H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

CM’s outburst unfortunate,
says Stokes
Shimla, May 28
Mrs Vidya Stokes, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, has termed the outburst of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, at a function organised by the party in connection with the death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru as “unfortunate” and said party men deserved a pat on the back and not a “bashing” after the party’s resounding victory in the Lok Sabha poll.

Centre told to reconsider appointment of Batish
Shimla, May 28
In a significant judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Central Government to reconsider the case of a former Additional Advocate General, Mr Kali Dass Batish, for appointment as a judicial member in the Central Administrative Tribunal as a special case on the basis of the recommendations of the selection committee.

Back from the jaws of death
Shimla, May 28
Call him “Shankar” or “Zakiullah Khan”, it hardly matters. What matters is that he has come from the jaws of death and is celebrating his reunion with his family after three years.

Polyclinic land issue hangs fire
Chamba, May 28
The recent announcement of the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, made during the inauguration of an Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme polyclinic at Hamirpur regarding allotment of land on priority in each district for such polyclinics is not being taken seriously by the district administration, causing disappointment among ex-servicemen.

Parmar varsity threatens to scrap semester system
Solan, May 28
In a threat to the agitating students of the Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, the Deans of the College of Horticulture and College of Forestry issued an appeal to the students last evening to call off their strike or face the consequences in the form of scrapping of the current semester.

Doctors against extension to staff
Shimla, May 28
The Himachal Medical Officers Association has urged the government not to grant extension to retired employees as this mars the professional prospects of junior employees.

Encroachments worry CM
Shimla, May 28
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister, has expressed concern over increasing encroachments upon forest areas, other government land and lamented that the decision to delegate powers to the divisional forest officers to deal with the problem had not paid off.

MC urged to remove garbage regularly
Chamba, May 28
Garbage containers kept by the Municipal Council along the main roads around the Chowgan are proving to be a health hazard and an eyesore.

Villagers block traffic over police inaction
Solan, May 28
Traffic on the Bilaspur-Solan highway remained paralysed at Kunihaar for more than four hours as a group of villagers staged a protest against police “highhandedness” in solving a murder case.

Ganu Ram cremated
Bilaspur, May 28
Ganu Ram Dhiman, a freedom fighter and former MLA, was cremated on the banks of the Sutlej at Luhanu Ghat here today. Ganu Ram died of kidney failure at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, Shimla, last evening.

Teachers allege delay in promotion
Nurpur, May 28
The Kangra district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers Union, has flayed the Education Department for adopting indifferent attitude towards longstanding demands of teachers.

Polytechnic test results out
Kangra, May 28
The Himachal Pradesh Board of Technical Education today declared the results of the Polytechnic Admission Test ( PAT ) conducted by the board on May 23.

17 hurt in bus-truck collision
Sundernagar, May 28
Seventeen persons were injured in a collision between a private bus and a truck at Jarol on the national highway No 21 here today.

Militants seen near Himachal border
Shimla, May 28
Militant movement in Doda area of Jammu and Kashmir near the Kehar sector in Chamba district has put the security forces on alert as with the melting of snow the high mountain passes have become surmountable, making the 247-km porous border even more vulnerable.

CM’s outburst unfortunate, says Stokes
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 28
Mrs Vidya Stokes, Pradesh Congress Committee chief, has termed the outburst of Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, at a function organised by the party in connection with the death anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru as “unfortunate” and said party men deserved a pat on the back and not a “bashing” after the party’s resounding victory in the Lok Sabha poll.

Talking to mediapersons here today, she said Mr Virbhadra Singh had every right to complain if he felt that some party men had worked against the Congress candidates, but such issues had to be raised at a proper forum. Instances of undercutting and some party leaders contesting elections against the official candidates were not uncommon. In the last Assembly elections, a large number of them contested as rebels. They were expelled from the party, but taken back subsequently.

It was painful to see party men revolting and contesting against official candidates, but the effort of the senior leaders should be not to encourage them.

Referring to Mr Shan Mohammed, who contested the Lok Sabha poll from Mandi as an Independent, she said party leaders who backed his candidature should be punished. As far as she remembered, Mr Mohammed was a member of the PCC when Mr Sat Mahajan was the party President and his name was also recommended to her, but she ignored him.

Centre told to reconsider appointment of Batish
Our Correspondent

Shimla, May 28
In a significant judgment, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the Central Government to reconsider the case of a former Additional Advocate General, Mr Kali Dass Batish, for appointment as a judicial member in the Central Administrative Tribunal as a special case on the basis of the recommendations of the selection committee.

