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Sunday,
August 18, 2002,
Chandigarh, India  
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Admission scam in pvt dental colleges A setback for HP BJP Stay on cancellation
of petrol pumps Probe demanded into PF deposit issue Pupils want regular principal, teaching staff |
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Hindu Mahasabha calls off stir Govt ‘neglecting’ Spiti valley Manimahesh yatra from Aug 30 Mushaira held at Raj Bhavan Minister threatens to quit on OBC reservation issue Leopard creates panic, kills child 2 held for trapping Bengal lizards Murder accused get police remand Sharma is new DCC chief
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Admission scam in pvt dental colleges Shimla, August 17 The large-scale irregularities in admission were detected recently when the colleges approached the university for the registration of students. A perusal of the record revealed that even those not eligible had been given admission in the garb of “management seats”. There were cases where the students had either not qualified the plus two examination or were underage at the time of admission. In all, 19 such cases have come to notice in the Himachal Dental College, Sundernagar, seven in DAV Dental College, Solan, and the remaining in Bhojia Dental College, Baddi. As per the Supreme Court ruling, the seats falling vacant due to non-joining or shifting of selected candidates could be filled by the management if candidates are not available from the merit list of the test maintained by the university. Before allowing the colleges to fill the seats under the management quota, the university is supposed to give a cut-off date if candidates are not available from the merit list. The private colleges have allegedly mostly not been even informing the university about the vacancies and filling them on their own. For instance, the Sundernagar college filled the vacant seats immediately after the first counselling. The counselling was held on July 24 last year and the vacant seats were filled on July 26. The Baddi college had been approaching the university and got quite a few candidates from the merit list to fill vacancies. However, it also admitted students between November, 2001, and March, 2002, for the 2000-01 session even though no cut-off date had been given by the university. DAV Dental College maintains that it wrote to the university for sponsoring candidates to fill the vacancies. The university, however, asserts that it kept pressing for a cut-off date instead of seeking candidates from the merit list. In fact, the admission of a ward of a member of the Dental Council of India in the college was later cancelled when it was detected that she had not even secured the minimum 50 per cent marks in the plus two examination and was, as such, ineligible to appear in the entrance test. It is common knowledge that the “management seats” are virtually “money spinners” for the private colleges and they use all tricks to fill the maximum seats under this quota. In the process, they also oblige a few “well-connected, influential” candidates to ensure that their “irregular” action was regularised. The university has, despite pressure from various quarters, refused to register these candidates. The matter has been referred to the government and a series of high-level meetings involving top bosses of the government and the university, have been held, but to no avail. The university maintains that the admission rules were framed by the government and it was conducting the Combined Entrance Test behalf of the government. As such, only the government could relax the rules to regularise the “wrong” admissions and pave the way for the registration of students concerned. The ball is now in the court of the government. Its failure to take action against the offenders in the past has encouraged such irregularities. |
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A setback for HP BJP Shimla While the government has been working overtime, conducting one inquiry after the other, to “expose” the Leader of the Opposition, the BJP leaders have been issuing statements every other day to drive political mileage out of the issue. Mr Virbhadra Singh was charged with filing a wrong declaration under the Land Ceiling Act regarding the land in his possession. The court, however, held that no case was made out against him. In all probability the government will go for a revision petition but the ruling will land credence to the assertions of Mr Virbhadra Singh that government was concocting cases against him out of politically vendetta. Mr Virbhadra Singh has said that the judgement had exposed the nefarious designs of the Dhumal government and his position had been vindicated. This is the second time the government had to eat a humble pie in the political battle against Mr Virbhadra Singh. Earlier, the CBI had given a clean chit to the Congress leader on the charges against him. The BJP circles, however, feel that enough homework was not done before filing a complaint against the Congress leader. The government should have seen to it that a foolproof case was made out before politicising the issue. Mr Ganesh Dutt, the party spokesperson said that the government had made it clear at the very outset that it had no intention to implicate any political persons, let alone the Leader of Opposition in false case. He said that law would take its own course. The judgement has come at a time when the BJP is itself feeling under the heat of the petrol stations and LPG agencies allotment scam in which the name of its top leaders figure. It has certainly deprived the party of an issue, which was coming in handy to whip the Congress. |
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State BJP to meet today Shimla, August 17 The meeting will also be attended by Mr Arun Jaitley, national General Secretary. He is coming here to review the functioning of the party and to devise a strategy for the ensuing Assembly elections in the state. |
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Stay on cancellation
of petrol pumps Shimla, August 17 A Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice W.A. Shishak, Chief Justice, and Mr Justice A.K. Goel, passed interim orders on 12 writ petitions here yesterday, staying the cancellation orders. Likewise, another Bench of Mr Justice R.L. Khurana and Mr Justice M.R. Verma granted stay in respect of four other petitions. All cases have been listed for consideration before the respective courts immediately after six weeks.
