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Wednesday,
September 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Jana:
all-party meeting on judicial panel soon Potable
water tops Shanta’s agenda Pleas
against formation of society rejected Appointment
stayed Dist HVC
chief resigns |
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65
panchayat chiefs’ plea to DC Woman dies
in fire
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Jana: all-party meeting on judicial panel soon Shimla, September 3 Inaugurating a seminar on “Indian judiciary-problems and perspectives”, organised by the Law Department of Himachal Pradesh University, he said the government planned to bring the relevant Bill in Parliament during the winter session. He said the commission would not only have the authority to appoint Supreme Court and high court judges, but also evolve a code of ethics for judicial officers. The government proposed to convene an all-party meeting before finalising the draft of the legislation. The issue of judicial commission had been hanging fire. It was one of the main recommendations of the Venkatachaliah Commission on judicial reforms. The NDA government had also promised to set up the commission in its election manifesto. Referring to the steps being taken by the government to ensure expeditious disposal of cases and reform the judicial system, he said fast courts were being set up to provide justice and lok adalats had also been set up to settle cases pertaining to public utility services. He said the process to fill vacant posts of judge in the apex court and the high courts was under way. Mr Krishnamurthy said at present over 2000 posts of judge were vacant in the high courts and subordinate courts and stressed that these must be filled promptly to reduce pendency of cases. He said the cases which did not involve a law point should be disposed of through arbitration and reconciliation. Expressing concern over the increasing number of pending cases, he said over two lakh cases had piled up which was alarming. He underlined the need for close rapport between the prosecution and investigation agencies. He said the government alone could not reform the judicial system and the judiciary and the bar must come forward and do their bit. He said there was no move to introduce an all-India judicial service. The abysmally low percentage of conviction, about 10 per cent, was a matter of concern. It only indicated that either 90 per cent of the cases registered were false or the criminals were going scot-free because of in proper investigation and prosecution, he said. UNI adds:
Mr Krishnamurthy said the Supreme Court’s observation with regard to presidential reference, relating to the interpretation of Article 174 of the Constitution vis-a-vis powers of the Election Commission under Article 324, was not altogether unexpected. “It has stated that it will look into the question of law and that was the purpose for which a presidential reference itself was referred to the Supreme Court,” he added. Asked whether the imposition of President’s rule in Gujarat had become imminent after the Supreme Court’s observation, he said: “We will cross the bridge when we come to it.’’ Meanwhile, presiding over the function, Himachal Pradesh Governor Suraj Bhan emphasised the need to provide quick and cheap justice to people, which was essential for early redress of their grievances and upholding their faith in the judicial system. He said cases should be disposed of in a given time frame as inordinate delay resulted in injustice. |
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Potable
water tops Shanta’s agenda Dharamsala, September 3 Addressing a press conference here Mr Shanta Kumar said the entire matter had been discussed in the presence of the party General Secretary, Mr Arun Jaitely, and he would not like to add anything. He said only after the report of the delimitation committee, the matter of the creation of new districts could be taken up. He said the country and states were passing through a very crucial period and, as such, attempts should be made to reduce the administrative expenses Mr Shanta Kumar said in the present circumstances, the Rural Development Ministry had been entrusted the responsibility of the overall rural development. He said his first priority was to ensure drinking water facilities to those 16018 villages, which, till date were bereft of any potable water. He said the country had 14,22,000 villages and helmets out of which 12,73,000 had been provided drinking water facilities while in 13,4000 villages the scheme had been partially implemented. Only in 16,018 villages there were no drinking water facility and he would ensure that these villages get potable water soon. He said the major problem was the maintenance of existing water supply schemes as no provisions had been made for it. He said the funding agencies were reluctant to finance any proposal where equity participation by the beneficiaries and maintenance by them was not included. Mr Shanta Kumar said that under the new Accelerated Water Supply Scheme, the first instalment of funds had been released to the states and the states submitting certificate of 60 per cent amount having been spent were being given the second instalment. He said it would be his endeavor to ensure that funds are not diverted by the states. |
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Pleas against formation of society rejected Shimla, September 3 More than 30 petitioners said the state government had issued a notification on December 27,2000, whereby it had directed the employees of the institute to work for the society or elsewhere in government departments. The petitioners alleged that this action of the government was not in accordance with the law. The petitioners alleged that their objections to the constitution of the society were not considered by the government. Defending the action of the state government, Advocate-General Sanjay Karol contended that it was within its domain to decide as to which of its departments needed to be closed and how to deal with employees in the event of a closure. He said the petitioners would continue to be public servants in the Directorate of the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering and Adventure Sports. He said their services would be protected and no changes in the service conditions would be made. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice W.A. Shishak and Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel observed that in view of the statement made by the government, there was no merit in these petitions. |
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Appointment
stayed Shimla, September 3 The petitioner, Vimla Devi, a resident of Chnavak panchayat has averred that she fulfils the criteria for the post. She belongs to a Schedule Caste, IRDP family and is a landless widow. Four years ago, her appointment had been favoured by the panchayat and the Mahila Mandal of the village, she adds. A delegation of six panchayat pradhans had met the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Rural), Shimla, and brought the case in his notice. Mr V.K. Bhatnagar, members SAT, yesterday issued notices to the Director Education, Block Development Officer, Sunni, and the panchayat president and directed them to file their replies. |
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Dist HVC chief resigns Una, September 3 The move followed the decision of the entire Kutlehar unit of the party to resign en masse from the party at a meeting of the party under the chairmanship of its vice-president Durga Dass last night. Since Mr Ram Nath Sharma had represented the Kutlehar Assembly
constituency thrice since 1977, his position had become vulnerable after this development and he announced his resignation this morning. The HVC general secretary, Mr
S. L. Verma, refused to comment on the resignation of Mr Sharma and said he was gathering information about the meeting of workers of the Kutlehar constituency and the subsequent developments.
PTI |
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65 panchayat chiefs’ plea to DC Dharamsala, September 3 The panchayat pradhans, led by Mr Des Raj pradhan, Jogipura panchayat, said in case the suspension orders were not rescinded, they would approach the High Court. |
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Woman dies
in fire Shimla, September 3 The fire which reportedly started due to short-circuit engulfed the room and papers pasted on the ceiling and walls, police sources said. The heat generated by the fire also resulted in the bursting of a gas cylinder, damaging the house. The victim has been identified as Sushila (26), wife of Rajeet, an employee of the hotel.
PTI |
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hikes house rent allowance Shimla, September 3 The second instalment would be paid in December, third in March, 2003, fourth in June, 2003, and fifth in September, 2003, and the final instalment in December, 2003. |
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‘Samman rashi’ of freedom fighters hiked Shimla, September 3 A notification in this regard has been issued today in pursuance of the decision of the state government.
PTI |
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