OBC status for Pahari people welcomed

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: The Pahari Speaking Welfare Forum has hailed the decision of the State Government for granting OBC status to the Pahari speaking people of the State. The decision will provide these people equal opportunities to march ahead towards prosperity with other people of the State.

Addressing an all parties meeting at Sunderbani, Rajouri, the Minister for Education, Mr Mohd Sharif Tariq who is also the Chairman of the Forum appreciated the role of the Chief Minister for according approval to this long pending demand of the people living in far-flung and remote areas of the State. The Minister exhorted upon the people to avail this opportunity to make their lives prosperous and give their wards adequate guidance regarding the benefits of OBC status.

The Minister also praised people for their courage to face the challenges poised by the enemy and inspite of constant gunfire from across the border they stand like rock against it. He reminded them to be cautious against nefarious designs of vested interests who are bent upon to disturb our peaceful atmosphere after their humiliating defeat in Kargil.

The meeting was also attended by Mr RS Sharma, MLA, Mr Bipan Pal Sharma, Vice Chairman of the Pahari Forum, Mr MD Banday and other people of the area.

Earlier, many delegations called on the Minister and putforth their problems. The Minister assured them that their problems would be projected in the ensuing District Development Board meeting of the district.

Plan for promotion of handicraft sector

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Aug 10: A comprehensive plan has been drawn up for promotion of handicraft and handloom sectors in the State. The scheme has already been sent to the banks for providing loans to the artisans for the purpose.

This was stated at a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Mr Ashok Jaitly, here today.

It was clarified that the package of incentives already sanctioned for industries sector, including subsidy on capital investments as also interest subsidy on working capital, will be extended to the loans to be made available to the artisans.

The artisans were also advised to send their applications through the Directorate of Handicrafts for getting loans from the banks. The loan application forms will be made available by the Handicrafts Department within a week’s time.

The meeting decided that the process of giving registration certificates to the artisans by the department will also be expedited.

The Chief Secretary asked the Handicrafts Department to prepare a booklet containing complete details about the artisans registered in the State so far. Such a booklet should be brought out by the department every year, he added.

The meeting among others was attended by the Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Mr JA Khan, Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Mr MS Pandit, Chairman, Handicrafts (Sales and Export) Corporation, Mr Shafi Shaida and Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr GQ Basati. The representatives of artisans and Jammu and Kashmir Arts Federation were also present.

Vaid demands more security pickets for Rajouri, Poonch

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and nominee from Jammu, Poonch Parliamentary Constituency, Mr Vaid Vaishno Dutt has demanded setting up of more security pickets in vulnerable militancy infested areas of Jammu region.

In a statement issued here today, the BJP leader said that during his tour of militancy infested villages of Rajouri district the people complained about the frequent movement of armed terrorists and demanded installation of security pickets and also setting up of VDCs fully equipped with modern weapons to safeguard the villages from the onslaught of militants.

Mr Dutt has also urged the Election Commission of India to get the officers transferred who are harassing the party workers and against whom charges of corruption are framed.

He said the certain officials who have made it a point to harass the BJP activists are trying to get these booked under the false charges.

He also said that he will be writing to Election Commission to get the officers changed who have not a good record of past and who are working under the influence of N C leaders.

Mr Dutt also expressed his serious concern over the non availability of medical staff in the hospitals and dispensaries. He alleged that a number of gasteroentites have been reported in these areas due to water impurities.

The BJP leader also demanded halt on backdoor entries in Education Department and absorption of candidates on merit basis.

Sawan Kawi Darbar organised

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Annual function Sawan Kawi Darbar was organised by J&K Punjabi Sahit Sangam on Sunday at Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar here.

The function started by "Desh Pyar Geet"organsied by the Information Department for the Kargil martyrs which was followed by Kavi Darbar presented by Bhajan Malikpuri with his "Desh Pyar Geet".

Twenty poets took part in the function which was presided over by Dr Devinder Singh, Director of Colleges, Jammu University. On the occasion Mr Hardayal Singh Rehbar president of the Sangam was honoured with shawl and memento for his contribution to the Sangam.

