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CM
promises action on rights Linking
of deficit grants to fiscal Blackout
in Hamirpur Katwal’s
prosecution sanctioned |
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BSNL
network under strain
Cultural
show marks Himalayan festival Cop
beats up woman Probe
ordered into orphanage working Cabinet
expansion after winter session 10-year
jail for raping minor Drive
against fake medical college Man
burnt in house fire
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CM promises action on rights panel findings Shimla, December 10 Presiding over a state-level function organised here on Wednesday to mark the World Human Rights Day he said only good governance could guarantee human rights to the people. Providing a transparent, responsive, accountable and corruption-free administration was key to good governance. He said all rights guaranteed in the Constitution would be of little consequence if the people lacked awareness. He said creating societies based on equality and non-discrimination could ensure human rights. KANGRA:
The Himachal Pradesh Health Minister, Ms Chandresh Kumari, said on Wednesday that the women had been deprived of their rights despite the so-called development in the social set up. She was addressing a gathering at Lambagaon on the occasion of the Human Rights Day. She asked the people to inform the authorities through village pradhan regarding the involvement of a person in case of a foeticide so that an appropriate legal action would be taken against the culprit. PHAGWARA:
The Punjab State Human Rights Commission
(PHSRC) Chairman, Justice N.C. Jain, today claimed that the public had become quite aware of human rights and the office of the commission was flooded with complaints about the violation of these rights. Talking to reporters here, Justice Jain said from 800 complaints, the number had now swelled to 8,000 annually. Most of the complaints were against the police, he admitted in the presence of Mr
S.K. Verma, DGP, a member of the commission accompanying him. When asked as to whether the commission was overworked, he said he hadn’t said so as they were tackling the present workload properly.
But if the workload increased further, the strength of the members would have to be eventually increased. |
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Linking of deficit grants to fiscal reforms opposed Shimla, December 10 The state will make a forceful plea to this effect before the 12th Finance Commission, headed by Mr C. Rangarajan, which is arriving here tomorrow. Its argument is based on the rationale that the linking of reforms with revenue deficit grants actually enables all states, including those revenue surplus, to avail the benefit, which is against the spirit of the Constitution. Under Article 275 of the Constitution, such grants are meant for the deficit states, which really need Central assistance. Under the existing system, any state could secure the reform-linked grant by achieving a reduction of 5 per cent in the ratio of revenue receipts to the revenue deficit. The Centre which has huge funds at its disposal, could tighten its belt to spare funds for granting incentives for pursuing reforms to the states. Further, if finds no justification for linking the grants with the reforms as the revenue deficit is worked out by the Finance Commission on the basis of its independent assessment of income and expenditure and not on the projections of state. In fact, its assessment is based on the best a state could achieve leaving no scope for further improvement. As such, withholding revenue deficit grants, recommended by the commission, is not only unjust and illogical but also leads to further worsening of the fiscal situation. The states will be forced to raise more loans to make up for the withheld grants, defeating the very objective of reforms. The state has suffered on this account as its reforms-linked grants to the tune of Rs 282 crore have been withheld for the past two years. |
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Blackout in Hamirpur Hamirpur, December 10 The total loss to the board due to the incident has been estimated around Rs 1 crore. However, official sources are tightlipped on this issue. One junior engineer and a helper were inside the control room when a sudden explosion took place and the entire complex was engulfed with fire and smoke. Employees of the office of the Executive Engineer who were working in the upper storey of the substation fled for shelter. There was a minor stampede on this occasion. The junior engineer, Mr Lekh Raj Banga, is reported to have suffered minor eye injuries. He tried to shut the burning panels and succeeded in his mission with help of helper Manohar Lal. A team of the fire brigade reached the spot and extinguished the fire. Employees of the board who were the first to reach the spot put sand on the burning panels before the engines arrived. There was panic all around when this reporter reached the spot. Employees were running here and there but none was ready to speak to the press. All were waiting for the arrival of their seniors to come and meet the press. Mr Sunder Lal, ASP, Hamirpur also reached the spot and visited the control room. He assessed the loss and held talks with the officers of the board. A report says that the fire was the result of bursting of a 50-KVA transformer near Didwin village, about 10 km from Hamirpur on the Hamirpur-Shimla highway. The oil which was in the transformer gushed out and caught fire and gave backlash to the 11 KVA lined which resulted in the burning of panels of feeders at Hamirpur. Mr
R.C. Katna, Chief Engineer (Transmission) who visited the substation told reporters waiting outside the campus that the power supply in the town would be restored within 12 to 24 hours. He said an officer to the rank of deputy chief engineer would be deputed to conduct an inquiry into the incident. He admitted that panels were old but added that a frequent maintenance of these panels was being done every year. Mr Katna refused to give the exact figure of the loss to the board. He said, “Wait till tomorrow. Everything will be clear”. Insiders in the board said that the panels were 23 years old and were to be replaced. However, nothing was done by the senior officers. |
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Katwal’s prosecution sanctioned Shimla, December 10 The sanction was granted on the basis of the investigations conducted by the department, which revealed gross irregularities like tampering with interview marks sheets in the selection of “vidya upasaks” for the Karsog subdivision in the Mandi district. Overwritting and tampering with the interview marks was detected in 16 candidates whose marks were increased to ensure selection. The marks were first increased in the interview sheets and later in the final marks sheet that included the combine marks obtained by a candidate in written and interview. The increase after tampering with ranged from two to 10 marks. The over-writting and tampering was done using pen and pencil. The department on the basis of the investigation report had sought permission to prosecute Mr Katwal for cheating and forgery under Sections 468, 420, and 471 of the IPC and corruption under the Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Mr Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister had only yesterday indicated that challan against Mr Katwal would be presented in the court before December 15. In all five cases have been registered in connection with the scam of which three are against Mr Katwal and pertain to irregularities in recruitment of staff. One case was registered in connection with leakage of question paper and other to the selection of scientists on the basis of fake certificates. |
