issued by Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha, Bishnoi clarified that all three MLAs had gone out of their constituencies after the formal announcement of the postdated resignation made by them at the Rohtak rally. He expressed surprise at party members raising rumors that they all wanted to avoid taking notices.

Bishnoi stated that Lal was away to America for his health check-up and returned to the country a few days ago. He said the other two MLAs also did not fear from receiving such notices.

He said the decision of postdated resignation was a strategy of the party so that during the period the office-holders of the party could be finalised. He said the list of the office-holders of the party would be released in a fortnight.

Bishnoi made it clear that the appointment of the members would be made on the basis of the work done by the worker in the past one-and-a-half year and their popularity among the people.

He said they would extend support to the Congress party till June 1 in case it needed to prove its majority in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha. He said, according to the law, if the Congress issues a whip then they would have to follow it otherwise they would not be able to fight elections for the next six years.

When asked whether he would join hands with Mayawati, Bishnoi said till date nothing had been chalked out but the decision would be taken after the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. He said leaving aside the Congress party, he was open to join hands with any other party.

Bishnoi alleged that the Hooda government was misusing the government money by announcing old policies again and again and allocating huge amount for it.

Rohtak, January 21
The district administration and the Dalit-A Mahapanchayat, Haryana, are heading for a showdown over the issue of holding a rally in the town on January 23.

The mahapanchayat had sought permission for holding the rally in the HUDA complex, but it has been denied this.

Eleven representatives of the A-Block Dalits have been observing a fast for the past 28 days in front of the local mini-secretariat to press the demand for restoring the A-B block classification among Dalits.

Dalit leaders sitting on fast have asserted that the rally will be held on the said date positively. “As the local authorities have expressed their inability to give permission for the rally in the HUDA complex, we have requested them to allow us to hold it at the old Government Senior Secondary School grounds,” said Dalit leader Swadesh Kirad.

On the other hand, the district administration has maintained that according to intelligence reports, some anti-social elements could try to disrupt the law and order situation in the town in the garb of the Dalit-A Mahapanchayat. The administration is keeping a strict vigil on the activities of such elements.

On being contacted, deputy commissioner R.S.Doon said he had received the request for the new rally venue today and would decide on it after assessing the situation till tomorrow.

He said permission for holding the rally on the HUDA complex ground had not been given as the local SP, SDM, HUDA estate officer and executive officer of the municipal council had suggested that it would not be advisable to do so due to practical problems.

“Anyhow, the protesters should appreciate that we have been lenient towards them all these days, but at the same time, the district administration will  not tolerate any attempt to disturb the peaceful  atmosphere in the town,” Doon said.

Chandigarh, January 21
In a petition that has brought to foreground the need for greater transparency in the functioning of lower judiciary, a Kaithal district resident has alleged the demand for Rs 2 lakh by an advocate in a judge’s name for helping his brother in a rape case.

CDs of alleged conversation between the petitioner and the lawyer have also been annexed along with the petition.

Taking up the petition for transferring the matter, Mr Justice Mahesh Grover of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the forwarding of the petition’s copy, along with the annexures, to the district sessions judge (vigilance). Issuing notice of motion, Mr Justice Grover also stayed further proceedings in the matter during the pendency of the petition.

In the petition, Ajay Kumar had contended that he was referred to the advocate as he could help them secure bail and acquittal of his brother.

The advocate, subsequently, fixed the petitioner’s appointment with the judge and initially took Rs 5,000 for a gift, the petitioner alleged.

Appearing in the court on the petitioner’s behalf, advocate Sushil Gautam asserted that Kumar was later asked by the lawyer to accompany him to the judge’s house. Kumar, along with Krishan and the advocate, reached a “pink house”. While they stayed behind, the advocate went inside and informed them that the matter had been settled at Rs 2 lakh.

They were asked to file a bail application. When no orders were passed on the bail application on December 13, the petitioner contacted the advocate only to be told that an additional Rs 2 lakh was required.

After they objected to the payment of additional amount, Rs 1.85 lakh was returned, Gautam contended before the court.

Chandigarh, January 21
A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, headed by Justice Mehtab Singh Gill, today fixed March 5 as the next date of hearing on a writ petition based on a letter by judicial officer M.M. Dhonchak against Haryana IPS officer Manjit Singh Ahlawat.

The High Court had, earlier, taken note of a letter written by Dhonchak seeking a CBI probe into the allegations of forgery and fraud against Ahlawat during his tenure as SP, Rewari, along with other police officials.

Taking up the letter, Chief Justice Vijender Jain had directed that the matter be taken up on the judicial side, and the letter be treated as a writ petition. Dhonchak was then posted as additional CJM, Rewari, and is now posted as joint registrar (rules)-cum-OSD to the High Court. Issuing directions, the Chief Justice had observed that the there was merit in the application and it be treated as a civil writ petition.

Faridabad, January 21
The district unit of the BJP today held a demonstration against the government at the mini-secretariat for its “failure” on all fronts. It submitted a memorandum to the Governor through the district administration.

The memorandum listed “failures” of the present government on all fronts, especially law and order. It highlighted the Prithla rape and double murder case of two sisters stating that the family was yet to get justice even after about five weeks of the incident.

Former party MP from Faridabad Ramchander

Bainda and former party MLA from this district Krishan Lal Gurjar were also present.

The protest was part of the party statewide agitation today against the alleged failure of the Congress government.

Chandigarh, January 21
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said union minister for shipping, road transport and highways T.R. Balu has agreed to his request for constructing five foot bridges and two underpasses on the National Highway No. 8 in Gurgaon district.

The Chief Minister said the foot bridges would provide smooth passage to vehicles and pedestrians. He said he spoke today to the union minister, who agreed to lay the foundation stone of these bridges on Wednesday.

The bridges would be constructed at Khandsa, Rajiv Chowk and Narshing Pura. There would also be two bridges between IFFCCO Chowk and Udyog Marg with underpasses. Two underpasses would also be constructed at Anaj Mandi and Khedki Daulta.

Jind, January 21
Three persons, including a couple, were killed in road accidents that took place in the district in the past 24 hours.

Sumer Singh (60) and his wife, Santra (55), residents of Gupta Colony here, were killed when the two-wheeler they were riding on was hit by an auto-rickshaw loaded with passengers here today.

While the couple died on the spot, their 15-year-old niece Anju, who was along the couple, was seriously injured. She has been referred to the PGIMS, Rohtak.

The accident took place near Jamni village on the Jind-Safidon road.

The trio was going to attend a family function at Telikhera village, said the police.

Krishna Devi, wife of Balbir of Rajani village, who was travelling in the auto-rickshaw, and the driver of the vehicle were also injured in the accident.

In another accident, a man was run over by a speeding truck on the Jind-Rohtak road last night. The victim identified as Joginder (27) was crossing the highway when the mishap occurred. He was employed as a salesman in a petrol pump. The truck driver fled away after the spot.

Yamunanagar, January 21
The media has an important role to play in the democratisation of society, said former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala while talking to reporters after paying tributes to O.P. Dutta, a veteran journalist, on his 22nd death anniversary here today.

He alleged that the Congress government had failed to solve the problems of the people and farmers were committing suicide in different parts of the country due to the “faulty agriculture policies” of the government. He alleged that corruption was rampant in all departments. On the shortage of LPG cylinders, he said while people were facing a problem, LPG cylinders were being sold on the black market.

Chautala alleged that the people were fed up with the policies of the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government. He said a mid-term poll could be announced anytime.