Dr A S Aman and Choudhary Ahmed Din an old prominent figure of Bathandi Narwal and Mr Bhajan Malik Puri sang "Loona" written by Mr Shiv Kumar Batalvi which was appreciated by the public like anything.

Mr Tirath Ram Mitter of Pathankote also recited a poem concerning military jawans and Sawan.

Dr A S Aman observer of the function while speaking appreciated the organisors.

The poets who attended the function include Messrs Bhajan Malik Puri, Avtar Singh Chandan, Des Raj Danish, Kewel Krishan Shaker, Hardayal Singh Rehbar, Jagir Gurdaspuri, Tirath Ram Mitter, Prshan Singh Sirf, Vijay Anjum Piasa, Nirmal Vinod, Bhagat Singh Zandeek, Harjeet Kour, Sham Talib, Ayodhya Rani Gamkhar, Gurdyal Singh and Rahat Hussain.

Dr Devinder Singh in his speech appreciated the organisors for their best management in organising the function.

Glowing tributes paid to Col Balbir Singh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Shri Amar Kshatriya (Rajput) Sabha held a meeting of prominent members of the "biradri" to condole the death of Col Balbir Singh who died fighting the militants at Kupwara in Kashmir.

Member after member paid glowing tributes to Late Col Balbir Singh who always placed service before self and sacrificed his life for the honour and security of the motherland. The sacrifice made by Col Balbir Singh will always serve as a shining example to our youth and encourage them to follow in his footsteps when the question of defending the country comes.

The members also condoled the death of three porters namely Parduman Singh, Madan Singh and Dalel Singh who died in Pak shelling in Kargil Sector in the beginning of this month. The members requested the Government to treat porters who died in Kargil sector while performing their hazardous duty at par with other martyrs and provide them the requisite financial assistance immediately.

The members strongly felt that in view of the great sacrifice made by late Col Balbir Singh in the defence of the country and since he belonged to the Akhnoor area, it would be very befitting to christian the Akhnoor main chowk a Col Balbir Singh Chowk to honour the martyr.

The members also observed two minutes silence in the memory of the martyrs and prayed to Almighty God to grant peace to the departed souls and courage to the bereaved families.

Those who expressed their condolences on the occasion included Th Dayal Singh Slathia (SSP Retd), Th Pavitar Singh (Session Judge Retd) Prof Sukhdev Singh, Mr B S Manhas, Matron Kamla Rajput, Mr D S Langeh, Puran Singh Jamwal, Rangil Singh Jasrotia, Th Rachhpal Singh Manhas, Th Jai Singh, Shamsher Singh Chib.

Plus two principals appeal to CM

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: All J&K Plus Two Principals' Forum in a meeting held today under the chairmanship of its president Mr Sudesh Mahajan urged upon the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah to remove the disparity in Pay Scales of Plus Two Principals as is done in case of all other categories of officers and teaching staff in the Education Department.

Speaking on the occasion the various members of the forum eulogised the steps taken by the Education Depatment in regularising 312 Principals, 260 ZEOs and Lecturers in 14 discipline pending since a decade when such a herculean task was completed for the first time in the history of the Education Department by the officials of the department.

The long pending demand of the Principals could be made practicable only on the personal intervention of the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah as well as the Minister for School Education for which the members expressed their gratitude and expressed heartiest thanks.

The Forum condemned the false allegations levelled by some vested interests who are bent upon to harm the teaching fraternity by their mischievous acts under different banners, against officials of the department who have put their earnest efforts in minimising the backlog of irregularities in the Education Department.

Ranbir Govt Press employees dissolve body

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Ranbir Government Press Employees Association in its General Body meeting here today held under the chairmanship of Mr Parshotam Singh its president has dissolved the old body and elected Mr N C Dogra as chairman to conduct the elections of the Association.

As per a release, later speaking in the meeting the chairman assured the members that elections will be conducted in a free and fair manner.

However, the members of the Old body have been asked to continue work till new office bearers are elected.

