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HCS records tampered with: Dalal
Dalit rally allowed despite adverse intelligence reports
Murder convict not to pay compensation: HC
Rahul, Shweta told to stay separately for 6 months
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Jail supdt untraceable, says police report
1 held for making hoax
Book school management: Bar assn
Husband, in-laws booked for
dowry death
Surajkund mela from Feb 1
Theft accused acquitted after 31 yrs
2 brothers buried alive
KU syllabi to be revamped
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HCS records tampered with: Dalal
Chandigarh, January 24 In a nine-page report submitted to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Dalal, through his counsels, had also claimed that the “manipulations” made it clear that the interview board members were carrying list of persons they wanted to select. In all, the examination of answer-sheets of 10 successful candidates was carried out after the verification of the interview marks under the high court directions. Taking up the matter this morning, a Division Bench of the high court, comprising Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Justice Kanwaljit Singh Ahluwalia, directed the Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) to handover the record of remaining 53 successful candidates. Issuing the directions, the Judges asked the HPSC to furnish within three days the record in a sealed cover for keeping it in the safe custody of Registrar (Judicial). Fixing February 12 as the next date of hearing in the matter, the Judges also gave two weeks time to HPSC counsel to file reply to the inspection report. The detailed report of inspection carried out by Haryana’s former Advocate General and Dalal’s counsel Mohan Jain and his team mentioned that in case of selected candidate Kuldhir Singh, the son of then Chief Minister O.P. Chautala’s political advisor Sher Singh Badshami, marks were given for five questions in the history papers, while only four were attempted. Similarly, in the case of Jagdeep, a close relative of the then HPSC chairman Dr K.C. Bangar, it was observed some of the questions were attempted afterwards, maybe outside the examination hall. In this case also marks were awarded for five questions in the geography paper, while only four questions were attempted. In the case of Surinder Kumar as well, a relative of O.P. Chautala, some of the question were attempted afterwards or outside the examination hall. Marks were increased using different ink in case of Sarita Malik, daughter of the then state police chief M.S. Malik. The report further added that cuttings were found in English paper of Jag Niwas. In his sociology paper, he initially failed, but marks were increased to pass him. For Kamlesh Kumar, marks in English/English essay papers were increased by overwriting. However, in the case of roll numbers 8055, 7922, 6943, 6317, 14539, and 8577 the marks were found to be deducted. |
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Dalit rally allowed despite adverse
Rohtak, January 24 District authorities had issued an official statement a few days ago, admitting that the intelligence agencies had warned that some anti-social elements could disrupt the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the town in the garb of protest demonstration by the mahapanchayat. On receiving mahapanchayat’s request for holding the rally at the old Government Senior Secondary School grounds, district magistrate R.S. Doon forwarded it to the local SSP, SDM and estate officer, HUDA, for their comments. In his letter no 1574/S dated January 22, the senior superintendent of police stated that the local police had no objection to holding of rally on January 23. Similarly, the other officials also did not give any objection to holding the proposed rally. On the basis of their reports (and intelligence agencies’ adverse reports notwithstanding), the mahapanchayat was allowed to hold the rally. In an apparent bid to escape its responsibility of maintaining law and order in the town, the district administration granted permission for the rally to its organisers, subject to the condition that they would be “personally liable to maintain peace, law and order and ensured that the participants dispersed peacefully after the rally”. The order even stated that: “In case of any loss or damage to property, the executive members of the mahapanchayat would be personally liable for civil as well as criminal action”. Perhaps considering their responsibility was over after granting the “conditional permission” to the rally organisers, the administrative and police officials chose to look the other way when hundreds of youths flaunted their wooden logs, hockey sticks and other such objects at the rally venue. The administration even allowed the protesters to march towards the mini-secretariat in gross violation of the Article 144 imposed in the town. Only the officials concerned know why they let the agitated youths carrying canes barge into the town, leaving the residents at their mercy. The police swung into action only after the protesters had torched cars, damaged property, stoned passersby and went on rampage. Such mishandling of the situation, coupled with lack of timely action, eventually led to the extensive damage to property caused by the unruly mob in the Chief Minister’s hometown. A large number of persons, including Press photographers and policemen, were injured in the ensuing clashes and police lathicharge. To top it all, the district authorities have asked the persons whose vehicles or other property were damaged in yesterday’s rampage to claim the damages from the rally organisers. Call it delegation of responsibility or passing the buck, but remember that the boss is always right.
