Shimla, April 9
Evading postings to rural and hard areas may cost the employees dearly as the new transfer policy proposes to incorporate minimum tenure in such areas as a mandatory provision in the recruitment and promotion rules. The hard areas have been redefined in view of the improved road connectivity and the distance from the road head will be the basic parameter for categorising such stations.

The Cabinet sub-committee constituted to formulate the transfer policy under the chairmanship of public works minister Gulab Singh, education minister I.D. Dhiman and forest minister J.P. Nadda, as its members, presented the report to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, here today. The report will be presented in the Vidhan Sabha tomorrow.

According to sources, the stations have been divided into urban, rural, tribal and hard categories. While the minimum tenure at a station has been fixed at three years, serving one-tenure in difficult or tribal areas will be compulsory. Unlike past, the condition will be incorporated in the recruitment and promotion rules. It will be virtually like the condition of departmental examination, without fulfilling which an employee will not be eligible for promotion.

As the government has been facing problems in filling vacancies in the rural areas in the health and education departments, the policy proposes a minimum tenure of three years in the rural areas in every 10 years of service.

Dhumal lauded the efforts put in by the members of the sub-committee in framing the new transfer policy and incorporating the views of various organisations to make it practicable and serve the best interest of the employees. He said the government was committed to the welfare of its employees who had been rendering valuable services in implementation of its policies and programmes. 

Shimla, April 9
The state government will once again take up the issue of allowing vaccine production at Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Union Health Minister, said Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal in reply to a query by Kaul Singh Thakur and Dr Rajeev Sejal in the Assembly today. “The state government has already written to the Centre twice for allowing the CRI to function since it meets the vaccine requirement not only of Himachal but also of the entire region,” he said.

He said a PIL was also pending in court where it had been sought that production and supply of vaccines be continued at the CRI. In reply to a supplementary by Vidya Stokes that the state should run the institute on its own, he said it would not be feasible nor would the Centre allow it.

Dhumal sought the cooperation of Stokes and the Congress in taking up the issue with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. “I will personally meet the PM and the Union Health Minister in this regard but I would appreciate if you too pursue the matter,” he said.

Earlier, health minister Rajeev Bindal informed the House that the case of continuing production does not come under the ambit of the state government. “The production of vaccines and sera has been stopped due to the suspension of the licence for not meeting the goods manufacturing practice (GMP) requirement as per the WHO norms.”

The minister said the renewal of the licence is possible only if GMP facilities are acquired for which a lot of funds would be required. “It is for the Centre to decide whether to spend funds on old infrastructure or on creation of new facilities,” he said.

Kaul Singh said raw material worth Rs 25 crore was still lying at Kasauli and the state should seek permission from the Centre to let the production of this unused material completed.

In reply to another question by R.R. Kaundal, the health minister said the government would soon allow the starting of nursing colleges so that the shortage of nurses could be overcome and the educated unemployed youth trained and given jobs.

There were heated exchanges between Dhumal and former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on the issue. While the Congress leader maintained that there were no irregularities and only the prior approval of the Nursing Council of India had not been maintained, Dhumal said while the Congress was in power Tanda Medical College was opened without Medical Council of India approval. 

Shimla, April 9
Threatening to intensify their agitation in case even a single PTA teacher is removed, the Himachal PTA Lecturers and Teachers Union today staged a demonstration outside the state Assembly.

Terming the Sanan Committee report as a ‘political document’ thousands of teachers from all over the state raised slogans against the government outside the Assembly. “We are not willing to appear in any fresh interview and in case even one PTA teacher is removed by making regular appointment we will intensify our agitation,” said Bhupender Bhupi, state adviser of the union.

A delegation of the union also met Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal and requested for continuation of the PTA appointees. “We want a clear cut assurance from the government that our services will be continued even if on contract basis, to be regularised later,” Bhupi said.

He said the Chief Minister had not clarified whether the services of the PTA appointees will be done away once a regular teacher is appointed. “We have demanded that a permanent policy be framed for all PTA appointees and the grant-in-aid be continued,” he said.

