Bhiwani, October 10
Irked over the incident of a road accident, students of the local ITI institution pelted stones on three roadways buses near Haluwas village here today.

According to information, the incident took place when a checking team of the roadways’ department stopped a bus in order to check the passengers near Haluwas village, about 7 km from here.

As the bus stopped, few of the students boarded on the bus tried to run away.

However, one of them identified as Jogender of Bilawal village collided with another roadways bus. Following this, one leg was run over by bus and he fell unconscious.

This created anger among the students and they started pelting stones on three roadways buses, plying on the Bhiwani-Dadri route.

The Police on getting information rushed to the spot and dispersed students forcibly.

Later, the agitated students blocked the Bhiwani-Hisar road. They alleged the roadways staff was deliberately teasing them.

“Although we have valid passes, but roadways bus drivers never stop buses on stoppages”, one of the students said.

The students said they would be forced to launch an agitation if the roadways authorities did not take stern action against the bus driver.

Later, after blocking the road, the students staged a demonstration through the markets and reached to the depot office where they submitted a memorandum to the general manager for taking action against the driver.

Chandigarh, October 10
Sarkari babus will soon find themselves mulling over rule books. For, the Punjab and Haryana High Court wants them to go through the statute before exercising the powers conferred upon them by the virtue of their positions.

“We would like to state that the authority conferred with powers should, before exercising the same, go through the provisions of the statute under which they are exercising such powers.

“The authority exercising the power must understand the ambit, the gravity,
the effect, and the result, of such exercise of powers,” a high court Division
Bench has ruled.

The directions follow civil writ petition number 8102 of 2007 filed by Haryana government employee Nagesh Kumar.

The petitioner was dismissed from service without affording him an opportunity to defend himself or holding a regular inquiry into the allegations against him.

Taking up his matter, the Division Bench of Justice Mehtab Singh Gill and
Justice Augustine George Masih ruled: “Keeping in view the principle of audi
altrem partem, inquiry into the charges levelled against a delinquent employee
is a rule, wherein he is given full opportunity to put forth his defence to the
allegations made against him”.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Masih has added: “The exception to this general principle is dispensing with the general inquiry, exercising the powers conferred under Article 311 (2), proviso (b)….

“A constitutional right conferred upon a delinquent employee cannot be dispensed with lightly or arbitrarily or out of ulterior motive or merely in order to avoid the holding of an inquiry….

“A perusal of the impugned order dated April 24, 2007, would show that the general manager, Haryana Roadways, Jind, has totally misread and misconstrued the provisions under Article 311 (2), proviso (b), of the Constitution.

“What has been said in the order is that there is no necessity for regular inquiry in this case. This is in total disregard of the provisions of the Constitution.

“What is required under Article 311 (2), (b), is not a situation or conclusion that there is no necessity of holding a regular inquiry. But, the requirement is that under the given facts and circumstances of the case, it is not reasonably practicable to hold an enquiry”.

Reinstating the employee after quashing the order, Justice Masih has concluded: “Although we have made an observation with regard to the application of mind by the authority, we refrain to further proceed against the officer who has passed the order.

”A word of caution is, however, passed to the respondents to be careful and watchful while passing orders without actually complying with the provisions and requirements of the statute, under which the said powers are being exercised by them”.

Gurgaon, October 10
In the much-coveted list of the winners of the national level Nirmal Gram Puruskar, two villages of Gurgaon district - Lohtaki and Gugana, which have women sarpanches - have got their names registered.

President of India, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, will give the award at the function to be held on October 17 at Mahabir stadium, Hisar.

Disclosing this here today, the deputy commissioner Deepti Umashankar said Gugana of Farrukhnagar block and Lohtaki of Sohna block have been selected for the Nirmal Gram Puruskar from Gurgaon district.

Bimla Devi, sarpanch of Gugana and Premwati, sarpanch of Lohtaki, will receive the award from the President in recognition of overall cleanliness in their respective villages and for making them free from traditional open-defecation practice.

Barely literate, both women heads of the villages were instrumental in creating awareness among villagers about the importance of sanitation in the larger community health interests.

In Gugana, three community toilets were constructed with the financial assistance of Rs 1.20 lakh from the district administration, while the panchayat chipped in with an amount of Rs 30,000.

Under the complete sanitation campaign, 28 BPL families of the village were provided with financial help of Rs 1,200 each for constructing toilets in their houses. A grant of Rs 33,600 was given in Gugana for the purpose.

Similarly, 27 such families in Lohtaki were provided Rs 32,400 as financial help for the construction of toilets in their houses.

