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Allotment of HUDA Plots
Chinks appear in gurdwara committee
Failure to notify land scheme for disabled in Haryana
LS Polls |
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Land Scheme for Disabled
HUDA launches scheme for dislodged
Pay Scales
EC restricts entry into returning officer’s room
Traffic rules to be compulsory subject
Youth shot dead
High Court
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Whistleblower gets threat call
Manish Sirhindi Tribune News Service
Panipat, January 29 State convener of the Haryana unit of the Indian Federation of Trade Unions PP Kapur had filed the PIL alleging that the plots that were to be allotted to industrial workers were instead given to those who were holding senior posts in some of the top industries. In a written complaint sent to the district police chief, Kapur said last evening someone called him up on his mobile and asked him to withdraw the PIL or face dire consequences. He said the call was received by him at 8.56 pm and it was made from the number 130-3209809. The person making the call told him that he should withdraw his complaint within three days or else he and his family would be eliminated. The person also asked him to resign from the post of the state convener of the Haryana unit of the Indian federation of Trade Unions. The caller warned him not to approach the police or else his wife and children would be kidnapped and tortured. In his complaint, Kapur demanded that he and his family should be provided with adequate security and an FIR should be registered against those who were behind the call. Kapur had filed the PIL against the allotment of residential plots meant for industrial workers in Sector 25 part II in 2001. On November 7, 2008, the high court had asked the State Vigilance Bureau (VB) to conduct an inquiry into the allegations and submit a report within two months. In the report, which was submitted before the high court on January 20, the VB had not only recommended registration of criminal cases against some of the allottees, but had also suggested that their allotments be cancelled immediately. Besides, recommendations for disciplinary action against the then estate officer of HUDA for committing omissions in considering eligibility of the applicants had also been made in the report. The VB had found that several persons who were allotted plots had forged certain documents to fraudulently apply for the plots. The high court after receiving the report had directed the state government to initiate action for cancellation of such allotments. Directions for registration of criminal cases against those who were allotted plots on basis of forged documents or misrepresentation were also ordered. The high court had fixed April 15 for the next hearing in the case. Kapur said it was an outcome of his efforts to expose the unscrupulous industrials that he was now receiving such calls and was being forced to live in terror.
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Chinks appear in gurdwara committee
Sirsa, January 29 A group of Sikhs led by Didar Singh Nalvi, a member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and general-secretary of the HSGPC (ad hoc), and Baldev Singh Khalsa, an executive member of the SGPC and vice-president of the HSGPC (ad hoc), have strongly criticised Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of the HSGPC (ad hoc), for the yatra. They alleged that he had forgotten the main cause of getting a separate Sikh gurdwara committee for Haryana Sikhs and had deviated from his path. In a meeting held in Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Fatehabad today, supporters of these two leaders, which included Gurjant Singh Chilewal, Baldev Singh Khalsa, Maluk Singh, Kulwant Singh, Balkar Singh, Ajit Singh, Swaran Singh and Tarlochan Singh, decided to replace Jhinda with some active leader of unanimous choice for the post of the president. Nalvi said Sikhs from Haryana had urged the central government to constitute a separate SGPC for Haryana in a public meeting held in Karnal on September 7, 2008. Through another resolution, the Amritsar-based SGPC had been requested to refrain from interfering into the matters of Haryana Sikhs. “While none of the above two resolutions have been implemented, Jhinda has chosen to start a “Shukrana Yatra”, which has surprised all Sikhs of the state,” said the signed press note issued by Nalvi and others after today’s meeting. “Whom does Jhinda want to thank and for what?” asked the Sikh leaders, who maintained that Jhinda had lost the confidence of Haryana Sikhs and added that they would soon replace him with some other leader who would be acceptable to all. Meanwhile, Jhinda refused to respond to the allegations of Sikh leaders opposed to him. He, however, explained that the “Shukrana Yatra” being started from Dabwali (Sirsa) on February 1 was to thank the Sikh community of Haryana for their participation in the recently concluded Khalsa Tercentenary Celebrations. He said the yatra would begin on February 1 from Dabwali and after passing through all districts of the state it would culminate in Panchkula on March 6. He said horses, which were descendants of those used by Guru Gobind Singh, and some other belongings of the 10th Guru would be the speciality of the yatra. |
