Shimla, August 7
With the belligerent BJP mounting pressure on the Chief Minister to resign and reports of growing dissidence emerging, the entire Cabinet and the four independent MLAs, who are associate Congress members, today expressed full faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while blaming the BJP for hatching a conspiracy against him.

The day witnessed a hectic political activity with the BJP stepping up an offensive against the Chief Minister in the light of the proceedings in the Delhi High Court yesterday. Loyalists of Virbhadra remained engaged in the crisis management as written statements from all 10 ministers was issued to quell all speculations about the growing dissidence.

A majority of the ministers and MLAs, who went to wish Governor Urmila Singh on her birthday in a group yesterday, clarified their position before the Chief Minister. They refuted charges that they were part of the dissident group.

“Barring one or two persons, I enjoy the support of a majority of the MLAs so it will be wrong to draw inference about their going together to wish the Governor on her birthday,” said Virbhadra, dismissing all speculation about the dissidence in the party.

The Chief Minister is likely to go to Delhi tomorrow and meet the high command in the wake of new developments pertaining to the case filed by Prashant Bhushan on behalf of an NGO People’s Watch in the Delhi High Court.

All 10 Cabinet ministers, including some of the known dissidents, issued a joint statement, expressing full faith in the leadership of Virbhadra Singh. “The Chief Minister has not committed any illegality and the Opposition must have faith in the democratic process and not raise issues which are sub judice,” they said. They added that they were with the Chief Minister and would not allow the BJP in succeeding in its mission.

“We have full faith in the judiciary and the Chief Minister too has expressed faith in the judiciary but the BJP is in power at the Centre and investigating agencies are under it,” they stated.

Ministers said the manner in which the BJP was creating mayhem in the House was wrong and against the laid down democratic norms. “The case about which the BJP wants a discussion is still under investigation so it is not right to discuss it in the House,” they said.

The four independent MLAs also said they were supporting Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh. “There is no threat or crisis to the government but the Opposition is disrupting the House,” said the four independent MLAs Balbir Verma, Pawaj Kajal, Karnesh Jung and Manohar Dhiman.

Shimla, August 7
The issue of four independent MLAs extending support to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh could assume political overtones with the BJP making up its mind to pursue the matter legally and seek cancellation of their membership.

Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal threatened to drag them to court if they were unable to prove the charges levelled against him. “I am surprised that these four MLAs have accused me of trying to obstruct the Assembly proceedings as part of a pre-planned conspiracy,” he remarked.

He added that they should either prove the charge failing which he would file a defamation case against all four.

While the four legislators, who are the associate members of the Congress in the House, today issued a signed statement pledging the wholehearted support to Virbhadra Singh, the BJP raised questions on their status in the House.

“We are rock solid behind Virbhadra Singh and it is the BJP which is hampering the smooth conduct of the Assembly where important development issues concerning the public can be raised,” said Balbir Verma, Manohar Dhiman, Karnesh Jung and Pawan Kajal in a joint statement.

Efforts by the Congress of exhibiting the support of the independent legislators seem to have not gone down well with the BJP, which is exploring legal options of questioning the status of these independent MLAs as associate Congress members and pledging support to the Congress government.

“As per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, no independent MLA can either join a political party or can participate in political activities of any party,” said senior BJP legislators Suresh Bhardwaj, Ravinder Singh Ravi and Mahender Singh. They said they were surprised at the manner in which the four independent MLAs had extended support to the Congress government.

The BJP legislators said they would make an appeal to the Speaker to cancel the Assembly memberships of these MLAs, who had said they were associate members of the Congress.

Shimla, August 7
The Bharatiya Janata legislative party today adopted a resolution under the chairmanship of Leader of the Opposition PK Dhumal in which members stated that getting a lead in 59 out of the 68 Assembly segments, including the Chief Minister’s constituency (Shimla rural), in the Lok Sabha elections was a record in itself.

Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his historic victory, the members said the Modi wave and state people’s anger against the working of the Congress government led to the BJP’s victory in Himachal.

The members said Modi’s Brazil visit was a positive indication for the nation. Modi’s Nepal visit after a long gap of 17 years would further improve the relations between the two countries.

Shimla, August 7
Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said Virbhadra Singh was back to his old ways of blaming others for his own acts as the BJP was nowhere in the picture and the matter concerning Ispat kickbacks was pending before the Delhi High Court.

