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Mining scam: VB begins probe
Absenteeism rampant among teachers
BJP deputation meets Governor on Mewat law & order
high court
‘No threat of bird flu in state’
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Youth festival kicks off
Work on elevated corridor begins
3 patwaris suspended
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Mining scam: VB begins probe
Hisar, October 24 The Superintendent of Police (Vigilance), Hisar, Mr Ram Singh Bishnoi, confirmed that an inquiry had been initiated into the allegations against the mining leaseholders. “Bureau officials have confiscated the relevant records from the Mining Department and further investigations are on,” he revealed on being questioned about the matter. The stone-crushers association had submitted a written complaint to the Vigilance Bureau, levelling specific allegations of financial irregularities against leasehold contractors. Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Chief Justice of India, the CBI Director, Union Finance Minister, Income Tax Commissioner and other senior administrative officials and higher authorities. In the complaint, the association has alleged that the leaseholders, Baba Mungipa Mines and Minerals Company, Hisar, and Rajpal and Company, had illegally extorted more than Rs 300 crore without showing it in their account books. It has further alleged that partners of Baba Mungipa Mines and Minerals Company, most of whom did not possess any considerable assets and were not even income tax assessees before obtaining the mining rights through the leasehold contract, had purchased property worth crores of rupees after they got the leasehold contract. Interestingly, one of the partners, who was reportedly working as a driver and had been declared defaulter due to non-repayment of loans, was now allegedly a rich person. Similarly, another partner, who was earlier a Class IV employee and later promoted as key operator with the PWD Public Health Department, had allegedly purchased 25 acres of agricultural land worth Rs 5 crore at a village near Hisar, besides allegedly investing crores of rupees in various projects. The association has pointed out that Baba Mungipa Mines and Minerals Company had deposited Rs 368 lakh with the Mining Department, Haryana, between November 27, 2001, and April 29, 2002. “How the persons of meagre financial status arranged the huge amount is a matter of investigation,” the complainants maintained. Besides, it has been alleged that nearly 250 crushing units in Khanak and surrounding villages were forced to wok for the aforesaid lessees. The crusher owners have asserted that no mining slips for the raw material, i.e. minor material dispatched for crushing were issued to them, thus showing that payment of royalty and sales tax had also been evaded. Drawing the attention of the authorities concerned towards “various misdeeds, extortions, illegal collections and purchase of various properties” by the partners of the aforesaid firms, the association has urged them to institute a high-level inquiry into the matter. |
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Absenteeism rampant among teachers
Chandigarh, October 24 For instance, Ms Neelam Yadav, a teacher of home science at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Heli Mandi, in Gurgaon district, was found to have taken long leave without pay in each year of her 15 years of service. She had joined service on March 15, 1996, and soon after on July 16, 1996, went on leave without pay. She remained on leave till September 4, 1996. Again from January 1, 1997, she took leave without pay and rejoined only on February 11. This pattern continued throughout her service period. It turns out that the total period she has taught in the school is much less than the period she has remained on leave. The government has now put her under suspension in view of her frequent absence from the school. The flying squad, constituted by the state government to check absenteeism by school teachers, found four teachers absent during a raid on Government Senior Secondary School at Mohammadpur in Gurgaon district. The teachers are Ms Shanti Devi, Ms Sarita Yadav, Ms Sudesh Narang and Mr Malkhan Singh. Some other teachers were found to have come to the school late. During a raid on Government Senior Secondary School at Bhorakala in Gurgaon district, it was found that Ms Kiran Bharti, a teacher, had gone on long leave without pay. She had not bothered to get the leave sanctioned by the authorities. Similar instances were also found in other schools of Gurgaon which were checked by the flying squad in a raid on October 22. Official sources said the government would chargesheet all teachers found absent from duty during the surprise checks by the flying squad. They added that Tata Infocom Ltd, entrusted with the job of providing computer education in schools, was found to have employed Ms Jyoti Kaushik, an under-qualified person, for teaching computers at the school at Heli Mandi. The Education Department would serve notice on the company for the lapse, the sources said. The sources said a large number of teachers were also found absent at a seminar organised for the promotion of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan project. Thirtyone primary-level teachers and 28 upper primary teachers were absent at the seminar organised at Government Girls Secondary School at Kherli in Gurgaon district, they said. |
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BJP deputation meets Governor on Mewat law & order