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Murder convict not to pay compensation: HC
Chandigarh, January 24 The ruling comes on an appeal filed by Sharda Nand and three others of Sonepat district against their conviction and sentence for the murder of Balbir Singh and causing hurt to others. They were sentenced to life and asked to pay a fine, besides compensation of Rs 5,000 each. In case of recovery, the amount was to be paid to the legal representative of Balbir Singh. Setting aside the portion of order dealing with compensation, or sentence in default of payment, a high court Bench, comprising Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice Sham Sunder, ruled: “In the current case, no doubt the lower court directed the accused to pay compensation of Rs 5,000. In default of payment of the same, they were ordered to undergo rigorous imprisonment for two years each.” “Since the fine formed a part of the sentence awarded to the accused by the lower court, as per the provisions of Section 357 (3) Cr PC, the compensation could not be awarded, nor sentence in default of payment could be awarded.” “This part of the order rendered by the Court is unsustainable in the eyes of the law and, therefore, is required to be set aside and appeal to that extent is required to be accepted. It is held that the judgement of conviction and the order awarding sentence to the accused for various offences, rendered by the court, are based on correct appreciation of evidence and law on the point, and do not warrant any interference and are liable to be upheld.” The Judges added: “However, the order directing the accused to pay a sum of Rs 5,000 each as compensation and in default of payment to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years each is not based on correct appreciation of the provisions of law and is liable to be set aside.” Before parting with the judgement, the Judges held: “The appeal is partly accepted. The judgement of conviction dated December 9, 1997 and of sentence dated December 11, 1997, are maintained. The order dated December 11, 1997, to the extent that it directs the accused to pay a sum of Rs 5,000 each as compensation and in default of payment of the same to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of two years each is set aside.” |
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Rahul, Shweta told to stay separately for 6 months
Gurgaon, January 24 The decision disappointed Shweta as she was keen on breaking ties with Rahul at the earliest. While talking to mediapersons, the lawyer of Rahul Mahajan said the court had directed the couple to stay separately for six months before it took a decision on their plea for divorce by mutual consent as per Section 13 (B) of the Hindu Marriage Act. Legal experts opined that after six months, both the parties would have to file another petition to final the divorce. However, courts also have the power to waive of the six-month period in exceptional cases. The court directed that both the parties should be present during the next hearing. The lawyer of Shweta said statements of Rahul and Shweta had been recorded in the court, in which both have agreed for mutual divorce. On being asked about the divorce, Rahul Mahajan said: “I don’t want to comment anything on it, my lawyer will reply to all legal queries on behalf of me.” Shweta had filed the mutual-divorce petition December last alleging regular physical and verbal abuse by Rahul. She had also given a statement to a tabloid in which she had charged him of manhandling her. The duo had got married on August 29, 2006, after their 13-year long friendship.
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Says withdraw charge from ‘tainted’ officers
Chandigarh, January 24 Dalal, who was an opposition MLA at the time of the selection of these candidates, had leaked out the results to the press even before it was formally announced, and had alleged malpractices in the selection process. He had also held a demonstration in front of the HPSC office in Chandigarh in protest against the selection of the 67 candidates for HCS (executive branch). Dalal, who is now an MLA of the ruling Congress and chairman of the commission on administrative reforms set up by the state government, said the revelations contained in the report had put a question mark on all appointments done through the HPSC during the Om Prakash Chautala era. He said Hardeep Singh, who was secretary of the HPSC when the alleged scam took place, should also be prosecuted for his role in the irregularities in the selection process. When it was pointed out to Dalal that some of the candidates selected at that time had been given plump postings by the present regime, Dalal said this was akin to fattening a lamb before slaughtering it. He said he would raise in the Assembly the demand of withdrawing charge from the HCS officers whose selection process had come under cloud. The MLA, credited with exposing many a scandal during the Chautala era, said examination of the records had shown that bright women candidates were the worst victims of the pick-and-choose policy of HCS selection by the HPSC in 2002. He said the HPSC had also discriminated against the Dalits. A particular Dalit boy, who did well enough in the exam to get selected in the unreserved category, was selected under the SC quota, thereby depriving some other Dalit aspirant from benefiting from the vacancy reserved for Dalits. |
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Jail supdt untraceable, says police report
Sonepat, January 24 The police has failed to arrest the two top prisons’ officials of Sonepat and Kurukshetra jails even as their parent department had lodged FIRs against them for allegedly committing serious irregularities in their respective jails. The status report submitted by the Sonepat SP, which was received today at the prisons’ headquarters in Panchkula, had claimed that despite raids at several places, the accused jailor could not be arrested. Similarly, Kurukshetra SP Amitabh Dhillon confirmed that deputy jail superintendent Ratan Singh was yet to be arrested in the criminal case registered against him. Sources alleged that in both the cases subordinate staff members of the jails were arrested immediately whereas these two controversial officials had managed to evade arrest due to their “political connections”. A senior prisons’ official said the department was awaiting a reply from the Kurukshetra police about the status report of the jail investigations before initiating further action in both the cases. Interestingly, no departmental action had been initiated against the duo whereas the other accused jail staff was suspended. Earlier, prisons’ officials had conducted raids at Sonepat and Kurukshetra district jails and found several irregularities. During the raid at the Sonepat jail on December 28 last, officials found that jail authorities allegedly allowed five lifers to move out from the jail regularly for months without obtaining permission. An FIR was registered against four Sonepat jail officials, including the jail superintendent, deputy superintendent, sub-assistant superintendent and the head warder. When Kurukshtera jail was raided on January 17, the top brass of prisons found four “trespassers” in the jail campus. The raiding team recovered four mobile phones from the possession of a jail staffer. Besides, jail officials had not entered the visitors’ names in the register. A case was registered against deputy jail superintendent Ratan Singh, head warder and the operator of the jail tubewell, besides three other “trespassers”.
