RKJ DD employees continue strike

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Akashvani and Doordarshan Administrative Staff Association Units Radio Kashmir, Jammu Doordarshan Jammu/Civil Construction Wing, All India Radio Jammu observed complete pen down strike today. Total work of the RK Jammu Doordarshan Jammu and CCW AIR Jammu was effected. All the officers of the cadre i.e. senior administrative officers/administrative officers and other supervisory staff of these also observed the complete pen down strike with the other cadre members. The ADASA units at Jammu pledged to continue the strike till the genuine demands are not agreed and implemented.

Mr PN Pandita, unit secretary informed the members about the steps being taken by the National Council of ADASA. He said as per the information received from the Zonal Council, Jallandhar. The National Council has called an emergency meeting of the National Council on 19-12-1998 at Bombay to discuss the future line of action from the ADASA.

All the cadre members at Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir, Jammu and Civil Construction Wing All India Radio, Jammu are gathering for day long dharna at Doordarshan Jammu tomorrow.

The unit secretary again stressed upon the authorities of Prasar Bharti for early redressal of the genuine demands of the ADASA.

Prof Gupta flays Prasar Bharati

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: The BJP member Lok Sabha, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, has expressed his strong resentment over the stand taken by the Prasar Bharati that due to constraints of manpower, hardware, transmission time and other necessary infrastructural facilities, it is not possible to start a Dogri news bulletin from Doordarshan Kendra at Jammu.

In a letter to the Union Minister of States for Information and Broadcasting Mr Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Prof Gupta has in this regard referred to the earlier commitments of former Minister for Information and Broadcasting who had sought clarification of the new stance of Prasar Bharati.

In a written reply to a question of Prof Gupta the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mr Naqvi had stated that the Prasar Bharati have intimated that due to certain constraints of manpower, hardware, transmission time etc. "it is not possible to start a Dogri News bulletin from Doordarshan Kendra at Jammu for the present."

Prof Gupta felt something foul in the assertion of Prasar Bharati and regretted that instead of working for pacifying the injured feelings on an issue of sensitive nature, some men in the Prasar Bharati have opted for adding insult to the injury.

He further said that the regional imbalances created by the erstwhile Governments at the Centre and also by the Congress and National Conference leaders of Jammu and Kashmir, are already resulting in serious tensions in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, and some new moves of the Prasar Bharati would only add to these regional tensions if immediate steps were not taken to rectify the wrongs.

Prof Gupta hoped that the Government leaders at the Centre would look into the matter and put a check on the moves of Prasar Bharati which are being strongly opposed by the various organisations and others in Jammu.

Singh Bandhus entral the audience

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: The renowned duo classical vocalists "Singh Banhdus" Tej Pal Singh and Surinder Singh with their capitavating music performance anthralled the audience here this evening at the Jammu University auditorium.

Singh Bandhus presented three items in the ragas Madhuvanti, Tarana and a Punjabi composition in rag Bahar which were highly applauded by the audience. One presentation was Guru Nanak Devji’s shabad which was song beautifully. The performance was so suberb that there was pin drop silence.

The music programme was organised by the Government College of Engineering and Technology in collaboration with the Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture (SPIC MACAY), Jammu Chapter.

The aristes were accompanied by Mr Fayyaz Khan also from Delhi on Tabla and Mr Vijay Kumar on harmonium while Mr Om Parkash Dogra and Anil Sharma were on tanpura. Their performance too in keeping pace with the ragas of the singers won the heart of the people.

The music concert commenced after lighting of tradtional lamp by the two brother-singers.

Famous vocalist due belong to Indore gharana and they got initial training from their elder brother G S Sardar. They were later doctrined into Indore gharan by it founder Ustad Amir Khan.

Singh Bandhus are credited with rehandling the tradition of raga-based rendition of Gurbani in their own unique style. They have also composed music for some TV serials and films as well.

Mr H L Jalali, chairperson, cultural committee of Government Engineering College, Jammu as also office-bearers of SPIC MACAY presented shawls bouquets to the artistes.

Ms Garina Gupta, a student conducted the proceedings of the programme.

NC Govt posing threat to peace normally: Aslam

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: J&K PCC president Ch Mohd Aslam and several other Congress leaders have said that the follies of the Dr Farooq Abdullah Govt. during the past over two years of his "mis-rule" has posed serious threat to whatever peace and normalcy was restored during the past four years in the State.

