The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, April 4, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

M A I N N E W S

2 pc DA hike for Central staff
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 3
The Union Cabinet today approved the grant of an additional instalment of dearness allowance and dearness relief to Central Government employees that would cost the exchequer Rs 790.86 crore per annum.

The Cabinet also approved the introduction of the Central Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill 2001 and cleared amendments to the Delhi Rent Act, 1995. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also met in the morning and cleared a host of decisions, including the price policy for raw jute for the 2001-2002 season.

Announcing the decision to release the additional instalment of DA, the Cabinet spokesperson and Union Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, said the rate of DA from January 1, 2001 would now be 43 per cent for all Central Government employees. This constitutes an increase of 2 per cent over the existing rate of 41 per cent. Similarly, dearness relief payable to pensioners would be at the rate of 43 per cent from January 1, 2001. The additional financial implication on account of the increase of the DA is estimated to be Rs 586.86 crore per annum while the financial implication on account of the increase of the dearness relief is estimated to be Rs 204 crore per annum.

In another decision, the government today raised the limit under the Delhi Rent Control Bill to Rs 7,500 for the purpose of its applicability in a bid to balance the interests of landlords and tenants. Under the amendments, apart from raising the limit from Rs 3,500 to Rs 7,500 per month, a proforma for rent agreement and its procedure would be prescribed and the period given for enabling the legal heirs of the deceased individual tenant of a non-residential premises for making alternative arrangements would be increased from the present three years to five years.

The amended Act would be notified after both the Houses of Parliament have passed the Amendment Bill and is given approval by the President.

The Cabinet also approved the introduction of the Central Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill 2001 which provides for a new chapter called “Authority to settle disputes in course of Inter-State Trade or Commerce”.

Under this amendment, an authority would be constituted to settle inter-state disputes. The authority would be known as the Central Sales Tax Appellate Authority and would be headed by a Chairman who would be a retired judge of the Supreme Court.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at its meeting approved the minimum support price for TD 5 Grade of raw jute for 2001-2002 at Rs 810 per quintal. For the last season, the support price was 785 per quintal.

HP rebels made ministers
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 3
The month-long uncertainty due to revolt by seven legislators of the ruling BJP ended today when four of them were reinducted ministers by Mr P.K. Dhumal in a hurriedly arranged ceremony at the Raj Bhavan.

Those reinducted in the ministry are, Mr K.K. Kapoor, Mr Ramesh Chand, Dr Rajan Sushant, and Mr Hari Narayan Singh, considered loyalists of Union Minister, Shanta Kumar. All of them were dropped from the ministry by Mr Dhumal on February 28 when they levelled charges of corruption, nepotism, favouritism and regionalism against his government.

Soon after their reinduction in the ministry, Mr Ramesh Chand told reporters that there was no leadership dispute left now. Sarcastically, he said that when the opposition Congress had accepted Mr Dhumal as their leader, we have no problem as Mr Dhumal is our own leader.

While Mr Kapoor and Mr Ramesh Chand were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers, Mr Rajan Sushant and Mr Hari Narayan Singh, were given berth of Minister of State.

This has restored status of four of the rebels as was decided during negotiations with them by some senior RSS leaders and BJP members of Parliament.

Governor Dr Suraj Bhan, administered the oath of office and secrecy at a simple ceremony.

Eversince their removal, these ministers had been claiming that they would never accept the leadership of Mr Dhumal, who, they demanded should be replaced. However, with a volte face brushing aside the suggestion of their supporters to stick to their stand, they rejoined the ministry.

Mr Dhumal told newsmen that he would allocate portfolios to them in a few days as the Assembly was in session and the agenda was listed for the ministers who were now looking after their departments.

He said that everything has been settled between the rebels and him as a result of which they were reinducted into the ministry. He would not mind ordering an inquiry in case they brought some specific cases of corruption to his knowledge.

The Chief Minister said that he might go in for a complete reshuffle of his ministry after the Budget session of the Assembly when he would evaluate the functioning of all ministers.

Mr Ramesh Chand, said that he was against corruption and would continue to fight against it in future also. Mr Sushant said that the Chief Minister had agreed to settle the issues raised by them and had a detailed discussion on the issue of corruption.

He said that the long-standing demand of lifting restrictions on export of khair wood have been lifted and many problems concerning the Shah-Nehar project would be solved.

He said that there were no pressure from their supporters against their rejoining the ministry. Allocation of portfolios was the prerogative of the Chief Minister, he said.

This was the third swearing in of Mr Ramesh Chand in the ministry in the past three years. He was first made a minister when he supported Mr Virbhadra Singh to form a Congress government in March 1998. However, he shifted his loyality and extended support to Mr Dhumal after 13 days for setting up a BJP government with a cabinet berth in the ministry. Now he was reinducted in the ministry after having been dropped after the revolt against Mr Dhumal.

Besides, Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal and Speaker Thakur Gulab Singh, rebel leaders were present at the swearing in ceremony in strength. Among those present were, Mr Dulo Ram, Des Raj, both BJP rebel legislators, Mr Mohinder Nath Sofat, Mr Khushi Ram Balnatah, Mr Jagat Singh Negi and Mr Suresh Bhardwaj, all considered loyalists of Mr Shanta Kumar.