Azad
completes one month in office
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2: One
month is too short a period to gauge the merits
of activities of any Government, however, Mr.
Ghulam Nabi Azad’s one month in office
speaks volumes of the vision he has conceived for
the development, progress and prosperity of the
three regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
From the day
first, Mr. Azad presented the blue print of his
vision for good governance wherein emphasis is on
establishment of corruption free responsive
administration, enriching work culture, clearly
reflects that Chief Minister means business. His
decisions for introducing reforms in
administration and putting a hold on malpractices
in public offices are hallmarks of his style of
working that speaks loud and clear that he
believes in deeds rather than words.
During a short
period of 30 days when the priority of the
government was quake relief centric and Chief
Minister himself supervising day-to-day relief,
rehabilitation and re-construction operations of
quake affected areas, there is still a lot which
could help to scroll through the road map Mr.
Azad has sketched for good governance and khushali.
The Dynamism and
leadership qualities of Mr. Azad are evident from
the fact that he fixed 15th of December as dead
line for completing construction of temporary
shelters for quake victims and made it happen, as
by now 75 percent of the work exists on the
ground.
To crush nepotism
and favouritism, he issued directions to all
administrative heads and heads of departments
that if any of his relative calls on them for any
favour or makes recommendations for some one
else, they should then and there inform him. This
sent clear signals to all to follow the suit. He
also asked the Ministers not to post any relative
in their personal sections, an act often being
questioned.
What a Chief
Minister Mr. Azad is - before issuing directions
for enhancing the working hours in all the
government departments - he himself started
working 18 hours a day thus conveying the message
that "charity begins at home".
The Chief Minister
declared that before revamping the work culture
in all the departments directly linked with
public welfare and initiating reforms for making
them more responsive and accountable, he will
first review their present functioning on one by
one basis.
The Chief
Minister’s directions to speed up the work
on inter-regional and inter-district roads like
alternate National Highway Srinagar-Jammu Mughal
Road, Kishtwar-Simthan-Anantnag, Leh-Himachal
Pradesh, Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri, Salamabad-Kaman
Post, Narbal-Tangmarg, Khannabal-Pahalgam,
Lakhanpur-Jammu and other such roads speaks of
his concern for economic development of the
State.
Mr. Azad’s
directions for providing adequate protected water
to entire state within next two years; bringing
entire rural population under the ambit of modern
health care facilities, revamping social welfare
department to percolate its benefits to the poor
and needy easily and management of its affairs in
a transparent manner, launching of such a
comprehensive planning for development that each
district, tehsil, village and even pati and
hamlet gets its due share and receives equal
fillip for development are some of the many
aspects of his policy conceived for prosperous
Jammu and Kashmir.
To sum up, Mr.
Azad’s vision for Khushal Jammu,
Kashmir and Ladakh has started emanating rays of
hope on State’s horizon.
HC
quashes posting of Principal AMT School
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
The State High Court has quashed the posting of
Dr Madhu Khullar as Principal AMT School Bakshi
Nagar, as she was not qualified to hold this post
While allowing the
petition filed by Mrs Shakuntala Sharma, Justice
RC Gandhi of the State High Court held that the
respondent should post a person who is eligible
to hold the post possessing the requisite
qualification and should not break rules. "
Once rules are framed to govern the service, it
is the duty of the employer to take action in
accordance with the rules. In the present case,
rules have been broken to accommodate Dr Khullar,
who otherwise has no right or claim against a
post of the Department of Medical Education of
which Dr Khullar is not a member", Justice
Gandhi held.
In her petition,
Mrs Shakuntala Sharma, while seeking quashment of
Dr Madhu Khullar’s posting, mentioned that
the latter doesn’t possess the requisite
eligibility qualification as prescribed by the
rules to hold the post of Principal AMT College.
It was stated that
Dr Madhu Khullar is an Assistant Surgeon borne on
the service of Health Department and not a member
of Medical Education Department, while’s the
post belongs to Medical Education Department.
The Court held
that the rules prescribe that a candidate must
possess Masters Degree in Nursing and 10 years
experience in teaching in a school/College of
Nursing. In this case, Dr Madhu Khullar
didn’t possess the requisite qualification.
If a person who doesn’t possess requisite
qualification, cannot be permitted to be
appointed de hors the rules, Justice Gandhi held.
The Court,
however, directed that the State-respondent is at
liberty to transfer the petitioner ( Mrs
Shakuntala Sharma) wherever they feel suitable in
the interest of the administration. Mrs Sharma,
it may be mentioned here, was removed from the
post of Principal ATM and posted at an
insignificant place only to accommodate Dr Madhu
Khullar in October last year.
