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H A R Y A N A |  |
 Friday, December 17, 1999 |
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Shifted for not toeing
govt line |
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Contempt
proceedings against Chief Secy put off Seven get life term for murder Youth exhorted to follow
Bhagavadgita Solve farm problems, engineers
urged Muted reaction to dissolution Farm land demarcation today Admn geared for polio campaign Bank staff stage dharna |
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Shifted for not toeing govt line CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — In a surprise move, the Haryana Government today divested Mr P.K. Chaudhary, Commissioner and Secretary, Industries, of the Mines and Geology department. It also shifted Mr Vivek Joshi, Director, Industries, Mines and Geology, to an inconsequential post of Joint Secretary, Finance. It is learnt that the two officers had been advocating a strong line against illegal mining being done under political patronage in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts. Mr Joshi had sought a report from the Assistant Mining Engineer, Faridabad, on the illegal mining in that district. Sources say finding the report as vague, Mr Joshi yesterday ordered a team headed by the State Mining Engineer, Mr Kuldeepak Ahuja, a visit Faridabad and make on-the-spot enquiry. The Mines and Geology department will now be looked after by Mr B.D. Dhalia, Financial Commissioner, Home, Jails, Criminal Investigation and Administration of Justice, in addition to his present duties. Mr S.N. Roy, Joint Secretary, Finance and Director, Lotteries will be the new Director, Industries, Mines and Geology department. Mr R.N. Prashar, Commissioner, Dairy Development Department, will be the new Transport Commissioner in place of Mr Sajjan Singh, who goes as Director and Special Secretary, Environment, vice Mr Hardeep Kumar, who becomes the Director and Joint Secretary, Development and Panchayats and Animal Husbandry departments. Mr Prashar was changed as Excise and Taxation Commissioner by the Bansi Lal Government after he seized certain buses allegedly run illegally by the family of the then Speaker, Prof Chhattar Singh Chauhan. Mrs Veena Eagleton, Financial Commissioner, Animal Husbandry, has been given the additional charge of the Dairy Development department. Mr P.K. Chaudhary has been given the additional charge of the Electronics department, relieving Mr Dharamvir of the said charge. Mr R.R. Jowel, Director, Panchayats, has been posted as Deputy Commissioner, Mohindergarh, in place of Mr Raja Sekhar Vundru, who becomes Joint Secretary, General Administration, relieving Mrs Rajni Sekhar Sibal of the said charge. Mr R.P. Sukhija, Joint
Secretary, Animal Husbandry, will go as such to the
Education department. Mrs Neerja, ADC, Rewari, becomes
Deputy Secretary, Technical Education, relieving Mr R.P.
Chander of the said charge. Mr Phateh Singh, HCS, will be
the new ADC, Rewari. |
SI suspended for taking
bribe GURGAON, Dec 16 — The Gurgaon SP, Mr Shatrujit Singh Kapoor, today suspended a Sub-Inspector in-charge Nagina police station and placed him under arrest after he was caught taking bribe. The case has evinced keen interest as the role of the police in the area, forming the outermost limit of this district towards Alwar district in Rajasthan, had often been questioned in the recent past. Also, the action against the official is in the backdrop of the Haryana DGP, Mr S.P.S. Rathore’s special drive against corruption in the police force in the state. According to Mr Kapoor, a resident of Khanpur village had complained to him yesterday that the arrested police official had demanded Rs 4,000 to register an FIR in connection with physical assault on his brother. The complainant had alleged that even though he had given Rs 2,000 to the official, the case was not being registered as he was insisting on the payment of the rest of the amount demanded by him. Subsequently, the DSP (Headquarters), Gurgaon, Mr Yogendra Nehra, was deputed to verify the complaint. The police worked out a plan and the errant officer was arrested while taking the bribe money. The arrest of the official has once again brought to the centrestage the role of police personnel posted in the Mewat area, constituting one-third of this district. The crime rate is high in the area. There are a number of allegations against police personnel’s unholy nexus with powerful politicians. As there is poverty and high percentage of crime, politicians find it convenient to fabricate cases against their opponents. Meanwhile the police has been able to solve the famous Satish Jain murder case by arresting four members of the dreaded "Fauji gang". Also, the culprits in connection with the murder of a property dealer, that took place recently, have also been arrested. The police chief
asserted the vigil that had been intensified by the force
in the district was proving to be effective. According to
him, in the past two months, more than 6,500 traffic
challans had been issued. |
