Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
The Haryana Cabinet, which met today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, approved the framing of State Rules under Sub-section (1) of Section 49 of the Haryana Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
The new rules will be called the Haryana Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Rules, 2025.
Under these rules, the State Government will designate the Commissioners of its six administrative divisions to act as Ombudsmen. Their role, as outlined in Section 23 of the Act, is to handle complaints and grievances of people living with HIV/AIDS. Each Ombudsman will operate within their respective divisions—Rohtak, Hisar, Karnal, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ambala—and will be supported by the Civil Surgeon of the concerned district.
The State Government will take necessary measures to strengthen diagnostic facilities and ensure the management of opportunistic infections i.e. those infections that can lead to reduced immunity. It will provide free diagnostic services at all government health institutions, including Sub Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Civil Hospitals, District Hospitals, and Medical College Hospitals. In addition, free Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) drugs will be made available to all HIV-positive individuals at ART Centres, Facility-Integrated ART (FIART) Centres, and Link ART (LART) Centres, in accordance with National AIDS Control Organization guidelines.
The Government will also actively involve the private medical sector in delivering diagnostic and treatment services to HIV-positive persons, ensuring services are provided without any discrimination. Private healthcare providers will be directed to report all HIV-positive cases to the nearest Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre or Government Hospital for further management and treatment, while strictly upholding individuals' human rights, including the right to privacy. Additionally, the State AIDS Control Society will be directed to make necessary arrangements for the diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections at all government health facilities, in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
These rules also define the functions and responsibilities of the Ombudsman, with a focus on protecting the rights and entitlements of children affected by HIV, persons affected by HIV, and individuals living with HIV.
Approved amendments to the Haryana Prison Rules, 2022, to incorporate the definition of "Habitual Offender
Cabinet also approved amendments to the Haryana Prison Rules, 2022, to incorporate the definition of "Habitual Offender." The amended rules will be called as the Haryana Prison (Amendment) Rules, 2025. Under the amended rules, the definition of a Habitual Offender in Rule 2, sub-rule (1), clause (xi) of the Haryana Prison Rules, 2022, is revised as follows. “Habitual Offender means a person who during any continuous period of five years, has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment on more than two occasions on account of any one or more of the offences committed on different occasions and not constituting parts of same transaction, such sentence not having been reversed in appeal or review.
Saini approved the proposal to amend the Rule 6(2) of the Punjab Village Common Lands Rules, 1964 for making provision that out of the land proposed to be leased out for cultivation, 4 percent land shall be reserved for person with Benchmark Disability of 60 percent or above.
The Cabinet has also approved the proposal for amendment of Rule, 6(2A) of the Village Common Lands Rules, 1964 making provision for lease of land for the purpose of establishing GauAbhyaran to the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying or Haryana GauSewaAayog for a period of 20 years at the rate of Rs. 5100 per acre per year on certain terms and conditions.
Approval was also granted that Gram Panchayat would be able to prepare the Land Utilization Plan of the land up to 250 acres at its own level. Earlier this limit was up to 100 acres. In case the PanchayatSamiti or the ZilaParishad does not agree or approve the plan within a specified period, the Gram Panchayat may make an application before the State Government for appropriate decision.
Cabinet approves Haryana Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Ordinance, 2025
Cabinet approved the proposal to introduce the Haryana Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Ordinance, 2025. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s vision of reducing compliance burdens and decriminalising minor offences across various sectors. The Haryana Jan Vishwas Ordinance, 2025 seeks to decriminalise 164 provisions contained in 42 State Acts administered by 17 departments. The Ordinance replaces criminal penalties for minor technical and procedural lapses with civil penalties and administrative actions. It also removes obsolete and redundant clauses, ensuring that the legal framework is more transparent, efficient and facilitative.