Shimla, December 18
The Opposition Congress has lodged the highest number of 91 complaints out of 374 complaints made before the Election Commission of India (ECI) for violation of model code of conduct in an election that cost around Rs 10 crore.

Even as the two main political parties, the BJP and the Congress, continue to make claims of victory, the countdown has already started with barely a day left for the counting of votes on December 20. In anticipation of the long-awaited results, the cool political climes of the state have begun warming up with
the candidates indulging in hectic lobbying.

The counting of votes will begin with the postal ballots at 8 am in all the 68 counting halls set up across the state. By 8.30 am, the fate of the candidates sealed in the EVMs will start unfolding, with leads after each round of counting to be announced by the Returning Officer concerned.

To take care of a possible snag in any of the EVMs stored since November 4, the day of the polling, help of Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) engineers has been sought.

“Though chances of any of the EVMs developing a snag are remote, experts from BHEL will be present at all the 68 counting centres,” said Narinder Chauhan, Chief Electoral Officer.

Out of a total of 1.16 lakh postal ballots, which could play a decisive role in the triumph of many candidates, so far over 33,000 have reached. It is expected that the figure could touch 35,000 as compared to 22,000 postal ballots cast in the 2007 Assembly elections. The postal ballots include 74,000 Army personnel and 42,000 state government employees who were on poll duty, including the police and home guard personnel.

The ECI received 364 complaints, including 230 from individuals, with regard to violation of model code of conduct, which will remain in effect till December 24, when the election process will finally be completed.

Out of 134 complaints made by various political parties, the Congress lodged 91 complaints, mainly pertaining to the BJP.

The ruling BJP was second with 27 complaints. The BSP and the CPM lodged four complaints each, Himachal Lokhit Party two and the Independents made six complaints.

The Income Tax Department seized Rs 3.24 crore cash during the elections. The ECI received 104 complaints of paid news, mostly in the vernacular media.

The ECI also received two complaints with regard to filing of wrong affidavit by the contesting candidates. This includes a complaint with regard to assets and properties of the Congress candidate from Mandi, Anil Sharma, and the Scheduled Caste status of the BJP nominee from Solan reserved constituency, Sheila Devi. While the ECI has sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, in case of Sharma, the matter with regard to Sheila Devi is pending in the high court.

Shimla, December 18
With the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat being predicted, the electronic media from New Delhi and Chandigarh has started descending with all paraphernalia on Shimla to cover the electoral battle in Himachal Pradesh, which is poised for an exciting finish as per exit polls, albeit with a slight advantage to the Congress.

The prediction based on a number of exit polls has infused a new life in the rank and file of the Congress while the cadres of the BJP have been circumspect about the assessment, asserting that it only indicates a close battle, but their party will scrape through.

State Congress general secretary Kuldeep Rathore said the prediction of pollsters was in line with expectations and the party would win more seats than predicted. He added that the Congress had worked hard in the opposition and put the BJP government on the dock for acts of commission and omission.

Some overzealous Congress workers celebrated by bursting crackers on streets late last evening while television channels were discussing exit polls.

State BJP spokesperson Ganesh Dutt expressed confidence that the party would be able to secure a comfortable majority. He said celebrations of Congress workers were premature and they had indulged in it in Punjab as well. He added that exit polls were only indicative and often went wrong. He asked the Congress to be patient for two more days.

Teams of various national and regional electronic channels started preparations to capture the excitement of the drama anticipated. Some have set up makeshift studios on the Ridge for holding live shows.

In the normal course, a small state like Himachal Pradesh does not attract much attention of the national media, particularly electronic channels. The political temperature is rising in winter and a majority of those candidates who are uncertain about their prospects are feeling the heat.

Solan, December 18
Kapil Dhiman, the drug licensing authority official who was arrested on Sunday for amassing property disproportionate to his known sources of income, had been actively providing consultancy services to upcoming pharmaceutical units set up in Solan and Sirmaur districts during his tenure.

Officials said on the condition of anonymity that several such complaints had been received from pharmaceutical investors in Solan and Sirmaur in the last few years, but no action had been initiated to check it. A pharmaceutical entrepreneur in the district confirmed this.

