Rohtak cane growers, Bar Association fraud, and PGIMS inspections dominate local news
Rohtak's agricultural community is pressing for a higher cane price ahead of the crushing season, while the city's legal fraternity is gripped by a major fraud case targeting former Bar Association leaders. Meanwhile, civic and health authorities are stepping up oversight efforts at the city's premier medical college and through increased sanitation drives.
🏢 Cane growers demand Rs 600/quintal from state government
Rohtak district's cane farmers have raised a fresh demand for the state to fix the sugarcane price at Rs 600 per quintal, significantly higher than the current state-advised price. The call comes ahead of the sugarcane crushing season, which is expected to begin in the coming months across Haryana. Farmers in Rohtak district, one of Haryana's key sugarcane-growing belts, argue that input costs for fertilisers, water and labour have risen sharply over the past two years, making the existing price unsustainable. Leaders of cane grower associations held meetings to consolidate their demand and have threatened agitation if the government does not announce a revised price before crushing begins. The issue has added to existing agrarian tensions in the region, where farmers have also been demanding better procurement infrastructure and timely payment from sugar mills. The demand echoes similar calls from sugarcane communities across Haryana, where the state government has previously pegged the State Advised Price below what farmers consider adequate to cover rising cultivation costs. [1]
District issues eco-friendly guidelines ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi
The Rohtak district administration has issued a set of guidelines ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi, urging residents and organising committees to adopt environmentally responsible practices during the festival. The guidelines emphasise using idols made from natural clay rather than plaster of Paris, as the latter does not dissolve easily in water and contributes to serious river and pond pollution. Residents have also been asked to avoid chemical colours and synthetic decorations, and to opt for smaller, localised immersions in designated ponds rather than in shared water bodies. The move aligns with broader Haryana state directives on eco-conscious festival practices, which have been issued in previous years with mixed compliance. Local environmental groups have welcomed the notification, pointing out that several water bodies in the Rohtak region have suffered from past immersion drives. The district administration has additionally urged noise restrictions and fire-safety compliance at pandals hosting large gatherings during the multi-day festival. [2]
🗳️ PGIMS-Rohtak to hold weekly inspections to fix infrastructure gaps
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences Rohtak, the region's leading public hospital and medical teaching institution, has announced that senior administrators will conduct weekly inspections of all departments and facilities to identify and resolve deficiencies on an ongoing basis. The decision follows complaints from patients, staff and medical students about inadequate maintenance, equipment breakdowns, and sanitation lapses in certain wards and common areas. Under the new protocol, a designated inspection committee will tour different sections of the campus each week and submit a report to the director, who will then issue corrective orders. PGIMS Rohtak is the primary referral centre for patients from Haryana and parts of Rajasthan, and shortfalls in its functioning directly affect thousands of patients who rely on subsidised government healthcare. The initiative is seen as part of broader efforts by the Haryana government to raise standards at public health facilities after several audits highlighted persistent infrastructure deficiencies at government-run hospitals across the state. [3]
Ex-Bar Association president and secretary booked in Rs 1.33 crore fraud
The former president and former general secretary of the Rohtak Bar Association have been booked by police on charges of criminal breach of trust and fraud following an alleged embezzlement of approximately Rs 1.33 crore from the lawyers' body. The case was registered after a complaint filed by current association office-bearers, who alleged that funds collected from members and earmarked for welfare activities and infrastructure were misappropriated during the tenure of the two accused. Police are expected to frame charges under sections relating to cheating, misappropriation and criminal conspiracy. The Rohtak Bar Association is one of the oldest and most active in Haryana, with a large membership of practising advocates. The case has caused significant disquiet within the local legal community and raised questions about internal accountability structures within bar associations across the state. Both accused have reportedly denied the allegations, and investigations are ongoing with police examining association financial records and bank transactions for evidence of misappropriation. [6]
Bar election candidate alleges bid to influence lawyers' poll
Ahead of the forthcoming Rohtak Bar Association elections, a candidate has come forward alleging that rival factions are attempting to use improper means to sway the outcome of the vote. The candidate has alleged that voters are being approached and pressured to support particular candidates, raising the possibility of a formal complaint to the election committee overseeing the process. Bar Association elections in Haryana often generate intense competition, given that they determine control over significant association funds and the leadership of a powerful professional body. The allegations come at a particularly sensitive time, given the concurrent fraud case involving former association office-bearers, which has already damaged the credibility of the institution's governance structures. Observers note that strengthening the independence and integrity of bar elections is crucial for maintaining the public standing of the legal profession. The association has been urged by several members to conduct a free and fair electoral process under an independent oversight mechanism, with the election outcome expected to shape internal reform efforts at the association. [9]
Sources: [1] Hindustan Times · [2] The Tribune · [3] The Tribune · [6] The Financial World · [9] The Times of India