Dharamsala, October 30
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh inaugurated the only Regional Centre of Himachal Pradesh University in Dharamsala today. It is after about 15 years since it was started in 1998 that the Regional Centre has got its building.

Earlier, the university had proposed to wind up the Regional Centre on the plea that since Central University campus was coming up at Dharamsala, there would be no logic in continuing the Regional Centre in same area.

However, sources here said Minister for Housing and Urban Development Sudhir Sharma, who represents the area, convinced the university authorities against the move.

The Regional Centre at Dharamsala had been running in a ramshackle building for the past more than 15 years. It has more than 700 students.

Though thousands of students have passed out from the centre, the university had neither been able to create a proper building, nor regular posts of teacher.

Though the centre has now got its own building, it faces another challenge of providing permanent faculty for the courses being run here.

Sources said postgraduate courses in the centre were under way by ad hoc or guest faculty. There was not even a single regular teacher for Masters in Mass Communication and Masters in Sanskrit courses.

There were about 45 teachers in the centre. Out of these, only 13 teachers, including the Director, were regular.

Sources said even the process of recruitment for the teachers had not been started by the university. Even the posts for the courses had not been created. It is only after the creation of posts that the budget provisions for the institute could be made.

ADN Bajpai, Vice-Chancellor, HPU, said since the recruitment of faculty was difficult and time-consuming process, they had recruited guest faculty for running the courses. The Chief Minister also sanctioned Rs 3.25 crore for the auditorium hall building of Government College, Dharamsala.

Dharamsala, October 30
The two-day visit of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to Dharamsala has come as a relief for the local residents as the Public Works Department (PWD) has repaired almost all roads in the area.

The condition of the roads was pathetic before the visit of the Chief Minister. The road leading to Dharamsala from Gaggal and to Dari was full of potholes.

Officials had been blaming the poor condition of the roads to monsoon.

The repair was started on a war footing by the PWD just a week before the arrival of the Chief Minister. The department took special care of the roads on which the CM was scheduled to travel.

The locals are alleging that the PWD carried out work in haste that might have compromised with quality.

Executive Engineer, PWD, Dharamsala, Vijay Chaudhary, said this was a routine repair that was scheduled after monsoon. He said the Dharamsala division had spent Rs 60 lakh on patch works on roads and Rs 1.50 crore on tarring. The patch work was carried out on the Kangra-Ranital road where many small bridges were being constructed.

Though PWD officials are denying that road repair is carried out in view of the Chief Minister’s visit to the area, the fact remains that the condition of the roads has improved only in the last few days.

The Chief Minister today inaugurated two bridges on the Dharamsala-Khaniara road. The bridges have been built at a cost of Rs 1.35 crore and Rs 1.10 crore. The work on the bridges was started during the stint of the previous BJP government and has been completed now.

Palampur, October 30
The fourlaning of the 220-km Pathankot-Mandi highway linking Pathankot with Leh and other forward areas is on the cards as the Centre has approved the project. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh had taken up the matter with the Ministry of Shipping Transport.

Sudheer Sharma, Urban Development Minister, talking to mediapersons at Baijnath today said the budget allocations were likely to be made soon. He said, however, the state government had already started a process for the acquisition of land between Jassaur and Mattor.

The minister said the government had already cleared two national highways of the state (Shimla-Kalka and Chandigarh-Manali) for fourlane on the built operate and transfer basis.

He said the Pathankot-Mandi highway was considered as the lifeline for 35 lakh people of the northern region of Himachal Pradesh. This is one of the most significant roads of the country, which links Pathankot, Kangra, Mandi and Manali with Leh.

Palampur, October 30
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today alleged that Prem Kumar Dhumal and Anurag Thakur had converted politics and sports into a business in the state, keeping all ethics, rules aside.

Talking to The Tribune here today, the Chief Minister said no responsible government could turn a blind eye to the illegal acts and misdeeds of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA).

He said the state government had initiated action against the HPCA, not against the BJP. It was surprising why BJP leaders had been shielding Anurag and Dhumal. Were they also the beneficiaries from the illegal deals of the HPCA?