Talking to mediapersons here, Dhumal said it was during the UPA regime that raids were conducted where some documents about Ispat kickbacks were seized.

“As such, the whole issue surfaced during the Congress rule when Virbhadra was a minister in the Union Cabinet so where does the BJP figure in the whole case,” he said. He said the BJP would press for a discussion on the issue and whether they attend the House would depend on the BJP legislature party strategy.

The BJP leader said if Virbhadra was innocent then why he was making such a hue and cry about the Delhi High Court case. “When he tries to implicate his political opponents in false cases then it is not political vendetta, but when he faces the music, then he conveniently puts the blame on others. Why have such double standards,” quipped Dhumal.

He admitted that notice had been issued to Prashant Bhushan by the Kangra Deputy Commissioner during his regime for failing to start the educational society for which he had bought land. He, however, ruled out that there was any illegality in purchase of land bought by Bhushan’s society.

Dhumal accused Virbhadra of using the Vigilance to frame his political opponent in false cases. “An unsavoury controversy was created over my PAN card which was just a typing error and the issue was probed by all investigating agencies which reflects the vindictive attitude of the Congress,” he said.

He also said the BJP had gone and met the Speaker BBL Butail to register its protest over the exemption from attending the Assembly to Doon MLA Ram Kumar.

Shimla, August 7
Pandemonium in the Assembly today forced the Speaker to adjourn the House with the BJP demanding resignation of Virbhadra Singh and discussion on the Delhi High Court proceedings in the alleged money laundering case being probed against the Chief Minister.

The moment the Assembly started at 11 am, Chief Whip of the BJP Suresh Bhardwaj urged the Speaker to suspend all business listed for the day so as to enable a discussion by BJP legislators. “Two of our members have given notice under Rule 67 for adjournment motion and suspension of all business for the day as a discussion must be held on the issue of serious corruption charges against Virbhadra Singh in which the case came up for hearing in the Delhi High Court yesterday,” he said.

Despite repeated pleas by Speaker BBL Butail, urging Bhardwaj to sit down, the BJP MLA demanded that in the light of the opinion given by the Additional Solicitor General in the court, Virbhadra must resign. Meanwhile, waving newspaper clippings of the court proceedings, Rajiv Bindal also got up and demanded that a discussion be allowed.

With BJP members raising slogans attacking Virbhadra, Butail asked the Chief Minister to read his statement. Virbhadra read his statement as nothing could be heard in the din with BJP members raising slogans. “My friends in the BJP are trying to spread misinformation about the case in the Delhi High Court. It will not be proper for me or anybody else to make any comments about the court proceedings as the matter is sub judice,” said Virbhadra.

He said the BJP was trying to draw unnecessary inferences which was uncalled for. “I advise my BJP friends to allow the law to take its own course,” he said. He added that he had full faith in the judiciary and was confident about coming out clean in the case. He also requested the Opposition to let the business in the House be taken up.

As BJP members continued to press for a discussion as the CM had been allowed to make his statement, the Speaker said since the matter was sub judice, it was not possible to allow a discussion on it. With BJP legislators continuing to create commotion and raising slogans demanding resignation of Virbhadra, Butail adjourned the House till Friday. 

Shimla, August 7
Unwilling to be cowed down by the BJP onslaught, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today rejected the Opposition’s demand for his resignation.

“Rather than seeking my resignation it is Dhumal who should resign from the Assembly as his name figures in the charge sheet prepared in several cases,” he said, while talking to the media here today.

He went on saying that a section of the BJP leadership at the Centre were trying to implicate him in fabricated cases, ever since the last Assembly election took place in 2012.

“Targeting me is a clear strategy of Dhumal to divert attention from the vigilance probe he and his family is facing and in fact it is retaliation for facing the heat of these inquiries,” he said.

He said he had nothing personal against Dhumal or his family and he was only doing his duty of getting the Congress charge sheet probed.

“As of now, I am not even part of the proceedings in the Delhi High Court, as I have not received any notice. I can’t be hung even without being heard,” he remarked about the developments in the Ispat case in Delhi High Court yesterday.

He said the judge in the Delhi High Court has so far not made any remarks and the CBI and Income Tax authorities have not come to any conclusion and have only been directed to file their reply within a week’s time.

He also said it would be wrong to draw inferences about dissidence as the Congress ministers and MLAs had only gone to the Raj Bhavan to wish the Governor on her birthday. “Barring one or two MLAs, the entire Congress legislators are with me,” he said.

