Daily Excelsior.........State

JAMMU, Feb 27: The State Forest Corporation (SFC) has earned revenue worth Rs.91.55 crore by selling 18 lakh cfts timber during the current fiscal up to ending January through its network of sales out lets across the State.

This was stated at 60th Meeting of Board of Directors of SFC held here today under the Chairmanship of Minister for Forests and Environment Qazi Mohammad Afzal.

The meeting was informed that the Corporation has paid sales tax to the tune of Rs.18 crore including Rs.9 crore royalty to the Government during the period. The Corporation has also reserved an amount of Rs.10 crore for aforestration out of export sales in compliance to guidelines of the Supreme Court.

The SFC has supplied 3.16 lakh cfts timber to the consumers in Zone ‘C’ and Municipal areas of the State by the end of January benefiting thousands of consumers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister directed officers to work with dedication to ensure availability of timber to the consumers. He called for undertaking marking of the trees to be extracted during the working season. Qazi Afzal also urged for gearing up protection measures to check smuggling.

Minister of State for Forests G. M. Saroori, Member legislative Council Farida Mir, Commissioner and Secretary, Forests Attal Dullo, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests .Irshasd Ahmad Khan, Managing Director, SFC A. K. Shrivastava, Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu, Abhay Kumar, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir Abdul Razak, Abdul Rashid Wani, V. K. Zadoo and other members attended the meeting.

In the meeting the performance of the State Forest Corporation was threadbare discussed.

The Board took some decisions including payment of D.A to the crew drivers and cleaners subject their best performance, release of COLA in favour of SFC borne employees after concurrence from Finance department.

Managing Director was directed to take immediate administrative action under law against the culprits of Buniyar Pilferage. It was decided in the Board that Labour Welfare Fund would be utilized for the welfare of the labours. The amount was decided to be kept in money bonds and exclusively used for the employees and labours of the Corporation.

It was stressed that Corporation should immediately amend its recruitment rules to provide better promotional avenues to all cadres. It was decided that the outstanding of Rs.8.41 crore lying with various Public Sector Undertakings and other organizations should be recovered on war footing.

Mangat announces Rs 3 lakh
Hundreds participate in celebration of
Sant Gora Ji birthday

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Hundreds of devotees drawn from different parts of Jammu thronged the Sant Shree Gora Ji Mahraj Bhawan here, today to participate in the celebration of birth day of this great 14th century spiritual saint of J&K.

The participants paid rich tributes to Sant Ji Mahraj and the devotees recited the Bhajan and kirtan throughout the day in his memory.

The Minister of Health and Medical Education, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion, while the Minister of Rural Development, Mr Mula Ram was the special guest.

The function was organised by Praja Pati (Kumhar) Sabha, J&K. The leaders of various social and political organizations of Sabha participated.

In his address, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma announced Rupees three lakh for the construction of Sant Gora Ji Bhawan. Both the ministers assured the gathering that all steps will be taken by the Government in redressing the problems of the community.

The speakers threw light on the life and teachings of Sant Gora Ji Mahraj. Different skits and dramas were displayed by the children from the community to highlight the role of mother in the overall development of the children.

The function was chaired by president of the Sabha Mr A K Manwa.

Mr Manwa alleged that successive governments have failed to solve the demands of the community and demanded immediate implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations.

The chairman of the Judicial Cell of the Sabha, Des Raj Tiyagi, its general secretary, F C Satia and publicity secretary, G R Dafara also spoke on the occasion.

They alleged that controversies and contradictions were being created by the State Government to debar the real backward classes from their legitimate rights including benefits of reservation and employment.

President Backward Classes Democratic Party (BCDP), Sheraj Azhari in his address accused the Government of ignoring the backward classes people totally.

Later a charter of demands was presented by Mr Jeet Singh Sangotra to the chief guest.

The proceedings were conducted by Mr Natha Ram and the function culminated with the serving of Guru Ka Langer to devotees.

Radio set, rifle recovered

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Army and police today recovered a cache in Kishtwar area yesterday which include one I Com radio set, assorted ammunition and other war like recoveries. A hide-out in the area was destroyed by the troops.

