Chandigarh, December 18
Doing away with regularisation charges in infrastructure deficient colonies in urban areas, the Cabinet today approved significantly reduced rates of development charges on plot holders, approved amendment in sports policy 2009 to raise the award money of outstanding sportspersons, upgraded six sub-tehsils and gave its nod to the open allocation of land.

Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda, after chairing the meeting of the Cabinet, said development charges would be Rs 150 per square yard in areas under the municipal corporations of Gurgaon and Faridabad, Rs 100 per square yard in areas under the municipal corporations of Ambala, Yamunanagar, Jagadhri, Karnal, Panipat, Rohtak, Hisar and Panchkula, Rs 50 in case of municipal councils and Rs 30 in case of municipal committees.

"Development charges will be payable by plot holders in two equal instalments. Those who pay in lump sum will be entitled to a 10 per cent rebate. Development charges are lower than those recommended by the Cabinet sub-committee constituted under Industries Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala," Hooda said.

While 543 colonies had been notified as civic amenities and infrastructure deficient municipal areas, 251 additional colonies were under consideration for providing basic amenities while a survey would be carried out for other unauthorised colonies, he added.

Sports awardees

Under the amended sports policy, Bhim, Arjuna and Dhyan Chand awardees would get a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh instead of Rs 2 lakh. Gold medallists in international events would get Rs 10 lakh instead of Rs 5 lakh, silver medallists Rs 8 lakh instead of Rs 4 lakh and bronze medallists Rs 6 lakh instead of Rs 3 lakh.

The Cabinet decided to give eight acres to Sushil Kumar Foundation at Moti Lal Nehru School of Sports in Rai to set up a wrestling academy. Land would be given on lease. It was also decided to give two acres to Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt at Bahadurgarh to set up a wrestling academy. A multi-purpose hall and infrastructure would be developed by HUDA.

The Cabinet gave its approval to appoint Rajesh Kumar (Mahabali Bhim) as Haryana Police constable. Rajesh Kumar belongs to Danora village in Naraingarh tehsil. At 7 feet and 4 inches, he is the tallest man in Haryana and Punjab. He is taller than Dalip Singh Rana (Khali), recruited as Punjab Police constable on similar grounds.

Tehsil upgrade

The government upgraded Kanina sub-tehsil to subdivision and Ateli sub-tehsil to tehsil in Mahendragarh district. It also upgraded Radaur sub-tehsil to tehsil in Yamunanagar district, Nathusari Chopta sub-tehsil to tehsil in Sirsa district, Hassanpur village to sub-tehsil in Palwal district and Satnali village to sub-tehsil in Mahendragarh district.

Defence personnel

In another significant decision, the government decided to launch a housing scheme for defence personnel, ex-servicemen and serving and former paramilitary personnel. They would be provided flats at a subsidised rate.

A total of 50,000 flats would be constructed for them at Panchkula, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonepat and Bahadurgarh at a cost of Rs 8,250 crore.

Two types of nine-storey flats, type A with a carpet area of 500 square feet and type B with 600 square feet, would be constructed. These flats would be allotted to those in the rank of JCO and below.

The tentative sale price of flats would be Rs 15 lakh for type A and Rs 18 lakh for type B. HUDA and the Urban Local Bodies Department would provide 360 acres to the Housing Board for the construction of the flats.

A government job in class III and class IV category would be given on compassionate grounds to eligible living spouse or child of martyr of armed or paramilitary forces who was domicile of Haryana.

It would be given to family member of deceased Haryana Police personnel and civil state government employee who sacrificed life while displaying bravery and extraordinary courage.

Relief for crop damage

The Cabinet enhanced norms of relief given on account of damage to crops due to floods, fire, electric spark, hailstorm, dust storm and drought. The new rates of compensation were the highest in the country and would be effective from January 1, 2014.

In case of damage between 26 and 50 per cent to standing crops of wheat, paddy and cotton, a compensation of Rs 5,000 per acre would be given instead of Rs 3,500 per acre. In case of other crops, it would be Rs 4,000 per acre instead of Rs 2,500 per acre.

In case of damage between 51 and 75 per cent, a compensation of Rs 7,500 per acre would be given instead of Rs 4,500 per acre. In case of other crops, it would be Rs 5,000 per acre instead of Rs 3,500 per acre.