Politicians spearheading students’ strike at JU

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Leaders of a particular political party of the State are responsible for spearheading the agitation by female students ,presently sitting on dharna outside Administrative Block of Jammu University here.

These leaders, are posing as leftout students having been denied admission in the BA/BSc/B.Com Part-I in the city colleges for low percentage of marks.

Even after the University authorities including the Vice-Chancellor made their stand cleared, the striking students continued their dharna in the corridor of Administrative Block for second-day today.

Presently the students are being headed by Miss Anita Razdan, district Jammu president and other office bearers of a particular party. On the otherhand, the University authorities reiterated that they had nothing to do with the admissions.

Talking to EXCELSIOR, Registrar, JU Prof Zahoor-u-Din said, "we have nothing to do with the admissions as the colleges are the state subject of the State Government and come under the State Government", adding, "University only conducts the examinations and select papers for the college students".

Instead of wasting their time by damaging property and lodging protest in the Jammu University they should approach the state authorities, who may or may not concede their demands, he suggested.

Pleading anonymity, a University Professor said that they were being misguided by the vested interests by sending them to the University instead to the concerned office and people, who could help them out.

He further said, "I doubt that the ladies accompanying the students are parents because I have seen them pelting stones on the window panes". Atleast parents cannot do this, he added.

It may be recalled that yesterday these female students had turned violent and were later pacified by the JU authorities.

Some of the students talking to this Correspondent said that they have been misguided. "We were mis-informed that the University has to take decision in this regard", they said.

JUTA urges VC to plead their case

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Jammu University Teachers Association today called on Vice-Chancellor, Prof R R Sharma and urged him to plead their case in the ensuing University Council meeting.

The executive members who after holding dharna in the lawns adjoining to the Administrative Block met Prof Sharma and pressed upon him to take up the issue of implementation of Career Advancement Scheme and release of arrears with the Pro-Chancellor.

They told the Vice-Chancellor that decision in this regard had already been taken in the last Council meeting held on April 5 this year.

Later, talking to EXCELSIOR, Dr Kapoor said, "we have requested the Vice-Chancellor to present the pending issue forcefully so that the decision as already agreed upon by the Pro-Chancellor may not be delayed anymore".

Vice-Chancellor gave us a patient hearing and assured the executive members for taking up the desired issue with the Pro-Chancellor prior to the meeting of the University Council which is scheduled to be held on August 13 in Srinagar, Dr Kapoor added.

Meanwhile, the plea by the Head of the Department of Management Studies and Director Institute of Correspondence Education to exempt their departments from the ongoing teachers strike has been turned down by the JUTA.

According to insiders, on the first day of the JUTA dharna held at Administrative Block these two Heads of the Departments explained the hardships students would face due to the strike. But, the same was opposed by some of the teachers and the decision was postponed for today.

Talking to EXCELSIOR, Prof Varinder Gupta, HOD Physics, who also opposed the exemption of some departments confirmed that ‘their plea has been turned down and they have to boycott the classes likewise other departments".

Dr Ashok Aima, HOD Management Studies had said in yesterday’s meeting stated that as the classes of final semester already started it was difficult to boycott the work. He further told his colleagues that it would causes problems to the students in their placement.

On the otherhand, Director, Institute of Correspondence Education Dr Santokh Ram took the plea that a number of students from outside state has come here for the contact programme and they may suffer due to the strike.

Mushaira organised

Excelsior Correspondent

POONCH, Aug 10: To commemorate the memory of the Kargil martyrs, a poetic mushaira was held at Poonch yesterday. It was organised by a local Social Welfare Forum and was presided over by the District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Mr GQ Mughal. The Brigade Commander, Mr AS Sikhon was the chief guest.

As many as 20 poets recited their poems in Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi and Pahari languages and paid rich tributes to the Kargil martyrs who laid down their lives for defending the integrity of the soil of the nation.

Speaking on the occasion Brig Sikhon lauded the forum for organising mushaira in the honour of war heroes. He said such programmes boost the morale of our jawans who are fighting against militancy as well as on borders against enemy.

