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Defaulter MLAs will have to pay up
Major relief for liquor industry
Delhi-Gurgaon expressway |
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Don’t call women, elderly to police stations, cops told
579 posts of doctor lie vacant in govt hospitals
Jind consumers cry foul over LPG shortage
HJC gears up for rally on Dec 2
Left parties burn Obama’s effigy
DC: Meet poll panel guidelines
Mystery shrouds death of couple
Poll rivalry: Sirsa villagers set shop on fire
Former VC Vinay Kumar dead
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Defaulter MLAs will have to pay up
Chandigarh, November 9 The Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, decided to insert Section 8A after Section 8 to allow recovery of dues from the MLAs or their legal representatives as arrears of land revenue. The Cabinet also approved certain perks for the MLAs, who will now be entitled to salary. Besides, a grant of Rs 1 lakh per annum would be kept at their disposal for undertaking various development activities in their respective constituencies. The decision to give salary to the MLAs and to enhance the salary of the Chief Minister, Ministers, the Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Minister of States and the Deputy Speaker were announced in the last session of the assembly. The MLAs will now get a monthly salary of Rs 10,000. The salaries of the Chief Minister, Ministers, Speaker, Leader of Opposition, Minister of State and Deputy Speaker have been enhanced from Rs 20,000 per month to Rs 40,000 a month. The sumptuary allowance of the Chief Minister has been enhanced form Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000, that of Ministers, Speaker, Ministers of State and Deputy Speaker from Rs 7500 to Rs 15,000, of the Leader of opposition from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 and that of MLAs from Rs 3000 to Rs 5000. Other monthly allowances of MLAs have also been enhanced. The office allowance has been enhanced form Rs 2500 to Rs 5000, secretarial allowance from Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 and constituency allowance from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Their travelling allowance has been enhanced from Rs 12 km per day to Rs 15 per km. The pension of former MLAs has been enhanced from Rs 5000 per month to Rs 7,500 per month. The Cabinet reduced the stamp duty on purchase of residential property to be paid by former and serving defence personnel by one per cent. This concession will be available once in lifetime. It also reduced the stamp duty by one per cent on gift of self-acquired immovable property to son or daughter or father or mother or spouse. This decision would benefit beneficiaries to the tune of Rs 1 crore to 1.5 crore. Hand-woven, handmade khadi blankets and “khes”, poly-khadi fabrics, khadi garments and cotton durrees manufactured and sold by khadi institutions have been exempted from VAT. Dry municipal waste fuel has also been exempted from VAT keeping in view its socio eco-friendly advantages.
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Major relief for liquor industry
Chandigarh, November 9 The significant ruling by the Division Bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal came on a bunch of two petitions filed by Haryana Distillery and other petitioners against the State of Haryana and other respondents. In its petition, Haryana Distillery had challenged the order of assessment under the provisions of the Haryana General Sales Tax Act. The petitioner had contended paddy husk was used as fuel in the process of manufacturing liquor. “The assessing authority held the turnover of purchase to be liable to purchase tax under Section 9 of the Act and the appellate authority and the tribunal upheld the order”. Counsel for the petitioner added: “Section 9 of the Act was attracted only when goods were purchased and used in manufacture of goods or disposed of in any other manner in the course of inter-state sale or export”. According to the petitioner: “Goods purchased as fuel could not be held to have been used for the purpose of manufacture of goods”. The state, on the other hand, asserted that “the petitioner had not argued before the lower authorities that paddy husk was used as fuel in the manufacture of liquor”. After hearing the parties, the Bench ruled: “The question is whether paddy husk used only as an aid in manufacture falls under Section 9 of the Act…. We find merit in the contention that paddy husk used as fuel in the process of manufacture of liquor cannot be held to be used as raw material. The only purpose for which the paddy husk could be used in the process was as fuel”. The Bench concluded: “The writ petitions are allowed and levy of purchase tax on turnover of purchase of paddy husk by the petitioner is quashed”. |
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Delhi-Gurgaon expressway