In case of damage between 76 and 100 per cent, a compensation of Rs 10,000 per acre would be given instead of Rs 5,500. In case of other crops, it would be Rs 7,500 per acre instead of Rs 4,500 per acre.

In case of drought, for damage between 51 per cent and above to standing crops of wheat, paddy and cotton, the compensation would be Rs 4,000 per acre instead of Rs 2,700 per acre. In case of damage to other crops due to drought, the amount of compensation would be Rs 3,500 per acre instead of Rs 2,100 per acre.

Planned development

The Cabinet approved in-principle the policy of planned development of low-density eco-friendly colonies through grant of licence under Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975.

One-time settlement

There would be a one-time settlement scheme for waiving interest and penal interest of loanees of the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation and the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam in case the entire outstanding principal amount was paid lump sum or in instalments by June 30, 2014.

Other major decisions

Setting up of minorities commission with chairman and four members

Committee headed by Chief Secretary to take call on taking charge of teaching and non-teaching staff working on sanctioned posts at privately managed government aided schools and make recommendations to Cabinet

VAT exemption on shoes and chappals having maximum retail price of up to Rs 500 per pair

Mukhya Mantri Dudharu Pashu Suraksha Yojna approved, giving economic security to all farmers rearing milch animals and goats

Rates of old-age samman allowance, widow pension and disability pension enhanced to Rs 1,000 per month and financial assistance to destitute children raised from Rs 200 to Rs 500.

Kutel (Karnal), December 18
A night has changed the life and mindset of Latif, who had been living in peace in the village for several decades. Belonging to a well-to-do family, Latif (51), a distant relative of Hafiz, accused of killing Ravinder, said “I feel insecure in the village now and deeply disappointed as I have been made the target for no reason”.

“My house was ransacked and my vehicles damaged by the miscreants, armed with weapons and lathis, who barged into the house and smashed everything that came their way, including houses of my two brothers Alias and Karema. All this in spite of the fact that we had severed all links with Hafiz 15 years ago”, he lamented.

Recalling the nightmare and the trauma he had gone through, Latif said on hearing the screams, he went inside a room with his kids and locked it, as tension mounted in the village after Ravinder was allegedly killed.

“I feel scared in the village as police security is only for name sake and our houses were ransacked and goods damaged while policemen were present in the neighbourhood in strength,” he said, wiping his tears.

The mob reportedly attacked his house as rumours made rounds that he aided the accused in carrying the body of the deceased Ravinder to the canal.

However, Salim, a portion of whose house was set ablaze, was undeterred and said “I will fight it out and not desert the village under these circumstances. I was not present between 10-11 am, when the incident occurred and Afsana (26), my wife, along with our three kids, had to run to the neighbouring house to safety.

Jind, December 18
The refusal of a Dalit woman to elope with her boyfriend cost her life three months ago. The police have cracked the blind murder of a woman, whose body was found with a slit throat at her house, near Durga temple in Julana town, under this district. The police have also recovered the knife used in the crime today.

As per the investigations, accused Sonu had come to Malavi village six months ago to meet his cousin Mani, who runs a mobile repair shop in the main market of Julana. He was sitting with his cousin at the shop when the deceased, Manju, came there to purchase a new sim card for her mobile phone. He noted the number of her sim card and started calling her. Within days both got friendly and started meeting at various places. She reportedly met Sonu many times in Jind city and other places.

On September 4, the accused went to her house and tried to pressurise her to elope with him. But Manju refused to leave her husband, who worked as a labourer, and a one-and-half-year old son.

When Sonu failed to convince her, he lost his cool and slit her throat and fled away. After the murder, Sonu allegedly went to his native village Bhainswal in Sonepat district.

But Ajit, the husband of the deceased, reportedly named Sonu in his statement to the police, who started analysing the call details of the deceased, which led them to Sonu.

“From the call details we got to know about Sonu. During investigations, it came to light that he had murdered her. We also recovered the knife used in the crime from his village today,” said SHO of Julana Sehdev Singh. 

Chandigarh, December 18
The Congress and the BJP have intensified their poll-related activities with the party high command of both parties summoning the top state leadership to get a feedback. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and state Congress President Phool Chand Mullana in their meeting with senior Congress leaders in Delhi have sought early announcement of candidates for early start of poll preparations.

