Karnal, March 12
School lecturers across the state have boycotted evaluation of answersheets of 10+2 of the Haryana Board of School Education to protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. The Government School Lecturers’ Association had threatened to boycott evaluation of answersheets in the first phase of agitation.

President of the lecturers’ association Anil Yadav claimed that nearly 6,000 school lecturers deployed for spot evaluation at various centres did not take up the evaluation work and said it was now for the government to accept their demands or make alternative arrangements for evaluation.

The lecturers were annoyed over downgrading of their scales by the Sixth Pay Commission and demanded restoration of dignity of their cadre.

The pay panel had clubbed the school lecturers with lower categories of teachers like JBTs, language teachers, drawing teachers, TGTs, primary head teacher and middle school headmasters and also disturbed their parity with high school headmasters in the pre-revised scales.

School lecturers are in the same pay band of Rs 9,300-34,800 with lower categories, except for marginal increase in grade pay, Yadav added.

He said the board had assured the association that all issues pertaining to the board, including raising remuneration for evaluation, would be solved but nothing had been done so far. Satpal Chauhan, board superintendent at Karnal, said the lecturers deputed for evaluation of answersheets did not turn up for work.

The glaring anomalies in pay scale and indifferent attitude of the government has forced the school lecturers to adopt path of confrontation and the present struggle would be taken to its legitimate end, Yadav said.

Secretary of the board A Srinivasan said the demands of the lecturers pertained to government and the board did not have any role in it. The issue of pay anomalies has to be decided by the government but the lecturers were adamant on not evaluating the answersheets.

He said the board would wait for two days for the lecturers to start the evaluation and at the same time explore other options, including deployment of teachers from private schools and also other states. 

Karnal, March 12
The 10-day-old strike of students of the Doon Valley Institute of Engineering and Technology was called off today following a settlement reached between them and the management.

Students of BTech (third and fourth year), MBA and MCA had gone on strike on March 3 demanding refund of the money collected by the management for organising a job fest to enable them to get suitable placements after completing the course.

The students claimed that the management had accepted their demand and agreed to hold the job fest in April and in case it failed to honour its word, the money collected from the students would be refunded. 

The agitation had spilled out of the campus due to the support extended by organisations like the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Gramin Yuva Sena.

The students had alleged that the management had collected about Rs 8 lakh from the students for organising the job fest, but it was not held.

While the students alleged that the management had cheated them, Principal Harish Abhichandani maintained that the money collected had been given to a consultant agency which not only held the test and interviews but also issued score cards to the students.

The Principal maintained that the agency, Afslex Technology, had not called off the job fest but only deferred it for some time as there was a severe crunch in the job market due to the economic slowdown. However, the students were unrelenting and dragged the strike for 10 days but finally agreed to wait till April.

Chandigarh, March 12
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State of Haryana to prepare a fresh list for each year separately for Indian Forest Service (IFS) by considering officers eligible for selection in that particular year.

With this, the Division Bench of Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Nirmaljit Kaur has made it clear that the “select list” can be prepared for a particular year. Candidates eligible in that particular year alone can be considered for selection.

The Bench has also directed the state and other official respondents to “convene a fresh selection committee for 1990, and consider all those who fall within the zone of consideration in that particular year….”

The ruling comes on four petitions with common question of law. In one of the petitions, it was contended Ravinder Singh Lamba was eligible to the post of IFS. But the respondent delayed select committee’s annual meeting for appointment to IFS by promotion. It was to be called before March 31, 1990, but the review select committee meeting was held on January 3, 1994, and recommendations were approved on February 1, 1994. Lamba was then appointed to IFS, along with other selected members.

Lamba filed an application before the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). His grievance was that he would have got 1986 as the year of allotment, had the meeting been held in 1990. It was claimed due to non-calling of the meeting in violation of the 1966 regulations, 10 officers directly recruited to the IFS in 1987 and 1988 were given senior-time scale after completion of four years. His representation in the matter was rejected.

The application was dismissed by the CAT, following which he moved the high court and the matter was remanded back to the tribunal for reconsideration. The application was then allowed with direction that “even though the meeting could not be held in the years 1990, 1991 and 1992, and the panel was prepared in the year 1993 and review panel in the year 1994, this shall have to be considered as panel of selection relating to the year 1990”.

Aggrieved by the CAT orders, direct recruits filed the petition before the high court. After going through the rival contentions and listening to Deputy Advocate-General Gagan Deep Singh Wasu, the Bench ruled that the CAT judgment was being modified.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur directed: While convening a fresh selection committee in accordance with the directions, officers promoted in pursuance to the review select committee meeting held on February 1, 1994, should not be not disturbed till the outcome of the result of the fresh select committee.

Sirsa, March 12
The Indian National Lok Dal today formally kicked off its poll campaign on the home turf, when party supremo Om Prakash Chautala addressed a series of meetings in over 20 villages of the Rania Assembly constituency coming under the Sirsa parliamentary seat.