He said the illegal acts of the HPCA figured in the chargesheet of the Congress submitted to the President of India. Besides, the Congress, before the Assembly elections, had committed to the public to conduct a high-level probe into misdeeds and illegal acts of the HPCA. Therefore, the question of “political vendetta” against BJP leaders does not arise as it was a routine investigation.

He said the land grabbed by the HPCA belonged to people and being the head of the state, he was bound to restore it to the public.

He stated that it was the first step of the state government to eradicate “land mafia” from the state which flourished during the BJP regime.

Virbhadra Singh said his government would continue its crusade against corruption and whosoever involved in illegal land deals during the BJP regime would not be spared.

He disclosed that BJP leaders had purchased lands through benami deals in Shimla, Dharamsala, Palampur, Kullu, Manali and Solan. Vigilance.

Shimla, October 30
The HPCA today filed a petition in the high court against the decision of the state government to cancel the lease of land granted to it. It had also challenged the action of the state government vide which it had directed the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, to take over the premises.

The petitioner has challenged the decision of the state on the ground that it had not been given proper opportunity of being heard before taking the decision. The petition is likely to come up for hearing on Thursday.

The petitioner urged that the decision should be set aside and the state authorities be restrained from taking any coercive action.

Chamba, October 30
Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Shanta Kumar has said the BJP will emerge as the single largest party with substantial seats in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections slated for next year.

Addressing mediapersons at the Circuit House here today, Shanta Kumar said rival political parties would support the BJP to form the government at the Centre. He said there was ire and anguish amongst the public over the rampant corruption, sky-rocketing prices and anarchy prevailing in the country.

“The common public is in search of change. They want an alternative and it is the BJP which can provide it”, Shanta said. Shanta said, “There is only one nominee for the post of the Prime Minister and he is Narendra Modi”.

Shanta said Modi showed good governance by personal integrity in Gujarat, while Rahul was inexperienced. Shanta sought a ban on the export of onions and demanded an import of 10 lakh tonnes of onions to bring down the prices. 

Mandi, October 30
Lawyers in the region is a divided house over the circuit benches of the District and Sessions Court in Sundarnagar, Gohar, Jogindernagar and Sarkhaghat and other parts of the state.

Lawyers of the Mandi Bar Association today stayed away from the court in Mandi against the circuit benches of the sessions court at four towns in the district.

As many as 1,200 cases have been transferred to the new circuit benches after the high court issued the notification recently.

Members of the association pleaded the circuit benches had no infrastructure such as courts, library for judges and sitting places for clients and advocates.

“We welcome the decentralisation of the judiciary. But it should start from the top. The high court should first start its circuit benches in Mandi and Dharamsala”, claimed Bharat Bhushan, chairperson of the joint action committee formed by the advocates, who are opposing the new circuit benches in Mandi, Kangra and other places.

The advocates said they had submitted the resolution to the Chief Justice of the high court and the Chief Justice of the Supreme court, pleading that the idea of decentralisation of judicial system was welcome, but it should start from the top.

The state government should have been asked to create facilities first for the sessions circuit benches, said Lokender Kutlehria, general secretary, and S Saklani, vice-president, Mandi Bar Association.

Interestingly, the advocates in Sarkaghat, Jogindernagar, Gohar and Sundarnagar hailed the circuit benches. “The complainants will get justice at the circuit benches and need not to spend on travelling to Mandi to appear in the court”, said Jagat Singh Chandel, president and CL Awasthi, member of the Sundarnagar Bar Association.

"The advocates in Mandi will have to travel to Jogindernagar, Sarkaghat, Gohar and Sundarnagar to fight the cases. But this will cost the clients as they will to pay more to advocates," said Bhushan.

The advocates demanded that the high court should set up permanent sessions court in these places rather than the circuit courts. “We will boycott the courts till the final decision is taken”, he said.

Shimla, October 30
Taking a serious note on the issue of granting admissions to ineligible candidates and even awarding graduate, postgraduate and other degrees by private universities, the HP High Court has issued notices to the state government, the UGC and all 16 private universities.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice Kuldip Singh directed the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Education) and Registrars of all private universities to file their response pertaining to irregularities mentioned in a news item.

