Nainital, October 9
The Indian Constitution does not restrict the government from conducting a caste-based Census. Instead, it has provisions that suggest otherwise. It asks various representative bodies to provide for reservation and has provisions for altering various constituencies to ensure equal representation.

This was stated by Justice PC Pant of the Uttarakhand High Court during a discussion organised by the Nainital District Bar Association here today. The participants in the two-day meet were debating the issue “Constitution and Caste-Based Census”.

Referring to various apprehensions aired by some speakers regarding the decision of the government to hold a caste-based census, he said that one needs to look at the Preamble of the Constitution which calls for ensuring social justice and promoting fraternity side by side.

“The Preamble answers it all. To secure ‘Justice Social’, it is necessary that everyone gets a level-playing field,” he pointed.

At the very beginning of his address, he said it needed to be understood why there were caste differences in society. Quoting the Gita, he pointed that in the initial stages, caste was determined by qualities and deeds and not by birth. But when children started taking to parental profession, caste started being defined by birth.

While agreeing that inter-caste marriages were a good solution to end the caste-based discriminations, he also said still there were several issues involved in it. Even a girl marrying a Scheduled Caste (SC) person could not get benefits given to his caste. It was only the children who could avail the benefits, he said.

“Even a person from a Backward Caste (BC) can vote for a party of his choice. So how does it harm anyone if he is counted separately. If reservation is to be given, it needs to be understood that to whom it is to be given and how many are to be given,” he said.

He added, “It is a political decision. I cannot comment whether the government should do it or not. It may be a politically wrong decision as some of you view it, but the Constitution does not prevent it,” he asserted.

Earlier, advocate Nand Prasad dwelt at length upon the importance of debate in a democratic society. “Democracy does not run on violence. Its basis is its thoughts. We need to have a democratic temperament if democracy is to survive in India,” he said.

Quoting American thinker Thomas Jefferson he said, “No person has the right to rule another person, no society has the right to rule another society and no nation has the right to rule another nation”.

One of the speakers Mamta Mishra, who had come from Kashipur, spoke against the attempts of the government to get a caste-based Census done. She was of the opinion that it would lead to fragmentation of society and would destroy the social fabric while promoting the politics of vote banks. She felt that such a step would also lead to politicisation of castes.

On the other hand, Suresh Parihar was of the opinion that caste had been an integral part of Indian society and no political party had the guts to say that it was not in favour of reservation.

He felt that such a Census would help in determining the conditions of various castes and sub-castes and help in determining the creamy layers among them. It would present a proper picture of society before the nation, he said.

Mussoorie, October 9
It seems that Mussoorie Nagar Palika’s honeymoon with the Mumbai-based businessman Sanjay Naarang has ended with Palika President OP Uniyal declaring that the clock tower will be constructed by the Palika Board with its own funds.

Uniyal, speaking to the media at the camp office at Mount Rose, said earlier the Palika had decided to demolish the Clock Tower and get it constructed by a private party, Mumbai-based businessman Sanjay Naarang, after the members had passed a proposal in this regard unanimously. An agreement had been reached where the private party will maintain and beautify the Clock Tower on the pattern of the Big Ben tower of London in the UK. However, certain parties with the dubious reasons were playing politics on their honest intentions and raising a hue and cry unnecessarily on the project. Uniyal also said the role of the SDM was also questionable as he had initiated an inquiry and suggested gross violations in the whole process which was untrue. The Palika has not spent a single rupee in the demolition of the Clock Tower and no financial irregularities had been done, he added. The SDM was acting with prejudice and had hurriedly prepared the report without seeking their view.

Uniyal asserted the Palika had terminated all old procedures and would construct the Clock Tower with its own funds, considering the fact that unnecessary controversy was being created around it. Uniyal also alleged that the role of Rajat Agarwal was also deceptive and he was playing games with both the Palika and Narang. He said all necessary procedure would be followed now and the Clock Tower would be constructed within two-three months. Several ward members were also present in support of the Palika President at the meeting.

