Accounts, treasuries employees hold dharna

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The employees of accounts and treasuries today held a dharna in front of the office of Deputy Director, Accounts and Treasuries, Jammu to lodge their protest against the transfer policy system adopted by the Deputy Director, Accounts and Treasuries.

As per a release, the employees’ leader shouted slogans against the transfer policies adopted by the Deputy Director, Accounts and Treasuries and demanded immediate rational transfer policy system. They observed that a small portion amongst accounts employees which are part of vested interest class are being retained in attractive postings for years together or continue to change such class of postings at their will and choice and there seems nobody to listen to their genuine and logical demands.

They appealed the higher authorities of the Finance Department to adopt rational transfer policy system failing which the Association will have no alternative than to go for long agitation.

The Association also decided to meet the higher authorities of the Finance Department on December 14 regarding the issue. All members will assemble in the premises of Government Ranbhir Library, Kachi Chowni at 11 am.

Among others who attended the dharna included Messrs Chand Bhat, Rashpaul Singh, Haneef Choudhary, Kulwant Singh, Virender Kumar Thappa, Romesh Chander, Rattan Lal, Sardari Lal, K L Khajuria, Joginder SIngh, S S Bendral, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Lal Chand Sharma and Jasbir Singh.

State-wide strike observed by electricity employees

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Electricity employees and engineers today observed complete strike throughout the state and held massive rallies and demonstrations against the privatisation of the power sector at the behest of IMF and World Bank.

As per a release, the call of strike was given by National Coordination Committee of Electricity employees and engineers and endorsed by JKCCEEE. The strike was successful in Kashmir Vally, Jammu and Ladakh regions. Employees and engineers struck work in all the offices, grid stations, receiving stations, stores, workshops and maintained only essential power supplies.

Addressing a big rally at Canal Power House Complex, Jammu, Mr Fateh Singh Bali, Neeraj Sharma, Mohan Singh and J S Sudan of JKEEEGA, Shashi Pal Sharma, Vagggesh Sharma of JKDEA, PDD Unit, Mohd Maqbool, P N Raina, Gurmeet Singh of JKCNGEEU, Ghulam Nabi of EDL and WU severely criticised the Central and State Governments’ power policy and rejected the move to total sell out of the PDD in private hands for their vested interests.

They said that the present policies are not only anti-employees and engineers but will hit the common man, industry and agriculture badly by way of enormous tariff hike.

They demanded scrapping of Electricity Bill 2000, withdrawing of State Electricity Regulatory Commission Bill, ensuring reforms within Electricity Supply Act, 1948 and SEBs, amalgmation of PDD, PDC and workers and engineers’ participation in management.

In Srinagar similar rallies were held at Electric complex, Bemina and Choglamsar Electric Complex, Leh Ladakh.

No time limitation for completion of probe
under CPC: High Court

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The Division Bench of Jammu Kashmir High Court Jammu Wing comprising Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel and Mr Justice G D Sharma held that there is no limitation prescribed for completion of investigation under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) regarding which the counsel for the parties were not at variance. Rather they were in unison on the question that expeditious investigation as well as trial has to be there so that culprit should be brought to book, without any loss of time. In this contest the Division Bench also observed that offence under the prevention of corruption Act, and other like economic offence or offences against the society in a given case for reasons beyond the power of prosecution the investigation gets delayed. For the aforesaid reason there is no merit in this appeal which is accordingly dismissed.

The Division Bench directed the respondents to file the challan before the trial court forthwith, who shall precure the presence of the all accused so that the proceedings in the case are not delayed. In case some coercive steps have to be taken in the opinion of the trial court for procuring the presence of any of the accused, the said court will be well within its authority to do so, so that the matter does not get delayed further. Sr Advocate Permodh Kholi with advocate Ajay Gupta appeared for appellant whereas advocate J P Singh appeared for the State and Vigilance Organisation, in this case.

According to the case of appellant Janak Singh presently Naib Tehsildar Bari Brahmana against whom a case FIR No. 21/1986 was registered by the Vigilance Organisation Jammu under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 2006 BK on the basis of preparing of "Fard" while he was posted as Patwari in the year of 1975-76 Deeli. According to the appellant that somewhere in the year 1991 he received a questionaire from the Vigilance Organisation Jammu with regard to the preparation of "Fard Intkhab". This was replied promptly by him. The appellant claim to have learnt about the registration of FIR in question and also sanction having been accorded for prosecution. He filed a writ petition in the high court for quashing FIR and as well investigation and the sanction accorded to prosecute him and at the same time restraining the respondents from implementing the sanction order. The single judge of the high court on September 26, 2000 dismissed the petition against the order of the single judge. Janak Singh filed this appeal which was too dismissed by the Division Bench.

