HP Cabinet approves bill for banning conversions

Shimla, Dec 20 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet today approved the H P Freedom of Religion Bill 2006, prohibiting conversions by use of force, inducement or by fraudulent means, official sources said.

The meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, granted approval for creating 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 state.

The sources said the sanctioned posts also included 65 posts of teaching and non-teaching for Barsar Degree College, announced by the Chief Minister on December 18, besides an equal number of posts for the Dharamspur Degree College in Mandi district.

It has also been decided to introduce Commerce in every senior secondary school of the state and create posts of commerce lecturers, he said.

The sources said the Cabinet also approved Amendment in Section 167 of Code for Criminal Procedure, under which the undertrials would be produced before the magistrates through video conferencing facilities, preventing wasteful expenditure and their escape while being brought to the courts.

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.

It also approvED Amendment to the H P Judicial Rule, 2004 and fixed time table for conduct of Judicial Service Examinations, the sources said, adding that the applications would be submitted by March first week, scrutinized by the second week of March.

The sources said the preliminary examination would held on first Sunday of April, results displayed by third week of April, while main examination would be held on the first week of May.

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