Karnal, August 8
The revised UGC scales for Haryana university and college teachers will be notified by Wednesday (August 12) and 40 per cent arrears of the revised pay would be released as interim relief to the teachers of aided colleges shortly.

This assurance was given by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda to a delegation of the Haryana Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation, led by its president, Prof NS Kaushal, which called on him at his New Delhi residence today.

Consequently, the HFUCTO has withdrawn its call for mass dharnas and relay fast at all universities and colleges from August 11, Professor Kaushal said.

The working committee of the HFUCTO, which met at Haryana Bhawan after meeting the Chief Minister, expressed gratitude to him and also thanked Rajya Sabha member Ram Prakash, who was instrumental in arranging their meeting with the Chief Minster. It decided to take extra classes to make for the loss of studies due to the teachers’ agitation.

Welcoming the assurance, Dr Kamraj Sindhu, vice-president of KUTA, and Dr RS Kundu, president, HGCTA, said a meeting of the pay implementation committee comprising Prof Raghuvendra Tanwar, Registrar, KU, Saroj Siwatch, Commissioner (Higher Education), and SN Roy, Joint Secretary (Finance), Haryana, would take place on Monday.

Sirsa: Teachers of Chaudhary Devi Lal University here staged a dharna at the main gate of the institution against the government’s alleged delay in the implementation of the sixth pay panel report.

The agitating teachers alleged that the state government had been delaying the implementation of the report though new pay scales had been given to teachers in neighbouring states.

Kaithal, August 8
A class VI girl student of a local private school, suffering from partial disability in her left leg, reportedly fainted when she was allegedly punished by a teacher for not doing her homework today. The girl fell down when she could not bear the pain in her leg.

Her parents, who were called to the school, took her to a doctor where she was found suffering from high fever.

The parents have reportedly lodged a complaint with the administration and demanded an inquiry and action against the teacher.

The victim identified as Asha Rani was among a few students who were punished by the teacher for not doing the homework.

The teacher allegedly asked the students to keep standing. However, after some time when the girl could not bear the pain she told the teacher about her inability to stand, who reportedly asked her to go up and down the school stairs, following which the girl fainted.

Meanwhile, Parhlad, father of Asha, said they had made a complaint to the district administration and demanded stern action against the guilty teacher.

Fatehabad, August 8
A poor family from Saniana village in this district had to run from pillar to post for the delivery of a woman but the “heavy army” of doctors appointed recently in government hospitals were not sufficient to provide delivery facilities to her.

The helpless husband of the woman (crying in labour pains) took his wife from one doctor to the other in the local General Hospital till late on Friday night, but none was ready to come to her rescue.

The poor husband, Dharmender, flaunted his yellow ration card, confirming his below poverty line (BPL) status, in front of a woman doctor as well as a surgeon and reminded them of the government’s schemes to provide free delivery facilities to the BPL families, but all that failed to move them.

The woman eventually delivered a baby girl in a local private hospital, where she was shifted with the aid of some local philanthropists.

“I took my wife Kajal to the Community Health Centre, Bhuna, when she felt labour pains yesterday. However, doctors asked me to shift her to Fatehabad at about 5 pm. From 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm, Kajal cried for medical help in the General Hospital, Fatehbad, but not a single nurse came to attend to her, what to speak of a doctor,” Dharmender alleged in his complaint to Deputy Commissioner CG Rajini Kaanthan.

He alleged that he showed his BPL card to a woman doctor in the hospital but she guided him to a surgeon sitting in the emergency ward.

“I rushed Kajal to the emergency ward, but the surgeon told me that the anaesthetist had refused to assist citing complications,” Dharmender further alleged.

Some good Samaritans helped Dharmender shift Kajal to a private hospital, where she delivered a healthy baby girl after a surgical operation lasting half an hour.

The Deputy Commissioner said that he received a call at about 11.30 on Friday night complaining about the attitude of the doctors.

“I told the family not to take a risk by wasting time at that moment and shift Kajal to some good private doctor. I will get the allegations inquired and take action, in case any doctor is found guilty of dereliction of duty,” he said, adding that the authorities would reimburse the expenditure incurred by the family on the caesarian operation.

Dr SR Siwach, Senior Medical Officer of the General Hospital, Fatehabad, maintained that the two gynaecologists working in the hospital were on leave.

Jhajjar, August 8
A group of Jhajjar-based advocates, including former president of the District Bar Association, today extended its support to the Kadyan Barha khap panchayat’s stand on the ongoing gotra controversy over a “forbidden” marriage with a girl of Kadyan gotra in Dharana village here.

