Karnal, November 26
Neetu, a final-year student of computer trade in Government Polytechnic, Nilokheri, allegedly committed suicide by consuming sulphas while her classmate Swati is in critical condition and struggling for life in hospital.

Both friends, aged 20, reportedly left the hostel at 12.45 pm yesterday for attending classes in the evening shift but did not return till late night. They were found near Gogripur Gate unconscious at around 9 pm and rushed to Amrit Dhara Hospital in Karnal.

The doctors there declared Neetu as “brought dead”.Neetu belonged to Jhunjhunun in Rajasthan. Swati is from Narnaul. Assistant Police Inspector of Bhutana, Dharampal, said a case under Section 176 of the IPC had been registered and investigations were in progress. “Till Swati regains consciousness and speaks out, nothing can be said with certainty,” he maintained. Ashish, a final-year student of the polytechnic had also committed suicide last month by consuming sulphas and the police is trying to find out if there is a link between the two cases.

The polytechnic staff and management has been concerned at the increasing tendency among teenage students to resort to suicide and the principal has asked the women staff to counsel girls, especially those staying in the hostel.

There are 25 per cent girls and 75 per cent boys in the polytechnic. Only 300 girls have accommodation in the hostel. The rest have to arrange for lodging on their own.

The teachers at the polytechnic said he was scared to say anything to students lest he landed in trouble.The body of Neetu was handed over to her uncle. Swati’s parents have reached Karnal.

Of late Nilokheri has become notorious for hooliganism.

Last month a 20-year-old engineering student was brutally murdered by a group of people in broad daylight. Amit, a resident of Safidon, was attacked with sharp- edged weapons and belts as he alighted from a train.

The assailants were travelling with him in the train and tried to board the train again after committing the crime. But the train guard, who saw the incidentn informed the driver who stopped the train. The accused ran towards Nilokheri after the train stopped.

They are yet to be identified or traced. The attack was brutal. He had injuries on the legs, neck and armpits.

He was taken to hospital by his fellow students where he was declared “brought dead”.

Hisar, November 26
More than 200 farm meteorologists from all over the country gathered at Haryana Agricultural University here today to discuss ways and means for ensuring food safety in the background of climate change at a two-day seminar.

In his opening remarks, AK Singh, Deputy Director-General (Natural Resources Management), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, said Indian agriculture and rural development were extremely sensitive to climate change. The changes in climate in recent years had put a lot of pressure on the two.

He said agricultural research should now focus on conserving natural resources and ensuring food security. Scientists should conduct research keeping in mind the rising importance of climate change in agricultural production.

Vice Chancellor KS Khokhar pointed at the need for developing new crop varieties which could resist the adverse impact of climate change. way in stabilising agricultural production.

Khokhar said climate change did not affect crops alone; it had an equally adverse effect on livestock and environment. Describing climate change as a global problem, he pointed out that the production of wheat went down by 10 to 15 per cent if there was a rise in temperature at the time of crop maturity.

Rewari, November 26
Finance, Irrigation, Forest and Environment Minister Capt. Ajay Singh Yadav today called upon farmers to go in for diversification of crops and adoption of new techniques.

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating a district- level farmers’ fair held under the auspices of Agriculture Technology Management Agency in the Community Hall here today.

Yadav said as he belonged to a family of farmers, he was well-aware of their problems.

He exhorted the farmers to go in for cultivation of pulses and oilseeds as well as agro-forestry, and also to conserve water by adopting drip irrigation system.

Asking the agriculture scientists and others to facilitate availability of new farming techniques to farmers, he directed officials to initiate stringent measures against those indulging in black-marketeering of seeds and pesticides. While the organisers of the fair prominently focused upon profitable management of rabi crops, a good exposure was also provided on new agricultural tools. Later, he visited Rajpura Khalsa, Balawas Jamapur, Bikaner and five other villages of the Rewari district. Addressing various meetings, he said the government was focuseon providing water to southern Haryana through the Hansi Butana Link Canal.

Yamunanagar, November 26
State Congress president Phool Chand Mullana, while addressing delegates on the second day of the UGC- sponsored conference on "Efficacy of Special Economic Zones (SEZS) in India" at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College here today, said under the new industrial policy the state government will not acquire any fertile tract of land for SEZs.

