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 BJP MLA’s corruption allegations against minister spark uproar in assembly

Congress rakes up Tuesday’s argument between BJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam and minister Arvind Sharma, demanding House committee probe into charges.

The controversy stemmed from a spat between BJP MLAs Ram Kumar Gautam and Arvind Sharma (right), who is also the state tourism minister, during a discussion on governor Bandaru Dattatraya’s address on Tuesday. (File photos)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 12, 2025 12:48 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Over 7K Anganwadi posts vacant in Haryana

For Anganwadi helpers, 25,450 posts have been sanctioned, with 21,011 filled and 4,439 lying vacant. Sonepat again has the highest number of vacant posts (360), while Panchkula has the lowest (106).

The vacant posts are expected to be filled in 2025. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 12, 2025 06:44 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Cong questions Lado Lakshmi Yojana rollout, Saini govt says matter under review

Bedi was replying during the Question Hour to a query of Congress’ Mullana assembly segment MLA Pooja, who wanted to know the time by which the state government will start disbursing ₹2,100 per month to the women of the state.

There are over 95 lakh women who will be eligible for this expensive scheme. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 12, 2025 06:34 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana FDA arrests man for selling spurious ‘imported drugs’ in Gurugram

The FDA officials said the accused, Hariom, was apprehended on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday from New Palam Vihar, Phase-2, near Little Angel school in Gurugram, following a raid by drug control authorities and local police

Around 70 counterfeit headon injections were seized from the accused during the raid. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Mar 05, 2025 09:40 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Illegal sale of abortion kits in Haryana: 9 FIRs registered, 6 arrested in crackdown

An MTP kit is a single pack of five tablets (containing one tablet of mifepristone and four tablets misoprotol) and both of these drugs are Schedule-H drugs, which cannot be sold without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner (RMP).

A health official said online supply of MTP kits to the consumers is strictly illegal. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 28, 2025 06:20 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Bihar man booked in Haryana for online sale of abortion pills

The accused Ritesh Kumar, who operates from Kahalgaon of Bhagalpur in Bihar and is allegedly involved in the unauthorised sale of MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) kits across the country, was booked on Sunday under different sections of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

The twin cases were registered after health officials received the MTP kits from the online platform (www.indiamarketto.com) which the accused operates. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 18, 2025 05:48 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Centre should help Haryana get rightful share in Vidhan Sabha: Congress MLA

Congress legislator BB Batra raises issue in presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the inaugural session of the orientation programme for members of the Haryana assembly.

Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini (left) and assembly Speaker Harvinder Kalyan (right) escorting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla (centre) at the Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Friday. Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and former Haryana Speaker Gian Chand Gupta are also seen. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 14, 2025 03:05 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Two arrested as Haryana cracks down on online suppliers of abortion kits

The arrests come in the wake of Haryana recording its lowest sex ratio at birth in eight years in 2024. The sex ratio at birth, a critical indicator of gender equality, had dipped to 910 female births per 1,000 male births in 2024, a six-points drop from 916 in 2023 and the lowest after 2016, when it stood at 900, triggering concerns.

Health officials say that supplying MTP kits online is patently illegal and that this drug is used only in government hospitals and government approved private hospitals (Shutterstock)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 13, 2025 05:50 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana’s bucket challenge against drugs picks up momentum

After successful fortnight, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, spearheading the innovative social media campaign, launches #BreakTheCycle Bucket Challenge focusing on individuals battling addiction.

Sarpanch Kaushalya Devi from a village in Rewari district taking the challenge to encourage addicts to discard a bucket of muddy water — a symbolic act of breaking free from addiction. Over the next two weeks, participants will pledge to commit to a drug-free life and call upon three others to do the same. (X)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 12, 2025 04:02 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Nipun Haryana Mission catches fancy of Lankan edu ministry

An 18-member delegation of Sri Lanka’s ministry of education, led by deputy director general of national institute of education, who is the pedagogy in charge for overall education system at the national level will visit primary schools and hold interactive sessions to understand how Haryana has implemented Nipun, a national flagship programme.

