Bunglings alleged in Rehbar-e-Taleem

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 25: All Jammu and Kashmir Unemployed Youth Front (UYF) has criticised the Government for withdrawing the posts of teachers from State Subordinate Services Recruitment Board (SSSRB).

According to a press release, UYF general secretary, M Yaseen, while speaking in the meeting held here today, alleged that there had been glaring irregularities in the Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme as contradictory criteria has been adopted for recruitments from village to village. He further alleged that such ‘malpractices’ had cleared a way for corrupt elements to recruit their nears and dears.

All the members in the meeting demanded devolution of more powers to the bodies like SSSRB and an inquiry to scrutinise the recruitments under the scheme of Rehbar-e-Taleem.

Former Miss India inaugurates Fashion Planet at NIFD

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: Former Miss India, Shefali Talwar today inaugurated Fashion Planet at National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD). Fashion Planet is designer wear studio geared to cater to the needs of fashion conscious people of the city.

In an informal chat with reporters, Miss Talwar said that students of fashion designing in Jammu have gained so much of confidence. She gave all credit to the Jammu centre of National Institute of Fashion Design (NIFD).

Enveloped in a soothing and friendly ambience, Fashion Planet is well equipped with traditional and western outfits. Fashion Planet has come up with an endless range of utterly feminine clothes in resplendent silk, coolcotton, chic crepe, chamois satin and moon bright. Some garments are hand printed, other vary from delicate hand embroidery, beadwork, antique hardwork fine copper thread work, gold and silver dabka to tie dyed ones.

The ranges goes the whole range from casuals and semi-formals to the strictly formal. The Salwar Kameezes come in amazing colours, shades blending into each other and variety of designs. Women can wear these to a small dinner party, cozy lunches or an evening party. For formal occasions like weddings there are laaches with beautiful and simple embellishments. Special designing for trouseau shall be available at Fashion Point.

Outfits are an endearing mix of traditional and the contemporary, a blend of client wishes and the latest treads. The most common complaint about designerwear is that is borders on the unwearable. But the collection brought out by Fashion Planet is functional as well as striking. In a modley of colours and designs, an art form has been evolved in the suits.

The tie and dye combinations are riot of colours. Echoing an old world charm, the intricate jaal, dabka and bead work lend grandeur to the ensembles. The Gharchola in Bhandani print is just the thing to wear for the festive look.

Awami League blames Pak for destruction in J&K

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 25: Jammu and Kashmir Awami League held a public meeting at Wakura, Ganderbal, under the chairmanship of Master Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri, general secretary of the League.

Speaking on the occasion, provincial president, Peer Mohd Yousuf Shah, expressed concern over the plight of the people of the State and said that those who claimed to be the leaders of the State, were instrumental in bringing death and destruction for the common masses.

Expressing concern over the killings of the innocents day in and day out, Mr Shah and Mr Rattanpuri urged the people to remain vigilant against the nefarious designs of such elements who were doing the same at the behest of enemy agents.

Lashing out at Pakistan for promoting and encouraging inhuman acts in Jammu and Kashmir, the Awami League leaders said that Pakistan has been exposed in the world community for its terrorist activities. They said that a day was not far when there will be no country like Pakistan in this world as militancy will engulf that country itself.

Chief Organisor G M Rafiquee in his speech, while referring to the notorious designs of Pak ISI, said that the activity of this terrorist agency were anti-Islamic. He said that terrorists have no religion and that was why ISI has resorted to such a large scale destruction and death in the region.

The meeting was attended by large number of the local people. It was among others addressed by Ghulam Mohd Bakshi, a senior Awami league leader.

World Bank selects Bali, Pirzada for FMD training

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 25: The World Bank has selected S.S. Bali, Project Officer and Pirzada Abdul Rashid, Accounts Officer I.W.D.P-Hills for Financial Management and Disbursement in World Bank Financial Projects Training at International Training Centre, Itlay.

According to a press release, the cost of training is paid by the World Bank. Mr Bali is considered as an expert in Watershed Treatment Technologies having worked as Joint Director of the I.W.D.P Phase-I and received training of Watershed treatment in USA and China. Mr Pirzada is the first officer of the J&K State Accounts Cadre having been selected by the World Bank for the said training. The Government has already sanctioned the deputation of the officers.

State needs more B.Ed colleges: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 25: Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah has underlined the need to open more B.Ed colleges in private sector to produce qualified teachers in the State as there was acute shortage of deficiency of trained teachers especially in far flung and rural areas.

Speaking on the annual day function of the S.S.M College of Education and Training here yesterday afternoon, the Chief Minister said because of lack of trained teachers most the schools in rural areas were not imparting quality education and as such students coming out from these institutions are not in a position to complete well in this competitive age.

Dr Abdullah asked the students to learn and educate themselves about Information Techniques (IT) as it has potential to generate jobs for qualified unemployed youth. He asked them to take full advantage of our lakes and hills and take part in extra curricular activities particularly in Kayaking, Canoeing, Sking standard. They should also devote time towards cultural activities because these help the human mind to remain to in fine spirits.

A variety cum composite cultural programme was presented by the students of the Institute on the occasion.

