Chandigarh, September 20
Haryana Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Minister Geeta Bhukkal said that economically weaker members belonging to the general category who were already not getting any reservation benefit would be given the benefit of reservation in the state.

The minister said economically weaker persons belonging to all castes would be given the benefit of reservation under economically backward persons belonging to the general category.

She said Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had accorded approval in this regard. A person belonging to Brahmin, Rajput, Arora, Khatri and Vaishya castes and such other castes who are neither Scheduled Castes nor Backward Classes or Special Backward Classes will get the benefit of reservation being given to people belonging to the economically weaker sections of the state.

The minister said the reservation of 10 per cent in jobs in government, government undertakings and local bodies would be given in direct recruitment to class III and class IV posts. Similarly, 4 per cent reservation would be given in direct recruitment to class I and II posts. She said reservation of 10 per cent in admission to government and government-aided educational institutions would be given.

The total annual income of the family of the applicant should not cumulatively exceed Rs 2.5 lakh per annum from all sources, including agricultural income.

The applicant or family should not be in class-I or Class-II services of Government of India or the state government level or equivalent or hold any equivalent post in any statutory board or corporation or university or society or trust or an equivalent position in any public or private limited company or in any international organisation.

There would be no reservation in promotion in jobs.

Who is eligible The total annual income of the family of the applicant should not cumulatively exceed Rs 2.5 lakh per annum from all sources, including agricultural income. The applicant or family should not be in class-I or Class-II services of the Government of India or the state government level or equivalent or hold any equivalent post in any statutory board or corporation etc

Rohtak, September 20
The police today arrested two more accused in connection with the murder of a couple at Garnawathi village. The arrested persons include the driver of the vehicle used in the crime and brother of Nidhi, who was killed along with her boyfriend, Dharmender, by her parents and other family members.

They were remanded in police custody for five days by a local court. The three accused, including Nidhi’s parents and an uncle, were already in five-day police remand.

"With the arrest of Sunny (18) and Mahesh, the total arrests in the case have risen to five. Two other accused, including Rajesh Kumar, a cousin of Sunny, are still at large," said a police officer.

Meanwhile, Hawa Singh Sangwan, president of the state unit of the Akhil Bhartiya Jat Arakshan Samiti, has demanded suitable changes in the Hindu Marriage Act for the prevention of marriages in the same "gotra" and villages in Haryana and Jat-dominated areas to prevent honour killings.

Jhajjar, September 20
Taking a serious note of the honour killing incident at Garnavathi village in Rohtak district three days ago, khap panchayats active in the Jhajjar region have decided to resume their campaign to put pressure on the state government for amendments in the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, in order to prevent such incidents in the state.

A meeting of various khap panchayats will be held at Chhotu Ram Dharamshala here tomorrow to decide the further course of action in this regard.

Om Prakash Dhankhar, chief of the Dhankhar Sabha, said besides representatives of different social outfits, office-bearers of 12 khaps would attend the meeting to give their suggestions over the issue.

“Though a case regarding amendments in the Hindu Marriage Act is pending before the Supreme Court, the state government has authority to amend the Act at the state-level as per its existing social custom. Many changes have already been done in the Act in the states of Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab,” said Dhankhar.

He said amendments in the Act were instantly required to curb such barbaric incidents in Haryana.

Chandigarh, September 20
Mange Ram Gupta, a former Haryana Minister, who served in the Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Bhajan Lal’ Cabinets, is all set to join the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). A diehard Congressman of yore, Gupta fell apart with Hooda after the 2009 assembly poll and later joined the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) that he quit in December last year. He is now expected to join the INLD after meeting Om Prakash Chautala in Gurgaon tomorrow.

Gupta told The Tribune that he was likely to make up his mind and announce his decision after meeting Chautala tomorrow. After the arrest of Om Prakash Chautala and Ajay Chautala in the teacher recruitment scam (they are currently out on bail on medical grounds), the INLD is looking for senior leaders who could take the command of the party in the absence of Chautalas.