Both Hooda and Mullana met CP Joshi and Madhusudan Mistri, AICC General Secretaries. The duo recommended that barring one or two candidates, all others who contested the 10 parliamentary seats last time should be retained. At the same time the state leadership was non-committal on the holding of assembly elections in the state along with the parliamentary poll. The assembly elections in October, 2014.

It was felt that early assembly elections would help negate adverse effects, if any, of the parliamentary poll. But at the same time, the results of the national elections have a direct impact on the state elections. It is learnt that the Chief Minister personally is not keen on an early poll as it would send out a negative message to the electorate.

BJP President Rajnath Singh also held a meeting on Monday with some members of the core committee of the party. The issue of alliance with the HJC dominated the talks. It was widely felt that breaking an alliance with the HJC at this juncture would send a wrong message. At the same time, it would be prudent to tie up with the INLD that has a rural base as opposed to an urban vote-bank of both the BJP and the HJC.

Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and former in charge of Haryana, has called another meeting of Haryana BJP leaders on December 24 in Delhi on the alliance with the HJC and to discuss the issue of seat sharing. As per the existing agreement between the two, the BJP proposes to contest eight seats, leaving two for the HJC.

While Hisar seat for HJC chief Kuldeep Bishnoi is a foregone conclusion, there is debate on the other. The BJP is keen to give Sirsa to the HJC as it does not have a strong candidate there but the HJC wants Karnal or Faridabad as Bishnoi’s father, Bhajan Lal, was an MP from both places on different occasions.

The BJP is keen to contest Ambala (reserve) where Congress sitting MP Selja is facing a lot of flak at the hands of the Chief Minister’s loyalists. The BJP also considers Gurgaon a good seat but in the event of Congress MP Rao Inderjit switching loyalty, the BJP will have to leave the seat for him or his nominee.

Cong for retaining most LS candidates

Both Hooda and Mullana met CP Joshi and Madhusudan Mistri, AICC General Secretaries. The duo recommended that barring one or two candidates, all others who contested the 10 parliamentary seats last time should be retained. At the same time the state leadership was non-committal on the holding of assembly elections in the state along with the parliamentary poll. The assembly elections in October, 2014.

Modi convenes another meeting

Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate and former in charge of Haryana, has called another meeting of Haryana BJP leaders on December 24 in Delhi on the alliance with the HJC and to discuss the issue of seat sharing. As per the existing agreement between the two, the BJP proposes to contest eight seats, leaving two for the HJC.

Jind, December 18
The late Tuesday night swoop of the Jind police to forcibly remove representatives of the SC A mahapanchayat, demanding separate reservation from the SC B category, has further angered the community, who have announced to intensify their protest.

In fact, the move of the Jind administration to remove peaceful protesters has boomeranged as protesters took an aggressive posture on Wednesday. They not only organised a protest march across the city raising slogans against the state government, but also burnt an effigy of Haryana CM Bhupinder singh Hooda in front of the DC office and restarted their fast.

“Peaceful protest is our constitutional right and our two members had been sitting here on a fast for last six days. But policemen, led by Jind tehsildar Maturam, forcibly removed both. We have burnt the effigy of the Haryana CM here as the Jind administration is crushing Dalits on the CM’s directions,” alleged president of the SC (A) mahapanchayat Devidass, who led the protest.

Thirtyfive-year-old Satyanaryan and 65-year-old Ram Kishan had been sitting on a fast since December 11. Their health had started deteriorating for the last two-three days, but both were adamant to continue their protest despite health complications.

Late last night around 9 pm, the Jind police allegedly led by duty magistrate (tehsildar) Maturam swooped upon both and other protesters, sitting along with both. They bundled both in their vehicle and took them to the civil hospital here.

When members of the SC A mahapanchayat learnt about policemen’s swoop, they converged in the hospital, raising slogans against the Jind administration and the Haryana Congress government. But police did not allow protesters to meet Satyanarayan and Ram Kishan.

“We took both in our custody and got them admitted to the civil hospital. They were sitting peacefully, but we did our job to save their lives,” claimed Maturam. But when asked about the mounting anger among the protesters against their move, he did not give any satisfactory reply.