Haryana school education department has drawn out an extensive plan for the three-day visit beginning on February 11 from Gurugram, government officials said. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 11, 2025 08:22 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana’s forensic lab struggles with backlog despite high disposal rate

As state braces for 100% implementation of three new criminal laws by March 31; FSL presses for capacity expansion, more manpower and advanced forensic tools

Sources say FSL authorities have been pressing for recruiting senior scientific assistants and scientific assistants, further improving capacity of toxicology division, procuring advanced forensic tools, and expansion of mobile units to prevent the backlog from spiralling further. (Sourced)

Chandigarh

Published on Feb 07, 2025 08:00 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandiagarh

‘Poisoned’ Yamuna remark: Sonepat court issues notice to Kejriwal

Asks ex-Delhi CM to appear in person before the court on Feb 17, the next date of hearing, if he had any contentions in the matter

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini drinking water from Yamuna to demonstrate its ‘purity’ near Dahisara village on the Delhi-Haryana border on Wednesday. (Source: X)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 30, 2025 05:46 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana’s initiative to combat drugs, gangs creatively

HSNCB launches STF awards to inspire students toward skill-building and a drug-free lifestyle, offering cash prizes for schools, teachers, and students.

The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau (HSNCB) has launched Shape the Future (STF) awards to inspire students to creatively evolve into productive adults by mastering life skills and staying away from distractions like drugs and gangs. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 29, 2025 04:27 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryanvi singers urged to take ‘nayaab’ bucket challenge against drugs

After state narcotics control bureau calls out singers glorifying drugs and violence, artiste Masoom Sharma accepts Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket challenge, clarifies songs “purely for entertainment, driven by commercial demand and not meant to promote drugs or violence”.

Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau chief OP Singh, who is spearheading the ‘nayaab’ Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket Challenge. The bureau has asked Haryanvi singers to take the challenge and clear their stand on songs glorifying drugs and violence. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 25, 2025 03:09 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Girl Child Day: When birth of a daughter in Haryana sparked a movement

Through Selfie with daughter, Sunil Jaglan, a former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind district, transformed a personal experience into a campaign that has spread to over 70 countries.

Sunil Jaglan, 42, a former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind district, taking a selfie with daughters of Haryana on National Girl Child Day on Friday. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 24, 2025 05:04 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryana’s ‘nayaab’ bucket challenge to fight drug abuse

Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket Challenge encourages participants to publicly pledge to lead a drug-free life by engaging in meaningful activities and encouraging others to do the same.

OP Singh, DGP and head of HSNCB, said the Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket Challenge reflects our collective determination to combat the growing drug abuse. (HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 24, 2025 08:18 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Uncertainty looms over HSGMC’s new chief due to split verdict

Jhinda resigns owning responsibility for failing to secure a majority, then retracts “under pressure” from his supporters

Sikh community delivered a fractured mandate and independents seized 22 of the 40 seats, leaving the race for running affairs of Sikh shrines wide open. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 21, 2025 08:34 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana gurdwara polls: Jhinda resigns HSGMC seat, citing group’s defeat

Jagdish Singh Jhinda resigned from the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee after his group won only 9 of 40 seats, citing moral responsibility.

Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who heads the Panthak Dal-Jhinda Group, on Monday resigned from the seat he won in the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 20, 2025 05:00 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryana blames lack of enforcement by districts for fall in sex ratio at birth

Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Save the girl child programme on January 22, 2015 at Panipat, it is for the first time that Haryana’s battle against gender disparity has faced a major setback as the state recorded 910 female births per 1,000 males in 2024—a six-point drop from 916 in 2023

Chief minister Nayab Singh Saini has called for a meeting on January 14. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 10, 2025 06:46 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana sex ratio at birth in 2024 slips to 910 girls/1k boys — worst in 8 years

Haryana has consistently recorded the lowest sex ratio, the consequence of a mix of social hostility towards girl children and lax implementation of laws

Experts associated with the government’s “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” programme said that the latest dip in 2024 was alarming.(Representational image)

India News

Updated on Jan 04, 2025 04:37 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Punjab’s objection to assembly land in Chandigarh finds echo in Haryana House

Congress MLA Ashok Arora raises issue during last sitting of the assembly’s winter session, describing statements by Punjab leaders on the matter “unfortunate, highly irresponsible and provocative”.

