Chandigarh, February 15
Property transactions in the unregulated realty sector in Haryana are set to become transparent. In a first-of-its-kind initiative to protect the interests of property buyers and have a regulated and planned development of the real estate sector, the state is set to have the Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority.

The constitution of the authority, which forms a part of the Haryana Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, aims at the twin objectives of the registration of the real estate projects and real estate agents for making transactions hassle-free and transparent for the benefit of the common man.

"No promoter shall book, sell or offer for sale, or invite persons to purchase in any manner any immovable property or part of it without registering the real estate project with the authority," says the draft bill, which is expected to be passed by the forthcoming session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.

The authority would provide a registration number to the promoter, including a login ID and password for accessing the website of the authority and create his own web page to upload the details of the project. "In this way, the details of the projects, including the advertisements issued by the promoters, would be put in the public domain and the investors would be able to access the requisite information to avoid frauds in property transactions," a senior government functionary told The Tribune here today.

In a bid to check "pre-launch" bookings and speculation in the realty sector, the Bill makes it mandatory for the promoter to enter into a written agreement for sale with buyers after paying an advance of 10 per cent of the total cost of the property.

Meanwhile, the authority, having one chairman and at least two members, would have the powers of the civil court and empowered to settle "any dispute between the promoter and allottee." It would be mandated to make recommendations for protecting the interests of the allottees and promoters, order investigations and issue directions for the regulated and planned development of the state.

The appeals against the order of the authority would go to the Appellate Tribunal which would be the final authority to adjudicate on the authority's orders. All proceedings before the tribunal would be deemed to be judicial proceedings under the Indian Penal Code.

Commenting on the Bill, Kuldeep Soni, a prominent builder, hoped that if implementated in letter and spirit, the new provisions would go a long way in instilling ethical business practices in property business.

Surajkund, February 15
The 27th edition of the Surajkund International Crafts Mela, which came to a close amidst a glittering ceremony today, registered a record footfall at the mela ground here.

Anand Mohan Sharan, Managing Director, Haryana Tourism Development Corporation, said more than 11,25,000 visitors made it to the mela. Last year, the figure was 10,53,000.

As many as 1,71,000 of the visitors were foreigners. Their number last year was 1,28,000.

The rise in the number of overseas visitors could be attributed to the participation of 20 countries, other than India, in the event.

Haryana Governor Jagannath Pahadia announced closure of the event amid much fanfare. Karnataka Minister for Tourism Anand Singh was also present on the occasion.

Pahadia lauded the authorities for hosting more than 1,000 craftsmen from India and abroad during the mela.

He gave awards to outstanding craftspersons. Cultural performances were also staged.

Gurgaon, February 15
Sub-contractors of the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway are up in the arms against the main contractor, DSC Ltd, for non-payment of their dues. The company, which has missed numerous deadlines for completion of the project year after year , has been slapped with a heavy penalty for the delay.

Now, the sub-contractors have raised a banner of revolt against the company owing to the non-payment of their dues. They staged a demonstration against the company at its office along the Delhi-Jaipur national highway No. 8 yesterday.

The agitating sub-contractors included Dharambir Yadav from Dharma Constructions, Sunder Singh from Sunderji Constructions, Satish Kumar from Shri Ram Crane Service and Hemraj from Atul Tractors.

Yadav alleged that the company was not releasing his payment of over Rs 1 crore. The other sub-contractors also alleged that the company was employing unfair means like getting payments stopped after issuing cheques.

Kaithal, February 15
Additional Sessions Judge RS Chaudhary today sentenced a rapist to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment. A fine of Rs 10,000 was also imposed on the rapist . He was convicted for the rape of a minor girl of Mengra village under Cheeka police station in this district on July 18, 2010. The girl alleged that Soni Kumar of the same village had raped her at an isolated place after making her unconscious. When she regained consciousness next morning, she found herself on the outskirts of the village with her hands and feet tied.

