College students boycott classes
HISAR, Sept 28 — Students of some local colleges here boycotted their classes today in support of their demand for holding the students’ union elections.

Kisan sabha unhappy with INLD
FATEHABAD, Sept 28 — The Haryana Kisan Sabha has expressed resentment over the failure of the state government in making any announcement for the welfare of the farmers in the jan kalyan rally organised by the INLD at Hisar on Saturday.

SDO's office gheraoed
PANIPAT, Sept 28 — Hundreds of residents of Krishna Colony in Samalkha town in this district staged a protest and gheraoed the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer of the Samalkha power sub-station last evening while protesting against insufficient power supply in the colony for the last many days.

Suggestions on Lokayukta Bill invited
CHANDIGARH, Sept 28 — The chairman of the experts committee appointed by the Haryana Government for the preparation of the Lokayukta Bill, Justice G.S. Chahal, has decided to invite suggestions from the public.

• Senior citizens not to celebrate festivals
• PGIMS doctors meet Chautala
• Strike deferred

Sex scandal bid to defame: minister
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Sept 28 — The Haryana Minister of State for Tourism and Education, Mr Om Prakash Jain, has denied the allegation levelled against him regarding his alleged involvement in the so-called "sex scandal" at thermal station rest house in Panipat on the night of September 16 and 17. Clarifying his position, he said it was an attempt made by his political opponents in the Congress to defame him.

Mr Jain was addressing mediapersons at the Skylark tourist complex here today. He said the allegations levelled against him by the Congressmen were concocted and politically motivated to tarnish his image.

Mr Jain charged that the Congressmen were feeling jealous about his induction as a minister. He also alleged that as an Independent MLA, he got a number of development projects sanctioned for the improvement of the town. The president of the local municipal council belonging to the Congress faction had always created hurdles in the execution of development works.

Mr Jain clarified that certain women leaders of the Congress who were engaged in a tirade against him had confessed that they were misled by his political opponents. Mr Jain said he was in Chandigarh with his family on the night the incident occurred.

Certain women representatives, most of them belonging to the Congress at a press conference on September 26 had alleged that the minister was involved in the incident and they had demanded his dismissal from the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Mr Balbir Pal Shah, a former minister and Congress leader, at a hurriedly convened press conference announced his party would submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, demanding a thorough probe by the CBI into the incident.

He also announced that a procession comprising more than 1,000 persons would start from the municipal council office to Mr Jain’s house via the Deputy Commissioner’s residence. A demonstration in front of the minister’s residence would also be held. He also announced that an indefinite dharna would also be staged in front of the minister’s residence in Model Town here.

Power theft crime in Mewat remains
From Ravi S. Singh
Tribune News Service

GURGAON, Sept 28 — Transmission losses, a substantial portion of which constitutes power theft, in the Mewat area of Gurgaon circle continues to plague the Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN).

According to a senior officer of the HVPN, the area continues to remain impervious to reform measures initiated by the Haryana Government.

A section of inhabitants,who allegedly indulge in power theft, appear to care two hoots for the disciplinary measures initiated by the authorities to stem the problem.

Inquiries reveal that the transmission losses in the Mewat area are comparatively higher than in other parts of the state. The topography of the area and rampant poverty contribute to the lawlessness among the residents, say observers.

The officers of the HVPN also appear to be reluctant to conduct raids and surveys, apprehending violent reactions from the locals. The area is dominated by Meo Muslims. The residents do not cooperate with officials in identifying culprits or instances of power theft. There have been reports in the past of the officials of the Haryana State Electricity Board (HSEB), now dismantled giving place to HVPN, being manhandled by the residents while conducting raids and investigations.

The issue of power theft in the area has once again come to the centrestage with the local District and Sessions Court upholding a judgement of a court in Ferozepur Jhirka.

The court in Nuh has convicted a resident of Malab village following registration of a criminal case in connection with a power theft. The case was registered at the police station in Nuh considered to be the political and cultural headquarters of Mewat.