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BSNL network under strain Solan, December 10 Though the BSNL had launched its cellular services in the Solan switching secondary area (SSA) comprising Solan and Sirmaur districts last year in November, the poor signal has deterred subscribers from using cellular services there. The lack of availability of BSNL signal at Parwanoo as well as further uphill till Timber Trail has also lead to reflection of Spice signal in BSNL cellular connections. This has forced residents to opt for Airtel connections in industrial towns like Baddi, Barotiwala, Parwanoo and Nalagarh. Still worse, bereft of any signal the residents of the Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni are yet to get mobile phones. This is despite the fact that the university is one of its kind in Asia. With limited internet protocols ( IPs ) the cyber café owners complain of excessive load on the internet often leading to breakdowns. The General Manager, Mr
S.K. Bose, while acknowledging lack of signal at Kasauli and other places said since only three towns, Solan, Nahan and Poanta, were provided towers for connectivity, some areas received weak signals. A proposal to expand its network at Kasauli, Parwanoo, Baddi and Barotiwala and Nauni had been drawn up and was awaiting approval. |
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SFI celebrates VC’s exit Shimla, December 10 Those owing allegiance to the ruling Congress and the Leftist organisation were jubilant over the development, but supporters of the BJP stood by Dr Sharma felt that the uncertainty on the campus for the past six months will be over. Activists of the Students Federation of India held a victory rally on the campus at which the participants demanded the arrest of Dr Sharma. Dr Sharma and others who connived with him in various irregularities held accountable, they demanded. The Non-Teaching Employees Union and the Administrative Officers Union hailed the resignation. The Congress urged the government to speed up the vigilance inquiry against Dr Sharma and ensure that he was punished for his acts of commission and omission. There is a feeling among officers of the investigating agencies that Dr Sharma should have been sacked considering the seriousness of charges against him. |
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Cultural show marks Himalayan festival Dharamsala, December 10 The Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association hold this festival from December 10. Major Mankotia (retd) said there was need to convert the preaching of Dalai Lama to practice for lasting peace in world. The Tourism Minister showed concern at the increasing population and vehicular pressure on McLeodganj. He said this had turned this once beautiful town into a near slum. He said there was urgent need to regulate traffic in and around McLeodganj and a proposal for setting up an autonomous development body to administer McLeodganj was under consideration with foreign help. The minister announced Rs 30 lakh for the construction of an international-level conference hall at Mcleodganj. Major Mankotia was welcomed by Mr Ram Saroop of the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association. Artistes from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and North Zone Culture Centre, Patiala, and local artistes put up a colourful cultural show. Many senior minister and officials of Tibetan Government-in-exile were present at the Bhagsu Hotel grounds where the festival is being held. However, controversy about heavy rents being charged by the HPTDC for the use of grounds marred the relations between the organisers and the HPTDC. |
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Cop beats up woman Dharamsala, December 10 Mrs Rana who was admitted to the hospital again after she was beaten up told this correspondent that today when she was going home in a vehicle in Lower Barol village on the outskirts of Dharamsala, she found the road blocked by a vehicle (HP 48-6066). Sounding of horn failed to get any response from the owners and after more than one hour the owner turned up and misbehaved when she protested against the wrong parking of vehicle. Later Mr Amar Chand Katoch, a police official, along with a man and three women entered her home and attacked her. She was beaten up. When contacted, police station officials informed that a complaint had been registered but no FIR was registered. |
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Probe ordered into orphanage working Dharamsala, December 10 The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, visited the orphanage on December 5 during his Kangra visit. Children living in the orphanage complained of ill-treatment by officials. They even produced burnt loaves and torn linen before the Chief Minister. Mr Virbhadra Singh had ordered the Additional Deputy Commissioner to look into the complaints of the children so that action could be initiated against the erring officials. Now the department on its own has also started an inquiry into the complaints. |
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Cabinet expansion after winter session
Shimla, December 10 He told reporters here that he would consult the Congress high command before the expansion. Presently the Cabinet consists of 16 members including the Chief Minister. Regarding the debacle of the Congress in the three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh he described it as unfortunate.
— UNI |
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10-year jail for raping minor Solan, December 10 Swami had raped a minor girl in Ambala two years back. He earlier moved an application to the apex court, seeking the transfer of his case outside Haryana. The Supreme Court had transferred the case to a Solan court. The accused was lodged in Himachal’s Nahan jail for the past two years. The court found him guilty of rape on December 8, but pronounced punishment today. |
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Drive against fake medical college Chamba, December 10 According to official sources, the police and medical authorities had been directed to register cases against fake medical colleges. Orders said that fake medical institutions were running in the state where many students were taking admission under erroneous impression about recognition thereof. The circular added that the Himachal Government or the Medical Council did not recognise such institutions. The circular, appealed to authorities concerned to bring these facts to the notice of the public and he students seeking admission in such medical institutions so that their careers were not spoiled. |
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Man burnt in house fire Kangra, December 10 The district police chief, Mr S. Zahoor H. Zaidi, said here today that Ragubir Singh was sleeping in his room at 9.30 pm when his family members had gone to attend a marriage ceremony. The belongings inside the room caught fire following an electric short circuit and Ragubir Singh was burnt alive. The SSP denied any foul play in the death of Ragubir Singh, a rehriwalla at Nanooh village. The police said it could not say whether the deceased was drunk or not. The remains of the body have been sent for the forensic tests. |
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Block Development Offices computerised Nahan, December
10 |
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