Chandigarh, March 4
Governor Jagannath Pahadia today gave a solemn assurance to the Haryana Assembly that it would be “the constant endeavour of the government that a land owner does not feel cheated when his or her land is eventually acquired.”

Mindful of the criticism of the government’s land acquisition policy by the Opposition as well as a few in the Cabinet, Pahadia devoted a long paragraph to the issue in his address to the House on the opening day of the Budget session.

He asserted that the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) policy of the government had become a model for the rest of the country. Its features included the incentive of no-litigation bonus, increased annuity, residential, commercial and industrial plots at concessional rates for farmers losing their land and provision of employment of their dependents in certain cases.

The Governor said in certain cases the acquisition of land was inevitable, but the government was determined to look after the interest of the land owners and farmers.

He said the relief norms in case of natural calamity in the state were at a much higher level than those of the Union Government. Last year the state had paid over Rs 257 crore to the farmers whose crops were damaged in floods. Claiming that Haryana had become a new metaphor for growth, Pahadia said its policies had had a profound impact on the policies of other states and of the Centre. Because of its prudent macro-economic policies and commitment to further reform and streamline business practices, Haryana had emerged as one of the fast-growing economies in the country. Investors had great confidence in the state’s economy, its political stability and visionary leadership.

The economy of the state had shown distinct signs of resurgence, leaving behind the financial stress of previous years. The GSDP was expected to grow at 9 per cent in 2010-11, and the per capita income at 7.2 per cent. Revenue receipts were expected to grow by 23.7 per cent in 2010-11, against 13.8 per cent in 2009-10. Recognising the importance of public-private partnership (PPP) as a mode of delivering public services, Pahadia said the government had formulated a well-defined policy to create a framework for the private sector to partner with the public sector in the development of physical and social infrastructure.

Haryana continued to be a preferred investment destination. An investment of Rs 53,000 crore had been catalysed in the state since 2005, of which Rs 9,400 crore had come by way of FDI Reports from agencies, such as the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the ASSOCHAM, and the NCAER substantiated these claims. In his address delivered in Hindi, Pahadia highlighted the achievements of the government in various fields. 

Chandigarh, March 4
Kuldeep Sharma, a first-term Congress MLA from Gannaur and working president of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee, was unanimously chosen Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha today.

The post of the Speaker had fallen vacant following the resignation of HS Chatha who was inducted into the Haryana Cabinet. His name was proposed by Chatha and seconded by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Sharma, whose father Chiranji Lal, a former MLA and MP, was a politician of eminence, was unanimously chosen as Speaker on the first day of the Budget session. Having been a member of the House for over a year now, Sharma, a practising lawyer, is better known for his barbed statements against the Opposition and his happy-go-luck attitude.

Not one to be left behind in House debate, Sharma is endowed with the skill of lending words a tinge of humour. Stating that he was “humbled” by the responsibility entrusted upon him, Sharma said his priority would be to maintain discipline in the House for which he sought the cooperation of all the members.“Personal insinuations will not be entertained though constructive suggestions from the Opposition are more than welcome. Legislation is serious business and the members cannot be allowed to make a mockery of the procedures,” he observed.

With the Opposition having staged its first walkout on the opening day of the session before he was chosen Speaker, Sharma said the demand for a longer session could be considered only if the members had pressing matters or there was unfinished business.

As pointed out by a number of members in the congratulatory messages on his appointement as Speaker, Sharma agreed that the level of debate in the House was falling. “We need to arrest this fall. To begin with, the members need to have mutual respect. Acrimony is not a good sign. I have a lot of expecations from both sides, the treasury benches as also the Opposition,” the Speaker said.

Having faxed his resignation from the post of the working president of the HPCC, Sharma was cautious while speaking on the petitions filed by the HJC and the INLD on the five “defecting” MLAs.

“I will need to study the case before I comment on it. I will act judiciously and expeditiously,” he added. 

Chandigarh, March 4
The Vidhan Sabha today paid tributes to former Governor of Haryana Mahavir Prasad, former ministers Harpal Singh, Sirikrishan Dass, Satbir Singh Malik and Lal Singh, former Parliamentary Secretary Bhagmal and former MLA Amir Chand Kakar.

The death of 32 freedom fighters and 18 martyrs, including Flight Lt Akash Yadav, was also condoled.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda was joined by Deputy Speaker Akram Khan, Leader of Opposition Om Prakash Chautala and Leader of the BJP Legislature Party Anil Vij in paying the tributes.

Trust Haryana politicians to play politics even on a solemn occasion like obituary references.

After the House had paid tributes, Ram Pal Majra of the INLD wanted that tributes should also be paid to those farmers who lost their lives while opposing acquisition of their land. The treasury benches opposed the move.The Deputy Speaker did not allow the issue to go further. 

Sirsa, March 4
Sikh bodies of the district today organised a protest and submitted a memorandum to the authorities for action against the perpetrators of the 1984 massacre in Hondh-Chhillar village of Rewari.

