 |
| Friday, February 25, 2000, Chandigarh, India  
|
Accused files counter-complaint Dhumal asks officers to be
pro-active Govt committed to uplifting of
poor: CM
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shastri working as RSS
'pracharak' Murder case takes a twist JEs demand end to stagnation Forum asks IPH Dept to pay Rs
15,000 HP to allot land for CRPF centre Medical college allowed to admit
students Barking deer rescued 3 killed in truck mishap Villager murdered YC leader's charge Dairy project for rural women
|
Lawyers' strike hits court work SHIMLA, Feb 24 — Functioning of judicial courts came to a standstill in Himachal Pradesh as lawyers all over the State observed a day's strike today in protest against the Centre's move to amend the Code of Civil Procedure and the Indian Advocates Act. The striking members of the Himachal High Court Bar Association and Shimla Bar Association assembled at the district court and went to Raj Bhavan in a procession. They submitted a memorandum to the Governor urging the government to refrain from going ahead with the amendments which would put justice beyond the reach of the poor. Mr Sunil Chauhan, vice-President of the Shimla Bar Association, alleged that the lawyers were manhandled by a police officer while they were proceeding to Raj Bhavan. Later addressing a press conference Mr Ashwini Pathak, President of the State High Court Bar Association, said that the amendment effected in the Code of Civil Procedure to expedite deliverance of justice would in effect leads to miscarriage of justice. The requirement of surety of Rs 50,000 for an injunction order, scrapping of the provision of revision petition against the order of a single Bench judge before the double judge Bench and curtailment of revision against interim orders appeal would affect the litigant and not the lawyers, he added. Proposing the entry of foreign lawyers for which the Indian Advocates Act was being amended, he said in a country which boasted of legal luminaries like Nani Palkhiwala, Dr L.M. Singhvi and F.S. Nariman, there was no need for the services of foreigners. Similarly subjecting lawyers to a written test for renewal of licence after every five years was ridiculous as no such condition has been imposed on other professionals like architects and doctors. Reports of strike were
received from Hamirpur, Solan, Sundernagar, Nurpur,
Hisar, Dhuri, Samrala, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepore and
Rohtak. |
Accused files counter-complaint SOLAN, Feb 24 — New Delhi-based business magnate, Mr Rajneesh Vasudeva, facing criminal proceedings for having allegedly attempted to kill the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, near Kiarighat on February 13, yesterday filed a counter complaint in the Court of Additional CJM, at the sub-divisional town of Kandaghat. Mr Vasudeva, was released on bail after having spent five days in police and three days in judicial custody, on Monday. He, in his complaint, has accused three persons — the PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh, the Chairman of the HP Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC), Mr Rakesh Pathania, and ‘a friend of theirs’; Mr Baldev Anand, of having "physically assaulted him, his friend, wife and two children", "of getting him arrested on a false and fabricated complaint". Additionally, he accused the three of having criminally intimidated him, his wife and friend and also of trespass of two rooms of the HPTDC's Tourist Inn at Kiarighat, 25 km from here, which were duly booked and were under his legal possession on the night of February 11. Mr Vasudeva had, in his complaint submitted that he was associated with a number of trade and export organisations and had been a regular visitor to Kiarighat, where his family owned substantial lands and where he intended to set up a chain of hotels and resorts. His last visit took place on February 10 when he booked two rooms at The Tourist Inn. After spending the day there he, along with his family and friend Ramesh Kumar left for sight seeing to Shimla next morning. Upon their return to the Inn in the evening they found their duly booked and occupied rooms "had criminally been trespassed by the three accused". He maintained that all his pleadings with the Inn's manager proved in vain. The PWD Minister, Mr Mohinder Singh; the HPTDC Chairman, Mr Rakesh Pathania, and the third accused Mr Baldev Ananad, upon hearing the heated altercation, came out of the rooms and became furious when he wanted them to vacate the rooms. The three, as per Mr
Vasudeva's complaint, "shouted that they (the
Vasudevas) should go away immediately from the premises
of Tourist Inn, otherwise they would be got arrested and
handcuffed through police". This was followed by
‘pushing and assaulting of the complainant, the
members of his family and friend’. |
Dhumal asks officers to be