Chandigarh, February 15
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice of motion to Haryana and its authorities on a petition challenging the notifications dated January 23, for providing reservation in jobs. Notice has been issued for March 22 and the state has been asked to file its reply within four weeks.

Shikha contended in her petition that the respondents, vide the notifications, had provided 10 per cent reservation in government jobs and its undertakings to special backward classes. These included Bishnoi, Jat, Jat Sikh, Ror and Tyagi.

Further 10 per cent reservation in jobs was provided to economically backward persons in the general category vide the second notification.

As such, the respondents have taken the total reservation in the state to 67 per cent. It was more than the ceiling of 50 per cent reservation. The action was also against the principle of law settled by the Supreme Court of India in “Indra Sawhney and others versus the Union of India and others” case.

The apex court held that the reservation to the SC and backward class categories should not exceed 50 per cent.

Referring to another case “M. Nagaraj versus Union of India”, the petitioner said the Supreme Court had categorically held that “even if the state has compelling reasons, it has to see that its reservation provision does not lead to excessiveness so as to breach the ceiling limit of 50 per cent.

The petitioner stated the moot point was whether the impugned notifications were against Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution. It was also to be considered by the court “whether the state government, while granting reservation in jobs in government/government undertakings, could cross the ceiling of 50 per cent and whether grave and manifest injustice has been done with the petitioner as well as other general category candidates?” 

Chandigarh, February 15
Acting on a petition by a schoolteacher retained in service till the age of 62, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has clarified that the pension is to be calculated up to the age of 58 - the standard date of superannuation. Whether an employee gets extension, or is re-employed after 58, is of no consequence.

For reaching the conclusion on a petition filed by Ram Kumar Shastri, Chief Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri and Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain referred to the Pension and C.P.F. Rules (Schools) 2001.

Shastri, a teacher with S.D. High School, Jind, had contended that the standard age of retirement was 58. But, a provision in the rules made it possible to retain teachers up to 62, in case of “National State Awardees”.

An awardee, Shastri said he was allowed to continue up to 62. But, his service till the age of 58 was taken into consideration while computing the pension.

His writ petition in this regard was dismissed on the ground that his service from 1994 to 1998 was re-employment and not retention.

In his appeal before the Division Bench, his counsel relied upon a sub-clause of Haryana Education Code (grants-in-aid). As per the code, a specific resolution was to be passed by the school managing committee for retention or re-employment of a teacher beyond the age of 58.

The Bench observed the appellant had presented the resolution, vide which he was given extension in service and was not re-employed. But, the Bench added: “The question whether he was re-employed or was given extension beyond the age of 58, up to the age of 62, is inconsequential inasmuch as the pension is governed by Pension and C.P.F. Rules (Schools) 2001”. 

Chandigarh, February 15
The war of words between Karnal MP Arvind Sharma and Panipat city MLA Balbir Pal Shah is threatening to snowball into a major confrontation in the faction-ridden Congress ahead of the February 17 Panipat visit of Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s MP son Deepinder Singh Hooda.

Miffed at the absence of his photograph on the hoardings and posters in the run-up to Hooda junior’s Panipat visit to lay the foundation stone of a railway overbridge (ROB) followed by a workers’ meeting, Sharma has allegedly threatened Shah with dire consequences for the faux pas. “He used offensive language and threatened me with dire consequences for omitting his photograph from the banners and posters,” Shah, a former Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) chief, told The Tribune over phone today.

Refuting Shah’s allegations, Sharma asserted that he had only advised the MLA “not to let down an elected Congress MP” as it was a party programme. “As the party MP, I had made efforts to get the ROB sanctioned and Shah had been omitting my name from the publicity material and even in press conferences,” Sharma said, adding that even Deepinder Hooda had kept him in the loop for the visit.

Shah claimed that the Rohtak MP’s programme had been chalked out by the Youth Congress and he had no role in the hoardings and posters. Sharma claimed that his photograph and name were missing from the publicity material issued by Shah while the names of several senior leaders figured in it. Sharma claimed that his photograph should have been on the banners as he is the MP from the area.