These notices were issued by the court on a news item published in the columns of The Tribune on October 25 under the headline "Private universities defy norms, UGC sleeps" and after taking cognizance on this, the court treated the news item as public interest litigation.

It was mentioned in the news item that the UGC seemed to be unconcerned about enforcing its regulations pertaining to the establishment and operation of private universities and till date it had conducted inspections of only five universities.

It was further mentioned that if a university failed to rectify the deficiencies pointed out by it within the specified time, the UGC could pass an order prohibiting the private university from offering any course for the award of the first degree. 

Hamirpur, October 30
The three-day Hamir Utsav came to an end last night with a cultural evening. Earlier, during the day, exhibitions and other programmes organised during the festival also came to a close.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) ID Lakhanpal was the chief guest at the concluding function.

Playback singers Ravinder Ravi and Sanchari Bose and comedian Pratap Singh Faujdar were the star attraction on the last evening of the cultural programme.

Faujdar was an instant hit with the audience and enthralled them with his comedy. Several artistes performed in the cultural evening beginning Sunday.

On the first cultural evening of the Hamir Utsav, in which Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was the chief guest, playback singers Mohammad Irfan and Purnima regaled the audience with popular songs from Hindi films. Tibetan art performers had also presented a colourful programme on the first evening.

The second evening of Hamir Utsav was celebrated as Pahari night in which artistes from the state performed.

Several other activities like kabbadi and volleyball competitions and wrestling bouts, a fashion show by students of INIFD, fancy dress and painting competitions etc were also organised during the utsav. A display of traditional folk musical was also organised.

Ashish Singhmar, Chairman of the organising committee of Hamir Utsav, has thanked different committees for successfully organising the festival.

He said the organising committee of Hamir Utsav had made every effort to present cultural diversity and artistes from Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, besides local artistes were invited to perform in the Hamir Utsav to entertain people.

Kangra, October 30
The third annual sports meet of the DRPGMC, Tanda, was held today as part of the annual day celebrations that began on October 28.

Dr Munish Saroch, spokeman of the college, said about 250 MBBS students, faculty members and post-graduates students of the college participated in the events.

Roha Shah was adjudged the best female and Anil the best male athlete at the event.

Principal Anil Chauhan and senior faculty members distributed the prizes among the winners. — OC

Solan, October 30
Pinegrove School, Dharampur, celebrated its 23rd annual day today where students presented a cultural extravaganza of various field and indoor events.

The field events included yoga display, gymnastics where agility and dexterity of students was demonstrated through a series of jaw-dropping acrobatic skills and karate which comprised lessons in self-defence techniques. The students also performed aerobics while dancing to the tune of a peppy number. The enactment of the play, "Chanakaya", transported the audience into the bygone era, providing a glimpse of the vision of a united India as it stands today.

David Le Barron, Founding Principal, Director, Curriculum and Assessment of the Hart School, Santa Clarita district, California, USA, was the chief guest on the occasion. He complimented the students for their cultural performance and gave away prizes to those who had excelled in academics and other co-curricular activities.

Addressing the gathering he said the world had become a global village and the diverse cultures helped learn valuable lessons.

Students who were awarded for their performances in various fields included Saraj Singh, Rashi, Muskan, Amit Sharma, Ashmita Sharma, Ujal Prakash Gurung, Barket Singh Kullar, Michelle Zothankimi, Bidhan Chettri, Nikita Jadaik, Eingmit Lepcha, Rahul Bansal, Vishavjeet Singh Thind and Manik Gargwere.

AJ Singh, Director, Pinegrove School, also addressed the gathering on the occasion. 

Bilaspur, October 30
Property worth Rs 20 lakh is said to have been destroyed in a devastating fire which erupted in the shops and stores of the Bansi Lal Duni Chand Associates in Ghumarwin bazaar late last night.

Reports said a large number of local people, youth and police personnel, led by DSP Anjani Jaswal, helped in extinguishing the fire as the Fire Brigade could not reach in time. Several other shops were saved from being damaged as the fire was raging in the thickly populate area. There were losses to some adjoining shops also due to this fire. The police has registered a case.