Rohtak, March 17
The first batch of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak passed out at the maiden convocation held at Tagore Auditorium on the Maharishi Dayanand University Campus here today.

The batch has recorded 100 per cent on-campus placement with a remarkable average salary of Rs 12.22 lakh, well before the convocation.

B Muthuraman, President, CII, and Vice-Chairman, Tata Steel, was the chief guest at the ceremony.

Ravi Kant, Vice-Chairman of Tata Motors, inaugurated the convocation and elaborated on the importance of nurturing transformational leaders capable of navigating the ambiguity and complexity of the emerging markets and the new interconnected world.

He asked the students to keep in mind the higher objective of influencing the society at large. This will help in renewing and strengthening organisations through the ups and downs of the economic cycles.

Director, IIM, Rohtak, Prof P Rameshan, also highlighted the key achievements of the institute in the past two years. “It is the eighth IIM to be established in the country. IIM Rohtak is the fifth IIM to get membership of the AACSB, the most-coveted international accreditation agency.” 

Chandigarh, March 17
Though the nuclear family concept may be catching up in Haryana on account of the changing socio-economic conditions yet the age-old joint family system is till intact in the state.

In fact, a look at the latest data released by the Registrar General of India as part of the Census 2011 showed that over 36 per cent of the 47.18 lakh households in the state have more than six members in family.

While over 28 per cent of the households have six to eight members, nearly eight per cent have more than nine members- a clear indication that the state still reposes its faith in the joint family system.

The data on the household size showed that just over two per cent households have only one member while about six per cent households have two members.

Over 10 per cent families conformed to the ideal nuclear family size of three members. On the other hand 23 per cent of the families have four members while 21 per cent families have five members.

Meanwhile, over half of the households in the state have either two rooms or three rooms.

The largest percentage of one-third (about 32 per cent) of the households comprised two rooms only with one room set coming next at 25 per cent. While 20 per cent of the households have three rooms, nearly five per cent houses have five rooms. At least four per cent the total houses were luxurious having more than six rooms and above.

On the number of households having married couples, the data showed 65 per cent of the households had only one married couple followed by 18 per cent households, which had two married couples.

The data showed that nearly 10 per cent households have no married couples as against five per cent households, which have three married couples.

Chandigarh, March 17
Just over a fortnight after the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked Haryana to explain why an officer should not be deputed to initiate action against police officials and other employees conniving in illegal mining, the State has constituted a special investigation team.

The high court, on the previous date of hearing, had taken cognisance of illegal mining going on in the State, while hearing a petition filed by a Panchkula resident, Rajesh Kumar. He was seeking anticipatory bail in an alleged illegal mining case.

Declining the anticipatory bail plea, Justice Ranjit Singh had asserted, “It is seen that a tractor-trolley was seized at the scene whereas the person ran away. This is usually noticed as a practise in each and every case.”

As the case came up for resumed hearing, Justice Ranjit Singh observed, “According to a reply, an SIT has been constituted to go into all the aspects and see how the persons are able to run away, when
tractors and other vehicles are intercepted.”

Justice Ranjit Singh added, “Further report is likely to be filed on the basis of the findings of the SIT.” Taking the reply on record, Justice Ranjit Singh also fixed March 29 as the next date of hearing.

The directions came soon after the Supreme Court made it clear in Deepak Kumar versus State of Haryana case that “leases of minor mineral, including their renewal for an area of less than five hectares be granted by the States/Union Territories only after getting environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.”

In the case decided on February 27, Additional Solicitor-General Mohan Jain, appearing for the ministry, had submitted “the grant or allotment of mining licence/lease of smaller plots of less than five hectares should not be encouraged from the environmental point of view”.

Taking a note of the issue, Justice Ranjit Singh asserted, “Even the Supreme Court is seized of the issue arising out of illegal mining in the State. Still, persons like the petitioner commit theft of the mines with impunity. Apparently, this cannot be done without the connivance on the part of the staff.”

Rewari, March 17
The police has registered a case of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy against Ashok Kumar of Rasiawas village and Gurdial Singh, a patwari of the Rasiawas circle of the Bawal segment, on a complaint filed by Savitri Devi of Anandpur village, near Bawal.

Sources said Ashok and Gurdial Singh had “fraudulently” sold agricultural land of nine kanals to Savitri last year. Recently when a senior revenue official of Bawal turned down Savitri’s plea for execution of mutation of the above land on the ground that Ashok had already secured a loan from a bank on the above land by pledging it as security with the bank, she was shocked and approached the police for stringent action against the cheats.

A senior police official said the matter was now under investigation.

Sirsa, March 17
Under the National Literacy Mission, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will conduct learners’ assessment and certification test for neoliterates at 154 centres set up in Sirsa tomorrow.

Neoliterates above the age of 15, who have taken literacy lessons in the adult education centres set up under the literacy drive, can participate in this test, said Roshan Lal, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sirsa. The NIOS will issue certificates to those clearing this test, he said.

The authorities have set up 24 examination centres in the Baragura block of the district, 25 in Dabwali, 15 in Ellenabad, 26 in Nathusari Chopta, 20 in Odhan, 21 in Rania and 23 in Sirsa block of the district.

The neoliterates have been told to get themselves registered for the examination with their respective village sarpanch, anganwari worker, ASHA worker or members of the self-help groups. 

Faridabad, March 17
The local industry has expressed mixed feelings on the Union Government’s budgetary proposals for the next financial year.

The Faridabad Industries Association (FIA) welcomed the proposals’ thrust on infrastructure development. It said infrastructural growth would expedite the overall growth and modernisation of the country and boost the economy.

The industry hailed the moved to streamline the disbursement of subsidies so that they reached directly to the end-users. Eliminating the middlemen from the chain was a welcome move, but it remains to be seen how the government will go about it, it added.

It also welcomed the move not to raise corporate tax. However, it termed the move to raise central excise by 2 per cent, and widening the service tax and also raising it as negative.

It expressed disappointment at the delay in introducing the goods and service tax (GST) that has been hanging fire for the past two years. There is expectation that it will be rolled out later this year. It will bring uniformity in the overall taxation system in the country and streamline the taxation regime, it added.

Also, it expressed reservations at the move to raise prices of cars, saying it would impact the demand side adversely and impinge on the overall growth of the automobile industry.

Jind, March 17
A shopkeeper was seriously injured after some armed youths opened fire on him at Julana town last night. The victim was admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak, in a critical condition. A case has been registered but no arrest has been made so far.

The victim, identified as Sonu of Lijwana Kalan village in the district, was closing his shop when four masked youths on two motorcycles opened fire on him and sped away.

It is learnt that the victim was asked to reach a spot near the main road after work. The accused beat him up initially and opened fire on him later. The main cause behind the assault could be a row between Sonu and one of the accused, Anil, over payment of Rs 500.