Chandigarh, March 16
It was a Budget session with a difference with the House witnessing fewer walkouts, greater camaraderie, healthier debate and, finally, more work.

The session started with a walkout by the INLD and the BJP the day after the Governor’s Address.

But as days went by, the House saw a rise in the standard of debate.

Contrary to expectations, the treasury benches and the Opposition joined hands to pass two resolutions unanimously, expressing solidarity on the Satluj-Yamuna link canal as also the Hansi-Bhutana link canal.

A first-time MLA, Kuldeep Sharma, who was chosen Speaker on the first day of the session, is credited with bringing about this change.

The House witnessed heated exchanges and the proceedings threatened to get ugly on a couple of occasions. However, with fewer walkouts, members were seen actively participating in debates.

Both Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the Leader of the Opposition, Om Prakash Chautala, complimented the Speaker for his “balanced” approach all through the session. But Chautala was quick to add that most of the calling attention motions submitted by his party MLAs had been rejected and the party did not get “adequate” time to raise its demands.

“It remains to be seen if the Speaker will remain ‘unbiased’ while running the House business in future,” Chautala remarked.

Also, the INLD, with its large presence, seemed more aggressive than the Congress.

While all its MLAs were seen on their feet the minute the treasury benches levelled accusations, the Congress was primarily shielded and defended by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala or the Chief Minister.

As usual, the members were one when it came to approving benefits for themselves.

The House saw a welcome change with INLD’s Ajay Singh Chautala suggesting “let bygones be bygones” and asking the members to move forward. The suggestion was supported by the Congress as also the BJP.

This led to a healthier debate in the House.

Haryana Janhit Congress chief Kuldeep Bishnoi was conspicuous by his absence all though the session. He was on a “tractor rally” to create awareness among the masses against the Congress “misrule.” 

Chandigarh, March 16
After being involved with Punjab in a dispute over the river waters for long, now Haryana has warned Uttar Pradesh that if it does not release its full share from the Agra and Gurgaon canals, it will be forced to take retaliatory measures.

Haryana Irrigation Minister Ajay Singh Yadav said here yesterday that if Haryana was not given its full share from these canals, it would reduce the release of water in the same proportion from the Hathni Kund barrage to Uttar Pradesh.

He said against Haryana’s share of 224 cusecs from these canals, only 80 to 100 cusecs was being released by Uttar Pradesh. Haryana’s share in water from the Hathni Kund barrage was two-thirds while Uttar Pardesh’s share was one-third.

Yadav said the release of water was the prerogative of the state government and in case Haryana was denied its full share, then it would take a similar step.

Haryana had been getting less water since 1995, which was a serious issue.

The state government would write to Uttar Pradesh to solve this problem. 

Rohtak, March 16
The Special Secretary to the Haryana Government-cum-First Appellate Authority, Personnel Department, has directed the Vigilance Department to make available information sought by an applicant regarding the employees of the state government, who were caught taking bribe between April 1, 2000, and November 30, 2010.

The applicant has asked the authorities concerned to supply the related information, including the status of various cases and number of the officials, who were convicted or facing with pending cases.

The action came after Subhash, a local resident, failed to get a proper response from the Vigilance Department on his application.

The SPIO of the department had told him that the information sought could not be supplied as the records had not been generated and it was outside the preview of the RTI Act itself.

In response to the appeal made by the applicant, Anurag Aggarwal, Special Secretary-cum-First Appellate Authority, Personnel Department, ordered the SPIO of the Vigilance Department to provide the necessary information to the applicant.

The authorities asked the department to transfer the application to the State Vigilance Bureau in case the details were not available.

The complainant said he had asked about the details of the total number of officials and employees arrested and booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act in the past 10 years. The information sought also included the record of the total number of officials suspended or removed from the service following the charge and conviction if any.

The department was also asked about the rules and regulations regarding such cases and the process adopted to prosecute the accused and the grounds under which the accused could be reinstated even after his or her conviction in a graft case.

The application against the order of the SPIO was submitted with the office of the Special Secretary and the First Appellate Authority on January 27. The information was still awaited though the order of the Special Secretary was delivered a month ago, claimed the applicant. 

Chandigarh, March 16
Censuring the Haryana Urban Development Authority for leaving landowners “high and dry” after acquiring their properties, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the powers that be not to treat them as beggars.

The High Court has also directed HUDA to consider with sympathy cases for allotment of plots under the oustee quota without raising technical objection, lest the rich become richer at the cost of poor farmers whose land is acquired.

Justice Ranjit Singh has also directed that the issue be brought to the HUDA Chief Administrator’s notice.The scathing observations came on a petition filed by Tahal Singh. Justice Ranjit asserted:

“It may need to be observed that the person whose land is acquired should not be treated as if he is begging for something for which he is at the mercy of the respondents.

HUDA has formed a policy, but despite that the persons have been left high and dry.

