13 killed in K'shetra, Jhajjar accidents

Tribune Reporters Kurukshetra/Jhajjar, February 6

Thirteen persons were killed in separate accident in Kurukshetra and Jjajjar district today. Four people, including two women, were killed when a car they were travelling in collided with a truck on the Kurukshetra-Yamunanagar road, near Ladwa. Sources said a mahant and his three disciples, hailing from Punjab, were on a religious tour when their car collided with a truck. Three victims died on spot while one injured was rushed to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital, where he succumbed to injuries. The victims have been identified as Mahant Amreek Singh, Gruvinder Kaur, Janki Devi and Sanjay Kumar. The bodies were sent to the civil hospital. The police have registered a case against the truck driver. In another accident, four persons were killed and one was injured when their Innova car collided with a canter parked on the National Highway-1 near Khanpur Koliya village in the district today. Sources said the victims were on their way to Jalandhar from Delhi. The injured was taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital where his condition was said to be serious. Three victims have been identified as Jitender, Mahender and Raja, while the fourth victim and the injured are yet to be identified. In Jhajjar, five persons were killed when their car rammed into a truck on the Jhajjar-Sampla road near Aasanda village here last night. The deceased have been identified as Rishi Pal and Naresh of Barhana village (Jhajjar), Ravinder and Naveen of Sohti village (Sonepat) and Dharmender of Kharkara village (Rohtak). The police said the mishap took place around 10 pm when they were going to attend a wedding in Chhara village under Bahadurgarh subdivision from Sampla town. When they reached the government school of Aasanda village, their car rammed into the truck ahead of it. Four of the five occupants died on the spot, while one succumbed to his injuries on the way of PGIMS, Rohtak. The truck drive has been booked on the charges of rash and negligence driving.

Dead staffers parents too entitled to family pension

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 6

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has allowed a petition challenging its own decision on the administrative side before holding that the parents of a deceased employee too are entitled to family pension. The purpose of the rules relating to family pension is to provide financial assistance to members of the deceased employee's family. Not only the widow and children are dependant upon the income of the deceased employee but also the old parents, Justice Daya Chaudhary has ruled. The ruling on a petition filed by a 77-year-old widow is significant as the High Court had categorically claimed that the petitioner was not entitled to after-death benefits as she was not included in the definition of a family In her petition against the High Court Registrar-General and other respondents, Bhanti Devi had earlier contended that her son, Virender Singh, was working as a process server in the Fatehabad District and Sessions Court. Besides her, he was survived by his minor son. Her counsel had contended that the minor son was being taken care of by the petitioner; and the divorcee wife has no right to claim benefits after her husbands death. Taking up the matter, Justice Chaudhary asserted: The issue in the present case is as to whether the petitioner, who is mother of the deceased government employee, can be excluded from the definition of a family and denied benefits of family pension. The petitioner is a widow mother, having no source of income, and is of more than 77 years of age. Nothing has been brought on record that she is getting some income from other source. Justice Chaudhary added the petition deserved to be allowed. The petitioner was 74 at the time of filing the petition in 2010. She was now more than 77. The employees wife had obtained a divorce and had also received permanent alimony. Before parting with the order, Justice Chaudhary ordered the granting of 50 per cent of the family pension to the petitioner while ordering the release of the remaining 50 per cent in favour of the minor.

President to visit central varsity

Tribune News Service Rohtak, February 6

President Pranab Mukherjee is slated to be the chief guest at the first convocation of the Central University of Haryana (CUH) on the varsity campus at Jant-Pali in Mahendragarh on March 1. Vice Chancellor Major-General Dr Ranjit Singh(retd) said the President would also address the gathering on the occasion. Governor Jagannath Pahadia, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Union HRD Minister Dr MM Pallam Raju are also slated to attend the programme. Degrees would be awarded to the successful students or research scholars of various study programmes of the university.

2 years on, Ratia farmers await power connections

Tribune News Service Fatehabad, February 6

More than two years after Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced electricity connections to all dhanis (hamlets) located in the Ratia Assembly segment on the payment of 5 per cent of the installation charges, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitan Nigam (DHBVN) is yet to initiate any action in this direction. Angry farmers are up in arms against the government now. Agitated farmers from Aherwan village today held a demonstration outside the DHBVN office at Ratia demanding implementation of the Chief Ministers announcement. The farmers have threatened to intensify their agitation in case the government did not provide them electricity connections as per the Chief Ministers commitment. After Congress candidate Jarnail Singhs victory in a byelection to the Ratia Assembly seat in November 2011, Hooda had announced in his Dhanyawad Rally held on December 10, 2011, that farmers of the Ratia Assembly segment would get power connections in their dhanis on paying 5 per cent of installation charges. It was decided that the farmers would pay only 5 per cent of the charges and the rest of the 45 per cent would be shared by MP Ashok Tanwar from his local area development funds and the state government. Bhagirath, Assistant Engineer, DHBVN at Ratia, said the nigam did not initiate any work because it did not get 45 per cent share it was to get from the MP as well as the state government funds. Meanwhile, a new scheme for providing electricity connections without charging any installation charges from farmers living in dhanis from special designed transformers brought from Gujarat has also been started in the district as a pilot project.