Premwati who can write only her name, along with her husband Lakhi ram, a retired Honrary Captain from army, took a lead in cleaning the village streets herself with a group of rural women.

She was unanimously elected as the sarpanch in the last panchayat elections. She also got the development works implemented in the village.

Similarly, Bimla Devi, elected sarpanch for the first time and despite being not so well educated, was successful in generating awareness about cleanliness and sanitation despite educational handicap.

Faridabad, October 10
In a decision that would definitely bring smile on the faces of linemen of the electricity department, the authorities today decided to provide 120 motorcycles to them so that they could rectify faults at a greater speed.

The scheme will be implemented in Faridabad and Gurgaon.

Power secretary of Haryana Ashok Lavasa is understood to have already cleared a proposal to this effect, which will come into force by the end of this year.

The move is also considered to be in tune with the state government’s goal of improving the power sector.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is said to be very particular about improving the delivery mechanism of the power utilities.

Managing director of DHVBN Anurag Agarwal while disclosing about the move said apart from the motorcyles, the complaint centres in Faridabad and Gurgaon would be simultaneously equipped with 15 fully geared up mobile Tata van.

The mobile vans will have all the necessary tools and instruments for speedy rectification of faults.

Thus, putting an end to consumer complaints that linemen at the complaint centres are inadequately equipped to handle power problems.

Agarwal disclosed this in an interactive session of top bosses of power department and industrial sector here organised by the Faridabad Industries Association (FIA).

President of the FIA, Sajjan Jain, who opened the discussion, praised the works taken by the state to improve the power situation in the state, but voiced the concern of the industrial sector in Faridabad.

Agarwal said there was a move to centralise the complaint centres in the circles of Faridabad and Gurgaon. This would make the personnel manning the centres more accountable and alert.

Power secretary of Haryana, Ashok Lavasa, who was chief guest on the occasion, said Haryana would be producing 7,431 MW of power and having 6,426 MW for its own use in another four years time.

He recounted several projects on which works was already in progress, and some of which like the Yamunanagar plant of 600 MW had already become operational.

According to him, the state government would be pumping a total of over Rs
25,000 (RPT-25, 000) in the 11th Five-year Plan period for the upgrade of the
power sector in Haryana.

Sirsa, October 10
The Haryana State Chemists and Druggists Association (HSCDA) today condemned the incident of attack on drugs control officers of the state by some local chemists.

A team of drugs control officers that included three additional state drugs controllers, five senior drugs control officers and seven drugs control officers was allegedly attacked by a mob of chemists and the police had registered a case against several chemists.

General secretary of the HSCDA Satish Vij while talking to The Tribune on telephone said the whole body of the HSDCA strongly deplored the attitude of certain chemists, who manhandled the officers.

Vij said a delegation of the HSCDA, led by its president R.K. Khera, today met the state drugs controller R.M. Sharma and other authorities concerned and conveyed sentiments to them.

He also appealed to the Sirsa chemists to withdraw their strike, keeping in view the larger interests of common people.

Looking into the problems being faced by people in view of the strike that entered fifth day today, the district authorities today started a mobile chemist shop of the Red Cross Society in the town.

Secretary of the District Red Cross Society Parduman Kumar said the mobile shop would stop at the Sangwan Chowk from 9 am to 10 am, at Shiv Chowk from 10 am to 11 am, Tulsi Chowk from 11 am to 12 noon and Dr Karan Singh Chowk from 12 noon to 1 pm.

Meanwhile, differences have been crept up in the local chemists association as some chemists opened their shops today, ignoring directions of their leaders.

Sirsa, October 10
Efforts are being made by Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU), Hisar, to import soil fungus from abroad so as to increase the soil fertility in the state.

This was disclosed by HAU vice-chancellor J.C. Katyal while addressing farmers in a fair organised in the premises of the office of Krishi Vigyan Kendra here.

Dr Katyal said sustainable cultivation was the need of the hour. He gave tips to farmers on cultivation, seed and soil treatment and timely use of fertilisers and water for irrigation.

He pointed out that Sirsa was a pioneer district in the production of cotton in the state and efforts are being made to increase wheat production in the district.

He congratulated the farmers of the district on using modern agricultural techniques.

Dr R.K. Malik, extension education director, urged the farmers to adopt cultivation of Bt cotton. — UNI

Sirsa/Fatehabad, October 10
The disposal of biomedical waste in Sirsa and Fatehabad district has run in jeopardy after hospitals and nursing home owners of these districts have come at daggers drawn with the Pollution Control Board as well as the Synergy Waste Management- a company appointed by the board for the disposal of biomedical wastes-over the sharp hike in charges recently introduced by the company.

