New Delhi, December 2
Ruling that states were not bound to grant reservation in postgraduate medical courses, the Supreme Court today upheld Haryana Government's decision not to have quota for SC, ST and Backward Classes at that level.

Haryana's decision "not to make any provision for reservation at the post-graduate level suffers no infirmity," a three-member Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan ruled in a 23-paged judgment.

Pointing out that Article 15(4) of the Constitution was only an enabling provision, the Bench, which included Justices P Sathasivam and JM Panchal, said the state government "is the best judge to grant reservation for SC/ST/Backward Class categories."

"In our view, every state can take its own decision with regard to reservation depending on various factors.

“Since the Government of Haryana has decided to grant reservation for SC/ST categories/Backward Class candidates in admission at the MBBS level, that is the undergraduate level, it does not mean that it’s bound to grant reservation at the postgraduate level also."

The court, however, made it clear that irrespective of the conclusion in the verdict, written for the Bench by Justice Sathasivam, Haryana "is free to reconsider its earlier decision, if it so desires, and if circumstances warrant in the future years."

The court delivered the verdict while dismissing an appeal, challenging the February 5, 2008, judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and a writ petition.

The writ had sought quashing of the prospectus for the MD/MS/PG Diploma and MDS courses issued by Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, for the academic session 2007-08 as it did not provide for reservation of seats.

The court also did not agree with the contention that since the Centre was providing reservation for such candidates in the All-India Entrance Examination for PG courses, Haryana was bound to follow suit.

"It is true that the Government of India itself has made a provision for reservation of SC/ST categories. This is a decision by the Government of India and it is applicable in respect of the All-India Entrance Examination for MD/MS/PG Diploma and MDS courses, and reservation for SC/ST candidates.

“However, the same cannot automatically be applied to other selections where state governments have the power to regulate," the apex court ruled.

The Haryana Government had, through a notification on November 12, 2007, asked MDU, Rohtak, to conduct the entrance examination for admission in the MD/MS/PG Diploma and MDS courses to government medical and dental colleges in the state for the 2008-09 session and declare the results.

By the same notification, the government also asked Pt BD Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, to conduct counselling and finalise admission for the courses.

The court took note of the fact that the state government was constantly reviewing its reservation policy.

Sirsa, December 2
A probe into the functioning of a diagnostic centre here is likely to bring to light the large-scale sex determination of foetus and female foeticide in contravention of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique (PNDT) Act in Sirsa and its vicinity.

The illicit activity has interstate ramifications and among those on whose reference tests were being performed included persons sitting in high places in social, administrative, public and political life.

Doctors from Punjab have also been referring expectant women for sex detection tests to the diagnostic centre under the scanner.

Sources said the inquiry conducted by SDM SK Setia had revealed that over 600 unreported cases of ultrasounds of expectant women in July and August pointed towards violations of much greater dimensions. The owner of the centre had not been mentioning any of these cases in his official records. All these cases came to the notice of the authorities when they seized a computer from the centre.

The owner has not even filled the mandatory Form-F under the PNDT Act - a deficiency that is sufficient to file a criminal case against the doctor in a court of law.

The PNDT Act, according to legal experts, says any deficiency in the Form F will be construed as violation of the provisions of the Act and the onus of proving otherwise will lie on the doctor concerned.

Deputy Commissioner Yudhbir Singh Khyalia today set up a three-member committee to assist Setia in the inquiry. The committee includes Dr Ved Beniwal, patron of the Indian Medical Association and coordinator of the committee constituted by the district authorities on female foeticide, Dr Sanjeev Goyal, president of the Private Practioners Association, and Sadhna Mittal, protection officer under the Domestic Violence Act.

India’s first helpline on female foeticide set up by the Punjab government had received information regarding the sex determination and abortion of a foetus by a woman from Mansa (Punjab).

Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to reach out to each woman mentioned in the computer records.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Nuclear Power Corporation of India today initiated the process of setting up a 1400 mw nuclear power project in Haryana, which would be a green project with zero emission, thus posing no health hazard.

A team of senior officers led by the corporation chairman and MD, Dr SK Jain, held its first meeting with officers of Haryana to discuss various issues concerning the ambitious project, involving an investment of Rs 12,000 crore, before visiting the project site, located between Kumharia and Gorakhpur in Fatehabad, tomorrow.