He said Dhiman had keen interest in providing architectural and technical support to upcoming units and had suggested machinery and suppliers to owners. He said investors were often directed to purchase from suppliers in Delhi and Ahmedabad. He added that each entrepreneur was charged for these services according to investment cost and paying capacity of investors and details were available on Dhiman’s laptop.

Investors confided that he provided consultancy services for setting up units conforming to World Health Organisation approved goods manufacturing practices and several units had availed of his services for which lakhs were received as fees. They added that requisite forms were available with the official on his laptop.

Dhiman had spent a major part of his service period between 2003 and 2008 in Solan and Sirmaur districts as drug inspector when a majority of pharmaceutical units were being set up. Then drug controller Sher Singh was nabbed by the bureau in February 2008 while accepting a bribe of Rs 4.72 lakh and was later convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act for possessing property disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Keylong, December 18
The ruling BJP government, which has bagged a national award in health, seems to have accomplished its mission to give health services at patients’ doorstep in its own way: An ambulance driver and a lab technician have been ‘trained enough’ to give prescription for common cold and headache at the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Sissu in the landlocked tribal Lahaul-Spiti district.

With the big winter chill freezing normal life these days, the driver and a lab technician, both locals, are “doubling as doctors” attending about 20-50 patients, who turn up daily for treatment at PHC, Sissu, said residents.

The only doctor, a fresh graduate from the IGMC, Shimla, joined here in December last. First, he stayed in a private house, but the landowner charged he did not pay his rent for six months. Then he used the OPD room for sleeping and stocked medicines in the unused toilet of the newly inaugurated PHC building there.

At that panchayat pradhans fumed at him and lodged a complaint against him with the CMO, Keylong. Afterwards, he left for Manali on leave on December 3.

But doctors posted in Lahaul resented the lack of infrastructure in the health centre, including X-ray, lab and lodging facilities for them. They are sent there on a “punishment job”, they claimed.

During his absence from the PHC, an ambulance driver and a lab technician were told as to which prescription was to be issued for which ailment, alleged residents.

“There is no doctor here since December 4 and patients are examined by the lab technician and in his absence by an ambulance driver,” they said.

“The Rs 1-crore new building was inaugurated by the local MLA last year. But it has no sweeper, electricity, water supply and a link road. Its like a white elephant for us,” said Duni Chand Thakur, a resident of Sissu.

The plight of the PHC at Gondla, 15 km from Sissu, is no better. It has a pharmacist, but no doctor. However, all medical emergencies in the harsh winter months in this belt are at the mercy of God, resented residents.

They told The Tribune that they had brought the matter to the notice of the Department of Tribal Welfare and the district administration of Lahaul-Spiti, several times, but officials have dumped their complaints.

Government offices in Lahaul-Spiti wore a deserted look as the DC, SP, CMO and other officials are camping in Kullu pleading that they are on election duties or taking care of EVMs at Bhuntar or on leave”.

CMO, Lahaul-Spiti, Dr Shamsher Singh said the doctor had proceeded on leave and patients could go to the Gondla PHC as they were facing shortage of doctors.

“But we have health worker or lab technician to take care of the PHC, Sissu, and he was not aware that patients were given medicines by them”, he said.

Shimla, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh Anti-Reservation Employees Federation has condemned the passing of the 117th Constitutional Amendment to provide reservation in promotions to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and decided to start an agitation to oppose it.

Secretary-General of the federation Rameshwar Gripta said in the first phase of action programme, the Anti-Reservation Action Committee had decided to organise gate meetings to lodge its protest against the unconstitutional move. He extended its full support to the agitating employees of the Uttar Pradesh and decided to coordinate with the employees of other states to build a nationwide movement to expose the Congress and the BJP, who were pursuing vote bank politics at the cost of the country’s interests.

The federation hailed the stand of the Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena and the sole Independent for opposing the Amendment in the Rajya Sabha. They had honoured the sentiments of over 75 crore people of the country by taking a just stand on the issue.

They appealed to all the employees organisations and other bodies to join hands and start a mass movement to root out policy of caste-based reservations.

