The Jan Lokpal Bill passed in the Parliament was a historic decision, the credit of which goes to Social activist Anna Hazare and Congress Vice President Shri Rahul Gandhi and other senior Parliamentarians, stated Chief Minister Sh. Virbhadra Singh while interacting with media persons at Dharamshala today.Chief Minister said that Himachal was one of the pioneers State to set up office of Lokayukta in 1983 and Sh TVR Tatachari was appointed as the first Lokayukta. He said that Lokayukta Act would be amended so as to provide it with more powers. He said that Agriculture Marketing Act would also be amended to make it more powerful and relevant in present context.A deputation of District Bar Association called on the Chief Minister and requested to recommend the setting of Circuit Bench at Dharamshala as people from Bharmour, Tissa and far-flung areas of Kangra District has to go to Shimla.
A deputation of Panchayat Secretaries also met the Chief Minister and urged for regularization of services of those who have completed 15 years of service on contract.Chief Minister assured that all the genuine demands would be looked into and considered sympathetically.Earlier, Chief Minister was given a warm welcome at Police Ground, Dharamshala at the beginning of first phase of four days long winter sojourn. Transport Minister Sh. G.S.Bali, Urban Development Minister Sh. Sudhir Sharma, MLA’s Sh. Ajay Mahajan & Sh. Pawan Kajal, Chairman Kangra Central Co-operative Bank (KCCB) Sh Jagdish Sapehiya, Vice-Chairman H.P.State Forest Co-Operation Sh. Kewal Singh Pathania, former MLA Sh. Surender Kaku, DC Kangra Sh. C. Paulrasu, Congress leaders & Prominent Person’s and Senior Officers were present on the occasion.