02 News Saturday, January 13, 2018 Public money wasted on state guests They said that the instances quoted through the data are just samples. As there are many such other cases, which cannot be reproduced here for the sake of brevity. The people, who were declared as the state guests, do not fall in any category as per rules. They never visited the State on any official duty connected with the affairs of the state. Apparently, the state lacked power to designate these persons as State Guests, added PeRGo. Our cOrrespOndent Shimla T he government holds all resources of the state in form of a trustee, through the power which is ultimately vested to them by the people of the state. However mostly it is being witnessed that the people’s trust vested in their government is breached due to advancing of personal interest by these position holders. PeRGo (people for responsible governance) a society of conscious citizens of the state has compiled a data based on RTI information. The data compiled is pertaining to the misuse of powers vested in the Government for designating a person as State Guest and spending huge amounts of money on them from the state exchequer contrary to the rules framed on the subject. HP State Guest rules 1990 which deal with situations under which a person can be designated as the State Guest and is conferred with hospitality of the state. The rules provide for four categories of State Guests. ‘Category 1 consists of high dignitaries including the President of India, Vice President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Judges of Supreme Court, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, Governor of States, etc. Except for first four in this category, the rest are entitled to hospitality only for 3 days and up to four family members. The Category-II consists of Chairmen of various Commissions and Boards, Chief Justice of High Courts, Chief Secretaries of State, etc. However, importantly they shall be treated as the State Guests only if they are on official duty connected with the affairs of State of Himachal Pradesh. Category-III consists of those Very 1. Raja Rampal, former Member of Parliament (MP) and Secretary, All India Congress Committee, was designated as the State Guest on twelve occasions. The purpose of his meeting was to address the Congress meeting at Rajiv Bhawan, Shimla and meeting with the Chief Minister. 2. Raj Babbar, Actor and MP (Rajya Sabha) was also declared as the State Guest to participate in Kisan Satyagrah at Nahan organized by the State Youth Congress on 06.06.2015 and later visit to other parts of the state of Himachal Pradesh. 3. K. Raju, Chairman, All India Congress Committee, Scheduled Caste Department was declared as the Chief Guest for presiding over the Scheduled Caste Convention at Congress Bhawan, Shimla from 13.03.2015 to 15.03.2015. 4. Preity Zinta, Bollywood Actress was declared as the State Guest from 24.10.2015 to 26.10.2015 during her visit to Kangra, H.P. 5. Brahm Rishi Shri Kumar Swamy was declared as the State Guest with effect from 01.05.2016 to 05.05.2016 to preside over a religious function held at Mandi, H.P. Similarly, in other occasions during 2014 & 2015 as well, he was declared as the State Guest. 6. 7. G. Sanjeeva Reddy, M.P. and President, INTUC (Trade Union Wing of the Congress Party) was declared as the State Guest from 26.03.2015 to 27.03.2015 to participate in the Working Committee meeting of INTUC. Girija Vyas, Former Union Minister, was declared as the State Guest with effect from 19.05.2015 to 23.05.2015 to participate in a meeting of Intellectual Wing of H.P. Congress Committee and to promote circulation of Congress Sandesh. 8. Shobha Ojha, President, All India Mahila Congress was declared as the State Guest from 20.05.2015 to 22.05.2015 to attend Mahila Convention at Rajiv Gandhi Congress Bhawan, Shimla organized by the H.P. Congress Committee. 9. Family members of Kapil Sibbal, Advocate and Former Union Minister and Lawyer for former Chief Minister, Shri Virbhadhra Singh were declared as the State Guests during their visit to Chandigarh and Kasauli with effect from 17.07.2015 to 18.07.2015. 10. K. Raju, Chairman, All India Congress Committee was declared as the State Guest from 29.10.2015. 11. Mahender Joshi, Chief Organizer, All India Congress Seva Dal, was declared as the State Guest from 21.02.2016 to 23.02.2016. 12. Nirankari Baba Hardev Singh was declared as the State Guest from 15.09.2015 to 25.09.2015. He was entitled to Z+ category security in addition to other courtesies. SPECIFIC INSTANCES (Not exhaustive) Some of the people from the total list who were declared state guests ignoring rules as claimed by PeRGo Important Persons (VIPs), who are on official visit/ tour connected with affairs of the state, and can be declared as the State Guests for a period of 3 days. Category-IV consists of dignitaries/ delegations that visit state in connection with affairs of any Department/ Board/ Corporation of the State.’ The society says that the state ends up spending huge amount of public money towards the expenses incurred on these state guests. For example, providing appropriate security to the state guest shall involve the provision of armed police personnel round the clock along with vehicles and other infrastructure. Even the hospitality includes complementary stay, food, transport, and other facilities of official courtesy they added. They said that the data, compiled by them under RTI Act shows that how the power to designate persons as the state guest is misused at the cost of state exchequer and to please the important and powerful persons. They said that the instances quoted through the data are just samples. As there are many such instances, which cannot be reproduced here for the sake of brevity. The category of people, who were declared as the state guests, do not fall in any category as per rules. They never visited the State on any official duty connected with the affairs of the state. Apparently, the state lacked power to designate these persons as State Guests, added PeRGo. “Or in other words, the powers were abused. Yet to ponder over that who would fix the responsibility of those who have power vested in them through people of the country?” summoned PeRGo. Job Oppertunity The local tabloid is hiring reporters for Shimla & Solan. The applicant must have a bachelors degree in Jounalism and Mass communication. Freshers may also apply. Call us at 9418022679 or mail himachalscape@gmail.com Part time Full time
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