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Now, discrepancies in pensioners’ lists
Peace returns to Khijrabad
Battle for BEd admissions hots up
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New variety of mustard
6 IPS officers transferred
Power crisis worsens
Protests held over erratic supply
‘Virodh rally’ for state SGPC today
Sarpanches decry fiscal restrictions
Eight get 10-yr RI for assault
Water scheme for 2 villages
Blood donation
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Sexual Exploitation Case
Ambala, September 6 Pronouncing the order, Special Judge of the CBI A.K. Verma read out the charges in the presence of the dera chief. However, the dera chief denied the charges. The court adjourned the hearing till October 4. During the arguments on framing charges, the CBI briefed the sequences of the event and read out the statements of two sadhvis of the dera, Sarjivan and Sapna, in the court, who had alleged that the dera chief had rapped them. The CBI had registered a case against the dera chief under Sections 376, 509 and 506 of the IPC on the statement of the sadhvis. The CBI had also discussed the anonymous letter written against the dera chief, which led to an investigation against him. The CBI in its chargesheet had also mentioned the statements of some of the witnesses who further corroborated the involvement of the dera chief in the alleged case. CBI counsel H.P.S. Verma said the CBI would produce its evidences in the case during the next hearing, adding that the CBI had sufficient evidences against the dera chief. The CBI had submitted a list of more than 20 evidences in the court. The arguments on framing charges in the Ranjeet murder case were also started today. Ranjeet Singh, who was one of the members of the 10-member dera management committee, was found murdered at his village in Kurukshetra district on July 10, 2002. A case was registered against five persons, including Jasbir Singh, Krishan Lal, Inder Sain, Awtar Singh and Sabdil, on the complaint of the father of the deceased. Later, the name of the dera chief was also included in the FIR. Arguing in the court, defense counsel Surya Prakash said the dera chief had nothing to do with the case. The CBI had falsely implicated him in it, he added. He said the CBI had fabricated the statement of Khatta Singh, former driver of the dera chief. The defense counsel completed its argument in the case today while the CBI would start arguments in this matter on October 4. Anticipating the arrival of the dera chief, a large number of devotees of the dera chief gathered in the Gandhi ground in Ambala Cantt today morning. They raised slogans against the administration when the dera chief did not reach there alleging that the administration was not allowing their “guru” to address them. |
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Now, discrepancies in pensioners’ lists
Fatehabad, September 6 Several eligible persons have been left out of the lists prepared for this purpose by the authorities. Names of even those who have crossed the age of 70 are missing from the lists released by the authorities and even school leaving certificates, birth certificates and reports of the doctors regarding age of these persons have been ignored. The authorities have recently released old age pension for the months of April 08 to July 08 to persons, who have been added in the lists of beneficiaries after the last survey. Earlier, the survey for the fresh beneficiaries was a biannual feature. But now the government has announced that the survey would be held every year in order to include all eligible persons. In village Gorakhpur of this district, 400 people had applied for the inclusion of their names in the list of beneficiaries for the old age pension. A three-member committee comprising J.C. Gandhi, Naib Tehsildar, Neetu Gupta, medical officer and Ram Pal, an official of the social justice department, verified the claims of such people and recommended 192 persons for the grant of old age pension. But, when the pension for April 8 to July 8 was released last month, only 152 persons were actually given pension. Among those whose claims for old age pension were rejected is Rojka Devi, belonging to the backward class, whose age, as per the doctor's verification, is 70 years. Sujani Devi (68), Ram Chander (65), Ram Swaroop (67), Sadhu Ram (65), Mantari Devi (65) and Gopala (64) are some other villagers, whose names have not been included in the lists. Hawa Singh (62) produced his school-leaving certificate that showed his date of birth as November 8, 1946 but this was enough to earn him pension from the government. Similarly, Chhottu Ram (64) has his birth certificate showing him born on March 21, 1944 while Ram Chander born on November 21, 1937 has a school certificate. But, both could not get themselves included in the list of eligible persons. The Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha has brought the matter to the notice of the authorities. Krishan Swaroop Gorakhpuria, state vice-president of the Sabha alleged that in Gorakhpur alone, more than 40 persons have been left out of the list, despite a committee set up by the authorities for this purpose having recommended pension to these persons. He alleged that names of eligible persons have been deleted all over the district. Satyavan Dhilor, district social welfare oficer, Fatehabad, said when contacted, that he did not have the record with him but the names might have been deleted after rechecking. |
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Peace returns to Khijrabad
Yamunanagar, September 6 Compensation will also be given to the victims of the violence. The decision was taken at a meeting attended by Congress MLA Subhash Chowdhary, former INLD minister Akram Khan, former BJP MLA Kanwar Pal, state president of the Gau Rakhsa Samiti Subhash Goel, president of the district Congress (rural) Zakhir Hussain, Haryana Janhit Congress representative Kirpal Singh Gill and president of the Minority Samiti Mukesh Garg with SP C.S. Rao and additional deputy commissioner Narender Singh. A peace committee comprising prominent members of both communities and political leaders was also constituted to tackle such a crisis. It is learnt that the SP had sought the names of those involved in the violence from both communities. However, leaders of one community refused to provide the names, stating that they had no idea about it. Leaders of both communities assured the police that they would not interfere in the functioning of the police in dealing with those involved in the Khijrabad violence. The police had registered a case against 358 persons for rioting and damaging public property on September 3. Additional deputy commissioner Narender Singh said, “We have decided to pay compensation to the victims after a thorough investigation.” |