Sirsa has been a stronghold of the INLD for the past two decades but the party had lost the seat to the Congress in the last parliamentary elections, when it was completely wiped out from the state.

Addressing a meeting at Panniwala Mota in the evening today, Chautala called upon villagers to oust the Congress from the Centre and bring the NDA to power and ensure an INLD government after the Assembly polls.

Castigating the Haryana government, Chautala said the Hooda government had proved a failure on all fronts.

He exhorted voters to vote out the Congress from the country and bring a Lal Krishan Advani-led NDA government to power so that the Bhupinder Singh Hooda government could also be ousted after the next Assembly polls.

Chandigarh, March 12
With the BSP and the Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) coming together in the Third Front today, Haryana politics seem pregnant for many possibilities.

Though nothing has been said about the ties of the two parties in the state yet, they would have to re-work their electoral strategies to make their presence in the Third Front meaningful. 

While the BSP has declared its candidates for all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the HJC has also announced its nominees for Gurgaon, Faridabad and Rohtak. If any party withdraws its nominees to accommodate the other, it is bound to face dissatisfaction among its ranks with possible desertions also.

It is too early to say what strategy the BSP will adopt for Haryana. Will it withdraw some of its nominees for the HJC or will it take the stand in Haryana similar to that in Uttar Pradesh? The party has categorically stated that no seat adjustment would be made with any party in that state.

So far the BSP had been adamant on not having any electoral adjustment in Haryana. Even four days ago, party state general secretary Mann Singh Manhera had declared at a Balmiki Sammelan held in Jind that his party would have no tie up even in the Assembly elections what to talk of the Lok Sabha elections. Manhera had also announced BSP’s candidate for the Sirsa seat.

Barring the Sirsa nominee, BSP candidates are neck deep in the campaigning. Also, its cadres are apprehensive about the fate of its much-touted social engineering experiment. The party has nominated candidates from various communities. Its cadres fear that if a candidate of a particular community is withdrawn, there may be a backlash in that community. 

Moreover, they fear strong resentment among “B” category of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) - mainstay of the BSP. It was former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal who had divided the SCs into two categories for giving benefits of reservation. The “B” category SCs consider the categorisation against their interests and resent it.

On part of the HJC, it would definitely want the BSP to withdraw its candidate from Hisar - considered to be a stronghold of HJC patron Bhajan Lal - even if the party settles for one seat in the alliance with the BSP. However, the party is likely to demand more than one seat particularly Gurgaon, where it has a strong candidate in form of former minister Rao Narbir Singh.

The problem is the BSP, too, has a strong candidate in Gurgaon. Zakir Hussein is the only Muslim to be nominated by the BSP. The party is highly unlikely to concede this seat to the HJC.

If the BSP does not make room for the HJC, there is no meaning for the latter in the Third Front as the party has no pretension of having a presence outside Haryana. One of the reasons for the HJC to be in the front is the opportunity that it provides the party for an alliance with the BSP. If it does not materialise, the front holds no charm for the HJC as its other partners have no base in Haryana.

All said and done, the roadmap before the two parties is not smooth. 

Chandigarh, March 12
The extraordinary relief of pre-arrest bail cannot be granted to a person facing several complaints of corruption, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear in its latest judgment on the issue.

The ruling by Justice MMS Bedi came on a petition filed by Raj Pal against the State of Haryana. Taking up the matter, Justice Bedi observed: “The petitioner, as per the contents of the FIR, has been stamped a thoroughly corrupt official, indulging in demanding and receiving a sum of Rs 200 per consumer, while providing electricity connections under a scheme of the government to provide electricity connections to the persons below poverty line.

“On the basis of allegations leveled by the consumers, the FIR stands registered and he has also been suspended. The counsel for the petitioner has submitted no recovery of any tainted amount has been made from the petitioner, and that it is not within the jurisdiction of the petitioner to provide any electricity connection to any of the consumers under the scheme”.

The Judge also took note of the submission that one of the complainants, Satpal, was inimical towards the petitioner, as Raj Pal was responsible for permanent disconnection of power supply due to non-payment of the bill.

After hearing rival contentions, Justice Bedi asserted: The petitioner, no doubt, has got a probable defence against complainant Satpal, but there have been consistent complaints against the petitioner for demanding and receiving money from the consumers.

The plea of the petitioner that it is not his duty to provide electric connection, may be a good defence and ground for seeking the concession of regular bail, but a person against whom there are a number of complaints of corruption, cannot be granted the extra-ordinary relief of pre-arrest bail.

Dismissing the petition, Justice Bedi, however, clarified the order would not, in any manner, affect the rights of the petitioner to seek regular bail.

Karnal, March 12
Ram Dev, father of nine, was found murdered on the National Highway 1 near the Sector 9 petrol station in Karnal this morning. His body, bearing marks of injuries, was spotted by people in the morning who informed the police and relatives of the deceased.

Ram Dev, who was in his late thirties, had two wives, Savitri and Raj Kumari. He had four sons and two daughters from the first wife and three daughters from the second. His second wife is in the family way.

