Shimla, September 2
Chief minister P.K. Dhumal today said the government would ensure that there was no misuse of general power of attorney (GPA) for making benami land transactions in the state.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Rikhi Ram Kaundal on the issue of benami deal of the property of the erstwhile rulers of Mandi in the assembly, the chief minister said that an inquiry was being held into the case.

“Large number of benami land transactions could be taking place in the state but any case which comes to the notice of the government would be dealt with firmly,” he said.

He said in case of the Mandi property deal the revenue officer concerned had been arrested and a case registered.

“Anybody, including government officials whose involvement is established, would have to face strict action,” he said.

Sharing the concern of the members that a sitting MLA from Mandi was involved in the shady deal, he said it was only after the inquiry was over that the details would be known.

“Like any other citizen, even an MLA has the right to purchase property but in case it is a benami deal, questions are bound to be raised,” he said.

Dhumal assured the House that sanctity of the institution of the MLA would be upheld at all costs but it was only after the completion of the inquiry into the matter that anybody’s involvement could be established.

He added that the police was trying to ascertain if there was any link between the land deal and the kidnapping of a contractor, Tek Chand, who was later murdered.

Echoing his concern over media reports about the involvement of an MLA in the deal, Kaundal said this had led to a lot of speculation about the name of the legislator.

“It is not the case of an individual but about the credibility and reputation of politicians of Himachal, who enjoy a very good reputation in the whole of the country,” he said.

He demanded that the name of those behind the deal be disclosed. Jai Ram Thakur also expressed concern and said it was very a important and serious issue which had led to a lot of speculation among people.

Mohinder Singh while participating in the discussion said the land mafia was very active in the state and some mechanism must be devised by which the misuse of GPA can be prevented.

Shimla, September 2
The state youth Congress has opposed the policy of the BJP government to open floodgates for private educational institutions without putting in place the required mechanism to regulate their functioning and fee structure.

President, state Congress, Manmohan Katoch, said here today issues like approval for opening the institution, infrastructure, number of seats, management quota, seats reserved for local students and fee structures would be decided by an independent regulatory body.

In the absence of such a body, even the fee structure of private colleges should be decided by Himachal Pradesh University.

He said in all courses at least 50 per cent seats should be reserved for the people of the state.

He demanded that the candidates who were able to get seats in various private colleges should be given education loan on zero interest.

Declaring the statement of the Chief Minister that 18,000 persons would be given jobs over the next three months as eyewash, Katoch said the fact was that the government had been working overtime to remove PTA teachers ever since it came to power as these teachers were appointed during the previous Congress regime.

The youth Congress would also keep a watch on private sector projects to monitor whether or not the condition of providing 70 per cent employment to the people of the state was being adhered to.

It would take recourse to the RTI Act to gather the necessary information.

Dharamsala, September 2
Palampur Agriculture University is facing a loss of Rs 1.5 crore as 87 teachers are being paid extra salaries.

The issue pertains to illegal allotment of three extra increments to teachers serving in the university in 2003.

According to university sources, basic qualification for the post of assistant professor in the university is doctorate in agriculture sciences.

However, in agriculture engineering and veterinary sciences colleges being run in the university, basic qualification for an assistant professor is MTech degree in the relevant subject.

The assistant professors of these colleges are entitled to three additional increments after they complete their doctorate.

However, in 2003, a total of 87 teachers of claimed three extra increments after completing PhD at par with the teachers of the said colleges despite the fact that basic qualification for the post against which they were serving was already the doctorate degree.

After the finance department objected to the increments, the university sought clarification over the issue from Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

The ICAR, whose rules are bounding all the agriculture universities of the country, also clarified that university assistant professors are not entitled to three increments after completing PhD.

After the grant of increments at Palampur Agriculture University, the lecturers of Horticulture University at Nauni in Solan had also claimed similar financial benefit.

After an objection of the finance department and clarification from ICAR, the authorities of Horticulture University withdrew the extra financial benefit granted to its assistant professors.

