NGOs to resume stir for tracing missing JU student

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Feb 27: A joint meeting of different NGOs and student leaders was held today under the chairmanship of Mirza Mohd Afzal to discuss the further course of action in connection with the disappeared University student Mr Mehmood-Ul-Haq, who is missing from University Campus for the past two months.

As per a release the meeting declared that they would resume their agitation very shortly. Speaking on the occasion Mr Shakeel Mirza, an active member of JK Pahari Cultural and Social Society criticised the district administration for their failure in tracing the PG student. He appealed the legislators, administration, political leaders and the leaders of various NGOs to come forward and make serious efforts to trace the missing student.

Others who participated in the meeting included Messrs Shahbaz Khan, Zafar Mirza, Davinder Kumar, Mohd Younis, Dr Abdul Haq, Badder Hussain Khan, Rehman Mirza, Sanjive Kumar, Mir Ateeq and Qayoom Choudhary.

Muslim Federation holds rally against discrimination

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: A protest rally led by the district committee of Muslim Federation Jammu was held today which started from Talab Khatikan and passed through city but was forced to stop by Administration near Civil Secretariat Jammu where a number of protestants courted voluntary arrest.

The rally was staged against the administration with the Jammu Muslims, particularly in the field of employment, development and against the recent recruitments in IRP in which candidates belonging Scheduled Tribe/ Gujjar Bakerwal and OBC were ignored alongwith general candidates of the community. The Federation leaders said the Scheduled Tribe and OBC quota has been fixed by the Central Government but the concerned authorities in the State have totally washed out all the norms and the stipulated quota.

They said the recent recruitments in the IRP are nothing but a big fraud committed against the poor and suffering community.

The Muslim Federation demanded a probe into the recruitment and immediate fulfilment of the stipulated quota to the 375 list of IRP and sought assurance from the Government that such bunglings will not be repeated in future and that the due quote of Scheduled Tribe and OBC category would be provided to the Muslim minority.

Muslim Federation decided to continue peaceful demonstration and dharnas as a part of agitation against the discrimination with their community till the Government redressed the grievances of the hard hit community Jammu.

The speakers further demanded that the communal and corrupt officers should not be appointed for the recruitments. they alleged that the Government has failed top protect the basic rights of Jammu Muslims. The attitude of ignorance has depressed the qualified and deserving youth of the community.

The speakers also appealed to all the political and social organisations to come forward and help in getting redressed the genuine grievances of suffering Muslim community of Jammu. Others who spoke in the rally included Messrs Talat Niaz Qazi, Ch Bahar-ud-Din and Master Akram Ahmed.

IGNOU starts new courses, admission process on

Excelsior Special Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Disaster Management, Human Rights, Consumer Protection, Women Empowerment are some of the new courses being introduced by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) through Regional Centre, Jammu from the current academic session.

Disclosing this to EXCELSIOR today, Dr B P R Narasimha Rao, Regional Director, IGNOU, Jammu, said that the admission process for such courses is on and remain so till May 31. The academic session for these six month duration courses will start from July.

He said other additional courses being started by Regional Centre include Labour and Development, Participatory Forest Management, Teaching of English, Tourism Studies, Rural Development, Food and Nutrition, Nutrition and Childcare, Empowerment of Women Self-Help Groups, Environment Studies and Health and Environment.

Some of theses courses have job-market while few are of general utility value, he said and added elsewhere they are opted by large number of people. He expressed the hope that more and more candidates from this part of the country will also draw benefits from such courses.

Dr Rao stated that the aim of distance education courses through IGNOU is to provide opportunities to disadvantaged sections and in far-flung areas for pursuing further studies in different disciplines, academic and professional.

IGNOU’s Regional Centre, Jammu which at the time of its inception in March, 1998 had enrolment of merely 1200, has presently gone up to over 4000, spread across Jammu region. Studies Centres have been set up in different areas for facility of those joining IGNOU for further education, he added.