The CM said he had nothing personal against Prashant Bhushan.

“I do not know him personally and have never met him face-to-face so there is no question of getting back at him,” he said.

He said it was during the BJP’s regime that Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, had issued a notice to Bhushan’s educational society for failing to start an educational institute, the purpose for which the land had been purchased.

“However, I cannot say with certainty whether he has filed the case on his own or has been motivated by someone else,” he said. 

Shimla, August 7
Administrative sanction has been granted for two all-women police stations, to come up at Shimla and Dharamsala. These police stations would become functional after the notification of their jurisdiction, DGP Sanjay Kumar said today.

The first women police station (WPS) of Himachal Pradesh would come up at the old police post, near BCS, in Shimla. The police post has already been shifted and the old building is being renovated to house the WPS.

As the name suggests, the police station would be manned exclusively by women police force. The station house office will be an officer of the DSP rank while the other staff will include an inspector, two sub-inspectors, four head constables and eight constables.

All cases related to crimes against women, registered in police stations in the Shimla town, will be transferred to the WPS while complainants in other parts of the district, feeling aggrieved by the functioning of police stations in the area, can also approach the WPS.

The initiative would go a long way in providing justice to women complainants as they will be more frank and comfortable speaking out to women personnel and would also be able to share information with ease, said the DGP.

He added that this would encourage a number of aggrieved women, who otherwise feel hesitant in approaching the police stations dominated by male staff, to report atrocities against them.

The purpose of the WPS is to embolden and empower women to fight exploitation and injustice. Although the crime rate in the state is much less as compared to the neighbouring states, the graph is on the rise.

Cases of eve-teasing, molestation, murder, rape, dowry death, kidnapping, abetment to suicide, cruelty to women, immoral trafficking and chain snatching fall under crime against women.

Lately, a lot of complaints regarding blank and crank calls have also been received in the police control room in which women allege that the caller used abusive or threatening language. All such complaints would also be dealt by the WPS.

A place is being identified to locate the WPS in Dharamsala.

The all-woman police stations are to be opened at these two places on a pilot basis and will be later replicated in others districts.

Last ten years data of crime against women

Year     Cases of crime against women

2004      910

2005      874

2006      874

2007      1132

2008      1104

2009      1083

2010      1145

2011      1112

2012      1024

2013      1596

2014      725

(Till June 30)

Dharamsala/ Una, August 7
The ABVP activists organised a massive rally at Dharamsala today to protest the implementation of Rashtriya Ucchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and the proposed fee hike by the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU).

About 1,000 ABVP activists from across the Kangra district gathered at Government College, Dharamsala, and carried out a procession till the mini secretariat, raising slogans against the state government.

Ajay Thakur, state-level leader of ABVP, alleged that as per RUSA guidelines semester system had been implemented in the state. The students had entered third semester but the first semester results had not been declared yet. In case a student fails in the first semester, he would lose a full academic year due to RUSA, he alleged.

Vijay Kumar, Dharamsala-based president of ABVP, said many activities in colleges, such as sports and cultural events were suffering due to RUSA.

Under this scheme, the teachers were being forced to put extra hours in colleges. In return, they had refused to take up activities other than academics. This was ultimately affecting the students who were not being able to participate in co-curricular activities, he added.

With student body elections around the corner, almost every student organisation is making efforts to impress the electorate. While the ABVP is holding demonstrations, the NSUI has started indefinite hunger strike against the implementation of RUSA.

The state government has implemented RUSA in the entire state to get liberal grants for higher education. However, the scheme is meeting stiff resistance from the teachers and students.

RUSA has implemented various conditions for the promotions of teachers. Research work has been made mandatory for college teachers for career progression, which was not needed earlier.

UNA: Activists of the ABVP undertook a protest rally at the district headquarters against the implementation of RUSA in the Himachal Pradesh University and its affiliated colleges.

Rahul Sharma, district organising secretary of the ABVP, led the rally that went through the main bazaar and culminated at the Municipal Park. Addressing the gathering, he said neither the students nor the teachers were yet conversant with RUSA, which was implemented in haste.

Sharma said student intake for various courses was limited under RUSA and conversion of the annual academic system into a six-monthly semester system was also not beneficial for the students who took part in other activities such as NCC, NSS, sports and cultural activities. He said the 50 per cent internal assessment marks, as against the earlier 20 per cent, was unjust for the students who were now at the mercy of their teachers.

