Month: October 2018

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas were observed at Manan Bhawan Gangtok

Gangtok, October 30: (IPR) Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas were observed today at a function held at Manan Bhawan Gangtok. While Rashtriya Ekta Diwas or National Unity Day marks the birth anniversary of Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a great freedom fighter and nation builder, Rastriya Sankalp Diwas is observed every year to mark the death anniversary of Late Smt Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India.
The two important events are observed simultaneously across the country on the 31st of October every year. However, in Sikkim, the event was observed a day in advance as the 31st of October is a State Holiday owing to an important Buddhist Festival, the Lhabab Deuchen.

State Chief Secretary Shri A.K. Shrivastava was present on the occasion as the Chief Guest. The function began with the Chief Secretary and the dignitaries lighting butter lamps on the portrait of Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Late Smt Indira Gandhi.

The Chief Secretary then administered the Rastriya Ekta Diwas Pledge to the officers and staff assembled in the hall.

Chief Secretary Shri A.K. Shrivastava in his address paid rich tribute to Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and threw light on the life and times of the freedom fighter and nation builder. He enlightened the audience on the illustrious journey of Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel from being a student of Law to becoming one of the stalwarts of the freedom movement and later a founding figure of independent India. He mentioned the role of Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in the unification and consolidation of the nation. The Chief Secretary also shared that Late Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel came to be known as the ‘Patron Saint of the Civil Servants’, as he was instrumental in establishing the three cadres of the All India Services.

Chief Secretary Shri A.K. Shrivastava also remembered former Prime Minister Smt Indira Gandhi as leader of great stature. He mentioned that her death anniversary is observed across the country as Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas.

Earlier, Joint Secretary cum State Protocol Officer, Home Department, Smt Mingma Diki Sherpa delivered the welcome address and threw light on the observance of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.

Similarly, Under Secretary Protocol, Home Department Shri Sunny Kharel gave an introduction on the observance of Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas.

The event was marked by patriotic song presentations on the theme of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Rashtriya Sankalp Diwas by artists of the Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department.

The programme concluded with vote of thanks proposed by Under Secretary, Protocol, Home Department, Shri Pema Wangchen Bhutia.

The programme was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Shri S.C. Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance cum Development Commissioner Shri V.B. Pathak, Commissioner-cum-Secretary Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department Shri Tsegyal Tashi, Secretary Home (Protocol) Shri Pratap Pradhan, and officers and staff of all the Departments situated in the Manan Kendra Secretariat.

Later in the afternoon, the Chief Secretary flagged off March Past contingents from Manan Bhawan complex to Titanic Park in M.G. Marg. The contingents comprised of Sikkim Police, NCC, Scouts & Guides and Sikkim Police Pipe Band. The Chief Secretary along with officers and staff of Home Department also participated in the March Past. The day’s events came to an end with band display by the Brass Band of Sikkim Police at Titanic Park, M.G. Marg.

The Rashtriya Ekta Diwas pledge was simultaneously administered in all the State Government Departments, Public Sector Undertakings and District Headquarters across the State.

Three day long North East States Youth Conclave and Amalgation concludes

Gangtok, Oct 30 (IPR): The three day long North East States Youth Conclave and Amalgation concluded here at MG Marg today.
Shri Ashish Rai, Chairman of GMC graced the valedictory function as Chief Guest. Shri SD Dhakal, Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Kamal Chettri Director of Sports and Youth Affairs along with other officials and staffs were present.

The atmosphere of the closing event took a festive look with all the students participating and colourful and memorable Cultural Dances and Folk Songs which was the final competition between the North Eastern States.

Shri CL Ghimerey, Shri Naren Gurung and Shri Sakun Rai were the judges of the Cultural Programme.

The Chief Guest along with other Officials distributed prizes to the winners of respective fields. For quiz competition first place was taken by Arunachal Pradesh with a tie in second place between Assam and Sikkim and Tripura standing third.

In the painting competition Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Nagaland were choosen as the best five states in the category.

Similarly for Cultural dance Manipur bagged the first place, second place went to Sikkim and Assam stood third.

For the Folk Song, Assam won the first place whileas Sikkim stood second and Mizoram was in the third place. Certificates were also presented to all the pacipatants. Programme Officers of NSS were also given certificate of Appreciation.

The welcome address was delivered by Shri Kamal Chettri, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs and the Vote of thanks was proposed by Shri KLRai.

Hon’ble Shri Justice Vijai Kumar Bist Sworn-in as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim

Gangtok, 30th October (IPR):Justice Shri Vijay Kumar Bist, Senior Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court was today sworn in as the new Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court following his appointment by the President of India on 24th October 2018.

In a brief ceremony held at Ashirvad Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) at Gangtok, Governor of Sikkim Shri Ganga Prasad administered the oath of office to the Justice Shri Vijay Kumar Bist. The ceremony was attended by Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Pawan Chamling along with his Cabinet Colleagues, Speaker Shri K.N.Rai, Hon,ble Minister, Tourism, Irrigation, Minor Irrigation, Culture, Watershed Management and Indo Nepal- Uttrakhand, River Projects, Government of Uttrakhand, Shri Satpal Maharaj, Hon’ble Judges of High Court of Sikkim, Justice Mrs Meenakshi M. Rai & Justice Mr. Bhaskar Raj Pradhan, Members of Parliament Shri P.D.Rai and Shri Hissey Lachungpa, MLAs, Chief Secretary Shri A.K.Shrivastava and Heads of Departments, Officials of Sikkim High Court and Members of High Court Bar Association among others.

Justice Bist was born on 17 September 1957 at Lansdowne, District Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand and obtained his Law Degree from Allahabad University. He enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh in 1984 and started practicing at Allahabad High Court in various segments of litigations until November 2000. Following the creation of Uttarakhand High Court, he shifted to Nainital and practiced at Uttarakhand High Court. On 1st November 2008, he was elevated as Judge of the Uttarakhand High Court.

The post of Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court had fallen vacant after the retirement of Justice Satish Kumar Agnihotri on June 31 earlier this year.

First Level Checking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) of South District commences

Namchi, 29th October(IPR): The First Level Checking (FLC) of 431 numbers of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and 412 Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPATs) of South District commenced at District Administrative Centre, today. Present during the checking were DC (South) Mr. Prabhakar Verma,
ADC (South) cum FLC Supervisor Mr. Satyen Pradhan, SDM (HQ) Mr. Hemant Rai, SDM (Namchi) Choden Gyatso, Under Secretary (Election) Ms. Tripti Hangma Subba, JD (LRDM) Mr. D.K.Rai, Concerned Officials and representatives from various political parties, IPR, engineers from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and staff from south election department.

Speaking, during the FLC, DC Mr. Verma elucidated in brief the importance of this checking. Additionally, he mentioned that the warehouses and FLC Hall will be under strict 24×7 security by 2nd IRB. In addition, the representatives of the various political parties witnessed the FLC procedures and it was also informed that they will be participating in the mock poll that will be conducted through random selection of EVMs by the representatives of political parties themselves. Moreover, the first level checking exercise is being undertaken under technical expertise of 4 BEL engineers and the exercise is expected to finish in next 8-10 days.