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Cabinet relief for 25,000 unauthorised houses
MBBS aspirants urge CM to reduce fee of MMMC
National Anthem’s music composer a forgotten hero
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BJP steps up drive to dissolve Assembly
Congress hits back at BJP, submits memo to Governor
Wrong info being spread against me: CM
Govt flayed for extension to staff
Complete Pathankot-Leh rail link soon, says Shanta Kumar
Seven-year RI to in-laws in dowry death case
Man jailed for drug peddling
HC notice to state, Centre over subsidy to Ambuja
Three-day district-level science expo ends
Value-based education need of the hour: Educationists
25 Jalandhar pilgrims hurt as truck falls into gorge 33 injured in accident DC flags off 108-ambulance Relief sought for Home Guard jawan’s family
Harley bikers to give tips on road safety Man held with 12 gm heroin
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Cabinet relief for 25,000 unauthorised houses
Shimla, August 13 The decision to accept the recommendations of the Select Committee was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet, which was chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today. Had the monsoon session not been adjourned abruptly, the government would have passed the amendments to the TCP Act. The TCP Bill had been presented to the House during the budget session and referred to the Select Committee. The Cabinet also gave the nod for providing an additional honorarium of Rs 1,000 to 518 Special Police Officers (SPOs) rendering service in the remote areas of Chamba and Lahaul & Spiti bordering Jammu and Kashmir. Granting one-time relaxation for admissions to private technical institutes, the Cabinet made a concession by allowing a minimum of 50 per cent marks with relaxation of 5 per cent for reserved categories for admissions. For enabling this, it gave the approval for relaxation of AICTE and the HP Private Technical and Vocational Educational Institutions (Regulation of admission & fixation of fee) Act, 2008. In a bid to provide time-bound promotions to faculty members of medical and dental colleges, the Cabinet gave the approval for fixing the number of years for promotion though this would not bring them any financial benefits. It also gave the approval for the collegium style of functioning in the colleges. It was also decided to engage teachers through School Management Committees (SMC) on a period basis in all newly upgraded schools in the state. A decision was also taken to amend Rule 26 and 28 of the HP Stamp Rules, 1973, wherein the limit to sell the judicial and non-judicial stamp papers had been enhanced from Rs 2000 to Rs 20,000. It was decided to provide forest land on lease to Om Energy Generation for construction of 7mw Holi–II hydropower project in Chamba district for 40 years. It approved the guidelines for inviting applications for allotment of small hydroelectric projects up to 5 mw capacity under identified and self-identified basis as proposed by HIMURJA. The Cabinet approved amendment to Rule 45, 50 and 50(4) of the HP Value Added Tax Rules, 2005. The Cabinet also approved the revision of pension for pre-2006 pensioners of UGC pay scales to HP Government College Cadre Employees.
Other approvals
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MBBS aspirants urge CM to reduce fee of MMMC
Shimla, August 13 In a letter to the CM and Health Minister, the parents pointed out that the annual tuition fee had been fixed at Rs 5 lakh and including the hostel fee and other expenditure, the total burden on students would be Rs 7 lakh per annum, which would be impossible to afford for those coming from average family
background. Ravi Chauhan, one of the parents, said: “Besides sending an e-mail to
the Chief Minister and Health Minister, the Leader of the Opposition has also been intimated about the high-fee structure. But nothing has been done to give reprieve to Himachali students. Another parent Vikas Negi pointed out that students aspiring to get admission on merit basis at MMMC against the state quota after qualifying the AIPMT-2014 would have to spend minimum Rs 35-40 lakh for the five-and-a-half year MBBS course. “This high fee structure has defeated the very purpose of having state quota as the total expenditure at government medical colleges for full course is about Rs 5-10 lakh,” he said. The parents said counselling should be done through Himachal Pradesh University
(HPU) and the college should also be affiliated to HPU. However, official sources said the fee structure for 2014-15 had not been approved so far and the college was yet to get nod from the government to start the admission process. The government had last year fixed Rs 11 lakh per annum for seats under the management quota for the college which got the letter of permission from Medical College of India to conduct admissions for 150 seats. As per the undertaking given to the government, the college provided for 50 per cent state and 50 per cent management quota, but HPU was not involved in counselling of 75 seats under the state quota. |