The activists raised slogans against the University management for implementing RUSA. They pointed out that while the last examinations were held about seven months ago, the results were still awaited and students were unable to get admissions in the next degree courses.

ABVP activists protest RUSA at Dharamsala and (right) at Una; while activists of SFI (extreme right) protest at Rajiv Gandhi College in Shimla on Thursday. Tribune Photos

Chamba, August 7
The Churah valley is less frequented by tourists who prefer visiting other picturesque places of the district every year. The reason cited for the lack of tourists is the guide map and poor condition of roads, some of which remain blocked even during rain.

The ancient temple of Devikothi (shrine of goddess) is situated at Devikothi village amid an exquisite rift valley.

But the road connecting Devikothi from the Bairagarh main road head has been blocked at Ghulei due to landslip following heavy monsoon rains for the past few days.

Similarly, the road at Sukrali Nala, which is connected to the valley, is also blocked by frequent landslides during rains.

The Churah valley needs a tourist guide map to convince tourists about the natural sights and sounds of the Churah valley in the district.

Speaking to this correspondent over the phone recently, Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Board (HPTDB) vice-chairman Major Vijay Singh Mankotia expressed his keenness to promote tourism activities in the areas.

Solan, August 7
Another case of benami transaction has been detected in Solan, where a Faridabad resident bought 110 bigha land in Kandaghat tehsil through the cash given to him by a Delhi-based company.

Investigations conducted by the police revealed that Laxmi Ram Sharma was an agriculturist from Himachal, but was residing in Faridabad.

The probe revealed that he bought this land for ~65 lakh, which was provided to him by Ananda Projects Private Limited. Sharma had entered into an agreement with the said company to buy land on their behalf and it was found that he was not even a shareholder in the company as had earlier been claimed. Since all directors of this company were non-Himachalis, it was a case of benami transaction, it said.

According to a press note issued by the Superintendent of Police here today, the police verified these facts after conducting an in-depth probe and the same had also been stated by Sharma before an inquiry commission headed by Justice DP Sood.

The police had now written to the Deputy Commissioner to initiate proceedings to wrest this 103 bigha land with the state government as it was bought in violation of the HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972.

Shimla/Keylong, August 7
Power producers in Lahaul-Spiti district have urged the state government to expedite the construction of bridges and widening of the Manali-Keylong and Kaza-Chatru-Tandi-Killar highway to transport the heavy machineries to the project sites. Besides, they demand that the Manali-Lahaul transmission line should be put in place to supply power across the Rohtang Pass.

The two-member committee headed by Chief Engineer SP Gupta assessed the situation in the Chenab basin and got to know about the two major problems — bad roads and weak bridges and lack of transmission line to supply power from the snowbound Chenab basin to Kullu-Manali across Rohtang Pass.

The plight of the Manali-Rohtang-Keylong-Jispa stretch of the national highway and the Kaza-Chatru-Tandi-Udaipur-Killar highway, which connect the Lahaul valley to outside world, remains pathetic. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which maintains these highways, has yet to complete the widening work and lay the main concrete bridges on the highway, revealed the team inspection.

The bridges between Manali and Beas Nulla and between Koksar-Sissu are yet to be upgraded by the BRO as the work has been going on at the snail’s pace. The bridges has a limited capacity of 5-10 tonne of truckload.

The PowerGrid Corporation and the state transmission corporation has yet to survey the setting up of the transmission line to supply power from the landlocked Lahaul to Kullu Manali, independent power producers (IPP) said.

IPPs have taken up the matter with the Chief Minister urging him to address the problems.

The developers concerns are justified as the government has already allotted power projects worth 3000 mw to private players. Even local tribals are protesting against the large-scale setting up of power projects mainly 400 mw Seli in the Pattan valley as it costs more than 50,000 green trees.

The Chenab basin boasts of power potential worth 4032 mw, but not even a single power project has been commissioned in the basin.

The major power projects in this basin include 400 mw Seli, 420 mw Neoli-Dugli of L and T, 236 mw Duger of Tata power, 300 mw Purthi of Reliance Power, 126 mw of DCM Sriram, the highest project in the Chandra river and 126 mw Bardang of ABG Energy and 230 mw Jispa project of HPCL.

Director, Energy, RD Nazeen said the team had assessed the problems being faced by developers in the Chenab basin and they would submit the report to the government. 

Nahan, August 7
Torrential rain washed away a house and cattle besides damaging 51 houses partially in Shambhuwala and Bolio villages near Nahan on the NH-72 since last night.