Hundreds of Sikhs assembled at Dasham Patshahi Gurdwara and then marched to the mini secretariat, where they submitted a memorandum to ADC Pankaj Chaudhary. Parkash Singh Sahuwala, president of the local Gurdwara Management Committee, Sant Gurmit Singh Tilokewala, SGPC member, Hardam Singh Gill, Balkar Singh Kalanwali, vice-president of the SAD, Haryana, and several other prominent members of the Sikh community took part in the demonstration.

Sahuwala said it was disturbing that the government had done nothing except for registering an FIR on the killing of 32 innocent Sikhs.

The agitating Sikhs demanded that the case file be reopened to bring the guilty to book.

They also demanded suitable compensation for the kin of the massacre victim.

Rohtak, March 4
The Haryana State Information Commission has summoned two senior officials of the Haryana Tourism Department to appear before it on May 26 for alleged failure of the department to furnish relevant information to an applicant in due period.

It has also directed the officials concerned to make available the required information to the applicant by May 2. The officials concerned could face a penalty of Rs 250 per day and fine up to Rs 25,000 in case the allegation is proved.

According to Subhash, convener of the “Haryana Jan Soochna Adhikar Manch”, the Haryana Tourism Department was requested to supply information on seven different points through an application submitted on July 8, 2010, which it failed to provide. He said while the application was submitted to the Commissioner and the Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, it was sent to the State Public Information Officer-cum-Joint Director, Tourism Department, and the Protocol section for furnishing the information. However, the application was again diverted to the office of the information officer and the joint secretary of the department on July 15.

The offices concerned demanded an additional fee of Rs 2,948 and Rs 1,098, respectively, through various communications made in August and September last from the applicant for giving the information. The applicant submitted an application in the office of the First Appellate Authority of the office raising the issue and the fact that the office concerned had agreed to supply information on only two out of the seven points. However, no proper response and action was taken on the application, following which the applicant moved an application to the office of the State Information Commission. He alleged that the authorities concerned had neither provided him the relevant information within the due period nor had given a satisfactory response to his query under the RTI Act.

The commission directed the First Appellate Authority and the State Public Information Officer of the department to appear before it on May 26. 

Chandigarh, March 4
The Haryana mining industry today got a reprieve when the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the state to continue mining of minor minerals without prior environment clearance till July 31.

Mining in Haryana had come to a standstill on March 1, 2010, after the High Court did not permit the state to continue the mining operations without obtaining a prior environment clearance.

The High Court had first stopped mining on May 5, 2009, while deciding a writ petition filed by Pinjore-based advocate Vijay Bansal in 2004. Later, it allowed mining till February 28, 2010, without environment clearance.

Meanwhile, it asked the state to approach the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) for fixing the terms of reference.

The EAC declined the state’s request for fixing terms of reference on the plea that the state could not be a project promoter and the committee was the approval authority and not an advisory one.

Meanwhile, a similar order was passed in a case of Punjab asking it to approach the EAC for terms of reference. The MOEF challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court, where a Bench headed by Justice GS Singhvi turned down the ministry’s plea on January 11. The apex court said a state could be a project promoter.

Following the decision of the Supreme Court, the High Court on February 15 allowed Punjab to mine minor minerals till June 30 without prior environment clearance.

Today, a similar plea of Haryana came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ajay Tiwari. Senior Additional Advocate-General Narinder Hooda sought relief for Haryana on the lines of that granted to Punjab. Accepting his plea, the court allowed Haryana to operate mines till July 31 without prior environment clearance. 

Chandigarh, March 4
The Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday asked the Hisar DC and SP to ensure that the ‘Balidan Rally’ called by the Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti on March 6 was peaceful.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih directed the authorities concerned to ensure that there was no loss to public or private property.

The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest by the Chandigarh-based Consumer Awareness Group Society.

The petitioner NGO said the previous rally by the Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti on September 13 last had witnessed violence. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 4
While a large number of cases are pending in the courts for want of judges, over 80 successful candidates in the Haryana Civil Service (Judicial) examination have been waiting to join the service for the past three months.

Their result was declared on December 1, 2010.

On the other hand, those who cleared the Haryana Civil Service (Executive) and allied services examination on January 2, 2011, a month after the HCS (Judicial) result was out, have already joined the service. The “judges-in-waiting” were called to Haryana Niwas here on January 17, 2011, and given selection letters. They were told to get themselves medically examined within a week.

During this week, they were required to fill a form for character verification. These instructions were duly complied with by the candidates. According to informed sources, police verification is taking a long time.

The sources say once the candidates had filled the requisite form, they should have been allowed to join provisionally. In case of any adverse police report, action could have been taken against that particular candidate.

Many candidates were either practicing law or were on other jobs before their result was declared. Now they are suffering pecuniary losses. The Chandigarh Judicial Academy, Sector 43, where the last batch was trained in 2007, is waiting for the Haryana candidates so that the purpose for which the academy was established is met. Perhaps a nod from the High Court would speed up things in Haryana.