Chandigarh, November 9 In an affidavit filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, she has said there are 32 toll collection windows at “Km 24 toll plaza” and 16 at “Km 42 toll plaza”. Moreover, underpasses and foot overbridges on NH-8 are not adequate and foot over-bridges with escalators are required at the Hero Honda, Narsinghpur and Khandsa Chowks. She has suggested that the Delhi Municipal Corporation contractor be advised to introduce the pre-paid tag to reduce traffic jam at toll collections points. For heavy vehicles to drive on the left side of the highway, a yellow strip should be marked. The other suggestions include traffic lights at Rajeev
Chowk, modification of Shankar Chowk and IFFCO Chowk flyovers into cloverleaves to give free way to vehicles coming from and going towards cyber city DLF-II, Udyog Vihar and MG Road. Arora has also suggested sewerage water disposal system at Hero Honda Chowk. Taking up the matter, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Mukul Mudgal and Justice Ranjan Gogoi directed National Highways Authority of India to inform the court on steps being taken for providing passages to pedestrians and vehicles going from one side of the expressway to the other before the next date of hearing, December 7. |
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Runaway couple alleges police harassment
Fatehabad, November 9 The couple - Rajesh and Priyanka - today met SP Jagwant Singh Lamba, where the girl said in a written application to the SP that the police department would be responsible for their deaths in case they were driven to take the extreme step. However, denying the allegations, Lamba maintained that the couple has visited him for the first time and he had asked the SHO to provide protection to them. Priyanka, a Punjabi, said she married Rajesh, a Jat, from Khumber village on July 12 in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. “My parents, a brother and two maternal uncles have been threatening to liquidate us ever since I have married Rajesh and now even the police has been working hand in glove with them,” Priyanka alleged in a letter to the SP. She alleged that her parents attacked her husband on the local court premises on October 30, but the police did not take any action against them on the complaint filed by Rajesh. On the contrary, the cops had been allegedly visiting her marital home and harassing them on flimsy grounds. “I have married Rajesh whom I loved for four years and have got the marriage registered with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, but the police, who should protect us, has been persecuting us at the instance of my parents,” Priyanka alleged. She said if these circumstances continued to prevail, they would be left with no alternative but to end their lives. The SP maintained that the girl’s mother had complained that Rajesh had threatened her of dire consequences on phone. He added that Rajesh was also facing a criminal case, though later he said the police had no role in that case now as the case had already reached the trial stage. Lamba said the couple had no reason to commit suicide as they had come to him for the first time today and he had already asked the SHO concerned to provide them security. He said the suicide threat appeared to him as a ploy to pressurise the police. |
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Don’t call women, elderly to police stations, cops told
Gurgaon, November 9 Speaking at the launch of “Childline se Dosti” campaign at his office here today, Deswal advised the station house officers (SHOs) to ensure that their subordinates behaved in a courteous manner with the elderly and women. The Police Commissioner maintained that the statement of a woman should be recorded only by a woman police official. Referring to cases of child abuse, Deswal pointed out that the Gurgaon police had adopted a “zero-tolerance” approach towards cases of child abuse, which meant that no person involved in child abuse would be spared. He appealed to the affected children, their parents and the school authorities to report the cases of child abuse instead of suppressing these. “Such cases can be reported on police control room numbers 100 and 0124-2316100 or on woman and child helpline number 0124- 2335100. Joint Commissioner of Police Alok Mittal, DCP (west) Maheshwar Dayal, DCP (traffic) Bharti Arora, DCP (crime) Anil Dhawan, DCP (headquarters) Kulwinder Singh, DCP (south) Pala Ram, besides ACPs and SHOs were also present at the inaugural programme, which was organised by two NGOs - Childline and Shakti Vahini. Nishikant from Childline said the campaign would continue till November 14. The rescued children kept at “Arushi Home” tied friendship bands on the wrists of the police officers and the Police Commissioner gave them presents. |
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579 posts of doctor lie vacant in govt hospitals