He said that response to various IGNOU courses particularly from Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua has been encouraging. Questioned about Doda and Poonch areas, he stated that efforts are on to possibly give coverage where infrastructure and faculty is available. From Doda district about 50 candidates are already enrolled and it is proposed that study centres will be opened in Doda and Bhaderwah. In coming time Udhampur too is likely to have study centre.

Besides, the IGNOU has proposal for starting diploma courses in Rural Surgery, Hospital Mangement, Maternal and Child Health. This matter, Dr Rao said, has been taken up with the State Government.

Kaun Banega Lakhpati

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Shree Productions in association with Siti Cable are producing the show "Kaun Banega Lakhpathi". The Programme will be telecasted by Siti Cable in Jammu and also by local cables of Jammu province thrice a week from 9th of March on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. with repeated telecast next afternoon.

"Kaun Banega Lakhpati may have been just a game of an hour of Prime Time fame but, for "Shree Productions" it is the biggest gamble at regional level in India.

The aim of the show is to provide regional platform and create awareness in the region. The emphasis of the questions in the show will be on regional information and there will be audience and viewers prizes. This show will attract highest viewership at regional level claims Sunil Kumar, the man behind the show. Any one from J&K above 18 years of age can participate in the show by just filling the entry form available at select bookstalls.

Plea to handover dowry death case to Crime Branch

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: People of village Drung in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district have demanded that dowry death case of Usha Devi wife of Bishan Dass should be handed over to Crime Branch immediately as local police have failed to arrest the culprits.

In a statement issued here, the people demanded immediate arrest of Usha’s husband Bishen Dass, father-n-law Paras Ram and mother-in-law Magro Devi whom they accused of burning the woman for bringing less dowry.

They appealed to the authorities to handover the case to Crime Branch for impartial investigations.

Handoo a multifaceted personality-a profile

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, February 27: With the passing away of Mr Piyare Lal Handoo, a glorious chapter of State’s parliamentary and legal history has come to an end.

Soft spoken but bold and well-meaning political leader of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Handoo established his mettle as a legal luminary, able administrator and a great parliamentarian in his 5-decade long public life. Born on October 27,1927 in the family of Mr Nand Lal Handoo of Anantnag, Mr Handoo had a brilliant academic career.. After completing BA(Hon’s) he obtained Master’s degree in Arts from Punjab University and Bachelor of Law from Lucknow University. Started his career as a lecturer in the Gandhi Memorial College, Srinagar, his interest in politics took him to another active and challenging field where he too, made his mark due to his sincerity of purpose, loyalty and commitment to democratic and secular values and above all his communication skills. He was very articulate and always left an indelible mark on the mind of the listeners.

Mr Handoo joined the bar at Anantnag in 1948 and shifted his practice to Srinagar in 1957. It was around that time that the Democratic National Conference was formed and he joined the party after resigning from Government service.

Mr Handoo later joined National Conference and Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah gave him NC mandate from Pahalgam Constituency in 1977 Assembly Elections. Since then he had won all the Assembly elections in the State. In 1987, he shifted his constituency from Pahalgam to Habbakadal from where he was re-elected in 1996. However in 1989 he resigned from the Cabinet after his election to Lok Sabha on NC ticket from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency.

Mr Handoo was inducted in the State Cabinet in 1982 as Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Revenue and remained so till July 2, 1984 when Farooq Government was toppled. He was again inducted in the Cabinet in 1987 after the National Conference romped home with massive majority. He held the portfolio of Housing and Urban Development also. However, he resigned from the Cabinet in 1989 to seek election for Lok Sabha of which he remained member till March 1991 when it was dissolved. In October 1996 he was again inducted in the Cabinet after National Conference party returned with a landslide majority, and was again given the portfolio of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, which he held till his last.

