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SC: Perpetrators deserve gallows
New Projects in Faridabad, Panipat
MCG Elections
Counting to be done at
polling stations
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Kalanaur firing case takes political colour
Mend your ways or face action, minister tells docs
Lift ban on export of wheat: Farmers
Committee on restructuring of UHBVN soon
Mid-day meal dish list revised
KU Registrar resigns
Gen Vats may head HPSC
Sarpanch’s Murder
Ellenabad Murders
5 hurt in clash, candidate booked
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SC: Perpetrators deserve gallows
“It is time to stamp out these barbaric, feudal practices which are a slur on our nation. This is necessary as a deterrent for such outrageous, uncivilised behaviour. All persons who are planning to perpetrate ‘honour’ killings should know that the gallows await them,” a Bench comprising Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra held. The apex court made the remarks while upholding the conviction of a person who had killed his daughter for living in an incestuous relationship with her uncle after walking over her husband. The crime had taken place in Delhi in May, 2006. The SC Bench opined that both the trial court and the Delhi High Court had given “very cogent reasons” for convicting the appellant as there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence. “Honour killings have become commonplace in many parts of the country, particularly in Haryana, western UP and Rajasthan. Often young couples who fall in love have to seek shelter in the Police Lines or protection homes to avoid the wrath of kangaroo courts…In our opinion, honour killings, for whatever reason, come within the category of rarest of rare cases deserving death punishment,” the apex court ruled. A copy of the judgment should be given to all HCs and the courts below, state Chief Secretaries, police chiefs and Home Secretaries in order to create awareness among those responsible for checking such crimes, the court said. |
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New Projects in
Faridabad, Panipat
Chandigarh, May 9 Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, Finance, Forest and Environment Minister, said the government had formulated a policy for shifting potentially polluting textile or dyeing units from non-conforming areas to the approved Industrial Estate in Sector-29, Part-II, at Panipat. A common effluent treatment plant had been set up for the treatment of industrial effluent generated from these textile or dyeing units. The board was taking strict action such as closure of units that were not conforming to the standards. He said that the HSPCB was conducting regular monitoring of polluting industries by inspection of pollution control devices installed by these units and also monitoring the operation of sewage treatment plants and common effluent treatment plants set up by Public Health Engineering Department, HUDA and the HSIIDC. He said that 17 categories of highly polluting industries had been directed to set up continuous online stack monitoring stations to ensure compliance of standards on air emissions. Continuous online monitoring stations would also be set up at inter-state points of Yamuna river at Palla village and Badarpur to ascertain the level of pollution in the river on a continuous basis. He said that an integrated municipal solid waste mManagement facility had already been set up for treatment and safe disposal of municipal solid waste at Bandhwari village for Gurgaon and Faridabad towns. A common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal facility (TSDF) had already been set up at Pali village, Faridabad, for scientific disposal of hazardous waste generated from various industries. Individual effluent treatment plants and air pollution control devices had also been got installed at all polluting industries of Faridabad and Panipat towns to ensure compliance of the standards and stringent action was being taken against the defaulting units. Three integrated solid waste management sites were under execution for Rohtak, Karnal, Indri or Ghraunda and Yamunanagar or Jagadhri. The Centre was providing help under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for small and medium towns. |
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MCG Elections
Gurgaon, May 9 Arora, who was accompanied by state INLD spokesperson KC Bangar, national vice-president Anantram Tanwar, secretary RS Chaudhary, MLA Mohammed Illyas and party’s district unit president Gopi Chand Gehlot, said if voted to power, the INLD would scrap the house tax policy framed by the present regime and there would be no tax on the self-occupied houses in the MCG area. As per the manifesto, the INLD would get purification plants in all waterworks and ensure the supply of clean drinking water to all colonies and villages in the municipal limits. The INLD leaders asserted that on coming to power, the party would regularise all colonies which have come up under the MCG area so far and also develop the villages in the municipal area, which had been converted into slums. They also promised the construction of the requisite flyovers and subways, an interstate bus terminus, another general hospital, a number of parks, community centres and other civic facilities, apart from city bus service. |
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Counting to be done at
polling stations