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Failure to notify land scheme for disabled in Haryana Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29 A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation offered by the state for non-formulation of the scheme. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta has now granted the state three months time. Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has also been asked to frame and notify “within the same time” a proper scheme. The directions follow a petition by Panchkula-based Handicapped Welfare Group Housing Society Ltd. through advocate Veena Kumari. Taking up the matter, the Bench observed: “Section 43 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, casts an obligation upon the appropriate governments and local authorities to frame schemes in favour of persons with disabilities for preferential allotment of lands on concessional rates for the purpose enumerated in the said provision…. “In response to the notice issued by this Court, HUDA chief town planner filed a reply inter alia stating HUDA has satisfied the requirements of Section 43 of the Act in terms of instructions issued on February 12, 2008. “A reading of the said instructions, however, shows the same do not fully satisfy the requirements of Section 43 of the Act. While there is a reservation for allotment of industrial and residential plots, there is no mention about any preferential or concessional allotment for setting up business, special recreation centres, special schools, research centres and factories by entrepreneurs with disabilities. The Judges asserted: “A perusal of the record shows although the failure on the part of the state government to formulate an appropriate scheme was brought to the notice of the apex court in writ petition (Civil) 576 of 2004, Salil Chaturvedi versus Union of India and others, the state government has not moved in the matter except issuing a direction to the chief secretary as early as in May 2007 to look into the matter and formulate a scheme. “State counsel submits the government is still in the process of considering the matter and formulating an appropriate scheme. We are not satisfied with that explanation. Since, the matter had already been brought to the notice of the apex court, the state government was fully aware of the obligation under Section 43 and ought to have taken steps to formulate an appropriate scheme. Be that as it may, we see no reason why the active consideration of the state government should not culminate in a proper scheme as early as possible”.
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BSP to field varsity lecturer from Sirsa
Yoginder Gupta Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29 Though the BSP, which has already announced its candidates for nine seats, has not formally announced the name of its candidate for the Sirsa reserved Lok Sabha seat. It is believed to have zeroed in on one name. The formal announcement will be made after getting approval from party supremo Mayawati. According to sources, a training camp for hardcore party workers was organised in Sirsa yesterday. BSP general secretary in charge of the party affairs in Haryana and state BSP president Prakash Bharati were among the senior leaders present at the camp. During the camp, it was decided to recommend the name of Rajesh Vaid, a 32-year-old lecturer of Choudhry Devi Lal University, Sirsa, for the party ticket from there to Mayawati. Vaid belongs to the Balmiki community and is highly educated. He has done his masters degree in three subjects and is also a PhD. He is also active in employee politics. Sources said the BSP decided to nominate its candidate for Sirsa now to snub leaders of certain party, who “are spreading misinformation about the possible alliance between the BSP and their parties.” By announcing its candidates for all seats, the BSP wants to send a strong message that it has no intention to deviate from its stand of going alone in the Lok Sabha elections in the state. Vaid’s nomination is in line with the party’s policy of social engineering. From the other reserved seat of Ambala, the party has already nominated Chander Pal, thus giving representation to two major members of the Scheduled Castes. In Vaid, sources said, the party saw a representative of the employees as well as the youth. He is the second representative of the youth to get the BSP ticket in Haryana. From Faridabad, it has nominated former cricketer Chetan Sharma. The other BSP candidates are Dev Raj Diwan (Sonepat) Zakir Hussein (Gurgaon); Gurdial Singh (Kurukshetra); Virender Verma (Karnal); Raj Sharma (Rohtak); RD Goel (Hissar); and Vikram Tanwar (Bhiwani). Meanwhile, in a change of strategy, the BSP has stopped organising big rallies. Instead, it has decided to organise training camps of hardcore party workers in each Lok Sabha constituency. Such camps have already been organised in seven constituencies of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal, Sonepat, Hisar, Rohtak and Sirsa. A camp will be held in Bhiwani tomorrow. Manhera said the party had decided to organise the training camps because it had already held 238 rallies last year. He said those who were being imparted training in the camps would train others in the constituency on how to strengthen the party base. Ridiculing the Janakrosh Padyatra of INLD secretary-general Ajay Chautala and the “Kuldeep Chale Chaupal ki Aur” programme of the HJC, Manhera said these parties were just struggling for their existence.