The case was registered on a complaint by Sub-Divisional Officer of the HVPN. The culprit was booked under Section 379, IPC, and 39 of the Indian Electricity Act.

The Additional District and Sessions Judge Dr Bharat Bhushan Parsoo, in whose court the appeal was tried, rejecting the petition of appeal against the judgement of a Senior Sub-Judge of Ferozepur Jhirka, observed that the crime of power theft was "quite rampant" in this area.

Bail plea of 4 accused rejected
From Our Correspondent

KAITHAL, Sept 28 — The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Mr Harvinder Singh Bhangoo here, yesterday rejected the bail application filed on behalf of the four accused allegedly involved in an attack on a local journalist, Mr Parma Nand Goel, injuring him seriously on September 13.

The accused were arrested by the police after an FIR under sections 323, 324, 325, 341, 148, 307 and 120-B, IPC, was registered against them and they are in judicial custody since then.

The court held that keeping in view the dare-devil attack and the amount of violence used during the attack, the apprehension of the prosecution that if the accused were granted bail they can pressurise the prosecution witnesses.

The court held that keeping in view the nature of assault and the condition of the injured who is under treatment at the PGI it is not a fit case for the grant of bail, as it may hamper the investigation.

In a separate order the court also declined to grant anticipatory bail to two other co-accused named in the same FIR while rejecting the pre-arrest bail application filed on behalf of other two accused the court held that keeping in view the circumstances of the case, it was not a fit case for the grant of an anticipatory bail as it may also hamper the investigation and the accused could pressurise the prosecution witnesses.

Doctors panic in AIDS case
by Richa Bansal

CHOCHI (Haryana): The cost of the killer AIDS has been high in terms of human health and lives across the globe and now "in our country’’ it is ready to pay a higher price in terms of disruption of social systems and economies.

Chochi, some 70 odd kilometres from New Delhi is a case in point, according to an NGO, Joint Action Council Kannur (JACK), which has taken upon itself to highlight the "inappropriate HIV policy and non-enforcement of human rights" in such cases.

The summer of 1997 was particularly harsh for its denizens as it suffered ostracism after the medical community in Haryana labelled one of its residents, Ranbir Singh, as an "AIDS case".

This was done on "highly questionable grounds’’ and the news was leaked to the media.

"It is now two years since we got our first "AIDS village" — a victim of overall lack of sensitivity and awareness regarding HIV/AIDS,’’ says Purusothaman Mulloli, the man behind JACK.

"If the present approach to the malady is allowed to continue, the country will witness the destructive effects of policies which are controlled and directed by bilateral and multilateral agencies’’, he warns.

Recounting the Chochi incident, Mr Mulloli alleges that the 33-year-old truck driver was admitted to the Rohtak Medical Centre (RMC) on April 24, 1997 with symptoms of weight loss, tuberculosis and fever.

He was diagnosed as having AIDS "on the basis of one single testing’’ and discharged the very next day in a critical condition. The day after he died.

Villagers said on May 16, the RMC Director announced that Ranbir’s widow, Kausalya and youngest child were also infected with HIV.

"Just how ignorant and how contemptuous of policy and professional ethics was the role of the medical community is evident from the fact that no one can be declared an HIV\AIDS case without recommended confirmatory tests", says Mr Mulloli.

And, it was without tests that Ranbir’s status was "Declared and written in large letters across the OPD card of his wife".

RMC doctors chose to declare Ranbir an AIDS case on basis of a single Elisa test which has 70 per cent chances of being false positive.

Moreover, in a recent interview on television, RMC’s head of microbiology said the treating physician diagnosed Ranbir as an AIDS case.

The doctors, contends JACK, provided information on Ranbir, Kaushalya and their daughter as being AIDS cases to the district authorities and also the media. "This was a breach of confidentiality."

The policy clearly provides for pre-test and post test counselling and does not allow forced testing.

However, neither Ranbir nor his family received any counselling or any other support from the RMC. Also, Ranbir’s widow and daughter were so tested and the doctors even advised and carried out an MTP on Kausalya.