He said farmers will get appropriate prices at the market rate even if the state government acquires barren land for any project. Even while highlighting the need for SEZs, Mullana said it was in their manifesto that the Congress government will not acquire any agricultural land.

He said 73 new projects will be set up in the state and many foreign companies will invest here. "We have decided to set up SEZs in many districts, including Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonepat, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak and Jind," he said.

In addition, he said if deserving persons do not get BPL cards they should approach the DC immediately.

The Chairman, Department of Economics, Kurukshetra University, Prof MM Goel, appealed to the government to be extra cautious while acquiring land, which is meant for agriculture according to provisions of Land Act.

Chandigarh, November 26
The Haryana government has made it mandatory for recruiting agencies and agents of the state, who facilitate job seekers to go abroad, to get themselves registered as recruiting agents under the Emigration Act, 1983.

Stating this here recently, a spokesman for the Home Department said the recruiting agencies and agents had also been advised to follow all provisions of the Act, failing which action would be taken against them. He said job seekers desirous of going overseas for employment were also cautioned to be aware of the provisions of the Emigration Act and use the services of the registered recruiting agencies for their safety and security. He said the Emigration Act regulated the terms and conditions of overseas employment and protected and safeguarded the interests of Indian workers desirous of going abroad for employment.

Under the provisions of the Act, a foreign employer could recruit any citizen of India for employment in any country, either through registered recruiting agency or directly, only after obtaining a valid permit from the competent authority.

Chandigarh, November 26
The Punjab and Haryana High Court believes Haryana is incorrigible.

There has been “no improvement” and the employees are compelled to approach the courts for settlement of already decided issues. To make the matters worse, the cases of “compassionate assistance” are rejected in routine uncompassionate manner on basis of instructions held invalid by the courts, Justice Ranjit Singh has asserted.

The scathing observations come on four petitions for ex-gratia financial assistance. Justice Ranjit Singh not only allowed the petitions with strictures on the state government, but also imposed “exemplary costs” of Rs 80,000.

Taking up the petitions filed by Bimla Devi and others, Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: Though the government has formulated a scheme to provide ex-gratia financial assistance on compassionate grounds to the family of government employee who dies in service, such cases are hardly decided with any compassion.

As a result, a large number of dependents are made to approach the court for the grant of necessary relief. This is not only an added burden on the already burdened courts, but is a source of great harassment for a dependent in need of immediate assistance.

Justice Ranjit Singh also ruled on an earlier occasion it was impressed upon the government officials to consider such cases in light of the settled position of law, so as to avoid unnecessary litigation before this court.

It was emphasised that persons should not be forced to approach the court with the same issues, which are decided and settled. Yet, there has been no improvement; and cases for compassionate assistance are rejected in routine.

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted such action does not reflect a very happy situation. With this in mind, the four civil writ petitions were taken up for hearing together and were being disposed of through the common judgment with exemplary costs to drive home the point so that “this” unnecessary litigation was brought to an end.

The judge added it was rather sad to notice in the present cases the allowed compassionate assistance was withdrawn without jurisdiction. Justice Ranjit Singh concluded the orders were being passed in routine manner on instructions held invalid by the courts; and the tendency was required to be curbed, with a hope the authorities would start applying their minds. Holding the petitioners were entitled to monthly financial assistance, Justice Ranjit Singh also held them entitled to costs.

Chandigarh, November 26
Acting on a contempt of court petition, Justice Rakesh Kumar Garg of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked Haryana’s former deputy chief minister Chander Mohan to be present before the court on January 15 next year.

As the petition filed against Chander Mohan and another respondent by Food and Supplies Department officer Dilawar Singh came up for hearing, the former Deputy Chief Minister’s counsel sought adjournment to file reply in the matter. Accepting the prayer, Justice Garg directed filing of reply by the next date.

The high court had earlier issued notice on the petition seeking initiation of contempt of court proceedings against Chander Mohan and an IAS officer for allegedly not complying with court orders in a service matter.

Dilawar Singh, in his petition through counsel Vijay Kumar Jindal, had alleged the respondents were not complying with the judgment dated September 17, 2007, "intentionally, deliberately and willfully" Claiming that the respondents were "liable to be punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971,” Dilawar Singh, had asserted he had not even received salary for the suspension period, despite his reinstatement on court orders.