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HC strictures on state
Saurabh Malik/TNS
Chandigarh, January 29 A Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has also expressed dissatisfaction with the explanation offered by the state for non-formulation of the scheme. The Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta has now granted the state three months time. Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) has also been asked to frame and notify “within the same time” a proper scheme. The directions follow a petition by Panchkula-based Handicapped Welfare Group Housing Society Ltd. through advocate Veena Kumari. Taking up the matter, the Bench observed: “Section 43 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, casts an obligation upon the appropriate governments and local authorities to frame schemes in favour of persons with disabilities for preferential allotment of lands on concessional rates for the purpose enumerated in the said provision…. “In response to the notice issued by this Court, HUDA chief town planner filed a reply inter alia stating HUDA has satisfied the requirements of Section 43 of the Act in terms of instructions issued on February 12, 2008. “A reading of the said instructions, however, shows the same do not fully satisfy the requirements of Section 43 of the Act. While there is a reservation for allotment of industrial and residential plots, there is no mention about any preferential or concessional allotment for setting up business, special recreation centres, special schools, research centres and factories by entrepreneurs with disabilities. The Judges asserted: “State counsel submits the government is still in the process of considering the matter and formulating an appropriate scheme. We are not satisfied with that explanation.”
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HUDA launches scheme for dislodged
Chandigarh, January 29 As a petition filed by Yudhvir Jha and other petitioners against the state of Haryana and other respondents came up for hearing before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, counsel representing HUDA submitted that the scheme has been formulated pursuant to directions issued by the court in civil writ petition number 1637 of 1996. The petition was disposed of by an order dated April 26, 1999. Appearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Tirath Singh Thakur and Justice Hemant Gupta, counsel said Jha and others could also seek the benefit of the scheme. He added that the claims of the petitioners would then be examined in terms of the scheme. The counsel also drew the court’s attention to a similar order passed by the Supreme Court in civil appeals 1153-1167 of 2001, dated April 3, 2008. Directions were also sought for disposal of the petition on
similar terms. After going through the judgments and the facts of the case, the Bench ruled: “In the circumstances, therefore, and keeping in view the statement made on behalf of the
respondent-HUDA, we dispose of this writ petition with the observation that the petitioners shall be free to seek benefit of the rehabilitation scheme formulated by
HUDA The Bench added in case the petitioners move the authority, “HUDA shall examine their claims and grant whatever benefit is otherwise permissible under the same, subject to their being eligible for
such benefit.” |
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Polytechnic lecturers on mass leave today
Tribune News Service
Nilokheri, January 29 Announcing the mass casual leave call, Parminder Mann, president of the Polytechnic Teachers Welfare Association (Nilokheri), recalled that in the recent examination held on November 30, the local teachers and employees had refused to accept the remuneration and had warned the government of boycotting the future examinations if their demands were not met. He said all government polytechnic colleges, government-aided polytechnic colleges and government polytechnic education societies would stage a protest rally at Chhotu Ram Polytechnic College, Rohtak, and hold a march towards the Chief Minister’s office. At a convention held in Nilokheri on December 6, polytechnic lecturers had urged the government to release the AICTE scales and implement the guidelines issued by the pay commission in toto. The association had also demanded that all 10 polytechnic colleges run by registered societies in the state should also be covered under the revised guidelines. The other demands of the association include parity in the pay of foreman instructor with lecturers by raising the basic pay from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per month with a time-scale of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 after six years of service.