According to the Meteorological Department, 150.6 mm of rain had been received in Nahan and its surrounding areas since last evening till this morning.

A double-storey building of Ram Kumar in Boliyo was washed away by a huge stream of water and slush flowed down from a hill. Debris and slush damaged the belongings of another building of Maya Ram though no loss of life was reported as villagers vacated their houses in time. The building of Gram Panchayat, Sattiwala, was also damaged as a tree fell on it.

ADC Manmohan Sharma visited the spot this morning to oversee the relief and rescue operations.

Deputy Commissioner Vikas Labroo said an immediate monetary relief of Rs 53,000 had been extended to Ram Kumar and Maya Ram while Rs 81,000 disbursed among 50 families of Shambuwala where slush and debris had damaged household articles.

Torrential rain had caused huge losses in Shambuwala in the last rainy season also though Bolio village located on the NH-72 suffered losses for the first time.

Traffic on the NH-72 remained disrupted today and fresh landslides kept PWD workers on their toes. A portion of the road at Shambhuwala village was severely damaged as huge quantities of slush and debris which flowed down from the hill washed away the road.

The PWD has pegged the loss at Rs 2.72 crore and nearly 21 roads were affected by the heavy rain in the district with the Himachal Roadways Transport Corporation claiming 12 routes having been affected by the rain.

Palampur, August 7
Aniket, a student of class V, was washed away while crossing the Punn river near Paprola yesterday.

Police said Aniket was studying in a private school at Paprola and was on his way back home. Since there is no bridge on the river, he was crossing the flooded river on foot when he lost control and was washed away.

Later, villagers recovered his body downstream. Residents of Paprola said there were a dozen houses across the Punn river which had no access to the town and residents had to cross the river daily to reach the town, putting their lives in risk. Schoolchildren also had to cross the river to reach their schools daily.

Shimla, August 7
Apart from releasing a grant of Rs 17.14 crore to the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), the Urban Development Department yesterday okayed a hike of 3 to 5 per cent for user charges in garbage collection for residents, hoteliers and other commercial users covered under the Saheb Society of the corporation.

As the coverage of Sahib Society remains 85 per cent in the town, Saheb’s general body offered Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 award for supervisors to cover the entire town under the door-to-door collection of garbage to make it garbage-free.

“The 15 per cent of the solid waste ends up in surrounding nullahs in many municipal wards as Saheb’s collection is only 85 per cent so far,” revealed the members of the society at the annual general meeting chaired by Urban Development Minister Suhdir Sharma here yesterday.

The user charges for residents were hiked from Rs 40 per month per house to Rs 50. As per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives, the general body hiked the garbage collection rates from commercial users such as hoteliers and others by 3-5 per cent per month for collection of garbage. NGT had directed that the corporation should follow the “polluters pay” policy while deciding the charges.

Sharma asked the SMC to set up vigilance cells at every ward to make the coverage cent percent and released Rs 17.14 crore grant to the SMC and asked the corporation to adopt the household tracking system to bring about efficiency in the delivery of services.

He also okayed the hike in user charges for various users for garbage collection and hiked the grant to the Saheb Society staff as proposed by the SMC.

Sharma said Saheb Society collected Rs 3.45 crore in 2013-14 from 34,454 consumers as user charges by collecting garbage from house to house.

Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan said: “The society has a staff of 400 employees, including sweepers and supervisors, and those who will expand the coverage of garbage collection will get Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 as incentive.”

The corporation would set up the waste transfer facility soon to improve the services in the town, he said, adding that the radio frequency facility would also be set up.

Municipal Commissioner Amarjeet Singh said: “The honorarium for the sweeper and garbage collectors has been increased to Rs 5,500 per month and Rs 5,700, respectively. The corporation is proving dustbins to users for Rs 200 per bin and has a stock of 2,000 dustbins.”

Shimla, August 7
Atul Satya Koushik’s play “Chakravyuh” would once again refresh the memories of Mahabharata as noted actor Nitish Bharadwaj who played the role of Krishna in the famous Mahabharata serial in the late 80s would be back on stage at the two-day Shimla theatre festival at the Gaiety Theatre here.

The Film and Theatre Society is organising the Shimla Theatre Festival on August 8 and 9. Another play to be staged during the festival is “Wo Lahore”, also written by Koushik, festival organiser Shakti Singh said. Both plays are of 100 minutes duration.

