Chandigarh, August 14
House tax based on the collector's rate may go in Haryana if the recommendations of a special committee, constituted to devise an "economical formula", are anything to go by.

Sources said the tax committee, headed by Public Works Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, had finalised its recommendations. These would have to be tabled in the Cabinet for the approval.

Sources said house tax would now be based on the size of plots while the committee had divided the collection into four categories. These had been divided on the basis of municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal committees.

The committee is learnt to have considered all options available for calculating house tax, including the unit area method which is applicable in most states and the rental value. However, these did not find favour with the members since it would involve municipal officials to calculate rental values and add an element of arbitrariness to the house tax.

These methods also entail the repeated measurement of constructed area, posing the challenge of surveying all properties year after year.

Sources said it was decided to base it on the size of the plots or flats. Just like the previous model adopted by the government, some concessions could also be offered in the case of two-storey and three-storey constructions on plots, though full charges would be applicable in case those floors were independently held.

Concessions are in the offing for serving and retired personnel of the defence forces and their spouses and relief may be given to grain and timber markets.

The committee has worked out its tax around the idea that the richer the people, the more they pay.

Similarly, the committee has framed different slabs for different plot sizes of industry as also commercial establishments whereby the smaller plot owners will pay less.

The sources said the tax for commercial establishments had been substantially slashed compared to the existing rates.

"The committee has devised a transparent formula and recommended almost no tax for the lower middle class," Surjewala said.

Earlier, the Congress government had completely done away with house tax. It was re-imposed after the Centre linked release of funds to imposition of house tax. The government modeled it around the collector rate.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had stayed all collection, constituted a committee and asked it to take a fresh look at the formula and make its recommendations.

I do not have the guts to ignore the directive of the high command. The matter has been sorted out with the Chief Minister. — Balbir Pal Shah, Panipat (Urban) MLA

Chandigarh, August 14
Panipat (Urban) MLA Balbir Pal Shah has been directed by the Congress high command to take back his resignation that he had submitted to Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kuldip Sharma on August 8.

It's a way out provided to Shah to retract from a hasty decision, but it is also indicative of a "firm stand" on part of the high command to curb dissidence in the Haryana Congress that is on the rise.

Treasurer of the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) Moti Lal Vohra sent a fax message to Shah late last night, urging him to take back his resignation immediately. Though, Shah had said he was willing to take it back provided someone in the high command asked him to do so, it is learnt that Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had prevailed upon the party's central leadership to curb dissidence with a firm hand.

Besides Vohra, AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who is also the party in charge for Haryana, called up Shah and asked him to put an end to the "resignation drama". Ahmed was abroad when Shah submitted his resignation.

Shah tendered his resignation, saying that he was taking this decision as he had failed to get the projects sanctioned for his constituency.

Responding to the message that was sent last night and a hand-delivered letter received by him this morning, Shah told his supporters, "I do not have the guts to ignore the directive of the high command. The matter has been sorted out with the Chief Minister".

He said the Chief Minister would visit his residence in a day or so and the issue would be given a formal burial.

He has also assured his supporters that the Chief Minister had agreed to get the development works completed at a fast pace.

Much against the comfort of Hooda, former Haryana Finance Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Birender Singh has almost succeeded in ensuring the presence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the Jind rally on August 20. He discussed the details of the function with Ahmed Patel in Delhi on Monday.

However, the Chief Minister is working hard to ensure that the food security programme for Haryana is launched from Panipat on the same day.

Chandigarh, August 14
Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Birender Singh today offered the platform of his Sadhbhavna Divas rally in Jind on August 20 to the Haryana government for launching the Centre's food security programme instead of launching it in all districts that day.

"A big rally is being held in Jind on the the 70th birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi. I have conveyed to the Haryana Government that the rally’s platform should be used to roll out the scheme. That way, Congress leaders can come together and we can present a united front," Birender Singh said at a press conference here today.

The MP said that he has personally invited UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the rally. Asked if she would address his rally, Birender responded in a positive manner to say “I have invited her in person and given a written invite as well. She has accepted it. The confirmation, however, comes to the government and then they let us know," he said.

Birender Singh maintained that he had invited all MPs and MLAs to the rally. “We have sent out about 500 invites and 300 more will be sent by tomorrow,” he added.

He refused comment on the Robert Vadra-DLF deal. About not making it as a minister in the recent Cabinet expansion at the Centre, he said: "Nobody is responsible for this since it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. I did get a letter but was informed that it would not be possible to accommodate me. When the post of Chief Minister can slip, this is nothing for me." 

Gurgaon, August 14
Rebel Congress MP from Gurgaon Rao Inderjit Singh has refuted the allegations that he was developing an illegal colony in Rewari levelled by leaders owing allegiance to the Haryana Chief Minister camp.

