Hisar, October 21
Bollywood actor-turned-MP Jaya Prada said here today that Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda should ensure the welfare of all castes and communities in the state.

She was here to deputise for Amar Singh, founder of the Lok Manch and former Samajwadi Party leader, at a function organised by the Rajput Vikas Manch and the Haryana Vanchit Varg Sangharsh Samiti.

Talking to mediapersons, she said there were reports that the business community in the state was being harassed by criminals and extortionists.

This was a serious matter and immediate steps were required to protect the people in general and businessmen in particular.

Asked if political parties tended to rope in glamorous personalities and then dump them, she said while parties welcomed celebrities, glamour alone could not take them far.

She said she had been became MP thrice because of her ability. Jaya said she was happy working with Amar Singh in a non-political organisation.

Meanwhile, the Rajput Vikas Manch and Haryana Vanchit Varg Sangharsh Samiti decided to organise a Rath Yatra in the state next month to “seek
justice” for non-Jat communities.

Amar Singh could not attend the function because of indisposition. 

Chandigarh, October 21
Just over four years after the state of Haryana refused to release “running” industrial units in Panipat from the land acquisition process, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the order.

Allowing a bunch of as many nine petitions, Justice Jasbir Singh and Justice Augustine George Masih also referred the matter to the “competent authority”.

The petitioners, KK International and others, had sought the quashing of order dated May 6, 2006, vide which their request to release running industrial units from acquisition was rejected. The units were “wrongly ordered to be acquired by alleging they were running dyeing units”.

Taking up the petitions, the Bench asserted: “We have perused the electricity bills; and the photographs…. Because no finding was given by the competent authority as to whether the unit was in existence and running when notice under Section 4 was issued, we deem it appropriate to allow this writ petition and quash the order dated May 6, 2006, and remit the matter to the competent authority to decide it again”.

The Bench directed: “The petitioners be given an opportunity to produce the evidence to show that its unit was in existence and running, when notice under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act was issued. The competent authority then shall pass an appropriate order.

“It is made clear that if it is proved that the petitioners’ unit was in existence and running when notice under Section 4 of the Act was issued, its land will be released on the same terms and conditions, which were imposed with regard to 28 units whose land was exempted when the matter was pending in the Supreme Court”.

The Bench also asked the petitioners “to appear before the competent authority, the director, town and country planning-cum-urban estate, Haryana, at Chandigarh on October 26, who shall then provide two effective opportunities to the petitioners to produce the evidence and then pass a speaking order…. The needful be done within a period of two months”.

Hisar, October 21
Rowdyism marred the closing function of Foundation Day celebrations at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology here late last night.

The university authorities were forced to end the celebrations mid-way.

Trouble arose when a large number of outsiders occupied seats in the front rows. The venue was the university’s faculty house.

As girls began performing the Haryanvi folk dance, several drunken youths started making lewd gestures and remarks. Some stood on their chairs and danced.

At this, university students seated at the back, objected to their view being blocked.

The rowdy elements, instead of relenting, hurled abuses at the students. They also tried to molest some girl students.

When the university students tried to stop them, the outsiders began to throw chairs at them.

They damaged property and furniture. All this took place in the presence of Vice Chancellor ML Ranga and Inspector-General of Police AK Dhull.

The VC immediately directed that the celebrations be stopped.

Meanwhile, the IG summoned a large police posse from the city police station. Seeing the police force descending on the venue, the outsiders slipped away.

The petrified girls were escorted to their hostels by police personnel. 

Rohtak, October 21
The Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) authorities have decided to hike the fee of the physical education courses, including the Bachelor of Physical Education (B.PEd), Master of Physical Education (M.PEd), M.Phil and all such courses being run by the private unaided colleges and institutes affiliated to the university.

The hike will be effective for the present academic session of the varsity.

The B.PEd students would have to pay the revised annual fee of Rs 20,000, which includes the tuition fee of Rs 5,000 and the development charges, instead of earlier fee of Rs 14,635 per annum. The students of M.PEd would have to pay Rs 3,000 instead of Rs 2,495. The new fee for the M.Phil course would be Rs 10,000 per annum.

For private unaided colleges, the revised fee would be Rs 16,000 for the C.PEd course, while it would be Rs 24,000 per annum for the students of B.PEd course. The M.PEd students would be paying an amount of Rs 24,000, it was added. — TNS

Chandigarh, October 21
The Haryana government has issued transfer and posting orders of seven IPS officers with immediate effect.

Sandeep Khirwar will be the new Superintendent of Police (SP), Yamunanagar, in place of Sibash Kabiraj who goes as SP Commando, Newal, Karnal, while Simardeep Singh has been posted as the Kaithal Superintendent of Police..

Hanif Qureshi has been posted as the Hisar Superintendent of Police, while Pankaj Nain goes as Panipat SP. Rajinder Singh will take over as Commandant 4th Bn. HAP, Madhuban, and Rajbir will be SP (Crime).