SAT helpful for staff: CM

Tribune Reporters

Shimla, February 27

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the state government had been successful in setting up the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) as promised in the election manifesto of the Congress for the speedy redressal of grievances of employees.

He said the state government vigorously pursued the matter for setting up the SAT with the Union Government and fulfilled its promise made to the people. He was interacting with mediapersons after Justice VK Sharma took oath as the Chairman of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) here today.

He said government employees would now get the speedy redressal of their grievances through the SAT. He said since the state High Court was overburdened with service cases, the tribunal would provide much-needed relief to the High Court as well as an alternative source to employees to register their grievances with the tribunal for quick disposal.

He said winding up the SAT was a wrong decision taken by the BJP government and employees had to approach the state High Court. The employees would still have the right to approach the High Court in case they were not satisfied with the decision of the tribunal.

The Chief Minister said he wished the Budget would be in favour of the common man and that the NDA government would take into consideration all the aspects in the Budget benefiting all sections of society.

“I hope the special dispensation in the Union Budget that has been given to all hill and special category states, including Himachal, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states will continue. This practice was followed not just by the Congress-led UPA regime, but also the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee,” he said.

He said being a hill state with peculiar geographical constraints and high cost of construction, the funding to special category states, including Himachal, should be in the ratio of 90:10. He said whether it was the construction of road, buildings or projects, the cost of such projects was far higher than that in the plains.

Justice Sharma takes over

Justice VK Sharma took over the charge of Chairman of HP Administrative Tribunal in a simple but impressive ceremony held here today. Chief Secretary P Mitra read out the appointment order issued by the President.

Justice Sharma joined the Himachal Pradesh Higher Judicial Service on February 2, 1991, as Additional District and Sessions Judge and was designated as District and Sessions Judge in April 1995 and held various positions, including that of Registrar General of the High Court of HP.

During this period, also worked in varied capacities, including Presiding Officer, Himachal Pradesh Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court, Member Secretary, Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, District and Sessions Judge (Forest), President, District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Shimla, etc.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes, Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri, Industries Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil, Judges, Advocate General Sharwan Dogra, Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, senior officers of the state government, advocates and other prominent persons were also present.