The MP said in a statement issued here today that he did not own any land near Rao Gopal Dass Chowk on Narnaul Road in Rewari, as mentioned by Haryana Health Minister Rao Narender Singh and some Congress MLAs.

"I do not have even a square inch of land there. So how can I develop a colony?" Rao asked.

Rao conceded that he had some ancestral property in a residential sector of Rewari and had collaborated with Unitech so as to prevent the development of an illegal colony in the area. Launching a counter-attack on the minister and party MLAs, the MP asked them to disclose the details of money and property made during the tenure of the Congress government in the state before levelling baseless allegations against him.

Chandigarh, August 14
Two state police officers will be awarded the President’s Police Medal for their distinguished service and 11 police personnel, including two women officials, with Police Medal for their meritorious service on Independence Day.

Stating this here today, a spokesman of the Haryana Police said Director General of Police, OSD Rules, Panchkula, RK Vachher and Additional Director General of Police Prabhat Ranjan Deo have been awarded the President’s Police Medal.

He said 11 police personnel, who have been awarded Police Medals included Rajender Singh, Superintendent of Police, Commandant, 5th Battalion, HAP, Devinder Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, CID, Hisar, Surinder Kumar Vats, Deputy Superintendent of Police, L&O, PHQ (H), Panchkula, Bhagwan Dass, Inspector, Hisar, Vijay Pal, Sub-Inspector, State Crime Record Bureau, Madhuban, Pradeep Kumar, Sub- Inspector, Personal Security Officer to the Chief Minister, Rakesh Kumar, ASI, office of Assistant Inspector General, Traffic and Highway, Karnal, Vinod Kumar, ASI, Ambala, Geeta Rani, ASI, temporary duty in police headquarters, Raj Kaur, ASI, office of Inspector General of Police, Telecom, Panchkula, and Rati Ram, ASI, Southern Range, Rewari.

He said Director General of Police SN Vashisht had congratulated them for their meritorious services. He hoped that they would continue to work with dedication. He added that these awards would also inspire others.

Fatehabad, August 14
Animal right activists of the People for Animals and the All-India Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha (AIJRBS) today served an ultimatum on the district administration to initiate action against NPCIL officials and their contractors for “causing death of seven blackbucks” in the past six days and to take steps for declaring the land as a “Conservation Reserve” as per the report of the Wildlife Institute of India.

In a memorandum submitted to Fatehabad Deputy Commissioner Saket Kumar , members of the AIJRBS threatened to hold a dharna outside the DC office, block traffic and an indefinite fast if their demands were not met within seven days.

“The WII report has clearly said that the 187 acres of land acquired by the NPCIL for their colony is the natural habitat of blackbucks,” said Vinod Karwasra, district president of the People for Animals (PFA).

Rameshwar Delu, state president of the AIJRBS, alleged that knowing well that they were yet to get environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), NPCIL officials rushed with setting up iron meshed fencing on the colony site resulting into the death of seven blackbucks in the past six days.

He alleged despite lodging a complaint with the police as well as the district authorities, no action had so far been initiated against NPCIL officials.

Karnal, August 14
The police today booked two teachers and two students of Mor Majra Gurukul School, Assandh, in ragging case in which a Class XI girl was beaten up and pushed from the second floor of the school building. She sustained multiple fractures and admitted to hospital in an unconscious state.

Earlier, the school authorities had told the parents of the girl that she had jumped from the second floor but the truth was revealed after she regained her consciousness and gave statement to the police.

A case against two teachers, Raj Bala and Phulkani, and students Jyoti and Poonam was registered.

The police booked the girls for attempt to murder and harassing and torturing the girl, while the teachers were booked for ignoring the complaint of the girl and not taking any action against the girls.

Gurgaon, August 14
Aditya Chaudhary (14), a Class IX student at DPS, Sushant Lok, saved the life of his friend Chandan (10) by pulling the boy from an unfinished rainwater pit being dug by HUDA in Sector 23 here.

Aditya was playing football when Chandan accidentally fell into the pit.

Aditya jumped into the pit. He found Chandan caught in muddy slush at the bottom of the pit but managed to bring him out.

As Chandan had swallowed the muddy water, Aditya pumped it out of Chandan's body with the help of other friends.

The Gurgaon district administration as well as the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 23, will honour Aditya on the occasion of Independence Day. The Delhi Public School (DPS) authorities said Aditya's name was also being forwarded to the Union Government for the National Bravery Award.

Fatehabad, August 14
The police has booked two teachers for abetting the suicide of 14-year student Mandeep, whose body was found hanging from the grill of a hostel in Navodaya Vidyalaya at Kharakheri in Fatehabad.

A case had been registered against the teachers, Tejpal Ranga and Pawan Sharma, on the complaint of Mandeep’s father Dalip.— TNS