CM in Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah who arrived here today from Delhi inspected the proposed sites for new Bus Stand and idol parking at village Khanpur on Jammu bypass National Highway.

The proposed area for the bus stand is about 455 kanals and is manned by the Jammu Development Authority.

The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr BS Jaswal, Dy Commissioner, Jammu, Mr PK Tripathi, officers of JDA and other senior civil and police officer accompanied.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Mr Justice RC Gandhi of the State High Court Jammu-wing has dismissed writ petition challenging the selection of two private-Respondents on the grounds that they were less meritorious than the petitioner, because the private-respondents were possessing B.Com and B.A. qualification, whereas the petitioner was B.Sc. and B.Ed.

The petitioner also challenged the criteria for selection of teachers formulated by the State Service Selection Board.

While dismissing the petition, Mr Justice Gandhi observed that 20 marks for viva-voce cannot be said to be exclusive and capable of altering the merit position of the candidates in presence of 60 marks kept for record and 20 for higher qualifications.

The criteria adopted needs no interference, unless there are substantial and cogent reasons, which the counsel of the petitioner has not been able to make out. The petitioner has also been subjected to this criteria alongwith other candidates, including private-Respondents 6&7.

The petitioner secured 49 points whereas private respondents obtained 59 and 63 points respectively and the last selected candidates according to the Advocate RK Bhatia appearing for the Board has secured 59 points.

The petition is less meritorious has no right to be selected. As per the claim of the petitioner that she possessed B.Ed. qualification, it is also mentioned that the petitioner got the certificate of B.Ed. after more much time of interview which was conducted on March, 1992 and she got certificate of B.Ed. on December 28, 1992. It is clear that neither on the last date of submission of the application nor on the date of interview, the petitioner was possessed of B.Ed. certificate. Advocate DS Chauhan appeared in the petition for Commissioner/Secy. Education and others State-Respondents.

HC directive on adjustment as teachers

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Aug 10: Mr Justice TS Doabia of the State High Court Jammu-wing has directed the State of Jammu and Kashmir and others to adjust the petitioners against the available vacancies of Teachers.

To this relief, the petitioners in both the writ petitions are entitled to.

So far as the writ petition No. 79/93 is concerned, there is an additional reason also for granting the relief.

The petitioner possessed B.Ed. degree. She was entitled to weightage on account of qualification. This aspect of the matter was considered already by this court in a writ petition. While allowing both the petitions, Mr Justice Doabia further observed that the court was of the opinion that in one case the selection was made in the year 1993 and in the second case it was made in the yhear 1997, it would not be proper to upset the selection so made. A direction is however, given to the Respondents to consider the claim of the petitioners in both the petitions and adjust them now against the available vacancies.

This relief the petitioners in both the writ petitions are entitled to. In the earlier writ petition decided by the High Court on Jan 30, 1999 it was observed that a candidate who possess B.Ed. degree should be given preference to others.

In the present case, the petitioner possessed degree in B.Ed. therefore she is entitled to additional benefit on this account also. The court further directed the Respondents to take further steps to consider the claims of the petitioners for appointment within a period of two months.

This court order has been passed in two writ petitions, filed by Ram Paul and other through Advocate Anil Sethi. In both the writ petitions the question of law which has been raised is as to whether the selection can be made district-wise. The petitioners submit that the selection being made district-wise, they would have been definitely selected. The submissions in this regard is made that district-wise and zonal-wise selection is violative of the Article 14 and 16 of the construction. The court further observed that this question was considered by a Division Bench in a Latters Patent Appeal and expressed the opinion that the creation of the educational zone is not a proper method. Advocate CM Kaul appeared in both these petitions for State & official Resps.

Daily wagers dharna enters 30th day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, AUg 10: The dharna launched by the Daily Wager Union of Animal Husbandry in front of Director’s Office here entered 30th day today.

As per a release, senior Trade Union leader Messrs Paras Ram Poonchi and Roop Lal Mangotra Member Joint Consultative Machinery Telecom Deptt also participated in the meeting. They demanded immediate regularisation of daily wagers.

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