|
|
|
|
Baddi varsity staff lathicharged
Change in power policy irks Cong
Land purchase nod for Tibetans |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Preparation of Marksheets
Remarks against tanda Girls on Web
Plan to install street lights in BBN area
Cannabis to be destroyed
Cases settled on the spot
Legal Practitioners Act
‘Rs 33 cr spent on roads in Chamba’
Promotion Issue
Coop Day celebrated
Audit dept celebrates 150th anniversary
9 killed in two mishaps
Id greetings from CM, Governor
Eye camp for ex-servicemen
Effluent treatment plant for Solan
Subsidy reduction on seeds flayed
|
||||||||
|
Baddi varsity staff lathicharged
Baddi, November 16 Those arrested include 10 women and 16 men, including district president of AITUC Satish Sharma. Police officials said the persons were arrested as they tried to disrupt the peaceful ambience of the university. However, the university authorities claimed that the agitating workers were hurling stones on some workers who were hired from outside to attend to various works in the university hostels, which had come to a standstill for the past one week. While university’s registrar RK Kakker contended that since they had obtained court orders against the strike, it had been declared illegal and the workers could not be allowed to agitate within a distance of 100 m from the campus. He held that the agitating workers had hurled stones at other workers whom the university authorities had hired from outside and this was vitiating the academic ambience, thus, forcing the police to arrest them. Trouble arose when the employees proceeded on a strike after a driver was sacked for some financial irregularity a week ago. While the workers said the issue had been resolved, but the university authorities held that its non-settlement had led to his termination. AITUC state president Jagdish Bhardwaj said the police had resorted to mild cane charge on the peacefully agitating workers after stones were hurled on them from outside the campus around 9 am today. The workers were later arrested for no fault of theirs, he alleged. The police has registered a case under Sections 147, 149, 323, 506, 341 and 143 of the IPC for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, unlawful assemble and wrongful restrain. Peeved at the arrest of their district president, a group of AITUC activists later raised slogans outside the office of the SDM in protest against his arrest. They later presented him a memorandum condemning these arrests. |
|
Change in power policy irks Cong
Shimla, November 16 The government has drawn flak from the opposition Congress for making frequent amendments to the policy at the behest of independent power producers (IPP). It has even demanded a white paper on changes made along with reasons for doing so. The decision to allow the entire generation from a project as merchant power goes against the state’s interest and also violates the national hydropower policy framed after prolonged deliberations. The Centre had protected the interests of the states by ensuring 60 per cent regulated power to it and allowing only 40 per cent merchant power to the IPPs. Further, the quantum of merchant power is linked to efficiency by making a provision for imposing penalties for delay in commissioning of the project. If a developer is not able to complete the project within four years of its financial closure, the quantum of power available for sale as merchant power will be reduced by 5 per cent for delay of every six months. Thus, if the project is delayed by four years, no merchant power will be allowed. The state policy has no such provision and, in contrast, it provides for a higher royalty progressively after the commissioning of a project. The state electricity regulatory commission had taken notice of it and advised the government to harmonise its policy with the national policy. However, by allowing 100 per cent merchant power, it had made a mockery of the national policy. Worse, the government has not resorted to tariff-based bidding for which a provision has been made in the national policy to make power available at the competitive rates. The issues may not only lead to litigation, but could also have a serious political fallout for the government which is being accused of selling off the state’s interests to IPPs. The final outcome of the matter pending in the high court will also have implications as both the state government and the Centre have been asked to consider the report and file affidavits. |
|
Land purchase nod for Tibetans
Shimla, November 16 While issuing notices, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice V.K. Ahuja made it clear that all land transactions would be subject to final outcome of the petition. The court passed this order on a petition challenging the action of the state authorities to grant permission to Tibetans for purchase of land in the state in violation of Section 118 of the HP Tenancy & Land Reforms Act. According to petitioner Pawan Kumar of Rewalsar, Tibetan refugees in the state, on the basis of false and forged documentations, have purchased land in their names as a result of connivance with the revenue agencies, which is not permissible under the Act. It is in violation of the provisions of the Act. He urged the court that all such transactions should be set aside and directions be issued to the state government to instruct all District Collector not to transfer any land in the names of Tibetan refugees. The petitioner also alleged that the Tibetan refugees in their offices of Government-in-Exile, monasteries and other institutions had furled their flag, which is unconstitutional since in India, only the National flag of India can be furled. He urged the court that directions be issued to the Tibetan Government-in-Exile to remove all flags. Not only this, the petitioner further urged the court if any treaty existed between the Government of India and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile in this regard should also be declared unconstitutional. The court directed all respondents to file their reply within two months and listed this matter before the court on 21st of March, 2011. |