Chandigarh, October 24 The BJP delegation, which met the Governor at Raj Bhavan here, comprised Mr R.K. Gautam, leader of the BJP in the Assembly, Mr Vir Kumar Yadav, general secretary, Mr Bhani Ram Mangla, district president of the party in Mewat, and others. A press release issued by the party said the BJP functionaries apprised the Governor of the deteriorating law and order situation in Haryana, particularly in the newly created district of Mewat. The BJP leaders said the situation in Mewat district was “very serious”. Incidents of beating up of policemen by antisocial elements had become a routine affair. Incidents of cow slaughter, dacoity and looting had increased manifold in Mewat after it becoming a district. The BJP leaders also told the Governor that the minorities in the district were living under constant threat. |
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Appointment of teachers: Govt seeks time to file reply
Our High Court Correspondent
Chandigarh, October 24 The government had recently announced to recruit over 10,000 teachers, with 50 per cent reservation for candidates from the rural areas. During resumed hearing of the petition, Additional Advocate General Anmol Rattan Sidhu stated that the matter was under consideration and a reply would be filed in the light of the final decision taken by the government. The petitioner, Ms Manju Singhal of Yamunanagar, has challenged the constitutional validity of the reservation policy. Her counsel said before the Division Bench comprising Mr Justice H.S. Bedi and Mr Justice Viney Mittal that the Supreme Court had already ruled against such reservation in the context of the Rajasthan case of JBT teachers. The Bench later adjourned the case to November 28. Notice issued
The High Court on Monday issued notice for November 11 on a petition filed by one Surinder Gaon, an accused in the murder of Kaithal-based journalist Parmanand Goyal. Mr Goyal had been murdered on September 17, 2003, and eight accused had been arrested by the Haryana Police for their alleged role in the crime. Incidentally, the two sons of the deceased had also moved the High Court, praying that the investigation in the case be handed over to the CBI as the police was not doing the job properly. This plea was dismissed some days ago by the High Court. In his petition for grant of bail, Surinder, who is presently lodged in the Kurukshetra jail, has claimed that no purpose would be solved by keeping him in jail. |
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‘No threat of bird flu in state’
Karnal, October 24 Mr Jakati said that some people had lost their lives in China due to bird flu a few months ago. The birds flew from China to some countries in Europe and Asia, therefore, the government took preventive measures in view of the migration of birds from other countries. The Chief Wildlife Warden said that migratory birds kept on visiting the Sultanpur lake in Gurgaon and the Bhindawas lake in Jhajjar. The district officers of these areas were directed to visit these lakes daily and in case they found any bird dead, it should be sent to laboratories either at Sonepat or Jalandhar for analysis, he added. |
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Youth festival kicks off
Ambala, October 24 Deputy Commissioner J.P. Kashik was the guest of honour. Principal of local DAV College J.S. Nain and members of the management committee were present on the occasion. While welcoming the chief guest, the Principal of the school and convener of the festival, Ms Reena Nagrath, stressed upon the need of holding such cultural festivals. The chief guest exhorted the participants to compete in true sprit of the festival. He stressed upon the importance of extra curricular activities in the overall development of children. In ved mantra recitation, DAV School, Ambala city, and DAV Model School, Chandigarh, were jointly declared the winners while DAV Public School, Sonepat, and CL DAV Public School, Panchkula, won the second and third positions, respectively. In rangoli competition, Maj R.N. Kapoor DAV Public School, Ambala Cantt, Police DAV Public School, Ambala city and DAV Public School, Mandi Dabwali, secured the first, second and third positions, respectively. In on-the-spot painting competition, DAV Public School, Panchkula, stood first while DAV Public School, Kurukshetra, remained second and DAV Public School, Sonepat, grabbed the third position. In greeting card making competition, DAV Public School, Sonepat, got the top slot. DAV Public School, Ambala city, and Hans Raj DAV Public School, Panchkula, got the second and third prizes, respectively. |
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Work on elevated corridor begins
Panipat, October 24 The elevated corridor is believed to the longest in the country and is unique in certain ways. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has entrusted the job to Larsen and Toubro. According to Mr D.P.S. Nagar, Deputy Commissioner, the multi-crore project would be constructed on the built, operate and transfer (BOT) basis. Talking about the features, Mr Nagar said the pre-fabricated material would be used to build the structure. The administration has chalked out a plan to avoid any obstruction to the traffic. The Deputy Commissioner said the construction work would be undertaken in a phased manner. |
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3 patwaris suspended
Karnal, October 24 |
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