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| Tara Chand demands imposition of Governor's rule Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Mr Tara Chand, MLA and Leader CLP criticised the State Government for its total failure.....more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: The Divison Bench comprising Mr Justice T S Doabia and Mr Justice Arun Kumar...more 2 day
Akhil Bharatiya Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: The 8th Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad an association of....more SFC
authorities blamed for Bala fire Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Minister of Forests, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah has taken the authorities...more J&K
Bank will remain Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: All branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank will remain closed.....more |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: The urgency of maintaining eco-system was stressed in a lecture by Ms Neelu Sharma, Education Officer of J&K branch of World Wide Fund for Nature at Amar Mahal Museum and Library (AMML) here this evening. ....more Jammu
Justice Movement Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Showing a great concern over the law and order situation in the State, the convener of the Jammu Justice Movement Mr O P Mangotra has criticised Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah for not initiating the meaningful dialogue with the striking employees....more SOG DySP,
cop given Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Special Operations Group (SOG) DySP Ganshyam Khajuria and constable Nasir Hussain .....more Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: A meeting of Jammu Rural Development Association was held at Muthi village near.....more |
Tara Chand demands imposition of Governor's rule Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Mr Tara Chand, MLA and Leader CLP criticised the State Government for its total failure in all fronts and demanded its immediate dismissal. In a statement issued here today, he said that militancy in the State is increasing day by day and there is no check over it by the Government. Now it has speeded almost all parts of the Jammu and Kashmir. Previously, militants strike on the soft targets but now they are attacking on the police and Army establishments and it looks State administration has totally failed to control it. Besides he said the State economy has been crippled due to mismanagement and misappropriation at the Government level and the State is badly traped in the financial crunch. Government is unable to pay the salaries to employees and they are on strike. Mr Tara Chand said due to the employees strike the work in the Government offices have been paralised and the general public is suffering most. Government Hospitals have also been affected and the poor patents are facing tremendous hardships on this score. The Government Educations Institutions have also been affected due to this strike and it looks the students would not be able to complete their syllabus before final examinations. He said that the situation is worst than that of 1989 when the Governor Rule was imposed in the State and demanded immediate dismissal of National Conference Government and Governor Rule imposition of immediately so that the State could be saved from starvation. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: The Divison Bench comprising Mr Justice T S Doabia and Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel, has set aside the life imprisonment of Sham Lal, Suraj Parkash and Rakesh Kumar who were awarded life imprisonment by Sessions Judge, Kathua, on April, 29, 1994 and directed the authorities to set them at liberty unless required in some other case. In the 29 pages Judgement written by Mr Justice Arun Kumar Goel, it was observed that when the evidence of the prosecution relating to the disclosure statement and recovery of Danda is seen, it puts a big question mark on the entire investigation process undertaken by the police. The prosecution witnesses Krishan Chand and Karam Chand are closely related to the deceased, therefore there is no reason for either of them not to speak the truth, both these witnesses are specific as well as categoric that the disclosure statement made by Sham Lal, accused on April 13, 1992 according to one of the rope way and according to other in the police station recovery is also of the same day. Memos of disclosure and recovery having been signed at police station is also made out from the statement of one of them. On the other hand, as per ASI Thoru Ram who partly investigated the case, both disclosure as well as recovery pursuant to it took place on April 19, 1992. Above all, there is application for obtaining remand filed by the police which is dated 16, April, 1992, thus clearly indicates that the appellant accused must have been arrested 24 hours before their being produced in the court below. According to the statement of prosecution witnesses established he arrest of accused Sham Lal on April 13, 1992. If that was so then the custody of Sham Lal from April, 13, till 24 hours prior to being