Dharamsala, January 8
Newly elected legislators, including 22 first-timers, were administered the oath by Pro-Tem Speaker Mansa Ram on the first day of the winter session of the state Assembly here today.

The Assembly has 68 elected members. Doon legislator Ram Kumar Chaudhary, accused in a murder case, could not be administered the oath as he was not present.

Police teams from Himachal Pradesh and Haryana were deputed in the Assembly complex today to arrest Chaudhary in case he came for the oath-taking ceremony.

Amid speculation that Chaudhary might turn up, the Bharatiya Janata Party decided to raise the issue of law and order. On coming to know that the accused legislator surrendered, Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal said the law should take its own course.

Sources here said Chaudhary would continue to be a legislator unless he was convicted. He would have to attend at least one of the three Assembly sessions.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh was the first to be administered the oath in the Assembly, followed by Dhumal. A large number of people and delegations of employees gathered outside the Assembly complex to meet the Chief Minister.

Carrying their demand charters, most of them had to return dejected as the Chief Minister left without giving them the chance to meet him.

The Opposition was jubilant as many legislators cracked jokes on how they failed to form the government. In the ruling camp, legislators were hobnobbing within their respective groups.

The tension of the factional fight within the party was writ large in the rival camps of the Congress. State affairs in charge Birender Singh Chaudhary and his wife were present in the visitor’s gallery during the oath-taking ceremony.

Dharamsala, January 8
The diktat of the Congress high command seems to have prevailed as the party opted for Brij Bihari Lal Butail, veteran leader from Palampur, as the nominee for the post of Speaker of the 12th state Assembly.

Butail filed his nomination papers today and was the only legislator to do so. He is likely to be elected unanimously tomorrow. He is the choice of the rival camp led by Kaul Singh Thakur and Asha Kumari.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) met here last night, but had failed to arrive at a consensus over Butail as the choice for Speaker. Sources said the diktat of the high command resulted in Butail being made the party choice.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Minister for Health and Family Welfare Kaul Singh played down the controversy.

Virbhadra Singh said the reported differences over the selection of Butail as the Speaker were created by the media.

The party made a unanimous choice and there was no difference on the issue, he added. Kaul Singh denied that there were differences over the selection of Butail for the post of Speaker.

Butail is the richest politician in the state, owning movable and immovable assets worth more than Rs 150 crore. He is rich on account of the value of his tea gardens in Palampur.

Butail is a former Revenue Minister and his family has always been affiliated with the Congress. His elder brother Kunj Bihari Lal Butail has been the state Congress chief.

Brij Bihari Lal Butail won his first election from Palampur in 1985.

Right from the start, he has been facing Shanta Kumar in the elections.

The Butail family was able to retain a majority of its land even after the land ceiling of 300 kanal per person was imposed in the state as the state government exempted tea garden land from the land ceiling Act.

The exemption had come with the condition that the land could not be diverted for any other purpose. The Butail family’s tea garden land was diverted for housing colonies.

Butail was close to Virbhadra Singh earlier and was his political adviser. In the last few years, they fell apart and Butail got close to Kaul Singh.

Butail’s appointment is likely to assuage the feelings of the rival camp which is feeling ignored in the appointment of chairpersons of various boards and corporations in the state.

Dharamsala, January 8
Law will take its own course in the murder case against Congress MLA from Doon Ram Kumar Chaudhary. This was stated by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while talking to mediapersons at the Himachal Assembly Complex at Tapovan in Dharamsala today, on the first day of the winter session.

The Chief Minister said he had advised the MLA to surrender before the police in the murder case against him.

“I hope law will take its own course in the case,” he said after receiving the news that the accused MLA had surrendered today before the Haryana Police.

While responding to queries regarding the formation of new districts in the state, he said it was not a political decision. The previous BJP government tried to create new districts in the state just because of political considerations near the Assembly elections, he alleged.

“In case the present government wants to create new districts, it will constitute a commission that will advise the government regarding the administrative needs and feasibility of the new districts,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he had sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding restoring air services in the state. The air transport services in the state have been lying suspended for the past three months now. It has severely hit the tourism industry.

Tourists who had planned short trips to the state and used to come by air were cancelling their bookings which had hit the hotel industry, he said.

Virbhadra Singh played down factional fight in the Congress. He said Brij Bihari Butail is the party’s unanimous choice for the Speaker’s post and factional fight in the party was just media created.

Meanwhile, leader of Opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal said, “Chaudhary should have surrendered as soon as the murder case was registered against him. Since he has taken a lot of time to surrender, it seems that there might be some laxity on the part of the official machinery”.

Panchkula, January 8
Doon MLA Ram Kumar Chaudhary’s strategy to evade arrest has landed him in a trouble when he thought that Panchkula would be a safer place to hide when the entire police force would be looking for him at the oath taking ceremony at Dharmsala in Himachal.

However, on realising that he was being tracked and he could not run far, he decided to surrender.

A huge police force comprising the Haryana and Baddi police had reached the venue where newly elected MLAs were scheduled to take an oath. The Congress Legislature Party, led by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, on the first day of the Vidhan Sabha session was scheduled to be present at Dharamsala where the newly elected Congress candidates had to take oath.