According to family sources, Dinesh, along with three other persons, had come to their house and took Ram Dev along on the pretext of celebrating Holi. However, he did not return home and was found murdered in the morning.

The police said Ram Dev appeared to have been attacked with a sharp-edged weapon and a case of murder had been registered in the Civil Lines police station against Dinesh and three unidentified persons.

Munni Devi, mother the deceased, said he had deserted his first wife Savitri about 10 years ago and was living with his second wife in the quarters near the cremation ground.

Police sources said preliminary investigation revealed that Dinesh was a nephew of Mukesh, the first husband of Raj Kumari, and there had been a quarrel between the two in the past also.

Ram Dev belonged to Godriya Nagara in Sirsaganj district of Uttar Pradesh and had settled in Karnal. 

Faridabad, March 12
A woman was killed when a fire broke out in a cluster of jhuggis in Santnagar area near old Faridabad railway station today.

The mishap took place when an LPG gas cylinder burst in one of the jhuggis in Sector 20-A. A woman, Tara, died due to severe burn injuries while her husband Piyus was hurt in the incident. 

He has been admitted to local BKU Hospital.The fire soon spread to other jhuggis and about 40 of them were gutted in the incident. Seven fire brigades were pressed into service and it took about two hours to tame the fire.

The incident has once again brought to the fore the dangerous situation on account of the large swathe of jhuggis in Faridabad. Officials said the residents of the jhuggis did not follow safety precautions like dealing with LPG gas cylinders and other fire-related goods.

Sirsa, March 12
In a move to embarrass the Parkash Singh Badal government in Punjab, president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc) Jagdish Singh Jhinda today urged Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh to direct the Punjab government to close all the “naam charcha ghar” of Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab. 

Jhinda has been fighting a long-drawn battle with Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal for a separate SGPC for Haryana.

Talking to mediapersons after a meeting of the high power committee of the HSGPC here today, Jhinda said he had urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to issue directions in this regard to Punjab as the Badal government was the only Panthic government in the country and it should take the initiative for closing the “naam charcha ghar”. Sikhs from all over the world have been opposing them because of some “verses taken from Guru Granth Sahib and dress of the 10th Sikh Guru aped by the dera chief”.

Jhinda also said he would soon move court against SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar for allegedly terming the relics used in the “shukrana yatra” as fake. He stated that he was expecting Makkar to resign by March 10 but now when he has failed to do so, he would now move court to seek suitable action against him.

Meanwhile, Jhinda said he would appear before the Akal Takht on March 17. He and his supporters have been summoned by the Akal Takht to explain their position with regard to their role during the Sikh congregation in Chandpura (Fatehabad) where the authorities had promulgated prohibitory orders and imposed ban on the function. But later the Sikhs had went ahead with the programme defying prohibitory orders.

Jhinda also said Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh had fixed March 17 as the date of his appearance before the Sikh supreme body.

He stated that the HSGPC (Ad hoc) would organise a big “samagam” of Sikhs of the state on March 29 at Kurukshetra to decide their course of action in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

Sirsa, March 12
Contrary to the claims of the district authorities regarding cancellation, the religious congregation was organised in the gurdwara in Jhorar Rohi village in this district as per schedule yesterday.

The congregation, that began in the evening, continued till late in the night.

Sant Baljit Singh Dadu of Dadu Sahib Gurdwara, Daljit Singh Bittu, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani), Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc), Dr Gurmeet Singh and several other speakers addressed the religious “dewan” set up in the gurdwara.

The speakers castigated the efforts of the district authorities in getting the event cancelled and said it was a direct interference in the religious affairs of Sikhs.

“We have been maintaining from the very beginning that we are here for religious purposes only and our presence does not threaten the peace and tranquility of the area in any way, but the district authorities left no stone unturned to get the event cancelled,” alleged Dadu in his speech.

Interestingly, Nachhatar Singh, a former sarpanch and former president of the gurdwara committee, who had on Tuesday accompanied members of the peace committee to Damdama Sahib to request Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh to postpone the event till the elections, alleged in his speech that the authorities had pressured him for this.

“We had approached the authorities with a request to provide security for our congregation so that some outside elements may not interfere in the event but the authorities tried to pressure us to cancel the congregation,” he alleged.

No resistance was offered by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda residing in the village.

Earlier, Dadu, whose entry into the district had been banned by the authorities, was allowed to proceed towards the village gurdwara amid high drama that lasted a few hours.

Jagdish Singh Jhinda, president of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (ad hoc) tried to convince Deputy Commissioner SK Goyal and SSP Subhash Yadav in the Kalanwali police station, where they were camping since morning, to allow a peaceful entry to Dadu, but to no avail.

The authorities maintained that Dadu would be arrested in case he tried to enter the village.

The police stopped Dadu and his followers near Dharampura village on the Punjab border.

However, after prolonged deliberations between senior officers of the district and Dadu, the convoy of his vehicles was allowed to proceed towards Jhorar Rohi.

A heavy police force, including the Rapid Action Force, had been deployed by the authorities.