Mahamaya
hills to be developed as
"Jammu Jangal Resort"
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu,
Dec 2 : State Government is actively
considering to develop Mahamaya terrain situated
across the river Tawi along the historic Bahu
Fort endowed with natural beauty, as " Jammu
Jangal Resort". Government would also take
necessary steps to create required infrastructure
for the development of proposed resort, which has
a tremendous tourist potential.
This was announced
by the Minister for Forests and Housing Tariq
Hameed Qarra today during his extensive visit of
the area to explore possibilities for the
development of the area spread over 355 hectares,
as Jangal resort.
Besides, Chief
Conservator of Forests Jammu Molvi Shafat Ahmed,
senior officers accompanied the Minister.
The Minister said
that a comprehensive project would be formulated
to create necessary infrastructure for the
development of the area so that local as well as
the tourists from other parts of the country and
abroad can visits the resort throughout the year.
He said the resort will also facilitate the
Vashno Devi pilgrims besides easing the tourist
rush on neighboring Bahu-Fort.
Forest Minister
said that keeping in view the expansion of the
greater Jammu and the need of Jammuties,
Government intends to develop Mahamaya site as a
tourist resort of national status. He said the
step would also provide Job-opportunities to the
people besides supplementing the socio-economic
development of the state. The Minister said that
the existing structure of cafeteria, rest house
and view points in the area would be re-located
and constructed at the pattern of Glulmarg
tourist spot to preserve environment and ecology
too, while as the 7 Kms long existing track would
be improved to connect the whole area of this
site adding that parks would be developed in the
plain areas where round the year growing flowers
would be cultivated.
Mr. Qarra directed
the concerned officers to prepare the draft of
the proposed plan for the development of the area
and asked to incorporate the facilities like
parking lots and latest light system in the plan.
The Minister went
round the terrains by foot and took stock of
various spots, which could be developed as
tourist places.
National
Pollution Control Day observed
Declare J&K ecologically
fragile state: ICELA
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
Chairman State Legislative Council, Abdul Rashid
Dar has stressed the need of population control,
sincere efforts from the Government and other
agencies and awareness among the people in
general to keep a check on the increasing problem
of pollution on the earth.
Mr Dar, who was
the chief guest at a function organised in
connection with the National Pollution Control
Day by ICELA & Friends Club-India here this
evening said that God has created this beautiful
world and gave us the varied nature but the
selfish and greedy human being made it a hell.
Its natural wealth was exploited to the extent
that it started showing its effects on the earth.
Worst is the
condition of our rivers, forests are turning
barren and natural resources are nearing
extinction. There is an urgent need of giving a
serious though towards the problem otherwise the
coming generations will perish. He said it is the
prime responsibility of the Government and even
other organisations to pay much attention towards
this problem. Appreciating the initiative taken
by the ICELA president Ashok Sharma (MLC) and his
team in organising the function Mr Dar assured to
constitute a committee of the legislators on
environment to give its recommendations for the
welfare of the people of this State.
Mr Sharma,
president of the Indian Council for Enviro Legal
Action
(ICELA) J&K
Chapter while speaking on the occasion demanded
that J&K be declared as ecologically fragile
State. This way it would get adequate funding
from the Central Government and international
donar agencies. Major projects could be taken up
for environment protection and conservation. He
also demanded that Jammu, Srinagar and Katra be
declared as heritage towns.
Deputy Mayor Jammu
Municipal Corporation, Rani Gargi Bleoria said
that it was the collective responsibility of
every citizen to contribute towards keeping check
on pollution and keeping surroundings and the
city clean. She further said that political
compulsions sometimes become headache to keep a
check on the problem but one has to rise above
these compulsion.
Others who
deliberated on the subject included former Vice
Chancellor of SKUAST Prof Harbans Singh, Ex
Director Animal Husbandry Dr J L Gupta,
Educationists-Kewel Krishan (DIET) & V K
Nanda, PL Hando P K Ganjoo and Ashwani Kumar from
Media.
PHE
employees observe black day, dharna enters 11th
day
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
On 11th day of their ongoing dharna in the
premises of Chief Engineer’s office, members
of Water Works (PHE) Employees Association today
observed ‘black day’ by wearing black
badges.
The agitating
employees raised slogans against the PHE
authorities for not considering their genuine
demands which include regularisation of daily
wagers, amendment in SRO 380, change of
designation as per nature of job, filling up of
vacant posts, holding of DPC etc.
Speaking on the
occasion, State INTUC president Shiv Kumar Sharma
lamented that PHE daily wagers were without pay
for the last eight to 20 months and the PHE
authorities were still insensitive towards their
plights.