pro-active SHIMLA, Feb 24 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister, has called upon officers to play a pro-active role in ushering a process of change especially in the present competitive and globalised economy, with a view to delivering the goods to the people. Addressing, secretaries, heads of departments, managing directors of boards and corporations and deputy commissioners, here today, he said he was concerned about strengthening the financial health of the State and urged them to play an effective role in expediting the process of reforms and resource mobilisation by taking initiatives. Stressing the need for an efficient and responsive administration, the Chief Minister said that the government would reward the officers who would show good results. The government decisions should also be implemented expeditiously and any laxity on the part of officers would be viewed seriously. He said sometimes delay in implementation deprived the people of the benefits. Mr Dhumal asked each department to put together an action plan outlining its specific initiatives and the time period in which they were to be achieved. These action plans must emerge through a process of intra-departmental consultation so that they were both realistic and acceptable. He said that he would like to frame a hundred day calendar for these programmes as already initiated in tourism and horticulture departments. He also called for formulating of appropriate policies to attract the private sector investment in areas of strength and comparative advantage. He said that the state had already made a good progress in the hydel sector, but other areas like education technical education, township development, high value health care and technology related agriculture and horticulture also needed attention. He said decentralisation of power was essential to achieve better results. The Panchayati Raj Department had taken some initiatives on this front but still a lot remained to be done. He said that other department also need to handover functions to urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions. Especially areas where it was only appropriate that these bodies provided the services and collect the user charges. Mr A.K.Goswamy, Chief
Secretary, assured the Chief Minister that policies and
programmes of the government would be implemented in the
right earnest and asked the officers to put their sincere
efforts to make these a success. |
Govt committed to uplifting
of poor: CM SHIMLA, Feb 24 — Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, said that the government was committed to the speedy uplift of the poor and downtrodden and development of the rural areas. He stressed the need for implementation of poverty alleviation and rural development programme in right earnest to achieve the desired results. He was presiding over state-level coordination committee meeting of the Rural Development Department here yesterday. The Chief Minister said that out of total 10.37 lakh families in the state 2.86 lakh were still living below the poverty line and needed to be brought up at the earliest, which was possible only when the benefits of various programmes launched for their uplift percolated to them speedily. He expressed concern that although crores of rupees had been spent on poverty alleviation programmes in the state during the last so many years but still about one-fourth of the total families in the state were living below poverty line. Where these funds had gone all these years, he asked. The Chief Minister said Rs 120 crore was being spent under various state and Central Government-sponsored programmes of poverty alleviation and rural development during the current financial year. A sum of Rs 11.59 crore was being spent under the Jawahar Gram Samridhi Yojna, which also aimed at development of rural infrastructure in a planned way and also for providing gainful employment to the people living below poverty line. Rs 12.79 crore was being spent under assured employment scheme and suggested that panchayat samitis and zila parishads to include the works of micro plan at panchayat levels approved by the gram sabha under it so that the works prioritised at the grassroots level were executed speedily. Providing shelter to the eligible houseless persons in the state was one of the priorities of the government and 73,385 houses had been constructed under the Gandhi Kutir Yojna and Indira Awas Yojna against a target of 72,000 fixed for the period 1994-95 to 1998-99. As many as 125 watersheds for Bilaspur, Solan, Chamba, Kangra, Shimla and Hamirpur districts had been sanctioned this year under which Rs 35.22 crore would be spent in a five-year period. He asked the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that the law and order situation was maintained and miscreants who try to disturb it were dealt with firmly. Dr Ram Lal Markendey,
Minister of State for Rural Development, stressed for
timely achievements of targets under various rural
development programmes. Priority should be given to
complete the incomplete works first instead of taking so
many new works in hand. |
Shastri working as RSS
'pracharak' SHIMLA, Feb 24 — The CPI today launched an attack on the Governor, Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, accusing him of functioning like an RSS "pracharak". Mr Kameshwar Pandit, Secretary of the CPI, in a statement alleged that institutions in Himachal Pradesh were being saffronised. Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) was a classic example. Mr Shastri has come under criticism for allegedly indulging in political activities. The Congress had recently criticised him for issuing political statements. Mr Pandit criticised the state government for lifting the ban on participation of government employees in RSS activities. This would paralyse the administration, he said. Those who did not take part in the RSS activities could be harassed, he apprehended. He alleged the state government had terminated the services of hundreds of Home Guards and daily wage earners. He announced the CPI would launch an agitation next month against the "anti-people and anti-workers" policies of BJP-led government at the Centre and the state. Mr Pandit feared that the coming Budget would be "cruel" to the common man as the government had "offered concessions to big business houses on the pretext of development". Mr Pandit said it was
unfortunate that the RSS had succeeded in getting
publication of volumes of history suspended. "The
BJP government is defending the activities of the RSS.