A forceful orator, Mr Handoo with his legal and political acumen, successfully put across Government point of view at different fora within and outside the State. A member of the State Autonomy Committee, he played an important role in the formulation of the Autonomy Report. He along with his colleagues forcefully pleaded for restoration of greater autonomy to J&K in the State legislature as also at other fora in the country.

A lawyer par excellence, Mr Handoo established his credentials as one of the leading lawyers of the State right from early sixties and argued cases both in the State High Court and Supreme Court of India.

Intellectual as he was, Mr Handoo had a special interest for reading and writing with gardening as hobby. He had travelled to Canada and America.

He was married to Mrs Bhagwati in 1948. He is survived by two sons and three daughters.

Govt regularises promotion of 1126 AEs

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: The Government have regularised the promotion of 1126 Junior Engineers in the rank of Assistant Engineers in Public Works Department (PWD).

This is for the first time in the last 25 years that the departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting of the PWD undertook the regularisation of engineers on such a massive scale. The regularisation will pave the way for issuance of correct seniority list in the cadre of civil engineers and is expected to result in increased efficiency of the department.

The Minister for Works, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar personally kept the process under review since May last year. During this period the department built up personal records afresh and participated in several meetings of the DPC convened by the J&K Public Service Commission (PSC). As a result of the regularisation, the department will have a credible data available about the seniority of its officials in future.

The regularisation is also a significant step towards the implementation of the orders of the Supreme Court of India which was delivered in the Suraj Prakash Gupta v/s State of Jammu and Kashmir case in April last year. The State Government had constituted a seven-member high power committee for follow up action on the directions of the Apex Court. The Committee was headed by Principal Secretary, Planning and Development.

The framing and circulation of the seniority list which is in the offing would completed the implementation of the Supreme Court orders.

Governor expresses shock on Handoo’s demise
I have lost a valuable friend : Farooq

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Governor Girish Chander Saxena, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah besides all the members of Council of ministers have expressed their profound shock and grief over the demise of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr P L Handoo who died at New Delhi this morning.

In his condolence message, the Governor said that Mr Handoo was an outstanding political leader and a social activist. Mr Handoo started his career as an Advocate in Anantnag and rose in public life because of his high intelligence, exceptional abilities and considerable legal acumen. His talent and stature earned him a ministership in the Cabinet of Dr Farooq Abdullah.

The Governor said that while working for the betterment of the lot of the Kashmiri Pandit community, Mr Handoo always stood strongly for ‘Kashmiriyat’ and the composite culture of the State. Mr Saxena observed that Mr Handoo’s demise has caused a void in the political and social scene in the State.

The Governor prayed to God to give peace to the departed soul and strength to the members of the bereaved family to bear their great loss with fortitude.

Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah has expressed his profound shock and grief over the passing away of Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo.

In a message from Jeddah, the Chief Minister, who is heading the Indian Haj Goodwill Delegation, said the passing away of Mr Handoo is a loss to the state and the void created by his death is hard to fill. Describing his death as personal loss, Dr Abdullah said, ‘I have lost a long time colleague, a dear friend and an esteemed counsel’.

Dr Abdullah described Mr Handoo as an able parliamentarian whose oratory skills impressed all including his political adversaries in Lok Sabha as well as the state legislature. He was a gentleman having sober personality with excellent legal and administrative acumen. His in-depth knowledge of law made Mr Handoo a distinguished and one of the leading lawyers of the State. As a Minister, Mr Handoo proved his mettle and laid indelible mark in the ministries he held, the Chief Minister said.

He recalled Mr Handoo’s contribution as a member in the autonomy panel and his legal advise on various crucial matters from time to time and said that the departed leader was an asset to the state. He was always in the fore-front in solving problems of the people and worked hard for redressal of problems in the constituencies he represented, the CM said and added that even his illness did not dampen his longings to meet and interact with the people and keenness to solve their problems.

