H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

HPU Deputy Registrar divested of secrecy work
Shimla, November 19
In a major corrective action, the Himachal Pradesh University authorities today changed the printer involved in the question paper scam and divested Mr P.N. Bhardwaj, Deputy Registrar, who has been booked by the Vigilance Department along with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.D. Sharma, of secrecy work.

Villagers demolish wall of crusher
Hamirpur, November 19
Nearly 50 villagers, mostly women, of Masyana and its surrounding areas demolished a wall of Jagdamba Stone Crusher in the Kunah khud area on the Hamirpur-Dhaned road this afternoon. However, there was no resistance from the crusher owner.

Forum tells LIC to pay Rs 1 lakh relief
Sundernagar, November 19
The Consumer Forum, Mandi, on Monday directed The Life Insurance Corporation, Mandi to pay rupees one lakh with 9 per cent interest from the date of filing complaint till payment plus Rs 5000/- as damages to Gian Chand of village Jach, Sun Tehsil Nihari, Sundernagar.

• Call to amend Cooperative Act

• Road safety

Himachal Pradesh, a global water sports destination. (28k, 56k)

HPU Deputy Registrar divested of secrecy work
Tribune News Service

Shimla, November 19
In a major corrective action, the Himachal Pradesh University authorities today changed the printer involved in the question paper scam and divested Mr P.N. Bhardwaj, Deputy Registrar, who has been booked by the Vigilance Department along with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr S.D. Sharma, of secrecy work.

The decision was taken by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Dr L.R. Verma, at an emergency meeting of senior officers of the university convened to deal with the tactics of “blackmail” adopted by the Deputy Registrar and the printer on the eve of ensuing examinations of postgraduate classes scheduled from November 19. It also decided to put the secrecy branch under the Controller of Examination as required under the statutes. The decisions will be placed before the executive council, which is scheduled to meet on November 24, for ratification. The decision to change the printer was taken in the interest of economy and secrecy.

Dr Sharma had in January, 2001, entrusted the secrecy work to a Deputy Registrar who functioned directly under him instead of the Controller of Examination. According to the university authorities, Mr Bhardwaj had been demanding an advance of Rs 30 lakh for payment to the printer failing which the question papers would not be printed. Dr Sharma approved an advance of Rs 30 lakh. This was in addition to Rs 28 lakh already paid. He proceeded on tour leaving it to the newly appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor to do the needful.

The authorities found themselves in a difficult situation as the entire job of question paper printing before Dr Sharma changed the printer in January 2002 cost about Rs 22 lakh. Paying advance would have virtually put a seal of approval on all that Dr Sharma had been doing and any delay in releasing the money could have thrown the examination schedule haywire.

Other decisions taken at the meeting included introducing a computer literacy programme for non-teaching employees, preparation of a work plan for establishing a botanical garden.

Villagers demolish wall of crusher
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, November 19
Nearly 50 villagers, mostly women, of Masyana and its surrounding areas demolished a wall of Jagdamba Stone Crusher in the Kunah khud area on the Hamirpur-Dhaned road this afternoon. However, there was no resistance from the crusher owner.

The villagers have demolished the wall for the third time. They said the crusher had damaged their crops and caused pollution.

The Jadgamba crusher has been in news for the past two years and owners of the land, where crusher is located, have already moved court to get the land vacated.

The owners of the crusher have been erecting the wall around the crusher as per the instructions of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. However, they have yet not been able to complete the formalities laid down by the court for restarting the crusher at the present site.

The villagers said they would not allow the crusher to restart at the present site. Meanwhile, the SP, Hamirpur, Mr P.L. Thakur, said he had no knowledge about the incident.

Forum tells LIC to pay Rs 1 lakh relief
Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, November 19
The Consumer Forum, Mandi, on Monday directed The Life Insurance Corporation, Mandi to pay rupees one lakh with 9 per cent interest from the date of filing complaint till payment plus Rs 5000/- as damages to Gian Chand of village Jach, Sun Tehsil Nihari, Sundernagar.

Mr Dharmeshwar Kumar had purchased money back policy along with accidental benefit for insured amount of Rs 50,000/- and had been paying instalment, the son of the complainant died on June 26, 2001 in an accident. Papers of claim settlement were submitted to the insurance company but the claim was rejected by it. The consumer filed complaint for double accident benefit along with damages before the Consumer Forum.

The LIC filed the reply that the policy had lapsed as the payment was made after the grace period. although it was admitted that the agent had deposited a cheque of Rs 8,632/- which included the amount of the premium of the son of complainant Rs 802/- but the cheque was not honoured. The claim was rejected.

The Forum observed that the son of the complainant had made payment to the agent who had deposited the checque with the LIC so there was no lapse on the part of the insured. No order was passed against the agent. The forum also observed that the rejection of claim was deficiency in service Act and ordered the LIC to pay the claim with interest and damages.

Call to amend Cooperative Act
Our Correspondents

Kulu, November 19
Speaking at the state-level Cooperative Day celebrations here, Mr Staya Prakash Thakur, Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Marketing Board and President of the District Cooperative Union, today said that the Brahm Prakash Committee on Cooperatives had recommended changes in the laws for strengthening the cooperative movement. He urged the state government to amend the Cooperative Act according to the recommendations.

Road safety
Our Correspondent

Kangra, November 19
In view of the increasing number of road accidents, the state police has decided to observe “zero tolerance” fortnight” every month from 10th to 25th in Kangra, Chamba and Una districts to make the roads safer said Mr O.C. Thakur, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Northern Range, on Tuesday.