Quota: Jats warn of stir from Feb 23

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service Narwana, February 6

After waiting for more than a month, khaps and other Jat leaders have threatened to launch an agitation in Delhi if the UPA government failed to issue a notification regarding their reservation by February 22. Nearly 70 khap and prominent Jat leaders held a meeting here to chalk out the future course of action. They said the Union government was playing politics over their reservation. Perhaps the Union government has underestimated the strength of the community. This time, our agitation would teach a strong lesson to the government, said Nafey Singh Nain, national president, Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat. We have decided to start an agitation in Delhi from February 23 if the government fails to issue a notification till then. We would gherao the parliament, block all roads and railway traffic in the national capital. We have the support of the community from across the country, said Tek Ram Kandela, convener, Rashtriya Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat. Khaps flay Chidambaram A day after Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said khaps were not a part of the Indian culture, khap leaders said they would not tolerate any such remarks in future and they did not need any certificate from him.

Govt turns down demand of PhD holders

Tribune News Service Jhajjar, February 6

The government has turned down the demand of PhD degree holders for relaxation in the National Eligibility Test (NET) qualification for the recruitment of Assistant Professors in the college cadre, said Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal here on recently. "No appointment shall be made on the basis of PhD while those doctorate degree holders will be able to get a relaxation of 5 per cent from 55 to 50 per cent of marks who have passed their master's degree before September 19, 1991," said the minister. Bhukkal said this decision was taken by the Cabinet after a detailed discussion because the legitimacy of PhD degrees of some universities was already under the scanner. The Haryana Public Service Commission (HPSC) recently invited applications for 1,396 posts of Assistant Professor (College Cadre) in 30 different subjects. Except for four subjects, including computer science, fine arts, mass communication and music (Instrumental and Vocal), the commission fixed the NET/SLET as the minimum eligibility conditions for the post. AMeanwhile, PhD holders have decided to move the court against this notification arguing that when the UGC considers them eligible for the posts, why the government is trying to ruin their future by imposing such a condition.

State to have 2,500 CSCs Chandigarh February 6

The Haryana Government has notified the scheme for establishment of Common service centres (CSCs). The centres would issue like birth, death and caste certificates, jamabandi, etc.The establishment of CSCs in the state would provide self-employment to about 5,000 entrepreneurs/ skilled IT persons. About 2,500 CSCs are planned to be established across the state of which 500 would be rolled out during phase-I and the rest during phases II and III.  TNS

Patwari caught taking bribe

Tribune News Service Fatehabad, February 6

A patwari was caught red-handed by the State Vigilance Bureau while accepting a bribe of Rs 500 from a farmer. Patwari Jhamman Ram Bishnoi had demanded Rs 500 from Balwant Singh from Kajal Heri village. Balwant Singh alleged that his sister had transferred her share of land to him and the family had requested the patwari to enter mutation of the transfer. Though Balwant Singh paid the requisite fees, Jhamman Ram refused to do his work till he got bribe. Balwant Singh brought the matter to the notice of the SVB, who laid a trap and arrested Balwant Singh.

Man booked for killing wife

Our Correspondent Sonepat, February 6

A 32-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her husband at her house in Malviya Nagar here today, while she was having bath. Parvesh killed Mamta with a sharp-edged weapon. The victim was a teacher in Delhi and has two children. The accused, who is also a teacher in Delhi, fled after committing the crime. The body bore deep injury marks on the neck and other parts. On the complaint of victims father, Rajinder Singh of Kharainti village in Rohtak district, a case was registered against the Mamta's husband, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. The police said further investigations were on and the accused would be arrested soon.

Man strangles wife after altercation

Tribune News Service Sirsa, February 6

Manjit Singh, a driver in Haryana Roadways, strangled his wife, Veena (36), after a minor altercation at Rasulpur village of Sirsa this morning. The victims brother, Chander Prakash of Jhorarnali in Sirsa, said he received a call at 8 am that Veena had died. Prakash said when he reached Rasulpur village, he found Manjit in police custody.Manjit had confessed his crime. He alleged that Manjit, a habitual drinker, used to quarrel with his wife.