Chandigarh, March 3
Expressing dissatisfaction over the way computer education had been running in government schools of Haryana, Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal said today that the department would terminate the contract with the company entrusted with the task of imparting computer education.

Replying to a question by Parminder Dhull, the minister said the committee constituted to monitor the programme had not done its job well. She informed the House that the government was in the process of releasing the salary of computer teachers sitting on a fast and that the services of lab attendants hired by the company would be terminated once the contract with the company is terminated.

On a question raised by Ram pal Majra, Bhukkal said Rule 134-A of Haryana School Education Rules, 2003, provided for 25 per cent reservation of seats for meritorious students belonging to the economically weaker sections in classes I to XII. Conceding the demand of the Recognized Schools Association, the government had already reduced the quota of reserved seats for EWS from 25 per cent to 10 per cent.

About imposing the eligibility test on teachers of private schools, she said this condition had been imposed to improve the quality of education. Moreover, the eligibility test being conducted for teachers of private school is not unique to Haryana as it was applicable to other states as well.

Accepting that the provision of promoting all students up to Class VIII under the Right To Education Act was adversely impacting the quality of education, Bhukkal said the department would fix responsibility in schools with zero per cent results.

Sidelights

* The BJP staged a walkout after Question Hour to protest against the rejection of a calling-attention motion moved by Anil Vij on the Robert Vadra deals

* Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh watched the proceedings from the visitor's gallery. He was present when the INLD was levelling allegations against the CM which were later deleted from the proceedings

* A majority of MLAs were of the opinion that the state should amend the Right to Education Act to introduce examinations and fail students who do not perform well

Chandigarh, March 3
Minister of State for Sports and Youth Affairs Sukhbir Kataria said a policy had been made to provide government jobs to outstanding sportspersons, including Paralympians, of the state.

Kataria said this in a reply to the call attention motion moved by Bharat Bhushan Batra during the ongoing Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha here today. He said the government had created a strong sports infrastructure network.

“The department-run 14 residential and 10 day boarding nurseries have benefited 541 players during 2013-14. Besides, the government has framed a policy to set up world-class academies in various disciplines by Olympics medallists from the state. Land has been alloted to wrestlers Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt and boxer Vijender Singh to set up their academies. The government is in the process of recruiting 686 junior coaches to impart coaching in various games,” he said.

He said the mandate of the Haryana State Sports Council was comprehensive so as to effectively deal with the issues and concerns raised by Bharat Bhushan Batra in the Calling Attention Motion. Thus, there was no need to set up another body like the Sports Authority of Haryana for discharging these functions as of now.

Hisar, March 3
The All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) will hold a Vijay Sahidi rally in Mayyar village of the district on March 6 to celebrate the reservation benefit extended by the Centre.

The day marked the death anniversary of Jat youth Sandeep Kumar who died during the agitation in 2012.

Addressing a press conference here today, Samiti president Yashpal Malik said sacrifices made by Jats had bore fruits and the youth of the community would get reservation in Central educational institutions and government jobs.

He said prominent leaders of the samiti and the Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat would address the rally which would recognise the contribution of all individuals and groups in realisation of the long-pending demand.

Those who had resorted to a hunger strike and sat on a dharna would be honoured in the rally, he said.

Meanwhile, members of the Republic Backward Congress, who are sitting on a dharna to protest against the reservation for Jats since the last 73 days, have condemned the decision to accord quota benefits to jats and termed it as "unconstitutional".

The president of the outfit, Lalchand Varma, said, “Jats are socially, politically and economically strong in the state and the decision to include them in the other backward classes (OBC) category was taken to take political mileage.

“The party would launch an agitation across the state to mobilise people on the issue and would approach the court to seek striking down of the decision.”

Chandigarh, March 3
Lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal dismissed INLD pleas for action in cases involving three Congress leaders allegedly shown demanding bribe in video footage in the cash-for-CLU ‘scam’.

The Lokayukta dismissed the applications as these were not maintainable since three Congress leaders, MLA Sampat Singh’s son, Gaurav Sampat Singh; CPS Jaleb Khan's son, Sajid Khan; and former NUSI leader Sanjay Chokkar, they were not public servants as defined in the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Lokayukta had reserved his order in the case on February 26.

The INLD had filed petitions against Congress leaders, alleging their involvement in the alleged scam. Of the Congress leaders, the Lokayukta had recommended the registration of a criminal case against Chief Parliamentary Secretary Ram Kishan Fauji. — TNS

New Delhi, March 3
Citing Centre’s alert on possible drought in 2014 due to the El Nino effect, Haryana today pleaded in the Supreme Court for using the 109-km Hansi-Butana canal by pumping water from the Bakhra Mainline (BML).

Since the SC had restrained Haryana from puncturing the BML for taking water through the canal, the court should at least allow the pumping of water, senior counsel for Haryana Altaf Ahmed pleaded with a Bench comprising Justices HL Gokhale and NV Ramana.

