Shimla, January 4
The state government has charge sheeted former Chief Secretary, Harsh Gupta for making deviation in the set parameters and procedures for the evaluation of bids for nine hydroelectric projects at his own level in 2001.

The article of charge sheet says Mr Harsh Gupta, who was the Chief Secretary-cum-Chairman, HP State Electricity Board (HPSEB) in 2001 failed to maintain absolute integrity and devotion to duty as he contravened the provisions of Rule 3(1), Rule 3(2) and Rule 3(3) of the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which was unbecoming of a member of the IAS.

Sources said the set procedures and parameters prescribed earlier were to be followed in the evaluation of bids for the nine hydroelectric projects, to be set up at different places in the state. “If these were to be changed, it required the approval of the Council of Ministers as in the case of eight hydel projects advertised earlier in 1999,” reads the article of charge.

It further said that deviation from the existing policy or programmes was not in the competency of the Chief Secretary as per standing orders issued by the Secretary (Multipurpose Power Projects and Power) through its orders of October 27, 1998 in pursuance of the provision of Rule 6 of the Rules of Business of the Government of HP, 1971.

The nine hydroelectric projects for which the procedure and parameters of evaluation criteria were changed were Sainj 100 MW, Malana-II 100 MW, Dhaulasidh 80 MW, Chirgaon-Mahjgaon 46 MW, Tangnu-Romaj 44 MW, Pauidital Lassa 36 MW, Saj-Kothi 17 MW, Lamba-Dug 15 MW and Baragaon 10.5 MW.

The sources said the former Chief Secretary had been intimated specifically that if he failed to submit his written statement of defence before the specified date or did not appear in person before the inquiring authority or failed to comply with the provision of rules, the enquiry against him could be held ex-parte.

Mr Harsh Gupta, could not be contacted but the sources said that he had taken up the matter with the Central Administrative Tribunal.

Nahan, January 4
Mr M.D. Sharma, District and Sessions Judge, Sirmour today awarded life imprisonment to three persons for murdering their host Bhajo Devi of Sataun village under Paonta subdivision who provided them shelter in her house on January 30, 2003.

As per the prosecution, Bhajo Devi, president of Sataun village provided shelter to Bachchan Singh, Jagat Singh, both residents of Jamna village and Sudesh Sharma, a resident of Shimog village in her house.

At night when the three found her alone in her house they slit her throat with a knife. After killing her they took away jewellery from the house and fled away.

Bachchan Singh was arrested on February 14, 2003. The police arrested his two accomplices and recovered stolen jewellery from a jeweller of Vikas Nagar in Uttaranchal on the information provided by Bachchan Singh.

After hearing final arguments Mr Sharma convicted the three accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment under Section 302 of the IPC read with Section 120-B of the IPC.

Each of them was further sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each under Section 380 of the IPC. In default of the payment of which each will undergo rigorous imprisonment for six months.

Kulu, January 4
The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today urged the newly elected pradhans to include poor, who have no proper houses and the sustainable source of income in the Integrated Rural Development Plan (IRDP) on a priority basis, as soon they assume their new office on January 26.

After administering the oath of office and secrecy to 1037 pradhans in a jumbo-sized ceremony at the Government College Assembly hall here today Mr Virbhadra Singh urged them to strengthen the gram sabhas as an institution, raise panchayat resources, utilise funds under the micro-planning for an all-round development of each panchayat.

Over 20 pradhans failed to turn up at the ceremony.

Mr Virbhadra Singh said the government would ensure that each panchayat be linked with heads of the government on a single line for faster pace of works in the villages. The pradhan would head two panchayat committees, while the up-pradhans, being chosen indirectly by the panches, would head two committees of the Gram Sabha”, he added.

Mr Virbhadra Singh stressed to strengthen the gram sabhas, involving the participation of angandwadis, mahila mandals and government officials. “Pradhans should raise local resources, motivate villagers to adopt rain water harvesting, recharging defunct wells, tanks and “baolis” for local use”, he added.

The panchayats would protect forests, conserve vernacular arts and architecture and natural resources, Mr Virbhadra Singh said, calling upon pradhans to take steps to establish accountability.

He further added that the pradhans who faced charges would get 15-day time to plead their side of story, before the government took any action.

Before the ceremony the Panchayati Raj and Revenue Minister, Mr Sat Mahajan, said that each panchayat would have its own panchayat ghar in the state. The computerisation of the revenue records was almost complete. He urged the Chief Minister to provide funds and infrastructure to panchayats “As many as 310 panchayats were elected unopposed and would get Rs 10 lakh grant”, he added.

The ceremony was attended by the Congress MP, Mandi, Ms Pratibha Singh, the IPH Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur, the Excise and Taxation Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, the Agricultural Minister and Kulu MLA, Mr Raj Kishan Gaur, the Forest Minister, Mr Ram Lal Thakur, the former MP, Mr Anil Sharma, the chairman, Marketing Board, Mr Satya Parkash Thakur, the Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Ms Parminder Mathur, the Director Panchyati Raj, Mr J.P. Singh and the DC, Mandi, Mr Subhashis Panda and the SP, Mr Ajay Yadav, Congress MLAs from Mandi districts and the other officials and heads of public-sector undertaking were also present.

After the ceremony Mr Virbhadra Singh along with his ministerial colleagues had ‘Dham’ organised for the participants.