Two other members of the SC A community Ram Kumar and Anil Kumar have resumed the fast in front of the DC office.

“Forcible removal is not a solution. We have hundreds to start fast-unto-death and more of our members will start protest if the administration takes any forcible step in future,” said Devidass, while pointing towards other members of the community, sitting along with him.

What ails Lokayukta

No power to take suo motu cognizance of allegations.

No contempt-of-court powers to make defaulting officials fall in line

Inadequate staff to deal with all the complaints

Recommendatory nature of its orders

No mechanism to protect the whisteblowers

Chandigarh, December 18
The Principal Secretary, Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP), Haryana, is in the dock. The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed him to remain present on December 21 along with the original record of licences granted for group housing projects in Sector 63-A, Gurgaon.

Already, the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Surinder Gupta has directed that licence, change of land use and letter of intent shall be granted in favour of private respondents, including builders.

Against the directions, one of the respondents, Commander Realtors Private Limited filed an application for modification of the order through senior advocate Mohan Jain. His contention was that the subject matter of the writ petition and interest of the petitioner was limited only to the allotment of 13.618 acres out of the total area of approximately 75 acres. As such, the order against grant of licence, CLU and LoI should be modified and made applicable to only that extent.

During the course of hearing, the Bench had observed that the interim directions could be suitably modified if Haryana came forward to say the department would grant a licence to the petitioner for the applied land and his rights would not be jeopardised in the absence of interim protection during the pendency of the writ petition in case he eventually succeeded.

As the case came up for resumed hearing this afternoon, a letter written by the Director-General, Town and Country Planning, to the Haryana Advocate-General was put up before the Bench instead of filing an affidavit on the state’s explicit stand on the issue. The Bench took note of the fact that the letter did not clarify the approach of the state on the query put up by the Bench.

Taking exception, the Bench observed that such letters, if produced in future in response to the court queries, would amount to contempt of court and further directed that the Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning, to remain present with original records of allotments.

Jhajjar, December 18
The district health authorities have transferred the staff nurse and the ambulance driver posted at the Primary Health Centre (PHC), Matanhel village, The nurse was accused of charging money for vaccination while the driver charged transportation dues from a woman who delivered a baby at the centre on Monday.

“The staff nurse has been shifted to the local civil hospital while the driver has been sent to the civil hospital in Bahadurgarh town so that they could not influence the probe into the matter by a two-member committee of doctors, Jhajjar Civil Surgeon Ramesh Dhankhar said here today.

The committee had been directed to submit its report within a week. Dhankhar said delivery and other facilities like medicines and transportation of pregnant women were given free of cost.

Sunil of Khetavaas village had lodged a complaint with the Civil Surgeon accusing the staff nurse and the ambulance driver of charging Rs 3,400(vaccination) and Rs 200 (transportation), respectively, after his wife delivered a baby at the centre.

Karnal, December 18
Despite tall claims by the state government about curbing crime against women, cases of molestation and eve-teasing have increased and women feel unsafe in the state, said state BJP women cell president Pratibha Suman here yesterday.

Talking to mediapersons, she said: “Justice delayed is justice denied and in cases pertaining to sexual assault, molestation and eve-teasing, societal pressure on the victim increases with time.”

“The police have not been sensitised on the issues and as a result, cases of sexual assault are high in the state. Everyday, women are being victimised and the police just finish the formality of lodging a complaint,” she said.

Yamunanagar, December 18
The state crime branch arrested a teacher of a private school on Tuesday night in the suicide case of a student of the same school. He was produced before a local court today, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Ranjan Sharma of Kuldeep Nagar here, who was a student of class XII of a private school, had committed suicide by setting himself on fire at his house on December 9, 2011. He had left a suicide note, levelling several allegations on his class teachers.

Ranjan’s mother, Anita Sharma, said her son was not only tortured but also humiliated before his class as he had failed to deposit a fine.

The local police had done nothing in the case and were rather making efforts to protect the culprits, said Anita.

She said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued directions to the government to hand over the case to the State Crime Branch on July 31, 2013.

“Three persons, including the class teacher, principal and a member of the school management, are responsible for his death. I got the FIR registered on December 18, 2011, against the culprits and even after two years, only one person has been arrested,” Anita said. —TNS