Punjab and Rajasthan, however, opposed the plea. Appearing for Punjab, senior advocate Harish Salve said the SC had already rejected Haryana’s alternative proposals for puncturing BML, including taking water through siphons.

Appearing for Rajasthan, senior advocate KK Venugopal said the SC had passed six orders rejecting such pleadings by Haryana and at this stage it should not be allowed to use the canal.

According to Punjab, allowing Haryana to puncture the BML for using the canal would result in floods in its territories. On the other hand, Rajasthan contends that letting Haryana draw water from the BML at a higher point would reduce the flow of water to the lower riparian areas, adversely affecting its interest.

Haryana contended that it wanted to take only 0.8 MAF of water through the canal, which was about 50 per cent of the state’s entitlement of 1.62 MAF of water. This was necessary to meet exigencies of drought.

The Union Agriculture Ministry had sent a communication to Haryana and other states asking them to gear up for facing a possible drought arising from the El Nino effect, Ahmed said. The Central Water Commission (CWC) had made it clear that taking water through the canal would not affect the interests of Punjab or Rajasthan, he contended.

Haryana pleaded for making the CWC a respondent to its application filed in Punjab’s original suit against the Hansi-Butana canal. At this, both Punjab and Rajasthan argued that Haryana should first file a formal plea in this regard so that they would get a chance to oppose it.

Allowing Haryana to file an application in this regard within a week, the Bench asked Punjab and Haryana to submit their response within two weeks thereafter. The Bench fixed April 14 as the next date of hearing.

Rohtak, March 3
MBBS and BDS interns at the local PGIMS today launched an indefinite strike in protest against the non-fulfilment of their longstanding demand for a higher stipend.

The interns, who were not allowed to meet the Chief Minister during his recent visit to the institute, today staged a demonstration in front of the Vice Chancellor’s office and raised slogans against the state government.

The interns have been demanding a hike in their stipend for a long time, but have got only assurances from the PGIMS administration.

The interns also submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor, demanding that their stipend be increased to Rs 12,800 from Rs 7,800 per month.

Kaithal, March 3
The police have booked two contractors for providing illegal tubewell connections to farmers after receiving lakhs of rupees from them.

Sources said farmers of Jakholi and Kasan villages had deposited security money with the Rajound office of the power corporation to get tubewell connections in 2012.

Despite making several rounds of the office, they could not get the connections.

Meanwhile, they came in contact with contractors Ram Niwas and Sunil of Khurda village. The contractors told the farmers that they could get the connections by paying additional amount as per the policy. Following this, Phooli Devi paid Rs 1 lakh, Manphool Rs 90,000, Anhey Ram Rs 85,000, Shamsher, Pali and Ram Pal Rs 70,000 each, Ramdia Rs 1 lakh, Baljeet Rs 90,000 and Rajmal Rs 85,000 to the contractors.

The contractors reportedly granted them power connections and asked them not to deposit the electricity bills for the next two years.

A few days ago, a transformer installed on the tubewell of Phooli Devi was burnt and she approached power officials in Rajound for its replacement. The official told her that there was no such transformer in their records. Following this, other farmers also reached the office and came to know that there were no regular connections in their names in the official records.

On a complaint lodged by Phooli Devi and other farmers, a case was registered against Ram Niwas and Sunil. Kaithal Operation Circle Superintending Engineer SK Bansal said the matter had come to his notice and it was being investigated. — OC

Yamunanagar, March 3
Residents of Mandi village have demanded action against police personnel for allegedly implicating a youth hailing from the village in false cases.

Led by Dilbagh Singh, Indian National Lok Dal MLA from Yamunanagar, they met Superintendent of Police (SP) Shashank Anand here today. Sahid Hasan, brother of the accused, gave a complaint to the SP. He submitted that the Kalnaur police booked his brother on February 23. He complained that the in charge of the Kalanaur police post called his brother to the police post on February 28 and arrested him without informing his family.

He stated that the police produced him in court on March 1 and the court remanded him in one-day police custody. He alleged that his brother was tortured during the police remand.

He said when his brother was produced in court the next day, he informed the court about the atrocities. He added that a panel of three doctors conducted a medical examination on the direction of the court. He claimed that his family was not allowed inside the room when the medical examination was conducted. He alleged that the police were implicating his brother in false cases of cattle smuggling and cow slaughter.

The SP said the youth was an accused in five cases of cattle smuggling and cow slaughter. He denied that the accused was tortured in police custody. He said the medical report would be released shortly.

Chandigarh, March 3
The Congress will release the list of candidates for 10 Lok Sabha seats within two to three days, Haryana Congress affairs in charge Shakeel Ahmed said here today.

Taking to mediapersons on the sidelights of the general body meeting of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee(HPCC) here today, Ahmed denied reports of any differences in the party on the nomination of candidates.

Earlier, addressing the general body of the Congress, Ahmed urged the Congressmen to put up a united front, adding that a youthful HPCC chief like Ashok Tanwar would infuse new energy in the party.