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Probe demanded into PF deposit issue Palampur, August 17 Talking to reporters here today, Ms Renu Kaul and Mr Ashwani Netal, president and secretary, respectively, of the association alleged that during this period over Rs 40 lakh was deducted from the salaries of the staff but the amount was not deposited with the Public Provident Fund Commissioner, Shimla. Both leaders said the college authorities were silent on the issue and were not disclosing the truth. They said the teaching and non-teaching staff of the college was worried over the development. Both leaders urged the college authorities to place the true picture before the staff so that they could know where their money had gone. The association also sought the intervention of the State Chief Minister, Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, in the matter. Meanwhile, the Income Tax authorities have already started an inquiry into the alleged misuse of the income tax deducted from the salaries of the staff. Mr Lal Chand, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax, said an officer on the job would submit his report to him by next week. He said the record of the college was under scrutiny and action would be taken as per the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961. |
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Pupils want regular principal, teaching staff Nurpur, August 17 Mr Dhumal at a function on the college premises on June 16 announced that the college would be named after ‘Arya’ as per the wishes of the outgoing managing committee of the college and faculties of arts and commerce would be started in the maiden academic session in the government college. The government has not issued any notification in this connection. The HP University has even failed to list the faculties in the college. Agitated over the government’s inaction, the students under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) launched an agitation on Wednesday. The students held a rally here yesterday protesting against the failure of the HP University to run the college in a proper way. They also submitted a memorandum to the government through the local SDM. Ms Shalu Pathania and Mr Ashish Mahajan, president and secretary of the ABVP Nurpur unit, respectively, said the students would intensity the stir within next two days if their demands were not accepted. They also threatened a boycott of classes, relay fast and gherao of the old college staff. |
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Hindu Mahasabha calls off stir Kangra, August 17 Mr Nalinder Gautam, state president of the mahasabha, which had been protesting against government inaction against the officials guilty in the temple fund misappropriation case, told mediapersons that the relay fast was called off following an assurance that the demands would be looked into sympathetically. Earlier in the day, members of the mahasabha took out a rally here, and burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister. |
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Govt ‘neglecting’ Spiti valley Kulu, August 17 Mr Vidyarthi said the telephone system in the valley was in a shambles. Despite repeated requests, the Department of Telecommunication had not done much to improve the system, he said. The former Chief Secretary further said the problem had aggravated due to the irregular supply of electricity. Besides, there was no generator at the Kaza telephone exchange, he said. Mr Vidyarthi said the state government had failed to prevail upon the Telecommunications Department take concrete steps to improve the situation. Besides, the erratic power supply had been causing a nuisance. He alleged that the post of Executive Engineer, HPSEB, Rongtong, had been lying vacant for the past two years. Mr Vidyarthi said he had met the Additional District Magistrate and the Executive Engineer, PWD for opening the Kyato-Chioham read for vehicular traffic. He also urged to improve the Manali-Kaza road. Mr Vidyarthi further said a large number of posts were vacant in Veterinary, Health and Education Departments and institutions. Important posts of the District Education Officer and the Block Development Officer had also been lying vacant. |
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Manimahesh yatra from Aug 30 Chamba The Himachal Government has already declared Manimahesh yatra as a state-level fair. Generally, the Manimahesh yatra commences exactly seven days prior to the actual day fixed for the holy dip in the sacred lake. The beginning of the yatra a week earlier is locally called “Chhari yatra”. The devotees who join “chhari yatra” tread bare foot singing prayers and chanting carols in praise of Lord Shiva, reaching the Manimahesh lake on the day of the holy dip. The Manimahesh yatra becomes more enjoyable when devotees sweep into the sprawling Bharmour tribal valley. Bharmour, a sleepy township located at an altitude of 2195 metres, has been further glorified by its famous cluster of 84 temples popularly known as “Bharmour chaurasi”. It is a resting place for weary devotees who restart their pilgrimage to Manimahesh from this point. These temples were built as a sequel to the visit of 84 “sidhas” from Kurukshetra to Manimahesh. En route to Manimahesh, they