Chandigarh, May 9 State Election Commissioner Dharam Vir said the details of votes polled at each polling station would be prepared by the presiding officer and forwarded to the returning officer for counting of votes. The Police Commissioner, Gurgaon, would deploy additional police force as per requirement at sensitive polling stations at the time of counting. He said adequate police force would be deployed on the buildings having more than four polling stations. Additional police force, if required, would also be arranged. The Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner would ensure that counting at each polling station was done in a free, fair and peaceful manner. As soon as the result was prepared by the presiding officer, it would be got signed from all candidates or election agents or counting agents present during counting. |
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Namesake steps into Monica’s shoes
Bhiwani, May 9 Now, her namesake, Monica, an MCom final-year student of FC College, Hisar, and native of Chhapar village in Bhiwani district, has decided to undertake “nikasi” in her village before taking seven vows with her groom. Chhapar is a Jat-dominated village and Monica Sangwan has decided not to be attired in the traditional bridal dress. “Since I have decided not to follow the age-old tradition, so I’ll dress up in a suit like a bridegroom and I will carry a sword on the occasion,” said a confident-looking Monica. She said by doing so I want to send across a message to women who call their daughters “paraya dhan”. Monica, her mother Kamlesh Sangwan, who is an anganwari worker, and two others arrived at the Red Cross Society office here today and met its secretary Shyam Sunder Sharma to urge him to include them in the “Beti Bachao” movement. The “ghurchari” will be a different this time as 151 members of various clubs, who are still bachelors, will also attend this “social and revolutionary move”. These youth will give a message: “Curb the menace of female foeticide”. Kamlesh has invited anganwari workers and officials for this “ghurchari”, who will work for the honour of women and promote the “Beti Bachao” movement among people. Monica will marry Satender Kundu of Kinala village in Hisar district on May 12. Satender, an engineer, works as a supervisor with a company in Chandigarh. Monica, daughter of ex-serviceman Dharambir Singh, is excited about undertaking “ghurchari” and has invited her friends and colleagues. Dharambir has hired a white mare for the “ghurchari” ceremony, which, he says is “a sign of peace and serenity”. To support the “ghurchari” ceremony, members of social organisations like JAGO, the Art of Living and the Red Cross Society will also arrive at Chhapar village tomorrow and will urge people to stop female foeticide. |
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Pensioners allege ill-treatment, stage demonstrations
Fatehabad, May 9 Pensioners from ward No. 19 of Fatehabad town assembled in Geeta Mandir here at 9 am as per the schedule given to them, but there was no distribution of pension till afternoon. Kaushalya, a widow from the ward, alleged that she stood under the sun for five hours to get pension. A senior citizen alleged that an official lighted cigarette inside the temple at regular intervals despite their requests. Gurmeet Kaur, another widow from the ward, alleged that pensioners, particularly women, were ill-treated and humiliated by the officials. At Tohana, pension seekers expressed resentment after they had to return empty-handed from the municipal council’s office. SDM, Fatehabad, Baljeet Singh said the officials of a private company were in the process of preparing smart cards of the pension beneficiaries, so that they could get their benefits directly through the bank. However, those who have not received their cards so far were being given their pension in cash by the company officials. He said the authorities would monitor the distribution of pension in future so that senior citizens, widows and differently abled were not humiliated. SONEPAT: A large number of old age, widow and disability pensioners from various wards of the district led by state media in charge of the BJP Rajiv Jain on Monday staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum to Pankaj Aggarwal, DC, for taking necessary action to streamline the pension-distribution schedule. The DC assured that he would direct the officers of the Social Welfare Department to streamline the pension distribution programme, ensuring that the elderly did not face any inconvenience. The protesters demanded disbursement of pension in one ward on one day, inclusion of officials experienced in distributing pension in the team, deployment of the police at the pension-disbursing venue and necessary corrections in the names of pensioners. They also sought action against the officials, who insult the elderly. |
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Residents gherao DC’s office over choked sewers
Faridabad, May 9 While a large number of men protesters took off their shirts, women were seen carrying roses “to be presented to Deputy Commissioner Praveen Kumar in a sarcastic way” to drive home the point that their problem relating to poor sewerage remained unresolved in spite of several representations to him. They alleged that most of the sewer lines in their area remained choked. Finding the Deputy Commissioner “missing” from his office, the protesters squatted before the entrance to his office and gheraoed it. The residents of HUDA Sector 55 and the Housing Board Colony have been raising their demand for rectification of sewer lines for the past 15 months, but to no avail. The residents’ welfare associations have formed a joint action committee to spearhead their agitation in this regard. Five members have been sitting on an indefinite past to press the authorities to do the needful. The indefinite fast by the five members, including two women, entered the sixth day today. |
