“The problem was more pronounced in case of single or double-teacher schools. There had been instances of “proxy” teachers claiming that they had been sent from the Block Primary Education Office (BPEO),” said Chaudhary.

Shimla, June 11
The model for reorganisation of the state electricity board put forward by the joint forum of employees may not be accepted in toto as the union power ministry has already made it clear that functions of distribution and transmission have to be completely segregated under the Electricity Act, 2003.

The issue was discussed at a marathon meeting between representatives of the forum and government team, headed by Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop, here today.

The forum had suggested reorganisation without unbundling by creating business units for carrying out functions of generation, transmission and distribution. It wanted the board to be reorganised into one company to handle all three activities.

The officers drew attention of forum representatives to the communication received from the Government of India in that regard.

Since the consent given by the Government of India for continuation of the board as a state transmission utility and a licencee under the Act would expire on June 15, necessary steps would have to be taken urgently.

It was agreed that the state would issue a notification by June 15 under Section 131(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003, for vesting functions, priorities, interest, rights, obligations and liabilities of the board in the state government for further re-vesting these in a corporate entity or entities.

The transfer scheme for re-vesting under Section 131(2) would be finalised within six months. The proposal submitted by the joint front, along with the advice received from the Government of India will be submitted to the Advocate-General and Law Secretary for their opinion.

In case the proposal was not at variance with the legal advice, it would be sent to the Centre for its advice. The matter would be discussed again with the joint front after receiving the advice.

Steps would be initiated for incorporation of a company named HPSEB Limited so that time could be saved after finalisation of the scheme under Section 131(2).

Dharamsala, June 11
Minister for PWD and revenue and chairman of the district grievances committee Gulab Singh has ordered the Kangra administration to check illegal mining in the area.

He issued the orders after receiving complaints regarding illegal mining in Dharamsala area during a meeting of the district grievances committee held here today.

Illegal mining of slates is going on in the Khaniara area despite a ban by the high court. Godowns of slates can be sighted along the roads in Khaniara village.

There are only two routes to transport slates out of Khaniara village and mining department officials can easily check such activities, but no one has been booked for violation of court orders so far.

Recently, department officials raided some slate godowns and broke the slates lying there. However, no one was arrested for violating the orders of the high court.

The illegal mining was banned in the area keeping in view the ecological damage being caused to Dhauladhar hills.

On the plea of the state government, a special empowered committee of the Supreme Court had allowed controlled mining in an area of about 25 hectares.

However, the Mining Department has failed to give that area on lease for legal and controlled mining till date.

The result: Illegal mining goes on as most of the poor residents of Khaniara and adjoining villages were dependent on mining for their livelihood.

Moreover, the government has not offered any rehabilitation package for those affected due to the banning of mining operations.

Sources say if labourers of Khaniara are provided alternative jobs under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) etc, they can give up illegal mining.

Gulab Singh also announced that 334 new hand pumps would be installed in Kangra district at a cost of around Rs 5.34 crore during the current financial year.

The government had also decided to employ villagers under the NREGS for guarding crops in the area affected by wild animals, he added.

Una, June 11
The fight over control of schools here has now spilled over to DAV Centenary Public School, Una. Today, the principal appointed by the DAV managing committee, Delhi, Atul Mahajan, came to join duty in the school.

However, he was not allowed to join till filing of this report. Members of both the rival groups, including the local management committee appointed by the DAV management committee, Delhi, and the local management society were sitting in the school sticking to their position.

The controversy erupted in the school after the former principal of the school DS Aggarwal resigned. He gave charge to the vice-president without allegedly giving any information to DAV management committee.

The secretary of the DAV management committee, Delhi, Pramod Mahajan while talking to The Tribune on phone alleged that there were efforts on the part of some political influential people from Una to grab their institutions.

He alleged they had the information that accounts in the name of DAV management committee, Delhi, had been operated by some unauthorised persons.

‘We have authorised the manager of the school RL Patial, who is also the principal of DAV School, Ludhiana, and chairman of the local management committee Kashmir Singh to operate the accounts. However, certain unauthorised persons have operated the accounts.

‘We have filed a police complaint against such persons and also bank officials who allowed operations. It is unfortunate that certain politically influential people are trying to grab institutions in Una as it would affect the students’ studies,’ he said.

The local administration has deployed police force on the school campus to maintain law and order situation. The SP, Una, Santosh Patial, said the role of police was to maintain law and order situation.

The police received a police complaint from DAV management committee regarding illegal operation of bank accounts and action would be taken accordingly.

RC Seth, secretary of rival local society that is negating the claim of DAV management committee, Delhi, over two schools being run in the name of DAV in Una was not available for comments despite repeated calls on his phone.

However, other members of the group are alleging that the local management society is owner of both the schools being run in the name of DAV. They are maintaining that the Delhi DAV committee has nothing to do with these schools.

Sundernagar, June 11
The Forest Department has seized the wood of the 11 green trees that were felled on the World Environment Day at Government Senior School at Bharari (Sajaupiplu) in Mandi district.

According to the conservator of the Forests, a forest team visited the school and conducted demarcating on the spot.

It was confirmed that some trees were felled on school land and others were heavily lopped. It took into possession the wood that was kept at a corner in the ground.

Afterwards the possession of the forest produce was given on ‘spurdari’ to the
school principal.

It was further told that the Forest Department would take action against guilty officials of school staff under the provisions of the Himachal Pradesh Land Preservation Act and also recover fine from them.

