Chandigarh, October 4
The President has quashed the state government’s chargesheet against the whistleblower Indian Forest Service officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi.

Acting on the advice of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the President, in his order dated October 3 said: “He was of the opinion that none of the charges contained in the chargesheet served on the officer by the Haryana Government on August 21,2012, is sustainable and the charge sheet deserves to be revoked/quashed.”

A department inquiry, which was ordered subsequent to the issuance of the chargesheet on March 18 would also be revoked with immediate effect, the order stated.

This is the third chargesheet revoked by the President against Chaturvedi, a Haryana-cadre IFS officer currently on deputation as the Chief Vigilance Officer, AIIMS, New Delhi.

The current chargesheet relates to a case registered in 2009 regarding misuse of funds and bogus plantation in Jhajjar district. Interestingly, the scam was unearthed by Chaturvedi leading to the suspension of nine officers.

It may be recalled that the 2002-batch IFS officer had to face 12 transfers in the past five years, suspension and a departmental chargesheet after he unearthed irregularities in plantations under various centrally sponsored schemes.

Earlier, on Chaturvedi's representation, the MOEF constituted a committee, which recommended the quashing of the chargesheet against him and a CBI inquiry against certain state officials, including those in the Chief Minister’s office, then Forest Minister Kiran Choudhry and the then Secretary, Forests, Keshni Anand Arora.

The Haryana Government had earlier protested strongly to the MoEF for its recommendation to the President to quash the chargesheets against Chaturvedi, who had alleged that the state government was harassing him. 

New Delhi, October 4
Former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda today surrendered before a Delhi court upon expiry of his month-long interim bail in the Geetika Sharma suicide case. He was taken into custody after being denied further relief.

The sitting MLA from Sirsa, Kanda surrendered at 10am before Additional Sessions Judge MC Gupta, who rejected his plea for extension of his interim bail, which expired today. He is facing charges of having abetted the suicide by former airhostess Geetika Sharma.

The court will now hear Kanda's plea for a regular bail on October 10.

Kanda was granted interim bail on September 5, after nearly 13 months in custody, to attend the Assembly session on condition that he would show his attendance in the House. Kanda's co-accused and employee, Aruna Chadha, is out on interim bail till November 15.

Chadha was arrested on August 8 last year while Kanda had surrendered before the police 10 days later on August 18.

The former airhostess was found dead on August 5, 2012, at her Ashok Vihar residence in northwest Delhi. In her suicide note, she had said she was ending her life due to "harassment" by Kanda and Chadha. The police had said Kanda was obsessed with the victim and was putting pressure on her to come back to his company.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to examine the issue that despite the High Court's ruling not to grant bail to any accused to attend assembly or parliament session, the trial court had allowed Kanda to attend the Assembly session.

Justice JR Midha posted for October 21 the plea of the Delhi Police challenging the trial court's order granting interim bail to Kanda to attend the Assembly session. — PTI 

Chandigarh October 4
Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda described the intelligence quotient (IQ) of Kautilya Pandit as rare and assured that the state government would provide every possible support to enable him to further excel in the field of education.

Hooda was speaking at the Bal Pratibha Samman Samaroh organised to honour Kautilya at his residence here today. Hooda honoured Kautilya with reward of Rs 10 lakh and a certificate. The amount has been handed over to Kautilya in the form of a fixed deposit. Kautilya’s father Satish Sharma, mother Sumita Sharma were also present.

Sirsa, October 4
Haryana Lokayukta Justice (retd) Pritam Pal wants more powers, particularly to take suo motu action in cases of corruption and other matters, to make the institution of Lokayukta more effective.

The Lokayukta also wants powers to proceed under the Contempt of Court Act in cases where it is warranted.

Justice (retd) Pal was here today to sensitise officers of the district administration, members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, District Bar Association and non-governmental organisations about the rules and jurisdiction of the Haryana Lokayukta Act, 2002.

He said to make the institution more effective, he had sent certain suggestions to the government.

“The state government has agreed to implement all rules, which the Central government frames under the proposed Lokpal Act, in Haryana too,” he said.

The Lokayukta said his office had received 2,300 complaints and disposed of nearly 1,300 cases in the past two years and sent reports to the state government for taking necessary action.

Later, Justice Pal went to the District Jail and listened grievances of prisoners.

He said those serving jail term need not affix any fee for making a complaint before the Lokayukta.

Chandigarh, October 4
After being put on a hold for a few months, property tax staged a comeback in the state. Worse still, residents would have to shell out arrears since April 1, 2010.

The new property tax regime, which does away with the old formula based on the collector’s rate and gives an option to the owner to self-assess the property tax, was okayed at a meeting of the Cabinet here today.

Acting on the recommendations of a high-powered committee headed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, the Cabinet approved a slab system and divided the municipal corporation towns in two categories --A-1 (Gurgaon and Faridabad) and A-2 (Ambala, Panchkula, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Hisar and Yamunanagar).The towns having municipal councils and municipal committees would be categorised as B and C, respectively.

While property tax rates for A-1 cities were announced today, the rates for other towns in A-2, B and C categories would be less and announced shortly, officials said.