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Kalanaur firing case takes political colour
Rohtak, May 9 Even as the police claims to be in the process of identifying the main accused in the incident, supporters of the former MLA have condemned the registration of a case against him and have dared the police to arrest the accused. While all 22 accused, including former MLA Balbir Singh, alias Bali Pehalwan, who belong to Mokhra village in the district, have decried the police action, a delegation of residents of nearby villages, including Basana, Nighana, Sanghhera, Katesara and Gudhan, met the Chief Minister here yesterday and demanded the immediate arrest of all the accused. One person was killed while several others were injured in the firing incident that took place on Thursday after a clash between two groups at Kalanaur. It is alleged that a group led by the former MLA opened fire on some persons after a verbal dual over an issue concerning donations for a cow shelter. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had announced that the guilty would not be spared. The representation made by the villagers and the subsequent statement made by the CM, however, did not go down well with the supporters of the INLD leader at Mokhra village, who claimed that the former MLA had been falsely implicated. They demanded the withdrawal of the case. They said they would not let the police enter the village and arrest the former MLA. |
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Mend your ways or face action, minister tells docs
Gurgaon, May 9 Expressing displeasure at the state of affairs in the local General Hospital during a surprise inspection today, the minister categorically told the doctors to focus on their work instead of pleasing their superiors. “Buttering your bosses will not serve the purpose for which you have been posted here,” Rao Narender said, adding that he was shocked to see the situation at the hospital. The minister found that there was no water supply at the hospital and proper hygiene was not being maintained. Some patients and their attendants also complained of doctors’ and paramedical staff’s rude behaviour. Rao Narender pulled up the hospital authorities and told them to pull up their socks and perform their duties with sincerity and dedication. The hospital authorities were taken for a surprise as the minister came to the hospital unannounced. It was only when that the minister entered the emergency ward of the hospital that the Civil Surgeon and the Principal Medical Officer were informed about his visit. He conveyed his disapproval of the hospital mismanagement and directed the hospital authorities to ensure the provision of requisite facilities and maintenance of proper cleanliness in the hospital. |
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Lift ban on export of wheat: Farmers
Sonepat/Panipat, May 9 The government had imposed a ban on wheat exports in 2007 to keep the prices of the commodity under control. The country had to import around 7.3 million tonnes of wheat in 2006-2007 after which a ban was imposed on the exports. With traders estimating that around 3 million tonnes of wheat can easily be exported without having any bearing on the food security of the country, the farmers are demanding that the ban be lifted. Inderjit Singh from Nana village in Panipat district said it was in the interests of all that the ban be revoked. He said Indian wheat could fetch Rs 15 to Rs 16 per kg in the international market, while the domestic price was around Rs 12 a kg. Kuldip Singh of Tajpur village in Sonepat district and a representative of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) said there was high demand for Indian wheat in the international market. Besides, lifting of the ban would help save the grains from getting wasted in godowns. The Union Agriculture Ministry has estimated that wheat production in the country will record a high of 81.47 million tonnes this year. Last year, the country produced around 80.80 million tonnes of wheat. Before the ban on exports was imposed, the country had exported 47,000 tonnes of wheat in 2006-07 and around 2 million tonnes in 2004-05. Rajinder Duhan, another farmer from Dodwah village in Sonepat, said millions of tonnes of wheat got damaged in storehouses across the country. He said cultivation was not a lucrative occupation these days because of the high input costs. He said lifting of the ban would enable farmers reap better profits, which would improve there financial position. Meanwhile, officials said the government was adopting a cautious approach as lifting of the ban could lead to a rise in the prices of wheat. They said the government would take a decision in this regard only after assessing the whole situation. |
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Shahbad to be subdivision
Kurukshetra, May 9 He also announced Rs 5 crore for the development of villages in the Shahabad area and Rs 2 crore for municipal wards falling under this subdivision. He assured local MP Naveen Jindal and Dhantori that an industrial estate would be set up at Shahbad on their demand. The other announcements made by Hooda included the construction of a “pucca road” from Tangore village to Tangori and early completion of the construction work on Ajrana Mandi. Cabinet approval would be taken to construct Shaheed Udham Singh Memorial soon at Shahbad, he added. The construction work on the second phase of the Dadupur Nalvi canal would be completed by June. He said the UPA government at the Centre had not only succeeded in providing remunerative prices to farmers for their produce, but had also provided low-priced foodgrains to the poor. Hooda also laid the foundation stone of a women hostel at Markandeshwar Hockey Stadium to be built at a cost of Rs 41 lakh. |