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National Anthem’s music composer a forgotten hero
Kangra, August 13 President of the Ram Singh Thakur Vikas Samiti Bagwan Singh Gurung, who was accompanied by joint cashier Navin Gurung, said: “It is unfortunate that a great freedom fighter has been forgotten. Despite repeated requests, the authorities have failed to erect a statue or a memorial on his name to keep his memories alive.” He said: “Ram Singh Thakur was born on August 15, 1914. He was a freedom fighter and
a musician who composed the music of the National Anthem. Not only this, even composed music
for other patriotic songs, including “Kadam Kadam Badhaae Ja” and “Subh Sukh Chain”, while serving in the Indian National Army.” They said Ram Singh played the National Anthem of the INA in front of Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi, when he was imprisoned at the Kabul line cantonment in Delhi. India attained Independence on August 15, 1947, and the next morning Jawaharlal Nehru unfurled the Tricolour on the ramparts of the Red Fort and addressed the nation. It was on this occasion that Ram Singh was especially invited to play the Qaumi Tarana of the INA along with members of his orchestra group. Later, the duration of the tune was shortened with changes in the original script. However, the musical composition was adopted in its original form. Ram Singh had won the King George VI Medal for bravery during the 1937-39 Khyber-Phaktunwala war. They said except for a football tournament started by the Gorkha community on his name eight years ago, there was nothing to keep Thakur’s memory alive. “We want the future generations to know who he was,” they said. Village resident Abinandan Gurung said this year a football tournament in the memory of Ram Singh Thakur would start in which 16 football teams, including the 6 Assam Regiment, Kangra Sai and the Indrunag Football Academy, would participate. Shiv Raj, another resident, said there was no support from the government or the administration in organising the tournament even. Ram Singh Thakur was born on August 15, 1914. He was a freedom fighter and a musician who composed the music of the National Anthem. Not only this, he even composed music for other patriotic songs, including “Kadam Kadam Badhaae Ja” and “Subh Sukh Chain”, while serving in the Indian National Army. |
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BJP steps up drive to dissolve Assembly
Shimla, August 13 The entire BJP legislature party, led by former Chief Minister PK Dhumal, submitted a memorandum, addressed to the President of India to Governor Urmila Singh demanding dissolution of the Vidhan Sabha for protection of democratic rights of Opposition members and in the interest of the general public at large. The memorandum was signed by all 27 BJP MLAs. Questioning the logic behind adjournment of the Assembly in a tearing haste, Dhumal apprised the Governor that the plea of the government that there was no business to transact was “untenable” as 754 starred questions, 150 unstarred questions, three private members Bills and 10 discussions were received by the Vidhan Sabha for the monsoon session, but the state government adjourned the Assembly sine die with 11 sittings to go. “The Speaker had sought 24 hours to consult books before adjourning the House sine die but the Chief Minister forced him and even disclosed that the Speaker was informed about the move in the morning,” Dhumal said. Important Bills such as Lokayukta, Town and Country Planning and Amendment to Section 118 of the Tenancy and Land Reforms Act were to be tabled before the House and there was enough agenda for entire session to last but the government was “unwilling” to discuss the issues, he added. Claiming that the move was not only unprecedented but also infringed the democratic rights of the members, he said the Opposition had been deprived of raising major issues such as activities of the land, mining and drug mafia, damage caused by floods and turmoil created by implementation of RUSA due to hasty and abrupt adjournment of the House. BJP members said it was strange that the Power Minister and the Animal Husbandry Minister left the House after a question was put to them and even the Health Minister did not take the call and left the House when Dr Rajiv Bindal moved the calling attention motion and instead the Chief Minister rose to say that he would reply to the question. This wilful act indicated collapse of the Cabinet system, he added. Citing the recent incident of escape of five prisoners in Nadaun, Dhumal said the law and order situation had deteriorated and the government was not serious on public issues. The government had lost the mandate of the public as was evident from the Lok Sabha poll in which the ruling Congress lost all four seats and the BJP got lead in 59 out of 68 Assembly segments. Dhumal also objected to the exemption granted to Congress MLA Ram Kumar, currently lodged in the jail in the Jyoti murder case in the absence of the Opposition and said it was breach of parliamentary practices.