The new policy will immensely benefit those having properties of small and medium sizes as nearly 82 per cent properties fell in these categories, said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

Officials said 100 per cent rebate would be given to the religious properties, orphanages, almshouses, municipal buildings, cremation or burial grounds, dharamshalas, Central and state government educational institutions and government hospitals. Besides, 100 per cent rebate would be given to the self-occupied residential houses up to 300 square yard owned by serving and retired defence and paramilitary personnel or his/her spouse, families of deceased soldiers/ex-servicemen/ex-Central paramilitary forces personnel.

Besides, 100 per cent rebate would be given to the self-occupied residential houses owned by freedom fighter or his/her spouse and war widows. Similarly, 50 per cent rebate would be given to the state government buildings (other than buildings of boards/corporations/ undertakings/autonomous bodies.

Basements which are used exclusively for parking would be exempted from levy of property tax. A one-time rebate of 30 per cent would be allowed for those property owners who clear property tax dues and arrears within 45 days of the notification of rates, the officials added.

The property tax was scrapped in 2010 by the Congress government. As a consequence, the Central Government stopped the release of Central grants. The Hooda Government would now be eligible to get Central grants amounting to over Rs 750 crore.

Chandigarh, October 4
The Haryana Cabinet today approved a draft notification to constitute the Haryana State Commission for the Scheduled Castes .

The commission would have four members, including the chairperson. Three non-official members belonging to the Scheduled Castes would also be appointed. It would investigate, examine and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes. The commission would have all the powers of a civil court trying a suit.

Displaced farmers

The Cabinet approved promulgation of an ordinance to amend the East Punjab Utilisation of Lands Act, 1949, for providing relief to displaced persons, ex-servicemen or other landless or poor persons who were provided land under the Act. Their lease period could now be extended up to 99 years and they would be able to grow any crop on their land. It would benefit 16,000 families.

Vehicle registration

The Cabinet approved an amendment to the Haryana Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993. As per the amendment, the government may empower a firm, dealer or manufacturer of motor vehicles to perform such functions as it considers appropriate with regard to registration of non-transport vehicles on their first sale.

Stamp duty

The Cabinet approved the proposal to withdraw the Punjab Government letter No 205-St dated February 11, 1937, by which the exemption of stamp duty was given to companies in cases of transfer or merger or amalgamation.

New sub-tehsil

The Cabinet decided to upgrade Kulan village as sub-tehsil in Tohana subdivision of Fatehabad district. The total area of the sub-tehsil would be 15,469 hectares and a population of about 67,306. It would comprise 25 villages, three kanungo circles and 12 patwar circles.

VAT rules

The Cabinet approved the proposal to amend the method of service of notice under the Haryana Value Added Tax Act, 2003, and the rules framed thereunder.

At present, under rule 79 (1)(b) of the Rules, service can be made by registered post acknowledgement due. The Cabinet approved to omit the words “acknowledgement due” and to retain the service by registered post. The modes of “service by speed post” and “courier” would also be grouped with “registered post” in view of their similar nature.

Grants

The Cabinet amended the Haryana Discretionary Grants (Regulation of Expenditure) Rules, 1969.

As per the amendment, a grant of recurring nature may be given subject to an outer limit not exceeding Rs 50 lakh cumulatively in a financial year from the discretionary grant of a minister, Chief Parliamentary Secretary or Parliamentary Secretary. The outer limit in the case of the Chief Minister would be Rs 1 crore.

Common land

The Cabinet amended the Punjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964. The amendment provides that panchayats with approval of the state government may lease out its land by allotment for periods up to 99 years for establishing educational and medical institutions.

Drainage rules

The Cabinet decided to amend the Haryana Canal and Drainage Rules, 1976, to effectively check theft of water and give relief to various departments from the burden of accumulated surcharge on account of late payment of water bills.

Kurukshetra, October 4
About 250 farmers and women of about 25 villages, including Umri, Sodhi, Shadipur, Daulatpur, Pipli, Samani, Kishangarh demonstrated near Umri village, 5 km from here today.

The irate protesters raised anti-government slogans. They were demanding that the government should not take possession of their land as they have not accepted, too, low compensation at the rate of Rs 5 lakh per acre in comparison to the market price of Rs 2 crore per acre and they have sown potato and paddy crops, the girdawri of which stands in their names.

The protesters came to know that the district administration, with the help of police, would forcibly get possession of their land today.

However, one of the affected farmers, Rajbir Singh of Umri, announced that his advocate had informed him that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notice of motion regarding stay on possession.

Rajbir Singh told mediapersons that the government had acquired about 68 acres in 2005 for a transport nagar.

The panchayats of several villages had passed resolutions opposing the proposed carving out of Sector 33 as transport nagar. 

Chandigarh, October 4
Justice came 14 years too late for a Haryana Government employee's family. Nearly 14 years after he died, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has said that the non-payment of gratuity to the employee's legal representative for nearly eight years was indefensible.

Allowing the petition filed by the employee's legal representative Geeta Devi, Justice K Kannan also granted a 9 per cent annual interest on the amount accumulated from the date of his retirement on April 30, 1996, till its actual payment. Holding the state responsible for the delay, Justice Kannan set an eight-week deadline for making the payment.

