Technocrats' role lauded
MANDI, Nov 9 — Speaking at the concluding function of the three-day golden jubilee celebrations of Vallabh Mahavidyalaya here today, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Himachal Governor, expressed happiness that the first college of the state — set up in November, 1948 — had produced a large number of engineers and doctors who played a big role in the state's development.

Technocrats' role lauded
From Our Correspondent

MANDI, Nov 9 — Speaking at the concluding function of the three-day golden jubilee celebrations of Vallabh Mahavidyalaya here today, Ms V.S. Rama Devi, Himachal Governor, expressed happiness that the first college of the state — set up in November, 1948 — had produced a large number of engineers and doctors who played a big role in the state's development.

Referring to the comments of the Forest Minister, Mr Rup Singh, that the college could not produce enough ICS or IAS persons, she said there was no cause to lament this as the most talented students had always opted for technocrats' jobs.

"I give more importance to technocrats, though I belong to the civil services. Administrators are inevitable, but a lot of talent and hard work was required to become a technocrat" she said.

Pandit Nehru held engineers and doctors in high esteem and it was former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who had appointed secretaries of technical departments from among technocrats. However, she advised, technocrats and bureaucrats to work in harmony.

She said she was attending the celebrations more in the capacity of Chancellor of the university than as a Governor.

Expressing happiness over the fact that the college had been named after former Union Home Minister Sardar Patel, the Iron Man of India, and added that the present day politicians should follow his ideals. The blend of "pragmatism and idealism" in him should be emulated by others.

The Governor decried ragging and stressed the need to weed out criminal and sadistic elements from educational institutions.

She cautioned political parties against polluting the academic atmosphere in colleges. "Political parties should refrain from going near educational institutions and exploiting youths for narrow selfish ends," she said.

She said when delegations came to her with students, she had to snub them. "Why have you brought them here on a working day? Don't waste their precious study time. Keep your hands off from the students fraternity," she told them.

Earlier, the Forest Minister, Mr Rup Singh, an old student of the university, who presided over the function, recalled his student days. Peals of laughter greeted his remark: "Had I not been wasting my precious time under the shade of this 'peepal tree' I too would have been some good officer and not a 'minister'.

Earlier, a colourful cultural programme was presented. The Governor announced Rs 10,000 for the artistes, while the Forest Minister gave a sum of Rs 11,000 to the organisers for the celebrations.

Baijnath poll: six candidates in fray
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 9 — Six candidates are left in the fray for the Baijnath byelections the last date of withdrawal of nominations for which was today.

Mr Lokinder Thakur, a Congress rebel, withdrew from the contest. He had filed his nomination as an independent candidate. The nomination papers of the BSP covering candidate, Mr Bishamber Das, were also rejected leaving only six candidates in the fray.

The candidates who are Mr Dulo Ram (BJP), Mr Sudhir Sharma (Cong), Mr Udho Ram (BSP), Mr Jagdish Chand (CPI), Mr Gian Chand Manhas (JD), Mr Dharam Chand Premi (SP). Polling will take place on November 25 and counting of votes will be taken up on November 28.

UNI adds: A keen contest is expected in the byelection as the election picture crystalised following withdrawals today.

Although the withdrawals have thrown up multi-cornered contest, the main tussle will be between the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Mr Dulo Ram and Congress nominee Sudhir Sharma, son of Mr Sant Ram.

Mr Dulo Ram is supported by former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram’s Himachal Vikas Congress which has an alliance with the P.K. Dhumal government.

An electorate of more than 53,400, including 27,605 women, holds the scales in the constituency where 81 polling stations will be set up.

The byelection, has been necessitated by the death of state Congress president Sant Ram on June 30 last.

Congress flays 'misuse' of govt machinery
Tribune News Service

DHARAMSALA, Nov 9 — A sitting legislator and joint secretary of the HPCC, Mr G.S. Bali, today lashed out at the BJP-HVC government, for misusing the government machinery to implicate Congress leaders in false cases to settle personal scores.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Bali asked when all cases have been settled in other courts why is the government pressurising the Enforcement Directorate to register fresh cases against Mr Virbhadra Singh.

"It is an intentional attempt of the government to tarnish the image of senior Congress leaders by implicating them in false cases, just to get cheap publicity", he said.

Mr Bali said that ever since the CBI refused to register cases against Mr Virbhadra Singh, Mr Dhumal was being pressurised by the Himachal Vikas Congress its alliance partner to direct the Enforcement Directorate to do so. "The Chief Minister is so busy trying to save his government that he hardly has time to think about the development and welfare of the state,", he said.

Mr Bali regretted that in order to save his government, Mr Dhumal was giving in to the unjust demands of HVC leaders and some of his own party men. Everyone is out to fulfil their own hidden agenda rather than thinking about welfare of the state and its people, he said.

Mr Bali demanded that tests to be held for filling posts in the Kangra Central Cooperative Bank be postponed as the Congress feared that BJP leaders will try to benefit the people in Baijnath, where byelections are to be held on November, 25. He said giving of water tap connections in Baijnath would also amount to violation of the election code of conduct and this should be stopped till the elections was over.

Mr Bali said that it was at the instance of BJP workers that illegal mining was being done in the Khaniyara area. "Either the government should ensure that there is no illegal quarrying or permits should be issued to all those who wish to undertake slate quarrying work in the Khaniyara area," he demanded.

Town Planning Act to cover more area
Tribune News Service

SHIMLA, Nov 9 — The Himachal Government proposed to bring more areas under the Town and Country Planning Act to regulate the growth of upcoming towns.

Stating this here today, Mr Hari Narain Singh, Minister for Town Planning, said that the government would also extend the scheme to improve environment of urban slums to various small towns and villages so that more people could get basic civic amenities.

He emphasised the need for speedy disposal of building plan cases so that the general public was not put to inconvenience. He visited the Directorate of Town Planning and took stock of the existing staffing pattern of the Director's office as well as the steps to strengthen the set-up so that various development schemes of the department could be implemented effectively.

He also visited the office of the Himachal Pradesh Nagar Vikas Pradhikaran and reviewed its working. He called upon the officers to complete the on-going schemes expeditiously and directed them to take up schemes relating to infrastructure development, including plot development as envisaged in the development plans of various towns.

2 Lok Adalats set up in Hamirpur
From Our Correspondent

HAMIRPUR, Nov 9 — Two permanent "Lok Adalats" one for the cases pertaining to the court of the district and sessions judge and another to other judicial courts has been set up in Hamirpur district to solve the backlog of litigation.

This was stated here today by Mr Vinod Kumar Sharma the District and Sessions Judge, Hamirpur, while addressing members of the district bar and others on occasion of 'Legal Services Day'.

Mr Sharma said that the two permanent adalats would meet once a month and entertain the cases forwarded to them by any individual. The decisions taken in these adalats would be binding.

Those with an income less than fifteen thousand rupees would be provided free legal aid.

Mr Manoj Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Hamirpur said Hamirpur district was proud of the fact that it had provided legal aid to a large number of people and topped the list in the state. He dwelt at length on the role of the legal aid authority in helping the people.