Addressing series of public meeting at Assar, Jathi and Khalani today Ch Aslam and leader of the Congress Legislature Party Ms Mehbooba Mufti besides senior Congress leaders Balwan Singh, Balbir Singh MLA, Jagdev Singh and Bharat Gandhi Ex-MLA's said that militancy has shown signs revival in the State during the past two years because of the failure of the National Conference Govt. to provide an honest and responsible Govt. in the prevailing situation.

The senior Congress leaders said that the security forces had defeated the proxy war of Pakistan in Kashmir and retrieved the situation to a level where a popular Govt. could be installed but it was for the present dispensation to take that peace to the lasting conclusion by providing a responsive and honest governance. But the Farooq Govt. appears to be on a "looting" spree and has emptied the coffers of the State and pushed the State in the financial crunch in a short period.

The PCC president exhorted the party men to unitedly fight against corruption and favourtism adopted by the NC Govt. in every sphere of its activity. He lauded the leadership of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and said that people of the country have re-affirmed their faith in the Congress party under her leadership after testing the double standard of the BJP and other political parties which came to power at the Centre in the past two years.

The CLP leader Ms Mehbooba Mufti lashed out at the Farooq Abdullah Govt. for large scale corruption nepotism and favourtism which has led to resentment among the people and frustration among the youth.

She said that corruption in employment has helped the designs of Pakistan ISI as disappointed youth are again turning to the gun-culture. She said Farooq Govt is not at all interested for restoration of peace and welfare of common people for vested interested for restoration of peace and welfare of common people for vested interests and this has posed serious threat to the prevailing situation which is deteriorating day by day, she said.

She said the weak BJP Govt. at the Centre has shaken hands with the gap between the security forces, administration and the people is increasing and latter getting allienated from the present Govt. The financial crunch is the creation of NC Govt.

ANC leaders given warm welcome at Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Jammu Provincial body of Awami National Conference accorded a rousing Welcome to Awami National Conference leaders Muzaffar Shah and Tariq Hamid Karra, who arrived here from Srinagar yesterday.

Hundreds of ANC workers who had come from different districts of Jammu, took the ANC leaders in a procession from the Airport to the Provincial headquarters of the party. The procession passed through Gandhi Nagar, Bikram Chowk, Jewel Chowk, Raghunath Bazar, Purani Mandi, Raj Tilak Road, Moti Bazar and culminated at Party Office at Pacca Danga.

At the party office, provincial body hailed the party president Mr Gulam Mohd Shah's call, at the worker's meet at Srinagar to all political parties of all thoughts in J&K to join the electoral process and fight for the broader aspects of Kashmir problem using Assembly as the Platform.

Acknowledging that the political future of J&K State has been and is a subject of intense debate and the people of the State formed the core of the issue, cannot be brushed aside and the only realistic and practical solution was a sustained peaceful dialogue and discussion with all concerned.

The Provincial body made a resolve and assured the ANC leaders to carry on this decisive battle launched by the party president to its logical end with the support of all like-minded people through peaceful means.

Addressing the party workers Mr Muzaffar Shah said that it will be perilous for the political parties and other secessionist organisation if they abdicate from the responsibilities of saving the people of the State from the internal and external strife going on unabated for the past ten years.

He said that it was unfortunate that already wounded people should suffer more and more by the despondancy of NC Government in addressing people's problems like growing un-employment, mounting corruption, unabated nepotism and squandering of public exhequer.

Meanwhile Pawan Katoch, National Conference Youth president, Block Bhalwal, joined Awami National Conference alongwith his group namely Messrs Ajay Sharma, Thakur Manoj Sharma, Surjeet Badyal, Vikas Khajuria, Dinesh Sharma, Shanti Parkash, Arvind Ram, Pawan Sharma, Rohit Kotwal, Vikram Rathore, Amit Koul and Vinod Parihar.

They joined under the leadership of Messrs Dilbagh Singh, Surinder Singh, ex-Subedar Army, Mrs Tripte Rani (Janipur), Puroo Devi and J&K State Secretary Janata Dal, Mrs Shaide Ausha (Neareena) also joined the party.

NC takes strong exception of G M Shah’s statement

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: Taking strong exception of the outbursts of former Chief Minister and Chairman Awami National Conference (ANC) Mr G M Shah’s outbursts the National Conference said that former Chief Minister was playing in the hands of antinational and devise forces.

In a statement issued here today, the Party maintained that no one at this stage will support Mr Shah in his political machinations against the democratically elected Government.

The party has warned NC to desist from hatching any conspiracy like 1984 as he and his all henchmen have fully been exposed before the people of state after toppling the democratically government in 1984.

The Party said Mr Shah was trying to ‘build the castles of sand in the air’ by hobnobbing with Mufti Mohamamd Syed and Hurriyat Conference by murdering the democracy and betray the trust of the people once again.