Gupta was finance minister in the Bhajan Lal Cabinet. He announced his decision to join the HJP in December last year, but could not sustain an equation with Bhajan Lal’s son and HJC president Kuldeep Bishnoi and quit.

It is learnt that Gupta is seeking a Rajya Sabha nomination for himself and the Panchkula Assembly seat for his son Mahavir Gupta, whom he wants to settle in politics.

Hailing from Jind, Gupta is a four-time MLA and a three-time minister, who represents the Aggarwal community. The Jind assembly segment is contested on caste lines between the Punjabis and Aggarwals, besides others. The Jind segment is currently represented by INLD’s Hari Chand Midda (a Punjabi).

Abhay Chautala, the Ellenabad MLA and Chautala’s younger son, has already announced that the party respected all senior leaders of the state and people like Gupta were "more than welcome” in his party.

INLD state president Ashok Arora also indicated that the party was ready to accept Gupta who would be an asset for the INLD due to his experience of several decades in politics.

Chandigarh, September 20
In an unexpected turn of events, about half a dozen advocates stood up and informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court about the alleged chaotic conditions prevailing in the Haryana Tax Tribunal. “Lordships, we support these PILs,” submitted the advocates.

The assertion came during the arguments on two PILs for directions to the State of Haryana and UT Administration to appoint chairman and members of VAT tribunals only after holding prior consultation with the High Court.

During the hearing, UT senior standing counsel Sanjay Kaushal vehemently argued before the Bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul that consultation with the HC was not required if the administration was appointing a serving officer and not a retired judge as the chairman. Consultation was also not required for appointing the members.

Haryana Advocate-General Hawa Singh Hooda also argued that consultation was not required for appointment of chairman or members of the Haryana Tax Tribunal, as the statute did not provide for the same.

Advocate-cum-petitioner HC Arora argued that proposition submitted by UT Counsel was “dangerous”. The decision of the UT Administration to appoint a serving bureaucrat as chairman of the UT VAT tribunal amounted to “not selecting a retired judge” as a chairman.

At the fag end of arguments, about half a dozen advocates, claiming to be practicing in the Haryana Tax Tribunal, suddenly stood up and submitted before the HC Bench: “The situation prevailing in this Tribunal is chaotic. There have been occasions, when the chairman orders judgement is reserved, while the other two members announce the case is adjourned.”

They added: “There are advocates, who never appeared in a single tax matter before any court, but have been appointed as members of the Haryana Tax Tribunal. We have to argue before such members.” A shell-shocked Hawa Singh Hooda said, “I was never aware of these conditions prevailing in the tax tribunal. I shall look into the matter.”

Chandigarh, September 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that the police has the power to carry out search and seize to check violations under the Essential Commodities Act and LPG (Regulation of Supply & Distribution) Order.

The ruling by Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice Fateh Deep Singh came on an appeal filed by Anil Kumar and another appellant against Haryana. The matter was placed before the Division Bench following conflicting judgments on the issue.

The Bench asserted that power was vested with the police officer for investigation and trial in any case. There was nothing in the Act prohibiting the investigation or trial by the police officer.

The power of search and seizure conferred on the departmental officials does not exclude the power of search and seizure vested with a police official?. In the absence of any inconsistent provision in the Act, the empowerment of a specified officer to conduct search and seizure is for effective implementation of the Act and does not oust the jurisdiction of the police officer to search, seize and investigate or of trial under the Act?

Chandigarh, September 20
A new regime for VAT registration has come into being in Haryana with the government deciding to link it to the Aadhaar cards.

A recent order issued by Haryana’s Excise and Taxation Commissioner stated that “the assessing authorities should obtain a copy of the Aadhaar card as identity proof of the person seeking registration certificate under VAT laws.”

The decision follows a number of unscrupulous persons getting VAT registration certificates by submitting forged documents. In certain cases, VAT registrations have been obtained in favour of employees having no financial means or capital assets. A direct fallout of the bogus VAT registrations is tax evasion as bogus companies are closed down after a few years, official sources said.

