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Panchayat Poll
Government to request HC to set up circuit Bench
ADGP Thind’s issue to dominate House session in Dharamsala
FLASHBACK 2005:
HP university |
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Dental students threaten stir
SCA for changes in poll pattern
Kashmir Chand is HPPSC Secy
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74 pc polling in Shimla
Tribune Reporters and Agencies
Shimla, December 22 About 75 to 80 per cent voters cast their votes in the final phase today and the overall polling percentage was about 75 per cent. Barring half a dozen cases of minor clashes, the polling passed off peacefully. About 74 per cent polling was reported in 121 panchayats in Shimla district, 76 per cent in Solan district, 78 per cent in Mandi district and 79 per cent in Kangra district, reports reaching here said. About 89 per cent voters cast their votes in the Seraj area of Mandi district while 86 per cent polling was reported in Balh, 83 per cent in Gohar and 80 per cent in Sundernagar, Darang and Karsog. People in the Dodra-Kawar area of Rohru came out to vote despite 6 cm of snowfall. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Sushil Negi, said the Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh would administer oath of office to the newly elected pradhans from the district on January 3. The District Panchayat Officer would be issuing identity cards to the pradhans. NAHAN: In the third phase of panchayat elections in the district, 85 per cent voters exercised their franchise to elect office-bearers of 60 panchayats. The election, were held in 73 panchayats of the district, out of which 13 panchayats had unanimous election. SOLAN: Allegations of torn ballot papers being given to voters in the Kimmughat ward of Garkhal panchayat were raised by BJP candidate Laj Kishore Sharma. He rued that since his name figured at the end, the party symbol was found, partially torn. Mr Sharma said on receiving the complaints, he reached the polling booth and noted that the complaints were true. He alleged that it was being deliberately done to benefit the Congress candidate. The SDM, Mr K.C. Chaman, said about 90 ballot papers had been found torn but he had immediately instructed that those be discarded. He said no such ballot paper was used in the booth. CHAMBA: The polling for 88 panchayats was conducted here. An official spokesman said the elections to the Chamba and Dalhousie municipal councils and the Chowari nagar panchayat would be held on December 24.
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Government to request HC to set up circuit Bench
Shimla, December 22 The Chief Minister, Mr Virbhadra Singh, while talking to newspersons here yesterday said that a fresh request would be made to the High Court. “We made a request before the High Court, twice earlier also but it was rejected and now we are considering approaching them once again,” he said. Responding to former Chief Minister, P.K. Dhumal’s statement that being the leader of the Opposition he was never consulted on holding the Assembly session in Dharamshala, he said this decision was always taken by the Cabinet. He added that not consulting Mr Dhumal was unintentional and moreover he had always been keen on this move. He termed the BJP propaganda of victory in the panchayat elections as false and said that if need by the Congress would issue a complete list of pradhans backed by it who had won. He said the Congress-backed candidates had registered victories in almost 80 per cent of the panchayats. |
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ADGP Thind’s issue to dominate House session in Dharamsala
Shimla, December 22 The BJP, is all set to raise the issue of corruption, in which name of Additional Director General of Police, B.S. Thind is likely to figure. Mr Thind has been in the thick of a controversy, following allegations of amassing property including plots, mostly in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The session will be held in Dharamsala from December 26 to December 29 as the Congress and the BJP legislature parties will meet on December 25. “The fact that a letter written by the CBI in connection with Mr Thind’s case went missing from the secretariat is an indication of the clout he enjoys in the top echelons of the government,” remarked a BJP MLA. He added that the BJP would raise the issue of corruption, making Mr Thind the prime target. The BJP feels that despite facing so many serious allegations, including taking a number of loans, the state government turned a blind eye to everything and simply said the matter pertained to other states. “The government can not wash its hands off the issue when the allegations are against none other than a senior IPS officer, a frontrunner for the post of Director General of Police. Another issue for which the BJP is set to corner the government is the attitude of the State Election Commission during the recent past. “The commission has become virtually a government agency, incapable of ensuring free and fair elections, as was seen during the panchayat elections,” said a senior BJP leader. The BJP’s contention is that despite several complaints before the Election Commission, no action was taken. Failing to evoke a response from the commission, the BJP brought the matter to the notice of the Governor, seeking his intervention. In its effort to counter the credit that the Congress is taking for holding Assembly session first time in Dharamsala, the BJP wants to come out with facts and figures about projects it started in Kangra. “Leaders in both the political parties are aware that finally it is Kangra with 16 Assembly segments, which will decided as to who forms the next government,” admits a Congress minister. As such both the Congress and the BJP will try to take credit for protecting the interest of Kangra, as they hurl allegations of regional discrimination against each other. Top leaders of both parties are engaged in collecting relevant data to project themselves as the champion of protecting Kangra’s interests. The four-day session is likely to be very animated. |