Hidden meanings, interpretation and learning from the philosophy of the Chakravyuh would take the front seat as the play will attempt to present the chapter of Chakravyuh in a new form keeping the action, glory, bravado and valour related to the incident intact.

“Wo Lahore”, casting of which includes Sachin Joshi, Shakti Singh, Zain Anwar, Sonam Kanotra, Rahul Bhuchar, Ankita Juneja, Tarun Dang, Isha Uppal, Kanika Sood, Rahul Singh, Bhanu Pratap, Bharat Sharma, Sahil Chhabra, Lalit Bhardwaj and Gaurav Jakhu, is a musical drama set in the middle of 20th century’s India.

The play revolves around an ordinary woman, a mother of three sons, who tries to keep her family intact among everything that is happening around. The play shows the internal conflicts that prevail an ordinary Indian family.

Shimla, August 7
The overweighed apple cartons have flooded Chandigarh and Delhi markets against the standard 22.5 kg carton norms laid down by the government.

The inputs gathered by The Tribune from the growers and wholesale traders engaged in the apple trade, revealed that over 80 per cent of the fruit cartons at local and outside markets were overweighed, exceeding 24 kg to 26 kg.

More than 50,000 apple cartons arrive at Bhattakufar market every day. But, 80 per cent of the cartons weigh around 25 kg or more.

Horticulture Minister Vidya Stokes earlier stated that the government had passed the ordinance and would strictly enforce the standard carton norms in local and outside markets, but nothing was being followed.

The Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) has failed to check the overloaded fruit cartons.

Suresh Chauhan, president, Shimla-Kinnaur Commission Agents Association, Bhattakufar, Dhalli, said: “It is an open auction in the markets and the traders sell the fruit in cartons brought in by farmers.”

The average price of a good quality apple carton ranges between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,700 in local markets.

HS Baweja, Managing director of the agricultural marketing board, said the APMC had been directed to take action against the offenders. 

Una, August 7
The annual state-level Sombhadra Mahotsav will be held from November 9 to 11 this year in the district.

This was stated by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abhishek Jain while presiding over a meeting of the Sombhadra Mahotsav Committee at Bachat Bhawan here today.

The fair is held annually in the name of Swan river, which flows almost through the centre of the district and is closely associated with art, culture, livelihood and agriculture of local residents. The river had been referred to as Sombhadra in ancient Indian scriptures.

The DC said the fair would be held at the Indira Gandhi stadium and three cultural nights organised, including a religious and a Punjabi pop night. He said exhibitions of hand-made and local industrial products, besides schemes and programmes of various departments of the state and Central governments, would be organized. Different types of games for entertainment and a wide array of food varieties would also be available for local residents. 

Shimla, August 7
The Himachal Pradesh High Court today bid farewell to Justice V K Sharma, who demitted the office of Judge of the High Court after a long and illustrious career. A Full Court address was held in his honour.

Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir said Justice V K Sharma is an excellent human being, a gentleman to the core and a good Judge, who applied law with a human heart and upheld the dignity of the Court.

C B Barowalia, Registrar General of High Court, conducted the proceedings. Shravan Dogra, Advocate General and Chairman of the Bar Council, Ashwani Pathak, president of H P High Court Bar Association and Sandeep Sharma, Assistant Solicitor General of India, also spoke on the occasion.

In his address, Justice V K Sharma thanked the Bench and the Bar as well as the staff of the Registry for the love and cooperation extended by them.

Justice V K Sharma was appointed as Additional Judge of High Court of Himachal Pradesh on January 7, 2010 and confirmed as permanent Judge on October 4, 2013. He graduated from G G D S D College, Baijnath, and studied law from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, and was awarded gold medals for topping B L and LL B examinations.

He began legal practice in 1976 and practised before the High Court of Himachal Pradesh at Shimla and District and Sub-Divisional Courts at Dharamsala and Palampur between 1976 and 1991. He joined Himachal Pradesh Higher Judicial Service in 1991 as Additional District and Sessions Judge and designated as District and Sessions Judge in April 1995. He also served as the registrar general of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; presiding officer, Himachal Pradesh Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court; member secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority; District and Sessions Judge (Forest) and president, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Shimla.

Shimla, August 7
The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)-run projects, including NHPC’s Parbati III among others, may have suffered 30-40 per cent losses in power generation in July, but the 1,500 mw Nathpa Jhakri Hydro Power Station has set a new record by producing an all-time high 1,191.217 million units (MU) of power against the target of 1,083 mu.

