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Sunday,
May 4, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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7 posts of Asst Advocate-General
abolished Scribes:
check POTA misuse Mandi farmers demand relief Rent Act turns contentious
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Probe sought into encroachments CBSE to introduce ‘functional’ English Workshop on Shivalik
vertebrates Snow, winds hit Spiti life Police to help tourists System to monitor buses on road 24 contract
gastroenteritis
Scrap Official Secrets Act: scribes’ body 20 get bail on vend demolition case Martyr cremated
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7 posts of Asst Advocate-General
abolished Shimla, May 3 After the completion of the selection process names of four candidates were recommended to the state government for appointment but these were withheld after the change of power in the state. One of the selected candidates Mr Vivek Singh Thakur, approached the State Administrative Tribunal with the plea that the state be directed to appoint the recommended candidate instead of filling the post of Assistant Advocate General on a contract or tenure basis. His argument was that earlier he was working on a contract basis and now he was at serial number one on the recommendations made by the HPPSC. He urged the court for directing the state not to remove him from service by an ad hoc or contract appointee. The tribunal, taking into consideration the material placed before it, directed the state not to remove him from the post of Assistant Advocate General. The state informed the tribunal regarding the abolition of seven posts of Assistant Advocate General. Keeping in view the decision of the state, the tribunal dismissed the petition of Mr Vivek Thakur. Earlier, there were six posts of Assistant Advocate General in 1996-97, which were increased to nine by the previous government. During the regime of the previous congress government, there were a total of 18 sanctioned posts of officials who were representing the state before the high court and State Administrative Tribunal. This number was increased to 20 in the year 2001-2002. |
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Scribes:
check POTA misuse Bilaspur, May 3 Releasing resolutions of the state executive meeting of the federation to mediapersons, its state president said that the meeting also strongly objected to the provision in the Act which compels a journalist to disclose his source of information and also another provision which forces a judge to accept as “true”, the statement of the accused given in front of a police officer. The resolution called these provisions undemocratic and unconstitutional and liable to be misused against inconvenient political opponents and mediapersons. The meeting demanded that on the basis of experience of POTA in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, the Central Government should bring out proper amendments to check its misuse and also ensure that it was used only against terrorists. The meeting criticised former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal for his failure to fulfil his own declarations regarding the provision of some essential facilities to journalists in Himachal Pradesh. It was said that the five-year rule of Mr Dhumal saw an increase in threats to, and assaults on, journalists in the state, and in some glaring instances, even protection and support of Chief Minister to those in power who attempted to intimidate and terrorise journalists in an attempt to serve their political interests. The meeting decided to give representation to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in this regard and also to organise a state- level journalists’ conference and seminar on September 28 at Bilaspur. |
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Mandi farmers demand relief Sundernagar, May 3 According to an official source, the first case of the foot-and-mouth disease was detected on April 14 at Chatter village of Sundernagar where more than 50 animals were examined for this disease. Medical aid was also provided after symptoms of the disease were detected in animals at various places in the district. According to officials of the Veterinary Department, the department, has deputed staff along with a mobile veterinary dispensary which is visiting the areas from where reports of the outbreak of the disease are received. The department is also providing medical aid to the suffering animals by vaccinating them. Teams of experts from the polyclinic, Bhunter, Kulu and Veterinary College, Palampur, Kangra district, have reached Mandi district and have visited the places from where reports of outbreak of the disease have been received. The teams have examined thousands of animals and suggested control measures and treatment to be given to the affected animals. The department claims that 90 per cent of the affected animals are now in the recovery stage. On the other hand, farmers were not satisfied with the functioning of the department. They claim the disease spread in these areas from animals which were brought here from the adjoining states to the state-level Nalwari Fair, Sundernagar. No precautions to check the spread of the disease were taken. As a result, the disease broke out in this district and 25 animals were killed. The department started the control measures late due to which the farmers further suffered.
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Rent Act turns contentious Solan, May 3 The issue is likely to be taken up at the Cabinet meeting on May 5. Hectic efforts are on by a section of the residents to get the area, falling under the gram panchayat of Sirinagar in Solan district, declared a rural area and out of the purview of the Act. The Act was extended to the area in 1998 by the then BJP government. The BJP wants the Act to continue while the Congress is sparing no efforts to get the notification concerned repealed. Congressmen contend that since the Act was enacted at the instance of Mr Sanjay Karol, the then Advocate-General of Himachal Pradesh, and some RSS men to favour a chosen few, it had led to a communal divide and the violation of procedural norms. They also feel that the imposition of the Act was a sequel to the special leave petition filed against the Virbhadra Singh government in 1997, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court. They also favour its abrogation as the area falls under a panchayat while this Act pertains to urban areas.