Jhajjar, November 9 This revelation was recently made by the Department of Health, Haryana, in its report sent to an RTI activist, who had sought information under the Right to Information Act regarding the strength of doctors in government hospitals and response of health schemes launched by the Congress to improve the health services and infrastructure in the state. As per the information made available by the health authorities to RTI activist Subhash, state coordinator of the Haryana Soochna Adhikar Manch, as many as 579 out of 1,451 sanctioned posts of doctors are vacant at various government hospitals of 21 districts in the state. Besides, 90 doctors absent themselves persistently without giving any information to the authorities concerned for a long time while 27 doctors are on leave with official
permission. |
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Museum acquires rare images
Kurukshetra November 9 “The saptamatrika or the seven mothers consisting of the Brahmani (female counterpart of Brahma), Maheshwari (female counterpart of Lord Shiva), Indrani (female counterpart of Lord Indra), Kaumari (female counterpart of Skandh or Kartikey), Vaishnavi (female counterpart of Lord Vishnu), Chamunda (the fierce form of Shakti) and Varahi (female counterpart of Varaha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu) are beautifully carved behind the reclining image. The feminine representation Lord Vishnu depicted as a mother feeding her baby is shown alongside the image of Vaishnavi. The central image is that of female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Vaishnavi, with the seven mothers depicted in the backdrop. Since, she is the counterpart of Lord Vishnu or Narayana or Sheshasayi, the seshanaga or the seven-hooded serpent is shown canopying Lord Vaishnavi. Goddess Lakshmi, the consort of Narayana, is shown touching the feet of Vaishnavi. Virbhadra (a form of Lord Shiva) is shown standing with a sword on the right side of the image. There is also an image of Goddess Shakti found from the Shaktipeeth of Savitri or the Bhadrakali of Thanesar. In sixth and seventh century AD, Thanesar was known for Shaktism and tantric mysticism. The rare icon was deteriorating with the sand stone having been pulverised. Now it has been acquired by the local Srikrishna museum to be preserved for posterity. The icon will be on display at the museum. According to the curator, it will first be treated with ammonia for removal of algae and other micro vegetation and then will be subjected to paper pulp treatment for removal of other acidic agents. Finally, it will be treated with poly vinyl acetate which will consolidate the leaching of the stone. This kind of image has never been discovered before. It is one of the finest early Pratihar images found in this part of Haryana. Pratihar is the name of the dynasty which preceded the great Gupta dynasty which ruled northern and central India from 8 century to 11 century AD. Pehowa and Kurukshetra are believed to have been important centres of religion, culture and trade during the period of the Pratihars. The most important epigraphical records of Pehowa inscriptions of King Mahendra Pal I have been found here. Ashish Sabharwal of the local Kaleshwar Temple Trust, has been instrumental in the temple donating the icon to the museum for its better preservation. |
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Jind consumers cry foul over LPG shortage
Jind, November 9 “Though the authorities concerned keep claiming that there is no short supply of cooking gas in the district, one can see long queues at LPG agencies with consumers complaining about delay in delivery of gas cylinders,” claimed Ravinder a local resident. He said he had booked a refill over a month back but had not received the supply yet. Blaming the agencies for the “lapse”, Sanjay another resident alleged that the gas cylinders were being sold on the black market at Rs 550 -Rs 600. He claimed it was mainly the employees who indulged in such malpractices to make a quick buck. “I have been making rounds of the gas agency for the past several days but in vain,” claimed Sandeep, hailing from a nearby village. He alleged that several residents in his village were getting their supply on time “because they are willing to pay the black market rates.” He alleged a nexus between officials and supply outlets. The authorities claim that there have been no complaints regarding unauthorised supply. “Raids are being conducted regularly to check irregularities with requests to the companies to increase the supply,” claimed Anita Kharab, District Food and Supply Controller. |
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HJC gears up for rally on Dec 2