Army and police seized one .303 rifle, one magazines and 20 rounds during a search operation in Kalakote.

No arrests have been made from both the hide-outs, sources said.

Farmers club at Suchetgarh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: As a part of its financial inclusion campaign launched in the entire State, Punjab National Bank (PNB) today launched NABARD sponsored Suchetgarh Farmers Club in RS Pura today. The occasion was marked by a function which was primarily attended by farmers of the area besides bank employees.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Manager of the Zonal office, SL Gupta informed that the bank undertook fifty thousand families during the current financial year as a part of its efforts to mitigate poverty. He revealed that affordable credit support shall be the dominant factor of this financial inclusion campaign.

"Farmers club shall act as a link between the bank and farmers with sole aim of speeding up credit flow to the villagers for taking up all productive ventures" said Mr Gupta.

Prominent among others who were also present on the occasion included Manager NABARD, Krishana Kohle, BDO RS Pura, Gurmeet Kour, Agriculture Extension Officer, RS Pura, Janak Raj, Horticulture Development Officer RS Pura, OP Sharma and Senior Manager PNB RS Pura, Satish Sahni.

JRB’s 91st branch opened at Narwal

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Chief General Manager, NABARD, A K Mathur inaugurated the 91st branch of the Jammu Rural Bank (JRB) at Narwal here today.

Chairman of the JRB, O P Sharma besides other officers of the bank and the prominent persons of the area were also present on the occasion. Mr Mathur while speaking on the occasion congratulated the Bank staff and hoped that this branch will cater to the needs of the customers of the area. S K Gupta Area Manager of the JRB also spoke on the occasion and highlighted some achievements of the bank.

KNEE delegation calls on Haji

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: A delegation of Kargil Non-local Education Employees (KNEE), Jammu unit today called on Minister for Sports and Youth Service, Haji Nisar Ali and CEC LAHDC Kargil Haji Asgar Ali Karbalie demanding provision of air travel.

Submitting a memorandum, they demanded provision of (AN-32) IAF flight from Jammu to Kargil for non-local education employees serving in the frontier district of Kargil.

Both the Minister and CEC gave patient hearing to delegation and assured for the provision of said flight from March 6. The delegation was led by B L Thaploo. Other members were Sushil Razdan, U K Chatta, Ramesh Kumar, Deepak Raj, Surinder Kumar etc.

Lok Adalat held at Ramban

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: For the speedy disposal of cases and early delivery of justice, a Lok Adalat was held by Tehsil Legal Services Committee in the court premises at Ramban yesterday on February 26.

As per a press note, the bench presided by Additional District and Session Judge Ramban, Mohammad Akram Choudhary and assisted by Sub Judge Ramban, Jatinder Singh Jamwal took up at least 22 cases referred by Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, Ramban.

As many as 11 cases were disposed off on the spot through mediation and concilliation and an amount of Rs 13 lakh was also awarded as compensation.The next Lok Adalat shall be held on March 13 this year, the press note added

Medical staff union supports ministerial striking employees

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: A meeting of JK Medical Employees Federation (O) held here today extended support to the ministerial staff in Jammu province who are on strike against pay anomalies.

As per release, the JKMEFO office-bearers reached the spot at Director Health Service complex where the ministerial staff was on dharna and offered them support in their struggle.

The federation has asked the Government to concede the demand of the ministerial staff at the earliest.

Div Com finalizes arrangements for Shiv Khori mela

Excelsior Correspondent

REASI, Feb 27: Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sudhanshu Pandey, who is also the Chairman of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board, finalized the necessary arrangements for the ensuing 3- day Maha Shivratri Mela at historic Shiv Khori Shrine commencing from March 5, 2008 at a high level meeting of senior officers held, at Reasi, last evening.

Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Sanjeev Verma, who has been nominated as Vice Chairman of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board, Chief Engineers, R&B, PHE and Power Development Department, Director Tourism, Chief Town Planner, Superintending Engineers, R&B and PHE (Hydraulic), Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Reasi, (Member Secretary) and senior officers of divisional and district level participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, the Divisional Commissioner said that State has already given assent to the Bill already passed by the Lower and Upper Houses for implementation aimed at providing better infrastructural facilities like that of Mata Vaishno Devi to the visiting pilgrims at the historic Shiv Khori Shrine Cave.