"Although policy requires supplemental test results to be provided to a patient within 72 hours, Kausalya has, till date, not received these reports despite repeated request to the RMC", says Mr Mullali. Kausalya too nods her head in agreement.

The doctors, he says, claim that Ranbir had himself asked for a discharge. "This seems very unlikely considering the family had to pay a bribe to get him admitted and, on the advice of doctors, also organised blood for him."

However, Dr Arora, head of the Microbiology Department at PGIMS Rohtak, denies all allegations "Ranbir Singh was a full blown AIDS case. The matter somehow went to the Press and we were asked to test the entire village. But we refused as no one can compel anyone to go for it. However, two or three did come voluntarily."

He further contends that Kausalya was given her report, "She is hiding the truth. The report was given to her. If needed we can give her a duplicate report and even conduct a fresh test? She should come alone and we will give it to her." He further contends that Kausalya was given her report, "She is hiding the truth. The report was given to her. If needed we can give her a duplicate report and even conduct a frest test? She should come alone and we will give it to her."

Jack says "It is imperative that we re-examine our perceptions towards HIV\AIDS in the irresponsible behaviour of the medical community, the media and the administration, the devastating impact of the resulting situation on the lives of village communities and rapid increase of migration from rural areas to, urban centres, and the inherent flaws in policy that lie at the root of both the above".

The issues at stake are the fundamentals of HIV testing and prevention campaign projected in all international and national fora. The focus on ‘high risk groups’ (HRG) is a core construct in the current approach to HIV\AIDS which is a serious flaw.

In view of the acute stigma associated with AIDS, the branding of certain persons as HRG is leading to their marginalisation making them vulnerable to serious human right violations, says Mr Mulloli.

Besides, the focus on HRGs instead of ‘high risk situation’ is tending to lull non-HRGs into a false sense of complacency, thereby proving counterproductive in building awareness on HIV\AIDS according to JACK.

JACK also charges the media with "insensitivity" in giving such exposure to Ranbir, his family and his village. Ill informed, sensational and insensitive reporting by the media continues in respect of HIV/AIDS in general and Chochi in particular.

For instance one of the first reporters to break the news on Chochi had said on television recently that his report was based on doctor’s statements that the deceased had a 70 per cent probability of being an AIDS case, little realising even now that there is nothing like a 70 per cent AIDS case’’.

The district administration’s too had violated the rights of the persons by "Announcing to the whole village that Kausalya and her daughter had AIDS’’, JACK says and asks what purpose have the many high profile seminars, discussions with experts, aid and investments to generate awareness among key implementers of HIV/AIDS served. (PTI)

College students boycott classes
Tribune News Service

HISAR, Sept 28 — Students of some local colleges here boycotted their classes today in support of their demand for holding the students’ union elections. In Dayanand College some students went on a rampage and smashed some windopanes also.
While the students boycotted classed in Dayanand and Government College, the Jat College and the FC College of Women functioned normally.

The police had to be called in to prevent some students and outsiders from forcing the students to boycott classes. While the students were being dispersed, they resorted to stone pelting and damaged several windowpanes. However, no one was injured and no arrests were made either.

The Principal of the college, Mr Subhash Sharma said the classes were held in a routine manner in spite of the attempts to disrupt these. He said the police had to be called as some of the students were trying to force others to boycott classes.

The police had to be deployed at Government College also as several students gathered there. They were raising slogans and demanding students’ union elections. The Principal of the college, Ms Sneh Gauba, told TNS that the police was called to prevent any untoward incident. She claimed the classes functioned normally after the agitating students were dispersed by the police.

Students of various organisations have been demanding that students’ union elections be held in various educational institutions ever since Mr Chautala took over as Chief Minister. The students’ union elections were banned by Mr Bansi Lal in 1996.

While most of the students contacted by TNS appeared indifferent to the demand, they were upset over the way some student leaders were trying to disrupt the classes.

