HC grants bail to Khazan Chand in Birpur land scam

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Justice SK Gupta of the State High Court has allowed the bail application and directed that the sentence awarded by trial court to Khazan Chand, the then Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu, in Birpur land scam, be suspended till final disposal of the appeal.

The court also admitted Khazan Chand to the bail, provided he furnishes bail bond in the amount of rupees 40,000, spreading over to one surety of identical engagement to the satisfaction of the Registrar Judicial of the court.

Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu had recently convicted Khazan Chand in the much publicized Birpur land scam and sentenced him to imprisonment under various sections with a fine of rupees 16,000. The accused had filed an appeal before the High Court against the order of the trial court on various grounds, including his old-age as one of the reasons.

Meeting held to discuss disaster management,
preparedness modalities

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Feb 12: A high level meeting to discuss the disaster mitigation and preparedness modalities was held under the chairmanship of Financial Commissioner Revenue, N. R. Gupta here today.

All concerned and representatives of various heads of departments were present on the occasion.

Elaborating on the numerous measures to be taken to grapple squarely in the wake of any natural calamities like earthquake, epidemic, hailstorms, fire accidents and terrorist attacks etc., he said that Government functionaries must remain vigilant with a formulation and execution of damage prevention strategy like earthquake resistant architecture, early warning system and generate proper awareness among the masses to combat the after effects of natural calamities and other untoward incidents which pose danger to the masses. He said that there should be hazard assessment and district-wise identification of vulnerable areas and District Development Commissioner have to identify risk prone area in their respective district.

The Financial Commissioner Revenue urged the Housing and Revenue departments to review the structural safety of lifeline building like hospitals, schools and colleges for carrying out necessary retrofitting to ensure their safety in the earthquake. He said that Revenue department should make appointment of consultants for preparation of detailed Disaster Management Plan.

The meeting discusses in detail for establishment of communication framework including electronic data transfer etc for crises management and should create Disaster Management Information Centre in the Civil Secretariat in setting up control rooms/ emergency operations centres at State, divisional and district levels.

Mr. Gupta also stressed for formulation of Disaster Management Committees at village level and identification and appointment of Nodal Officers, compiling, maintaining and constantly updating of an inventory of human and material resources for each concerned department at the State, divisional, district, tehsil and block levels and should also earmark of 10 per cent plan funds for mitigation projects.

Referring to the disaster responses and recovery, he said that all departments should strive for fostering partnership with voluntary organizations and other NGO’s at State and international level. He said that available resources for research and rescue operations involving specially trained search and rescue teams must be carried out to retrieve the situation for better provision of relief and rehabilitation of the affected people.

Financial Commissioner directed the Commissioner/Secretary Revenue for rechristening the department of Relief and Rehabilitation to Disaster Mitigation and Management Department as per the directions of the Central Government.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Lokesh Jha, Commissioner/ Secretary Revenue, Director Fire Services, Special Secretary, Labour and Employment, Secretary Education, Dy. Controller, Civil Defence and other galaxy of officers were also present.

BSP, JKNPP flay Mufti for making jumbo ministry

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Various political organisations have condemned State Government for expanding Ministry headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and termed it burden on the poor masses of the State.

In a statement issued here today, senior BSP leader and former MP Sheikh Abdul Rehman, while reacting to the jumbo size expansion of the Ministry, described expansion as a biggest fraud with the people and biggest loot of the Government exchequer aimed at distributing the bread and loaves among the coalition partners.

Mr Rehman said that the present Coalition Government is already plagued of unprecedent corruption at all levels and now the un-precedent load of unprecedented jumbo size Ministry over the State exchequer, the miseries of the common masses are bound to increase manifold.

He said that except National Conference, every legislator is a Minister now which is a clear violation of democratic norms as the Parliament of India has approved the strength of Ministry to 15 percent.

A meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP)-a constituent of coalition regime, was held today under the chairmanship of Bansi Lal Sharma. Meeting strongly criticised the Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed for putting burden on the people. He said that expansion of Ministry was a burden on the people.

He expressed surprise that on the one hand Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed has been claiming that economic conditions of the State was not well while on the other hand he has been expanding his Ministry like any thing.

Irrigation employees hold dharna to highlight demands

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: The employees of Mechanical Irrigation Department today staged a day long dharna under the banner of J&K Mechanical Irrigation Government Employees Union outside the office of Chief Engineer, Irrigation to highlight their demands.