were warmly welcomed by the then King of the erstwhile ‘Chamba state’ at its capital Brahmapur (now Bharmour). The “sidhas” were pleased with the King’s courteous behaviour and blessed him (as desired by the childless King) with an heir. The blessings worked and the King built these temples in their honour. Manimahesh can be approached directly from Pathankot railhead, which is a more patronised route. Although there are many shorter routes from the Kangra valley but they are more hazardous and are, therefore, forbidden now. The oval-shaped Manimahesh lake is about 14 km away from Hadsar, which is 15 km from Bharmour. The trek to the Manimahesh lake is arduous and steep. On the eve of the holy dip, the precincts of the Manimahesh lake — teeming with a large number of devotees — present a colourful spectacle making one feel the presence of the divine power. Early next day (Radhasthami day) pilgrims take the holy dip amidst the chanting of mantras. Thereafter, pilgrims offer prayers to Mount Kailash and make floral offerings at the image of Lord Shiva established on one side of the lake. This idol of Lord Shiva is said to have been brought to this holy pilgrimage centre by Yogi Charpat Nath from Rajasthan in the sixth century. The Manimahesh pilgrimage will this year start on August 30 and conclude on September 14. According to Mr Rahul Anand, Deputy Commissioner of Chamba, who is also the Chairman of the state-level Manimahesh pilgrimage committee, the holy “chhari” of Manimahesh would commence from Chamba a week before the holy dip. The district administration has taken all steps to provide adequate security cover to the pilgrims, especially these from the Bhadarwah area of Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the prevailing conditions in J&K. No langar will be permitted near the sacred Manimahesh lake so as to keep the area clean. As many as 30 temporary toilets have been constructed on the pilgrimage route. |
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Mushaira held at Raj Bhavan Shimla, August 17 As many as 16 Hindi and Urdu poets from Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states participated in it and enthralled a select audience with their verses for over two hours. Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, presided over the function and Mr Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, was the chief guest. Dr Suraj Bhan, who has started tradition of organising “Kavi Sammelans” at Raj Bhavan on Republic Day and Independence Day, said such functions on important national days stimulate the feeling of patriotism besides arousing human sentiments. He asserted that poetic symposiums should be held more frequently as they helped in promoting human values and qualities of life. The Governor also recalled the role of poets and writers in the freedom movement and added that their contribution had been second to none. He also released two books by Asha Shailey on the occasion. |
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Minister threatens to quit on OBC reservation issue Una, August 17 Addressing a gathering of OBC representatives at Basal village, eight km from here, he said he would resign and go to the people if the government failed to implement the clause. He claimed that vested interests within the BJP had been opposing the move. Mr Sagar alleged the Congress was responsible for denying the reservation for OBCs.
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Leopard creates panic, kills child Dalhousie, August 17 As a result the people of the area are afraid of coming out of their houses in the night. Even in the daytime do not dare to go to their fields to cut grass and fodder for their livestock. The Forest Department has not so far declared this leopard as a man-eater, jeopardising the security of the residents of the affected area, though the forest officials are aware of the increasing ferocity of the beast. |
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2 held for trapping Bengal lizards Solan, August 17 Bengal monitor lizards are four legged, larger-sized reptiles called “go” in local parlance. These animals prey upon small snakes, and other crawling animals and are treated as table delicacies by the Bangalas. A case under Section 51 and 52 of the Wild Life Protection Act had been registered against Bunty and Kamal, residents of Bangala Colony, Pitu Nagar, Nalagarh. Both had reportedly confessed to having trapped the animals for meat purpose. |
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Murder accused get police remand Bilaspur, August 17 The two have been accused of the murder of their friend Vishal Panwar of Diara sector here on July 12. They have been charged under Sections 302, 201 and 34, IPC, and were presented today in the court after their earlier remand expired. |
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Sharma is new DCC chief Chamba, August 17 According to a press note issued here today, the nomination of M. Sharma has been made on the directions of the state president of the HPCC, Mrs Vidya Stokes. The post had fallen vacant due to the death of Mr Khem Raj Abrol, a former district president a few days ago. |
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A clarification Hamirpur, August 17 |
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