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EC restricts entry into returning officer’s room
Jhajjar, January 29 The ECI had recently issued instructions to the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) of all states and union territories to ensure the videography of the entire proceeding of nomination. As per the instructions, it would be the responsibility of the nodal officer concerned to not only sanitise the area of RO’s premises, but also make sure that only the permitted number of persons were allowed to go inside the RO’s room with the candidate. In its letter no. 464/INST/2009-EPS, the ECI has stated that several incidents were reported during the recent assembly elections in five states in which a significant number of persons entered the RO’s room, resulting in chaos. The ECI said the SP should properly explain the duties and responsibilities of the nodal officer concerned during the training session. Besides, the police administration has been directed to remain vigilant about the circulation of campaign material, which can affect the communal harmony. Publication of election pamphlets in violation of Section 177-A of the RP Act, 1951, also needed close tracking and monitoring, the ECI added.
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Traffic rules to be compulsory subject
Yamunanagar, January 29
Giving details, SP Vikas Arora said after discussing the matter with the Deputy Commissioner and the District Education Officer they had framed the contents of the book and it would be provided to the schools this week. “The need for introducing traffic rules and regulations as a subject was felt in view of the rise in the number of road accidents. The book will have information about traffic rules and symbols, besides tips on good driving,” he said. “The police will train the selected teachers from all schools, who, in turn, will impart education to students. The District Education Officer will ensure that the subject is taught properly,” he said.
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Youth shot dead
Gurgaon, January 29 The deceased identified as Raju (26), who runs a flour shop (chakki) near his house in the village, recently got married. His wife, Mamta, who is pregnant, told the police that Raju was alone in the room this morning. Mamta went to the room around 9 am and found her husband lying in a pool of blood. A country-made pistol was also reportedly found lying there. She raised the alarm, following which other family members and neighbours took Raju to a hospital. Raju was, however, declared dead by doctors there. The police has registered a case of murder and started investigations into the matter. The fact that nobody saw any assailant arriving at or fleeing from the spot makes the matter mysterious. The family members of the deceased have also denied any enmity, which could have led to Raju’s death. In the given circumstances, the possibility of suicide cannot be ruled out, though a person committing suicide usually shoots himself in the head. A pistol being found at the scene of occurrence, coupled with absence of any eyewitness account of assailants’ involvement, lends credence to the theory. |
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High Court Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 29 The directions by Justice Rajive Bhalla follow a petition by Chanderpati seeking direction to Haryana to pay adequate compensation for the murder of her son Manoj and daughter-in-law Babli. The newly-wedded couple, provided protection by the Haryana police on the direction of Kaithal District and Sessions Judge, was murdered on June 15 last year, as they were from the same gotra. The case now stands adjourned to February 26. Notice to states
Justice Rajive Bhalla today issued notices to the states of Punjab and Haryana on a petition by Sandeep Singla of Panchkula. He was seeking directions to provide protection to him. The petitioner has alleged he was recurrently receiving threats from Harinder Pal Singh, brother of Punjab police chief NPS Auklakh, with whom he had entered into an agreement to jointly develop property in Zirakpur area. |
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Fixed medical allowance up
Chandigarh, January 29 A letter to this effect issued by the Health Department stated that other terms and conditions with regard to fixed medical allowance should remain the same. The increase in the fixed medical allowance would also be admissible to all employees of the boards/corporations/municipalities/universities/market committees and other autonomous bodies of the state government, including pensioners and family pensioners. |
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Sports festival to be held tomorrow
Chandigarh, January 29 Stating this here today, a spokesman for the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, Haryana, said the events that would be held in the festival included half marathon (men), circle kabaddi (men and women), tug of war, wrestling (men and women), weightlifting and five rural items. |
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HJC to announce candidates on February 8
Yamunagar, January 29
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