Shimla, February 24
A decision on the termination of services of five Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) officials for alleged financial and administrative irregularities was deferred by the executive council, which met here today.

The meeting, which was chaired by new vice-chancellor Dr Anil Wilson discussed the issue of termination of services of the five employees on whom the charge sheet had already been served and their replied received.

The five employees who are facing termination includes then pro vice-chancellor Prof J.B. Nadda, then deputy registrar J.S. Verma, then regional director of the DCC O.P. Saraswat, public relation officer Ranvir Verma and Mr Suresh Kapoor from the department of Law.

All five officials have been served a charge sheet for the alleged irregularities committed by them during the tenure of former vice-chancellor S.D. Sharma. They have been charged with the hiring of accommodation and printing of prospectus and annual report at higher rates, causing financial loss to the HPU.

All members of the council were provided copies of the charge sheet and the replies given by the five officials. The issue was discussed, but a final decision on the termination of their services was deferred till the next council meeting.

In another significant decision, the council approved the adoption of the contributory provident fund (CPF) for all employees appointed in the HPU after 2003 on the pattern of the state government. The council also approved the relevant amendment required for this in the statue.

Shimla, February 24
It is for the first time in the history of the local municipal corporation (MC) that a deficit budget of Rs 44.80 crore was presented for year 2007-08 by mayor Sohan Lal here today.

Presenting the budget, Mr Sohan Lal said the estimated expenditure during the next financial year would be Rs 121.77 crore while the income of the MC during this duration was expected to be Rs 70.50 crore.

During the ensuing financial year, the MC is likely to have revenue receipts of Rs 48.59 crore and Rs 21.91 crore of capital receipts. At the same time the revenue expenditure during this period is likely to be Rs 86.57 crore and the capital expenditure Rs 35.21 crore.

Out of its total income of about Rs 70 crore, the MC will be spending almost Rs 35.32 crore on the payment of salaries to its employees and Rs 49.08 crore on footing water and electricity bills. The main source of income of the MC still remains taxes.

The mayor said the thrust should now be on resource mobilisation or else it would be very difficult to provide improved amenities and civic facilities to the people of the town.

He added that with the merger of New Shimla, Dhalli and Tutu areas within the Shimla MC it would become all the more difficult as services would have to be provided to the residents of these areas also.

He added, moreover, no taxes could be imposed in the merged areas for the next two years. He informed that from April 1 this year the Shimla MC would be the first in the country to implement double entry system fully.

He further informed that in the next financial year Rs 2.20 crore would be spent on the maintenance and repair of roads, Rs 36.96 lakh on street-lighting, Rs 5.40 crore on footing street-lighting bills, Rs 70 lakh on repair and maintenance of MC buildings and Rs 70 lakh for laying additional water pipes.

The mayor urged the Chief Minister and the urban development minister to provide funds to ensure the development of all 25 wards of the town.

Dharamsala, February 24
Private Airline Air Deccan today conducted trial flight of its 50-seater aeroplane from Delhi to Kangra airport near Dharamsala.

Earlier, a 17-seater plane of the same company used to operate on the route.

This aeroplane was running from this airport to Delhi twice a week.

On a suggestion of a team of the DGCA, the airport authority of India and Air Deccan, District Administration cleared trees from surrounding areas for the expansion of the airport’s area which facilitated run of a bigger aeroplane, Deputy Commissioner of Kangra Bharat Khera said.

The run of a bigger aeroplance to the area from the national capital would boost tourism in the area, he said.

Air Deccan would start daily flight of its 50-seater plane on the Delhi-Kangra route from month of March next, an official of the airline said. — PTI

Mandi, February 24
The Shivratri mela, which concluded here yesterday, took a new turn when 50-60 ‘bajentris’ (musicians), who accompanied the procession of devtas during the Shivratri fair, protested in front of the DC’s office and demanded an honorarium and proper representation and lodging arrangements for them during the festival.

But the protest, led by the Indian People Theatres' Association (IPTA), a leftist outfit, took a political turn when the Shivratri Mela Committee (SMC) charged that the protest was led by two politically motivated individuals, who had nothing to do with the ‘bajentris’.

The police have arrested the IPTA’s convener Lawan Thakur and Sant Ram, a member of the devta committee, charging them of provoking the musicians under Sections 107 and 151 of the IPC.

The musicians protested for three hours before the police escorted them from the spot as the CM’s cavalcade arrived for the closing ceremony.

The musicians submitted their memorandum of demands to the DC and Shivratri Mela Committee chairman Subhasish Panda, demanding honorarium of Rs 2000 per musician. They also demanded that proper lodging facilities should be provided to them.

CPI leader Des Raj Sharma and IPTA district president Prashant Mohan and All India Youth Federation (AIYF) Samir Kashayap have condemned the arrest of the two leaders and demanded their immediate release. The musicians are dalits and nobody is bothered about their plight during the fairs and festivals, they alleged.

The SMC President Subhasish Panda said the SM gives TA/DA to the devtas procession as a whole and not to individuals. It is the responsibility of the devta committee of each devta to distribute the amount to each section of the procession.

“We provide lodging and food to each procession. Only two persons who have nothing to do with the ‘bajentris’ tried to provoke the musicians. They should sort out the matter with the devta union,” he added.

Shimla, February 24
The police today filed a chargesheet against 119 persons for their alleged involvement in the HP-CPMT paper leak case in the high court.

Having sought extension of time for completing investigation on three earlier occasions, the three-member police team finally submitted the chargesheet before the expiry of the deadline of February 26.

The three-member team, comprising DIG O.C. Thakur, SP Ananad Pratap Singh and DSP Arvind Negi had been assigned the task of holding a thorough investigation into the paper leak by the high court.

During the course of investigation, the police interrogated parents of 38 candidates who allegedly benefited from the paper leak. Police teams were sent to various locations, including Lucknow, Bihar, Delhi and Punjab, to arrest those wanted in connection with the case.

Kangra, February 24
An unemployed youth was, allegedly, assaulted near the general bus stand this morning by two traffic policemen and later taken to the police station where again he was, allegedly, beaten up.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kangra, Sudha Devi, told The Tribune today that the victim, Kapil Choudary, a resident of Jayanti Vihar, had approached her with a complaint in this regard.

She said the DSP has been ordered to inquire into the matter and take necessary action.