Private firm Jaypee’s 1,000 mw Karcham Wangtoo on the Sutlej river located upstream SJVNL’s Nathpa Jhakhri project also ran its peak capacity in July, reveals inputs from injunction schedule.

On the other hand, BBMB-run 990 mw Dehar power, 1,478.73 mw Bhakra and 396 mw Pong Dam ran below their installed capacity despite July experiencing rain.

Not only this, the flow of the Beas and the Sutlej remained more than the average in July, due to good rain, sources revealed.

Though the NHPC-run 540 mw Chamera I, 300 mw Chamera II and 231 mw Chamera III ran on their installed capacity in July this year, but its 520 mw Parbati-III operated on less than the installed capacity, sources added.

The SJVN Limited set up a new record in power generation in July. The Jhakri power station operated at over 1,600 mw during all 31 days of the month against the installed capacity of 1,500 mw.

The last record was 1,186.5 mu which was achieved in July 2012, SJVNL managers said.

The power house achieved highest generation on July 8 at 38.941 MU against the installed capacity of 36 MU. The plant availability factor (PAF) achieved during the month was 108.3%, said RP Singh, CMD, complementing the SJVN team.

SJVNL engineers said: “Despite the silt content hitting a high of about 6,000 particles per minute last week in the Sutlej, the power house machines are optimised to generate electricity.”

From April 1 to July 31, 2014, the power station has already generated 3,352 MU power.

As per the MoU, the power station is targeted to generate 6,900 MU during 2014-15 financial year. In 2013-14, the power station had generated 7,193 MU power against the designed energy of 6,612 MU.

The second highest record was established by the power station in 2011-12 by generating 7,610 MU. The power station had already completed 10 years of commercial operation in May, 2014.

NJPC project supplies power to nine northern-grid states, including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh and Delhi.

Una, August 7
It was a fascinating two-hour show for special children of the Prem Ashram and for many others living in hutments on the periphery of the city when they enjoyed Samrat Shankar’s magic show here today. It was sponsored by the District Red Cross Society at the Town Hall.

Hundreds of inmates of the ashram, a home for differently abled, besides children of migrant workers from Lalsingi and Malahat Nagar hutments, were among those invited by Deputy Commisioner-cum-Chairman of the District Red Cross Society Abhishek Jain for the show. Children were also served refreshments by the society.

Palampur, August 7
The People’s Voice, a social organisation, today demanded the uniform rate of all medicine, including life-saving drugs. Thel body asked the government to take stringent measures to check the menace.

At its general house meeting held here last night, the People’s Voice expressed grave concern over the high margin of profit being charged on the sale of generic drugs in the region.

The forum said there was a huge difference between the cost price and maximum sale price of generic drugs. Most of the chemist were selling generic drugs only on MRP earning high margin of profit since there was no check at government level. Though the government had controlled the prices of over 300 drugs, still life-saving drugs were beyond the purview of controlled drugs and needed check.

Briefing mediapersons, members of the organization said despite the fact that Essential Commodity Price Control Act was applicable in the state and all type of drugs were covered under this Act, the Act had also authorized the government to fix the maximum margin of profits on the sale of drugs. Besides, the act had also given powers to District Magistrates to initiate action against the defaulters but hardly there was any one to check the overcharging and profiteering .

Though the generic drugs were cheaper, the MRP written on the products give a high margin of profit to chemists .

Meanwhile, a senior officer of the state Health Department said the department had no power to initiate any action against chemists as overcharging did not fall in their purview. 

Kangra, August 7
The first cash deposit machine (CDM) was installed by State Bank of India (SBI) at Kangra last evening.

The CDM was declared open by PK Mishra, deputy general manager, SBI, in the presence of Vinita Shourie, regional manager, Sanjay Kaul, manager, RBO, and Sanjiv Kumar, chief manager.

Mishra said the cash deposit machine was 23rd in the state and fourth in Kangra district but first in this town.

It would be available round the clock for customers to deposit cash in their savings bank account and loan accounts through ATM card and SME card (card issued to small and medium entrepreneurs).

He added that a round-the-clock care taker would be at the spot to guide people how to deposit money in their accounts with the help of their ATM cards.

He said the machine is customer friendly and customers had the advantage of time saving and interest savings.

The cash deposit machine accepts ~49,999 in a go and the deposit could be repeated a number of times with the same amount. 