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Probe sought into encroachments DALHOUSIE: Residents have asked the Chief Minister, Mr. Virbhadra Singh, to order a high-level probe into the haphazard constructions and illegal encroachments which have mushroomed all over the city during the past few years. They have urged the Chief Minister to review the permission granted for the constructions in the past few years and penalise defaulters. The unruly and unwarranted skyscrapers fast spreading out in the famous hill station are destroying the forest cover, thanks to the unbridled greed of the land mafia and the apathy of the authorities concerned. Dalhousie is famous for its picturesque setting. Nestled in the northern end of the mighty
Dhauladhars, the hill town is full of beautiful natural wonders. But, sad to say, it has become a cesspit of the land mafia involved in the construction in open violation of the building byelaws. Talking into account the stringent “building scheme” sanctioned for the municipal area of the town, the construction work on unauthorised housing has not yet been halted. The norms and provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Act are being violated posing a threat to the sylvan hills of Dalhousie. The urban managers appear to convert the whole town into a commercial settlement. The reasons how they have permitted every proposal presented by any individual without giving proper thought to it are best known to them. Unauthorised constructions and encroachments have become a part of urban culture. It is understood why the Department of Urban Development has turned a blind eye to this menace. The Town and Country Planning Department appears to be ineffective. It perhaps believes in issuing notices only. The building scheme of the Municipal Council, Dalhousie, provides that except in the Bazaar Ward, which comprises
Kathlog-Potreyan, Tehra and Bakrota, no residential building will be erected on any estate which has an area of less than half an acre. In the case of an existing estate, no partition shall be allowed in any house. The revenue mismanagement is another problem which Dalhousie is facing. Since there is no sewage system in Dalhousie, both the sewage from private houses and the wastes from hotels are conveniently dumped into the surrounding burns (nullahs) in some areas. The dense forest is being used as a lavatory. But, it is officially learnt that some funds have been sanctioned for the sewerage scheme and a little headway has been made in this regard. Meanwhile, Mr Paramjit Singh, president of the Bharat Vikas Parishad, Dalhousie, has expressed concern over the menace of flies and mosquitoes, leading to health problems. He attributes the main cause for multiplying the flies to the accumulation of garbage heaps here and there causing unhygienic conditions in the town. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister recently, the Parishad has demanded spraying of the whole town, especially at places where dirt and filth are dumped. It has also asked for removing garbage on a regular basis with a view to curbing this problem in the initial stages. |
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CBSE to introduce ‘functional’ English Mandi, May 3 Addressing
mediapersons after the state-level meeting of the Principals of the schools affiliated to the CBSE, Mr Ganguli said 6,500 schools in India and 19 other countries were affiliated to the CBSE and it was the first Board in Asia which had introduced information and bio-technologies along with other subjects with full options to students to select subjects of their choice. He said evaluation of students would not be done on the basis of academic performance alone, but other factors which determine life skill would also be taken into account. The main thrust would be to evaluate the traits of personality and to develop them. Mr Ganguli said other subjects like disaster management had been integrated with social studies to make students ready to face man-made and natural disasters. Replying to a question if the CBSE had taken any measure to relieve the children of the heavy bag of books, he said the students up to the Class II would not be required to carry any bag to the school except lunch boxes. Their books will remain in the school and no home work would be assigned to them. No examination would be given up to Class V, he added. The CBSE would endeavour to discourage commercialisation and at the time of affiliation or renewal of affiliation all things including payment of proper salaries to teachers and alleged fleecing of students would be examined. He said the CBSE had directed all schools to open mathematics laboratories for students of Class V and higher classes
to make the subject enjoyable. |
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Workshop
on Shivalik vertebrates Saketi (Sirmaur), May 3 The cause of extinction has been attributed to the well-known Pleistocene Ice age, which set in over a million years ago. During the Ice Age, most of the Shivalik mammals became extinct and those that survived migrated to other areas. The remains of the extinct animals got fossilised in the rock formations. The Saketi area, in Sirmaur district is one of such sites where the remains of pre-historic animals have been found preserved as fossils in the Shivalik sediments. To preserve and protect these rare gifts of nature, the Geological Survey of India in collaboration with the Himachal Pradesh Government developed the Shivalik Fossil Park, Saketi. The park, inaugurated in 1974, displays six sets of life size models of pre-historic animals which thrived in the area 1 million to 2.5 million years ago, the fossilised remains of which have been excavated from Saketi and adjoining areas. During the two-day workshop, there will be deliberations on the status of work carried out so far. The palaeontologists will also plan the future course of action and recommend the areas for future research work. The workshop will be inaugurated by Thakur Ram Lal, Minister for Industries, HP, on May 6 at 11.30 a.m. Mr P.C. Mandal, Director-General, Geological Survey of India, will preside over the function.