Addressing the employees, State president of Jammu and Kashmir National Trade Union Front Mohd Gafoor Dar stressed upon the authorities to settle the genuine demands of the employees without any further delay as the resentment was brewing among the employees over the neglecting attitude towards their demands.

"Any further delay in conceding demands would force the employees to go in for initiating harsh steps and responsibility of the same would lie on the State Government and concerned authorities of the department", Mr Dar said and asked the employees to get united for a joint fight from a common platform.

He urged the employees to observe complete strike on February 24 to convey to the Government that all are determined to take their struggle to the logical conclusion and disclosed that the call for strike was given by J&K Government Employees Joint Action Committee.

The leaders of the Mechanical Irrigation Government Employees Union while speaking on the occasion highlighted the demands which include finalisation of seniority list of non-gazetted staff, change of designation of helper as pump operator, implementation of SRP-149 of 1973 and holding of Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meeting immediately.

Others who addressed the dharna included Darshan Magotra, Krishan Singh Bhau, Shiv Nath, Rajinder Singh, Manohar Kumar Verma, Gopal Dass and Ram Lal.

JD(S) to contest Jammu-Poonch,
Anantnag-Pulwama LS seats

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Janta Dal (Secular) has decided to contest two Parliamentary seats in Jammu and Kashmir without having any truck with BJP, Congress, PDP or National Conference.

This was announced by JD (S) State president Dhanraj Bargotra during a press conference, here today.

"The party has finalised the names of Mr Z A Bhatti and G N Shah as candidates for Jammu-Poonch and Anantnag-Pulwama Parliamentary constituencies," he informed and added that JD(S) in J&K will contest the elections on the issues of corruption, unemployment, and condition of poor farmers and women’s rights.

Stating that JD(S) will not form any alliance with BJP, Congress, PDP and also National Conference, Mr Bargotra however maintained that his party would take and extend support to candidates of like minded parties. However, he refused to divulge the names of these like minded parties.

Charging the Mufti Sayeed led coalition Government with its failure on all fronts and not implementing the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) on the name of financial implications, the JD(S) alleged that the ruling coalition partners were not interested to remove discrimination with Jammu and Ladakh regions.

Mr Bargotra strongly opposed today’s expansion of the State ministry and alleged that the ruling coalition partners were misusing Article 370 by not adhering to the Constitutional norm with regard to maximum strength of a ministry.

"Instead of expansion, the Government should have decreased the number of existing ministers and lowered down the burden on State exchequer", he opined. The State JD(S) secretary general Sat Pal Sharma, who was also present in the press conference, alleged exploitation of educated un-employed youth under Rehbar-e-Talim scheme.

The party leader also criticised the surrender policy of State Government and feared that it would instigate unemployed youth to pick gun for a surrender.

Shiv Ratri on Feb 18: O N Shastri

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Jyotshi Omkar Nath Shastri, Sampadak Vijeshwar Panchang today declared that the festival of Maha Shivratri falls on February 18 and not on February 17.

Talking to reporters here, this afternoon, along with president ASKPC, A N Vaishnavi, Dr B L Koul an eminent scholar, Swami Kumar Ji of Geeta Satsang Ashram and Jyotshi Bushan Lal, he rejected the contentions of some Shastris that the Festival of Shivratri falls on February 17.

Jyotshi Omkar Nath said Shiv Ratri is also called the Pardosh Vrata which falls on 13th day of dark half of lunar month. But some times it also falls on 12th day, he added.

While explaining his theory in support of his contentions, he clarified that when two dates are touched by Pradosh, midnight is considered the cut of time.

He said when the 12th and 13th day both fall under Pardosh Hindu law (Dharam Shastra) is to be consulted for clarification. He clarified if 13th day is in Pradosh that is Shiv Ratri.

He said the Pradosh falls after the Sun set and it remains in force for two hours and 24 minutes after dusk.

He said on the basis of this theory the Shiv Ratri on February 26 in 1995 was celebrated as it was the Pardosh time.

He said, while making the calculations on the basis of this theory there is no logic for celebrating Shiv Ratri on February 17.

He said like wise in 2005 the Shiv Ratri would fall on March 8 and not on March 7 on the basis of Pradosh.

Jyotshi Omkar Nath challenged that if any body will prove that Shiv Ratri falls on February 17 as per Shastras, he will stop publishing Panchang from next year.