Mr Sharma also
highlighted other demands of the PHE employees
and said that engaging the unemployed youth on
mere Rs 200 to Rs 1800 per month by the previous
Government was in violation of Labour Act.
Others who
addressed the dharna, included Om Parkash, Thoru
Ram, Vinod Kumar, Vijay Kumar, Anchal Singh, Gian
Chand, Bhader Singh, Bhagwan Dass, Parshotam Lal,
Amreek Singh, Ajay Sharma, Sat Paul Singh,
Bishmaber Nath and others.
They appealed to
the PHE employees to remain united in their fight
for the demands. They also warned the PHE
authorities to either consider their demands or
face direct action.
CM
interacts with participants of ‘Umang’
Folk dances, other events
held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
The participants of ongoing North Zone Youth
Festival at Jammu University had an interaction
with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who visited
the JU campus today.
Recalling his
student days, Mr Azad said that right from his
school days to the University, he had been taking
keen interest in extra-curricular activities
which are catalyst for all round personality
development.
On the occasion,
Mr Azad also released a 16-minute documentary
titled ‘Search for Tomorrow’ detailing
the present status of academics and
extra-curricular activities, faculty status as
well as infrastructure and future vision of the
Jammu University.
The students
presented a copy of newsletter ‘Umang’
, brought out on the occasion of Youth Festival,
to the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, on
third day of the ‘Umang’, eight events
of different categories were held. These include
‘One Act Play’, ‘Classical
Instrument Solo’, ‘Poster Making’,
‘Folk Dances’, ‘Light Vocal’
(Solo), ‘Clay Modelling’,
‘Mimicry’ and Cultural programme.
The day started
with Poster Making competition and topics for
event were ‘Stop AIDS’, ‘Do not
touch abandoned items, it can be a bomb’ and
‘Girl Child’.
Six more teams
today performed in the One Act play competition
which was being organised at the Abhinav Theatre.
In Classical
instrumental solo (non-Percussion), six team from
different universities participated.
The folk dances at
Abhinab Theatre by the participants from
different universities, enthralled the audience
at Abhinav Theatre. Through the folk dances, the
students presented local culture of different
States and mesmerized with their performance.
Two
motor-cycle lifters held in Gandhi Nagar
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
Gandhi Nagar police today arrested two
motor-cycle lifters within a couple of hours
after they lifted a CBZ motor bike from Gole
Market this afternoon.
The motor-cycle
lifters have been identified as Mintu Sharma son
of Mulkh Raj Sharma R/o Sector No. 1 Trikuta
Nagar and Sumit Sharma son of Chander Prakash
Sharma R/o Airport Road.
Both the accused
were students of 12th class in SRML Higher
Secondary School Jammu.
The duo lifted CBZ
motor-cycle of Anil Goswami R/o Shaheedhi Chowk
from Gole Market at 1 pm and straightway took it
to a workshop for modification.
On a tip off, a
Gandhi Nagar police station party led by SHO
Inspector Diwakar Singh raided the workshop,
recovered the motor-cycle and arrested both the
accused.
They were shifted
to Gandhi Nagar police station where a case has
been registered against them. Their questioning
was expected to lead to more recoveries of stolen
motor-cycles and scooters.
The recovered
motor-cycle is being restored to the owner.
Police said the
theft case was worked out within a couple of
hours.
BSP
demands CBI probe into mysterious death of youth
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Dec 2:
Accusing the Police and other investigative
agencies of falsely implicating a Dalit family in
mysterious death of a youth in village Patyari,
Hiranagar, on June 23, 2003, State unit of
Bahujan Samaj Party had demanded a CBI probe into
the death.
Talking to media
persons, here today, State BSP president Dr Sat
Pal alleged that the local police and other
investigative agencies were falsely implicating
Des Raj and his family in the murder of one
Roshan Lal.
Narrating the
whole incident and the circumstances under which
Roshan Lal had died, the BSP leader claimed that
the deceased was never beaten up by Des Raj.
It may be
mentioned here that Hiranagar police has
registered a murder case against Des Raj and his
wife for allegedly beating up Roshan Lal who died
the very next day.
" During
examination by the doctors, it was established
that the youth had consumed poison and it was a
clear case of suicide but the police is now
making it a case of murder without any solid
ground," he said and produced the medical
reports which mention that there was only one
injury on left side of Roshan Lal’s face
during his medical examination on June 23 at the
time of his admission in the Hiranagar Hospital.
Further, the BSP
leader added, the police never tried to find out
truth behind the suicide note which also proved
to be fake one by the forensic experts.
Listing all the
reasons as a proof the innocence of Des Raj and
his family in mysterious death of Roshan Lal, the
BSP leader demanded CBI probe into the death so
that truth can be established.
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