This is a prelude to things to come," he warned. |
Murder case takes a twist MANDI, Feb 24 — The case of missing taxi driver Bhim Singh, which the police claimed to have solved last Monday, has taken a twist with the recovery of the body of Bhim Singh near Rewalsar last night. Local taxi drivers who accompanied the police to the site where the body had been buried identified it as that of the missing driver. Intriguingly, one of the four persons arrested by the police Gurdev Singh, had confessed that he had killed Bhim Singh and thrown the body in the Bhakra canal near Kiratpur. But the body has been found near Rewalsar, 28 km from here. Bhim Singh plied Maruti taxi, Man Singh, father of the deceased, had reported to the police that his son was missing since January 7. His vehicle could also not be traced. The Ludhiana police impounded the missing car during routine checking and arrested Nirmal Singh who was later released on bail. On information from the Ludhiana police, the Mandi police swung into action and arrested Nirmal Singh from Kiratpur. Two more — Raju and Kuldip of Ludhiana — were also taken into custody. All three stated that Gurdev Singh was the guilty man. The police arrested Gurdev Singh. He admitted to having killed Bhim Singh and thrown the body in the canal at Kiratpur. Now the recovery of the body from Rewalsar has deepened the mystery. The police says Bhim Singh may have been murdered in or around Mandi and the body buried in Rewalsar while the taxi may have been abandoned in Kiratpur. It could also be
possible that the four persons arrested from Ludhiana and
Kiratpur may have been involved in the sale of the
abandoned car and the real culprit may be someone else. |
Dark future for mine closure
victims PALAMPUR: The slate mines at Ghaniara and Yol camp of Kangra district have been existing for 200 years. It is stated that the British were the first to open the slate mines in the Kangra valley. Later these mines were taken over by the Kangra Valley Slate company, which continued mining till Independence. But after 1950, the Punjab Government in a landmark decision handed over control of slate mines to panchayats and local bodies. The government also allowed these panchayats to collect royalty from the sale of slates. Till 1997, Ghaniara panchayat was looking after the management of these slate mines. The panchayat had been receiving a large sum by way of royalty from the sale of slate and was the richest in the state. There are over 500 pits at Ghaniara and Yol where slate is mined. Over 10,000 labourers are engaged in this industry here in the extraction, carriage and loading-unloading of slate. The panchayat had employed over 40 supervisors to inspect mines and collect royalty. Besides, 200 trucks and 1500 mules were involved in this trade. The Himachal Pradesh Government, in a hasty decision in 1997, closed down all slate mines rendering over 10,000 persons jobless. Despite the fact that mining activities here were being carried on manually and no heavy machinery was used to extract the slate, the government preferred to go ahead with its decision and did not bother to seek the advice of experts. Before taking this major decision, the government had never taken the panchayat or the contractors concerned into confidence. Those who were solely dependent on this trade are now leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Resentment prevails in Ghaniara and Yol over the unhelpful and non-cooperative attitude of the state government towards the affected parties. Despite repeated requests, the government had not initiated any measures for the rehabilitation of over 10,000 persons. A number of contractors and functionaries of the panchayat told this reporter that the government had no specific policy for the grant of mining licences and it was adopting two yard-sticks in this respect. On one hand, the government was granting licences for mining to big business houses like Gujarat Ambuja and ACC, while on the other, the government had rendered thousands of persons jobless by closing down the mines here. They were solely dependent on slate mines for so many years. These industrial houses had caused a huge loss to the state’s mineral wealth. Even the government had allowed them to take the raw material like clinker out-side the state to feed their units, causing a loss to the state exchequer. It is surprising that slate mining was going on in Chamba and Mandi districts, but the state government has not banned mining in these two districts. Enquiries made by this reporter revealed that, the state Pollution Control Board had refused to grant pollution clearance certificate to the Ghaniara mines. Therefore, the government had been left with no alternative except to close down the mines here. However, the head of Ghaniara panchayat says that the same board had already given its clearance to Gujarat Ambuja and ACC to extract limestone in Darlaghat and Bilaspur by bypassing all norms. But in case of slate mines the board was adopting a double standard. The lush green forests in Darlaghat and Bilaspur districts have now become barren because of reckless mining. The state government, too, has virtually surrendered before these business houses which were not only exploiting the state’s natural wealth but also enjoying tax holiday. It is high time that