Elaborating it Dr Koul said Shiv Ratri and Hirath are not two different festivals and maintained that the Shiv Ling was formed on Triyodashi which is the festival of Shivratri.

He however, suggested that a Dharam Sansad of Kashmiri Pandits be formed to overcome such conflicts in future.

Both Vaishnavi Ji and Kumar Ji termed the Shastri as the Dharam Guru of Kashmiri Pandits and said the community should accept his verdict regarding celebration of religious festivals.

Plus Two lecturers to observe Black Day on February 16

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: The Plus Two Lecturers Forum today warned to observe February 16 as Black Day in protest against what it termed as callous and apathetic attitude of the authorities towards the cadre.

This was announced by the Forum president, H D Qureshi at a press conference here, today. He alleged that despite the repeated assurances given by Chief Minister and other ministers the Government has failed to redress the grievances of the Plus Two lecturers especially in removing the pay anomalies.

He said it is a pity that the masters are working in higher grades than lecturers who have been subjected to lot of injustice by the Government.

He said all the members of the cadre right from incharge lecturers to Joint Director will wear the black badges during working hours throughout the state and the memorandas will be handed over to the Chief Minister through respective deputy commissioners and Divisional Commissioner Jammu.

Mr Qureshi, while criticising the Government for fake commitments with the community, regretted that the present Government has followed the path of discrimination and step motherly treatment towards the suffering cadre.

He said Minister of Education constituted a High Power Committee under the chairmanship of Commissioner Secretary School Education. Though this Committee submitted its report to Finance Ministry, it is still pending for approval, he added.

He said, while the Government has cleared the anomalies of Judiciary, veterinary doctors and others but ignored the Plus Two Cadre. This is an indicative step motherly treatment on their part with th Plus two cadre, he added.

He said the Plus two lecturers have been subjected to deliberate discrimination as all other counterparts which were having the equivalent pay scales at the time of emergence of cadre in 1975 are now enjoying super scales as compared to plush two cadre.

8 special employment exchanges for physically
challenged persons

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Feb 12: The Government has decided to carve out eight Special Employment Exchanges to register physically challenged persons for jobs in various Central Government departments, other bodies and self employment.

This was decided at an officers meeting here today under the chairmanship of Minister for Labour and Employment, Mr. Rigzin Jora.

Financial Commissioner, Planning and Finance, Vijay Bakaya, Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, G. D. Wadhwa and Secretary Labour, Khursheed Ahmed Malik were also present in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that at present each district has its own Employment Exchange and now one of these would function as Special Employment Exchange catering the need of people of two districts. Being a social welfare scheme, it would be funded by the Union Government with 80 per cent share, he added. He said that by declaring the already existing Employment Exchanges as Special Employment Exchange would not only reduce the cost of establishment but also benefit a number of handicapped people by informing them about job opportunities.

Senior officers of the department attended the meeting and gave certain valuable suggestions.

Mahantship for Raghunath Temple, Purani
Mandi announced

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 12: Mahant Rameshwar Dass and Mahant Satya Narain Dass have been conferred with joint Mahantship of Shri Raghunath Temple Purani Mandi Jammu and attached temples to it, according to the Vaishnav Vairagi Sect. These newly appointed Mahants are fifth in the lines of Mahants in the temple.

It is worthwhile to mention here that Shri Shri 1008 Maha Mandaleshwar Mahant Sita Ram Dassji ascended to his heavenly abode on January 31, 2004. The ceremony held today was attended by Saints and Mahants of Vaishnav Vairagi Sadhu Dharasthan Surakshani Samiti, Virat Vishnav Mandal Punjab, Ramanandtriya and representatives of all the three Akharas of Vaishanvi sect.

In addition to this, there were saints and Mahants from the other parts of the country also. Those who attended the ceremony included Pir Ratnanathji Pirkoh, Ramananda Pethasheeshwar Haridwar, Mahant Gomtidassji Jullandhar, Mahant Ambikadassji Jullandhar, Mahant Madhavdassji Srinagar, Thatpatnathiji, Thandi Nahar Jammu, Mahant Durgadassji Haridwar, Mahant Gangadassji, Jullandhar, Mahant Ghanshyam Dassji, Bhanswara, Rajasthan and Mahant Ramcharandassji Srinagar.

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