The order was passed by a Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta and Mr Justice K.C. Sood, on a petition filed by Mr Batish, wherein he had challenged the appointment process for the seven posts of judicial member in the Central Administrative Tribunal.

The petitioner alleged that he was on serial number 1 in order of merit but he was not appointed by the respondents on the only ground that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had reported that his performance and caliber was so poor that he was shifted from one court to the other when he was Additional Advocate General.

The Chief Justice observed that “We have no doubt in our minds that the petitioner was singled out for hostile and discriminating treatment only because of a palpably false, incorrect and totally baseless report of the Intelligence Bureau. The petitioner has been unfairly dealt with. The petitioner has been deprived of his right of appointment and when say so we base our observation on the ground that the petitioner, on account of his selection and his inclusion in the select list and placement at serial No. 1 in order of merit, applying the principle of equality before the law, was entitled to be appointed as a judicial member.”

While allowing the petition, the court cautioned that in future no one should suffer, despite his selection on merit, merely because of some adverse report of the Intelligence Bureau, which was not supported by any corroborative material.

The court also has given advice to the Intelligence Bureau that it should ensure in future that as far as possible, whenever adverse reports are sent, these should be supported by corroborative material.

The court directed that the copies of the judgment be sent to the Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, as well as Director-General of the Intelligence Bureau for their information.

Back from the jaws of death

Shimla, May 28
Call him “Shankar” or “Zakiullah Khan”, it hardly matters. What matters is that he has come from the jaws of death and is celebrating his reunion with his family after three years.

It was real ID-Milan for his family at the Sonia Gandhi camp in Pul Pralahadpur area on Bhadarpur border in Delhi as Zaki, whom the family had considered dead, reached home after three years with the help of crutches last evening.

Just three and a half months back. He was suffering from gangrene in both legs and lying uncared over a pile of garbage outside Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here. He had lost his memory. Gangrene was gradually spreading in his body but for a voluntary organisation, Ashadeep, which came to his rescue.

Ashadeep volunteers went to the hospital and tried to talk to him but he was in no position to talk. They requested the Medical Superintendent, Dr Hardyal, to admit him to the hospital. But there was no relative or other person who could take his responsibility. After Ashadeep offered to adopt him till he was fully treated he was admitted to the hospital.

Prof Narain Sharma, in whose unit he was admitted, examined the patient and advised that both his legs be amputated. Ashadeep volunteers persuaded the doctor to treat him so that his legs could be served. He gradually started responding to the treatment and also started regaining memory. Since his name was not known Ashadeep volunteers started calling him Shankar.

One fine day he recollected that his name was Zahiullah Khan and told about his family and relatives who were living in Delhi.

Zaki was scared to tell that he was a Muslim and feared that his “Guardians”, might abandon him.

Ashadeep contacted his family and sent him to Delhi by bus after he was relieved from the hospital yesterday.

Tears rolled down from the eyes of his 70-year-old mother Akila on seeing him. His brother-in-law Mehfooz Khan said, “You can not imagine how happy we are. The entire family is so happy and grateful.”

Zaki was married to Gulshan, a deaf, dumb and blind girl. He had three daughters, two of whom had died.

He was manufacturing buttons for jeans when he had some mental problem. — PTI

Polyclinic land issue hangs fire
Our Correspondent

Chamba, May 28
The recent announcement of the Himachal Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, made during the inauguration of an Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme polyclinic at Hamirpur regarding allotment of land on priority in each district for such polyclinics is not being taken seriously by the district administration, causing disappointment among ex-servicemen.

Taking exception to the laxity on the part of the district administration, Col Ravi Vaid (retd), president, District Ex-servicemen Welfare Association, said here today that he had been trying to get land earmarked since the past more than five months, but the case was hanging fire at the level of the Revenue Department.

Colonel Vaid said the Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Chamba, had issued instructions to allot one bigha for an ECHS polyclinic at Baloo near the district Ayurvedic Hospital on the outskirts of Chamba town, but nothing had been at the lower to finalise this case.

Colonel Vaid said the Army authorities had hired a private accommodation at Baloo to start the polyclinic at this non-military station. Interviews had already been conducted at the Station Headquarters at Dalhousie for appointing doctors and other paramedical staff, he said.

Colonel Vaid said he had written to the Chief Minister and requested him to help ex-servicemen by instructing the district administration to provide suitable land for the purpose.

Parmar varsity threatens to scrap semester system
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 28
In a threat to the agitating students of the Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, the Deans of the College of Horticulture and College of Forestry issued an appeal to the students last evening to call off their strike or face the consequences in the form of scrapping of the current semester.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.S. Negi, while confirming this, said if the students agitated for more than 15 days in a semester, the Section 33 (A) III of the Academic Regulation clearly laid down that the semester could be scrapped.