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Committee on restructuring of UHBVN soon
Panipat, May 9 The committee will comprise representatives of the administration, engineers and the workers’ union and will be formed soon. It will be asked to submit its report before June 30 this year, following which the modalities to restructure the nigam will be initiated. A decision in this regard was taken recently at a meeting of representatives of the HSEB Workers Union and the Managing Director of the UHBVN. The committee will consider the justification, abolition and creation of various posts in the nigam to further streamline its working. Power engineers have been demanding that the nigam be restructured. Hailing the decision, RS Dahiya, president of the workers’ union, said restructuring of the nigam would go a long way in bringing efficiency in the working of distribution companies. He said restructuring of the power utilities was the need of the hour as the workload had increased manifold and the creation of new posts was a must to provide better services to consumers. |
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Mid-day meal dish list revised
Chandigarh, May 9 A spokesman of the Elementary Education Department said the students of primary classes would get dishes like vegetable
pulao, nutritious khichdi, pulse-rice, curry-rice, rice-black gram with potato, sweet
khir, 'roti' and seasonal vegetables, flour pudding and black gram, 'roti' and pulse,
'bharwa parantha', 'meetha daliya', 'atte ki sewiya', rice and white gram with potato, rice and rajma with potato,
'roti' and potato peas whereas the students of middle classes would get a higher quantity of these dishes. The teachers would ensure the serving of mid-day meals daily and also check the quality of dishes. Any of the dishes could be prepared any day but a dish would not be repeated twice in a week. |
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KU Registrar resigns
A renowned historian,Prof Tanwar was president of the Indian History Congress in 2009. Lt-Gen (Dr) DDS Sandhu, Vice-Chancellor, Kurukshetra University, said: “Prof Tanwar’s resignation has been forwarded to the Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, who is the appointing authority. However, he has been asked to continue as Registrar till the acceptance of the resignation.” Meanwhile, brushing aside the speculation that he has strained relations with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Tanwar said he had cordial relations with the VC. |
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Gen Vats may head HPSC
He was commissioned into the Army in August, 1975. He did his MS (ophthalmology) from the AFMC, Pune, in 1982 and received training in anterior segment surgery at the AIIMS, New Delhi, in 1992 and in eye banking at the LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, in 1998. He held various appointments, including those as associate professor in ophthalmology at the AFMC, Pune, from 1995-2000, senior advisor in ophthalmology at Command Hospital, Western Command, from 2000-2002, senior advisor and consultant in ophthalmology at the prestigious Army Hospital, New Delhi, from 2002-2006, Commandant, AFMSD, Delhi Cantonment, among others. — TNS |
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Sarpanch’s Murder
Sonepat, May 9 Alleging police inaction, the villagers demanded immediate arrest of the alleged accused, Sundu and Kachi of the same village, who allegedly opened fire at the sarpanch. Satyavan Singh, Gohana SDM, and Sadhu Ram and Rajinder Singh, DSPs, reached the spot and persuaded the protesters to lift the blockade assuring that the alleged accused would be arrested soon. The DSPs informed them six persons had been arrested and assured that those named in the FIR would be nabbed soon, following which the blockade was lifted. The alleged accused opened fire on Mukesh Malik, his brother Kuldeep and cousin Ravinder when they were returning home last evening. Mukesh died on the spot while the two others sustained bullet injuries. The assailants later went to a village “akhara” and shot at the deceased’s brother Bholu. While Bholu managed to escape, co-villager Sukhbir sustained injuries.
— OC |
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Ellenabad Murders
Sirsa, May 9 Chautala also demanded a compensation of Rs 21 lakh for the victims’ family. Bimla Devi (60) and her granddaughter Mehak (12) were brutally murdered in their house in Ellenabad on May 5 when the woman’s son, Ashok Kumar, had gone to Sirsa with his wife and son to attend a marriage. Expressing concern at the “lackadaisical approach” of the local police, Abhey Singh warned that the INLD would launch an agitation in case the killers were not put behind the bars soon.
— TNS |
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5 hurt in clash, candidate booked
Gurgaon, May 9 Around 2 a.m., some supporters of another independent candidate, Devendra Yadav, reached there and alleged that Dagar's workers were pasting his posters on Yadav's. Yadav's supporters objected to this and a heated argument ensued. The altercation soon took a violent turn, leading to five persons getting injured. The injured include four supporters of Yadav and a police constable, who had reached there on a PCR vehicle to prevent the clash. The police has registered a case against Dagar and his brother, Nilu.
— TNS |
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New Delhi, May 9
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