Chandigarh, February 1
With the new legislation on land acquisition still awaiting a nod six months after its introduction in Parliament, Haryana seems to depart from its self-imposed stay on all land acquisition proceedings.

Instead of completely revoking its order of July, 2011, staying the process to acquire land in cases where notifications under Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act had been issued on or after February 1, 2011, it has opened a window to proceed on a case-to-case basis.

Sources said the Haryana Revenue Department has recommended to the government to modify the earlier policy of a blanket stay by allowing permission for land acquisition for development projects. This permission is likely to come through once Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda gives his nod in the matter.

This move has been necessitated in view of the Land Acquisition Bill pending with the parliamentary standing committee, which is yet to submit its report. While staying the acquisition proceedings as per the Chief Minister’s orders in cases where the notification under Section 4 had been issued, the government had decided to issue the notification under Section 6 of the Act only after the outcome of the Central legislation. The Revenue Department had to reconsider the “stay” as the notification under Section 6 has to be issued within one year of the notification issued under Section 4 failing which the Section 4 notification lapses and the land in question stands free from acquisition .

The orders were essentially applicable to “development” projects floated by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board or HUDA, the Haryana State Industrial and infrastructure Development Corporation which could not afford to await the Central legislation.

Land to be acquired for essential infrastructure projects like roads, sewerage, canals, water channels, drainage and power projects was exempt from this stay. However, with six months already over and the legislation still hanging fire, various departments--in the process of acquiring land for various projects-- felt the need for lifting the ‘stay’ to proceed with their plans.

Though the department has not yet revoked its earlier order, officials feel that the window provided by the decision for a “case-to-case approval” would adequately deal with the earlier decision that was standing in the way of not only proceeding with their projects but also “threatening” to lead to a lapse of the Section 4 notices issued in February last year.

Surajkund February 1
The 26th Surajkund Crafts Mela was inaugurated by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar amidst much fanfare here today. Chief Ministers of Haryana and Assam, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Tarun Gogoi, respectively, and Union Minister for Tourism Subodh Kant Sahay were present on the occasion.

Ambassadors of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were also present on the occasion. Speaking at a function, Haryana Chief Minister said the annual 15-day mela would be accorded an international status.

He said the status of the mela had gained popularity so it was proper that it was officially accorded the international status and be christened the “International Surajkund Crafts Mela”. He added the number of visitors this year to the mela was expected to cross 10 lakh.

The Union Minister for Tourism also cleared the decks for the mela to be officially granted the international status.

In this regard the Haryana government will send a proposal to the Union Ministry for Tourism.

The mela is jointly organised by the Haryana Tourism Department and the Union Ministry for Tourism under the aegis of the Surajkund Mela Authority.

Speaking on the occasion, Meira Kumar lauded the efforts of the authority to ban polythene and plastic material in the mela.

She said events like the mela helped to strengthen the unity of the country. They bring together people of diverse cultures at one place. The “unity in diversity” was the salient feature of our polity and the outside world marvelled at the stability of the democratic fabric of India, she added.

She urged upon the states to provide patronage to crafts persons to save traditional skills from extinction. Setting up Crafts Universities would be an important step in this direction, she added.

The Assam Chief Minister lauded the role of the Haryana Government in promoting tourism.

Dance troupes from Congo, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and Haryana and Assam performed on the occasion. While Thailand is the ‘partner nation’ in the mela, 11 other foreign countries are taking part in the event. They include the seven SAARC countries and Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Congo, a country from West Africa is also participating in the event.

The mela authorities said all the states and Union Territories had sent cultural troupes and crafts persons to take part in the mela. On a sprawling 30 acres, 600 work huts have been set up. 700 acclaimed crafts persons will showcase their wares in the mela.

Helicopter joy rides will also be provided for the first time in the mela.

Chandigarh, February 1
A medical test and name in the voters’ list are mandatory for the new beneficiaries of old age pension in Haryana. “In case there is no documentary age proof, the applicant would be required to get his age assessed by a two-member team of doctors at the respective community health centre (CHC),” according to a recent order issued by the Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Department to the Deputy Commissioners and district social welfare officers.

“However, where the medical board has assessed the minimum age of the applicant without documentary proof to be over 60 years, the authorities concerned would double-check the age from the voters’ list. In case the applicant’s name cannot be found in the voters’ list or his age as derived from voters’ list is below 60 years, his application will be rejected,” the orders warned.

Official sources said the criteria for the benefiaries of social security schemes, including those for senior citizens, widows and physically challenged persons, had been altered as the state government was at the receiving end over the enrolment of a large number of bogus beneficiaries under various schemes.