He further said that as per the guidelines of the Act, the whole system of management of the Shrine needs improvement to a greater extent so that the visiting pilgrims may have good impact after darshan. He issued on the spot instructions to the Executive Engineer, R&B, Reasi to complete the remaining tile work of bridle path leading to Shiv Khori shrine well before the commencement of the three-day mela.

Other arrangements like security, drinking water, power supply, sanitation, medicare, transport, parking places for vehicles etc were also reviewed with directions to the officers concerned to ensure fool-proof arrangements pertaining to their respective departments. Pandey asked the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Reasi to raise fencing on 2770 Kanals area of the Shrine already demarcated to avoid any encroachment. The Deputy Commissioner was asked to make digital photography of whole of the shrine area for record purposes.

The Chief Town Planner, Jammu who was accompanying the Divisional Commissioner gave a detailed account of infrastructural facilities envisaged in the plan for the facility of pilgrims in near future. The officers of Floriculture Department apprised Div. Commissioner that an outlay of Rs.13 lakh has been kept for beautification of Shrine area by planting different species of flowers.

SRTC employees take out protest rally

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: State Road Transport Corporation employees took out a massive protest rally at the winter capital city here today.

The employees and workers of the Corporation who are on the agitation path for the last several days, held demonstration at Transport Yard near Bikram Chowk and outside General Manager’s office. Later, they came out on the roads in the shape of a large rally taking banners and placards in their hands.

These agitating employees are demanding release of their salary pending for the last five months. The State Government has remained silent over the demand of the employees. Several employees leaders addressed gathering and alleged that Government has maintained a criminal silence over the issue. They said that even the Government did not bother to take up the matter in the cabinet meeting despite the fact that it is suffering huge loss due to non-operation of SRTC fleet.

After passing through Bikram Chowk, Tawi bridge, Dogra Chowk the procession culminated at the same place. They have resolved to carry on their struggle till their pending wages are released by the Government.

Similiar protest march was taken out in Srinagar by the SRTC workers. The employees leaders alleged that their families have been forced to starvation by the Government. Entire fleet was off the road and Government was facing huge loss. Its inter-state service has also been badly hit with the strike.

Protest rallies held at Jammu, Srinagar
Clerical cadre employees to extend strike upto March 1st

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Clerical cadre employees from all the State Government departments held massive protest rallies at Jammu, Srinagar and other districts headquarters today.

At Jammu, a massive protest demonstration was held outside the office of Divisional Commissioner at Mubarik Mandi. A large number of employees from various departments assembled under the leadership of Rehmatullah Malik and Ravi Singh Bhau and raised employees demand regarding removal of pay anomalies.

While addressing the rally they strongly criticised the State authorities for their indifferent attitude. They alleged that Government was deliberately maintaining criminal silence over the issue. It was pointed out by the several speakers that pay grades of clerical cadre including junior, senior and head assistants remained untouched while the grades of several other cadre including accounts officials/ teachers etc were revised and upgraded. Only clerical cadre employees were discriminated.

They have demanded increase of pay grade of clerical cadre from Rs 3050-4910 to Rs 4000-6000, pay grade of senior assistants from 4000-6000 to Rs 4500-7000 and head assistants from Rs 5500 to 9000. The Accountants should also be given grade of 5500-9000 instead of Rs 5000-8000. They further pointed out that over 90 % posts of head assistants were lying vacant and secretariat training should not be kept as bar for promotion of senior assistants to the next post.

After addressing gathering for some time at Mubarik Mandi, the employees rally moved towards old city markets and after passing through several Bazars, finally culminated at Shalamar near Civil Secretariat. The employees were carrying banners and placards in their hands and shouting slogans against the Azad Government.

Leaders of various employees unions and associations including Sushil Sudan, Balwan Singh, Kulwant Singh, Abdul Rashid, Balwinder Singh, Mohan Lal, Ghulam Nabi, Uttam Chand Jaswant Singh and Balwinder Singh also joined the rally and addressed the gathering. They assured full support for their cause.

Meanwhile, coordinator Ram Kumar Sharma who is admitted to Govt Medical College hospital has appealed the agitating employees to remain united for the common cause and carry on their struggle.