|
Preparation of Marksheets
Shimla, November 16 The committee, specially constituted by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sunil Kumar Gupta, to look into the issue, had almost finalised its report after examining the present system of preparation and delivery of marksheets, but now it has been asked to look into some other areas as well. The VC had constituted the committee after fake marksheet of a B.A-II student had been caught by the Computer Branch which is being investigated by the CID. “I have asked the committee to look into some other areas related to preparation of marksheet so that there can be further improvement and enhancement in confidentiality, thereby minimising the scope for forgery,” confirmed the Vice-Chancellor. He said the committee was likely to submit its report within the next 10 days. Besides the latest fake marksheet case, the HPU was in for a major embarrassment when marks were fabricated on an original marksheet of the HPU in 1997. Later in 2006, the university came in for a lot of criticism when the pre-medical entrance test question papers were leaked from the printing press. Prof Gupta said though the security code system in preparation of marksheets had been strengthened, there was still scope for improvement. “Had the security code system not been in place, the fake marksheet of the student from Rampur would have passed unnoticed,” he opined. He added that the presence of more checks and balances would curtail the chances of manipulation at any level. Another area which he felt needed closer scrutinisation was improvement in the records being maintained by various branches. “Though the record pertaining to the results are updated from time to time, I am keen to have a system in place where these are updated on a daily basis,” he said. Aware of the fact that more employees will have to be put in place to have a more efficient system, the VC has already asked the Registrar to assess the situation with regard to the strength of employees handling the task. “It is but obvious that when there has been an appreciable increase in the number of students and courses over the years, the staff strength must also be proportionately increased, which we intend taking up with the government” he confessed. |
|
Remarks against tanda Girls on Web
Kangra, November 16 The committee was constituted to look into the complaint of four MBBS girl students that Ashish had posted obscene remarks about them on his Facebook account. However, the college authorities were evasive about the recommendations made by the committee. Sources, however, said the committee had recommended his suspension. Dr Dheeraj Kapoor, officiating principal of the college, told The Tribune that the report of the committee was received. However, he refused to divulge the details of the report. He said Ashish would continue to remain suspended from both class and the hostel till the Principal, Dr Anil Chouhan, arrived back. It is learnt that Dr. Anil Chouhan was out of station at Reckong Peo. Dr. Dheeraj said the final decision regarding the quantum of punishment to the accused would be taken by the disciplinary committee after going through these recommendations of the sexual harassment committee. Dr Kapoor said, “It is understood that Ashish is allegedly found guilty by the sexual harassment committee so his suspension will continue till Dr Anil Chouhan takes any further decision.” The college authorities, including the media information officer Dr. Sanjeev Chouhan and the committee head Dr. Sita Thakur, also refused to speak anything on the recommendations today. Principal of the College Dr Anil Chouhan had earlier said Ashish had admitted that he had allegedly posted these messages and later deleted these. The Principal had received a complaint against Ashish from the students on November 2. Meanwhile, Ambika Sood, Chairperson, Himachal Pradesh State Women Commission, told The Tribune that the college had brought the state to an embarrassing position in Aman Kachroo case and must learnt a lesson from that incident. She said she had not received the report of action by the college authorities as yet, however, added that Principal Dr Anil Chauhan told her that committee had recommended six-month suspension of Ashish. She said she had expressed her displeasure to the college authorities over the number of sexual harassment cases in the college and sought stringent action against those found involved. She said the college authorities should not be evasive on the issue and instead remain transparent and should take serious steps to curb the menace in future. |
|
Media owners cautioned against paid news