The group also announced to participate in the Sarva khap panchayat scheduled to be held on August 9 in Beri town here.

After reaching the dharna venue being staged by members of the khap panchayat since over a week outside the village, the advocates said compliance of social norms was necessary not only to maintain brotherhood among the people, but also to prevent the social customs. Now, all eyes are on the Sarva khap panchayat’s meeting as it is likely to be attended by representatives of various khaps from different parts of the state and neighbouring states to take decisive steps for resolving the controversy.

Meanwhile, Jhajjar Deputy Commissioner Nitin Yadav has appealed to the Kadyan khap to conduct the Sarva khap panchayat meeting peacefully and maintain the harmony and the spirit of brotherhood in the area.

He said the Kadyan khap had sought the permission to hold the Sarv khap panchayat on the premises of a government school in Beri town.

The panchayat would be held responsible in case any anti-social element tried to violate the law and order of the area. The panchayat would also ensure that no inconvenience would be caused to the common man and there would be no damage to the school and government building, said the DC.

Jind, August 8
The police has arrested three more persons in connection with the lynching of Ved Pal Maun in Singhwal village of Narwana subdivision on July 22, following his marriage to a girl of the same village.

The arrested have been identified as president of the Bhanwala khap Satpal Bhanwala, Randhir Singh and Ramdiya, both members of the Sarva khap panchayat, which had “pronounced” the death sentence on Ved Pal and Sonia for marrying against the wishes of the panchayat.

The sentence was “passed” at a panchayat held on March 19 after Ved Pal and Sonia had eloped on March 9. They later got married in a court and submitted an application in the high court seeking protection from the villagers.

The total number of arrests in the case has now reached 11, though more than 60 persons were reportedly involved in the attack.

The kin of Ved Pal had met the Deputy Commissioner and the SSP recently seeking arrest of the khap panchayat members. Ved Pal, a resident of Mataur village here, was allegedly killed by the girl’s kin and a mob on July 22 when he had come to the village to get the custody of his wife.

Ambala, August 8
The hearing in the murder case of Ram Chander Chhatrapati was conducted through video conferencing in the court of Special Judge, CBI court, Haryana, AS Narang here today.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an accused in the case, was present in the district courts in Sirsa while the other three other accused - Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh - were present in the Ambala court.

The statement of Ansul Chhatrapati, who is a prime and eyewitness in the case, was recorded in the court today. Ansul is the son of Ram Chander Chhatrapati, a Sirsa-based journalist.

Defence counsel SK Garg Narwana and CBI counsel HPS Verma were also present in the court.

Ansul stated that his father had been getting threats from the dera people and he had also reported the matter to the police. He said on October 24, 2002, when he was sitting with his family members in the house, two motorcycle-borne persons came there and allegedly shot his father. He further said one of the assassinators - Kuldeep - was caught on the spot.

Ram Chander Chhatrapati had written a number of articles in his evening daily against the dera activities.

The court adjourned the hearing in the case till September 12. The court has also dismissed the bail application of Jasbir Singh, who is an accused in Ranjit Singh murder case. The CBI’s application for the cancellation of bail to the dera chief will be heard on August 29.

Jind, August 8
A liquor session ended in the deaths of two cousins following a “shootout” at the house of one of them in Pillukhera village in the district this morning.

The police is yet to register a case in this regard. One of the deceased was an accused in a murder case that took place in 2000, but had been released after the case was withdrawn.

The incident took place around 11 am when Jaibhagwan and his cousin Naresh were taking liquor at Jaibhagwan’s house.

It is reported that Naresh had been invited by Jaibhagwan to discuss the issue of leasing out agricultural land. However, according to police sources, both of them, under the influence of liquor, got involved in an altercation over an issue regarding old enmity between the two families.

Two persons - Jaibhagwan’s father and another member from the side of Naresh - had been allegedly killed following enmity between the families in 2000.

It is alleged that both of them got engaged in heated arguments, following which Naresh allegedly picked up Jaibhagwan’s gun and opened fire on him from close range.

According to the police, two members from Jaibhagwan’s family rushed out after hearing the gunshot. Finding Jaibhagwan shot at, they snatched the gun from Naresh and opened fire at him, leading to his death on the spot.

One of the accused who opened fire on Naresh is reported to be Jaibhagwan’s son.

The persons who allegedly shot dead Naresh are stated to be at large.