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 19, 2024 12:26 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Ruckus in Haryana House as Congress attacks BJP on assembly poll verdict

The 90-member House saw intense exchanges between the Opposition Congress and ruling BJP during the five-hour debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address.

Speaker Harvinder Kalyan chairing the Haryana assembly session. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 15, 2024 09:36 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana governor: Historic mandate reflects trust in govt’s development agenda

Governor Bandaru Dattatreya was addressing the assembly on the opening day of the winter session.

Chandigarh

Published on Nov 13, 2024 02:08 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryana’s sex ratio at birth drops to 905

Haryana, a state known for gender imbalance, now faces the risk of hitting its lowest SRB in eight years if this trend continues in November and December, health department officials associated with the flagship ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme said.

Data from the Civil Registration System (CRS) up to October 2024 shows that the SRB of six districts have dipped below 900. (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 08, 2024 09:04 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

High drama over ‘acting’ Speaker at Haryana assembly inaugural session

Bharat Bhushan Batra of Congress, backed by former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, voiced his disapproval to addressing party’s Raghuvir Singh Kadian, 80, as acting instead of pro-tem Speaker.

The inaugural sitting of the newly elected Haryana assembly began with unexpected drama on Friday when Congress members objected to Raghuvir Singh Kadian (in pic) being addressed as acting instead of pro-tem Speaker. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 26, 2024 09:08 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Stubble burning: Haryana suspends 24 agriculture officials ahead of apex court hearing

10 fresh farm fire cases take the state tally to 665. Around 3,000 FIRs have been lodged in connection with stubble burning cases so far, says minister Shyam Singh Rana.

Farmers burning stubble,in Haryana's Kaithal. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 23, 2024 09:06 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

Haryana suspends 24 agriculture dept officials amid rising farm fire incidents

Move comes on eve of Supreme Court hearing and reflects administration’s strict stance on enforcing ban on paddy stubble burning to check air pollution in the region.

A farmer setting fire to stubble after harvesting the paddy crop. The Haryana agriculture department suspended 24 officials amid rising stubble burning incidents in their respective areas on Tuesday. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Oct 22, 2024 02:43 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

Haryana CM’s oath-taking: VVIP attendees, cheering crowd and many memorable moments

Dressed up in their traditional attire with full-length shining staff in hand, the peasants with wrinkled faces were among the first to occupy chairs earmarked for the progressive farmers in the middle of the vast venue decked up in elegant decor for the momentous occasion

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini arrives for his swearing-in ceremony in Panchkula on Thursday. (PTI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 18, 2024 09:42 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Panchkula

Nayab Singh Saini stakes claim to form BJP govt in Haryana, to take oath tomorrow

Haryana BJP legislature party unanimously elects Saini as its leader, clearing decks for his second innings as chief minister. Union minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav attended legislature party meet as central observers.

Union home minister Amit Shah greeting Nayab Singh Saini after he was unanimously elected as the Haryana BJP’s legislature party leader in Panchkula on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 16, 2024 02:15 PM IST

ByPawan Sharma

All set for swearing-in, PM, BJP top brass to attend gala event on Thursday

BJP insiders say that invitations are being extended to senior leaders from opposition parties in Haryana, such as Congress stalwart Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as well as key figures from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)

Preparations for Haryana government's swearing-in ceremony to be held at Dussehra ground underway in Panchkula. (Sant Arora/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 16, 2024 05:58 AM IST

ByPawan Sharma, Chandigarh

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Pawan Sharma

Congress rakes up Tuesday’s argument between BJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam and minister Arvind Sharma, demanding House committee probe into charges.