HPCC chief Ashok Tanwar informed the delegates that the Congress would organise ‘padyatras’ at the block level in all parliamentary seats from March 10 to make people aware of the achievements of the Hooda as well as Congress-led UPA Governments.

Rewari, March 3
Schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will no more be able to run commercial activities like coaching classes for competitive entrance examinations for admission to professional courses during study hours.

Reacting to a series of complaints against some schools for running commercial activities on school premises during study hours, the CBSE has directed principals and heads of affiliated schools to immediately stop such coaching programmes.

A circular in this regard has recently been shot off to principals and heads of all these schools from the office of the CBSE Secretary. The circular says CBSE schools should not be used for any commercial activity and every school should ensure that it teaches students the subjects in the syllabus prescribed by the board.

"No coaching classes or parallel classes should be run in the school that affects the regular timetable of the school or focus of students on regular course of study," says the circular. It adds that appropriate action will be taken against schools found not adhering to conditions stipulated in CBSE affiliation bylaws.

The authorities said, "It has been reported that some schools are running coaching institutions at school campuses on the pretext of preparations for entrance examinations. This is not approved by the board and schools need to stop such malpractices immediately."

The authorities said parents, teachers and students and the public in general had expressed concern about the trend as it put undue pressure on students. Welcoming the move, Ramesh Rohila, owner of a CBSE-affiliated school, said it would be helpful for students to be attentive in classes and clear concepts in the syllabus.

Karnal, March 3
Family members and relatives of two-and-a-half-year-old Krishan Kumar, who had been missing since February 1, sat on a dharna against the police inaction on the mini-secretariat ground here today.

They met Deputy Commissioner Balraj Singh and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Joginder Rathi and said the police had failed to trace a human trafficking gang active in the city.

They called off their protest for four days after the assurance given by the Deputy Commissioner and the DSP. They said if the police failed to recover the boy, they would hand over their four daughters to the district administration and would sit on an indefinite dharna.

The parents also threatened to commit suicide if their son was not recovered after the dharna.

Jhajjar, March 3
The latest guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to monitor the sale of 46 drugs have thrown chemists into a tizzy. The chemists said it was not feasible for them to maintain records of doctors, their patients and drugs sold to customers.

Apart from registering entries of doctors, patients and drugs, the collection of a photocopy of the prescription has also been made mandatory before selling the drugs. These guidelines would add to their woes, they said.

The Haryana State Chemist and Drugist Association has sought the review of the rules for making the record-keeping process easier so that the chemists could not face any problem while adhering to the rules.

“It is not possible for every chemist to get a photocopy of the prescription from the customer and make an entry of doctor, patient and quantity of drugs sold in a register and then sell drugs to the customer,” said Anil Dutt Sharma, organising secretary of the association.

He said, “Many patients daily come to buy medicines for various ailments without any prescription. The new rules will trouble them.”

As most of the chemists are also not aware of these guidelines, hence the association should organise special camps at district level to impart them training about record-keeping, said Sharma.

The authorities have directed the chemists to not to sell 46 drugs, including 24 antibiotics and 11 intoxicated, listed in the Scheduled H1 of Drugs and Cosmetics Act without a doctor’s prescription from March 1. 

Kaithal, March 3
The police have registered a case against the sarpanch and a gram sachiv of Kotra village for allegedly misappropriating funds following the directions of a local court.

Sources said Jaidev of Kotra village alleged that sarpanch Chander Shekhar in collusion with gram sachiv Harish had committed financial irregularities while executing development works.

Later, he filed a case in a court alleging that the sarpanch received Rs 49,000 and Rs 57,609 against construction of roads, but the streets were not constructed and bogus bills were prepared.

Jhajjar, March 3
A labourer was found murdered in a plot in Bahadurgarh today. He has been identified as Durga Prashad of Faizabad (UP). The police have registered a murder case on the complaint of Durga’s brother Shiv Pujan.

Someone spotted the body and informed the police which sent the body to the Civil Hospital for the post-mortem. Multiple injury marks were found on the body.

Shiv Pujan told the police that Durga came to his room last night for taking Rs 10,000 to deposit the LIC instalment next morning. He left the home after taking the money, but did not reach his room. 

Rewari, March 3
The local police have arrested Manoj Kumar of Bharatpur (Rajasthan) for raping a woman on the promise of marriage for over a year. The accused is married and has two children.

In her complaint, the victim said Manoj worked in a company based in Manesar while she worked in another company there.

Over a year ago, he took her to a village in Ballabhgarh where he raped her many times on the promise of marriage. The woman lodged a complaint against Manoj when she came to know that he was married and had two children.

Karnal, March 3
A man killed his wife and injured his mother at Ardana village in the Assandh subdivision this afternoon. Ashok Kumar (40) was allegedly drunk when he beat up his wife Rekha (35) in the house.

When his mother Luxmi Devi (68) intervened, he attacked her as well. His wife succumbed to injuries on her way to hospital. His mother was admitted to a private hospital.

Assandh SHO Ram Kumar Sharma said the motive behind the assault was not clear so far. The police started an investigation. — TNS