While maintaining that the university administration was strictly following the procedures, the Vice-Chancellor said since the students had already agitated for about 12 days in the current session, including five days in March, they were now advised to immediately call off their strike and appear for their practical examinations and later semester examinations which would commence from June 5.

In a last-ditch effort to make students call off the stir, the Vice-Chancellor today sent letters to the parents of the agitating students apprising them about the probability of the semester getting scrapped in case the strike was not called off.

The Dean, college of Horticulture, Dr V.K. Mishra, meanwhile clarified that the petition of the dismissed Students Central Association president, Munish Thakur, had been accepted and would be suitably considered before the commencement of the next semester in August.

The students, meanwhile, continued their agitation and fast unto death where Kushal Mehta and Rakesh Rana took over the fast unto death as last evening two students Munish Thakur and Pankaj Sharma were forced to end their fast by the District Magistrate at his residence. The two agitating students were lifted from the campus late last evening on the pretext of medical examination and later detained at Sadar police station for more than two hours. The two, however, refused to get themselves examined. They were later taken to the residence of the District Magistrate.

Despite several round of talks between the SDM, Mr Lokender Chauhan, and Additional SP, Mr Prem Thakur, and the students no success was achieved in bringing the six-day stalemate to an end. The Vice-Chancellor refused to give a written assurance to the students of adopting a lenient view in punishing the students found guilty in the Dr K.K Jindal committee findings. This led the students to block university traffic when the employees were to return home in the evening.

The dismissed SCA president alleged that not only was the entire Dr K.K. Jindal committee centred towards indicting the university students but no heed was paid to the criminal cases which were registered against their own students. He rued that the university made first ever use of Section 37-A of the Academic Regulation in its entire history. The banning of the entry of SCA president without any concrete reason was totally unjustified, quipped the SCA. The SCA also criticised the deployment of a large police force on the campus and said this created an unnecessary terror in the students and they were only agitating peacefully.

Munish Thakur today complained that the Vice-Chancellor got a fresh case registered against him for obstructing his vehicle on the campus on Wednesday and he had to obtain a bail in the case. This, he rued, was done to pressurise him to withdraw the agitation. Tension continued to prevail on the campus with academic activity virtually coming to a halt for the past one week.

Doctors against extension to staff
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 28
The Himachal Medical Officers Association (HMOA) has urged the government not to grant extension to retired employees as this mars the professional prospects of junior employees.

The HMOA, which met the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, and the Health Minister, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, yesterday, said there was great resentment among doctors over the recent extension granted to some persons.

The senior vice-president of the association, Dr Gian Chand Rajput, said the Chief Minister assured them that in future, no extensions would be given to anyone. “Regarding the request for including the 72 posts of Block Medical Officer in the promotion, category, we were given an assurance that efforts would be made to get this done before the Budget session of the Assembly,” Dr Rajput said.

He said the issue of granting four postgraduation increments was also taken up during the meeting. He said the Health Secretary had assured the association that the government would sympathetically consider the demands of the doctors.

The delegation of doctors included Dr C.D. Chauhan, president of the HMOA, Dr Jiva Nand Chauhan, general secretary, Dr Kapila, vice-president, and the treasurer, Dr Joginder.

Encroachments worry CM
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 28
Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister, has expressed concern over increasing encroachments upon forest areas, other government land and lamented that the decision to delegate powers to the divisional forest officers to deal with the problem had not paid off.

Addressing concluding session of the three-day meeting on annual plan for 2004-05, here yesterday he said powers to remove encroachments were also given to executive engineers of the PWD but were withdrawn.

The government would consider delegating these powers to them again to check illegal occupation of land along the roads. He said responsibility for such lapses would be fixed and action taken accordingly.

He also expressed concern over the delay in forest clearances for the construction of roads and other development schemes and called for a mechanism for quick approvals. He said the government was considering the setting up of a special task force at the zonal level for the purpose.

MC urged to remove garbage regularly
Our Correspondent

Chamba, May 28
Garbage containers kept by the Municipal Council along the main roads around the Chowgan are proving to be a health hazard and an eyesore.

Mr Tej Singh Jasrotia, general secretary of the Chamba Welfare Association, has complained to the District Magistrate that garbage dumped in these containers is not being removed regularly by the council.

Mr Jasrotia urged the council to find a solution to the problem of garbage collection and disposal in the town.