While, Sirsa doctors have refused to pay the increased charges, Fatehabad doctors termed the hike as unjustified and said they would soon convene a meeting to discuss the issue.

Ved Beniwal, patron of the Haryana Chapter of the Indian Medical Association, said the hospitals and nursing homes in Sirsa were paying sufficient charges, ranging from Rs 600 per month, to the Synergy Waste Management since 2005.

He alleged the company had suddenly increased the charges this year.

Some local doctors on the condition of anonymity alleged the company’s
representatives had full support of the regional office of the Pollution Control
Office in Hisar.

They alleged the officials in the board were hand in glove with the waste management company and the doctors who raised a voice of dissent were served a notice from the board.

They alleged the working of the company was not appropriate and their vehicles came to their hospitals whenever they wanted instead of coming daily.

In the interior areas of the district, they alleged, the vehicles reached after a week, defeating the purpose of the disposal of wastes.

The doctors alleged only the members of the Indian Medical Association were
being targeted by the pollution control authorities, while the BAMS, GAMS and
RMP doctors, who generated the same kind of waste, were not served any notice
by the authorities.

Vikram Kamboj, general secretary of the local Chapter of the IMA, said the company was earlier charging a minimum of Rs 300 per month from physicians and Rs 500 per month from surgeons but now they hiked their charges quite sharply.

He said that the local doctors would hold a meeting on the issue soon.

Meanwhile, Niranjan Sharma, plant manager of the Synergy Waste Management, said the company normally charged Rs 4.50 per bed per day from the hospitals with minimum charges of Rs 850 per month, but as the company was earlier having contract from Hisar, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Bhiwani and some other district, it was feasible for it to allow concession to its clients.

Kurukshetra, October 10
Teaching work in Kurukshetra University as well as affiliated colleges remained suspended on the third day today as nearly 400 university teachers, students and non-teaching employees demonstrated in front of the office of the vice-chancellor on the university campus here.

They were protesting against the assault on a university college lecturer, Vineet Kumar, on the campus on October 6.

They raised anti-government and anti-university administration slogans. They demanded tough steps to deal with hooliganism.

The teachers also demanded a secure environment for all, including teachers, on the campus and the arrest of those who were responsible for attacking Vineet Kumar.

The demonstrators declared that they would reassemble in front of the vice-chancellor’s office tomorrow.

While addressing the protesters, the Kurukshetra University vice-chancellor, Dr R.P. Bajpai, gave an assurance that police investigation was in progress.

He said he was constantly in touch with top police officers, but the investigation might take some more time.

He also sought support from the teachers and the non-teaching employees for keeping the campus peaceful.

Meanwhile, Kurukshetra University Non-Teaching Employees Association (KUNTEA) president Karan Singh alleged outsiders were responsible for vitiating the academic atmosphere on the campus by creating disturbances.

He also alleged that outsiders were staying illegally in university hostels.

“When raids are conducted on the university hostels, the illegally staying anti-social elements are informed in advance about the raids. The outsiders then move out of the hostels during the raids. The KUNTEA is against anti-social activities on the campus and expresses its solidarity with the teachers,” he said.

Vineet Kumar was attacked by three persons in front of the college when he was parking his two-wheeler in the college parking on October 6.

The attackers escaped on a motorcycle. Although the police had registered a case in this connection, no arrest has been made so far.

Kaithal, October 10
The district police has recovered a looted property of worth Rs 5 lakh and arrested four members of the gang, who allegedly looted this property from a house in Cheeka Mandi on the intervening night of October 8 and 9.

The accused were today produced in a local court, which granted the one-day police remand for the two and sent other two in 14 days judicial custody.

Giving details SP Sultan Singh said Naresh Jain, a resident of Cheeka Mandi, was sleeping in his house when at about 2.30 am he felt that somebody was trying to remove rings from his fingers.

After getting up, he noticed a tall man carrying an iron rod, who was removing his rings. Though frightened, the victim raised an alarm and the accused and another associate fled the spot.

Apprehending loss at the hands of thieves, Jain took stock of his belongings in the house and noticed lockers lying open and cash, jewellery estimated 32 ‘tolas’ and mobile missing. On getting information, a police team reached the spot.

Acting swiftly, the police arrested four persons identified as Raju and his wife Geeta, residents of Dhanak Basti cheeka, and Ravi, brother of Geeta, and one Shashi Kumar, both residents of Samana.