The order said against the backdrop of the presence of a large migrant population in Yamunanagar, Faridabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula, the new benefiaries would now have to attach Haryana domicile certificates. In the absence of domicile certificates, the applicant would have to produce documentary proof showing residence in Haryana for at least 15 years.

Claiming that the new criteria would help weed out ineligible benefiaries, the sources said henceforth applications would be rejected if the income column was left blank.

Benefiting around 14 lakh persons, several pension schemes in Haryana have of late been mired in controversies. Last year, the Haryana Government registered cases against 32 officials for alleged irregularities in distribution of social security pensions. In 2,010, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered a probe into alleged “bungling and manipulation” in social security schemes in Panchkula district.

Chandigarh, February 1
Admonishing the state of Haryana for wasting the court’s time by filing a “frivolous appeal” in a land compensation matter, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has slapped a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The state has also been asked to pay Rs 90,000 to the landowners.

The fine is to be recovered from the members of a Divisional Committee “and any other person who was involved in the process of assessment of compensation, resulting in unnecessary harassment to the landowners and further for filing of frivolous appeals in this court”.

The directions by Justice Rajesh Bindal came on an appeal filed by Haryana and other respondents against Amar Singh and other petitioners. The state was seeking reduction in compensation awarded to the landowners in Yamunanagar district.

Proceedings were initiated by the state in February 2004 to acquire 2.05 acres in the revenue estate of Ashabpura village for the construction of missing link between Yamunanagar and Poanta.

Initially, the Land Acquisition Collector assessed the compensation at the rate of Rs 14,880 per acre. But the lower court assessed the compensation for acquired land at the rate of Rs 2,60,000 per acre.

Taking up the matter, Justice Bindal asserted: “As the award by the Collector in the present case was contrary to the provisions of law as well as the policy of the state government and considering the fact that the Advocate-General had to concede the same, the landowners shall be entitled to costs.

“A perusal of the awards in the bunch of appeals decided by the court shows there are 45 landowners in total. Accordingly, each one of them shall be paid Rs 2,000 as costs by the state as they have been made to defend themselves in the appeals filed by the state before this court.

Before parting with the case, Justice Bindal added: “Compliance of the order regarding payment of the costs to the landowners, deposit with the High Court Legal Services Committee and the recovery thereof from the guilty persons be reported to this court within three months.”

Karnal, February 1
Enraged residents of Kohand village, protesting against failure of the police to arrest culprits involved in the murder of a village youth on December 7, today blocked the hospital chowk in Karnal city for more than two hours and shouted anti-police slogans.

The residents, most of whom belonged to the Brahmin Samaj, were angry over inordinate delay in arresting the culprits and casual attitude of the police.

Body of Anil Sharma (21), a resident of Kohand village, was found on the railway track near the village on December 7, three days after he was reported missing. The body bore injury marks and his throat was slit with some sharp-edged weapon.

The family members of the deceased said they suspected some people from the neighbouring village, but the police had not arrested anyone. The villagers charged the police with playing into hands of goons and denying justice to them.

Father of the deceased Balbir Sharma said he had been running from pillar to post for getting justice for his son and took this step after his patience was exhausted.

President of the Brahmin Samaj Surender Sharma warned that they would intensify the agitation and block the national highway in case the police did not take immediate action against the killers.

The protesters gathered at the Brahmin dharamshala and marched through the city to the hospital chowk raising anti- police and anti-administration slogans. Scores of vehicles were stranded on the roads and utter chaos prevailed for nearly two hours causing inconvenience to people.

The blockade was lifted only after ADC MK Pandurang assured the residents of some concrete action within two days. The protesters also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner.

The samaj also constituted a six-member action committee to keep an eye on the progress and direction of police investigations and ensure that all the suspects would be interrogated.

Rohtak, February 1
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said today that he has been trying to carry on the legacy of his father Late Chaudhary Ranbir Singh to work for the benefit of society through political career and has no intentions to serve personal or family interests.

He stated this after paying tributes to his father on the occasion of his third death anniversary at the Samadhi Sathal here this morning.

“My father dedicated his life after the freedom struggle to the cause of farmers, labourers and weaker sections of the society,” said Hooda, adding that he was an embodiment of sobriety, simplicity and honesty. A havan yajna was performed at the occasion. A number of dignitaries, including CM’s wife Asha Hooda, paid homage to Ch Ranbir Singh by laying wreaths at his samadhi.

Hooda said he had been trying to follow his father’s ideals to realise the dream of empowering the common man through various schemes and policies. He said Ch Ranbir Singh was the first to suggest the concept of minimum support price for the produce of farmers, which was later implemented by the Union government. He advocated for the abolition of income tax and land revenue ‘lagaan’ on agriculture, which was accepted by the Assembly. He decided to retire from the active politics at the age of 64 years to contribute to the cause of freedom fighters and social issues.