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Battle for BEd admissions hots up
Rohtak/Jhajjar, September 6 The differences among the managements of colleges of education yesterday came to the fore with the Association of Educational Colleges (Self-Financing) of Haryana warning the managements of the colleges against charging a fee lower than that prescribed from the students. At a meeting held in Rohtak, association office-bearers decided to take legal action against the colleges charging lower fee. “If the managements of such colleges do not stop indulging in such tactics to lure students, they will be expelled from the association and not allowed to make admissions to the BEd course,” said Dr Rajender Sura, president of the association. The move comes in the wake of several BEd colleges openly inviting students to join the course at their institution at a fee much lower than that prescribed by the authorities concerned. The managements of many colleges had even inserted advertisements in newspapers in this regard. Self-financing BEd colleges were entitled to charge a fee of Rs 38,500 per student. As the number of BEd colleges was limited till a few years ago, aspiring candidates used to make a beeline for admission to these. Many colleges even charged hefty amounts (in addition to the prescribed fee) from the aspirants in the name of management quota seats. However, thanks to the recent spurt in the number of BEd colleges and declining number of students interested in the course, a scramble for making admissions has begun among these colleges. This led to many colleges cutting the course fee and using various other ways and means to attract students. This, in turn, led to the ongoing struggle among the owners of these institutions. Nearly 400 government-aided and self-financing BEd colleges, including dozens of newly approved ones, are functioning in the state and all colleges have at least 100 seats, while several have up to 200. The counselling process for admission to the BEd course started on September 3.The first phase of counselling will continue till September 10. The counselling process has been made online and the candidates are required to mention the names of the colleges of their choice in a form. Here the competition among different colleges comes into play and the managements try every trick of the trade to keep their colleges running. |
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New variety of mustard
Karnal, September 6 The new variety, CS 56
(triveni), has been specifically developed for “salt tolerance” and can be used by farmers who get late for sowing mustard due to late harvesting of paddy crop. This variety was developed with the joint research efforts of
T.S. Sinha (principal scientist, now retired), P.C. Sharma (principal scientist) and Gurbachan Singh, director of the institute. According to experts, CS 56
(triveni) has been identified on the basis of superior performance with respect to the seed and oil yield. This variety can be sown after the normal sowing time up to November 15. |
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6 IPS officers transferred
Chandigarh, September 6 P.S. Ranga, commandant, 2nd IRB, Bhondsi, and Hanif Qureshi, commandant, 3rd IRB, Bhondsi, have swapped places. Anil Kumar, superintendent of police, Kaithal, has now been given the charge of superintendent of police, Hisar. Sultan Singh, commandant, 2nd Battalion, HAP, goes as superintendent of police, Kaithal, while Sat Prakash, who was awaiting posting orders, has been posted as commandant, 3rd Battalion, HAP, Hisar. Rajshree Singh, commandant, 1st IRB, Bhondsi, has been given the charge of commandant, 2nd Battalion, HAP, while Maharaj Singh, superintendent of police, CID, has been posted as commandant 1st
IRB, Bhondsi. |
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Power crisis worsens
Yamunanagar, September 6 The state is said to be facing power shortage of 160 lakh units per day due to non-functioning of two units of thermal plants of the state. The power consumption had been increased to 1,000 units while power supply from all sources was 840 lakh units, said sources. Besides, with a view to overcoming shortage, power load restriction has also been imposed on industrial feeders. An official of the Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam today said in view of the grid frequency, outages of generating units supplying power to the northern grid and other technical parameters, it had been decided to impose load restrictions on industrial and independent industrial feeders from 5 am to 7 am and 5pm onwards. However, 10 per cent of the normal load would be allowed for lighting purpose. This would ensure a minimum of six-hour power supply to agricultural tubewells daily. He said tubewell consumers of Panchkula, Ambala, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Panipat, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind and Sonepat would get power in two groups during day and night in different time slots. It would be ensured that electricity was supplied to public waterworks minimum for one hour each in morning and evening. The electricity would be regulated for five and a half hours daily on urban and mixed urban feeders during different time slots. The periodicity of regulation would be maximum an hour in one time slot. The official said there were some interruptions in power supply to Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar districts due to windstorm last night, which had damaged distribution lines and system. The field staff was making all efforts to restore the supply. |
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Protests held over erratic supply