produced in the court is not supported by lawful Authority, which is an addition factor pointing towards the investigation being highly doubtful. The DB further observed that since dead body of deceased Labh Singh was not traced as such disclosure and recovery of the Dandas to the former may not have been much significancy, however, when the appellants were taken into custody by the police is the main question in this case. In the judgement, the Division Bench further observed that FIR is not a substantive piece of evidence and some omissions here and there are not to be seriously viewed. It can only be used for the purpose of either corroborating or contradicting its maker. However, in the phase of evidence disclosed here the observation of the Supreme Court in the case of Thulia Kali are of importance in this case. The judgement passed by the Session Judge on April 29, 1994 is hereby set aside and consequently all the appeallants accused except Shashi Kumar are acquitted of the offence for which they were found quilty by the Session Court Kathua. Those who are in custody, they are ordered to be set at liberty forthwith unless required in some other case and those who are on bail, their bail bond are discharged. Regarding Shashi Kumar who is found guilty when there was roving warrants under Section 512 Cr PC pending against him as such, he will be dealt with in accordance with law after the warrants is executed. This Division Bench passed the order in a criminal appeal filed by the accused appeallant through Advocate Sakal Bhushan challenging the life imprisonment awarded to Sham Lal, Suraj Parkash and Rakesh Kumar, on the ground that the court below while awarding sentence has not considered the facts of the case even the dead body of the deceased was not traced. Govt Advocate Seema Shekhar appeared in this case for the Respondent State. |
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day Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: The 8th Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad an association of advocates and other members of legal fraternity will beginning at Abhinav theatre here tomorrow. This was disclosed by Mr Kuldip Raj Gupta, general secretary of J&K Unit of the Parishad while talking to reporters here today. He Said the conference was to be inaugurated by the Union Minister of Law, Mr Ram Jetmalhani but due to the plane hijacking he has postponed his visit. He said the legal luminaries form length and breadth of the country will participate in the two day meet and its agenda will focus on Indian Constitution. He said since the formation of the Parishad in 1992 every year two day conference is held in the month of December on national level in which various former Supreme Court judges and chief justices, Supreme Court advocates, legal luminaries, public figures and experts of national repute including high dignitaries of the land participate and express their valuable and thought provoking views. He said this is the first time that such a conference is being held at Jammu. He said the representatives from Supreme Court are also attending the conference and the legal luminaries who are participating in it include former Supreme Court judges, Justice H R Khanna, Justice B L Hansaria and Justice R M Sahai, former Chief Justices of High Courts, Justice Jatinder Veer Gupta and Justice M Rama Jois, social thinkers Messrs H V Sheshadari, K S Sudershan and B D Thengri. Regarding the aims and objectives of the Parishad he said it strives for imbibing the spirit of unity, integrity and sovereignty of the nation amongst the citizens of India, works for evolution of a judicial system which is in harmony with the genius and in consonance with the Bharatiya traditions, to strive and help achieve excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity, to promote cultivate and encourage the diffusion of the legal knowledge and education in allied fields amongst the masses and search for and propound legal remedies suitable for them, to strive for improvement in the legal system in the country by organising discussions, seminars, debates, conferences and publication of studies, treatises and other related literature and work for improvement of the legal system with a view of making it more responsive to the needs of the community so that justice is delivered, equally and quickly with least expense to the litigant public. He said besides the agenda will also focus on practice of foreign lawyers in India and renewation of lawyers licenses after five years. The other office bearers of the Parishad Messrs S S Nanda its J&K unit vice president, K S Charak incharge for publicity and Mr Ramesh Arora president Hindu Raksha Samiti were also present on the occasion. |