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Congress hits back at BJP, submits memo to Governor
Shimla, August 13 Close on the heels of the BJP Legislature Party submitting a memorandum to the Governor, Sukhu, along with all the ministers barring Kaul Singh Thakur, drove to the Raj Bhawan immediately after the Cabinet meeting got over. Thakur had left the Cabinet midway as he had to attend some personal function. The Congress termed the behaviour of the BJP as undemocratic, which had lowered the dignity of the House. “The BJP’s desperate attempts to destabilise the Congress regime will never succeed as the party and the government are fully united and one under Virbhadra Singh,” the memorandum stated. “It is a matter of common Parliamentary knowledge that matters pending before the courts cannot be discussed and deliberated in the house. Still, the opposition BJP pressed for discussion on a sub-judice matter and stalled the proceedings of the Assembly,” remarked Virbhadra. He added that Congress MLAs also had serious issues about the cases against P K Dhumal and his sons but these were not raised as they are pending in various courts. The memorandum stated that the BJP had failed to participate and contribute in the six sittings of the Assembly during the winter session, 14 sittings during the Budget session and five sittings during the monsoon session. “It appears that the BJP has lost faith in democracy as it disrupted the proceedings of the House, resulting in important issues concerning the public not being discussed,” the Congress document said. The Congress said the reason for convening such a long monsoon session of the Assembly was to ensure that development issues and welfare measures for the people can be discussed and passed in the Assembly. |
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Wrong info being spread against me: CM
Shimla, August 13 In a statement issued here today, Virbhadra said reports about his income tax returns being published were false, frivolous and fabricated. He said since the matter was sub judice and pending in the court, it would not be appropriate for him to discuss the details of the case. However, in the wake of the fact that the matter was being reported by the media, he would like to clarify certain facts to set the record right, he added. He said the Delhi High Court order dated August 6 made no mention of the alleged remarks of the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), which were being reported in the media and being referred to by his political opponents. It was unfair to pass a judgment in the case pending in the court even before the court had given its pronouncement, he added. The Chief Minister clarified that in his political career spanning over five decades, he had maintained impeccable integrity despite several attempts by his detractors to tarnish his image. He said each time he had come out clean after facing court trial and this time too he would get a clean chit from the courts. He said the issue pertaining to agriculture income of Shrikhand Orchard was pending before the income tax authorities. The Income Tax Officer, while assessing the matter for 2009-10, had made a detailed inquiry into the matter. Thereafter, an order was passed by the assessing authority and income declared, including agricultural income, was accepted as reflected in the revised return. He further said the matter pertaining to 2008-09 and 2010-11 were still pending for adjudication/assessment before the IT authorities. He said in case of Anand Chauhan, who was managing his Shrikhand orchard, the assessment for 2011-12 had been finalised on March 25, 2014. “The agriculture income received on my behalf has been accepted partly and this order has been challenged by Chauhan. Virbhadra said the cases pertaining to revised return are being investigated by the IT authorities. “In some cases, income declared in the revised return has been accepted and in some cases it has been accepted partly,” he stated. He said there was no denial by the IT authorities that Chauhan had not sold agriculture produce on my behalf. He said unnecessary hue and cry was being created against his IT returns and malicious propaganda had been launched against him with a malafide intention by PK Dhumal. He said he had full faith in the judiciary and its independence and would honour the court verdict. |
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Govt flayed for extension to staff
Nurpur, August 13 Vinod Kumar, state president of the confederation, in a statement issued here today, said the policy notified in May last was unfair and unwarranted and had sparked off a lot of resentment among the state employees, who had been waiting for their service promotions. Demanding revocation of this notification, he alleged that the policy had not only deterred promotional avenues of the employees but also violated service and fundamental rules. Vinod alleged that the state government had framed the policy only to benefit political favourites at the cost of employees expecting their due promotions. He urged Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to either revoke government service extension after retirement at the age of 58 or enhance the retirement age of employees to 60 years. “Some of the employees and officers enjoying service extension are not even eligible due to their controversial service track record. The government’s