The team will call on Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday in New Delhi. Dr Jain said the project would be based on indigenous technology of pressurised heavy water and its design was ready.

The corporation had set up 17 nuclear power projectsand four more were under construction. The Government of India had accorded approval in principal for setting up the plant in two phases, he said.

He said the pre-project work would be completed by 2010-11 or early 2012. Construction on the first and second units would begin by March 2012. Work on units 3 and 4 would commence after about three -four years when work on Kumharia 1 and 2 units was near completion.

The tariff for the project had been calculated at about Rs.2.70 per unit which was a very competitive rate considering the tariff prevailing in the coal-fired generation units.

He said the corporation had been setting up nuclear power generation projects in 50 to 60 months, which was unprecedented anywhere in the world.

Dr Jain assured that this would be a green project and the radiation level would be within the prescribed limit.

Therefore, it would pose no threat to people’s health.

The corporation would consider the proposal of the state government to set up a vocational training centre for the people of the area.

Ajit M Sharan expressed the government commitment to provide the corporation with all facilities for the project at the earliest. MD, Power Generation Corporation, Sanjeev Kaushal, presented the vote of thanks.

Hisar, December 2
Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, addressing party workers at his residence here on the second anniversary of the party, said he regretted allotting the party ticket on the recommendation of party office-bearers.

He now realised that this should not have been done.

He said he never tried bargaining with the Congress on the strength of his five MLAs, now with the Congress. “Had I wanted to extract political benefit for myself, I could have done so in 2005 itself,” he said, adding that the defecting legislators had deceived their voters for personal benefit.

Bishnoi said he now planned strengthen the party base. He would address party workers in the state beginning December 6 from Yamunanagar. The campaign would end on December 15.

Bishnoi accused the Vidhan Sabha Speaker, HS Chatha, of acting in a partisan manner, saying while the Speaker had allowed defections in less than 30 minutes, he had not supplied information he had sought on these defections even after three weeks.

He asked the workers not to feel let down by the setback.

They should rather strengthen the party by enrolling workers in all villages, he said. He assured them that the party would bounce back soon.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Haryana Congress has taken a strong exception to the statement of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal that Haryana has no right on the river waters flowing through Punjab according to the riparian principle.

Condemning the statement of Badal junior, spokesman for the Haryana Congress Ved Prakash Vidrohi said by issuing such statements, the Akali leader was indulging in “shoddy” politics.

He said according to the riparian principle, Haryana had the unchallenged right over the water flowing through Punjab before 1966, when Haryana and Punjab formed the joint state.

After Haryana state was carved out of Punjab on November 1, 1966, it had equal rights over the natural resources and financial assets of the joint Punjab. Haryana also had a right over the river waters flowing through Punjab.

It was for this reason that it was given a share in the waters of Ravi and Beas at the time of partition of Punjab and it was decided to construct the SYL canal.

Vidrohi said each and every commission that was set to solve the water dispute between Punjab and Haryana had ruled in favor of the latter. Now due to political reasons Badal was claiming that there was no legality of all these decisions.

He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal’s objections to the proposal of the central government regarding the recreation of the post of Chief Commissioner for the union territory of Chandigarh.

Vidrohi said while Badal talked about the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab on the basis of the Rajiv -Longowal accord, he was mum on the issue of sharing of the river waters and the construction of the SYL canal and giving Hindi-speaking areas of Punjab to Haryana.

He said before staking claim over Chandigarh, Badal should ensure the sharing of the river waters between the two states and the construction of the SYL canal.

Jhajjar, December 2
Taking note of news reports published in these columns, the district authorities have initiated steps to drain out rainwater accumulated in thousands of acres in several villages. Not only the number of pumps installed to remove the water have been increased, but a round-the- the task is accomplished at the earliest.

Nitin Yadav, Jhajjar DC, said that pumps had been installed at Khapadvaas, Dhodhri, Dhaud, Sheriya and Gochhi villages, which were the worst-hit.

“The irrigation officials have been directed to take stock of the situation in these villages periodically for rectifying any technical fault that may occur in the pump sets so that work is not hampered,” said Yadav.

He said the farmers had no reason to worry as they would be able to sow the wheat crop in their fields well in time.

Thousands of acres in these villages were inundated after incessant rain lashed the region two months ago.

