The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet meeting held here today approved the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill-2006, aimed at prohibition of conversion from one religion to another by use of force or inducement or by fraudulent means.
The Cabinet granted approval for creation and filling up of 2,931 posts of teaching and non-teaching categories of employees in newly opened, taken over degree colleges, senior secondary and high schools in the Education Department. 65 posts of teaching and non-teaching staff for the degree college announced for Barsar in Hamirpur district on 18th of December, 2006 has also been sanctioned beside equal number of posts for the degree college in Dharampur in district Mandi. It has also been decided to introduce commerce in every senior secondary school of the State and create commerce lecturers posts for teaching the same.
It approved the Amendment in Section 167 of Code for Criminal Procedure by the State of Himachal Pradesh. Under the CRPC 1973 an accused person in custody has to be presented after every 15 days before the Magistrate for authorisation of the detention in custody and for each proceeding, trial and recording of evidences. With the amendment Under Section 167 it would obviate the wastage of manpower, avoid unnecessary state expenditure and minimize the chances of escape of the undertrials. Under new provisions the undertrials would be produced before the magistrates through video conferencing facilities while sitting in the Jail and carry the court proceedings as required under the law.
It granted approval to the Amendment of H.P Judicial Rule, 2004 and fixed time table for conduct of Judicial Service Examinations. The applications would be required to be submitted by first week of March, scrutinized by 2nd week of March, preliminary examination held on first Sunday of April, results displayed by third week of April, main examination held on first week of May, results of written examination declared by first week of June, viva-voce held on second half of June and final results declared by first half of July. And the appointment letters would be required to be issued by the government by the second week of August of the concerned year. Additionally four posts, Joint Director-cum-Permanent Faculty Member with supporting staff for H.P. State Judicial Academy were also created for filling up.
The Cabinet approved 5th Amendment in the Himachal Pradesh Civil Services (Premature Retirement) Rules, 1976, and made it mandatory to the health department officers, especially doctors, to render either a minimum of 30 years of service or attain 55 years of age before they could apply for premature retirement by serving three months notice to the appropriate authority.
It granted permission for the preparation of the list of below poverty line families for the 10th Five Year Plan.
The Council of Ministers granted permission for creation of 16 posts of dental mechanics and 14 posts of dental hygienists in the health and family welfare department, upgradation of 7 posts of Junior Coaches to that of Coaches in Youth Service and Sports Department.
It decided to amend Rule 12.12 of Punjab Police Rules, 1934 ( As applicable in Himachal Pradesh) by inserting new Rule 12.12 A, in order to modify the recruitment procedure to give 50 percent weightage to the population with the remaining 50 percent weightage being given to the sanctioned strength of the constabulary of the various districts.
It also decided to constitute HP State Police Establishment/HP Range Police Establishment and HP District Establishment Committees in compliance of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court with regard to police reforms in Central, State Government and Union Territories, pending appropriate legislations to the affect.
It further granted permission of merging the Fish Federation with the Fisheries Department and absorb all the 22 employees in the department while the fisheries activities would be continued by the primary cooperative societies as usual.
The State Cabinet approved Recruitment and Promotion Rules of Additiona1 Director of Education (Colleges), Research Officer (Class-II) Gazetted, Town and Country Planner (Class-II) Gazetted, Junior Engineer (Civil) HPPWD, Drivers.
It also granted permission for purchase of two vehicles by Small Scale Industries and Export Corporation, two vehicles by the Housing Department.
Press note via Himachal I&PR Dept.