Nainital, October 9
District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli has called upon banks to adopt disaster-hit villages in the area where they are operating and help the victims get back on their feet. Bagauli has asked the banks to provide loans on easy terms to disaster-hit people of the villages that bore the brunt of nature’s fury during the recent rains.

He was talking to a delegation of officers from Almora Kshetriya Gramin Bank in Nainital that had come to hand over a draft of Rs 2,52,000 to him for providing relief to the disaster-hit people. The money is to be deposited in the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Haridwar, October 9
Just two days after parliamentarian from Tehri Garhwal Vijay Bahuguna made a whirlwind tour of flood-affected areas in Haridwar and blamed the state BJP government for its failure in providing interim relief to affected people, yesterday it was the turn of another Congress bigwig, Yashpal Arya, who also cast doubts on the state government’s ability to provide compensation to rain victims.

“The government waited for the disaster to happen but failed to chalk out preventive disaster management plans due to which now the people’s woes have multiplied,” said Arya, who is legislator from the Mukteshwar Assembly segment.

Accompanying Arya was legislator from Roorkee Kunwar Pranav Champion. He pointed out that he had been to almost all areas that were inundated in his assembly segment, but till date administrative officials had failed to reach there.

Meanwhile, consecutive visits of Bahuguna and Arya aided by the state Congress vice-chief Brahamswaroop Brahamchari faction have led to speculations in the Congress circles. Questions are being raised over these two leaders visiting Haridwar as their inner party political nemesis Harish Rawat is a member of Parliament from here.

Sources in both factions say this sudden activity of the Arya faction in Haridwar is in view of the upcoming appointment of Uttarakhand party chief as well as the Jila Panchayat elections in the district. Notably, both Rawat and Arya hail from the Kumaon region with Arya being a protégé of Narayan Dutt Tiwari who never had good political relations with Harish Rawat.

Notably, Rawat has been actively involved in operations in flood-affected areas, not only in Haridwar, but also in other districts of the state. He visited Tehri Garhwal areas on a call of Kishore Upadhyay. This according to party insiders has not gone down well with MP Vijay Bahuguna and so the twin tours of Bahuguna and Arya are being seen in this context as a fitting reply to Rawat’s tour of Tehri Garhwal.

Dehradun, October 9
The stall of the Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun, at India Manufacturing Show (IMS)-2010 is getting encouraging response.

The three-day show being held in Bangalore was inaugurated by Murugesh R Nirani, Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries. Dr Rajendra Dobhal, Director, UCOST, briefed the minister about the industrial policy of the state. He also told the minister that UCOST was working towards strengthening and promotion of science and technology at the grass-roots level for the betterment of society in the state.

Dr Dobhal elaborated the work done by UCOST in the state. Many industrialists, entrepreneurs and technocrats were informed about the work carried out by the council in Uttarakhand.

Pubic Information Officer of UCOST DP Uniyal here in Dehadun said there had been a large turnout of visitors at the UCOST stall at the fair on the first day. Dr Uniyal also held that the council would be participating in events in the future also to understand the technological advancements in the field.

Dehradun, October 9
Former Uttarakhand Governor Sudarshan Agarwal today released “Pandit Sriram Sharma Acharya As I Knew Him, Memoirs of a Civil Servant”, authored by JC Pant. At a release function held at Himjyoti School, Dehradun, Agarwal said the contribution of Pandit Acharya for the spiritual awakening of the society had been immense.

He also recalled Pant’s contribution to the society as a civil servant. JC Pant, member, Governing Board Himalayan School Society, read out some of the extracts from the book.

Tanu Tayal, Principal of the school, coordinated the proceedings. — TNS

Dehradun, October 9
To celebrate the founder day of the postal community across the globe, which was founded in 1874, World Post Day is being organised all over the globe. It is celebrated as part of the National Postal Week from October 9 to 15.