However, 87 teachers of Palampur Agriculture University are continuing to draw the extra financial benefit despite audit objections from the AG office.

The sources available in the university said the successive vice-chancellors of the agriculture university have skirted the issue to avoid conflict with powerful teachers lobby of the institution.

The university spokesperson when asked comment over the issue said that they are examining the matter and action would be taken as per the law.

Besides, the case of illegal promotions granted to 47 teachers in the university is also gathering heat.

The affected teachers are demanded probe into extra promotions to university teachers that have hampered the chances of other teachers.

Dharamsala, September 2
As many as 52 passengers were injured when a bus fell into a ditch near Chamba, 15 km from Dharamsala. The bus was on its way to Nagrota.

The driver lost control of the bus and it slid into a ditch along the road.

The injured were shifted to Dharamsala zonal hospital or Tanda medical college.

Their condition is out of danger but one patient is reportedly serious.

The Shahpur SHO said the bus had developed a mechanical fault due to which the driver lost control of the bus.

Kangra: At least 61 passengers were injured and a dozen of them seriously when a private bus which they were travelling in rolled down a khad near Chambi on the Pathankot-Mandi national highway this afternoon, the police said.

Kangra district police chief Atul Fulzele said that a private bus (HP 40 3128) was coming from Dhraman to Kangra when the driver of the bus failed to negotiate a curve at Chambi near here as the bus was overspeeding and rolled down.

He said that the injured included 27 women. The injured were shifted to Dr R.P. Govt. Medical College, Tanda, Zonal Hospital, Dharamsala, and CHC, Shahpur, for treatment. The SP said that there was no immediate casualty.

SHO, Shahpur, Bhadur Singh reached the site of accident immediately and carried out the rescue operations.

According to S.P Kangra 42-seater bus was overloaded when the mishap took place.

Describing the driving as rash and negligent, Mr. Fulzele said that case under section 279 and 337 IPC has been registered against the driver, who was arrested.

Mandi, September 2
The outbreak of high-grade scrub typhus (ST) fever in Rati, Kotli, Karsog, Jogindernagar, Sundernagar and other pockets in the district is showing no signs of abetting as over 183 fresh cases have been reported from the district today.

As many as 73 patients have been diagnosed positive for the ST so far. This fresh outbreak in turn has exposed the lack of preventive measures on part of the Heath and Family Welfare Department.

The ST fever outbreak has become a major heath hazard in the low hygiene villages of the state as hundred of patients are taken ill by the ST fever every year.

There are no preventive measures in place to check the spread of the cataclysm fever that takes a heavy toll in the region every year.

“As many as 44 ST fever patients are still under treatment at the zonal hospital, Mandi, and are recovering from the fever,” the doctors said.

The patients are from Rati (33), Kotli (23), Karsog (17), Jogindernagar (13), Sarkaghat (13), Sundnernagar (5) and other areas in the district.

According to the patients, except for Mandi hospital there is no testing facility available for diagnosis of the ST in other hospitals in the district.

Though the Health Department has alerted the block medical officers, advising them how to treat the patients, scrub typhus is showing no sign of declining.

Medial health officer, Mandi, T.C Mahant, who is monitoring the fever outbreak in the district, said: “The patients under treatment are recovering and BMOs are screening the cases at primary heath centers (PHC) and civil hospitals in the district. The tetracycline medicines needed for the treatment of fever are available in plenty at each PHCs and hospitals and no death has been reported so far”.

CMO, Mandi, D.K Arora said the Heath Department was monitoring the outbreak of the fever and was under control and no major fresh outbreak has been reported.

Mandi, September 2
Two main suspects - Sanjay and Subhash - wanted in the kidnapping and murder of local moneylender and contractor Tek Chand were yesterday arrested from a hotel in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

They were sent to the police remand till September 6 after being produced before the additional chief judicial magistrate, Mandi, today.