decision to accord extension reflects its pick and choose policy,” he rued. He also flayed the state Finance Department for making provisions of promotion and pay increment to the employees who had been gifted service extension after retirement. Vinod Kumar said if the state did not withdraw this notification, the confederation would file a writ petition in the HP High Court. He also demanded a permanent transfer policy for teachers serving in government colleges and schools and added that their frequent transfers were not only disrupting academic atmosphere in these institutions but also victimising the teachers. Criticising appointments of teachers being made in the educational institutions on the recommendations of local Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs), he alleged that these appointments were made only on political recommendations. Vinod underlined the need to not regularise their services by tempering with existing service regularisation rules, framed by the Central and State Governments. |
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Complete Pathankot-Leh rail link soon, says Shanta Kumar
Palampur, August 13 In a press note issued from the office of Shanta Kumar said the government had cleared four strategic rail links along the border of India and China and Pathankot-Leh was one of them. He urged the Railway Minister to declare this project as national
project. Shanta Kumar said he had repeatedly pleaded before the UPA government at the Centre for the past 10 years for strengthening rail and road network along the border with China, but the successive railway ministers of the UPA governments ignored the
request. Shanta Kumar said he had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and impressed them on the need for strengthening the rail network on the Indo-China border by allocating liberal funds as it was directly concerned with India’s integrity and security. He also pleaded before the Prime Minister to declare these rail projects as “national projects” so that there would no shortage of funds.
Shanta Kumar disclosed that parliamentary committees on defence and finance had already cleared the proposals for setting four strategic rail links along the China border in the Northeast and Himachal Pradesh. These committees
also approved the Pathankot-Jogindernagar-Leh rail project. Shanta said during his four rallies in Himachal Pradesh in Parliament elections, Modi had assured the people for the expansion of the rail network up to the China border. He said in the wake of repeated border violations by the Chinese, it was paramount to expedite the work of rail network on the Indo-China border on a war-footing. |
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Seven-year RI to in-laws in dowry death case
Chamba, August 13 All are residents of Bag (Tundi) village in Sihunta sub-tehsil of Chamba district. A case under Sections 498-A and 304-B/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered. District Attorney HS Dhiman revealed that the case was registered on the statement of the complainant, Ravi Kumar, who had stated that his elder daughter Meenu (21) was married to Rakesh Kumar in 2010 at Tundi village. In his complaint, Ravi had also stated that whenever his daughter used to visit his house, she used to tell him that her in-laws used to demand dowry. He reported the matter to the Tundi gram panchayat where all the accused apologised. They gave in writing that in future they would not torture his daughter. On August 6, 2012, Meenu informed her father telephonically that her in-laws were again demanding Rs two lakh. Ravi called his daughter on phone and it was picked up by Rakesh. When asked about his daughter, he disconnected the phone. Later, a local resident Puran Chand informed Ravi that his daughter had died. The matter was reported to the police. They investigated and tried in court. On the conclusion of trial the accused were convicted and sentenced.
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Man jailed for drug peddling
Una, August 13 District Atorney NC Ghai said Manmohan was caught with psychotropic substances in the form of capsules, tablets and injections in boxes. He said Manmohan used to run a chemist shop at Arniala village near the district hospital. On August 10,2013, he was caught at Bhadolian village at the police check post. “The accused has confessed to have rented some premises at Bhadolian Khurd village to store drugs. After inspection of the site we found huge quantity of contraband,” he added. “If he fails to pay fine, he will have to undergo additional two-year imprisonment,” he added. Man caught with
charas, sentenced for five years
Kullu: Special Judge SC Kainthala today sentenced Dharam Chand of Dukhra village, Kullu district, to undergo rigorous imprisonment of five years for possessing 1 kg
charas. The court further ordered the convict to pay a fine of Rs 50,000 and if he fails to pay the fine, the convict will further undergo one-year imprisonment. As per the case of prosecution, the convict was nabbed by a police team from Aut police station while patrolling at Dalsani bridge near
Panarsha. As per the police, the convict tried to run back after seeing the police party. But, the police nabbed him and recovered contraband. A case under Section 20 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act
(NDPS) was registered and a charge sheet was filed before the Special Judge.