“We received a tip off that Chaudhary was in Panchkula thinking it to be a safer place when all the routes of Himachal were sealed and the concentration of police was on the oath taking ceremony,” said a senior Panchkula police official.

He added, “Chaudhary knew that the Panchkula police was present near the Shakti Bhawan Chowk and on realising that he was closer to being nabbed, he decided to surrender before the court”.

It was this morning when Chaudhary, wanted in Jyoti murder case, surrendered before the Panchkula court. Chaudhary was absconding ever since the murder took place. He had given an appearance on December 20 when he was elected, but the police did not nab him saying that his arrest could lead to unrest.

Surrender not by ‘choice’

The hide and seek game between the Doon MLA and the Panchkula police had reached a feverish pitch in the wee hours today when around 3 am he had to take shelter near Kharar.

“He had already crossed the Himachal border a few days ago and was near Kharar last night. It was around 3 am when he hid somewhere,” said a police official.

It was not surrender by ‘choice’ but Chaudhary’s helplessness, which landed him in the court. It was when he got to know that the Panchkula police was near the Shakti Bhawan Chowk, Panchkula, that he was left with no other option but to surrender before the court.

Went to Salasar

During his hiding period, Chaudhary had been to Salasar also to get rid of bad stars. He was told that some evil forces were chasing him that despite winning the elections, he had lost everything. Following this he spent some time at Salasar chanting religious hymns. During this period, a ‘havan’ was also held at his residence in Sandholi, Baddi, for his well being.

‘I don’t know Jyoti

Ever since Chaudhary is in the custody of the police, he has been clamouring that he doesn’t know who Jyoti is. “He has repeated this a number of times that he doesn’t know who Jyoti is and should be released. Ever since he is in our custody, he is not speaking anything except this line,” said a senior Panchkula police official.

Will sleep on the floor

The Doon MLA who is accustomed to luxuries will sleep on the floor in the CIA today. It was in the evening when he was given food.

Lookalike paraded

The Panchkula police today paraded Chaudhary’s lookalike to escape the media’s attention. A person in monkey cap was brought to the court from the main entry gate of the district court. However, later the media realised that Chaudhary was produced from the back gate.

Supporters rough up mediapersons

A few supporters of Chaudhary, who were present at the court, roughed up mediapersons and threatened them. A police complaint in this regard has been submitted by the electronic media at the Panchkula police station.

Shimla, January 8
The government is seeking legal opinion on the issue of ‘bulk’ promotions granted to 25 Indian Forest Services (IFS) officers during the previous BJP regime so that proceedings for reverting them to their original designations could be initiated.

The Congress, while in opposition, had been highly critical of the move of the Dhumal regime to show magnanimity to so many IFS officers, only to benefit a select few close to the ruling party. As such it was being expected that once back in power, the decision could be reviewed as it had huge financial implications for a cash-strapped state.

The entire case of promotion of 25 IFS officers within a month, is now being scrutinised by the Law Department.

“We are keen to revert the move as it was aimed at benefitting a select few, especially those belonging to the 1985 batch. We are now awaiting legal opinion, before proceeding further,” said a senior bureaucrat.

Forest minister, Thakur Singh Bharmouri, on assuming office, had said these promotions would be reviewed. As such, directions were issued to the department functionaries to initiate action in this regard, he added.

The decision of the BJP regime to promote these officers had led to an increase in the number of Additional Principal Chief Conservator Forest (APCCF) from seven to 32. These promotions were earlier done on July 11 and later on August 3 last year, with two officers getting two promotions within a month’s time.

After the latest cadre review, the Centre had approved a strength of 114 officers for the Himachal IFS cadre. This included the two posts of PCCF and seven of APCCF. As such the strange manner of cadre management had led to widespread criticism.

Forest officers point out that normally it takes five to seven years for an officer to become an APCCCF from the post of Chief Conservator of Forest. In this case, it took barely two years for some to reach the post. 

Shimla, January 8
The government yesterday shifted about two dozen officers and assigned additional responsibilities to some others. Excise and Taxation Commissioner RS Negi has been given additional charge of Managing Director (MD), HPMC, Budhi Ram Verma, Divisional Commissioner, Kangra Division, will hold additional charge of MD, HP Agro Industrial Packaging India.

Amar Singh Rathore, Director, Food and Civil Supplies, has been posted to Shimla as MD, HP Agro Industries Corporation, while BM Nanta, MD, HP Civil Supplies Corporation, will hold the additional charge of Director, Food and Civil Supplies. KR Bharti, who was under order of transfer as Controller, Printing and Stationery, HP Government Press, goes as Special Secretary (Finance) with additional charge of the post of Director, Treasuries, Lotteries and Accounts.

Project Director, Mid-Himalayan Watershed Project, RK Kapoor has been posted as MD, SC, ST and Mahila Vlkas Nigam, Solan, vide SS Negi, who has been posted as
Director, Environment, Science and Technology.