Following interrogation, the police recovered looted property worth Rs 5 lakh, which included cash and jewellery.

Yamunanagar, October 10
Two youths were allegedly murdered brutally by a group of around 26 persons, following old rivalry in Jagadhri town yesterday.

The deceased have been identified as Hardev Singh of Mundikhera village and Shiv Kumar of Ghugri.

Police sources said one Rajan and Shiv Kumar had a fight after consuming liquor last night, but with the intervention of other friends, the matter was sorted out.

However, later at night, Rajan again called Shiv in Khera village in Jagadhri to solve the matter amicably.

The sources said the incident took place when Shiv Kumar accompanied by Hardev Singh and his two other friends went to meet Rajan around midnight.

Rajan had already made arrangements to attack Shiv and his associates.

As soon as Shiv and his three friends reportedly moved out of their car, Rajan along with his 25 friends, who were equipped with sharp-edged weapons attacked them.

The two-Shiv Kumar and Hardev Singh- sustained serious injuries and later died, while their other two companions managed to escape from the spot.

SSP C.S Rao said a case against five persons, including Rajan, Jaswant, Rohtas, Babu and Sonu Daggar, and other unidentified miscreants have been registered.

Panipat, October 10
A traffic constable sustained serious injuries when a truck driver, whom he had signalled to stop, allegedly attacked him with an iron rod.

According to sources, the incident took place when Jagdish Chander, a traffic constable, signalled a truck (HR 55-2528) near the traffic lights on NH 1 to halt for an inspection. Later, the driver of the truck got down of the truck and started quarrelling with him.

The argument soon turned bloody as the truck driver took out an iron rod from his truck and attacked the constable. He hit him on his head, causing a serious injury.

Sensing trouble, other traffic constables deputed there immediately swung into action and nabbed the truck driver and seized the iron rod.

The police said a criminal case for attacking a policeman on duty and causing injuries had been registered against the truck driver.

Chandigarh, October 10
Haryana has decided to computerise all district libraries and link the book-lending facility in these libraries.

This was announced by chief secretary Dharam Vir after he inaugurated the automated library system set up with the help of the e-Grathalaya software developed by the National Informatics Centre at the Haryana Civil Secretariat library  here today.

The software provides all kinds of features required to automate in-house activities as well as library services.

The library web, OPAC, is a web-based user interface to access the library catalogue. It also provides a secured way of accessing number specific information from the library.

He said information about the arrival of new books was now available on net at web1.hry.nic.in/library.

Each member could see the status of his or her library account on this site,
reserve books on the internet and send requisitions for the purchase of books
at secttlib@hry.nic.in.

Dharam Vir said all file records of government offices, about 85,000 in number, would be computerised for easy assess by people and bring about more transparency in the functioning of government departments.

The library of the Haryana Civil Secretariat, which was at present being used by the staff of the secretariat,would also be opened to mediapersons and retired employees of the secretariat on a nominal fee.

Librarian Aarti Chadha said the library had a total of about 60,000 texts in the form of various books.

Chandigarh, October 10
The Haryana Dairy Development Cooperative Federation has increased the commission of the dealers and distributors of Vita milk and milk products from 17 paise per litre to 20 paise per litre with effect from October 16.

The commission has been increased after five years. This decision was taken at a meeting of chairperson of the federation Chandravati with dealers and distributors of Vita products at Panchkula today.

More than 70 distributors and dealers from all over the state and also from the neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand participated in the meeting.

The commission has been increased to promote the sale of Vita products.

The federation also agreed to increase 2 paise per litre as transportation cost.

With this increase in commission and transportation charges, the federation and its constituent milk unions would have to pay Rs 50 lakh extra annually to distributors.

MD of the federation Dhanpat Singh said the annual turnover of the federation was Rs 620 crore and the net profit for 2007-08 was Rs 3.59 crore.

Chandigarh, October 10
The Haryana government has allowed its departments, boards and corporations to purchase staff vehicles or cars up to Rs 6 lakh, inclusive of all taxes.

These purchases will be made for officers holding the post of financial commissioners and principal secretaries, commissioners and secretaries, director general of police and officers in the above supertime scale.

Similarly, vehicles up to Rs 5 lakh, inclusive of all taxes, could be purchased for special secretaries, joint secretaries, divisional commissioners, inspector generals of police, deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, heads of the departments, chief engineers, chief administrators, managing directors of boards and corporations and up to Rs 4 lakh for officers other than the above categories.

The chief secretary has issued a circular to this effect. — UNI