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FLASHBACK 2005:
HP university
Shimla, December 22 With the amendment in Section 35(A) of the Himachal Pradesh University Act, the authorities now have to seek permission from the state government for practically everything, right from creation and upgrading of posts to filling of vacancies. Opposing this move, various sections of the HPU have termed this as an attempt to undermine the autonomous character of the institution. The HPU was able to start five-year law course with the setting up of the School of Legal Studies at the regional centre, Dharamsala. The same course was also introduced at the evening college here under the self-financing scheme on a subsidised fee pattern. Barring the starting of disaster management diploma in the Department of Public Administration, no other courses were started in the university. The foundation stone for setting up a Rs 4 crore study centre of the International Centre for Distance Education and Open Learning (ICDEOL) at Noida was laid. The HPU intends starting postgraduation in science subjects through distance education, which very few universities are currently offering. On the other hand certain long-pending issues like the termination of three teachers and security officer by the executive council (EC) of the HPU remain unresolved. The EC had termed the appointment of these fours person as illegal and against norms, leading to resentment among the teaching community. The issue still remains a sore point as it is raised at every meeting of the EC, but a final decision is still awaited as the aggrieved persons have moved court against their termination. Another decision which came in for severe criticism was granting permission to a private institute to start a college of legal studies near Solan. There were allegations that permission was granted in a haste, bypassing the academic council to favour the owners of the institute who had political clout. The biggest setback that the university received was the condition imposed by the National Centre for Teacher Education (NCTE) on MEd and BEd courses being run by the ICDEOL. Now these courses can only be held for teachers who are working within the state jurisdiction. These courses in education were a major money-spinner for the HPU and the revenue from this source has already come down from Rs 7 crore to Rs 4 crore. Other efforts by the university to generate funds through resource mobilisation too were not very successful. Moreover, the budget of the HPU for the current year was also reduced from Rs 57 crore to Rs 47 crore, leading to acute financial crisis. A special package of Rs 10 crore announced by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, for infrastructure development came as a big relief. The money is to be spent on the construction of a gymnasium, offices of the Vice-Chancellor and Controller of Examination and parking areas. The government which had vociferously been supporting holding of indirect elections in the university buckled under pressure from student organisations, especially the Students Federation of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Ultimately direct elections to the SCA on the old pattern were held in haste. The elections were marred with minor skirmishes with no major untoward incident. Holding of seminars, conferences and workshops was a routine affair as many departments organised such events. |
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Dental students threaten stir
Solan, December 22 Under the banner of the HP Students Dental Association, the Baddi unit of Bhojia Dental College students said that they would start an agitation at Dharamsala when winter session of the Vidhan Sabha begins on December 27. Opposing the fee structure recommended by the Justice Bhatnagar Committee students said increase in fee with effect from 2003-2004 was illogical and it would force students to leave the course halfway. They said they had sought admission on merit after appearing in an entrance test and fee of Rs 20,000 was charged from them while those seeking admission through the management quota had been directed to pay Rs 2.5 lakh. They added despite filing a plea in the state’s high court they had failed to get relief. This fee was now revised to Rs 84,000 and the students were directed to pay the fee with retrospective effect. A majority of students belong to middle income group. They cannot afford this sudden hike. Left with little option but to quit the course after having put in two years in the course these 130 students face bleak future. They rued despite assurances from the Chief Minister in the matter nothing had been done to roll back the fee hike. |
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SCA for changes in poll pattern
Shimla, December 22 |
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Kashmir Chand is HPPSC Secy
Shimla, December 22 Mr K.S. Narang, Managing Director, General Industries Corporation (GIC), will hold the same position in the Scheduled Caste Development Corporation and Mahila Vikas Nigam. Mr Kashmir Chand, Labour Commissioner, has been posted as Secretary, Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (HPPSC). Mr P.C. Kashyap, MD, Scheduled Caste Development Corporation, has been posted as Special Secretary, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. Mr Bharat Bhushan, Special Secretary, Ayurveda, has been posted as Special Secretary, Administrative Reforms and Foreign Assignments. Mr Onkar Chand Sharma, Secretary, HP Public Service Commission, has been posted as MD, State Electronics Development Corporation. Mr Pankaj Khullar, IFS, who had been posted as MD, HPMC, has now
been posted as MD, General Industries Corporation. |
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