VARSITY NOTE
Indian Economic Association Conference at
JU from Dec 30

By Nishikant Khajuria

Jammu University Post Graduation Department of Economics is going to organise 83rd conference of the Indian Economic Association from December 30.

About 800 renowned economists and policy planners including former Union Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chairman of Finance Commission A M Khusroo, Dr Rangrajan, Montek Singh Ahulwallia, Y K Alag, Prof Deepak Nayar and M R Moshair have confirmed their participation in the three-day conference.

The conference of the millennium will have four technical sessions and the themes are Crime, Corruption and Development; WTO and India; Second Generation Economic Reforms in India; Economics of Child Labour. Besides this, a special session on Jammu and Kashmir State Economy will also be held.

This is for the first time that the annual conference of Indian Economic Association is being held in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prof G S Bhalla, Professor Emeritus, Jawahar Lal Nehru University will be the president of the conference while Prof R K Bhat, HoD of PG Economics Department of JU, is local organising secretary.

The inaugural session of the conference will start at 10 am on December 30 at Abhinav Theatre. The technical sessions and lecturers shall take place at the University auditorium.

* * * * *

First phase of the inter-collegiate/departmental competitions under the ‘Display Your Talent’ for the year 2000-2001, commenced today at the JU Campus.

The week-long first phase of this annual ritual will have Fine Arts and Literary events. Fine Arts include painting, sketching, clay modelling, collage, poster making, Rangoli photography and flower arrangement while Literary events include debating, elocution, poetry reciting, on the spot essay writing, quiz and short story writing.

There shall be three prizes in order of merit for each event depending upon the number of entries and standard of performance. Certificate of merit can also be awarded on the recommendation of the judges.

However, despite the fact that Jammu University has been organising this annual affair for the last eight years with an objective to promote latent creative faculties among the students, the event has failed to draw proper response.

There is no participation from Doda, Rajouri and Poonch which speaks of the poor response towards the event. Secretary of JU Students Cultural Council Miss Hema Gandotra, however, blames students for not taking interest in such events. These very students rush to enjoy the fashion shows and such ‘Dhamakas’ but remain reluctant to participate in literary activities like ‘Display Your Talent’, she alleges.

* * * * *

Although the security scenario of the Jammu university has improved to some extent after the deployment of local police and CRPF on the Campus gates, a complete check on the entry of unwanted elements seems almost non-practical.

Some ex-students of the University are biggest hurdle in regulating the entry who still imagine themselves as regular students of the institution. Only a few days ago, these ex-students forcibly closed the main gate of the Campus to lodge their protest against the denial of entry to them.

On the other hand, JU authorities also feel that it is not possible to regulate the entry into the Campus strictly on the basis of identity cards since a number of literary activities, other than routine class work, are being carried in the University. Besides, an entrant with the purpose to collect some information regarding IGNOU, Distance Education or to seek syllabus, also can not be denied entry into the Campus, they opined.

According to Dean Students Welfare Prof N A Ganai, this problem will melt to a large extent after the opening of newly constructed complex for the Directorate of Information and Administration section.

Regarding the permanent closure of the third gate of the Campus, near the boys hostel, Prof Ganai said that matter will be discussed again with the Vice-Chancellor Prof R R Sharma on Friday.

Congmen express concern over indiscipline in Party
Glowing tributes paid to Sadiq on his 29th
death anniversary

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Glowing tributes were paid to first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir State, Mr Ghulam Mohammed Sadiq on his 29th death anniversary at a function held at PCC Head Quarters Shaheedi Chowk here today.

The function was chaired by District Congress Committee chief, Mr Om Chopra who in his address described the late leader a great visionary and a true patriot.

Paying glowing tributes to Mr Sadiq senior Congress leaders Messrs M N Koul, Mohammed Ayub Khan, Rafiq Sadiq, Madan Lal Sharma and Th Raghunath Singh asked the party men to take a solemn pledge on this occasion to work for fulfillment of dreams of this great leader.

