Chandigarh, September 22
Adding up marks in the internal assessment and theory examination to score pass marks would no longer be good enough in schools across Haryana. Scoring pass marks in theory is now mandatory for students appearing for the semester examination conducted for classes X and XII by the Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani.

Thankfully for the state and for the falling standards of education, the Board has woken up to the realisation that high scores in the internal assessment should not be dovetailed with poor scores in theory papers towards raising of pass percentages.

Sources in the Education Department said the “high” pass percentages reflected in the final examination were essentially an outcome of good scores in the 35-mark internal assessment awarded by the teacher. This comprised 12-15 marks for practical examinations and 20 marks for continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE). This meant even a student scoring a zero in the theory paper could end up passing the exam.

Under the new norms, a student could no longer go overboard in availing the benefit of a high-score in internal assessment. He will be required to score at least the mandatory 33 per cent in the assessment as also in the written paper to get a pass certificate from the Board.

This pattern was introduced in the last semester examination conducted by the Board and has caused a substantial dip in the pass percentages. The pass percentage of nearly 83 per cent in the March 2010 secondary level examinations, came down to 68.61 per cent in March 2011, while it fell from 91.74 per cent to 72.84 per cent for the senior secondary level exams. Sources said this fall has come about essentially because teachers have been awarding students high scores in the CCE as also the practical examinations, in an attempt by the school to show good results. Students who did exceptionally well in the school assessment often fared badly in the written papers conducted by the Board. Since these marks were added up, the pass percentages served to hide a lot.

With the introduction of the new scoring pattern, the pass percentages plummeted because the marks in the internal assessment no longer compensated for the shortfall in written papers.

“The first semester for the 2011-12 session is slated for the first week of October. We are hoping the teachers will put in greater effort to ensure that students clear the examination. The results could otherwise reflect on their inability to deliver in class. The rule was introduced in the second semester of the 2010-11 session on an experimental basis and we intend to stick to it,” said the Secretary of the Board, Shekhar Vidyarthi.

Gurgaon, September 22
The Maruti management today brought in another batch of 200 experienced and ITI-trained workmen to join production operations at the Manesar plants, taking the manpower strength at the Manesar plants to over 1,300.

The management said the company would continue to increase the manpower at the Manesar plants.

In order to remove any fears among these workers, the company management has also launched an SMS campaign and set up a helpline facility to woo workers.

It may be pertinent to mention here that after the tripartite talks among the management, agitating workers and the Haryana government failed last week, the company has started approaching the agitating workers directly.

The talks had failed after top office-bearers and other representatives of the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU) were arrested After released on bail, the workers' leaders refused to talk to the Haryana Labour Commissioner, alleging that the official had been favouring the management.

Meanwhile, a convention of industrial workers was held at Gurgaon today. It was addressed by CPI MP and AITUC general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta, among others. The trade union leaders asked the workers to struggle for their rights.

Samalkha (Panipat), September 22
A day after The Tribune highlighted the high-handedness of the state government, which beckoned Chander Prakash, EO-cum-Secretary of the Samalkha market committee, for an explanation after he brought down illegal structures in the local grain market, the official has been reinstated.

Calling off the move, which was being perceived as a bad example for government employees complying with the official orders, the authorities conveyed to the EO-cum-Secretary that neither he nor his team members, who were instrumental in getting the government land vacated from the encroachers, were being transferred. The official, who had been asked to replace Chander Prakash, had also been asked to join duty at her previous place of posting.

Chander Prakash, who joined his office this morning, said the Chief Administrator of the Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board (HSAMB) had called him up to appreciate the measures taken by him and his team in getting 4905.61 square meters of government land worth several crores back from the encroachers.

Within hours of carrying out the demolition drive in the grain market on Monday, demolishing 90 illegal structures, Chander Prakash was asked to report at Chandigarh for an explanation while another official was asked to replace him.

Sources in the department confided in The Tribune that the transfers had been made on oral orders and the written communication would have followed had the media not highlighted the issue.

It is pertinent to mention here that following intervention by the state Lokayukta, the HSAMB Chief Administrator had on August 30 ordered the EO-cum-secretary and the encroachment removal committee to remove the encroachments in the Samalkha grain market that had been existing for the past 17 years.

The demolition drive was carried out on Monday after seven attempts made by HSAMB officials earlier had failed to get the government land vacated. Meanwhile, HSAMB officials are proceeding against the encroachers by filing recovery suits against them, asking them to deposit Rs 73.61 lakh as rent for using the government land. 

Hisar, September 22
P Anjani Kumar, expenditure observer for byelection to the Hisar Lok Sabha seat, today visited Sikanderpur, Milkpur, Paposa, Sisar, Jamalpur, Rohnat, Ratera and Bohal villages of Bawani Khera assembly constituency, which is a part of the Hisar parliamentary constituency.

He found some vehicles with party flags at Bawani Khera and directed the SHO concerned to investigate whether the owners of these vehicles had got permission to use their vehicles in the election campaign.