Currently, an applicant for VAT registration has to apply with an identity proof such as the voter identity card, passport, ration card, driving licence, bank pas book or any other document issued by the government having photo identity. Since forging these documents was a normal practice, VAT registrations are done with forged documents.

Since the Aadhaar card is linked to one’s biometric data, it is not possible to use the Aadhaar card of another person. Moreover, the government is also linking the Aadhaar card to bank accounts to transfer cash subsidy benefits such as LPG and other benefits to under different government schemes.

to keep a check Aadhaar card must for VAT registration It will check VAT registration on forged documents It will make VAT registration transparent IT will ultimately check tax evasion by unscrupulous dealers

Chandigarh, September 20
The Congress is gearing up to give a 'befitting' reply to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in the same region where he sounded the election bugle after his anointment. Modi addressed a rally at Rewari in south Haryana on September 15.

Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi to inaugurate phase I of the Rs 400-crore Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College at Nalhar in Mewat on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Hooda laid the foundation stone in September 2009.

Sources in the Congress said discussions were underway and the invitation was under the active consideration of the party leadership. If she agrees to inaugurate the medical college, the government plans to use the opportunity to get her to lay the foundation stone of the industrial model township at Roz ka Meo.

Party leaders maintain that the state government is keen that Sonia Gandhi inaugurates its most ambitious projects aimed at putting the 'backward' Mewat area prominently on the development map. It is looking at consolidating its position among the minority community there by organising a rally.

With Modi going out of his way to project a 'secular and softer' face to the Muslims, the Congress aims at building up its equation with the community. Mewat seems the ideal destination to send out the strong message that all communities are on board, a leader said.

Sonia Gandhi is a near regular visitor to Mewat for launching schemes and projects and campaigning for the last three Assembly elections, including that of sitting legislator Aftab Ahmed. The sources said the invitation stood a good chance of being accepted.

She had last visited Mewat in 2011 for the all-India launch of a Health Ministry programme for mother and child. She was expected to address a rally organised by Rajya Sabha member Birender Singh in Jind on Rajiv Gandhi’s birth anniversary on August 20.

The programme did not materialise on account of other 'pressing engagements' that day. Birender Singh’s camp had blamed the government for 'sabotaging' his rally. Congress sources had said Sonia Gandhi was not keen on being seen as promoting dissension within the party by accepting the invitation.

If she comes on October 2, leaders of the pro-Hooda and detractor camps will share the platform for the first time since then even though differences between them have widened.

Chandigarh, September 20
The government has decided to launch a special recruitment drive to fill up the backlog of posts for the blind in different departments in the state. All formalities for this purpose will be completed within the next fortnight.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Geeta Bhukkal said this at a meeting with representatives of the Blinds’ Association here today.

The minister assured the members that all their genuine demands would be considered and a meeting would soon be fixed with Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in this regard. After the approval, the retirement age of master trainers would be raised from 58 to 60 years. The ‘rickshaw’ allowance would also be given to them.

Geeta said the government was keen to fill up the backlog of posts and to ensure all possible assistance to them. The officials concerned should ensure the implementation of various schemes for persons with disabilities, she added.

The principal secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment Department, PK Das, told the minister that he had already held a meeting with nodal officers of all departments to ascertain the steps being taken by them to fill the backlog.

Faridabad, September 20
A large number of employees of the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) staged a dharna and held demonstrations outside the residence of Haryana Labour Minister Shivcharan Sharma in support of their demands.

They took out a procession in the city which ended outside the residence of the minister. The agitation was spearheaded by the Nagar Palika Karamchaari Sangh, Haryana.

The city roads remained disturbed and the movement of the vehicular traffic was affected due to the agitation.

Naresh Shastri, president of the sangh, said the employees would hold demonstrations outside the residences of all the elected representatives from the district. The agitation would be intensified if the demands were not met soon, he added.

The demands of the employees include regularisation of services of ad hoc employees of the MCF and scrapping of contract labour system and outsourcing of jobs.

The employees alleged that the labour law was being violated with impunity in Faridabad. The sangh leaders alleged that they had taken up the issues with various officials of the government, but to no avail.