For Anganwadi helpers, 25,450 posts have been sanctioned, with 21,011 filled and 4,439 lying vacant. Sonepat again has the highest number of vacant posts (360), while Panchkula has the lowest (106).

Bedi was replying during the Question Hour to a query of Congress’ Mullana assembly segment MLA Pooja, who wanted to know the time by which the state government will start disbursing ₹2,100 per month to the women of the state.

The FDA officials said the accused, Hariom, was apprehended on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday from New Palam Vihar, Phase-2, near Little Angel school in Gurugram, following a raid by drug control authorities and local police

An MTP kit is a single pack of five tablets (containing one tablet of mifepristone and four tablets misoprotol) and both of these drugs are Schedule-H drugs, which cannot be sold without a prescription from a registered medical practitioner (RMP).

Congress legislator BB Batra raises issue in presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla during the inaugural session of the orientation programme for members of the Haryana assembly.

After successful fortnight, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau, spearheading the innovative social media campaign, launches #BreakTheCycle Bucket Challenge focusing on individuals battling addiction.

As state braces for 100% implementation of three new criminal laws by March 31; FSL presses for capacity expansion, more manpower and advanced forensic tools

Asks ex-Delhi CM to appear in person before the court on Feb 17, the next date of hearing, if he had any contentions in the matter

HSNCB launches STF awards to inspire students toward skill-building and a drug-free lifestyle, offering cash prizes for schools, teachers, and students.

After state narcotics control bureau calls out singers glorifying drugs and violence, artiste Masoom Sharma accepts Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket challenge, clarifies songs “purely for entertainment, driven by commercial demand and not meant to promote drugs or violence”.

Through Selfie with daughter, Sunil Jaglan, a former sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind district, transformed a personal experience into a campaign that has spread to over 70 countries.

Nasha Mukt Jeevan Bucket Challenge encourages participants to publicly pledge to lead a drug-free life by engaging in meaningful activities and encouraging others to do the same.

Jhinda resigns owning responsibility for failing to secure a majority, then retracts “under pressure” from his supporters

Jagdish Singh Jhinda resigned from the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee after his group won only 9 of 40 seats, citing moral responsibility.

Haryana has consistently recorded the lowest sex ratio, the consequence of a mix of social hostility towards girl children and lax implementation of laws

Congress MLA Ashok Arora raises issue during last sitting of the assembly’s winter session, describing statements by Punjab leaders on the matter “unfortunate, highly irresponsible and provocative”.

The 90-member House saw intense exchanges between the Opposition Congress and ruling BJP during the five-hour debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address.

Governor Bandaru Dattatreya was addressing the assembly on the opening day of the winter session.

Haryana, a state known for gender imbalance, now faces the risk of hitting its lowest SRB in eight years if this trend continues in November and December, health department officials associated with the flagship ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ programme said.

Bharat Bhushan Batra of Congress, backed by former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, voiced his disapproval to addressing party’s Raghuvir Singh Kadian, 80, as acting instead of pro-tem Speaker.

10 fresh farm fire cases take the state tally to 665. Around 3,000 FIRs have been lodged in connection with stubble burning cases so far, says minister Shyam Singh Rana.

Move comes on eve of Supreme Court hearing and reflects administration’s strict stance on enforcing ban on paddy stubble burning to check air pollution in the region.

Dressed up in their traditional attire with full-length shining staff in hand, the peasants with wrinkled faces were among the first to occupy chairs earmarked for the progressive farmers in the middle of the vast venue decked up in elegant decor for the momentous occasion

Haryana BJP legislature party unanimously elects Saini as its leader, clearing decks for his second innings as chief minister. Union minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav attended legislature party meet as central observers.

BJP insiders say that invitations are being extended to senior leaders from opposition parties in Haryana, such as Congress stalwart Bhupinder Singh Hooda, as well as key figures from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP)

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