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authorities blamed for Bala fire Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Minister of Forests, Peerzada Ghulam Ahmed Shah has taken the authorities of the State Forest Corporation (SFC) to task for the accumulated losses and exhorted its employees and officers to work with more dedication, zeal and enthusiasm to increase revenue and profits. Addressing a review meeting of the SFC at Sidhrah near here today, he expressed grave concern over loss of Rupees two crore suffered by the Corporation in March this year on account of discount given on timber to the timber traders. Making a dig at the authorities, he admonished them for such policies and turned down their plea that the decision to reduce the timber price in March this year was done after seeking the approval from the Pricing Committee. He while taking serious view of it urged the authorities to place the relevant papers before him by tomorrow in this regard. The meeting was also attended by Commissioner cum Secretary Forests Mr B S Jaswal and Managing Director of the Corporation Mr R L Bharti. The Minister said how the authorities have taken such a decision which has put the Corporation to a loss of Rs two crore and termed it a great fraud which was done to benefit some timber traders. Peerzada also held the authorities of the SFC responsible for the timber fire at Bala in which one lakh cft of timber was burnt some years back. He warned that the cost of the timber will be recovered from the SFC authorities who will be found guilty in this regard as the contractor has well in advance apprised the authorities of the Corporation to lift the timber from the depot to Jammu or permit him to do so which however, was not granted by the Management resulting in the loss of crores of rupees. On the occasion Mr R L Bharti told the Minister that 44,000 cfts of timber have been destroyed in fire during the last ten years of militancy. He said the Corporation has suffered of Rs 161 crores which included Rs 100 crore which remains unaccounted against the Forest Department. The Minister also urged the authorities to make strigent efforts in checking the pilferages of timber when he was informed that 2.67 lakh cfts of timber has been pilferaged from the Corporation Depots. He was informed that the Corporation has already initiated action against the defaulters and in Kashmir Valley some officers of Forest were also involved in the smuggling of timber against whom the cases have been registered. The MD while giving the report of pilferages said 125 trucks of timber were missing from Boniyar Timber Depot in Kashmir Valley alone. He said however the Corporation has registered the cases against the culprits and Rs 91,00,000 are to be recovered from a DFO who is also involved in one of the smuggling cases. To boost the timber trade and earn more revenue the Minister also suggested opening of one more timber depot at Pathankot. The SFC authorities also maintained that the market of Delhi is being studied by them for setting up a sale depot there also. Mr Bharti said due to the Kargil conflict in the middle of this year the Corporation could not achieve its target properly as our men were not allowed to extract timber in the jungles of Keran and Rajwara in Kashmir Valley. He said during last financial year 64 lakh cfts of timber were transported while this year the target was set at 73 lakh cfts but only 65 lakh could be achieved due to certain constraints faced during the year. He said in some areas of Rajouri and Doda districts also the work was delayed due to certain reasons and constraints. Speaking on the occasion Mr B S Jaswal also exhorted the SFC officials to start working from today so that the left over target is achieved. Mr Bharti said that Forest Department has also received timber worth Rs 100 crore till date and the money remains unadjusted. He urged the Minister to use his good offices in getting the amount adjusted against the royalty. He said 64 lakh cfts of timber were transported last year while the target for financial year 1999-2000 was 73 lakh cfts. The Minister was also told that due to the militancy and burning down of SFC Depots by anti national elements the timber is lifted under composite contract scheme to save it from the damage. He however, stressed on the authorities to involve the services of Corporation vehicles for the same. It was also suggested to auction those vehicles which have become outdated now. The M D said out of 69.03 lakh cfts set target for extraction during the current financial year, it has so far extracted 48.95 cfts and 43.45 lakh cfts were transported out of 73.61 lakh set target. He said the sale target was set at 45.00 lakh out of which 29.67 have been achieved till date while out of seven lakh cfts to be supplied to forest Department 5.99 lakh cfts have been supplied. He said out of targeted supply of 20,000 qtls of fire wood to Leh 16345 qtls have been dispatched while 41,000 qtls of fire wood have been sent to Kashmir Valley out of total target of 49,000. He said the Corporation has realised the revenue of Rs 54.18 crore during the current year. |