Shimla, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh High Court (HC) has directed the state government to ensure that all toll collection centres at major entry points to the state, such as those at Parwanoo, Paonta Sahib, Kala Amb, Swarghat, Mehatpur and Damtal, are fitted with mechanical or electronic barriers by April 1 next.

It also ordered that the state government would not be entitled to collect toll if the barriers were not installed by then. Passing the order, a Bench comprising Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay Karol observed, “If the barriers are installed, the entry points will project Himachal Pradesh as a progressive state and not a state living in the dark ages.”

The HC also ordered that persons manning toll collection points wear uniform and be trained to be courteous. To keep a check on speed limit of commercial vehicles, the HC ordered that all commercial vehicles registered from April 1 next be fitted with vehicle tracking system.

It added that all old commercial vehicles brought for passing or renewal should be fitted with vehicle tracking system. It noted that the owner of the vehicle would have to bear the cost of installation. It constituted a committee comprising the Chief Secretary, the Principal Secretary (Transport), the Principal Secretary (Excise), the Principal Secretary (Finance), the Principal Secretary (Home), the Director-General of Police and the HRTC Divisional Manager (Traffic).

The committee was directed to frame a scheme so that the vehicle tracking system was compulsorily installed in all commercial vehicles registered with effect from April 1 next. It said a penal clause should be incorporated in the scheme to make tampering with or destroying the system a penal offence. It directed the committee to give its suggestions on January 10 next.

Bilaspur, December 18
Addiction to drugs and intoxicants is an evil for which all citizens must collaborate in abolishing from society. The call was given by Additional Deputy Magistrate (ADM) Darshan Kalia, who was the chief guest on the occasion, at a seminar on “Nasha Nivaran” organised by the District Public Relations Department at Jhandutta, 55 km from here.

Kalia said mahila mandals could play an important role in the social campaign by organising awakening meetings and seminars to ensure that their families keep away from the dangerous disease.

Earlier, District Public Relations Officer Amar Singh Thakur urged youth and students to opt for sports and games and bring laurels to the state and the country.

Hamirpur, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU) has cancelled the affiliation of MG Engineering College, Badu, in Mandi district with immediate effect, discontinuing the current academic session.

The HPTU has taken such a harsh action for the first time against a private engineering college for lacking infrastructure and inadequate teaching faculty.

The institute had been running several B Tech and other professional courses for many years and was one of the first engineering colleges set up in the state.

The affiliation has been cancelled on the recommendations of two inspection teams sent by the HPTU to review infrastructure facilities in the college.

The discontinuation of academic session would result in shifting of about 60 students, admitted in various courses by the college management, to other colleges, as no student was admitted in the college during the current session through counselling by the HPTU.

The HPTU has also directed the college management to reimburse the charges and fee collected from students except those paid for the completed session or mess expenses.

The HPTU administration will hold a special counselling for these students on December 26 at JLN Government Engineering College, Sundernagar, so that their studies are not hampered.

The students will have an option to complete the rest of their courses in any of the engineering colleges affiliated with the HPTU and will have to pay only half tuition fee.

HPTU Vice-Chancellor Prof SK Dhiman said, “We had been getting complaints regarding lack of infrastructure in the MG Engineering College. Even students of the college had complained to us.”

“We gave a sufficient time to the college for creating facilities and recruiting teaching faculty, but our inspection team found that they had dismissed a majority of the teaching staff and did not improve the infrastructure,” he added.

Chairman of MG Engineering College MG Sharma said, “We will challenge this action in the high court.”

Shimla, December 18
The Railways has decided to operate two special trains on the Kalka-Shimla narrow-gauge section to cope with the increasing rush of winter tourists from December 21 to 31.

Local station superintendent GS Rajput said the two trains would be in addition to the five regular ones already plying on the route. The decision to start the special trains was taken in view of the long waiting list.

The first special train, the Shivalik Duplicate, will leave Kalka at 6:30 am. On the return journey, it will leave Shimla at 3:50 pm. The second one, the Himalayan Queen Duplicate, will leave Kalka at 12:45 pm. On the return journey, it will leave Shimla at 9:25 am.