Hed: Why can’t OCIs represent country?

Can overseas citizen of India represent the country in sports events in the national team? International level shooter Sohrab Singh Gill has raised this vital question of law.

Son of Punjab’s Director-General of Police, Gill has sought the quashing of a communiqué holding OCIs ineligible to represent the country as a part of the national team. Gill believes the action is ultra vires and also against the spirit of the Citizenship Act, 1955.

In the petition filed through counsel Pavit Singh Mattewal, Gill has asserted his precise grievance was that dual citizenship had been allowed in terms of OCIs and had been recognised after amendment in the Citizenship Act. Yet, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports relying on the policy on participation of foreign nationals started treating them ineligible.

New Delhi, November 26
Independent Rajya Sabha member Tarlochan Singh today sought the support of the House for taking up with the government the demand of Chaudhary Devi Lal Trust for a suitable memorial in honour of the departed leader.

Raising the issue during Special Mentions, he recalled the contribution made by Devi Lal to the country’s body politic, right from the age of 16 when the nation was yet to attain freedom.

The MP said the government should accede to the trust’s request to allot it House No 100, Lodhi Estate, New Delhi, for the memorial as it was here that the leader had breathed his last.

Yesterday, Tarlochan Singh, while participating in the debate over the Representation of the People Bill, had highlighted how the anti-defection law was being manipulated by vested interests.

“The law is being manipulated in such a manner that one day you are elected against a particular party and after three days you join that party, saying that you are dissolving the earlier party.’’ He made these observations in context of the political developments in Haryana after the recent assembly elections. He wanted the Law Minister to convene a meeting of political parties to deal with the issue. He said apart from exit polls, the government should consider also banning opinion polls.

Hisar, November 26
Manju Arora, Vice-Chairperson of the Rohtak Municipal Council, today survived a no-confidence motion by a single vote.

As many as 25 of the 31 councillors were present at the meeting held here under the supervision of SDM Amardeep Jain. Of them, 24 cast their vote while Arora refrained from voting.

Four of the votes were declared void, leaving 20 votes in favour of the motion. Rules say a minimum of 21 votes are required for her ouster. Interestingly, the MC chief, Bihari Lal Rada , did not attend the meeting. Had he been present and voted against Arora, she would have been ousted. Rada, who is wanted by the Vigilance Bureau in certain cases, feared he would be arrested if he attended the meeting.

Vigilance Bureau officials were present outside the venue to apprehend Rada in case he turned up.

Yamunanagar, November 26
Four more persons, including two school children tested positive for swine flu here today. With this, the total swine flu cases in the district have reached 17. Out of these, 12 cases have been detected in the last three days, which includes children from five different schools in Yamunanagar and Jagadhri.

Samples of six more persons were sent to the civil hospital today and the reports are expected tomorrow.

Keeping in view the spread of swine flu in schools, DC Amit Kumar Agarwal today directed all the principals to ban the entry of children with flu-like symptoms from schools. The DC has passed orders using his powers under section 144 of CrPC.

He said that there was no need to panic and appropriate arrangements have been made in the civil hospital here. “We have set up a special isolation ward for swine flu patients in the civil hospital, Yamunanagar. We have made appropriate arrangements and have medicines to treat patients. More samples have been sent to a lab in Delhi and reports are expected by tomorrow,” said Medical Superintendent of the civil hospital Dr Vinod Gupta.

KARNAL: A seven-year-old girl, Siya, a resident of sector 8 here tested positive for swine flu today. This is the sixth case reported from the town and two persons have already died of the disease. The nodal officer Dr Charanjit Singh said 48 samples had been sent for tests so far. Samples of Sohana (18 months), Swastik and Chinmay, both six-year-olds, were sent for test today and the report is awaited. He said Siya has been administered a dose of tamilflu.

Rohtak, November 26
A property dealer was killed and another injured when they were fired upon at their office in Sector 3 here last night.

No arrest has been made but the police has registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against Ranbir of Bahrana village in Jhajjar district, Naresh of local Ram Gopal Colony and Anand of Gandhra village in this district. The three have absconded.The assailants came in a car and opened fire on the victims after a quarrel over some matter at 9.30 pm last night.