The union said it would give some time to the government to bring out a policy, which is fair towards all, including those appointed during the Congress regime.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal later told office-bearers of the Parent-Teacher Association that the government was concerned over certain PTA appointments made against the prescribed norms for appointment, depriving eligible and deserving candidates of their legitimate right. The government had constituted committees at the college, senior secondary and lower levels to scrutinise the record of all such appointees with a view to ascertaining their eligibility for a particular post. To provide ample opportunities to such appointees the government planned to fill about 18,000 posts of teacher during the current financial year the recruitment process for which would be initiated soon.

Hamirpur, April 9
The police swooped on teachers fasting at Gandhi Chowk and got the place cleared this morning. These teachers had been continuing with their fast at this place for the past sometime.

A police contingent, including over 10 female constables, swung into action around 8.30 am and removed three female teachers and other from Gandhi Chowk. They also removed belongings and mats put up for sitting there. They were later admitted to the district hospital.

The police barricaded the area and later put flowerpots under the canopy to restrict entry of teachers there. However, three female members of the Himachal Pradesh Computer Teachers Association (HPCTA) resumed indefinite fast at a nearby spot. The three teachers who started fast were: Hari Devi from Kinnaur and Reeta and Kanchan from Mandi.

President of the association Ramesh Dogra said, “We would continue fast and have sought permission from the DC to continue our agitation.”

Hamirpur SP Asif Jalal said, “We removed the agitating teachers as they had no permission to continue their fast at Gandhi Chowk. We had also received a complaint from the nagar parishad to get the place vacated since it belonged to it.”

DC Nandita Gupta said, “The computer teachers had sought permission to continue their agitation which has been denied in view of legal position.”

Dharamsala, April 9
A high-powered committee formed by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has selected 2000 bighas of land in the Indora and Nurpur areas for a new industrial area in Kangra district.

The committee which has been camping in the district for the past few days completed the task of selection of land with the help of revenue officials.

The committee comprised GM, industries, Kangra; GM, industries, Una; and officials of the Baddi industrial area.

The committee said the government was of the view that Baddi was now saturated with industry. Though one of the biggest districts Kangra has not received major investment after the announcement of the industrial package for the hill state.

The areas of the district bordering Punjab like Indora and Nurpur have all basic infrastrucure and have potential for attracting investment. The Industries Department was planning to attract big names in the corporate world to invest in Kangra district.

Now that land has been selected for the development of an industrial area, work on the project is likely to begin soon, sources said.

Kangra district has managed to attract an investment of just about Rs 120 crore after the announcement of the industrial package for the hill state. Most of the industries located in the district include small-scale artisan-based industries, employing 26,790 persons.

Shimla, April 9
The BJP government, which has put most of the decisions of the previous Congress regime under the scanner, may review the MoU with the Eastern Mineral and Trading Agency (EMTA) for setting up a 500-MW pithead power plant.

Taking up mega projects in the public-private partnership mode is the in-thing but senior officers in the state power board feel that the MoU weighed heavily in favour of the company and the state, despite having 50 per cent equity share in the joint venture, will virtually have no control over it.

Chief Secretary Ravi Dhingra said the matter was under consideration and internal discussions were being carried out. The final view on the project would be taken after taking into account all aspects.

The joint venture company, Himachal EMTA Power, has already been allotted a coal block of 1700 million tonnes in Orissa for the purpose. The state’s role in the Rs 2,500- crore project has been limited to securing a coal block. The private partner will develop the mine as a captive fuel source for the plant, set up the plant and operate it. It is to be completed in four years. The power generated will be shared equally by the two partners and its tariff will be decided by the electricity regulatory authority.

Shimla, April 9
Decks have been cleared for restarting 393 sealed sawmills in the state as the central empowered committee constituted by the Supreme Court has given a 
go-ahead for starting the registration process.

