In a major decision, Haryana Government on Tuesday decided not to charge toll on a few roads and also announced to close down five toll plazas in the State.Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar lal on Tuesday decided to close five toll plazas (TPs) on such roads which have been repaired or strengthened with an expenditure of less than Rs15 crore or where the toll collection is less than Rs1 crore.The five conditions fixed by the Government included the investment made on improvement of roads is less than Rs15 crore, the annual tax collection is less than Rs1 crore, deferring the toll on road segments which are in very bad condition to avoid public criticism, shifting of toll points which are in Municipal limits and closure of toll points on roads which are subsequently notified as national highways, said a Government spokesperson.
While two toll plazas TP-47 – Tosham to Hisar road at 26.700 kms and TP-48 – Tosham to Bhiwani road at 70 kms due to investment of less than Rs15 crore have been decided to be closed with immediate effect, two toll plazas TP-10 Budhlada-Ratia-Fatehabad Road (near Punjab Border) and TP-20 Hansi-Tosham-Sodhiwas Road near village Sodhiwas at RD 201.00 were approved for closure respectively from August 5, 2015 and July 16, 2016 on due to toll collection of less than Rs1 crore per annum.
The toll plaza TP-37 Ferozepur Zhirka-Biwan road was approved to be closed with effect from November 1, 2015.This decision has been taken as it has been observed that in certain cases, expenditure incurred on improvement of roads is much less as compared to the hassles being faced by the road users, said the spokesperson. The State Government also decided to transfer the work of collection of 24 toll points (TPs) in the State from Haryana State Roads and Bridges Development Corporation (HSRDC) to PWD.
New Teacher recruitment process
Amid the row over regularisation of contract teachers in Haryana, the State Government on Tuesday announced the new criteria for recruitments of teachers of all categories in the State.Haryana Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar lal on Tuesday approved in principle, the criteria in respect of recruitment of teachers of all categories i.e Primary Teachers(PRTs), Trained Graduate Teachers (TGTs) and Post Graduate Teachers(PGTs).
As per the criteria out of the 100 marks, 80 per cent has been kept for written test while eight per cent will be of experience i.e one per cent for each completed year of service in the respective category subject to maximum of eight per cent. The interview will carry 12 per cent marks, said a government’s spokesperson.The academic qualifications for the post of PGTs for direct recruitment is atleast 50 percent marks in Post Graduate Degree in concerned subjects and B.Ed from recognized university, Matric with Hindi or Sanskrit or 10+2/BA/MA with Hindi as one of the subject and certificate of having qualified Haryana Teacher Eligibility Test (HTET)/ School Teachers Eligibility Test (STET) and consistent good academic record.
After Tuesday’s decision, a notification in this regard would be issued by the School Education Department which would then be conveyed to HSSC, added the spokesperson.Haryana Staff Selection Commission had on June 28 invited online applications for the vacant 8,793 posts of PGT HIS-2 (Group B services) and TGT (Group C services) of Secondary Education Department and Elementary Education Department.
After the Cabinet meet, the State Government failed to announce any decision to pacify the protesting guest teachers, JBT teachers across the state. While the guest teachers held a ‘Rozgar Bachao Vayda Nibhao’ rally in Mahendragarh, hometown of Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma on Tuesday, the JBT teachers held protest at Panchkula.The Police resorted to use of water canons on protesting JBT teachers at Housing Board Chowk when the protestors decided to ghereo Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.
On the other hand, more than 12000 guest teachers have reportedly decided not to teach students if the government fails to fulfill their demand of regularisation.The Cabinet, meanwhile, also approved the proposal of Higher Education Department regarding issuance of an Ordinance for changing the name of ITM University, Gurgaon as the Northcap University, Gurgaon, Haryana.
Raise in pension
Haryana Cabinet decided to increase the pension of pre-2006 pensioners with effect from February 6, 2015 to 50 per cent of the sum of minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale (including Higher Administrative Grade Scale) from which the pensioner had retired. The normal family pension of pre-2006 family pensioners shall also be stepped up with effect from February 6, 2015 to 30 per cent of the sum of minimum of pay in the pay band and the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale (including Higher Administrative Grade Scale) in which the Government servant had retired.