The NC spokesman urged the People to remain cautious of Mr Shah’s game plan who wants to sow the seeds of mistrust among the people.

The Party spokesman said the National Conference rank and file has pledged to frustrate the designs of its detractors and will not allow any body to create obstacles into the party’s commitment towards restoration of peace and normalcy in the state.

The Party alleged that the present turmoil in the state was also result of murder of democracy in 1984 by the leaders like GM Shah and Mr Mufti Mohamamd Syed.

Meanwhile the NC MLC, Mr Bhushan Lal Bhat has also criticised the statement of Mr Shah.

In a statement issued today he said how can Mr Shah claim himself the representative of the people when he was silent for last nine years of turmoil.

3 writ petitions dismissed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 14: In a significant judgement a Division Bench of Jammu Kashmir High Court of Jammu Wing comprising Mr Justice RC Gandhi and Mr Justice GD Sharma today dismissed three writ petitions filed by the promotees and allowed five writ petitions with the directions to the State and others.

The judgement were delivered today by Mr Justice RC Gandhi where the dispute involve in these writ petitions relates to the appointment by promotion of the Junior Engineers to the post of Asstt. Engineers and fixation of the seniority of the members of the service governed under the Jammu and Kashmir Engineering Gazetted Service Recruitment rules 1978 which provides to fill up the posts from three sources. 1. Twenty per cent by direct recruits from persons possessing bachelor's Degree in Engineering. 2. Sixty per cent by promotion from Junior Engineers having bachelor Degree in Engineering with three years service as Junior Engineer and 3 Twenty per cent by promotion from Junior Engineers having Diploma in Engineering with ten years service. Some of the points raised in these petitions are common and therefore were heard together and are being disposed of by this common judgement. The three writ petitions which were dismissed were filed by the promotees Kuldeep Gupta and others, Yog Raj Abrol and others and Kuldeep Raj Gupta and others and Division Bench allowed five writ petitions filed by Naresh Kumar Khajuria and others, Mohinder Singh and others, Ranjan Gupta and others, Kuldeep Kumar Badyal and others and Rafiq Ahmed Rafiq. These writ petitions filed through Senior Advocate MH Beg Advocates MK Bhardwaj, DC Raina, AA Jan and Sunil Sethi where-as Senior Advocate, ML Verma, Senior Advocate AV Gupta, Senior Advocate ZA Shah Government Advocate Seema Sheikhar, Baldev Singh and Advocate General Mr MA Goni for the intervenors Senior Advocate Promodh Kohli with advocate Ajay Gupta appeared.

While disposing of the writ petitions the Division Bench issued directions to the respondents that the State respondents has failed to make out that quota rule has broken down and thus quota rule is held to be operative. The adhoc/stop gap/Incharge promotion behind a period of six months or held to be in breach of regulation 4(d) of the regulation 1957. Their continuation beyond a period of 6 months is held to be without any authority supporting it.

Such promotions of the promotees are hereby quashed. The state is directed to consider the claims of the promotees whose adhoc/stop gap promotions have exceeded the period of six months, in constitution with the commission (PSC) for determining their suitability to the posts of Assistant Engineers in different wings of the service and to promote them substantively within four months and to fix the seniority of the direct recruits and the promotions in terms of the quota-rota rules, within their quota in a particular year, in the ration fixed under the rules for direct recruits and promotees.

The Division Bench while disposing of the eight writ petitions challanging the appointments and seniorities of Degree and Diploma Engineers direct and promotees the Bench observed that low and the rules for direct recruits and promotees.

The Division Bench while disposing of the eight writ petitions challanging the appointments and seniorities of Degree and Diploma Engineers direct and promotees the Bench observed that low and the rules governing the service, it is made out that seniority of a member of the service in terms of rule 11 of the rules 1978 is to be determined and fixed from the date of first appointment to the service, class, category, or grade, as the case may be. Interpretation attached to the rule 24 has interpretted "date of first appointment" which means "the date of first substantive appointment meaning thereby and date of permanent appointment or the date of first appointment on probation against a clear vacancy". In the present case the promotions of the promotees have been declared illegal in the proceedings paragraphs. Consequently they are not members of the service and thus not entitled to the seniority unless they are promoted in accordance with rules. Therefore, the claim of the promotees that they are entitle to the seniority from the date of their adhoc promotion, is not made out being unsustainable in law. The direct recruits have been appointed in accordance with rules and being the members of the service are entitled to the seniority from the date of their appointment within their quota, bench added.