state government comes out with a new mining policy,
which will not only protect the revenue of the state but
will also check the irreparable damage caused to the
human environment, particularly in Bilaspur and Solan
districts. Besides, the government should also consider
the problems of thousands of persons who had been working
in the slate mines for many years and were solely
dependent for their bread in this industry. |
A town famed for top class
guns MANDI: Not many people know that Mandi town, which is known as the "kashi" of Himachal for its old temples, is also famous for making top class guns in the country. The town's four gun manufacturers produce guns as per the quota fixed by the government. Cousin Gun Manufacturers of this town brought credit to Himachal Pradesh when it was conferred with a prestigious Nation's pride of the Millennium Award on January 27, by the Union Minister of State for chemicals and fertiliser, Mr Ramesh Bais, in New Delhi. Established in 1949, Cousins Gun Manufacturers have earned a name all over the country for high quality "rough and tough" guns which are always in short supply. Mr Lila Vilas Sharma, managing partner, says that he cannot manufacture even a single gun more than the quota fixed by the government. Mandi guns have a big market at home and abroad and these can fetch foreign exchange also if the government increases the manufacturing quota, fixed by the Home Ministry on the recommendation of the state government. Gun making does not cause any pollution. He pleads that the government should promote this industry by enhancing the manufacturing quota. He laments that over the past 50 years only a marginal increase in the quota has been made. He claims that many gun makers abroad have desired to import and even to collaborate in the business of gun making but the government's attitude was the biggest stumbling block. He says that James Purdy & Sons Ltd of London and George F. Klissas of Athens wanted to import guns from here. But this is possible only if the quota is increased by the government. At present even the domestic demand cannot be met. He claims that world class pistols and revolvers can be made in Mandi if the government issues the licence. This would earn foreign exchange also, but he regrets that licence applications keep on gathering dust for decades. He says the gun has been designed on the BSA pattern and improved as a result of years of labour and research. It is a blend of reliability, durability and economy. It has been made from purely indigenous raw material. The barrel and action are of high grade steel while seasoned walnut has been used for butts. The pistol grip is unique. Cousins received a
number of awards and prizes over the past 50 years. It
won the gold medal in 1987 for maintaining the highest
standard and quality in shot guns in the country. It was
awarded the Udyog Rattan in 1994 by the Institute of
Economics Studies, New Delhi. In 1996 and 1997 it won the
Udyog Gaurav and Bharat Gaurav awards respectively. |
JEs demand end to stagnation MANDI, Feb 24 — The Himachal Pradesh Unemployed Junior Engineers Association had expressed concern over the apathy of the State Government towards the unemployed junior engineers. Mr Rakesh Sangrain, President of the association, said here today that over 5000 unemployed junior engineers of different categories were jobless. So the age bar on the unemployed JEs should be relaxed while making recruitment. The association had also pleaded that to end the stagnation graduate engineers should not be posted against the vacant posts of JE. It had also been demanded that the haphazard regularisation of JEs on contract should be discontinued till a policy decision on these regularisations was taken by the government. The government had also
been urged to ensure the implementation of the MoUs
signed with private companies under which it was
imperative to absorb the JEs of the state. |
Forum asks IPH Dept to pay Rs
15,000 DHARAMSALA, Feb 24 — The Kangra District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Irrigation and Public Health Department to pay a compensation of Rs 15,000 for deficiency in service and its refusal to supply drinking water. The complainant, Mr Inder Singh Arora, a statician at the Regional Health and Family Welfare Training Centre, Kangra, had approached the forum against the deficient services being rendered by the department within the premises of the centre. He had contested that due to deficient services, he had to engage a labourer to carry 10 buckets of water everyday from a nearby source for Rs 100. He said from October, 1997, to August 1999, he had spent Rs 69,000 for getting water for his family. The IPH Department had argued that till date it had not charged bills for supplying water to the colony and the centre as the water scheme there had been handed over to the Health and Family Welfare Department in 1997. It pointed out that the centre was not its consumer. The complainant pleaded that the matter regarding deficient water supply to government quarters had been taken up with the IPH officials through a number of letters by the Principal. Had the water scheme been handed over to the Regional Centre, why then would the Principal have corresponded with the department, he asked. The court observed that the IPH Department had failed to discharge its functions, forgetting that it was the sole agency responsible for supplying drinking water to the public. It said it was unreasonable for the department to wash its hands off the responsibility of supplying water. The fact that the department had not even bothered to issue bills further confirmed that it had not cared to provide water to the residents of the locality. The president of the