Sirsa, September 6 They alleged that they had been receiving power for merely two hours in a day. They said they had been facing an acute shortage of drinking water and their crop had been withering for want of irrigation facilities. Sub-divisional officer, DHBVN, Sirsa, Gulshan Wadhwa pacified the villagers by assuring better supply in future. KAITHAL: Residents of Peedal village, 25 km from here, blocked traffic on the Kaithal-Patiala road in protest against the erratic power supply here on Friday. The police had to use a mild force to arrange passage for an ambulance and disperse the protesting villagers. Raising slogans against the government and power board officials, the villagers sat in the middle of the road and blocked traffic. They alleged that the board functionaries had not been redressing their grievances promptly. The protesters said the power shortage had not only hit the functioning of tubewells but they also could not perform their domestic activities. The police reached the spot and asked the villagers to lift the blockade. However, the villagers continued their protest. Meanwhile, an ambulance carrying a patient arrived at the site, but the protesters reportedly refused to provide passage, following which the police used force and chased away the crowd. Later, the villagers protested against the use of force by the police and threatened to block the road again if the power supply to the village was not improved. |
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‘Virodh rally’ for state SGPC today
Karnal, September 6 A host of political and religious leaders with conflicting ideologies and interests, including former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, general-secretary of the Samajwadi Party Amar Singh, SAD (A) chief Simranjeet Singh Mann, Jathedar of Takth Patna Sahib Giani Iqbal Singh and Delhi Akali Dal leader Harinder Singh, would address the rally, president of the Haryana SGPC (ad hoc) Jagdish Singh Jhinda said. “We have been simply demanding the management of gurdwaras in the state as the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandak Committee has discriminated against us and failed to safeguard our interests,” he asserted. He said when separate gurdwara committees existed for managing gurdwaras in Pakistan and Delhi, what was wrong in demanding a separate SGPC for Haryana. Accusing the SGPC of ignoring the interests of Sikhs in Haryana, he said Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal had not been able to get Punjabis its due status in Haryana even after 42 years of re-organisation of Punjab. He claimed that at least 50 SGPC members, opposed to the ruling group, would also participate in the rally and support the demand for a separate SGPC for Haryana. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the rally by the organisers as well as the administration to ensure that the event passes off peacefully. |
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Sarpanches decry fiscal restrictions
Sonepat, September 6 They unanimously decided to bring this matter to the notice of Haryana Chief Minster Bhupinder Singh Hooda tomorrow. The administration had reportedly enforced new directions following detection of irregularities and misappropriations in accounts of many gram
panchayats. According to the new directions, a sarpanch could now withdraw only Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 10,000 from the bank and if the amount was more, then it had to be countersigned by the BDPO concerned; the estimate of any work to be carried out by the sarpanch must be countersigned by the JE and entered in the panchayat records before withdrawing the amount from the bank. The instructions also said a gram panchayat could keep only up to Rs 3 lakh in the bank account. More than that had to be put into fixed
deposit. Criticising the new directions in a meeting of the sarpanches of
Gohana, Kathura and Murlana blocks in Gohana block office here today, they alleged that it would not be possible to carry out development works in the villages under these new regulations. “Such restrictions are against the spirit of the panchayati raj system.” |
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Eight get 10-yr RI for assault
Kurukshetra, September 6 In case of default of payment of fine, all accused would have to further undergo a three-year imprisonment and the fine amount if paid by the accused would be given to the injured in the form of compensation. The convicts included Jaswinder Singh, Parminder, Jaswant Singh, Kanwar Singh, Soni, Gurmail Singh, Raj Kumar and Nirbhay Singh. According to information, the accused had allegedly attacked Kamail Singh, Jaswinder Singh and Bhupender Singh with swords and lethal weapons on September 26, 2002, following a quarrel over a contract from the FCI, which the accused intended to grab. The victims received serious injuries because of the attack. Bhupender Singh was hit on the head, following which he became unconscious and blood started oozing out of his nostrils and mouth and he went into comma. He was saved after proper medical treatment. |
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2 dead, 23 hurt in road mishap
Karnal, September 6 The deceased have been identified as
Sandeep, son of Dharampal, and Sumit, son of Harvinder Singh. The accident took place when the Haryana Roadways bus (HR-45 6965), which was on its way from Biwipur Jattan to
Karnal, developed a technical snag, overturned and banged against a tree on the roadside, police sources said. Driver of the bus Sher Singh was also injured in the accident. |
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Water scheme for 2 villages
Fatehabad, September 6 The villages, with a population of over 500, were not getting water supply till now. Parliamentary secretary Dura Ram today laid the foundation stone of the water supply system at Dhani Surja Singh. Dura Ram said water would reach villages within a month. He also laid the foundation stone of a water boosting station in Balanwali village and five projects of the rural development in Gorakhpur village. |
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Blood donation
Yamunanagar, September 6 There were 10 persons who had donated blood more than 100 times. The donors who were honoured included Arun Aggarwal, Lakshender Kumar Goyal, Parveen Moudgil Birji, Sudhir Vaid, Ajay Dutt Vashistha and principal of the college (MLNC) Dr Ramesh. |
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