News / Author / Pawan Sharma

Pawan Sharma

Pawan Sharma, based in Chandigarh, is Assistant Editor in HT and presently writes on Haryana's politics and governance. During different stints over the past two decades, he covered Punjab extensively for 10 years and before that judiciary and Himachal Pradesh with focus on high-impact news breaking and investigative journalism.

Articles by Pawan Sharma

Haryana Police officers violating rules on filing property returns: Lokayukta

Lokayukta justice Hari Pal Verma (retd) says proposals to state officials to appoint staff and provide space for his office functioning have been ignored

In a three-point recommendation, lokayukta justice Hari Pal Verma (retd) said that to ensure strict compliance of rules about the acquisition or disposal of movable or immovable property by police officers and filing of declarations within a time-frame, a monitoring cell should be set up immediately in the office of the Haryana DGP in Panchkula. (Representaional photo)

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Updated on May 17, 2023 04:29 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryana lokayukta apprises governor of ‘casual approach’ by bureaucrats in handling corruption complaints

Lokayukta report says action-taken reports are not submitted despite reminders; at times even communication regarding appointment of inquiry officer is not received from departments concerned

Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatraya interacting with state lokayukta justice Hari Pal Verma (retd) at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday. (HT)

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Updated on May 17, 2023 12:51 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

‘Mentor institutes’ to ensure quality work at 3 upcoming medical colleges, assist in recruitment

Medical education dept selects three existing medical colleges to act as ‘mentor institutes’ for upcoming govt medical colleges

PGIMS Rohtak will act as a mentor institute for the upcoming Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Govt Medical College in Bhiwani. Two new medical colleges are also coming up at Jind and Mahendragarh. (HT file photo)

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Updated on May 12, 2023 11:15 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana rolls out Ayush medical policy for govt employees, pensioners

Haryana government employees, pensioners and their dependents will be eligible for medical reimbursement of indoor treatment availed at all government hospitals located within and outside the state

Haryana government employees, pensioners and their dependents opting for treatment under the Ayush system of medicine will be eligible for reimbursement with the Haryana government implementing the Ayush Medical Reimbursement Policy. The decision was taken at the recent cabinet meeting in Chandigarh. (HT file photo)

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Updated on May 04, 2023 02:41 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Mann Ki Baat’ 100th episode: Haryana BJP eyes participation of 9 lakh people, 9k locations ready

Under the plan, chalked out by Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar, the party has printed 13 lakh invitation cards and will roll out a red carpet for the attendees at 100 different locations in each assembly segment. The 4.50-lakh foot soldiers of the BJP are busy mobilising the people for Mann Ki Baat’ 100th episode

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 100th broadcast of the flagship ‘Mann Ki Baat’ on April 30, the Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone all out to launch a promotional blitzkrieg and is eying participation of at least 9 lakh people at over 9,000 locations across the state. (HT File Photo)

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Updated on Apr 29, 2023 12:43 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

For every kilometre, Haryana Roadways suffers a loss ₹34

Over the years, there has been a sharp fall in the daily operations of roadways buses, also in terms of kilometres covered and the number of passengers ferried daily by the Haryana roadways. The daily operated kilometres has come down from 13 lakh in 2014-15 to 8.88 lakh per day now.

In 2021-22, the daily gross distance the Haryana roadways buses operated was 6 lakh km and the daily passengers carried daily was over 4 lakh, according to statistical abstract of Haryana. (HT File)

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Updated on Apr 26, 2023 01:04 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Facing problems related to family ID in Haryana? ‘Tau Se Poochho’

But who is this digitally-driven ‘Tau’? “Mein Hun naa!,” said Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on his own and with a twinkle in his eyes, while launching ‘Tau Se Poochho’, a WhatsApp bot and a web-based chatbot solution designed to give quick responses to complex queries of people related to Parivar Pehchan Patra .

Haryana government led by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has launched a Tau Se Poochho chatbot for resolving problems related to family ID Parivar Pehchan Patra. (HT File)

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Updated on Apr 20, 2023 02:36 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Fully prepared to counter any false narrative, says Haryana BJP chief Dhankar

Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar, who is credited for expanding the party base, on Monday said the BJP-JJP coalition government should settle issues related to digitally driven policy matters at the earliest and asked the Lok Sabha MPs to remain firmly plugged with the voters.