Though Sharma represents the Karnal parliamentary constituency of which Shah’s assembly segment also forms an important part, both do not see eye to eye on several issues.

Fatehabad, February 15
Coins of historical importance have been recovered during digging at an old temple in Nadori village of Fatehabad where the construction of a new building is in progress.

According to reports, a labourer found a pitcher full of coins while digging pits for the new building of the temple and he took it home.

Some others who noticed him take away the pitcher followed him and soon the information reached the police.

The SHO, Dilbag Singh, said nearly 350 coins, which are more than a hundred years old have been recovered from the labourer. The SHO said the police had informed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) about the recovery. 

Kaithal, February 15
Taranjeet of Jagdishpura village, near here, who faced the death sentence in Dubai along with 17 other youths of Punjab and had reached Amritsar last night, returned to his village this morning.

He was received with warmth by villagers and garlanded like a hero amidst the beating of drums. He touched the feet of his relatives and the elderly and took their blessings. He paid obeisance at the village gurdwara and temple and thanked the Almighty for his safe return home.

His father Balbir Singh, mother Sukhvinder Kaur and brother Paramjeet Singh had gone to Amritsar to receive Taranjeet.

Narrating his tale of woe, Taranjeet said he and some other youths were sent to Dubai in 2009 by an agent to work with a construction company. Later, they started working with some other group. A Pakistani youth died during a brawl and one night they were taken in custody by the police. Though 50 persons were arrested on this charge, later all but 17 were released.

They were told that they had been arrested on the charge of murder of Mishri Khan of Pakistan.

A Sharjah court awarded the death sentence to them. However, after a long legal battle, they were released when SP. Singh Oberoi, an Indian settled in Dubai, paid blood money to Mishri Khan's family. He said the Indian High Commission and some other Indians also came forward to provide them assistance.

Returning to India was like a rebirth for him, he said. He would now work in India and remain with his family.

He advised the youth to go to foreign countries in search of work only after verifying all facts. 

Rohtak, February 15
The state unit of the All-India Jat Arakshan (Reservation) Sangharsh Samiti will meet here on February 17 to discuss an action plan to seek reservation of jobs in the Union Government.

Hawa Singh Sangwan, president of the Haryana unit of the samiti,said here today that while the demand of quota in Haryana had been met , the community should get the same in central jobs also.

Claiming that while Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had assured to take up the matter with the Centre soon, he said the samiti had to ensure measures so that the issue was resolved at the earliest and demands pending for the past several decades were met and implemented amicably . 

Hisar, February 15
A team of the State Vigilance Bureau (SVB) today arrested the Station House Officer (SHO) of Adampur police station Surender Singh red-handed when he was allegedly receiving bribe of Rs 30,000 from a person for letting him off in investigation from a case registered against him.

Lilu Ram, a villager, had alleged in his complaint to the SVB that he had a dispute with a woman over the possession of a property.

He alleged that Jagdish Bhadu, a middleman, had demanded Rs 30,000 on behalf of the SHO for doing a favour in the investigation of the case.

The SVB laid a trap and the complainant was sent to deliver the money with a shadow witness while the policemen waited for the signal outside with a duty magistrate.

As soon as the complainant delivered the money to Jagdish Bhadu, the SVB officials pounced on him.

Sirsa, February 15
The police has registered a case of murder after a villager, who was beaten up two days ago at Jorhkian village, died in a hospital here last night. The police has handed over the 50-year-old victim Kirpal’s body to his kin after a post-mortem.

The victim’s son, Pramod, was involved in a drunken brawl with villagers Raju and Dalip on February 11.

The matter was resolved at that time by the  intervention of some  villagers.

However, Raju and Dalip along with over 12 others attacked Pramod’s house the same night.

Pramod’s father, Kirpal, sustained serious injuries in the attack.

He was shifted to a hospital where he died last night.