forum, Mr Govind Sharma, along with members S.D. Sharma
and Sonia Banta, directed the department to pay a
compensation of Rs 15,000 along with litigation expenses
amounting to Rs 2,000 to the complainant within two
months. |
HP to allot land for CRPF
centre SHIMLA, Feb 24 — The Himachal Pradesh Government has decided to allot 246 bighas of land in the Kopra village in Nurpur tehsil of Kangra for setting up a group centre of the Central Reserve Police (CRPF). The decision to allot the land was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet which was held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Mr P.K. Dhumal. A spokesman of the state government, said that the group centre would go a long way in boosting economic activity in Kangra district. The Cabinet decided to provide liberal facilities for para-military forces for setting up their group centres, training establishments and battalions in the state. The Cabinet also cleared
the Governor's address which would be delivered by him on
the opening-day of the Budget session of the Assembly on
March 2. |
Medical college allowed to admit
students KANGRA, Feb 24 — The Union Ministry for Health on recommendation of the Medical Council of India (MCI) has granted permission to the Himachal Pradesh government to admit the second batch of 50 students to the first year of the MBBS course for the 2000-2001 academic session in Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, near here. Dr R.L. Gupta Principal of the medical college, said the ministry had thus saved the future of students already studying there. The ministry on the recommendation of the MCI would also grant permission for admitting MBBS students in the first year of the course every year for five years till the first batch passes out from this college. The MCI had directed state government to fill all vacant posts in Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, due to promotion and transfer of some doctors to the Tanda Medical College. Dr Gupta said the government had already started filling these posts. When asked about the
time of admission of the second batch of the first year
MBBS students Dr Gupta said it was for Himachal Pradesh
University to decide the date of admission. |
3 killed in truck mishap CHAMBA, Feb 24 — Three persons were killed on the spot and another was wounded when a private truck (No. HP-38-3303) veered off the road and fell down from a hillock at Chehli village, about 15 km from here, on the Chamba-Pathankot highway yesterday, according to a delayed report received here today. An official spokesman
said the deceased had been identified as Kishori Lal,
Sarb Dayal and driver of the truck Chimnu Ram. He said
the bodies of the deceased had been handed over to their
kin after autopsy. |
Barking deer rescued MANDI, Feb 24 — Mr Prem Singh and his friends of Kandhi village in the Kataula valley rescued a barking deer last evening near their village and handed it over to the Forest Department. Due to heavy snowfall in the higher hills barking deer came down to the warmer area. Earlier, on Tuesday some villagers of Kataula had done just the opposite. They had killed the barking deer with lathis and stones. They were arrested while sharing the meat of the animal. Mr Vineet Kumar, DFO,
said the barking deer would be handed over to mini zoo at
Rewalsar. |
Villager murdered SOLAN, Feb 24 — One Ashwini Kumar Sood, a resident of Shiv Shankar Garh village under the Gram Panchayat at Mamlig, of this district was allegedly murdered in a clash with some villagers over a land dispute yesterday. The Kandaghat police has arrested six women and two men — all of Shiv Shankar Garh village. Four persons were reportedly absconding. All 12 have been booked
on charges of murder and rioting. |
YC leader's charge SHIMLA, Feb 24 — State Youth Congress Leader Prithvi Vikram Sein has accused the BJP-HVC Government of discriminating against the Kasumpti area of the town where all development works have been stopped. Mr Sein, vice-president
of the state Youth Congress, alleged here yesterday that
work on the 50-bed hospital at Junga had almost come to
standstill work on the Sadhupul-Junga-Chail road had also
been stopped. |
Dairy project for rural women MANDI, Feb 24 — the Syanj panchayat of Chachiot valley in this district has started a self-employment project for rural women. Mr Chatar Singh Patial, a literacy coordinator, set up a Rs 3.5-lakh dairy project in the village to make women self-sufficient. The women were given a
loan under a Centre-sponsored scheme which also provided
subsidy of Rs 10,000. |
 |
| Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh Tribune | In Spotlight | 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 119 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
