H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Minister hints at hike in bus fares
Kangra, March 8
The Transport Minister, Mr G.S. Bali, today said the state would have metered taxis and auto-rickshaws in order to provide better facilities to the visiting pilgrims and tourists to the state. He also expressed apprehensions that bus fares in the state may go up in order to cover up the losses suffered by the HRTC.

Gupta sworn in Chief Justice
Shimla, March 8
Mr Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court here today. Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, administered the oath of office to Justice Gupta at a simple but impressive ceremony at Raj Bhavan. Mrs Rajendra Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary, conducted the proceedings.

Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, administers the oath of office to Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta at Raj Bhavan in Shimla on Saturday. — Photo Anil Dayal

Transfers effected in violation of poll code
Sundernagar, March 8
The outgoing BJP has promoted 33 Range Officers to Assistant Conservators of Forests, two notifications of these orders were issued on February 22, four days prior to the Assembly elections which were held on February 26.

Karzai revisits his student days’ haunts
Shimla, March 8
Mr Hamid Karzai, President of the Transitional Islamic state of Afghanistan, relived the moments he had enjoyed as a student here more than two decades ago. In fact, he did not spend any time at the Cecil Oberoi hotel, where he has been putting up.

Roerich works for art gallery
Shimla, March 8
Mr Alexander M. Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India, said here today that Russia wanted the bilateral ties between India and China to improve so that the three Asian super powers could associate closely and in a more meaningful manner.

• Jawan cremated

• Shivratri fair concludes

Minister hints at hike in bus fares
Our Correspondent

Kangra, March 8
The Transport Minister, Mr G.S. Bali, today said the state would have metered taxis and auto-rickshaws in order to provide better facilities to the visiting pilgrims and tourists to the state. He also expressed apprehensions that bus fares in the state may go up in order to cover up the losses suffered by the HRTC.

While talking to mediapersons at his residence here, he said he would work towards improving the condition of the HRTC and cleanliness, efficiency and accountability would be his priorities. He said new schemes would be introduced in the department so that more employment avenues could be generated to help unemployed youths as promised by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, in the party’s manifesto.

The minister said the process of appointments and transfers in different departments in the state initiated by Professor Dhumal’s government had been cancelled and the such processes would be initiated a fresh.

Gupta sworn in Chief Justice
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 8
Mr Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta was sworn in as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court here today.

Dr Suraj Bhan, Governor, administered the oath of office to Justice Gupta at a simple but impressive ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Mrs Rajendra Bhattacharya, Chief Secretary, conducted the proceedings.

Mr Virbhadra Singh,Chief Minister, Mr Kaul Singh Thakur,Irrigation and Public Health Minister, Mr Rangila Ram Rao, Excise and Taxation Minister, Mrs Chandresh Kumari, Health Minister, Mr Singhi Ram Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Mr Harsh Mahajan,Animal Husbandry Minister,judges of the state high court, Ms Justice Kamlesh Sharma, Mr Justice L.S. Panta, Mr Justice A.K. Goel, Mr Justice R.L. Khurana, Mr Justice Om Prakash Lok ayukta, Lieut-Gen. J.J. Singh, GOC-in-C, ARTRAC, Mr A.K. Puri, Director -General of Police, Dr S.D. Sharma, Vice- Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh University, Mr Narendra Thakur, Vice Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, members of bar councils and advocates were present on the occasion.

Born at Mirpur in Pakistan- occupied Kashmir in 1947 Mr Justice Gupta had his early education in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. After obtaining his LL.B degree from Delhi University ,he was enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council in 1970.

He was appointed as judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 1990 and transferred to the Calcutta High Court in 1996.

Earlier he served as the Advocate -General of Jammu and Kashmir and was a visiting Lecturer in the Faculty of Law, University of Jammu. He also served as a senior Central Government standing counsel in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

He was appointed as the Acting Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court in November 2000. He had the privilege of swearing in the first Governor of the new state of Jharkhand and he was later appointed as the first Chief Justice of the high court of the new state.

Transfers effected in violation of poll code
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, March 8
The outgoing BJP has promoted 33 Range Officers to Assistant Conservators of Forests, two notifications of these orders were issued on February 22, four days prior to the Assembly elections which were held on February 26.

According to sources, the Range Officers were awaiting promotions since long but the department had not issued the orders. The orders were issued only four days before the elections. One list contained the names of 26 candidates whereas the second list contained the names of seven persons. The notifications were issued as per the orders of the Principal Secretary (Forests) to the government.

Karzai revisits his student days’ haunts
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 8
Mr Hamid Karzai, President of the Transitional Islamic state of Afghanistan, relived the moments he had enjoyed as a student here more than two decades ago.

In fact, he did not spend any time at the Cecil Oberoi hotel, where he has been putting up. He had been on the move around in the town since his arrival, here yesterday, looking for old buildings, shops and friends with whom he had spent memorable time during his six years stay. He had a stroll on the Mall last evening as well as this afternoon and had tea and snacks at Ashiana Restaurant on the Ridge along with his old friend and classmate Shyam Khanna. The two had been regular visitors to the restaurant as students and used to spend hours together at the joint.

Mr Karzai enjoyed not only a panoramic view of the hill resort from the commanding heights of the Ridge but also got every moment he spent in the town videotaped. He was virtually overwhelmed with the scenic beauty and serenity of the Queen of the Hills and warmth of the people. All the time he kept inquiring about things like weather, particularly the amount of snow and rain, temperature and water problem. He felt that it was too hot for March. He was visibly disappointed when informed that the average temperature had gone up and that the town no longer received the amount of snow and rain as in the seventies. He was taken aback when told that fans were being used in summer in the hill resort.

Last evening he visited Gainda Mal Hem Raj, the departmental store, from where he had most of his necessities before having tea at the Fascination restaurant on the Mall. He also visited the majestic Vice-Regal Lodge complex, which now houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study.

Mr Karzai extended his stay by a few hours so that he could move around in the town. The security personnel had a hard time as the VVIP, who is on the hit list of Islamic fundamentalists wanted to move around freely.

Roerich works for art gallery
Tribune News Service

Shimla, March 8
Mr Alexander M. Kadakin, Russian Ambassador to India, said here today that Russia wanted the bilateral ties between India and China to improve so that the three Asian super powers could associate closely and in a more meaningful manner. The Ambassador maintained that improvement in Indo-US relations would not have a negative impact on India-Russia ties which were as strong as ever.

He said Russia had a special bond with Himachal Pradesh because the state treasured the artistic legacy of famous painter N.Roerich. He said the Roerich Art Gallery and Museum at Naggar should be expanded and developed into a scientific and cultural centre.

He said the Russian Embassy had electronically produced copies of 40 major works of the artist which would be gifted to the Naggar art gallery. These copies were as good as the original works and would be first brought to Shimla and displayed at an exhibition for the benefit of the local art lovers.

Jawan cremated
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, March 8
Subhash Chand (37), a jawan of 11 Rashtriya Rifles, was cremated with full military honours in his native Tibb village under Surani Panchayat in Jwalamukhi.

He had died on March 3 in the Kargil sector when he was buried alive in an avalanche. His body was brought to the village this morning.

Shivratri fair concludes
Our Correspondent

Mandi, March 8
The week-long international Shivratri Fair was formally declared closed by the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, this evening.

Earlier, the Chief Minister offered prayers at the shrine of Madho Rai and participated in the shobha yatra, which ended at the Padal Ground.