In another case, district revenue officer (DRO), B.R Negi, who was arrested from Sundernagar in connection with the multi-crore ‘benami’ royal property case, was released on bail today.

The benami property deal also reportedly raised a storm in the Vidan Sabha today, putting the Opposition on the defensive as BJP MLAs from Mandi district raised the issue and demanded action in the case against the Congress MLA allegedly involved in the deal.

The police suspects that both cases - Tek Chand murder case and benami royal property deal - are interconnected.

The police have also unearthed money transaction worth Rs 97 lakh through different SBI cheques in the bank accounts of an MLA from Mandi that has been transferred in the bank account of Sanju.

Police sources said Sanju has confessed that he had received Rs 97 lakh from an MLA from Mandi.

The police have established some linkages in both cases after kingpin Khub Ram, waiter working in a Shimla-based convent school, was arrested on Saturday.

The police is also investigating other big money transaction during that time and expects to solve both cases soon.

Their arrest could open Pandora’s box in the cases as some politicians and officials may fall in the police net, sources said.

Chandigarh, September 2
Lt-Gen T.K. Sapru, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, today visited the Army Public School, Dagshai.

It was his maiden visit to the school after taking over the reigns of the Command. The General was briefed about various issues and future plans of the school by Principal Col A.K. Maini (retd).

He also inspected the students’ hostels, dining hall, academic block, laboratories and art and craft rooms.

While talking to the staff and students of the school, General Sapru said the Army Public School, Dagshai, was one of the best boarding schools in the country.

He further added that he was happy to see the progress that the school has made ever since its inception in 1986.

He also announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh for improving the infrastructure of the school and Rs 50,000 for scholarship to students who excel in academics.

Lt-Gen J.P. Singh, G-O-C, 2 Corps, and school patron and Commandant, 14
Gorkha Training Centre and Col Sanjeev Sood, school chairman, were also
present on the occasion.

Hamirpur, September 2
With the filing of nomination papers for the directorship of Kangra Central Cooperative Bank (KCCB) by present and former chairman of the bank, the present election is becoming a trial of strength between the rebels and official group.

Chairman Prithivi Singh and former chairman Babu Ram Mandial filed their nomination today against Raseel Singh Mankotia and Zaid Nath, who have been declared as official nominees of the BJP from Hamirpur and Nadaun zones of the bank.

While Prthivi Singh and Mandial are veteran BJP leaders and have been active in the cooperative movement for several decades, Mankotia and Zaid Nath though new to this election are also important leaders of the BJP.

BJP district committee had officially announced the names of Mankotia and Zaid Nath as party nominees and has even threatened disciplinary action against the rebels.

On the other hand, Babu Ram Mandial, who is former BJP MLA from Nadaun, has been stating: “I have met Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal. He clarified that he has not sponsored any candidate in the election.”

Prithvi Singh, who is one of the founder BJP leader from Bamsan assembly constituency represented by the Chief Minister and was made chairman of the KCCB when the BJP came to power in the state, is also saying: “Cooperative body election have never been contested on party lines as he had been contesting this election since 1985 thus there is no question of violation of party discipline.”

Mandial has been accusing the direct interference of certain government officials in the election and said: “Employees are being intimated to vote for a particular candidate and an election officer is acting against cooperative laws against whom he would move the high court.”

Chamba, September 2
The residents living in Jhajjakothi, Sanwal, Makkan and Chachul areas in Churah sub-division of Chamba district are worried over the deaths of their livestock due to outbreak of foot and mouth disease in their area.

About 60 cattle heads have died due to the disease. The residents have already reported to the authorities about the epidemic but none of the officials so far has bothered to look into the matter.

Among those whose livestock had died due to the disease included Doom Ram, Kesru Ram, Lekhu Ram, Kidara Ram, Bhikham Ram, Om and Gurditta residing in the upper reaches of Bruilla, Drada, Sanoth and Makan of Churah sub-division.

