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Haryana Cabinet may reverse Hooda decisions
Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will preside over a crucial Cabinet meeting on November 25 in which several important decisions taken by the previous Hooda Government could be reviewed. Many decisions taken before the elections could be reversed as they have the "Hooda" tag attached to them. The most important decisions with huge ramifications are pay scales on Punjab pattern and retirement age of state government employees.

A day after taking oath as chief minister, Khattar had announced that the ongoing recruitments would be stopped. The Cabinet is also likely to take a decision on the recruitment of JBT and PGT teachers who were selected but are yet to receive appointment letters. After the first Cabinet meeting, Khattar had said: "The Haryana government would review all announcements and decisions pertaining to appointments or recruitments made after May 16 by the previous government." A majority of the decisions of the previous government were to be implemented from Haryana Day on November 1 but have been kept on hold. The BJP has 47 legislators in the 90-member House.

The Hooda Government had announced a series of sops before the Haryana polls. Khattar has said that only the decisions which were in public interest would be retained.

The government has sought a report from the concerned departments pertaining to the announcements made by former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda at the Gohana and Panipat rallies. The government has received the report and this would be reviewed by the state Cabinet.

As of now, the government has almost made up its mind to lower the retirement age from 60 years announced by Hooda back to 58 years. The Cabinet will also review a list of re-employed officers.

The sops announced by the previous government were for government employees, senior citizens, women, youth and others.

The Khattar government has already enhanced old-age pension to Rs 1,200 as against its election promise of Rs 2,000. The CM has told the finance department to work out the liability for the state in giving out allowance and pay scales for government employees on the Punjab pattern.

The BJP government will have to find ways to get finances to fulfill election promises like supply of foodgrain at Rs 1 per kg and regularising daily wagers, ad hoc and contract employees. Besides, it has also promised allowances of Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000 to the educated unemployed who have completed their class XII and graduation, respectively, besides giving laptops to school students.

Previous govt's decisions

• Age of retirement increased from 58 to 60 years.
• Complete retirement benefits after 20 years instead of 28 years
• Increase in grade pay of Rs 3,200 and Rs 3,300 to Rs 3,600 and Rs 3,600 to Rs 4,000
• Regularisation of computers teachers who have completed three years of service.