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Jammu Justice Movement flays Dr Farooq Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Showing a great concern over the law and order situation in the State, the convener of the Jammu Justice Movement Mr O P Mangotra has criticised Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah for not initiating the meaningful dialogue with the striking employees. In a statement issued here today, Mr Mangotra said that the people are suffering very badly for want of their day-to-day work in the Government offices. He said that not only the employees even no Minister is available in the secretariat to talk about the grievances of the people. He also condemned the bomb blast at General Bus Stand which has caused the loss to human life and urged the law and order machinery to be more and more vigilant during these days to defeat the nefarious designs of the anti-national elements. He further advocated to the elevation of one Cabinet Minister to the rank of Deputy Chief Minister from Jammu province to mitigate the problems of the Jammu province. |
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SOG DySP, cop given tearful send off Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: Special Operations Group (SOG) DySP Ganshyam Khajuria and constable Nasir Hussain were given full police honours and a tearful sendoff in Rajouri and Poonch respectively. Over 10,000 people including senior police and civil officers attended the cremation of the DySP at his native village in Kalar near Rajouri this afternoon. Body of the DySP, who was killed in a militants’ attack at SOG headquarters, had reached his house yesterday. DIG Rajouri Mr Ram Lubaya, SSP Mr Parminder Singh, DC Mr Bashir Runyal and SP Operations Mr Pankaj Maghu were also present at the cremation ceremony. Ganshyam Khajuria had joined police force in 1990 as Sub Inspector. Body of SOG cop Nasir Hussain was buried with full police honours at Mandi in Poonch district today. DC Poonch Mr Khalid Hussain and SSP Mr Pankaj Saxena were present at the burial ceremony, which was attended by a large number of people. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: A meeting of Jammu Rural Development Association was held at Muthi village near here today in which various problems confronting the people were discussed. The meeting was presided over by the president of the Association Dr Kulbhushan Sharma and it was addressed by vice president of Raipur Damana Mandal BJP, Mr Omi Khajuria. The meeting expressed grave concern over the night power curtailment and demanded that it should be immediately stopped in view of the increasing terrorist activities. The meeting also condemned the bomb blast at Bus Stand and demanded compensation for the victims. It also demanded beefing up of security arrangements in the Jammu region in view of the increasing militancy. |
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Arrangements for Haj flights reviewed Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec. 30 : A high level meeting, chaired by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, today reviewed arrangements for Haj flights to be operated from Srinagar. Senior representatives of Indian Airlines, Customs, Airport authority and Bureau of Civil Aviation were present. The meeting decided that the flights carrying pilgrims will start operating from Srinagar Airport in the second week of February, 2000. The flights will operate daily from Srinagar for nine consecutive days. The various agencies associated with Haj flights were asked to take necessary steps for ensuring comfortable journey of the pilgrims. This year, arrangements have also been made to operate Haj flights from Jammu airport for the convenience of Jammu based pilgrims. It is pertinent to recall that 4500 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir will perform Haj this year. Of these, 4124 pilgrims will be from Kashmir valley, 376 from Jammu division and 12 and 8 from Kargil and Leh districts respectively. |
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Information employees support agitation Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 30: A meeting of the state level Coordination Committee of All J&K State Information Employees was held under the chairmanship of Mr G M Mir. According to a press release, it was decided in the meeting to support the on-going on agitation of the Government employees in letter and spirit. It was impressed upon the employees of the Department to strictly act according to the decisions of the Employees Joint Action Committee. Meeting reaffirmed its decision that the employees of the Information Department working in various units of the Department like PR, Cultural unit, Field Publicity, Photo, Film etc to observe work to rule soon after the on-going agitation. Mr Mela Ram, Bodh Raj, Rook Krishen, Amar Paul Singh, Thudu Ram, A S Baba and Surinder Kumar attended the meeting. |
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Excelsior Correspondent UDHAMPUR, Dec 30: Government employees of the district observed Kaam Chhor Hartal for the 11th consecutive day and also staged a big demonstration in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur. According to a press release, employees of various departments gathered in the premises of the Town Hall. The procession started from Town Hall and culminated in front of the office of the Deputy Commissioner after passing through the main bazaars of the town. Mr Raj Kumar Kotwal, Gopal Bakshi, Karan Singh, Sat Pal Sharma, Narinder Kumar, Suresh Antal, Kailash Singh, Suman Kapoor, Sansar Chand, Desh Bandu and Mr Vipin Kumar addressed the employees. While speaking on the occasion, all the speakers strongly flayed the adamant and anti-employees attitude of the State Government and it was unanimously resolve to continue the on-going struggle to the logical end. They also met Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur and discuss the problems. They further decided to observe strike till January 15. |