Dr Abdullah conveyed his heart-felt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

The Minister for Works, Mr Ali Mohammad Sagar has expressed shock and grief over the sad demise of Piaray Lal Handoo, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, who passed away at New Delhi this morning after remaining indisposed for several days.

In his condolence message, Mr Sagar said that in the death of Handoo, the State has lost a legal luminary and a distinguished parliamentarian. Describing Handoo as an intellectual of the highest caliber, Mr Sagar said that he was a champion of secularism and democracy.

Mr Sagar said he had long opportunity to work with Mr Handoo who inspired the young leaders by his vast experience in political arena of the State. He said Mr Hanoo’s contribution and relentless efforts in the development of the state and welfare of the people will be remembered long.

Mr Sagar prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed sympathies with the bereaved family.

The Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the sad demise of Shri P L Handoo, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Mr Rather in a condolence message said that Mr Handoo was a towering personality, outstanding lawyer, great parliamentarian and a seasoned political leader. A man with an outstanding head and heart, Mr Handoo worked tirelessly for the poor and down trodden. He spent his entire life in the service of people.

He said he had personal relations with Mr Handoo for the past three decades and with his death he has lost one of the closest friends.

Mr Rather said that the void created by his death is difficult to be filled. He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the kith and kin of Mr Handoo to bear this great shock. We all, the Minister said, are on the side of bereaved family in this hour of distress and sorrow.

The Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Abdul Qayoom has expressed his deep shock and grief over the sad demise of Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo.

While paying rich tributes to Mr Handoo, he said that the services rendered by the minister for the betterment of the State and upliftment of the people will be long remembered. The State has lost a distinguished parliamentarian, legal luminary and an able administrator. He prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and give courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

The Agriculture and Cooperative Minister, Ch Mohammad Ramzan has expressed grief and shock over the death of Mr P L Handoo, who passed away in New Delhi this morning after a prolonged illness.

In his condolence message, Ch Ramzan has said that with the passing away of Mr Handoo, the State has lost a towering legal luminary and a great orator. The void created by Mr Handoo’s death is difficult to be filled in, the Minister added.

The Minister of State for Food and Supplies, Mr B A Nengroo has expressed grief and profound sorrow over the demise of veteran leader and Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo, who passed away today after a brief period of indisposition.

Expressing shock the Minister said that Mr Handoo was a leading expert of law and polity of the State. The Minister further said that Mr Handoo worked tirelessly for several decades for social upliftment and the cause of secularism.

The Minister has expressed his sympathy with the bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul.

Minister for Forest, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed expressed his heart felt grief and sorrow on the demise of Mr P L Handoo, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Describing Mr Handoo as one of the leading legal and political luminaries of the State. The Minister said that the vacuum created by his demise will take a long time to fill.

The officers and officials of the Chief Electoral Office mourned the sad demise of Mr P L Handoo, the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs at a condolence meeting held here today.

The Chief Electoral officer while paying rich tributes to the departed soul said that the State has lost a legal luminary and a genius administrator. His contribution in the welfare of the state would be long remembered. The officials also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and expressed sympathies of the deceased family.

Expressing shock and grief over the demise of Mr P L Handoo, Minister of State for Tourism, Ms Sakina Itoo in her condolence message has said that with the death of Mr Handoo, the State has been deprived of a great parliamentarian and legal luminary.

Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr T S Nimgiyal and Minister for Housing and Urban Development and Ladakh Affairs, Kushok Togdan Rinpochey expressed their grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr P L Handoo, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, who passed away this morning at New Delhi..

The Minister of State for Rural Development, Mr Ajay Sadhotra, has expressed his heart felt condolence on the sad demise of Mr P L Handoo, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs who died today.

In a message, the Minister said his death has created a vacuum in the ranks of State leadership which no one can fill.

National Conference Chief Whip, Mr Mubarak Gul has expressed deep sorrow over the sad demise of Mr P L Handoo, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

The Minister for Information and Transport, Mr Ajatshatru Singh has condoled the sad demise of the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr P L Handoo.