The petition is just one of the two lakh cases pending in the High Court. It is suspected that manypetitioners are no more alive to pursue their grievances.

In her petition filed six years ago, Geeta Devi had asserted that the employee was working with the Education Department before his retirement in April, 1996. The gratuity was not paid till February 25, 2005, though he died in 1999. She had told the court that "all retirement benefits except gratuity amounting to Rs 1,08,075 were paid". The no-dues certificate was submitted in May, 1997.

Taking up the matter, Justice Kannan asserted, "It appears that there were some issues relating to the scales applicable for persons in the Education Department appointed as instructors under the National Fitness Corps?. The pendency of the writ petition was stated to be the reason why the state could not make a computation and make the payment in time?. Even if there had been a dispute regarding the scales applicable by the pendency of writ petitions, it still cannot provide a justification for the state not to make the calculation for the scale actually drawn by the deceased employee. It is truly poignant that the employee had not even got the benefit during his lifetime. The state shall, therefore, take responsibility for the delayed payment?."

Gurgaon, October 4
An Excise and Taxation officer's husband, also working in the same department at a similar post, was arrested for dowry harassment, the police said. Aadityatendra Singh, a resident of the city, was arrested yesterday for cruelty against his wife, criminal breach of trust and intimidation, the police said.

Aadityatendra's mother and sister were also booked on similar charges, the police said. In her complaint, the victim said: "I married Aadityatendra July 7, 2012. I was often humiliated, thrashed by my husband and his family for dowry."

Aadityatendra was today produced in a local court which sent him to a day's police custody. — IANS

Bhiwani, October 4
A 21-year-old college student was kidnapped and shot dead by assailants in Kharkari village of the district today. The deceased was identified as Umesh Kumar, a resident of Akhtyarpura village.

Sources said the deceased's affair with a girl could be the reason for his murder. The police has booked three persons--Ramesh, Vikram and Promila-- on the complaint of Umesh’s brother. Umesh was a student of Vaisha Government College, Bhiwani. He was kidnapped on his way to Kharkhari village. They shot him dead and fled after dumping his body near the village.

Hisar, October 4
The Haryana Police Sangthan (HPS) having 55,000 members has served an ultimatum on the government to consider their demands, including pay scale, by November 1 after which they would launch non-cooperatiion and observe a black Diwali this year.

TheSangthan took the decision at a meeting in Hisar recently.

Sources said that if the government remained indifferent to their demands, they would give a call for voting in a particular pattern in the next elections.

Dilawar Singh, president, HPS, said police personnel had been demanding pay parity with their counterparts in Punjab, Himachal and Chandigarh. They stated that they had been getting half the salaries in comparison to their counterparts.

"A Punjab police constable gets around Rs 28,000 per month, whereas the one in Haryana gets below Rs 15,000 per month," said Dilawar Singh.

About the decision to observe a black Diwali, Dilawar Singh said the force would perform its duty strictly as per rules without resorting to indiscipline.

Rajender Singh Tomar, president of the Constable and the Head Constable Association (a unit of the HPS comprising serving cops), maintained that several representations had been given to the government regarding their demands which remained unaddressed. 

Fatehabad, October 4
Six Murrah buffaloes died in a hamlet on Budhlada road of Ratia, Fatehabad. Over 24 buffaloes in Charanjit Singh Ki Dhani were still indisposed. Veterinarians of the state Animal Husbandry Department have taken blood samples of the animals. They had started the treatment after receiving the medical reports.

Charanjit Singh, head of the families living in the hamlet, lodged a complaint with the police two days ago that the buffaloes had died after taking feed supplied by Hafed.

The farmers have sought compensation for the dead animals.

Dr Kanshi Ram, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Fatehabad, said the buffalos had died of nitrite poisoning. He said Dr NK Mahajan from Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary Sciences, Hisar, had also examined the animals. He said the animals had suffered nitrite poisoning after eating fodder grown by the farmers themselves.

Nitrite poisoning in cattle, as per experts, causes respiratory distress due to interference with the oxygenation of blood in animals.

Karnal, October 4
The four-day CBSE (North Zone) Taekwondo Championship concluded at Prakash Public School here with MDN Public School, Rohtak, lifting the overall championship trophy.

More than 700 children from Haryana and Punjab participated in the event.

In boys under-14 category, MDN Public School, Rohtak, bagged the trophy and Prakash Public School were runners-up.

In girls section, Bal Vikas Progressive School, Panipat, secured first place and New Era Public School, Panipat, were runners-up.

In boys under-19 category, MDN Public School, Rohtak, lifted the trophy and DPS Public School, Panipat, were runners-up. In girls section, Shah Satnam Public School, Sirsa were the winners and Vidya Devi Jindal Public School, Hisar, finished second.

There were about 650 bouts in boys and girls sections in 30 weight categories in the under-14 and under-19 age categories.

The initiative to hold the championship in Karnal was taken with a view to promoting taekwondo in the region, said Sumandeep Kaur, Principal of the host school.