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KCCI demands extension of amnesty scheme Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 30: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry has requested the Power Development Department to extend the amnesty scheme for another three months. In a press release issued here today, Kashmir Chamber said that due to the on-going agitation of the Government Employees during the current and ensuing months the amnesty scheme extended by the Power Development Department has not obviously been availed of by the people as there was no response to a large number of people going to PDD to deposit their payments under the scheme found the office locked. Release added that the amnesty scheme ends on December 31 but a large number of people have not been able take the benefit of the schemes due to the on-going strike of the Government employees. Kashmir Chamber and Industry strongly requested the PDD to extend the time of the amnesty scheme for another three months so that people in general are able to take advantage of the scheme. |
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Draw of lots for allotment of Housing plots held Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec. 30 : Draw of lots for allotment of plots at proposed Housing Colony at Pragati Vihar (Channi Rama), Jammu was held at an impressive function here today. The Housing & Urban Development Minister, Mr Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Shah, who is also the Chairman of the J&K Housing Board was the Chief Guest. The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Mr Anil Goswami Commissioner/Secretary, Housing & Urban Development Department, Mr Pankaj Jain, and number of prominent citizens and eligible applicants were also present on the occasion. The Housing Colony, Pragati Vihar at Channi Rama, Jammu will be third Housing Colony launched by the J&K Housing Board in Jammu City for providing developed residential plots to the needy people at the affordable rates. The Colony has availability of 198 plots for different Income Groups. Of these 58 plots are of 40'x80' size , 98 plots of 30'x60' and 48 plots of 25'x40' sizes. The Housing Board has kept a provision for reserved category people in the proposed colony. In his welcome address, the Managing Director of the J&K Housing Board, Mr S S Gupta said that the Board have received 1156 applications in response to the advertisement for allotment of plots in the Housing Colony, Pragati Vihar at Channi Rama, Jammu , out of which only 1061 applications were found eligible as per the criteria fixed for allotment. He said the proposed Housing Colony will have all modern facilities, Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shah said that the Government have taken all precautionary measures to ensure transparency in allotment of plots in the newly coming up Housing Colony, Pragati Vihar at Channi Rama, Jammu. He said there will be no pressure, fear or favour in the allotment process. He said possibility will be explored to develop more Housing Colonies for allotment of residential plots as the people are in need of residential house due to population explosion. The population increase, he said have exerted tremendous pressure on the urban areas as the people from rural areas migrate to urban localities for want of job and business. He said a comprehensive planning is needed for development of Housing Colonies in the State to cater to the ever increasing demand for residential plots. |
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VOICE OF PEOPLE Though the State Government has formulated many policies for the welfare of people suffering from various kinds of disabilities, the benefits reach hardly one percent of the targetted group. There is a big gap between the system and its implementation which, needs to be bridged urgently if the policies are to affect the beneficeries. The School for Blind, located at Ambphalla is the lone institution in the Jammu and Kashmir State which is providing education to visually impaired children to make them self dependent. But the school is running under unsatisfactory condition thanks to the indifferent attitude of the State Government towards these disabled persons. The school even lacks the basic facilities needed by the students. Started in 1962 by a voluntary organisation, which is also running Home for Old Ages and Infirm, the Blind School was handed over to Social Welfare Department of the State Government in year 1968. But since its inception, the intake capacity of the school, which was 25, has not been increased as a result of which a large number of students are deprived of admission. Presently the school is housed in four room building of Ved Mandir. The construction work of separate building for the visually impaired students, which was started last year has not been completed so far as