On the occasion two minutes silence was also observed as a mark of respect to the late leader. The statue of Mr Sadiq was also garlanded by the Partymen.

However, the maximum speakers who had assembled to pay tributes to Mr Sadiq regretted over the present state of affairs in the Party. They alleged the Party was deviating from the principles dear to late leader. They were of the firm opinion that Congress can gain the lost ground in the state, provided the Party leaders stood by the principles which were dear to Mr Sadiq.

Paying tributes to late leader, senior party leader and former MP, Mr Dharam Paul Sharma said it was only the G M Sadiq who posed a challenge to Sheikh Abdullah’s leadership.

He said Sadiq was a Messiah of poor and down trodden, a true secular for whom rule of law was supreme to every thing.

While paying tributes to late leader, Mr Abdul Gani Wakil said it was the G M Sadiq who installed the banner of Congress in Jammu and Kashmir State. He however, regretted that the Congress is presently deviating from the path the foundation of which was laid by this illustrious son of the J&K.

He said it is a pity that the Party has become the victim of dissidence at present and warned if immediate steps were not taken to maintain the discipline in the Party, it will vanish some day.

Mr J N Dhar, Incharge Freedom Fighter Cell, (PCC) and one time a close associate of late leader said Sadiq was one of the tallest leaders of his time who worked shoulder to shoulder with Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in Quite Kashmir Movement.

He said G M Sadiq was so committed to his principles that when he came to know that National Conference (NC) is deviating from its path, he founded the Democratic National Conference (DNC).

He said Sadiq was an honest politician and best administrator who never tolerated indiscipline in the administrator. While quoting this great leader he said Sadiq had once said give me 11 honest men they will be worth 11 lakh people.

However some partymen expressed doubts saying that how Congress can fight NC at state level and BJP at national level when our own house is not in order. They asked the senior partymen to come forward and work for strengthening the Party at grass root level.

Senior Congress leader S Pradhuman Singh while paying his tributes to late leader said G M Sadiq had a unique position among the freedom fighters of the state.

He said it was the late Mr Sadiq who brought J&K much closer to India by changing the nomenclature of the State.

He said Mr Sadiq was a man of firm ideology who when came to know that his commitments were not being fulfilled in NC founded the DNC.

He said it was Sadiq who brought the Congress in J&K saying that it was the only Party in the country which takes every class of people with it.

He while paying glowing tributes to this towering personality of the state said Mr Sadiq has same position in the history of Jammu and Kashmir as Pt. Nehru has in Indian history.

He asked the Partymen not to be discourage by the present situation but face it boldly. He maintained that the Congress is still the only Party in the country which can keep it united and take it forward.

He warned those leaders who ignore the grass root level workers saying the value of such leaders minus the basic worker is zero.

He asked the Partymen to take a que from the dynamism of the late leader and work for the strengthening of the Party.

Congress MLA, Mr Tara Chand while paying tributes to late leader said the best homage to him will be if we all work for realisation of his dreams and strengthen the Party.

Mr Narinder Singh while paying tributes to Late Chief Minister said Sadiq was the last Prime Minister and first Chief Minister of J&K who never gave any communal or seccessionist slogan throughout his life. He asked the Partymen that if you want to strengthen the Party build your character like late leader.

S Mohan Singh former councilor said Mr Sadiq was a good administrator who adopted many administrative measures during his rule.

Mr Ajay Tony a Youth Congress leader while paying rich tributes to late leader termed him a messiah of poor and down trodden. He said the best tributes to this leader will be if we work for fulfillment of his cherished dreams.

Fire Services headquarters in shambles......

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The most common proverb " nearer the church, farther from God ", holds good and appropriate for the J&K Fire Services Jammu Headquarters complex which is in shambles. The building which was officially declared unsafe about a decade back is still put to use posing life risk to over hundred officers and jawans occupying it.

The organisation, which is the first to reach the spot and operate in case of rescue operations during collapse of buildings, bridges, towers etc. is itself is facing major threat. Large cracks have been appeared in the walls and ceiling of the building and the engineers say it may collapse any time.

The survey team of the PWD, assisted by other officials involved by the Government in the task several years ago have already suggested the Department to shift the headquarters to some safer place but none seems to be serious over the issue. The experts of the Department involved in issuing guidelines for the Fire-prevention/ rescue operations and safety measures etc. seems to be hapless in their own case.