Solan, January 4
Acting on the directions of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, a high-level committee headed by Mr Avay Shukla, Principal Secretary, Transport, today recommended computerisation of the Parwanoo barrier after six-laning it. The exercise would be completed by August this year.

The committee, comprising Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Kumar, PWD Engineer-in-Chief S.P. Negi, State Transport Authority R.N. Batta, Chief Architect Vijay Uppal, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner Amit Kashyap and SP Gianeshwar Singh, met today at Parwanoo and finalised certain recommendations.

With a view to making the barrier more attractive, a welcome gate would be erected at the barrier. The fact that it marks the entry into Himachal Pradesh stress would be given to beatify the place. Faced with an ever increasing influx of vehicles which stop there to deposit various taxes, the barrier gives a disorganised look. The committee has recommended to six-laning of a stretch of at least 500 metres.

The committee, which is supposed to present its recommendations to the High Court by January-end, also laid emphasis on making the beautification exercise time-bound. While the existing barrier housing various offices would be demolished, various departments like forest, excise and taxation, transport, municipal committee, etc., would be given new offices. More parking space would be created to park heavy vehicles which have to stop for various taxes. Funds from the toll tax would be utilised for erecting the new building while the national highway authority of India would be approached for six-laning the barrier. Interestingly, the Industries Department has already began four laning of a 250-metre stretch of the barrier.

Una, January 4
Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal criticised the Congress government for raid in the house of former PWD Minister Thakur Mohinder Singh when only his mother was in the home and alleged that she was harassed by the Vigilance Department. He alleged certain Congress leaders had encroached upon land near their apple orchards.

He said the Congress is wooing candidates with money or threats. One of the ministers offered Rs lakh to one elected Zila Parishad member to join the Congress.

Mr Dhumal said forest wealth was being allowed to be illegally cut and smuggled in Una district where no action is being taken or FIR registered. He alleged the Congress party was under pressure of forest and mining mafia in the state and in Una district. Due to illegal felling and mining the state was facing environmental damage, including erosion and floods, yet the government’s attitude towards this is lukewarm.

Shimla, January 4
The State Forensic Science Laboratory will be equipped with facilities for conducting DNA and NDPS (narcotic drug psychotropic substances) tests.

This was stated by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while presiding over a meeting of the State Forensic Science Development Board, here yesterday. He said fingerprint examination facilities would be modernised and possibilities of opening regional centres of the laboratory at Mandi and Dharamsala would be explored.

He said the government was preparing an elaborate plan to strengthen and equip the state forensic laboratory with ultra-modern testing equipment to examine all types of cases. The laboratory, he said, would be linked with the CBI and the Interpol.

“Though the laboratory here is well equipped but the need of the hour is to update it and add the latest technological advancements,” he said. He further said the state forensic laboratory would be under the direct control of the Home Department so that top secrecy could be maintained.

He said the facilities of NDPS and DNA tests would be added so that these were conducted within the state and the reports were received immediately. This, he said, would help in expediting the legal process and people would get speedy justice.

Chamba, January 4
The local Citizens Progressive Council, a leading non-governmental organisation, has impressed upon the state government to shift the homoeopathy dispensary from Sultanpur to the Zonal Hospital where sufficient accommodation is now available with the construction of a new hospital complex by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

According to Mr Gurmukh Singh, general secretary of the council, the homoeopathy dispensary has recently been opened by the government at Sultanpur below heliport on the outskirts of Chamba town and housed in a private-rented accommodation. As a consequence, the people are facing inconvenience to get homoeopathy treatment.

Mr Gurmukh Singh requested the government to follow the practice of giving preference in treatment to senior citizens here like the other districts in the state where the outdoor-patient ticket was issued to them in a separate colour as a mark of distinction and respect. He also demanded the filling of vacant posts of doctors here.

Mr Gurmukh Singh urged to rejuvenate the deteriorating condition of the historic Chowgan.

Expressing concern over the filthy condition of the holy place near Sheetla Mata temple where ‘pind-daan’ ceremony is performed at the time of proceeding to Haridwar pilgrimage, Mr Gurmukh Singh demanded the construction of a concrete platform and a pucca approach road. Regarding allotment of shops in the newly constructed market-complex, Mr Gurmukh Singh suggested that preference should be given to the unemployed youths of the town.

Solan, January 4
A villager, Dharampal, hailing from Arki tehsil was arrested today for attempting to murder his wife, Gomti Devi, after he shot at her in a fit of rage, injuring her in the left leg. The police registered a case of an attempt to murder and later recovered the muzzle loaded weapon which was registered for crop protection.

Police officials said Dharampal who had a fight with Gomti on December 29 had beaten her up in an inebriated state. The traumatised wife left for Baddi to her son’s place the next day. She returned home on January 3 with her two sons but the trio were again beaten up by Dharampal. The sons were so traumatised after the beating that they ran away from home, while Dharampal followed Gomti. He later shot at her and injured her in the left leg.

The police officials said the weapon was a very old gun which had been registered for crop protection.

Kangra, January 4
Santosh Kumar, who was arrested by the Kangra police on Monday evening for allegedly raping a 22-year-old Dalit girl on the pretext of marrying her, was remanded to police custody till January 9.

The victim was admitted to Dr R.P. Govt Medical College Hospital at Dharamsala. She said that both got the baby girl aborted and the baby was thrown near Jassur at an isolated place.

Meanwhile, a case under Sections 313, 366 and 376 and under Atrocities on the Scheduled Castes Act has been registered.