Justice Ranjit Singh further observed: “The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking directions to the respondents to consider his case under the oustee quota, as the petitioner has applied for a 10 marla plot under this quota in Sector 28, Panchkula.

“The stand taken in the reply is that the land of the petitioner has been acquired for carving out Sector 21, Panchkula, and, accordingly, the petitioner’s claim for the allotment of a plot in Sector 28 was not accepted”.

Justice Ranjit Singh added: “Counsel for the petitioner, however, says that the claim of some similarly situated persons has been considered and they have been allotted plots in some other sectors”.

Taking note of the assertion, Justice Ranjit Singh ruled: “If it be so, the case of the petitioner will also require similar treatment. Directions are issued to the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioner, if there are precedents in this regard….

“Otherwise the petitioner’s claim for the allotment of an oustee quota plot shall be considered as and when the allotment is commenced in respect of Sector 21. aDisposing of the petition, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “HUDA may consider the case of the petitioner, especially so, in view of the observation recently made that the rich cannot be allowed to become richer at the cost of poor farmers whose land 
is acquired.

“At least, HUDA should consider cases with sympathy for the allotment of oustee quota plots and should not raise technical objection as is being raised everyday before this court. Let this order be placed before the Chief Administrator, HUDA, for consideration”.

Chandigarh, March 16
Dubbing the objections raised by the state of Haryana in denying medical reimbursement to an employee as “frivolous”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that the patient has a right to choose the hospital and the doctor for treatment.

The ruling came on a petition filed by an employee, Vijender Singh, against the state of Haryana and another respondent. Justice Mahesh Grover asserted that: “Having regard to the serious condition that the petitioner developed on account of perforated appendicitis with peritonitis, it cannot be expected that a person in such a situation will be in a position to go to the hospital which is certified by the respondents as the authorised hospital from where treatment can be taken.

“In any eventuality, the petitioner has a right to choose the hospital and the doctor from where he requires the treatment, more so, when the situation is so emergent so as to warrant immediate treatment and as also life threatening.”

Justice Grover asserted that: “Counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner had to be admitted in an emergent situation because his appendicitis had burst and thus he took treatment from Escorts Hospital, Faridabad.

“There is also another hospital by the name of Metro Hospital, which is recognised by the respondents - State - and this has formed the basis of the objection of the respondents now to clear the bills of the petitioner.”

Elaborating on the objections, Justice Grover asserted that as per the state, Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, was not on the panel of approved hospitals by the Haryana Government and the case for treatment was required to be referred by the Civil Hospital.

“It has also been contended that the case of the petitioner for reimbursement should have been recommended by the Chief Medical Officer certifying the emergency.

“After hearing the counsels for the parties, I am of the opinion that the objections raised by the respondents are frivolous. The certificate issued by Escorts Hospital indicates that the petitioner was having perforated appendicitis with peritonitis….

“The objection of the respondents is held to be unsustainable…. The writ petition is allowed and the respondents are directed to reimburse the amount to the petitioner forthwith,” Justice Grover concluded. 

Karnal, March 16
A member of the Law Commission of India, Amarjit Singh, said here yesterday that efforts were being made to curtail the misuse of the Dowry Act, for which the commission would soon send recommendations to the union government to bring about certain amendments in the Act.

Amarjit Singh, who was here in connection with a survey being conducted by the commission to bring changes in the existing law, said there was an urgent need to get feedback from various sections of society. He said the commission was of the view that the Dowry Act was being widely misused to subject grooms’ families to harassment to settle personal scores. By suggesting changes in the Act, the commission would try to bring down the cases of aggravation.

He said the commission would also be studying other laws and suggested amendments so that these could be made more people friendly. Besides, laws related to honour killing, health care, employment and other issues would also be examined by the commission keeping in view the interests of the poor and the common man.

Hailing the land acquisition policy implemented in the state, he said it was one of the best policies introduced in the country. He said by making some more changes in the policy, it could be introduced at the national level.

Hisar, March 16
Teachers of Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology staged a dharna here today to press for their demands. The dharna was organised by the GJU Teachers Association (GJUTA).

Dr Sandeep Rana, president of the GJUTA, said the university had constructed houses for married teachers, which had been allotted to non-teaching employees of the university.

He said the Centre had provided the funds for the construction of these houses under a scheme meant exclusively for married teachers and research scholars. As such these should only have been allotted to them.

He said teachers and research scholars could contribute their best to the university only if they were provided accommodation within the campus for easy access to facilities for research and teaching.

Rana said the university authorities had also not implemented the reports of two panels constituted to go into the issue of counting the past service of the teachers. He said both panels had submitted their reports but their recommendations had not been implemented for the past six years.

He said the unseemly delay was causing anguish to the teachers. He demanded that the reports be brought before the executive council of the university at its next meeting.

He demanded that the university follow the Haryana Government’s rules relating to travelling and allowance.

Besides, the report of the committee on the issue of earned leave headed by the Dean, Academic Affairs, should be implemented in toto.