The earlier proposal of the state government to shift the Fire Services Headquarters, Pacca Danga, Jammu to the Central Jail complex and raise there a new structure has now been dropped/scuttled. It had been planned to shift Central Jail to the Kot Bhalwal when Mr Veerana Aivelli was the ADG Prisons and Fire Services about three and half years ago but that proposal was not materialised.

Additional DG, Fire Services and Prisons Mr S S Ali told this correspondent that top officials in the department were well aware of this building problem and matter has already been brought to the notice of Government. He diclosed that a new building is being constructed at the same site very soon where this Range Headquarters exists at Pacca Danga. The site plan has been prepared and okayed by the concerned agencies and Rs 2 cores has been santioned by the State Financial Corporation for the same.

In response to a question on stagnation in promotions, Mr Ali said that Fire Services Department has less scope for promotions as it is not a big orgnisation like Police or other wings. The posts are limited and therefore, scope of promotions is also limited. He however, admitted that certain officials of the department were involved in litigation on account of seniority. " It happens when a junior superceeds and the injustice is meted out to a senior officer,"he maintained.

77th birth anniversary of Dewan Sahib celebrated

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: The 77th birth anniversary of renowned Saint Mahatma Dewan Sahib Ji Mahraj was celebrated today at Smadhi Sthal, R S Pura with great fervour and gaiety.

As per a release, the devotees from neighboring states of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan attended the function and offered prayers for peace.

Those who threw light on the life and mission of this great saint include Messrs Darshan Muni Jain, S Piara Singh, Bhagat Ram Chand, MLA, Janak Raj Gupta ex MP, H L Hiteshi, former MOS,Sewa Ram Bhagat, vice president and Sat Paul Bhagat general secretary. They paid rich tributes to the great saint.

On this occasion Baba Bhagwan Dass Ji blessed the gathering and asked it to follow the noble path shown by the saint for achieving the greatest goal of life and maintain national integration and common brotherhood.

On the occasion Capt (rtd) Bana Singh was honoured by the Baba Ji. He was presented a saropa by him.

The Minister of Housing and Urban Development Mr Ghulam Mohi-u-Din Shah was the chief guest. He was also offered a saropa.

J&K GPB action hailed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Sikh Istri Sudhar Sabha in a meeting held at Gurdwara Mai Rami, Raghunath Bazar under the chairpersonship of Mrs Surjeet Kour, unanimously hailed and supported the suspension of DGPC Jammu by president of J&K Gurdwara Prabandhak Board S Sudershan Singh Wazir.

As per a release the meeting also congratulated the Sikh Sangat of Jammu. All office bearers and members of the Sabha who participated in the meeting included Bibi Jagjit Kour, Manjit Kour, Hans Kour Bhatia, Kishin Kour, Lalita Kour, Rajinder Kour and Surinder Kour.

Towards the conclusion of the meeting Ardas was performed and it was hoped that the adhoc committee comprising S Gurdeep Singh, Dayal Singh Wazir, Balak Singh, Ranbir Singh and Harjeet Singh will perform the duties to the satisfaction of Sikh Sangat and in accordance with the Sikh religion.

Meanwhile in a statement S Sohan Singh Wazir, vice president, Sikh Welfare Forum has also hailed the decision of S Sudershan Singh Wazir in suspending the DGPC led by S Surinder Singh. He said the decision has been right one and was need of the time and that the Sikh Sangat has hailed the same. He added that over-looking the rules and regulations and ignoring the J&K Sikh Gurdwara Endowment Act by the DGPC Jammu had created awful situation.

S Sohan Singh congratulated all the members of new adhoc body of DGPC Jammu nominated by the J&K GPB president and appealed all the Sikh Sangat of Jammu to support them and enable them to work for the cause of Sikh community.

Students worst sufferers of power cut: BJYM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 12: Mr Rajesh Mahajan, BJYM leader has expressed serious concern over the increasing power cuts in the Jammu region.

In a statement issued here today, he alleged that the power curtailment has worstly affected the student community whose examinations are drawing near.

Besides the production in the industrial sector has come to a grinding halt due to the increasing power curtailments in the day time.

In an appeal to Government he demanded that immediate steps be taken for bettering the power supply so that the people are relieved from worry.

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