Ashok Sharma, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, takes over as Director, Health Safety and Regulations; Amitabh Avasthi, Director, Ayurveda, has been posted as Controller, Printing and Stationery; Dev Dutt Sharma, Secretary, State Information Commission, as Director, Vigilance-cum-Ex-Officio Special Secretary (Home and Vigilance), Madan Chauhan, MD, HPMC, as Director, Ayurveda, Lokender Singh Chauhan, Secretary, State Election Commission, will hold additional charge of Secretary, State Information Commission.

Rajesh Sharma, Director, Health Safety and Regulations, has been posted as Special Secretary (Finance) with the additional charge of Examiner, Local Audit Department, Rakesh Sharma, Additional Director, Food and Civil Supplies, as MD, HIMFED, Gopal Sharma, Additional Secretary (SAD) as Regional Transport Officer, Una, vide Ramesh Chand Thakur, who goes as Land Acquisition Officer, Chamera Project, Gopal Chand, Additional Secretary (Revenue) takes over as Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mandi, and Dr Man Singh, under posting as Additional as Additional Secretary (Personnel) with additional charge of Additional Secretary (Revenue).

Manmohan Sharma, Additional Excise and Taxation Commissioner, will hold the additional charge of the post of Additional Excise & Taxation Commissioner (SZ), Harbans Singh, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Solan, has been posted as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Sangrah, vide Dalip Kumar Negi who takes over as Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Rampur Suneel Kumar Sharma, Sub Divisional Officer, (Rural), Shimla, as Deputy Secretary (Home) vide GC Negi, who goes as Sub Divisional Officer, Urban, Shimla. Satish Kumar, AC, to DC, Hamirpur, has been posted as Sub Divisional Officer, Ani, Rajiv Kumar, Sub Divisional Officer, Urban, Shimla, goes as Joint Director, Food and Civil Supplies, Naresh Thakur, Sub Divisional Officer, Una, as Sub Divisional Officer, Kandaghat, Sharwan Kumar, Sub Divisional Officer, Ani as Sub Divisional Officer, Paonta Sahib, Gian Sagar Negi, Sub Divisional Officer, Baijnath, as Sub Divisional Officer, Shimla (Rural), Kewal Ram Saizal, Sub Divisional Officer, Rampur, as Project Officer, ITDP, Kinnaur, Tashl Sandup, Sub Divisional Officer, Paonta Sahib, as Sub Divisional Officer , Solan, KalJash Chand, Sub Divisional Officer (Civil), Kandaghatas Sub Divisional Officer, Una, Harish Gajju, District Tourism Development Officer, Mandi, as Deputy Secretary (SAD & GAD) and Sanjeev Sood, Project Officer, ITDP, Kinnaur, as ADM, Pooh.

Mandi, January 8
As many as 20 minor girls among 197 persons went missing in the state in 2011. But the police neither lodged any FIR nor initiated any inquiry under Section 157 of CrPC in the case of the missing minor girls. It violates the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to the police in such cases. This information was revealed by RTI activist Sudershan Thakur, who had sought information from the state DGP under the RTI Act about the total number of missing minor girls and other persons in the state.

“The police gave me a list of 197 missing persons, including 20 minor girls, as on December 28, 2011,” he said.

If suspicion is made out by parents of missing persons, a cognisable case is registered. Otherwise, the police just issues a lookout notice and registers a daily diary report (DDR). However, the police can conduct an inquiry under Section 157 of CrPC in such cases, he said.

“The police is not complying with the directions and guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on November 14, 2002, to investigation officers in missing children cases,” he said.

“The police has to publish photographs of missing children in print media and telecast it through electronic media within a week of receiving a complaint,” Thakur said.

The police should set up a multi-task force for locating a missing girl or a woman. But many states had not been following these guidelines, resulting in an increase in untraced cases of missing children, he claimed.

The activist cited the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s judgement that had made it mandatory for the police in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh to immediately register an FIR on any complaint about a missing child.

“But in Himachal, the police is registering a DDR only in a few cases and lodging an FIR when a cognisable offence is made in case of a missing a boy or girl,” Thakur said.

As a result, many missing children had remained untraced even after a long time, he added.

On the other hand, top police officials claimed that they had put the names of missing persons with photographs on national portals and launched three anti-human trafficking units in the central, north and south police ranges in the state for the purpose.

Only two children went missing from a children home in Sundarnagar last year as they had come from outside, said Mandi SP Abhishek Dular.

Bilaspur, January 8
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP) will contest all the four Lok Sabha seats in the Lok Sabha elections next year.

This was stated by party state president and MLA Maheshwar Singh while addressing a meeting of the core group of the party at Ghumarwin.

He said there was no question of any of its leaders joining the BJP. He said the BJP national president had demanded a month’s time to investigate and take action against its tainted leaders to make the party corruption free so that it could again return to power in the state. He alleged that the party waited for six months and the national president slept over their chargesheet. He said the HLP would support the government on all pro-people policies.

Those present included state vice-presidents KD Dharmani and Babu Ram Madyal, state general secretary Dharam Singh Guleria, office in charge Tikku Thakur, former MLA Navin Dhiman and all state and district office-bearers of the party, including Bilaspur district president Daulat Ram Sharma and state joint spokesman Kesh Pathania.