In Srinagar, similar rally and demonstration was held outside Divisional Commissioner’s office. Mohd Hussain Haji, Ali Mohd Khan and several other leaders of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Association addressed the rally.

At Poonch, a large rally was taken out by the clerical cadre employees under the leadership of Pritam Singh senior vice president. The employees gathered at Pritam Park organised a rally.Several employees leaders including S P Sharma, Mohd Khan, Rajinder Singh, Nimmi Kapoor addressed the gathering and criticised the Government for its delaying tactics. Reports of such rallies were also received from Leh, Kathua, Rajouri, Udhampur, Doda, Anantnag, Baramulla and other areas. It has been resolved to extend the strike up to March Ist.

Ministerial staff holds demonstration

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: A massive protest demonstration was held in the office complex of Directorate of Health Service by the ministerial staff on the third day of its ongoing pen down strike. The demonstration was held under the stewardship of president All Ministerial Staff Association of Health Department, CL Koul.

The demonstrators were demanding removal of pay anamolies in clerical cadre, lifting of secretariat training bar for promotion of Head assistants, Section Officers, release of two and half days pay to all the ministrial staff and regularization of all adhoc and contractual employees working in Health and Family Welfare Departments.

Those who addressed the gathering included Anil Kesar, Darshan Khajuria, Rakesh Verma, Sushil Sudan and Vinod Sharma.

Later, all the protesting employees reached Mubarak Mandi Complex in the form of a procession, where they joined protesting employees of all ministrial cadres.

The protesting Health Service Employees in a press statement issued here today maintained that they will continue with the pen down strike up till March 1.

LAHDC’s concern over poor services of DDK

Excelsior Correspondent

Leh, Feb 27: The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Developmental Council (LAHDC) has expressed concern over the poor service and quality of Door Darshan Kendra (DDK) Leh.

In a meeting of the council held under the chairmanship of CEC LAHDC, Chhering Dorje, Director DDK Leh was apprised about the poor quality and nature of local station.

He was also apprised about the lapses in programmes being telecasted on DDK Leh. The issues like poor quality of DDK, Leh, un-structural serials and irrelevant programmes being telecast by the Kendra were also discussed.

However, the director expressed deep concern over the issue and assured to take up the matter with the Director General and Deputy Director General Door Darshan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Later, it was decided that an Advisory Committee (AC) of eminent scholars, historians and experts from the field will be framed to make the DDK Leh relevant, representative and presentable.

Among others present in the meeting included Tsewang Rigzin, Tashi Rabgais, Gay Lobzang Wangchuk, Molvi Mohd Omar, Dr. Jamyang Gyalson, Tsewang Paljor, Gay Konchok Fanday, Dr. Nawang Tsering, Sonam Moorup and Nawang Tsering Shakpo.

SVO produces challan against 3 Excise, Revenue officials

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) today produced two challans against three Excise and Revenue officials, who were caught red handed while accepting bribe.

An official spokesman said that on April 9, 2007 one Rattan Lal Koul, son of Ram Nath Koul of Lakshmi Puram, Chinore lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Organisation alleging that Patwari Halqa Chinore Mohd Razaq demanded a bribe of Rs 1000 for attestation of mutation of land in favour of his wife.

Acting on the complaint, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and arrested the Patwari and his peon Kaki Ram while accepting bribe of Rs 1000 in the presence of independent witnesses. After accord of the sanction for prosecution by the Government, the challan of the case was produced in the court of law for judicial determination.

Similarly, one Sushil Kumar, son of a retired official of Excise and Taxation Department Baldev Raj of village Palli in Kathua district lodged a complaint with the Vigilance Organisation alleging that the Cashier of Excise Range Office Kathua demanded Rs 15000 as illegal gratification from him for disbursement of pensionary dues in favour of his father.

The Vigilance Organisation subsequently registered a case and started investigation. During the course of investigation, the cashier Rakesh Kumar Mehra was caught red handed while accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant in his office premises at Kathua.

The investigation of the case was completed and after accord of sanction for prosecution by the Government, the challan of the case was produced in the court of law for judicial determination.