The farmers had complained that work on dewatering the fields had been on at a snail’s pace on account of insufficient number of pumps.

They apprehended that they would be unable to sow the wheat crop under the circumstances.

Ambala, December 2
Several social organisations and philanthropists have come forward to offer financial support to meritorious student Sourabh Sharma, who could not continue his higher studies due to financial constraints.

The Tribune had carried a news report today in which it was mentioned that he had written a letter to the President in which he said he would commit suicide if his situation was not taken seriously.

Haryana Chief Secretary Urvashi Gulati today called up Ambala Additional Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria and directed her to provide all possible financial assistance to Sourabh to continue his further studies.

Kataria said the Chief Secretary had directed her to take the matter on priority basis. She was of the view that no meritorious student should be deprived of education due to poverty, she added.

Ambala Deputy Commissioner Samir Pal Saro also conveyed his full support to Sourabh. He said the Ambala district administration would give financial support to his sister too if she wanted to go for higher studies.

The ADC said she called Sourabh and his mother in her office today and listened to their problems. She said Sourabh’s mother had already been offered a job in an anganwadi.

GMN College, Ambala Cantt, has also agreed to bear all expenses of Sourabh’s education. The college has given him admission in BCA as he wanted to do MCA.

The last date of admission in BCA has already expired. Therefore, the Ambala administration will take up the matter with the Vice Chancellor of Kurukshetra University for relaxation.

Meanwhile, a Kurukshetra-based social organisation, “Prerna”, another from Patiala - Rahat - and the Brahmin Sabha, Ambala, have offered support to Sourabh.

Former Inspector General of Police of Haryana RN Vasudeva, who runs a charitable trust in the memory of his mother in Karnal, also said he wanted to bear all expenses of Sourabh’s higher studies. Three industrialists of Ambala have also offered help to Sourabh.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Haryana Government has constituted a high-powered purchase committee and special high-powered purchase committee under Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

A circular by the Industries and Commerce Department states that all store purchases valued above Rs 30 lakh will be decided by high-powered purchase committee. Besides, it will decide on finalising rate contracts and indents which are received by the Directorate of Supplies and Disposals, Haryana. The committee, headed by the Chief Minister, will consist of the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, Industries Minister, minister in charge of the Indenting Department, Financial Commissioners and Principal Secretaries. The Director, Supplies and Disposal, will be member secretary. The special high-powered purchase committee will decide all purchase cases valued above Rs 50 lakh, processed by boards/corporations/federations. In case of Power Utilities, purchases valued above Rs 10 crore and turnkey projects valued above Rs 50 crore are to be decided by this committee.

Besides, it will decide on purchase of items required by government departments, which are not store items, are processed by the departments concerned and are valued above Rs 30 lakh. This committee too will be chaired by the CM and will comprise the Finance Minister, Agriculture Minister, Industries Minister and minister in charge of the Indenting Department.

Chandigarh, December 2
The Haryana government has implemented a new scheme, “Jawahar Social Infrastructure Mission”, to lay thrust on the areas of the disability sector, senior citizens and children in the state and a budget provision of Rs 150 crore has been made for three years. Stating this in his message issued here on the eve of World Disability Day, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said under the first-of-its-kind project special schools or institutes would be set up at the district level for the benefit of differently abled, senior citizens and children.

The government has also decided to launch senior citizen clubs. Under the scheme, as many as 1,000 such clubs will be set up in rural areas.

Kaithal, December 2
A new railway station will be set up on Kaithal-Kurukshetra railway line near new bus stand on Ambala-Jind road.

Political secretary to MP Naveen Jindal RS Yadav said here today that there is too much distance between the new bus stand and the existing railway station, thus, a halt station is required.

Jindal had taken up the matter with the Railway Ministry and requested for a halt station. Following the request, chief commercial manager MS Chalia had written to Naveen Jindal that the formalities for opening a station at HUDA Colony near bus stand had been completed. Chalia had further asked him to suggest a name for the station.

Jind, December 2
Two youths at Haat village died at the couture shop that caught fire while they were asleep inside last night.

The deceased, Sandeep (22) and Anil (23), had been running the shop for a couple of years.

The police suspects that they may have fallen asleep even as a candle kept burning, which may have led to the accident.

The deceased were friends. The villagers have sought compensation for kin of the victims, as they claim that they were poor and had no other source of income.