The Chief Minister said his father was jailed eight times during the freedom struggle. He had a unique distinction of being the only legislator who has been a member of seven different houses. He had become the member of Constituent Assembly of India at a young age. He had been a source of inspiration for all of us. He was a true Gandhian who followed the principle of non-violence during his entire struggle, said Hooda.

Gurgaon, February 1
The Haryana Backward Classes Commission (HBCC) today heard the claims and objections of various organisations and groups for inclusion or exclusion of certain castes into the OBC category here . Justice (retd) KC Gupta, chairman of the commission, said apart from hearings, a random survey was also being carried out through the Statistical Department of Haryana. Besides, the findings of the socioeconomic-cum-caste survey conducted by the Census Directorate would also be considered.

“The commission will submit its recommendations based on the hearings and findings of the survey and the census hopefully by the end of next month,” he maintained.

Justice Gupta revealed that the commission had received 234 representations across the state. These include representations for and against the inclusion of certain castes into the OBC category .

The commission today heard the claims and objections of organisations belonging to seven districts, including Gurgaon, Jhajjar, Rewari, Mewat, Palwal, Faridabad and Mahendergarh. The hearing will continue tomorrow at the PWD (B&R) rest house in Gurgaon.

Similar hearings will be organised at the PWD (B&R) rest house, Karnal, on February 9 and 10, where besides Karnal, representatives of Panipat, Sonepat, Rohtak and Yamunanagar districts can appear.

The hearings on representations of Panchkula and Ambala will be conducted at the PWD (B&R) rest house of Panchkula on February 13.

Chandigarh, February 1
Stung by objections filed by ruling party MLA and former Finance Minister Sampat Singh before the Haryana Electricity Regulatory Commission over the pleas of the power utilities for an increase in the power tariff, Power Minister Ajay Singh Yadav today sought to dispel the impression that the technical and commercial losses of the state power distribution companies were higher than those in other states.

Without naming Sampat Singh, Yadav said here today that the impression being created in this regard was “totally false”.

He said the transmission losses in Haryana were on a par or lower than several other distribution utilities across the country. Even the electricity tariff in Haryana was much lower than other states. Yadav said the domestic tariff, including electricity duty (ED), in Haryana was Rs 3.76 per unit against Rs 5.59 in Maharashtra. The effective commercial tariff in Haryana, including ED, was Rs 4.66 per unit against Rs 7.10 in Delhi.

The tariff in Haryana was lower than that in Punjab for every segment of consumers. Domestic consumers in Haryana had to pay Rs 3.76 per unit against Rs 5.08 in Punjab; commercial consumers pay Rs 4.66 per unit in Haryana and Rs 6.28 in Punjab; LT industrial consumers pay Rs 5.11 per unit in Haryana but Rs 5.59 in Punjab; and HT industrial consumers are charged Rs 4.80 per unit in Haryana against Rs 5.59 per unit in Punjab.

Haryana had hiked the tariff only twice during the past 10 years. In contrast, Punjab hiked the tariff seven times during the past 10 years. Recently, Delhi, Rajasthan and UP increased electricity tariff by 22 per cent, 23 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, Yadav added.

Sirsa, February 1
In a bizarre case, a former sarpanch of Nepalpur Khuian village has alleged extortion after two women and their companions made his obscene CD. The police has registered a case and arrested two women.

Suraj Bhan, a former sarpanch of Nepalpur Khuian village, alleged in his complaint to the police that he received a call on his mobile phone on December 25 and the caller expressed his desire to purchase his piece of plot in the local Prem Nagar.

He said he reached Sirsa in his car, where two women and a man met him near the PWD Rest House.

He said once in his car, the man pointed a gun at him and asked him to drive the car towards Sardulgarh in Punjab. He alleged that he was beaten up, stripped and pictures showing him with the women in a compromising position were taken.

ASI Dalbir Singh, in charge of the Kirti Nagar police post, who is investigating the case, said Suraj Bhan had alleged that the women and his companions demanded Rs 15 lakh as extortion money from him and threatened to release his CDs otherwise.

Suraj Bhan alleged that Malkiat Singh and Kuldeep Singh, the two companions of the women, went to his shop and took away Rs 1.50 lakh from there.

The police has arrested Manjit Kaur of local Bhagat Singh Colony and her namesake, a resident of Lohgarh village.

Chandigarh, February 1
Governor Jagannath Pahadia released two books here today, one based on the concept of power of thought and its impact on a person’s life and the other, a collection of short poems.

The first book, “Vichar Shakti Ka Chamatkar” has been authored by Justice (Retd.) Pritampal Singh, Lokayukta of Haryana, and the second book, “Sukhad Ehsaas”, has been penned by Shashi Kalia.