Mandi, August 7
A week-long induction training programme sponsored under TEQIP–II concluded yesterday at Jawaharlal Nehru Government Engineering College (JNGEC), Sundernagar.

RL Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh Technical University, Hamirpur, was the chief guest on the closing ceremony and Prof BD Chaudhary was the guest of honour.

LK Awasthi, Director, JNGEC, Sundernagar delivered a talk on “Learning and Learning outcomes” on the last day. He emphasised on good teaching traits for active listening. He also shared his teaching experience at NIT, Hamirpur, and gave some presentation skills in the classroom.

Nurpur, August 7
The Defence Ministry has fulfilled a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen of lower areas in Kangra district by opening Canteen Stores Department (CSD) at Nurpur.

The local unit of the Ex-Servicemen League, which had been struggling for this facility for ex-servicemen and families of serving Army personnel since 2007, has hailed the decision of the military authorities for establishing the counter in the Niazpur area here.

Col NS Pathania (retd), chairman of the league, said the facility would benefit families and dependants of 6,000 exservicemen of the area. Earlier, they had to travel to Pathankot in Punjab for their purchases.

Thanking the Army authorities, Pathania expressed hope for fulfilling ex-servicemen’s another demand of setting up an Army Polyclinic in the town under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. 

Kangra, August 7
The body of a 65-year-old migrant labourer from Jharkhand was recovered from his rented room at Birta village on the outskirts of the town, the police said here yesterday.

MS Manhas, Station House Officer (SHO), Kangra, said the body was of Mohammad Jabur-u-Din of Hazari Bagh district in Jharkhand. He was found dead under suspicious circumstances in the morning. There was no visible sign of injury on the body.

The SHO said Jabur was working as a labourer with a contractor of a construction project in the town.

The body had been handed over to the relatives after a postmortem. The police were investigating under Section 174, CrPC, and waiting for the autopsy report, he added. 

Bharmour, August 7
The police have seized 252 liter wine of Una number-one brand. It was being transported illicitly in a private vehicle in Pragehla area of Bharmour subdivision last night, SP DK Chaudhary, said here today.

The SP said a police party patrolling the area intercepted a private vehicle coming from Pragehla side. On checking the vehicle, the wine was recovered. A case under has been registered. — OC

Chamba, August 7
A youth was drowned in the Chanju nullah when he was on his way to a watermill on the bank of the nullah in Churah subdivision here on Tuesday night, as per a report today.

The report said the youth’s body was found floating in the nullah by schoolchildren the next day and the matter was reported to the local police.

The deceased had been identified as Gurdiyal of Sundri village in the Chanju area, the report said, adding that the youth had fallen into the nullah when his foot slipped from the hillside. 

Una, August 7
With the arrest of two youth from Punjab and one from Haryana late last evening, the Una police claims to have solved a burglary case that took place about five months ago at a local computer accessories shop near DAV School, Una.

About 17 laptops and seven computer monitor units were stolen.

While interacting with mediapersons here today, SP Anupam Sharma said the machines were traced on the basis of their serial numbers affixed on them by Dell, the manufacturing company.

He said the Dell dealers in the country were informed about the serial numbers of the stolen machines.

He said the Dell service centre in Hissar, Haryana, reported that a laptop with the stolen serial number was received for repair from Prem Jeet recently.

A police team was dispatched to Hissar, said the SP, adding that Param Jeet informed them that he had purchased the equipment from a Muktsar resident, Rinku, some time ago.

He said Rinku would come to sell another consignment.

Accordingly, the police waited for the accused at Prem Jeet’s shop and arrested Rinku and his accomplice Sanjeev.

Three laptops and seven computer monitors were also impounded along with the car in which they were travelling.

The SP said Rinku was reportedly wanted in another theft case by the Rajasthan police.

He said the antecedents of the three accused were sent for verification to different states.

“The possibility of a bigger inter-state network involved in stealing and selling computer accessories is also being probed,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Una court remanded the three accused to police custody till August 11.

Kullu, August 7
The annual Thakur Ved Ram National Award 2013-14 ceremony, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the founder of Bhuttico, one of the well-reputed co-operative societies engaged in producing woollen handloom products, will be held on August 10.

Satya Prakash Thakur, Chairman, National Award Committee (NAC), said the list of awardees had been finalised by the NAC. He said special contributions in the fields of literature, art, language and culture, journalism, co-operative societies, handicraft and handloom were recognised.