In an interview with HT, Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar, 62, who hails from the powerful Jat community, says the party is preparing for the Lok Sabha polls and that the public mood is “positive.” (HT File Photo)

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Updated on Apr 18, 2023 12:51 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Using ‘offensive language’: Abhay-speaker tussle rocks Haryana assembly again

Lone INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala was named by speaker Gian Chand Gupta and barred from attending Monday’s proceedings

The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) lone MLA Abhay Singh Chautala (HT Photo)

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Published on Mar 21, 2023 01:17 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana Speaker debars INLD MLA Abhay Chautala from Monday’s assembly session

Action after MLA used ‘unparliamentary language’ against Gian Chand Gupta during question hour despite being cautioned

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) legislator Abhay Singh Chautala (in black jacket) attending the proceedings of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. Speaker Gian Chand Gupta asked him to leave the House on Monday after he got into an argument with him yet again. (Keshav Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 20, 2023 01:53 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Ruckus as Cong MLAs protest Sandeep’s presence in House

Led by leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Cong legislators raise slogans, stage walk out

Opposition leaders during the question hour in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. (Keshav Singh/HT)

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Published on Mar 18, 2023 01:01 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma

NGT may slap fine on Haryana over legacy waste

Not just this, the principal bench of the NGT, headed by justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd), has stated that since statutory timelines have already lapsed, “environmental compensation may have to be levied” at ₹300 per MT, on the pattern of orders in such cases.

Haryana has been facing the twin challenge of dealing with the continuous flow of solid waste and the legacy waste which has resulted in garbage heaps at dumpsites. (HT Photo)

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Published on Mar 02, 2023 02:01 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma & Neeraj Mohan, Chandigarh/karnal

Logjam over e-tendering of panchayat works: Don’t meddle in administrative affairs, Babli tells BJP-JJP leaders

As the talks between sarpanches and Haryana government failed to resolve the logjam over allocating panchayat works through e-tendering, development and panchayats minister Devender Singh Babli hit out at the BJP-JJP leadership

Development and panchayats minister Devender Singh Babli hit out at the BJP-JJP leadership, advising the top party brass to desist from meddling in administrative matters of the government. (HT File Photo)

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Published on Feb 28, 2023 01:03 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana budget 2023-24: ₹250-crore push for skill upgrade to tackle joblessness among youth

Khattar govt plans to skill two lakh unemployed youth through specific courses and training, while promising to undertake recruitment of at least 65,000 regular posts in coming fiscal

Haryana CM Manohar Lal presents the state budget 2023-24 in the assembly, in Chandigarh, Thursday. (PTI)

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Published on Feb 24, 2023 03:12 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana budget 2023-24: Millets, natural farming at heart of state’s sustainable agri plans

The agriculture and allied activities contribute 18.5% to Haryana’s economy. And this sector was allocated ₹8,316 crore (19% hike over last year) in the budget estimates that chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar presented in the state assembly on Thursday, saying the government is facing many challenges such as sustainability of agriculture in the midst of climate change.

Haryana CM Manohar Lal signs copies of the State Budget 2023-24 at his residence, in Chandigarh, Thursday. (PTI)

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Published on Feb 24, 2023 02:32 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Abhay to face breach of privilege charge after faceoff with Dushyant

The Haryana assembly on Tuesday referred a matter involving the alleged misstating of facts by lone INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala on the floor of the House to the Committee of Privileges

Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala and lone INLD MLA Abhay Chautala.

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Published on Feb 22, 2023 02:43 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

G20 meet: India seeks global cooperation for economic stability & growth

As the two-day parleys on economic issues saw participation of nearly 100 delegates from G20 member countries, India said the presence of the delegations, invitees and international organisations in Chandigarh “demonstrated the strong commitment” of the global community to support India’s G20 Presidency.