On the other hand, a source from the Education Department said the department had already ordered inquiry into the whole episode and guilty officials have to face departmental proceedings for this act so that they could not repeat it in future.

Shimla, June 11
In case a person appointed on regular basis is to be transferred, only a person appointed on regular basis can replace him.

This observation was made by Vacation Judge Rajiv Sharma on a matter pertaining
to the transfer.

The court further observed that it is true that a regular employee being a holder of civil post could be transferred anywhere in the state, but he could not be replaced by a person appointed on contractual basis.

While observing this, the court stayed the operation of transfer order of Hem Raj, who has been transferred from Mandi to Bharmour vice contractual basis employee.

The petitioner is working as an ophthalmic assistant at Zonal Hospital, Mandi, and has been transferred to Bharmour vice contractual basis employee.

The petitioner averred that he is a regular employee and a contractual appointee cannot replace him. The action of the state government is against the settled principles of service law.

Shimla, June 11
In the absence of any specific clue in the alleged HP-CPMT paper leak, the police will be issuing an appeal to the public to come forward with any evidence as the special investigating team is practically groping in the dark to get a breakthrough.

Even as team members are engaged in scrutinising documents seized from the local coaching centre, which has come under scanner for the alleged PMT paper leak, the police is now seeking the help of the public as the complainants have expressed their failure in providing any specific clue.

“Barring the doubt they have on the coaching centre simply for the reason that their students did exceptionally well the complainants have no other clue about the paper being leaked,” admitted a member of the investigating team. As such the help of the general public will be sought in getting a breakthrough.

During the 2006 paper leak the police was able to get specific clue that the parents and candidates had travelled a day before the PMT paper to Haridwar.

This had led to disclosure that they had actually visited Mussoorie and Dehradun where the leaked paper was solved for the candidates.

Those running the coaching centre while welcoming the inquiry have clearly alleged that this was an attempt by their rivals to defame the institute, which had been giving exceptionally good results.

Shimla, June 11
While assuring his full support in accelerating the pace of development union minister for steel Virbhadra Singh today asserted that “the BJP government will have to treat the Congress and Congressmen with due respect” and respect democratic norms.

Arriving here on his first visit to the state after becoming a minister to a rousing welcome, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given clear directions that there would be no discrimination with any state on political grounds but the state governments were expected to act in a similar manner and not discriminate against areas represented by Congress leaders as had been happening in Himachal Pradesh.

Not only that despite all the development projects sanctioned by the UPA regime during its previous term the BJP government had not been thankful and rather accusing it of discrimination.

He cited the example of his Rohru assembly segment where 30 roads which were completed in October, 2007, were not passed by the Dhumal government just to deny the Congress the credit.

The most glaring example of the Dhumal government’s biased attitude was the reposting of the officer as resident commissioner of Pangi who was removed by the election commission as he functioned like a BJP worker during the Lok Sabha poll.

By restoring his posting the government had only tried to ensure that those who withstood pressure and voted against the BJP were made to pay.

Referring to the extension of industrial package Virbhadra Singh said that he along with his colleague Anand Sharma not only gave full support to the state government but also made personal efforts.

It was curtailed because of pressure from other states which alleged flight of industries to Himachal Pradesh.

PCC chief Kaul Singh and leader of opposition Vidya Stokes were among those who welcomed him at the Congress Bhawan.

Kangra, June 11
Perhaps poverty forced some couple to abandon their one-and-a-half-year-old son at the feet of goddess Bajjreshwari at her temple here yesterday evening.

Some temple employee spotted the child and the temple authorities informed the police. The child was shifted to Civil Hospital at Kangra for immediate medical treatment, which was required for his survival.

The child, wearing old and ordinary clothes, was referred to Dr RP Government Medical College at Tanda and is undergoing treatment there.

Medical Superintendent of the Tanda hospital Dr Bhano Awasthi said the child was not suffering from polio as rumoured.

The child was ‘seriously sick’ suffering from blood infection with numerous abscesses on his body some of which have been drained out.

Dr Awasthi said the child was suffering from malnutrition too. All necessary medical treatment and needed diet was being provided to the ailing child. He said the boy was with a weak and feeble body structure.

Kangra SDPO Jeet Singh Thakur said the parents of the abandoned child could not be traced out but the child does not look to be a Himachali by appearance.

He said the child had been perhaps abandoned because of acute poverty and the parents might have not been in a position to look after the child. He denied that the child was offered at the feet of the goddess by his parents.

He said five families have approached for adoption of the child, but Kangra SDM Pardeep Kumar had decided to send him to an orphanage till he improves physically. He said only after that the process of adoption could be initiated.

Hamirpur, June 11
Education Minister ID Dhiman said during the current year 11,722 persons have been given old age, national old age and handicapped categories and brought under the ambit of old age pension.

They have been given Rs 4,38,82,000 as monthly pension while 4,255 women were given widow pension to the tune of Rs 16,05,800. He said this while presiding over the meeting of the District Welfare Society at Hamirpur today.

The minister said under the Chief Minister Kanyadan Yojna 1,199 girls have been given cash aid for their marriages. He said 22 couples have been given a grant of Rs 25,000 each for promotion of inter-caste marriages.

He said Rs 57,60,000 have been spent on the Harijan Basti Sudhar programme and cent per cent target had been achieved under this programme.