Kisan sabha unhappy with INLD
From Our Correspondent

FATEHABAD, Sept 28 — The Haryana Kisan Sabha has expressed resentment over the failure of the state government in making any announcement for the welfare of the farmers in the jan kalyan rally organised by the INLD at Hisar on Saturday.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Krishan Swaroop, general secretary of the state unit of the sabha, said the INLD had been making promises of free power and water to the farmers in the state but when it came to making announcements, the Chautala government had failed to fulfil the promise made.

He said the INLD leaders were in the habit of making promises that could not be fulfilled. He said that instead of making tall claims, the government should supply water, power, fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and farm equipment to the small and marginal farmers at a subsidised rate. He further demanded that arrears of power and water bills of poor farmers should be waived by the government as per the pre-poll promise of the INLD.

Mr Krishan Swaroop said the farmers had come for the Hisar rally in the hope that Mr Chautala would give some relief to farmers but much to their disappointment, the Chief Minister did not make any announcement to improve their lot. He came down heavily on the government for its failure in safeguarding the interests of the farmers in the procurement of crops. He alleged that the farmers were forced to sell their crops at a much lower price than the minimum support price due to the indifferent attitude of the government.

SDO's office gheraoed
From Our Correspondent

PANIPAT, Sept 28 — Hundreds of residents of Krishna Colony in Samalkha town in this district staged a protest and gheraoed the office of the Sub-Divisional Officer of the Samalkha power sub-station last evening while protesting against insufficient power supply in the colony for the last many days.

According to information available at least 100 residents, including women reached the power sub-station to lodge their complaints about the disruption in power supply. Instead of listening to their grievances, the SDO of the sub-station took refuge in one of the rooms of the office. Before that, the protesters had removed the power plugs to disconnect the power supply to his residence.

The protest continued till late at night and the police was also informed about it. However, after getting an assurance from the SDO and other officials of the power sub-station that the power supply position would be improved at the earliest the protesters returned to their houses.

Suggestions on Lokayukta Bill invited
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Sept 28 — The chairman of the experts committee appointed by the Haryana Government for the preparation of the Lokayukta Bill, Justice G.S. Chahal, has decided to invite suggestions from the public.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the committee which was attended by the Advocate-General, Haryana, Mr Mohan Jain, and the Chief Secretary, Mr Ram S. Varma.

A notice will be issued in the press, requesting legal, and constitutional experts, advocates, intellectuals, political leaders and other citizens to give their suggestions in a fortnight to the committee.

The committee will also consider the provisions of the Lokayukta Acts of states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

PGIMS doctors meet Chautala
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 28 — A joint delegation of doctors of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical (PGIMS) representing the Haryana State Medical Teachers Association (HSMTA) and the Haryana Civil Medical Service (HCMS) Association met the Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, at New Delhi yesterday about their demands.

According to information, the doctors demanded a grant of non-practising allowance (NPA), revision of their pay scales and other benefits given to doctors of the AIIMS. It is learnt that the CM accepted the demand of the payment of grant of the NPA equivalent to 25 per cent of the basic salary.

He assured the delegation that the state government would look into their other demands. Dr Suresh Datterwal, Dr M.S. Punia, Dr A.S. Rathee were present at the meeting. The HSMTA represents about 200 doctors and has about 2000 members.

Senior citizens not to celebrate festivals
From Our Correspondent

YAMUNANAGAR, Sept 28 — The Senior Citizens Council, Jagadhri, has decided not to celebrate Dasehra and Divali this year, as a mark of respect for the soldiers who laid down their lives during the Kargil conflict and to share the grief of the bereaved families.

Mr R.K. Jain, President of the council said here today that the members of the council had passed a resolution in this regard at the annual general meeting of the council.

Strike deferred
From Our Correspondent

ROHTAK, Sept 28 — The Haryana Roadways Workers’ Union affiliated to the Haryana Sarvkaramchari Sangh has deferred its proposed agitational programme in the wake of assurance of acceptance of its demands by the roadways authorities.

In a statement here yesterday Mr Jai Prakash Beniwal, President, Rohtak depot of the union, said the general manager of the local Haryana Roadways depot, has given an assurance to the employees regarding their demands.

The union had been demanding a check on termination of services of the employees and withdrawal of various recoveries pending against several employees.