(From left) Ministry of finance director Praveen Kumar and Anu P Mathai, adviser, MoF, interacting with the media during the concluding day of the 1st International Financial Architecture working group meeting in Chandigarh on Tuesday. (RAVI KUMAR/HT)

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Published on Feb 01, 2023 12:48 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Rising global debt to be in focus as G20 conclave kicks off in Chandigarh today

World economies to discuss ways to enhance stability and financial resilience at first meeting of G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group

Delegates arriving at the IRB complex in Sarangpur for the polo match on Sunday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

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Published on Jan 30, 2023 02:32 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Chandigarh: Frontline world economies to discuss rising global debt at G-20 conclave

Leading economies of the world will discuss the global debt situation and explore possible solutions to handle the mounting debt in a better manner during the first G-20 international financial architecture working group conclave beginning on Monday in Chandigarh under the Indian Presidency

Anu P Mathai, Adviser (International Economic Relations), speaks at a Curtain Raiser press conference on the eve of G20 conclave’s first meeting of the International Financial Architecture Working Group, in Chandigarh on Sunday. Baldeo Purushartha, Joint Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance is also seen. (ANI)

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Published on Jan 30, 2023 12:18 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Investigating officer’s negligence can’t be a ground to acquit accused, says Haryana’s Panipat court

While sentencing two Jhajjar district men to 10 years imprisonment in a March 2019 robbery case, Panipat’s additional sessions judge Nishant Sharma has reprimanded the investigating officer (IO) for “negligence” and observed that the IO not performing his duty well cannot be a ground to acquit the accused

The case was lodged under Section 392 (robbery) and 397 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code at police station Madlauda in Panipat

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Published on Jan 25, 2023 12:28 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Panipat court awards 20-year jail to three in gangrape case

The DNA of the two men Vikas and Mohit had matched with the DNA retrieved from the clothes and cotton swabs of the victim

A fast-track court in Panipat on Monday sentenced three men to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment.

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Published on Jan 24, 2023 01:20 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Sex ratio at birth: Poor show by 5 districts sets off alarm bells across Haryana

What has set the alarm bells ringing in the Manohar Lal Khattar government is the “disturbing dip” in the 2022 SRB of Hisar (904), Karnal (903), Kurukshetra (893), Faridabad (892) and Rewari (883), all of which had recorded an SRB between 903 and 925 in 2021.

Experts involved in the ‘save the girl child’ programme say the practice of sex selection before birth has become prevalent despite near 1,100 successful raids conducted within and outside Haryana to bust sex determination rackets involving touts targeting pregnant women from Haryana in last seven years. (HT File/Representational image)

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Updated on Jan 11, 2023 01:26 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana’s sex ratio at birth improves slightly in 2022

Five districts in Haryana ranked worst with their sex ratio at birth slipping below 900 females per 1,000 males

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Updated on Jan 06, 2023 10:30 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Indian hockey’s ‘Soorma’ Sandeep Singh caught on wrong foot as Haryana minister

Can Haryana’s sports minister Sandeep Singh bounce back from setback of sexual misconduct allegations like he defied a life-threatening gunshot wound 16 years ago to achieve hockey glory or is it an abrupt end to a short-lived political career? An accidental gunshot had pierced through the lower abdomen of Sandeep Singh in August 2006 when he was a rising star of Indian hockey

Sixteen years after surviving the deadly gunshot and remaining the talking point in every rival camp for his fierce drag-flicks, Haryana minister Sandeep Singh is now battling a barrage of sexual misconduct charges that a junior woman coach has levelled.

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Published on Jan 04, 2023 01:01 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

On last day of winter session, ruling MLAs turn the heat on govt over health, education

Speaker Gian Chand Gupta also expressed anguish when it emerged that in certain cases, the reply ministers were giving were incorrect

Last sitting: Ruling MLAs target govt over health, edu in dramatic winter session (HT Photo)

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Updated on Dec 28, 2022 10:17 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Coalition partner JJP MLAs question govt over curtailing financial powers of sarpanches

Development and panchayats minister Devender Singh Babli said the government has not reduced the powers of sarpanches and that the decision in question was taken to ensure transparency

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Updated on Dec 27, 2022 09:45 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

United Congress hits out at Khattar government for neglecting development in opposition segments

The principal opposition party legislators hit out at the state government’s lofty ‘sabka saath-sabka vikas’ catch phrase, in what was a well-coordinated offensive, and blamed the government for willfully ignoring development in the assembly segments of Congress MLAs

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Published on Dec 26, 2022 06:57 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana panel summons 3 ACS rank officers

The departments against which the eight-member assembly panel has launched proceedings are agriculture and farmers’ welfare, development and panchayats, office of the chief secretary, home, urban local bodies and health