He also visited the office of a political party at Bawani Khera and found that permission for opening the office had not yet been obtained. He directed the Assistant Election Officer, Bawani Khera, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Bhiwani, to look into the matter. Meanwhile, electioneering has picked up over the past few days with leaders of different political parties converging on the area to campaign for their partys’ nominees. Abhay Singh Chautala, MLA from Ellenabad, today toured the Nalwa assembly segment to campaign for his elder brother, Ajay Singh Chautala.

Addressing party workers, he said the Congress had resorted to crushing all anti-graft movements in the country to save the skin of its leaders. The UPA government, he said, had thrown out Baba Ramdev from the Ramlila Grounds in New Delhi in a midnight raid because he wanted the government to bring back black money stashed in banks abroad.

Chautala said the BJP had teamed up with a “rootless” party like the HJC. Both parties had no popular support. This tie-up would finish the BJP in Haryana. He alleged that Kuldeep Bishnoi, HJC-BJP nominee, would join the Congress sooner or later and he had no choice but to go back to it.

On the other hand, Jai Prakash, Congress nominee, campaigned in various parts of the city today. He refuted allegations that the Hooda government had not implemented any development projects in Hisar. He said the Khedar Thermal Power Plant was one of the biggest units set up by the Hooda government. Besides, a veterinary university had been established here.

Meanwhile, seven candidates filed their nominations today to take the number of nominations filed so far to 16. They were: Kuldeep, Sushil, Jagpal, Kuldip, Pardeep Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Jai Singh. 

Gurgaon, September 22
A pall of gloom descended on Pataudi township in the district as the news of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s demise reached and spread here today evening.

Residents gathered around Pataudi Palace and at other places as they expected the Nawab’s body to reach here.

However, even as the residents waited for the body, it could not be ascertained whether the illustrious former Indian cricket team skipper would be laid to rest here.

The body had not reached the township till the time of filing of this report.

Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda expressed grief over the passing away of Pataudi today. In a condolence message, Hooda said in his death, the country had lost a great cricketer.

Chandigarh, September 22
The results of elections to 11 SGPC in Haryana were declared today.

Baldev Singh Kayampur defeated Joga Singh by 985 votes in Yamunanagar. Manjit Kaur was elected by a margin of 745 votes.

In Ambala seat, Harpal Singh Pali defeated Gurdeep Singh Bhanokheri by 793 votes.

In the reserved seat of Ambala, Amreek Singh, who got 13,005 votes, was declared elected. Surja Singh and Manjit Singh got 12,216 and 670 votes respectively.

Sirsa: The ADC Ashok Meena declared Baldev Singh and Amarjit Kaur of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) elected from the two Hisar seats reserved for men and women, respectively.

Baldev Singh polled 13,915 votes against 10,983 votes received by his nearest rival Mohar Singh of HSGPC (ad hoc).

For the seat reserved for women candidates, Amarjit Kaur of Shiromani Akali Dal got 13,784 votes and Jasvir Kaur of HSGPC (ad hoc) polled 11,161 votes.

In the Sirsa seat, Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala, an independent, bagged 17,923 votes and defeated Parkash Singh Sahuwala of the SAD (B), who polled 12,981 votes.

In the Dabwali seat of , Jagsir Singh Mangeana of SAD (B) secured 9,060 votes and won the election, defeating Jagdev Singh Matdadu of the HSGPC (ad hoc), who polled 7,520 votes.

Karnal: The SAD (B) on Thursday celebrated its resounding victory in the SGPC elections by offering ‘ardas’ in gurdwaras in Kurukshetra and Karnal .

As soon as the results were officially declared, there were celebrations all around. The SAD(B) victory in the two constituencies of Karnal and Kurukshetra has special significance as it marked a complete “rout” of Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Didar Singh Nalvi, presidents of rival HSGPC factions, contesting the poll from these seats.

Jhinda polled 16,135 votes against 23899 votes polled by Bhupinder Singh Assandh of SAD (B) in Karnal while the HSGPC (Nalvi Group) candidate finished a poor third.

In Kurukeshtra, Harbhajan Singh Masana of the SAD (B) defeated Apar Singh of the Jhinda group by 10,035 votes. while Didar Singh Nalvi, president of the rival HSGPC faction, was relegated to the third position polling only 5008 votes .

The SAD (B) candidates won eight out of 11 seats against five seats in the outgoing SGPC while the HSGPC factions, which held six seats earlier, drew a blank this time.

Kaithal: SAD candidate Amir Singh, a resident of Raseedan village in Jind District, has been declared elected from Kaithal in the SGPC elections. 

Ambala, September 22
HIV/AIDS Sensitisation Workshop was held yesterday at MMIMSR, Mullana (Ambala), which was organised by the Department of Community Medicine in collaboration with the Haryana State AIDS Control Society.

This workshop-cum-CME was aimed to sensitise the medical fraternity on the recent advances and trends in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Dr. SB Siwach, principal, MMIMSR, emphasised on the legal issues concerning People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). The World AIDS Day theme “Getting to Zero” was the main focus. — TNS

Panipat, September 22
The district police has registered a case against four persons, including two policemen, in connection with the death of Amarjit Singh, who had allegedly been beaten to death by policemen last Wednesday.

The postmortem examination of the deceased has established that the man had died of injuries. However, the district police sought another postmortem examination by the PGI, Rohtak, the report of which corroborated the fact that the victim had died due to beating.