Lawyers trying to stage protest detained

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 27: At least 20 lawyers were detained today as they tried to stage a protest march in the city to express solidarity with political prisoners and to draw the attention of the world community towards alleged Human Rights Violations in the State.

The protest march was led by Kashmir High Court Bar Association president Nazir Ahmad Ronga from the Saddar Court complex to the United Nations observers office at Sonawar.

As soon as the lawyers reached Residency Road, they were asked by police to disperse peacefully. However, the lawyers refused after which the police detained 20 of them at Kothibagh Police Station.

Ronga said the march was peaceful and the police action was unfortunate. ‘We wanted to submit a memorandum at the UN office about the Human Rights Violations and the plight of detenues Jammu and Kashmir’, he said.

All the lawyers were later set free.

The lawyers had also suspended work in all courts to express solidarity with all political prisoners.

The decision to suspend work was taken at a meeting of the KHCBA held here yesterday.

The step has been taken to express solidarity with political prisoners of the State who have been held without trial under fabricated charges.

CM throws open renovated Emporium building
Handicraft products worth Rs 1 cr put on sale

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today threw open the renovated Jammu and Kashmir Government Arts Emporium at Residency Road here.

The renovation was done at a cost of Rs. 70 lakh with air conditioning facilities for the refurbished building.

The Chief Minister went round various sections of the emporium and evinced keen interest in the products.

The items put on sale include carpets, chain stitch, crewel, papier machie, wood carving and other world famous handicraft products of Kashmir.

Mr. Azad asked the officers of the J&K Handicrafts Corporation to put up hoardings of the emporium for information of tourists at prominent places like the Jammu Railway Station and enroute to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine. He said the information should be displayed in English, Marathi, Gujarati and Bengali languages to attract the incoming tourists.

The Chief Minister was informed that handicraft products worth Rs. one crore have been put up for sale in the emporium and the daily sales turn over on an average was Rs. 2 lakh.

Prominent among those present on the occasion were Minister for Industries and Commerce, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Dr. Ramesh Chander Sharma, Chairman, J&K Handicrafts Corporation, Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, Commissioner/Secretary Industries and Commerce, L. D. Jha, Director Handicrafts, R. A. Qadri and Managing Director, J&K Handicrafts Corporation, Abdul Majid Khandey.

JMC employees warn agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Apart from submitting a memorandum of demands to the administration of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), several employees under the aegis of Municipal Coordination Committee (MCC) today threatened to go far dharna if JMC fails to fulfill their demands within a time span of ten days.

In a meeting of MCC held here today under the chairmanship of Dev Anand Gill at Town hall, all the office bearers including employees of JMC impressed upon concerned authorities to consider their long pending demands.

In a press statement issued here today, Mr Gill stated that a notice specifying fulfilment of demands within ten days spanning from February 28 to March 10 has been served to JMC administration and in case the latter fails to consider their demands they shall resort to demonstrations.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of demands was submitted to Commissioner, JMC which sought for holding of immediate departmental promotion committee, re-organization of JMC, regularization of all those employees who have completed seven years of services, allotment of municipal vehicles and transfer of all cadres of JMC without any further delay.

Those who attended the meeting included Raju Kumar, Ravinder Sharma, Attar Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Jagdish Khokhar, Ram Gopal, Sanjay Gandotra and Anoop Sharma.

HC quashes appointments of 2
teachers under ReT scheme

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Justice Nirmal Singh of State High Court has quashed the appointment of two private respondents who were appointed as teacher under Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme.

In the petition challenging engagement of four private respondents under ReT Scheme, it has been submitted that in pursuance to an advertisement notice petitioners applied for engagement in the Government Middle School Patiyari falling in village Dalli, tehsil Kalakote, district Rajouri.

The respondent prepared a panel and the names of the petitioners figured at Serial No 3 and 5 in the panel. The grievances of the petitioners were that the respondent authorities instead the considering the claim of petitioners along with other eligible candidates figured in the panel, engaged private respondents No 5 to 8 as teachers in the Government Middle School Patiyari even though they belong to village Dhalyote.

"As per the scheme the engagement could be made from amongst the candidates who belongs to the village where the vacancies exist but this criteria was not adopted by the respondent authorities", the petitioner further submitted.