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Published on Dec 15, 2022 12:54 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Nearly 50% of complaints filed with rights body in Haryana in last six years against police: HHRC data

The data of the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) revealed that at least 45% (8,367) cases of the total 18,659 received between January 1, 2016 and November 30, 2022 were against the police

Nearly 50% plaints filed with rights body against police (Getty Images)

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Updated on Dec 13, 2022 01:04 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana issues guidelines to stop dismissing employees without inquiry

Article 311 empowers the competent authority to dismiss, remove or reduce in rank a government employee subject to various riders

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Updated on Dec 07, 2022 09:16 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Pawan Sharma

Lokayukta justice Hari Pal Verma (retd) says proposals to state officials to appoint staff and provide space for his office functioning have been ignored

Lokayukta report says action-taken reports are not submitted despite reminders; at times even communication regarding appointment of inquiry officer is not received from departments concerned

Medical education dept selects three existing medical colleges to act as ‘mentor institutes’ for upcoming govt medical colleges

Haryana government employees, pensioners and their dependents will be eligible for medical reimbursement of indoor treatment availed at all government hospitals located within and outside the state

Over the years, there has been a sharp fall in the daily operations of roadways buses, also in terms of kilometres covered and the number of passengers ferried daily by the Haryana roadways. The daily operated kilometres has come down from 13 lakh in 2014-15 to 8.88 lakh per day now.

Haryana BJP chief Om Prakash Dhankar, who is credited for expanding the party base, on Monday said the BJP-JJP coalition government should settle issues related to digitally driven policy matters at the earliest and asked the Lok Sabha MPs to remain firmly plugged with the voters.

Lone INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala was named by speaker Gian Chand Gupta and barred from attending Monday’s proceedings

Action after MLA used ‘unparliamentary language’ against Gian Chand Gupta during question hour despite being cautioned

Led by leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Cong legislators raise slogans, stage walk out

Not just this, the principal bench of the NGT, headed by justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (retd), has stated that since statutory timelines have already lapsed, “environmental compensation may have to be levied” at ₹300 per MT, on the pattern of orders in such cases.

As the talks between sarpanches and Haryana government failed to resolve the logjam over allocating panchayat works through e-tendering, development and panchayats minister Devender Singh Babli hit out at the BJP-JJP leadership

Khattar govt plans to skill two lakh unemployed youth through specific courses and training, while promising to undertake recruitment of at least 65,000 regular posts in coming fiscal

The Haryana assembly on Tuesday referred a matter involving the alleged misstating of facts by lone INLD MLA Abhay Singh Chautala on the floor of the House to the Committee of Privileges

World economies to discuss ways to enhance stability and financial resilience at first meeting of G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group

Leading economies of the world will discuss the global debt situation and explore possible solutions to handle the mounting debt in a better manner during the first G-20 international financial architecture working group conclave beginning on Monday in Chandigarh under the Indian Presidency

The DNA of the two men Vikas and Mohit had matched with the DNA retrieved from the clothes and cotton swabs of the victim

What has set the alarm bells ringing in the Manohar Lal Khattar government is the “disturbing dip” in the 2022 SRB of Hisar (904), Karnal (903), Kurukshetra (893), Faridabad (892) and Rewari (883), all of which had recorded an SRB between 903 and 925 in 2021.

Five districts in Haryana ranked worst with their sex ratio at birth slipping below 900 females per 1,000 males

Speaker Gian Chand Gupta also expressed anguish when it emerged that in certain cases, the reply ministers were giving were incorrect

Development and panchayats minister Devender Singh Babli said the government has not reduced the powers of sarpanches and that the decision in question was taken to ensure transparency

The principal opposition party legislators hit out at the state government’s lofty ‘sabka saath-sabka vikas’ catch phrase, in what was a well-coordinated offensive, and blamed the government for willfully ignoring development in the assembly segments of Congress MLAs

The departments against which the eight-member assembly panel has launched proceedings are agriculture and farmers’ welfare, development and panchayats, office of the chief secretary, home, urban local bodies and health

The data of the Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) revealed that at least 45% (8,367) cases of the total 18,659 received between January 1, 2016 and November 30, 2022 were against the police

Article 311 empowers the competent authority to dismiss, remove or reduce in rank a government employee subject to various riders

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