H I M A C H A L   P R A D E S H

Chargesheet in recruitment scam by
Dec 15: Virbhadra
Jalandhar, December 8

The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today stated that the chargesheet against former chairman of the HP Subordinate Services Selection Board S.M. Katwal, the main accused in the alleged recruitment scam, would be filed in the court before December 15.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh gives away the degree to a student during the convocation at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar on Monday. — Photo by S.S. Chopra

Three-day youth fest concludes
Hamirpur, December 8
The three-day state-level Yuva Utsav concluded here this evening. Nearly 300 young artistes from 12 districts of the state participated in the youth festival and presented cultural programmes. There was huge rush at the town hall where the programme was organised.

Bid to break into bank
Dharamsala, December 8
An attempt was made to break into the Mcleodganj branch of Punjab National Bank on Saturday night.

HP varsity VC submits comments
Shimla, December 8
All eyes were set on the Raj Bhavan as the 10-day notice served on Dr S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, by Mr V.S. Kokje, the Governor, for sending his comments on the reports of the two inquiries ordered by him into the affairs of the institution expired today.

Chargesheet in recruitment scam by
Dec 15: Virbhadra
Our Correspondent

Jalandhar, December 8
The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, today stated that the chargesheet against former chairman of the HP Subordinate Services Selection Board S.M. Katwal, the main accused in the alleged recruitment scam, would be filed in the court before December 15.

Talking to reporters here after attending the convocation of the local Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Mr Virbhadra Singh said the investigations into the recruitment scam, which was unearthed after the formation of the Congress government in the state, were complete and the challan would be presented in the court by December 15.

“The investigations into the corrupt deeds of several BJP ministers of the Dhumal government are near completion and the cases will be filed directly in the court for further action in this regard. We are going to submit all the documentary and material evidence against former ministers in the court, which will decide their fate,” he said.

Commenting on the allegations levelled by Mr Katwal that some Congress ministers, and even Mr Virbhadra Singh, had been making recommendations to him for the selection of candidates, he said, “Why Katwal is not coming forward with evidence against me publicly? Katwal is trying to divert attention by levelling baseless allegations.”

Mr Katwal has been claiming that he handed over a cassette to the state Chief Secretary, Mr Arvind Kaul, about six months ago in which the conversation of senior Congress leaders, including Mr Virbhadra Singh and some ministers who approached him for getting their candidates selected, have been recorded.

“No such cassette was ever handed over to my Chief Secretary by Katwal. This is just an attempt to tarnish the image of the government,” the Chief Minister asserted, adding that there might be a possibility that some political leaders had been recommending names which was just a routine for being people’s representatives.

Advocating the stepping down of the state Energy and Environment Minister, Ms Vidya Stokes, as the HPCC chief to uphold the principle of one man one post, Mr Virbhadra Singh said it was difficult to do justice by retaining two posts. Denying that he was planning to take up the issue with the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, he maintained that it was up to the party high command to take appropriate action.

Earlier, the Chief Minister gave away degrees to as many as 463 students from various streams. The president of the college managing committee and Editor of Vir Partap, Mr Chander Mohan, and Principal, Dr Rita Bawa, also spoke.

Three-day youth fest concludes
Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, December 8
The three-day state-level Yuva Utsav concluded here this evening. Nearly 300 young artistes from 12 districts of the state participated in the youth festival and presented cultural programmes. There was huge rush at the town hall where the programme was organised.

Dances, songs, beating of drums were the main attractions of the concluding function held last night in the open.

Winners in each category will represent Himachal Pradesh at the national- level Yuva Utsav to be held later this month. Mrs Anita Verma, a local MLA, was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. She also gave away prizes and certificates to winners in each category.

Bid to break into bank
Our Correspondent

Dharamsala, December 8
An attempt was made to break into the Mcleodganj branch of Punjab National Bank on Saturday night.

According to the police, some persons cut the grill and entered the premises of the bank in the busy town, but failed to remove anything. A case has been registered and investigations are going on.

HP varsity VC submits comments

Shimla, December 8
All eyes were set on the Raj Bhavan as the 10-day notice served on Dr S.D. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, by Mr V.S. Kokje, the Governor, for sending his comments on the reports of the two inquiries ordered by him into the affairs of the institution expired today.

According to sources, Dr Sharma has submitted his comments. Since Mr Virbhadra Singh, the Chief Minister, who is away to New Delhi, will return tomorrow, it may take a day or two to decide the fate of Dr Sharma. — TNS