Mr Singh in his condolence message has expressed his deep shock over the death of Mr Handoo whom he described as an intellectual of highest order, a distinguished parliamentarian and legal luminary and said that his death has caused a void, which can hardly be filled.

Various organisations condole demise of Handoo

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: The demise of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr P L Handoo has been widely condoled by various social, political and trade organisations.

K P Sabha, Ambphalla in a meeting held under the chairmanship of its president Mr Triloki Nath Khosa condoled the demise of Mr P L Handoo, Minister of Law, J&K State. The members expressed deep shock and grief over his demise and recalled him services. They said that Mr Handoo was a great parliamentarian and an authority of law. Mr Khosa said that the contributions of Mr Handoo in the field of justice and revenue records will be remembered by people for a long time.

Earlier, Mr Khosa laid a wreath on the body of Mr Handoo on behalf of KP Sabha as a mark of respect for the departed soul. All Sabha members conveyed their deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

A meeting of Milachar Front was held under the chairmanship of Mr Shambu Nath Sapru to mourn the demise of Mr P L Handoo. Rich tributes were paid to the departed soul for the imparalled services he rendered to the people of the State in different capacities.

Thakur Randhir Singh, former Minister and president State Nationalist Congress Party mourned the demise of Mr P L Handoo and described him as outstanding legal luminary, commited secularist, progressive and a friend of friends. Mr Singh said that demise of Mr Handoo at this stage is a great loss to the country in general and J&K in particular.

Principal, staff and students of Government College for Women, Parade Ground mourned the demise of Law Minister Mr P L Handoo. They prayed to God to grant peace to the departed soul and also give enough courage to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss.

Hindu Youth Forum, Anantnag, Prabandhak Committee and Vivekanand Kender, Anantnag condoled the demise of Mr Handoo and prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.

Fankar Cultural Organisation, general secretary, Mr Hasrat Gadda has expressed his profound shock and grief over the sudden demise of Mr P L Handoo, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.

In his condolence message Mr Gadda described Mr Handoo a great educationist, a philonthrophist, top most jurist and intellectual who was well wisher of the organisation.

He said Mr Handoo was a true democrat who believed in the secular and socialist values of the polity.

Peer Panchal a cultural, social and educational organisation has also condoled the sudden and untimely demise of Mr P L Handoo.

In a joint condolence message the president of the Organisation Mr Ramesh Hangloo and general secretary, K K Raina paid glorious tributes to the departed leader. They said his demise has created a big void which will be very difficult to fill up. They prayed for the eternal peace to the departed soul.

Jotshi Karyalya Gole Gujral also held a condolence meeting under the chairmanship of Jyotshi Omkar Nath Shastri in which profound grief and shock was expressed over the demise of Mr P L Handoo.

The meeting recalled his services to the people of state. It described him a great jurist who has always fought for the preservation of composite culture in the state.

National Conference Minority Cell has also deeply mourned the sad and untimely demise of Mr P L Handoo. Soon after hearing the news of Mr Handoo’s demise the Cell held a condolence meeting in which rich tributes were paid to departed leader.

Those who paid homage to Mr Handoo include Messrs B L Bhat, MLC, Ashok Hangloo, provincial president of the Cell, M K Talashi, Moti Lal and Pushkar Nath.

Inhabitants of Brang Kokernag also held a condolence meeting to mourn the demise of Mr Handoo.

Swami Mirzakak Trust Hangalgund office bearers also held a condolence meeting to mourn the sad and untimely demise of Mr P L Handoo. The members observed two minutes silence as a mark of respect to departed soul.

All Displaced Kashmiri Employees Forum chief Mr M K Tickoo has also expressed his profound shock and grief over the sudden and untimely demise of Mr Handoo. He said his death has created a void which is very difficult to fill up in near future.

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