Changed situation in Haryana CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — While Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala decided to dissolve the Assembly prematurely, the losers seem to be the erstwhile HVP(D) legislators who had merged their outfit with Mr Chautala’s INLD. Their decision to support Mr Chautala’s move was prompted by the feeling (which is also shared by the Chief Minister) that if elections were announced at this juncture, Mr Chautala and his allies would be able to romp home. Mr Vinod Kumar Marya, who had switched over from Mr Chautala’s camp to Mr Bansi Lal, only to again return to Mr Chautala, said the INLD supremo had sought his opinion when they were together at the airport during Prime Minister Vajpayee’s brief stopover at Chandigarh on way to Kulu. Mr Marya, who is a Minister of State in the Cabinet headed by Mr Chautala, said. "I told the Chief Minister to go ahead because otherwise it may be too late and popular support which is now in our favour may wane gradually". Mr Chautala reportedly assured the former HVP(D) ministers of his Cabinet that he would give them the ticket. "Those who have a chance to win will be given the ticket", Mr Marya said. He, However, conceded that Mr Chautala would be under pressure from various quarters including from his own party members, while deciding who should be given the ticket. Mr Rajkumar Saini, also a Minister of State in Mr Chautala’s Cabinet, and a former Bansi Lal loyalist, shrugged when asked whether the breakaway HVP legislators could obtain the ticket from Mr Chautala. "It is the Chief Minister’s prerogative. He knows who all are to be chosen for contesting the poll". Mr Sampat Singh, Finance Minister of Haryana, and a known confidant of Mr Chautala, gave an evasive reply on the issue of party nominations. "The panel will be decided on the basis of merit", he said when asked whether all the break-away HVP faction legislators, who were supporting Mr Chautala, would be chosen by the INLD as candidates. That all breakaway HVP legislators will not be given the ticket by Mr Chautala is a foregone conclusion. In fact in the five months of existence of the Chautala-led Government, five former HVP legislators parted company with Mr Chautala. It is doubtful whether Mr Jagan Nath, who had joined the Congress, and Mr Karan Singh Dalal, who has been accommodated in the BJP, will be able to get the ticket from their respective parties. Mr Narbir Singh, Mr Brij Mohan Singla and Mr Satnaryan Lather, who deserted Mr Bansi Lal and joined Mr Chautala’s camp, also find themselves on their own without the backing of any major party. Ironically, the
breakaway HVP legislators after formally splitting Mr
Bansi Lal’s party, had come round finally to support
Mr Chautala’s candidature for the chief ministership
so that the political crisis in the state did not lead to
the dissolution of the House. Now they are hoping that
they will be rewarded for their loyalty by Mr Chautala
and will be able to get elected by cashing in on the
series of sops offered by the government to the people.
"It is us who proposed the dissolution of the
Assembly yesterday. Mr Chautala did not say
anything", Mr Marya claimed. |
Contempt proceedings against CHANDIGARH, Dec 16 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court today adjourned to February 15 the contempt of the court proceedings against Mr T.D. Jogpal, Mr R.S. Verma and Mr Mohan Jain, state Election Commissioner, Chief Secretary and former Advocate-General of Haryana, respectively. Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice R.L. Anand, before whom the case came up for hearing, observed in their interim reply: "The contemners have put in appearance with their respective counsel. The contempt petition is adjourned to February 15 for filing their respective replies." All of them were issued contempt notices on December 3 for "having deliberately misled the court" about the holding of panchayat elections in the state. As for the second
petition about panchayat elections, the Bench ordered
that it would hear this petition tomorrow. |
Seven get life term for murder HISAR, Dec 16 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr P.L. Ahuja, today awarded life imprisonment to six persons of Badhawar village in connection with the murder of Zile Singh of the same village on June 12, 1997. The court also fined them Rs 5,000 each. Those convicted were Dalbir, Lilu, Raja, Bheera, Ishwar and Dharampal. The court, however, acquitted Roshan, Sukhbir, his wife Chanderpati, Attar Singh, Shishpal, Bhomal and Krishna. According to the
prosecution Zile Singh and his son were attacked by the
accused when they were returning from Barwala. The
injured was admitted to a hospital in Hisar where he died
later. |
Youth exhorted to follow
Bhagavadgita KURUKSHETRA, Dec 16 — The Governor of Haryana and Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Mr Mahabir Prasad, called upon the university employees and students to act on the philosophy of the Bhagavadgita. Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony in the university auditorium last evening, the Governor quoted at length from the Bhagavadgita. He exhorted the youth to adopt the doctrine of karma yoga as enunciated by Lord Krishna. The Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Mr Ashok Arora, complimented the Haryana Governor for making Kurukshetra Utsav a success. Highlighting the importance of holding employees' sports events and cultural programmes on the campus, the Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University, Dr M.L. Ranga, said the aim was to divert the employees from their tedious work schedule and provide them an opportunity to display their hidden talent. Dr Ranga expressed his gratitude to Mr Arora for presenting the problems of university staff before the State Government. The pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hoshiar Singh, said the university was trying to make an enviable place for itself among the universities of the country. The President of Kurukshetra University Non-Teaching Employees Association (KUNTEA), Mr Karan Singh, thanked the chief guest and the other dignitaries. Others, present on the
occasion included the Secretary to Governor, Mr Manik
Sonawane, Inspector-General, Ambala range, Mr M.S.