Chief Minister P.K. Dhumal today informed the House that a letter had been received from the central empowered committee that registration of the closed sawmills be started. “This will pave the way for restarting all 393 sawmills. Their closure had rendered thousands jobless,” he said. The government would shortly issue rules and regulations for undertaking registration of these sawmills so that work could be resumed at the earliest.

Dhumal said 318 of these mills were in Hamirpur district, 44 in Sirmaur and 28 in Shimla. The committee had directed the Forest Department to intimate it about the capacity of these saw mills and the volume of wood that was available from forests. He said after the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehra Dun, expressed its inability to undertake the task, the Forest Department took the initiative and submitted its report in February, 2008. “Seeing the availability of surplus wood in the state, the committee took the decision to allow the closed sawmills to start working again,” he said.

He said it was to address the problem being faced by sawmill owners and thousands of those who had been rendered jobless, that the government had taken up the matter with the Centre. “This is another step in the direction of fulfilling the promises made in the BJP manifesto,” he remarked.

Shimla, April 9
The Transport Department will hold an inquiry into the purchase of rejected buses by the HRTC and fix responsibility so as to take action against the guilty, IPH minister Ravinder Ravi said in reply to Congress member G.S. Bali in the Assembly today. Ravi gave the reply as transport minister Kishan Kapoor was not present in the House.

Seeking action against the guilty, Bali said there were reports that rejected buses had been purchased. The minister said though no complaints had been received in this connection the entire record would be checked and action taken against the guilty.

Ravi said it was on the recommendation of the Harsh Gupta committee that 30 mini-buses were bought to be run in Shimla while 10 more superfast ones were to be plied between the state capital and district headquarters. “He said all these buses were still in use but it is a fact that they have been replaced by 42-seater buses,” he said.

Subhash Manglet raised the issue of starting bus service on the Saij khud-Dimmi Tarahan link road. Later, minister for social justice and empowerment Sharveen Chaudhary introduced the Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2008. 

Shimla, April 9
In a major reshuffle in the state judiciary the high court has transferred 22 higher judicial officers and 14 judicial officers.

According to the notification issued by the registry, Hamirpur District Judge V.K. Sharma will be the registrar-general of the high court in place of Aruna Kapoor, who will take charge as the District Judge of Kullu district.

B.R. Chandel, District Judge, Kangra has been transferred to Shimla vice R.L. Raghu who goes to Hamirpur as District Judge. Shamsher Singh, president, district consumer forum, Mandi, will be the District Judge of Kangra District while P.S. Rana, registrar (Inspection), had been posted as president district consumer forum, Shimla, in place of D.K. Sharma, who will take charge of Kinnaur district.

Registrar (Vigilance) V.K. Gupta and District Judge Nahan K.L. Gupta swap places. While Sureshwar Thakur, presiding officer, Labour Court, Dharamsala, has been posted as the District Judge, Bilaspur, in place of A.S. Jaswal who has been posted as president, district consumer forum, Dharamsala. S.S. Sen, District Judge, Una, has been posted as presiding officer, Labour Court, Dharamsala.

J.S. Mahantan, District Judge, Chamba, has been posted as presiding officer, Labour Court, Shimla, against a vacant post.

C.B. Barowalia, president, district consumer forum, Dharamsala, has been posted as District Judge, Una.

Sushil Kukreja, District Judge, Kullu, has been posted as president, district consumer forum, Mandi. Ravinder Prakash, District Judge, Kinnaur, has been transferred as registrar (Inspection). Virender Singh, Additional District Judge, Una, will be the District Judge, Chamba. Chirag Bhanu Singh, Additional District Judge, Solan, has been transferred to Una.

L.R. Sharma, presiding officer, Fast Track Court, Kangra, has been appointed as Additional District Judge, Solan. B.L. Soni, joint director of the state judicial academy has been posted as the presiding officer, Fast Track Court, Solan. J.N. Yadav, presiding officer, Fast Track Court, Solan, goes as such to Chamba against a vacant post.

Rattan Singh, CJM, Kangra, has been appointed as the joint director, Judicial Academy, Shimla. K.K. Sharma, CJM, Mandi goes as additional secretary (Law) to the state government in place Rajeev Bhardwaj, who has been appointed as the CJM Kangra.