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Snow, winds hit Spiti life
Shimla, May 3 Meanwhile, thunder and hailstorm caused irreparable damage to apple flowerings and other fruits besides the wheat crop. A devastating hurricane blew off tin-roofs of several houses and government buildings damaging property worth crores of rupees in the district. Official reports said today that 30 cm of snow had been accumulated at Kaza since yesterday. The entire Spiti valley was in the grip of a severe cold wave. The border area of Salooni and Churah tehsil was hit by hailstorm and cloudburst. However, no reports of loss of life has been received so far. Tikkru and Banjaal areas were the worst hit by the cloudburst and heavy hailstorm. UNI
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Police to help tourists Dharamsala, May 3 According to Mr
Zaidi, the pilgrim centres of Jwalamukhi, Kangra, Dharamsala and Baijnath lack infrastructure where tourists can get on-the-spot information and guidance so that they are not fleeced by shopkeepers or taxi drivers. To ensure this, the Kangra police has got 23 policemen specially trained as tourist guides from the Tourism Department. These policemen have been deployed at
Mcleodganj, Chamunda, Baijnath, Kangra and Jwalamukhi.
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System to monitor buses on road Dharamsala, May 3 He said steps were in the offing to ensure that every private operator plied his bus on the prescribed route and any one found guilty of overcharging without ticket would be fined heavily
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24 contract
gastroenteritis Mandi, May 3 The medical team has, so far, kept its report secret. The report has been sent to the government. It is unofficially learnt that the epidemic which has broken out in the area is cholera and not gastro-enteritis, though the symptoms of both are the same. The Chief Medical Officer, Mr G.D. Gaur, said he had not received the report so far. A further strategy would be drawn up on receiving the report. Preventive measures, however, were being adopted, he added. The epidemic has spread to the adjoining villages of Nao-Panao, namely Khanhal Ragra, Dharda, Peepal Dhar and Nand
Gaon.
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Anita promises to strengthen AICC Hamirpur, May 3 She said she would try her best to strengthen the organisation in the state and the area where she would be deputed by the party leaders to work for the organisation. Meanwhile, Congress activists today congratulated her. While talking to activists at her residence today, she said she would go to New Delhi to meet Ms Gandhi. However, prior to that she would soon call on the Chief Minister Mr Virbhadra Singh, at Shimla. |
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Scrap Official Secrets Act: scribes’ body Shimla, May 3 Meanwhile, Kanwar Yogendra was elected the president of the forum. Other office-bearers are: vice-president — Rajeev Ranjan Nag; vice-president — Dharmendra Rataul; general secretary — Rajan Todaria; joint secretaries — Harkirat Singh and Gaurav Bisht; and finance secretary — Surinder Paul.
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20 get bail on vend demolition case Solan, May 3 The accused have been directed to cooperate with the police during the course of investigation and desist from threatening any prosecution witness. They also been warned against tampering with evidence and directed to seek the permission of the Additional
CJM, Arki, prior to leaving the jurisdiction of Shimla and Solan districts. |
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Martyr
cremated Hamirpur, May 3 An elder brother of the deceased lit the pyre amidst slogan shouting by mourners. Mr Jagdish Chand Sharma, father of the martyr, is an Inspector at Jwala Mukhi. The SHO, Bhoranj, and the Tehsildar, Hamirpur, represented the district administration. Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief Minister, and BJP leaders of Hamirpur visited the victim’s house. |
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Allotment of wards flayed Shimla, May 3
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Power shutdown Chamba, May 3
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