Shimla, November 16 Participants at the interactive seminar organised on “Paid News: Crisis of Credibility” organised here today to mark the occasion were of unanimous opinion that the trend to publish advertisements in the garb of news, the new method of space marketing, was fast eroding credibility of the media. The inaction on the part of the Election Commission and the Press Council had made things worse. Shyam Khosla, a veteran journalist and director of the India Media Centre, said a self-regulatory body like Media Council of India should be set up to cover not only print media and television but also the Internet. It should be vested with powers to take action against those who refuse to comply with its directions by way of withholding advertisements and cancellation of registration of title. MANDI: Mediapersons called upon the Press Council of India and the chief of the Election Commission to set up standards for the media, including print and audiovisual, so as not to cross the line of presenting the paid packaged marketing features. They highlighted the need for regulatory mechanism to check the falling standards of media ethics and moral degeneration that has crept into the profession due to the overlapping of editorial and marketing in the media in general. HAMIRPUR: National Press Day was celebrated at the Hamir Bhawan here where mediapersons expressed their views on the topic “Paid News: A threat to credibility of media”. Deputy Commissioner Rajender Singh Thakur was the chief guest in the function and SDM Pankaj Rai was a special invitee. The DC said the press being the fourth pillar had very important role in society in exposing various scams, in taking government programmes to people and in raising issues of public concern. Punjab Kesari reporter Rajiv Chauhan was awarded young journalist award of the year by the Press Club, Hamirpur, instituted in the memory of late journalist Rajesh Kumar. |
|
Plan to install street lights in BBN area
Solan, November 16 According to an initial proposal, the Barotiwala-Jharmajri area will be taken up where funds collected under the Industrial Area Development Authority will be put to use. An estimate of about Rs 11 lakh has been worked out and as per an understanding industrial units that will be lying adjacent to the street lights have agreed to bear the monthly power bills. CEO Meera Mohanty said a proposal had been mooted and would be submitted to the Chief Secretary and if approved it would help provide street lights in the industrial area. Once achieved it would be extended to the rest of the industrial area, including Baddi and Nalagarh, so that this bare minimum facility could benefit investors. OSD to BBNDA Tilak Raj Sharma said the facility once put in place would especially help workers who leave unit premises late in the evenings and after night shifts. He added that this small endeavour had received overwhelming response from the investors who had expressed their willingness to help by footing the bill. While it was a preliminary proposal at this stage the investors were hopeful of getting this facility approved from the state government. Being still in the nascent stage of industrialisation, the state government was endeavouring to facilitate creation of infrastructure where minimum needs of the industry could be met in the first phase. This need was increasingly felt to sustain the industry which was reluctant to stay back after the expiry of the Central industrial package in March this year. Although efforts were afoot to rope in Central funds to provide infrastructural facilities, the government was also trying to accommodate the smaller needs of the industry, officials observed. |
|
Cannabis to be destroyed
Mandi, November 16 Talking to The Tribune after he inspected Malana village, Manhas said the police would chalk out a comprehensive strategy to destroy the crop before it was ready for harvest. “We will explore the possibility of using eco-friendly chemicals and other methods to nip the crop in the bud”. Manhas said when he visited the area there were 22 people ran away from the place as they spotted the team. DGP was accompanied by the SP Kullu Abhishek Dular and other police officers from Kulu district. He recced Atarang, Magic Valley, Nirang and Berang in the higher reaches of Malana village where illegal cultivation has been done. He issued direction to the police to destroy the illegal cultivation as smugglers take advantage of late police action in destroying the crop. On quizzing as to why the CID team, which confiscated huge quantities of seeds and marijuana made from the cannabis leaves last week, failed to book foreigners and certain villagers involved in the illicit trade, the DGP said the case was under investigation. Manhas warned the certain NGOs and politicians talking about the legalisation of cannabis. |
|
|
Cases settled on the spot
Chamba, November 16 Presiding over a largely attended camp, which was also attended by all district officers, Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar said these camps were being organized at various places in the district to save them from the trouble of visiting offices for getting their problems solved. The villagers got an opportunity for having solutions to various problems at their doorsteps, the DC said, adding that this would maintain the credibility of the government for the resolution of responsible and transparent governance. The DC said the remaining cases required detailed enquiries and these were handed over to the officers concerned with the direction that these must be settled within a stipulated time frame. |
|
|
Legal Practitioners Act