Ahlawat, Deputy Commissioner of Kurukshetra, Mrs Jyoti
Arora, district police chief, Mr A.S. Ahlawat, besides
senior university teachers, officers, employees and
students. |
Solve farm problems, engineers
urged HISAR, Dec 16 — Mr Naseem Ahmad, Commissioner and Secretary Agriculture, Haryana, has called upon farm engineers to accelerate efforts for solving emergent and serious problems being faced by the farming community of the country. Mr Ahmad was speaking at the inaugural function of the 34th convention of the Indian Society of Agricultural Engineers (ISAE) at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University here today. About 300 agricultural engineers from all over the country are participating in the convention. The theme of this year's convention is: "Pressurised irrigation system: towards enhanced water use efficiency." Mr Ahmad said in the recent past several multi-dimensional problems have cropped up, which were not only challenging the sustainability of irrigated land but also leading to stagnation or decline in the yields of major crops. He pointed out, the reckless use of both canal and underground water was leading to the degradation of land. Citing example of Haryana, he said over exploitation of water had resulted in the twin problems of water logging and salinisation in some parts, while in others, the water-table was falling considerably crossing critical limits. He stressed upon identifying a package of an appropriate agricultural technology for higher productivity and greater economy for different regions and categories of users. "The local village artisans must be exposed to the modern techniques of design and production, as this will help in solving the unemployment problem and migration of workforce from rural areas to cities," he added. Presiding over the session Mr Vinay Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, pointed out that in the changed scenario of economic liberalisation, the agricultural engineers have greater role to play for the benefit of the farmers. They should identify the specific areas of challenge and offer socially acceptance and economically viable solutions and technology, he added. He said the demand of
energy was increasing considerably, while its per capita
availability at the farm was becoming either scarce on
expensive. To meet the energy demand, he advised the use
of non-conventional sources of energy such as solar, wind
and bio-energy. |
Muted reaction to dissolution HISAR, Dec 16 — Dissolution of the Haryana Assembly has not surprised anyone as it had been expected it from the day the Indian National Lok Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party alliance bagged all the ten Lok Sabha seats in the state. While the general public greeted the announcement with indifference, the INLD-BJP leadership is enthused by the decision. A number of leaders The Tribune talked to, justified the dissolution, saying there was an urgent need for seeking a fresh mandate. Senior BJP leader and minister Prof Ganeshi Lal, said it was natural for the present government to seek a fresh mandate. As the Congress had been alleging that the present government had come to power by proxy. INLD district president Puran Singh Dabra also welcomed the decision saying there was an urgent necessity for seeking a fresh mandate. However, the Congress leaders termed the decision as "sheer opportunism" and claimed, the Chief Minister would pay dearly for the decision. Mr Hari Singh Saini, a senior Congress leader and former minister was of the opinion that the mid-term elections would be "suicidal" for the INLD-BJP and the Congress would bounce back to power. A number of the state executive of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee Ms Shalini Atri said, the elections were expected but Mr Chautala had gone for mid-term elections with false expectations. She pointed out that there will be entirely different issues at play this time and the Congress will "certainly do better". The man on the street feels while the Congress may do better the INLD-BJP combine will return to power. Prof B.K. Kuthiala Dean,
Media Studies in Guru Jambeshwar University said, it was
natural for the INLD-BJP government to seek a fresh
mandate. He pointed out that the present government
enjoys considerable goodwill which will not last long.