Mukesh Bansal, Additional CJM, Una, has been appointed as CJM, Lahaul-Sapiti at Kullu in place of Virender Singh, who has been posted as CJM at Mandi. Aman Sood, Civil Judge, Amb, has been posted as such at Mandi. Naresh Kumar, Civil judge, Mandi, is posted at Una. Kanta Verma, Civil Judge, Mandi, has been posted as such at Una in place of Abira Basu who goes as such at Una in court no.3 vice Pankaj who will transferred to court no. 4 at Una.

P.S. Arora, Civil Judge, Amb, has been posted as such in court no. 1 at Amb. Basant Lal Verma, Civil Judge, Solan, has been transferred to Amb. Gurmit Kaur, Civil Judge, Mandi, has been posted as such in court no. 3 at Mandi. Mohit Bansal, newly appointed civil judge, has been posted as such at Mandi in court no. 4. Nitin Mittal, newly appointed Civil Judge, has been posted as such at Solan.

Nurpur, April 9
The doctors and para medical staff in the local Civil Hospital today observed a protest by wearing black badges following the alleged hooliganism created by former municipal councillor of the town Chuni Lal yesterday night in the hospital under the influence of liquor.

It is alleged that the accused who had been arrested by the police under Section 114 of the Police Act allegedly thrashed a class IV employee with a stick, manhandled the doctor on emergency duty and a nurse and created hooliganism for about half-an-hour.

The hospital staff today paralysed the hospital’s routine work at 9.30 am and wore black badges to protest against the disgusting incident in the hospital. A large number of patients faced a lot of inconvenience due to sudden strike of the staff.

According to Dr Subash Thakur, hospital in charge cum SMO, the normal hospital functioning resumed at 12.30 pm after the intervention of the local SDM and DSP who assured the staff to provide at least one home guard round the clock as a security guard on the hospital premises and strict action against the culprit. They also assured to forward the demand of deputing a police constable to the Kangra SP.

Meanwhile, the agitating hospital staff decided to observe a protest by bearing black badges for the next two days and wait for fulfilment of assurances given by the administration. The medical report confirmed the consumption of liquor by the accused while creating hooliganism in the hospital.

Solan, April 9
With a view to streamlining the traffic movement on the Baddi-Pinjore road, the tehsildar, Nalagarh, today directed removal of illegal jhuggis near the under-construction toll tax barrier at Baddi.

A team of revenue officials conducted an inspection of the area and found that jhuggi dwellers had encroached upon government land there.

The nine-foot-wide barrier is being constructed for ensuring smooth plying of traffic on the road. Scores of jhuggis have come up along the road, reducing its width considerably. Jhuggi dwellers have been given one day to shift on their own.

Revenue officials said they had launched a three-day campaign to rid the government land of unauthorised occupation.

Nahan, April 9
According to the Paonta police, Naresh (20) was murdered last night in Shiv Pur village allegedly by some youths of Jamniwala village during a marriage ceremony. The police had arrested four persons in this connection so far.

The police said some people had assembled at the house of Niranjan Singh in Shiv Pur village under Paonta subdivision last night on a marriage ceremony. Trouble started when some boys were dancing on the music played by a DJ. The argument took place between Naresh of Shiv Pur village and some boys of Jamniwala village on the playing of a song of their choice. Arguments were followed by abusing and scuffle between them.

According to eyewitnesses, around nine boys of Jamniwala village pulled Naresh to a nearby field and started thrashing him. Once he had succeeded in slipping away from the grips of assailants but he was again nabbed and was beaten up badly. He succumbed to his injuries soon after this at his residence.

The police sources said Sanjeev, who is brother of deceased, tried to save his brother but he was also thrashed by the assailants and had sustained several injuries.

Paonta SHO B.D. Bhatia said a case has been registered and four persons, including Shravan Singh, Narender (serving soldier), Anil and Joga Singh of Jamniwala village, have been arrested.