Bilaspur, November 16 Accompanied by District Bar president Tejaswi Sharma and senior advocate DS Kutal, Daulat Ram Sharma said the Union Human Resource Development Minister seemed to be determined with this new legislation, but it would be opposed tooth and nail by the entire judicial fraternity of the country and the government would not be allowed to take powers of the BCI. He said allowing foreign advocates to appear in courts would be to the detriment of all norms of the profession and would be opposed. Daulat Ram Sharma said now the Bar Council of India would hold test four times every year after every three months and this test was scheduled to be held on December 5, 2010, for the first time. |
|
|
‘Rs 33 cr spent on roads in Chamba’
Chamba, November 16 Reckoning the achievements made during the BJP regime, the minister said about 3 lakh families living below poverty line had been covered under the insurance scheme. He assured the people of Chamba to link the interior areas of Kohladi, Khajjiar and Dalhousie with the main lifeline. — OC |
|
|
Promotion Issue
Dharamsala, November 16 Eightyfive per cent of the teachers have been promoted through batch wise and selection board but 15 per cent of teachers are still waiting for their due promotions. The state primary teachers’ sangh alleged that the Elementary Education Department’s statement of giving promotions to the trained graduate teachers (TGT) was just a way of befooling teachers. The department had made such statement just to stop teachers from taking out protests at the election time. |
|
|
Coop Day celebrated
Kullu, November 16 He said the inclusion of hydropower generation through the cooperative societies was an important step towards promoting cooperatives. Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Federation Karnail Singh Rana claimed that the cooperative societies had given a good competition to the multi-national companies in almost all fields in
the country. A cultural programme was also presented by a troupe of the Bhuttico Society artists. |
|
Audit dept celebrates 150th anniversary
Shimla, November 16 Presiding over the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Indian Audit and Accounts (IAA) Department here today, Chief Minister said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India was one of the most important constitutional authorities and the IAA Department functioned as a bridge between the Legislature and the Executive. He said it ensured the accountability of the Central and state governments to their respective legislatures. He said the role of audit was not only limited to ensuring that the financial regulations had been abided but it also went beyond mere adherence to rules. He also inaugurated the exhibition of books and journals on the occasion. Rajwant Sandhu, Chief Secretary, also complimented the IAA Department for completing 150 years of its service to the nation. She appreciated the changed system of auditing in public offices and introducing evaluation system of performance by different departments. S.P. Pillay, Director-General of the National Audit and Accounts Academy, dwelt upon the historic background of the audit system. |
|
9 killed in two mishaps
Shimla, November 16 According to the police, since the accident took place in the night the bodies were retrieved this morning. The deceased include Kanwar Singh (35), Munish (42), Pawan (22), Virender (23) and Gopal. A pall of gloom descended on the area as all belonged to Taklech. In another accident that took place near Chairi in the Nankhari area, three persons were killed on the spot while one succumbed to injuries while being taken to Shimla. The mishap took place at 7 pm yesterday when the car (HP-06A-1680) rolled down 600 feet below the road near Chairi. The three who died on the spot included Satya Dev (22), Gulab Singh (19) and Vikrant Thakur (20) while Yash Pal died while being taken to the IGMC. |
|
Id greetings from CM, Governor
Shimla, November 16 The Chief Minister in his greetings said such festivals not only provided an opportunity to people of different religious of a get-together but also go a long way in strengthening the bonds of brotherhood and fraternity. He also greeted the people on this auspicious occasion and hoped the festival would bring happiness in their lives. |
|
Eye camp for ex-servicemen
Dharamsala, November 16 Dr Shashi Sharma diagnosed patients at the camp. Patients were provided free medicines and three would be operated free-of-cost. The ex-servicemen and their families participated at the camp in a large number and from far-flung areas. The ex-servicemen body of the area showed gratitude to the visiting doctor and the CMO and requested them to host such camps in future for the betterment of the families of the ex-servicemen. Chairman of the Ex-servicemen League, Cap. Ramswarup, vice-chairman Cap. Malkit Singh, secretary Sub Pushraj and other members made the camp successful. |
|
Effluent treatment plant for Solan
Shimla, November 16 The firm had been nominated as the sole agency by the government to collect, deposit, process and dispose sewerage, municipal and industrial effluents in the prescribed manner on payment of fees for
disposal. |
|
Subsidy reduction on seeds flayed
Nurpur, November 16 He said farmers were already facing acute shortage of fertilisers and now curtailment of seed distribution had added to their woes. He demanded restoration of 50 per cent subsidy on seeds.
— OC |
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