Deepak Bhandari, an employee of Haryana Agricultural
University hoped, the elections give a stable and lasting
government. |
Farm land demarcation today PANIPAT, Dec 16 — Senior revenue officers of Panipat district (Haryana) and Muzaffar Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) have agreed to demarcate the disputed agricultural land of Mirzapur and Sahpat villages in Panipat and Muzaffar Nagar districts, respectively, on December 17. The agreement was reached at a joint meeting of the revenue and police officers of both the districts on Wednesday in the Kala Amb tourist complex. It was also decided at the meeting that for want of new survey report of the Survey of India, status quo as on 1998 should be maintained. The villagers concerned should sign the new demarcation report. The Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sandeep Garg, Additional SP, Hanif Quraishi and SDM Kulwant Kalsan from Panipat district and District Magistrate Dinesh Chand Mishra and SSP Ashutosh Pande from Muzaffar Nagar district along with their revenue officers participated in the deliberations. The residents of Mirzapur and Sahpat villages were also called to the meeting to know their claims. The villagers of both the districts are claiming 110 acres of agricultural land in the Yamuna basin. The dispute has led to the law and order problem on many occasions in the past. It was pointed out at
the meeting that most of the pillars which were erected
in the Yamuna basin under the Dixit award to demarcate
state boundary had been removed by the villagers. The
SDM, Panipat suggested that the pillars should be erected
again. |
Admn geared for polio
campaign SIRSA, Dec 16 — Polio drops will be administered to the children below 5 years of age on December 19 in the third round of nation wide Pulse Polio Immunisation campaign and a total of 591 posts has been set up in the district for this purpose. Stating this here yesterday, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Amit Jha said that out of 591 posts, 101 posts would be in urban areas and 490 in rural areas. Out of these, 34 mobile posts would administer oral drops of polio vaccine to the children of people residing in "Dhanis" and other small scattered inhabitants. He said that in the third round a total of 1,43,832 children were expected to be covered, out of which 1,10,756 were in rural areas and 33076 in urban areas and 2000 employees including health workers, anganwari workers, school teachers, ayurvedic staff and members of other social voluntary organisations would be deployed for giving polio drops to the children. Mr Jha urged the people
of the district to ensure administering of oral polio
drops to their wards who were below 5 years of age in the
third round of pulse polio campaign, nevertheless, their
children might have been given polio drops in the first
two rounds of the campaign. The parents, he said, should
also get the polio drops administered to their children
who were suffering from any disease or ailment as these
drops did not cause any harm but would protect their
wards from getting paralytic at the tender age. |
Bank staff stage dharna FATEHABAD, Dec 16 — On a call given by the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and the Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), bank employees staged a dharna in front of the State Bank of India office here today. The employees raised slogans in favour of their demands. The banking activities, however, went on as usual. The unions have been demanding the implementation of the pay settlement of the bank employees which was to come in effect from November, 1997. Union leaders said 67 per cent of the bank employees had opted for provident fund benefits after retirements while 33 per cent for pensionary benefits. But due to a policy of the Central government, the benefit of the 12.25 per cent increase in the salaries of the employees as per the March, 1999 settlement were to go only those who had opted pensionary benefits. The unions have sought the intervention of the Union Finance Minister in this matter and have threatened to intensify their agitation in case their demands were not met. ROHTAK: Members
of the State Bank of India Staff Association staged a
dharna in front of the main branch of the SBI here in
support of their demands. |
Two killed in shooting SIRSA, Dec 16 — Two persons were shot dead here yesterday. According to information received today, two persons sitting in a car parked at the Shiv Chowk were shot by certain car-borne youths. According to Balwinder, brother of Sukhdev, one of the deceased, had gone along with Jagir Singh to the chowk where his brother met them. Soon, Balbir Saini one of the accused along with a few others entered into Sukhdev’s car and a verbal duel ensued between them. However, Balwinder got the matter settled. As he had gone to some distance he heard the shots. Jagir Singh received bullet injuries in his stomach. He was later taken to a hospital by the police where he succumbed to his injuries. By the time another PCR van arrived Sukhdev, had already died. The cause behind this shootout is believed to be a dispute between two groups over the presidentship of the FCI union. A case has been
registered against the accused persons. |
Open darbar held at Samalkha PANIPAT, Dec 16 — The open darbar organised by the district administration at Samalkha yesterday provided an opportunity to the aggrieved persons of nearly 12 villages to get their grievances redressed. As many as 65 complaints were received and the authorities concerned were directed to settle the complaints without any delay by the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sandeep Garg. The District Rural Development officer was directed to vacate the house of a resident of Reholi village and pay the rent arrear immediately. The DC asked the Electricity Department to accept the payment of the bill of Ms Pataso Devi of Dindhar village on easy instalments. When residents of Dikadla village complained to the DC that Balbir Singh who is alleged to have murdered Ajmer, three months ago, has not been arrested, the police reported that during an inquiry conducted by the DSP, it was found that Balbir Singh was not involved in the murder. However, the DC assured them that the case would again be enquired into by the ASP. On the complaint of the representatives of Bhodwal Majri village the DC ordered the Food and Civil Supplies authorities to distribute ration cards to the villagers immediately. He instructed the tehsildar to recover the arrears of Rs 4,800 from a former sarpanch of Vazirpur Pitana village. An inquiry was ordered
against a foreman of the HVPN, who had not replaced or
even repaired the damaged transformer and power lines in
Dikadla village for the last 10 days. |
Redress grievances, says
Chautala BHIWANI, Dec 16 —
The Chief Minister of Haryana, Mr Om Prakash Chautala,
has directed the district administration to redress the
public grievances on priority basis. He was listening to
the grievances at the local panchayat bhavan here today.
He appealed that the public and administration should
work unitedly for the development of the state. |
Police darbar FARIDABAD, Dec 16 — Mr Ranbir Sharma, SP, will hold an open darbar at his office in Sector 16, on last Tuesday of every month. The SP said here today
that all investigating officials and inspectors of the
district would be present at the darbar. |
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