Appreciating the recent steps taken by the Municipal Council to restore greenery in Chowgan (part one), he said restrictions should be imposed on those who played football, hockey and other games in the Chowgan till dusk as senior citizens found it risky to have a stroll. Separate timings should be fixed for playing in the Chowgan, he suggested. Mr Jasrotia said fountains of the town should be made functional so that stagnant water around the fountains did not become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Villagers block traffic over police inaction
Our Correspondent

Solan, May 28
Traffic on the Bilaspur-Solan highway remained paralysed at Kunihaar for more than four hours as a group of villagers staged a protest against police “highhandedness” in solving a murder case. The case pertains to a Navodaya Vidyalaya employee, who was beaten to death by four villagers of Haripur.

The residents alleged that the local police had let off the accused by not registering a case of murder. They said the body of the victim, who succumbed to his injuries at the PGI, Chandigarh, on May 26, could not be sent for a post-mortem examination till this afternoon. The villagers, who received the body around 3.30 pm, came out on the road to express resentment.

The SP has instituted an enquiry. The residents, however, were demanding the suspension of the SHO, Arki. The DSP, Parwanoo, Mr Surinder Verma, rushed to the spot on getting information later in the afternoon.

Ganu Ram cremated
Our Correspondent

Bilaspur, May 28
Ganu Ram Dhiman, a freedom fighter and former MLA, was cremated on the banks of the Sutlej at Luhanu Ghat here today. Ganu Ram died of kidney failure at Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital, Shimla, last evening.

Himachal State Swatantra Senani Kalyan Board vice-chairman Susheel Rattan laid a wreath on behalf of the Chief Minister. Wreaths were laid by Additional Deputy Commissioner J.S. Pathania and district Congress president Hoshiyar Singh Thakur on behalf of Governor V.S. Kokje and state Congress President Vidya Stokes, respectively. Prominent among others who paid tributes to Ganu Ram were Superintendent of Police M. Chandershekhar, local Congress MLA tilak Raj Sharma, former Agriculture Minister Sardar Bathittar Singh, Zila Parishad Chairman Banta Singh Dhiman, former Zila Parishad Chairman Dilaram Dhiman, freedom fighter K.L. Dabra, SDM Baldev Thakur and Principal Nanakram Bhardwaj.

Teachers allege delay in promotion
Our Correspondent

Nurpur, May 28
The Kangra district unit of the Himachal Pradesh Government Teachers Union, has flayed the Education Department for adopting indifferent attitude towards longstanding demands of teachers.

Mr Onkar Rana, the district president of the union, in a press note here today, said the promotions of the teachers were being delayed without any reason. As a result, teachers were retiring without promotions even after putting in more than 30 years of service.

Mr Rana said the state government had failed to fulfil the demands of the teachers which included filling of 236 vacant posts of headmaster, created in senior secondary schools and a grant of laboratory allowance to science teachers.

Mr Rana urged the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, to accept longstanding demands of the teachers.

Polytechnic test results out
Our Correspondent

Kangra, May 28
The Himachal Pradesh Board of Technical Education today declared the results of the Polytechnic Admission Test ( PAT ) conducted by the board on May 23.

Disclosing this, Mr B.R. Rahi, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Board of Technical Education, told mediapersons that 3,928 candidates had taken this examination for admission to six polytechnic colleges in the state. He said the results were available on the board’s websites, http: hpeducationboard.nic.in, hpresults.nic.in and himachal.nic.in , and on IVRS (951772621642). He said the results were available at Lokmitra Information Centre, Hamirpur, and at Kiosks in Una district.

He said the results were also available on Reliance mobile service.

The results were also available through SMS on the BSNL and Airtel.

Mr Rahi said for candidates of the reserved categories, wards of ex- servicemen and the handicapped, the minimum pass percentage had been fixed at 30 marks while for the open category it was 40 marks.

17 hurt in bus-truck collision
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, May 28
Seventeen persons were injured in a collision between a private bus and a truck at Jarol on the national highway No 21 here today.

Of the injured, six persons are stated to be serious. Bhola Nath was referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, in a serious condition. Five others were referred to the Zonal Hospital, Mandi. The remaining eleven persons were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Sundernagar.

The police has registered case under Section 279,337, and 338 of Indian Penal Code against the driver of the bus.

Militants seen near Himachal border
Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 28
Militant movement in Doda area of Jammu and Kashmir near the Kehar sector in Chamba district has put the security forces on alert as with the melting of snow the high mountain passes have become surmountable, making the 247-km porous border even more vulnerable.

It was almost a week back that the Himachal Pradesh Armed Police patrol party noticed movement in the Jammu and Kashmir territory , close to the Padri Gulli and Sappa Cholu area of Kehar sector. On noticing the patrol party they reportedly fled.

“The information about the movement was reported to the higher authorities but since the patrol party was not carrying binoculars they were not able to have a close look to see if they were carrying arms,” informed intelligence agencies.