“The Union Postal Union (UPU) continues to play an active role in enhancing the quality and scope of global interaction between nations, and to mark the occasion we are celebrating the same,” Dilip Singh Rana, Senior Post Master, City, told The Tribune here today and added that they would be organising various programmes to celebrate the same. Functions would be held in all subdivisions of the post office all over the district.

On day one, i.e. October 9, the World Post Day would be celebrated, on October 11 Saving Bank Day, on October 13 Philately Day, on October 14 Customers Meet as well as installation of the canopy at the General Post Office (GPO) and on October 15 a workshop and RPLI Mela would be organised.

Schoolchildren would be visiting the GPO on October 12 and a workshop as well as quiz on philately would be organised on October 13. Other than this, a drawing and letter writing competition would be held on the same day.

Nainital, October 9
Two persons were killed in separate instances of man-animal conflict in the Kumaon region. In the first instance, a leopard carried away a nine-year-old girl right before the eyes of her mother in the Sheetlakhet area, near Ranikhet.

According to information, nine-year-old Uma had come out in the courtyard of her house in Dal village along with her mother Bijli Devi and four-year-old sister Meena to answer the call of nature on Thursday night. She was picked up by a leopard that was hiding close by. Despite the woman making a noise, the wild cat fled with the child. The villagers started looking for her and it was only towards morning that the severed body of the child was recovered from the fields about 1 km from their house.

In the second instance, a bull, that had been hit by a truck in Lal Kuan, gored a cyclist to death and created mayhem on a busy road of the town.

A truck driver purposely hit the bull standing in the middle of the road. A protruding piece of iron cut through its belly and the injured bull ran wild under extreme pain. In the process it overturned a large number of carts and injured some schoolgirls. It went on to gore a cyclist identified as 40-year-old Mohan Ram of Rajiv Nagar in Bindukhatta. He died on way to the hospital.

Mussoorie, October 9
An Intelligence constable working with the local Intelligence unit was thrashed by two local residents in a small dispute over the parking of a motorcycle in Mussoorie today. The Intelligence official suffered severe damage to his face and was rushed to the hospital. According to victim P Verma, he was returning to the office when his motorcycle got stuck in a traffic jam. When he requested the two persons who had parked their vehicle to shift it from the place, they began abusing him and started threatening him with dire consequences.

Verma parked his bike and sought an explanation, when suddenly they entered in a brawl with him and beat him up badly.

However, the accused in the case said they had not done anything wrong and Verma was bent upon fighting with them and in the altercation he suffered bruises on his face. The two assailants work in a shop at Library Bazar, Mussoorie.

According to police officials, a case under sections 506, 504, 332 and 353, IPC, has been registered against the two assailants.

Dehradun, October 9
Formation Commanders of the Uttar Bharat Area congregated to participate in the conference at the State Government Guest House conference hall in Nainital from October 6 to 8. Lt Gen SP Tanwar, General Officer Commanding, Uttar Bharat Area, inaugurated the conference followed by his welcome speech.

While addressing the gathering, Lt Gene Tanwar stated that the conference was conducted to synergies the efforts of Uttar Bharat Area and all its formations. The programme aimed at coordinating and achieving the administrative synergy for disaster management while resolving common issues promptly. He also lauded the role played by the troops of Uttarakhand, Meerut and Lucknow Sub Areas during recent landslides and floods.

The overall security situation was reviewed during the conference. The importance of civil military liaison was highlighted during the conference and Tanwar asked all sub-areas to enhance their coordination with respective state governments and speed up the pending issues.

The conference was attended by General Officers Commanding, Uttarakhand Sub Area, Lucknow Sub Area, Commanders of Meerut Sub Area, various military hospitals, ordnance depots, base workshops, vetinary hospitals and various other officers became a platform to discuss important issues related to the development of infrastructure in the state and review preparedness for the disaster management.

The conference culminated with the closing remarks of the present guest who appreciated the efforts of all participating headquarters and urged them to become centres of excellence to deliver their respective tasks.