Autonomy
resolution 2000
Sir,
This is with
reference to Prof. M. R. Puri's letter regarding
Autonomy resolution of 2000 published in this
paper dated (April 1) he has done signal service
to the people of the State and the country by
publishing the late Sh.P. L. Handoo's letter to
him dated August 11, 2000.
I was Member
Convener of the State Autonomy Committee that
wrote the report. The facts are that, following
the demise of Mohtrima Begum Sheikh Mohammad
Abdullah, during the condolence visit of Prime
Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji to
Srinagar, he reportedly expressed his desire for
further discussion of the autonomy issue in
Delhi.
Thereupon in order
to remove the misunderstandings spread about the
recommendations of the State Autonomy Committee
and to explain that the demand for restoration of
State Autonomy is strictly within the confines
and provisions of the Constitution of India
governing the constitutional relationship of
J&K with the Union of India, a State Autonomy
Committee Cell was constituted vide the State
Govt. Order No.:-942-GAD of 2000 dated 14-08-2000
and I was appointed its Chairman. Subsequently,
the Govt. of India nominated Shri Arun Jaitley
former Minister Gal to hold discussions on the
subject with the representative of the State
Govt. headed by Dr.Farooq Abdullah.
In pursuance of
this decision Shri Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Shah the
then State cabinet minister and erstwhile
Chairman of the State Autonomy Committee
accompanied by me and Shri G.H.Tantray, Special
Secretary Law J&K Govt. reached New Delhi on
August 8, 2002 and held a meeting with Shri Arun
Jaitley on August 9, 2002. During discussions
with him and the concerned officers of the Union
Home Ministry it was pointed out that the
reference to the State Govt. as per Explanation
under Clause (I) ofJhe Article 370 is to the
Govt. of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah appointed under
Maharaja's Proclamation dated March 8,1948, and
that reference in Clause (II) of the said Article
was to the concurrence of ''that
Government", to the application to the State
of the provisions of the Iridian Constitution in
respect of matters other than those specified in
the Instrument of Accession, if given by it
before the convening of the State Constituent
Assembly had to be placed before it "for
such decision as it may take thereon".
Beyond. that, after finalization of the Indian
Constitution on November 26, 1949 and the J&K
Constitution on November 17, 1956 no such
authority was given to the State Government or
the State Legislative Assembly, in this regard.
And, after considering this contention it was
decided in that meeting that the matter would be
examined further in the next meeting to be held
in Srinagar towards the end of August 2002.
As it happened,
soon thereafter, both the State Government under
Dr.Farooq Abdullah and the Central Government
under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji were defeated
in elections that followed and the matter
remained pending. However, the new UP A
Government upon taking office pledged to respect
the letter and spirit of the provisions of
Article 370 and appointed a orking group on
Centre State relations under the chairmanship of
Justice Saghir Ahmad where e matter is currently
receiving attention. Their verdict requires to be
awaited.
Yours etc.
Teja Singh I.A.S (Retd)
237-Exchange Road
Jammu Tawi
Corruption
Sir,
Some habits become
so permanent that they virtually become second
nature. It is so with corruption. The word
corruption has become so widespread that it has
become a part of our life. One thing
notwithstanding that corruption has ruined our
way of life. It has virtually destroyed our
ethical and social code of conduct.
Things like
devotion to duty, honesty and integrity have gone
down the wind. Those few who still profess these
high sounding words are caught badly in the snare
of bad elements that they are either forced to
shed their spartan life style or are send to
remote place or given some unimportant post.
'Paisa Khao Aur Kam Karao'. This is the work
culture. The employee whatsoever his status be is
called ''efficient' because he acts as an
important link in the corruption chain. The
honest officer on the other side is called a big
obstacle in the working of the department.
We poor people,
not poor only in economy but poor also in our
inability to work in such a system everyday face
Himalayan challenges to get things done.
Everywhere and at almost every opportunity people
resort to corrupt practices and fatten their
pockets. In the evening many of such people are
seen enjoying evenings with a regular drink and a
hearty meal. They recall their 'heroic exploits'
of the day and have a hearty laugh on how they
squeezed notes from 'customers'. Corruption has
virtually destroyed our civic life. It has made
lives hell for honest people . People ask who is
honest now without knowing that there are still
people who suffer all through their lives for
being honest.
There is a great
need an urgent one to make heroes out of these
men. They are the only future and hope for us.
Rest are parasites and vermin.
Yours etc..
Rajinder Sharma
Panjtirthi
Jammu
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