Fatehabad, November 9 Bishnoi had founded the HJC (BL) in Rohtak on December 2, 2007, and had once emerged a strong contender for power in Haryana. However, his support base started weaning away gradually and he could win six seats in the last Assembly elections. Five of his MLAs are now supporting the Congress government led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda and are facing charges under the Anti-Defection Law. Devi Lal Manjhu, chairman of the Media Coordination Committee of the party, told mediapersons here today that Bishnoi had appointed “Prabharis” (in charge) for the 10 parliamentary seats of the state to mobilise people for the rally. Former Rajya Sabha member Ramji Lal and former MLA Sube Singh Punia have been given the charge of the Hisar parliamentary constituency. The others are former MP Jangweer Singh Malik and former MLA Mula Ram (Bhiwani), former minister Dharamvir Yadav (Gurgaon), Rajinder Chaudhary and Kuldeep Bhambhu (Sirsa), Satpal Kaushik and Dalbir Balmiki (Ambala), Balkar Singh and Subhash Sharma (Kurukshetra), Jai Bhagwan Sharma and Ramesh Bajaj (Sonepat) and Vijender Singhal for the Rohtak parliamentary seat. Manjhu said the “Prabharis” had started mobilisation of people in their respective areas and soon former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal and party supremo Kuldeep Bishnoi would start statewide tours to campaign for the rally. “The rally will reestablish Bishnoi among masses,” claimed
Manjhu. |
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Left parties burn Obama’s effigy
Sirsa, November 9 Jai Chand Saharani, district secretary of the CPI, and Raj Kumar Shekhupuria, district secretary of the CPM, alleged that the Indian government had mortgaged the nation’s interest in the hands of “American imperialism.” They alleged that the US had always exhibited hegemony while dealing with India and had made the government bend backwards to toe the US lines on business and strategic issues. “There have been no changes in American policies and only the leadership has changed from Bush to Obama. However, their imperialistic attitude has not changed,” alleged Swaran Singh Virk, a senior functionary of the CPI. The protesters were carrying banners denouncing the US’s role in Afghanistan and Iraq and demanding justice to Bhopal gas-disaster victims. The protesters later submitted a memorandum to DC CG Rajini Kaanthan. |
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DC: Meet poll panel guidelines
Sonepat, November 9 In a meeting of these officers held here last evening, the DC said booth-level officers (BLOs) must be of the same village and directed that a meeting of all BLOs should be convened at the earliest to make them aware about the new guidelines of the Election Commission. The electoral rolls supplied by the BLOs would be checked by the district education officer (DEO), he said. The DC directed the officers of the Sonepat MC and municipalities at Gohana, Gannaur and Kharkhoda to put up large-size hoardings at five public places in each town for information of the general public. |
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Mystery shrouds death of couple
Jind, November 9 The deceased, Ramsharan (34) and his wife Nirmala (30), were rushed to a private clinic late last night. They had reportedly consumed poison. No case has been registered so far. In another incident, a 22-year-old girl was allegedly raped by two residents at Morkhi village last night. She was tied up and gagged. A case was registered after a medical examination of the victim this morning. The accused, a youth and his uncle, have absconded. In yet another case, the police has booked nine persons for assault and opening fire at Nirjan village. One person, identified as Satyawan, injured in the attack, has been admitted in the PGIMS
at Rohtak. Sirsa: The police has arrested a member of a gang of car thieves and recovered three stolen cars from his possession. The accused Darshan Singh of Gobind Nagar, was sent to three-day police remand. Police sources said SI Om Parkash, in charge of the anti-theft cell of the district police, was instrumental in nabbing the thief. |
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Poll rivalry: Sirsa villagers set shop on fire
Sirsa, November 9 The shop belonged to temple priest Trilok Chand. A section of villagers had earlier lodged a complaint with the authorities that Trilok Chand had been making commercial use of the land given by the village panchayat to his late father for the temple. The authorities are yet to take action on the
complaint. |
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Former VC Vinay Kumar dead
Hisar, November 9 He vacated the office on attaining the age of 65 in 2003. Thereafter, he was appointed Director-General of Chaudhry Devi Lal Vidyapeeth, Sirsa, for more than two years. Vinay Kumar hailed from Mansa district in Punjab. He was considered an authority on educational law and university statutes. He is survived by two sons.
— TNS |
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