the plot of 3 canals which was allotted by the JDA is a disputed land. Official sources informed that case is pending in the CJM Court. The present four rooms accommodation is also in dilapidated condition and without basic amenities required by the students. The students and employees of the Social Welfare Department posted in the school complain that the water supply in the school is very irregular as a result of which they have to bring water from far area. They alleged that they had approached the concerned authorities a number of time but all their requests were turned down. Not only the drinking water facility, the school also lacks bathrooms as a result of which the students have to go in open to attend the nature’s call. Senior official of the Social Welfare Department informed that they had asked the authorities of Ved Mandir to improve the condition of the building and provide all basic facilities. But, instead of giving sympathetic hearing to our demands, they asked us to vacate the building at an earliest. The District Social Welfare Officer, Mr Sukhdev Singh when contacted said that the construction work of the building at Roop Nagar was handed over to JKPCC and atleast Rs 10 lakhs have been spent on the building so far. He hoped that the construction work will completed by mid-next year. He added that annually the Social Welfare Department has received Rs 7.5 lakhs for the Blind School which include salaries of the staff posted in the school. The school’s ultimate objective is to bring out the best in each pupil to enable them to integrate with society and contribute to it. Sufficient importance is also given to physical education, arts and crafts, day-to-day-skill music education for gifted students."The main aim of providing these training is to make the students self dependent if they cannot get Government job after education", said Superintendent of the School Mrs Swarnkanta and added that we are treating the students as our own children as the school is like a big family for us. The amount which was spent on the diet has not been enhanced for the last so many years. "We find it very difficult to provide all type of nutrition to the students as we are getting meager amount for the diet of the students", said Superintendent of the School and added that the Department had asked the Government to enhance the money spend on the diet but nothing has been done so far and files are gathering dust in the office of Finance Minister. The students in Blind School are not like other students. Their inherent disabilities have failed to weaken their resolve to be an achiever. They said that the people used to make fun of them, so they vowed to prove that they are not less than the other students. The blindness is no handicap for these students as they are doing every thing that the other students doing. Despite visual impairment, the students are doing well in their studies. Some students of the school are doing Master of Arts (MA), Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Jammu. They have strong determination to occupy higher posts in the administration and work for the welfare of the disables. The lack of transportation facility is one of the problems which the students are facing. They have to board the matadors to reach the colleges and university. "The nonaviliability of the syllabus books in the braille is the big problem for the students studying in the higher classes", said Mrs Swarnkanta and added that reader appointed by the Social Welfare Department for these students taped the required contents of the book in the cassette and through these cassettes the students learn. In the examinations, the concerned authorities providing writer to these students. The school is providing education up to 10th standard and after that the students get admission in various schools. The authorities have also appointed a music teacher for the students, interested in the music. The music teacher of the School Mr Baldev Raj alleged that the musical instruments are usually remain out-of-order as the Government failed to provide them new instruments. Undoubtedly, despite various odds the students of this school are performing well in every field. The students have performed many programmes in Radio-Kashmir Jammu and Doordarshan. Mr Surjeet Singh and Mr Suraj Singh, 10th class students of the school likes music very much and desires to earn distinction in this field. Some students of this school, who have completed their education are presently employed with various Government departments like, PNT, DD, AIR, Shrine Board, Education Department etc. On the whole, this is a matter of grave concern that despite having strong determination in these visually impaired students, the Government failed to provide facilities to these disabled students. If they can fight with the life despite having disability, then why Government is not serious about providing them all facilities. When the world is all set to enter the 21st century, it is an appropriate time for the State Government to formulate proper policy for the upliftment of these students, so that they can compete with other students. —MOHINDER VERMA |
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