The Himachal Pradesh cabinet today decided to do away with the JEE merit list for admission to technical, vocational or professional courses in private aided and un-aided institutions in the state.
Instead the admission will be done through a common entrance test to be conducted by Himachal Pradesh Technical University (HPTU), Hamirpur.
The decision will help private technical institutions which are unable to fill the seats to get the students on the basis of merit list drawn through entrance test held by HPTU.
In another major decision to facilitate rendering of government services in a time-bound manner, the cabinet decided to do away with the practice of obtaining affidavits for various purposes and self-declaration on a plain paper would be sufficient, except in the cases where filing of affidavits is mandatory under an Act or Rule.
The cabinet also gave its nod for framing new rules titled Minor Minerals (Concession) and Minerals (Prevention of illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2015, repealing the Minor Minerals (Concession) Revised Rules, 1971 and HP Minerals (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2004.
Under the proposed rules, priority will be given to all agencies concerned in implementation of infrastructure projects.
The cabinet gave its consent to start a new trade in Apparel and Fashion Technology in ITI, Sunni in Shimla district, besides creating/filling up of two posts of Trade Instructors.
Approval was also given for filling up 800 posts of Police Constables (640 Males and 160 Females) on regular basis in HP Police Department through direct recruitment.
Approval for pre-mature release in nine cases and approval for one mercy petition case was also given.
The cabinet also approved relaxation in parameters of 100 metres distance from educational institutes for setting up of stone crushers in favour of a private firm in Mandi district till the completion of four-laning of Kiratpur-Nerchowk section of National Highway-21.