The Chief Minister distributed prizes among the students who participated in the cultural progamme and also who have shown excellent performance in their academic career.

Umar inaugurates computer centre at Khanyar school

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 25: The Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industries, Mr Omar Abdullah today inaugurated Computer Centre at Girls High School, Khanyar installed at a cost of Rs 10 lakhs provided by Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar out of his Constituency Development Fund.

In his inaugural address, Mr Omar Abdullah said that a scheme to introduce computer system in all the 119 blocks of the State has been formulated and Central Government has agreed to provide Rs 120 crores for the purpose. He said, 15 from Valley, 11 from Jammu division and 4 blocks from the twin districts of Ladakh region would be covered in the first phase of the scheme.

Earlier, the Works Minister, Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar said that the computer training should be incorporated in curriculum of the education institution. He stressed the need of imbibing moral values in younger generation alongwith the modern education.

The function among others was attended by the Director School Education, Kashmir Division beside local people and parents. The Dy. Commissioner, Srinagar, Mr Bipul Pathak was also present.

42.84 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishnodevi

Excelsior Correspondent

KATRA, Oct 25: Over 42.84 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country have visited so far the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi during this year.

This is about 4.80 lakh more than the number of pilgrims visited the holy cave shrine during the corresponding period of last year. During the first fortnight of this month, about 3.14 lakh devotees paid visit to the shrine. Of this 2.82 lakhs were from outside the state.

Presently, 6000 to 8000 pilgrims are daily reaching the base camp Katra. In view of the huge rush this year, the number of pilgrims is likely to cross last year’s record of 46.70 lakhs.

CJI fountainhead of judiciary: Parasaran

By Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, Oct. 25: The controversy over the age of Dr A S Anand, Chief Justice of India (CJI), "is most unfortunate and distressing,'' according to the former Attorney General and senior advocate, Mr K Parasaran. "The CJI is not merely the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but of India and the fountainhead of the Indian judiciary, which is the only hope of the citizens,'' he said.

The Supreme Court had, in the past half a century, risen to the occasions and discharged its onerous duty as the sentinel on the qui vive except for occasional failures. "Let not the institution of the Supreme Court and the high Constitutional Office of the Chief Justice of India be brought to controversy by baseless attacks. It does not serve public interest.''

In a statement, Mr Parasaran said a practising advocate had filed a PIL raising the question of Dr Justice Anand's age (when he was the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court).

Art. 217 (3) of the Constitution said: "If any question arises as to the age of a Judge of a High Court, the question shall be decided by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India and the decision of the President shall be final.

"It is too well settled that no court has jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter. The public spirited citizen. I believe, also owes allegiance to the Constitution and the laws. It is too well settled by rulings of the Supreme Court that when law requires a particular thing to be done in a certain matter it must be done in that manner or not at all and that other modes of compliance are excluded.''

"However, the writ petition was rejected by a Single Judge and later on appeals the Division Bench. Needless to say, "Jurisdiction is par judicis'' (It is part of the function of the court to first decide whether it has jurisdiction in the matter). The matter was pursued by the zealot "public spirited person'' by moving the authority which had exclusive jurisdiction.

"The President does not decide the question personally. He is advised by the CJI by applying his judicial mind on the legal material before him. The President consequently decided on 16.5.1991 the petitions from the public spirited person, stating. "The petitions from Mr S.K. Sundaram, Advocate, Madras to the President on behalf of Shrimathi Kasturi Radhakrishnan, Chairperson, Madras Citizens Progressive Council, and the records have been pursued and the matter considered by the President, in consultation with the Chief Justice of India. The President has come to the conclusion that the petitions of Mr S K Sundram Advocate, in respect of the age of Dr Justice Anand of the Madras High Court, be rejected and that no inquiry as stipulated under Art. 217 (3) of the Constitution be undertaken.''

"Keeping aside the legal points, let me advert to the materials that have come to light. Inter alia, the following materials clinch the issue: (a) The University of J and K has issued a matriculation certificate. It records the date of birth of Dr Adarsh Sein Anand as 1.11.1936. The certificate is dated September 1,1951; (b) the passport gives the date of birth as 1.11.1936. These materials should put an end to the controversy.

As the matter was dealt with under Art. 217 (3), I presume all the relevant records will be with the Ministry of Law and Justice and all Law Ministers would have had access to it. After nine years, the same issue is now raked up. It is amusing to see the suggestion that Dr Anand should have volunteered to cooperate to give information. The suggestion, if followed will not only result in encouraging frivolous public interest litigations being filed against Judges and Judges made to stand before the petitioners as a party to cooperate with him and convince him on issue raised by him. This should then apply to all litigations. What a travesty and abuse of judicial process would it result?''

"The passport is dated 3.8.1960. The certificate issued by the J&K University is dated September 1, 1951. It is said that the strike of Big Ben in London spoke into the ears of Dick Whittington when he was a lad, that he would one day be Lord Mayor of London. When Dr Anand got his matriculation certificate in 1951 or passport in 1960, he must have had super natural powers to foresee that he would be a judge of the J&K High Court, later the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court and still later a Judge and then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, to have armed himself with the records 50 years in advance to enable him to have a longer tenure in office today.''

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