Chandigarh, December 14
The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, today informed the Assembly that three inquiries regarding the selection process for recruitment by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) during the tenure of the previous government were being conducted by the Vigilance Department. The inquiries related to selection for the posts of plan attendants, motor vehicle mechanic and deputy forest ranger.

He added that the selection process by the HSSC for the recruitment of sub-inspectors of police had been referred to the CBI for a probe.

The Chief Minister stated this in his written reply to the Congress MLA, Ms Kiran Chaudhary’s question figuring during question hour in the House.

Ms Chaudhary’s question, which would have turned the heat on the previous regime headed by Mr Om Prakash Chautala, however, figured at the fag end of the list of starred questions and could not be taken up for supplementary questions. Rather, the Opposition INLD legislators managed to put the focus on the miserable power availability scene in the state by taking advantage of the questions asked by the party’s Deputy Leader in the House, Mr Sushil Indora, and Mr Dharampal S. Malik of the Congress.

Responding to Mr Indora’s question on the outstanding power bill waiver scheme, the Revenue Minister, Capt Ajay Singh Yadav, replying on behalf of the Chief Minister, said more than 8.5 lakh defaulters had opted for the scheme. Over five lakh defaulters were yet to respond to the scheme, which had been extended till January 31, Captain Yadav said.

The INLD legislators reacted by alleging that the scheme had failed to solve the problem of non-payment of power bills by villagers. There was a heated exchange between the two sides and the situation came under control only after the Chief Minister intervened. Mr Hooda said the process of bifurcation of feeders for rural and urban supply was on and it would streamline power distribution in the state.

Congress MLA Dharampal Malik’s question on whether the government had any proposal to set up more electricity substations in his constituency, Gohana, also set off a flurry of questions and comments by Mr Indora and his fellow INLD member, Mr Sita Ram.

Mr Malik congratulated the Chief Minister on getting Haryana included in a Central scheme and requested him to get transmission lines and transformers upgraded.