HP assembly passes health sciences university bill

HOUSE WAS ADJOURNED TILL 12PM AS OPPOSITION REMAINED ADAMANT FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN STATE

SHIMLA: After three days of logjam over initiation of debate over the law and order situation in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party finally relented to government’s demand of allowing it to pass the Himachal Pradesh University of Health Sciences Bill on the last day of the assembly.

When the House assembled on Friday, Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj the raised issue of debate over law and order situation. Bhardwaj said, “When the CM is on bail from the trial court, the law and order situation in the state could be well imagined.”

Parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Agnihotri urged the opposition members to participate in the House business on the concluding day of the session, saying the election is only a few months away. The House was adjourned till 12pm as the BJP remained adamant for a debate.

Later, when the House resumed proceedings, health minister Kaul Singh Thakur tabled the Himachal Pradesh University of Health Sciences Bill, 2017.

The headquarters of the university shall be at Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College, Ner Chowk, in Mandi.

The minister said that the headquarters was being set up at Mandi because the government already had some infrastructure in place in the district and did not need to spend more money.

With the passing of the Bill, all medical colleges and similar institutions will be under the control or affiliated to this university. Leader of opposition Prem Kumar Dhumal also supported the bill and suggested that if seats under non-resident Indian (NRI) quotas are vacant; these should be filled up so that locals can be benefitted.

After the bill was tabled, Shimla legislator Suresh Bhardwaj said the health minister had earlier promised to make Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, an autonomous body. “When the question of autonomy and upgrade of IGMC Shimla was raised, the minister concerned said the government will set up a university of medical sciences,” he said.