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1 held for making hoax bomb call
Gurgaon, January 24 A police official said Verma often made hoax bomb calls, as he was mentally disturbed. According to information, the accused called up the police control room at 1:36 pm and said a bomb had been planted at MGF Mall. A police team immediately reached the mall, cordoned of the area and started the search operation. The security at the mall had evacuated the mall before the arrival of the police. The police said this was the fourth such incident and most of the calls were made from the public booth of the malls. An official said CCTV cameras had been installed at the public booths of the entire mall. Verma was nabbed with the help of the cameras. Verma, a resident of Housing Board Colony at Gurgaon, basically belonged to Sirsa. Police commissioner, Gurgaon, Mahinder Lal said a case had been against the accused and further interrogation was going on.
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Book school management: Bar assn
Yamunanagar, January 24 President of the association Pradeep Rathore said the school management was equally responsible for the accident. He said the executive committee of the association was of the view that the school management should also be brought into the investigations. Meanwhile, family members of the deceased, Khushi, met the deputy commissioner and complained that the police had booked innocent people for damaging the school property and obstructing public servant from performing duty on the day of the accident.
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Husband, in-laws booked for
dowry death
Rewari, January 24 A case under sections 498-A, 304-B and 34 of the IPC has been registered against them following a complaint filed by Surender Singh, brother of Sunita. Sunita, daughter of Hoshiar Singh of Aulant village, who was married to Raj Kumar on January 23 last year, was allegedly being subjected to cruelty by her in-laws to fetch more dowry. When her in-laws’ “inhuman treatment” crossed all limits, Sunita set her 20-day-old daughter and herself on fire after sprinkling kerosene at Cheemnawas village on Monday (January 21). She, along with her daughter, was admitted to the civil hospital here. But when their condition worsened they were referred to Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi, where both of them succumbed to their burn
injuries on Tuesday. Surender Singh, brother of the deceased, yesterday filed a complaint alleging that his sister was forced to take the extreme step by her in-laws. |
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Surajkund mela from Feb 1
Chandigarh, January 24 Choudhry said seven foreign countries would participate in the fair. Among the foreign participants the new entrant would be Brazil, she said. The tourism minister said 70 foreign countries had also got in touch with her for including the fair in the itinerary of tourists from their countries. |
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Theft accused acquitted after 31 yrs
Ambala, January 24 According to the prosecution, Jai Dass was employed as a driver in a truck at Naraingarh close to Ambala City. Some one stole the truck. The owner of the truck filed a complaint against Dass alleging that the he had stolen the truck. The police registered a theft case against Dass and he was arrested. Later, he was released on bail. Jai Dass faced the trial in a local court for a few years and later went away to his native state and did not appear in the court on the due dates. The court declared him a proclaimed offender. In 2005, the Ambala police again nabbed him. He was arrested and granted bail. The court acquitted him for lack of sufficient evidence. |
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2 brothers buried alive
Sonepat, January 24 The victims were constructing pucca walls at the bottom of the “hodi” at the time of the incident around 11 am. The police reached the site along with two JCB machines and a team of doctors to retrieve the bodies from the 20-foot deep “hodi” and it took more than three hours for them to retrieve the bodies. |
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KU syllabi to be revamped
Kurukshetra, January 24 This was stated by Dr R.P. Bajpai, new vice-chancellor of KU, here on Tuesday. Dr Bajpai will join as vice-chancellor here on February 1. He said a credit-based semester system on the IIT pattern would be introduced from the next academic session in KU. |
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