HP Cabinet switches back to indirect polls for local bodies

The Himachal Pradesh cabinet today reversed the decision of the previous BJP government in the state which prescribed direct elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor and president, vice-president of panchayats and local bodies.
Among a slew of measures passed by the state cabinet today was a move to revive the State Administrative Tribunal, which was abolished by previous BJP government.
The Cabinet also gave its nod to the framing of a new 'Comprehensive Guiding Principles-2013' for regulating the transfers of officials working under the state government.
The Cabinet approved the HP Municipal (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, and the HP Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2013, to restore the old system of indirect elections to the office of president and vice-presidents of Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats and for the post of mayor and deputy mayor of the Shimla Municipal Corporation.

Among other measures, the Cabinet decided to provide enhanced relief to farmers affected by incessant rains and untimely snow in the state in general, and in the tribal Kinnaur district in particular, by amending existing norms.
It approved an enhanced support price of Rs 6/kg for grafted variety of mango and Rs 5.50/kg for seedling mangoes under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), 2013. It also gave its assent to an increase in the support price of apple from Rs 6 to Rs 6.50/kg under MIS.
In keeping with the announcement made in the 2013-14 Budget, the Cabinet approved regularisation of daily wagers /contingent workers who have completed seven years of continuous service as on March 31, 2013.

It also okayed simplification of norms for permission under Section 118 of HP Tenancy and Land Reforms Act, 1972, for providing land for industrial purpose in the state.