Sirsa, March 16
A large number of slum-dwellers today blocked the national highway near Surkhab Chowk against the removal of their hutments from the auto market last night without any forewarning.

Most of the male members living in the slums had not returned from work when the municipal authorities began clearing the area of the huts, leaving behind wailing women and children. The affected families had to spend the night in the open.They blocked the Delhi-Dabwali highway this morning. Led by Vijay Kandara, convener of the Berozegar Kalyan Sangh, they raised slogans against the authorities and the state government.“During the assembly elections, we were promised residential plots. Now, they have uprooted us without any prior warning,” alleged Silky. Another woman Geeta said her children were small and she was worried for them. “Where will I shelter them from the vagaries of weather,” she asked.

Later, the police cleared the highway using force.

Neki Ram Bishnoi, Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Sirsa, said no notice was required to remove the huts that had sprung up on the land that belonged to the auto market.

Meanwhile, Gobind Kanda, executive member of the HPCC and brother of minister Gopal Kanda, said an alternative site would be provided to these families. He said the uprooted families had met him this afternoon and he had offered them alternative land nearby.

Fatehabad, March 16
The farmers’ agitation against the Gorakhpur Atomic Power Project has gone hi-tech. The agitating farmers of Gorakhpur have created a Facebook (FB) account, “Nuclear Power Gorakhpur Haryana”, to convey their message.

“The farmers of Gorakhpur have been peacefully sitting on dharna outside the DC office at Fatehabad for the past seven months. However, the government is trying to snatch our agriculture land for the proposed nuclear plant in our village. The nuclear power plant is hazardous for you and your families. Kindly accept our appeal through the Facebook and help us in our cause,” is the English translation of the appeal written in Hindi on the FB account. The author of the account has also created an email account, nuclearprojectgorakhpur@gmail.com, for feedback.

Meanwhile, the Sanjha Manch announced to organise a “candle march” in the town on March 19. — TNS

Sirsa, March 16
Even as the agitation by the Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti for reservation for the community in the government jobs continues, members of some other communities here have come together to demand their share in the jobs.

A meeting of some prominent members of the Punjabi, Agarwal, Brahmin and Rajput communities was held at Geeta Bhawan here last night. Bhupesh Mehta, block president of the Sirsa Congress, Naveen Kedia, organising secretary of the HPCC, RP Sharma, president of the Brahmin Sabha, Kamlesh Sharma, former president of the municipal committee, Ellenabad, Om Singh Panwar, Harvinder Singh Sodhi, Nirmal Ganeriwala and several other prominent persons of the area participated in the meeting. “We are not against grant of the OBC status to any caste or community. However, if Jats are given reservation, other castes like the Punjabis, Brahmins, Agarwals, Sikhs and Rajputs also deserve this,” said Bhupesh Mehta.

He said Punjabis in particular had come from the area of Punjab that has now remained in Pakistan and they had worked hard for years to establish themselves to some extent.

Mehta said the members of these communities would meet again on March 21 to chalk out a strategy to press for their demand of reservation in the government jobs.

He, however, clarified that their agitation would be peaceful and they would not resort to the practice of blocking rail tracks being adopted by the Jats.

Jind: Even as leaders of the Jat community held talks with the Union Government regarding their demand on Wednesday, protesters continued to block the rail track near Narwana for the fifth day in a row. 

Yamunanagar, March 16
Roshan Lal Arya, former MLA and president of the Haryana Vanchit Varg Sangharsh Samiti, has asked former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal to clear his stand on the ongoing Jat reservation agitation.

Talking to mediapersons here today, he said non-Jats in the state were piqued over Bhajan Lal’s and his sons’ silence on the issue.

He said now all Jat leaders, cutting across party lines, had openly supported the Jat demand. Arya said Bhajan Lal had ruled Haryana as a non-Jat Chief Minister for 12 years, but today when non-Jats were seeking political protection, Bhajan Lal was quiet.

He said the Jat agitation had caused a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the Railways.

Sirsa, March 16
The police today arrested a woman and her mother for abandoning the woman’s two daughters, aged 4 and 2.

The kids fell unconscious after crying for food and water for hours as no one came to their rescue. They are now in hospital.

The woman, Suman, was married to Om Prakash, a resident of Chautala village in this district, and the couple had two daughters - Neeta (4) and Gungun (2).

After a marital discord, Suman had been living with her parents at Hanumangarh in Rajasthan for the past four months.

Suman and her mother, Premo Devi, allegedly came to Chautala with the little babies on March 11 and escaped after leaving the two girls in a room at Om Prakash’s house.

As all members of Om Prakash’s family were away on work, no one could notice the girls, who kept crying for hours and then fell unconscious.

Om Prakash lodged an FIR with the police, who booked the two women under Sections 317 (exposure and abandonment of child under 12 years by parent or person having care of it) and 34 (act done by two or more persons for the furtherance of common intention) of the IPC.

The police produced the two women before a court, where they were remanded in judicial custody.