The regular trains ply from Kalka at 4 am, 5:30 am, 6 am, 7:30 am and12:10 pm. They start from Shimla at 8:30 am, 10:20 am, 2:25 pm, 5:40 pm and 6:15 pm.

Kangra, December 18
Resentment prevails among passengers who had booked tickets for Kingfisher Airlines flights which had got cancelled. They were not being paid refund of their tickets with the Director General, Civil Aviation (DGCA), and the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA), remaining mute spectators to this public trauma.

Dr PK Sharma, Associate Professor, Pharmacology Department, DRPGMC, Tanda, alleged that he had booked four tickets on September 29, 2012 - three tickets of return flight from Chandigarh to Mumbai and a one-way ticket for November 3 from Mumbai to Chandigarh.

Dr Sharma said the flight was cancelled and the airlines kept informing him that the refund would be processed within 14 days, but now they were claiming that they were unable to refund till Kingfisher Airlines operations started.

He said he had mailed his problem to the DGCA and the MOCA on October 12 last, but there was no response. He requested the DGCA and the MOCA to direct the Kingfisher Airlines authorities to refund the full amount of tickets.

Shimla, December 18
A four-member committee headed by Dean of Studies will look into the gross irregularity of five MBA students topping the examination without taking the papers in Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).

The Vice-Chancellor of Himachal Pradesh University, Prof ADN Bajpai, today handed over the probe into into the incident to a four-member committee headed by Dean of Studies Prof PC Bhalla. The committee has been asked to submit its report at the earliest.

The other members of the committee include Controller of Examination Prof Narinder Awasthy, Chief Warden Prof Kamaljeet and Dev Raj Sharma, Member of the executive committee from the non- teaching constituency. The Deputy Registrar has been made Member Secretary who will furnish all the documents and other evidence to the committee.

The committee will not only closely examine the level at which the lapse took place but will also look into the shortcomings that exist at the evaluation and tabulation level.

The committee will look into the issue of suspension of four employees of the Examination Wing of the university for their alleged role. The committee has been asked to see whether the suspension of the four employees is valid or the order should be revoked.

The VC has also asked the committee to give in its suggestions and recommendations that could help in improving the existing examination and evaluation system so that scope of error can be minimised and recurrence of such incidents in the future can be prevented.

Bilaspur, December 18
The Himachal Pradesh State School Lecturers Association has condemned the rationalisation policy of the Education Department and termed it as anti-people. It has said the policy will be opposed by the association and ‘well-wishers’ of the state.

It has pointed out that not only will thousands of posts of school lecturer be scrapped, but subjects like mathematics, economics, commerce, chemistry and physics will also not be taught at government senior secondary schools.

Talking to mediapersons after the state executive committee meeting, state president Narottam Thakur, general secretary Rajender Thakur, vice-president Bhupender Thakur, chief adviser Krishsan Chand and chief organising secretary Pankaj Sharma said the association would not accept the policy as it would ‘destroy’ the education structure of government schools. They termed it as an attempt to benefit private schools.

They said 761 posts of economics lecturer would be scrapped and only 566 retained while 400 posts of mathematics lecturer would be scrapped. They added that there were 1,327 government senior secondary schools in the state.

The association decided to start an agitation against the policy and said all school lecturers in the state would wear black badges from December 17 till the start of the winter break.

It said it would talk to the next government. If the policy was not withdrawn, it would decide the further course of action, the association added.

Nurpur, December 18
The Judicial Magistrate, Indora, Pankaj Kumar, today convicted Soma, son of Chuni Lal of Tibbi village, for thrashing and injuring Babajeet Gir, a priest of local Lakhdata Peer temple. He was awarded imprisonment for three years and fined Rs 5,500.

Assistant District Attorney Kanwar Udhey Singh said the accused had reportedly demanded a match box from the complainant when he was sleeping on the night on August 22, 2006. When the priest refused to give the match box to the accused, he was severely beaten up.

The Indora police had registered a case under Sections 323, 325 and 451 of the IPC after conducting medical examination of the priest on August 24, 2006.