Chandigarh, September 20
The Haryana Government has decided to restart the admission procedure in the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) which would be held from September 23 to September 30.

Haryana Industrial Training Minister Geeta Bhukkal, said the admissions would be held exclusively under the State Council Vocational Training (SCVT) scheme for government and private institutes.

She said 82.6 per cent students were declared passed in July 2013 as against 60.3 per cent students in 2012.

"In case of the National Council Vocational Training (NCVT) scheme, the pass percentage has also increased in such institutes.

Ambala, September 20
The latest report of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has revealed that the performance of the thermal units in the state is below par for the past six months as per the plant load factor (PLF).

The power generation of the thermal plants is around 50 per cent against the schedule of about 72 per cent as the state government has increased its dependence on power purchased from sources outside the state.

As per the CEA report, the plant load factor of the thermal units in August was 50.78 per cent against the schedule of 71.46 per cent. It was 42.1 per cent in July, 52.55 per cent in June and 46.5 per cent in April this year.

State power generating units were being shut down to enable private sector projects to run at full capacity and earn maximum profits at the cost of the state distribution companies.

The state units are running at 50 per cent of the PLF while the Mundra units in Gujarat, with which the state government had signed a long-term purchase agreement, are running at 87 per cent of the PLF.

Haryana has made a long-term power purchase arrangement for supply of 1,424 MW with Adani Power. Sources said to facilitate the continuous supply from Mundra, the state government has to shut down its own thermal units.

Bhiwani, September 20
A local court has sentenced four persons, including Haryanavi folk singer Neelam Chaudhary, to life imprisonment in a murder case.

The police had booked Neelam and Narender, Mahender and Pale Ram on the charges of rape and poisoning to death a woman in May 2010 in Bhiwani.

The police said Narender was having illicit relationships with Neelam and another woman Roshni Devi, a resident of Sector 14. When Roshni came to know about Narender’s affair with Neelam, she objected to it.

However, Neelam, Narender and two others hatched a plan to eliminate Roshni. After giving some poisonous substance to her, they dumped her near Dhareru village on May 4, 2010. A passerby took the woman to a hospital and informed the police but she died on the way to the hospital and revealed the names of the accused before she died.

Sirsa, September 20
A 12-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a youth living in her neighbour at Sikanderpur village in Sirsa district.

The incident took place two days ago, but the girl’s parents approached the police last evening.

In his complaint to the police, the victim’s father stated that he and his wife were away to agriculture fields when Rajinder Singh, who lived in the neighbouring house, entered their house and raped his minor daughter.

When her parents came back in the evening, she narrated the incident to them, who then approached the police.

The police arrested the accused after registering a case against him.

Meanwhile, the police has arrested Kulwant Singh, the second accused in the gang rape of a Class VIII student at Burjkaramgarh village in Sirsa. The police had earlier arrested Gulab Singh in this connection.

Both Kulwant Singh and Gulab Singh had allegedly raped the minor girl after offering her some intoxicant in a cold drink. 

Sonepat, September 20
Rahul, a tempo driver and resident of a locality in Panipat, was murdered and later burnt by criminals here because he demanded Rs 800 as fare for bringing them from Budana in Panipat district to Sonepat on August 12.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Balbir Singh said here today the accused identified as Punit, a resident of local Laxmi Nagar, and Karambir and Deepak, both residents of Garhi Brahmanan village in the district, confessed to have killed Rahul during interrogation after their arrest by the special staff team of the police last evening.

The DSP said the accused were returning to Sonepat from Haridwar on a motorcycle. Their motorcycle developed some fault near Budana on the Shamli-Panipat road. They hired the tempo for bringing them with their motorcycle to Sonepat for Rs 800.

After reaching Sonepat, the DSP said, when Rahul demanded his payment, the accused killed him with a rod. Later, they brought petrol in a bottle and set his body on fire in a heap of cow dung cakes.

The DSP said after recovering evidence from the spot, the victim was identified and investigation was handed over to the special staff.