— OC |
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HC notice to state, Centre over subsidy to Ambuja
Shimla, August 13 Issuing notices, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan directed the authorities to file their response within four weeks and listed the matter on September 22. The company alleged in its petition that the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry had framed a scheme for subsidy on transport of raw material and finished goods to and from certain selected areas to promote certain industries in the hilly state. It further stated that it had three manufacturing units in the state and it was manufacturing cement and clinker and it had submitted its transport subsidy claim from April to June 2010 amounting to Rs 10,10,47,995 and from July to September 2010 amounting to Rs 7,43,82,663 but these were rejected by the department on the ground that the claim period was before the date of registration by the petitioner company under the subsidy scheme. However the contention of the company was that it had made an application for pre-registration to avail transport subsidy under the scheme on August 12, 2010. It alleged that the rejection order passed by the Industry Department was arbitrary and without application of mind. |
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Three-day district-level science expo ends
Una, August 13 Pardeep Singh, district nodal officer of the scheme said the programme was aimed at attracting talented students in the field of science. He said students studying from Class VI to X were eligible to participate. Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Director (Higher Education) Nirmla Rani said: “The INSPIRE programme includes three-tier competitions on science models at the district, state and national levels.” She said: “Two students have been selected from each school, including private institutions to participate in the district-level exhibition.” Here, she said 15 participants had been shortlisted for the state-level competitions to be held at Solan from August 26 to 27. The students selected for the state-level exhibition, were given a citation and a memento. The are Shivani, Anu Devi, Vaishali, Radhika, Gulshan, Isha, Mohammad Rustam, Deeksha, Indu Devi, Vinay Bhatia, Ajibul, Sakshi, Anjali, Kanik Kalia and Vedant. School Principal MK Lath was also present. |
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Value-based education need of the hour: Educationists
Shimla, August 13 He was speaking at a national-level seminar organised on “Value Based Education: Issues, Concerns and New Directions”. Defining values in three categories — materialistic, human and spiritual — he said: “The creation of values, teaching of values, learning of values and enforcement of values are very significant in the present day context.” He quoted a Chinese philosopher, who said: “The Biggest Value is Patience.” Eminent educationist Atul Kothari in his key-note address quoted Swami Vivekananda and said the best knowledge comes from within oneself and emphasised that value education should be a significant part of Indian educational system. HPU Vice-Chancellor Prof ADN Bajpai said: “Values can be inculcated in students by being a role model and for this, one need to become ideal himself.” As many as 60 participants from 14 states and vice-chancellors from different university of HP participated in the seminar organised by the Department of Education, Himachal Pradesh University. A book “A Vision for National Resources” was also released on the occasion. |
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The Congress today hit back at the BJP with state Congress president Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu submitting a memorandum to Governor Urmila Singh, along with ministers in the Virbhadra Cabinet.
In the memorandum, the ministers lashed out at the BJP for behaving irresponsibly and not reposing full faith in the leadership of Virbhadra Singh.
Una, August 13
shrine when the driver reportedly lost control over the vehicle.
Locals helped lift the injured and took them to Gagret Primary Health Centre
(PHC). Jagjit Singh (18), Kuljit Singh (18), Veera (27), Asha (7), Rani (34), Priya (33), Simri (57), Bachni Devi (45) and Harsh (8) were seriously injured and were shifted to Una district hospital.
The SP said a case under Sections 279 and 337 of the IPC had been registered against the driver for rash and negligent driving.
OC
