Uttarakhand

• 28 Oct 2022

Draft Ordinance on Women's Horizontal Reservation

Why in News?

• On October 27, 2022, Uttarakhand Personnel and Vigilance Secretary Shailesh Bagauli told the media that a draft ordinance has been prepared for horizontal reservation of women in the state. The draft will be sent to the legislative department next week, from where it will be sent to Raj Bhavan for the governor's approval.

Key Points

• Secretary Shailesh Bagauli said that a draft ordinance has been prepared to give 30 percent horizontal reservation in government jobs to women of Uttarakhand. After the approval of the Governor, the law of women horizontal reservation will be made in the state.
• It is known that the state government decided to bring an ordinance after the Nainital High Court stayed the government order of women horizontal reservation. It was agreed to bring an ordinance in the state cabinet meeting recently to restore horizontal reservation.
• According to Shailesh Bagauli, efforts have also started at the government level to restore 10 percent horizontal reservation to the state agitators in state government jobs. Discussions are underway with the Department of Justice in this regard. The proposal will be sent to the Department of Justice after preparing a solid legal basis in support of horizontal reservation.
• The high court had set aside the mandate of horizontal reservation of state agitators on a petition.
• On the request of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Governor Lt Gen Gurmeet Singh returned the state agitator horizontal reservation bill pending for several years at Raj Bhavan. After the bill returned, the government was asked to immediately bring an ordinance or bill for horizontal reservation.

Centre Hands Over 45.33 Acres of HMT Land to Uttarakhand

Why in News?

• On October 27, 2022, the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries transferred the much-awaited 45.33 acres of land of HMT located at Haldwani in Nainital to the Uttarakhand government. The ministry has issued land transfer orders.

Key Points

• According to the order, 45.33 acres of land of HMT at Ranibagh and Haldwani has been transferred to the Uttarakhand government at a reserve price of Rs 72 crore two lakh 10 thousand. There is a very high cost of land at market rate.
• Significantly, the state government had been requesting the central government to get the land for many years. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transfer the land. The issue was also raised in a meeting with Union Heavy Industries Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey in August.
• The state government can construct mini SIDCUL on HMT land. A large number of entrepreneurs are willing to invest in the state, but arranging land for industries is a big challenge before the government.