Expressing anger over the apathy of the authorities concerned, the affected villagers said their families mainly depended on the livestock for their livelihood and owing to scarcity of grass and fodder, they had to climb high altitude pastures along with their farm animals for the survival.

Meanwhile, the animal husbandry authorities could not be contacted over the phone to ascertain the ground realities with regard to the epidemic.

Shimla, September 2
The Himachal Pradesh High Court has held that the appointees on contract basis are to be treated at par with adhoc appointees.

The court further observed that the state should normally not make public appointments without following the recruitment and promotional rules and in case where the state or its undertaking are forced to make public appointments without following such rules, then the approval of the administrative secretary not below the rank of principal secretary should normally be obtained after given complete reasons in respect of each post.

A Division Bench passed these orders on a bunch of petitions filed in this regard. The court further observed that the state must follow the principle of ‘last come first go’ as enumerated above vis-a-vis the employees who are appointed de hors the rules.

The state should not regularise the employees appointed without following the rules since this adversely affects the rights of many eligible candidates.

The court directed the advocate-general of Himachal Pradesh to send a copy of these judgments to the chief secretary to communicate the orders of the court to all the administrative authorities, including public sector undertakings, to ensure that the judgments of the court are followed in letter and spirit.

While disposing off these petitions, the court observed that the problem arose because the government, in spite of repeated judicial pronouncements, continues to make appointments to certain posts in violations of the rules.

This problem can be best avoided if the government strictly follows the rules.

Shimla, September 2
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal today said there was no controversy with regard to the ‘Atal Bijli Bachat Yojna’ and all 16 lakh consumers would be provided power-saver CFL bulbs by the scheduled date of December 25.

He said today that the controversy had been created by some vested interest about the scheme that had been launched on August 15.

“The controversy is the handiwork of those having vested interest but we will meet the scheduled deadline of providing these bulbs to all the consumers,” he said.

The Chief Minister also stated that the only issue with regard to the scheme was whether to purchase bulbs of 0.5 or 0.85 power factor.

“In case of purchase of 0.5 power factor, the government will save Rs 15 crore while in case of 0.85 power factor there are lesser losses and chances of the system going bad,” he said.

He added that the chief secretary and technical officers were looking into the matter and the CFL bulbs would have a guarantee of one-and-a-half year.

Rejecting the Congress’ demand for a judicial probe into the Naina Devi mishap, Dhumal also said the inquiry report of the incident had been received by the government on August 30 but it would not be made public.

“The report will be placed before the Cabinet and steps will be taken so that such tragedies do not reoccur and more facilities will be created for the convenience of the pilgrims,” he said.

Shimla, September 2
Chief minister P.K. Dhumal today introduced the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal (Transfer of Decided and Pending Cases and Applications) Bill, 2008 and the Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2008 in the state assembly today.

The Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2008 provides that every member of the Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1996, shall pay an annual subscription to the fund on or before 30th June of every year.

In cases where standing of the advocate at the Bar is less than 10 years it will be Rs 200 and where the standing of the advocate is 10 years or more it will be Rs 400.

The Himachal Pradesh Administrative Tribunal (Transfer of Decided and Pending Cases and Applications) Bill, 2008 seeks to replace the ordinance with modification.

After abolition of the Tribunal by Centre, it was felt essential to transfer all decided and pending cases and applications to High Court and civil courts as required.

Shimla, September 2
A spokesperson of the Education Department said yesterday that 331 schools started under the education guarantee scheme (EGS) the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) were only on temporary basis.

He said the objective was to motivate the children to join primary schools.

The spokesperson said the SSA was a time-bound project and the Centre had
asked the state to mainstream these children from the temporary system to the
formal system.

He said out of 331 centres there were still 195 EGS centres with 4,368 children and efforts were on to mainstream them.

“The centre has sanctioned grant for these centres only for nine months for the current financial year with the understanding that the state will mainstream these children in the regular system,” he said.