After hearing Advocate V R Wazir appearing for the petitioners and Deputy AG Neeru Goswami appearing for the State, Justice Nirmal Singh observed "in the present case the vacancies were in village Dalli but the respondents appointed private respondents who belong to a different village. Therefore, the appointment of private respondents cannot be sustained in terms of the scheme".

While allowing the petition, the Court quashed the appointment of private respondents No 5 to 8 with a direction to respondents to make the engagement/ appointment out of the panel already prepared for village Dalli.

Massive college infrastructure coming
up by August next: Charak

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Efforts have been redoubled to build adequate infrastructure for all newly established degree colleges including the eighteen sanctioned recently. About 50 major works are in progress to raise necessary infrastructure for degree colleges by August 2008. The number of Government degree colleges in the State has increased to 54 and would go up further to 72 as 18 new colleges have been sanctioned in December 2007.

This was stated by Minister for Higher Education Gulchain Singh Charak while addressing a media conference at Gandhi Nagar Women College here today.

He said maximum works were likely to be completed by August next, whileas the academic plans for running the classes in newly established colleges had been finalized. He said under curricular expansion, 27 post graduate courses and professional courses in mass communication, MCA, MBA, BCA, BBA, BIT and biotechnology stood introduced in various colleges of the State. "UGC sponsored 58 career oriented courses have also been introduced in colleges to facilitate students to have certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses completed with the conventional degree by the time they leave the portals of colleges. Besides, seven women study centres have been set up in various colleges with the financial assistance from UGC", he added.

He said in order to expand the orbit of higher education and cover almost all areas of the State under higher education network 16 private degree colleges and 144 B.Ed colleges have also been established in the State.

"With the objective of fostering global competencies among students while making Higher Education accessible to all sections of students, the higher education department has adopted a three pronged strategy of quality assurance and enhancement in academics, expansion of educational network and faculty development," he said.

He said, "to have a paradigm shift in teaching learning process, tele-education network project, EDUSAT, has been launched in the State with two hubs, one in Srinagar and other in Jammu and 102 SITs in colleges, higher secondary schools and ITIs with the assistance of ISRO. The hubs are functioning and dissemination quality education to students at places, otherwise impossible".

He said, "the holistic approach has been adopted with the objective of enhancing academic ambience of colleges, through seminars and symposia, help personality development and enhance knowledge base among students and teachers to compete with the best".

He said that automation and connecting libraries through INFLIBNET was in progress adding that the principals and librarians have already received trainings at Srinagar through Directorate of INFLIBNET Ahmedabad.

3rd J&K Science Congress
Over 300 presentations delivered on day 2

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: On the second day of third J&K Science Congress being held in University of Jammu (JU), over 300 presentations were delivered across 14 Science subjects, here today.

The university is organizing the congress in collaboration with State Council for Science and Technology, DST J&K State. Today, the technical sessions across 14 Science subjects viz., Bio-technology, Botany, Environmental Science, Zoology, Statistics, Geology, Physics etc. were held at five different venues.

Each technical session was comprised of lead lectures by eminent researchers from different universities, which were followed by research presentations. Over 300 presentations including oral and poster presentations were made during the day.

Prominent among those who presented lead lectures were Prof. I S Dua from Punjab University, Prof. K U Arya from Bareilly University, Prof. R K Puteja from Rohtak University, Prof. R K Kohli, Prof. Aneja etc.

Meanwhile, the congress will conclude tomorrow after the hosting of remaining sessions after the compilation of conference report and recommendations.

Court rejects bail of accused involved in rape, cheating

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 27: Special Municipal Mobile Magistrate M S Parihar today rejected the application of an accused in an alleged rape and cheating case.

According to the police case, on February 2, 2008, a written complaint was lodged with the police regarding rape and cheating against the accused/applicant Romesh Singh, a resident of Uttam Nagar, Bye-Pass. In the complaint, it was alleged that accused raped the prosecutrix with the understanding that he will marry her.

On the basis of written report, police registered a case and started investigation. However, the accused could not be arrested.

Advocate B R Chandan appearing for the applicant, accused has recently married and in case of his arrest the reputation of the