Haryana Cabinet Approves PGT Job for Late Cop’s Wife; OPS Relief for Roadways Drivers

The Haryana Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, on Thursday approved a series of key decisions ranging from compassionate appointments and pension relief to land regulation reforms and animal welfare.

Compassionate appointment for late ASI’s wife

In a significant humanitarian decision, the Cabinet cleared a proposal to provide a government job on compassionate grounds to Santosh Kumari, wife of late Sandeep Kumar Lather, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Haryana Police who died by suicide on October 14 last year.

As a special and one-time measure, Santosh Kumari will be appointed as PGT Mathematics (Group-B) at the Campus School of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak.

Lather’s body was found in his village near Rohtak. He had reportedly left behind a four-page suicide note and a video message, alleging corruption against IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar, who had himself died by suicide earlier on October 7 in Chandigarh, citing caste-based discrimination by senior officers.

OPS benefits extended to Roadways drivers

In another major decision, the Cabinet approved the extension of Old Pension Scheme (OPS) benefits to 347 drivers of Haryana Roadways who were appointed on a contractual basis in 2002.

These drivers were later regularised in 2006 under the Haryana Transport Department (Group-C) Haryana Roadways Service Rules, 1995. However, a settlement reached in January 2014 had extended benefits only to drivers appointed on or after January 1, 2003, leaving the 2002 batch excluded.

This created anomalies where junior drivers received higher pay and pension benefits than seniors. With the new Cabinet approval, the 2002 recruits will now be treated as regular employees from their initial appointment date, entitling them to OPS coverage, Family Pension Scheme (1964), General Provident Fund (GPF) accounts, and Assured Career Progression (ACP) benefits.

Law to be amended to curb misuse of exchange deeds

To check unauthorised land transactions in notified urban areas, the Cabinet approved an amendment to Section 7-A of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975.

The change will be effected through the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas (Haryana Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, bringing exchange deeds—often used as indirect sale instruments—within the regulatory framework of the Act.

Gaushala proposal cleared

The Cabinet also approved leasing 4 acres, 1 kanal and 17 marlas of Gram Panchayat land in Rattewali village, Panchkula district, to Kamdhenu Gau Sewa Samiti, Saketri, for setting up a gaushala to house around 570 cattle. The lease period has been fixed at 20 years.

Officials said the decisions reflect the government’s focus on administrative fairness, social justice, regulatory tightening, and community welfare.