Proposal to engage Retd Tehsildars stirs hornet’s nest
Entire Opposition stages walk-out

By Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Jan 18: Entire Opposition today created massive uproar in the Lower House and staged walk-out after the Government stirred hornet’s nest by announcing a proposal to engage retired Tehsildars on the posts of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars lying vacant for the past quite long time. The Opposition termed the proposal an attempt to encourage back-door appointments and depriving unemployed youth of the Government jobs.

Uproar started in the House with the reply of the Minister of State for Revenue Aijaz Ahmed, who in response to the question of National Conference Member Javed Rana, said that Government was planning to engage retired Tehsildars on the vacant posts of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars till these vacancies are permanently filled up by the State Service Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB).

He also informed the House that 136 posts of Naib Tehsildars have been lying vacant in the Revenue Department out of which 92 posts have been referred to the Selection Board for direct recruitment.

"How the Government is running the Revenue Department in the absence of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars, who are playing vital role in its functioning", Mr Rana asked, adding "this is very unfortunate that Government is planning to utilize the services of retired Tehsildars instead of providing employment to the unemployed youth".

Ruling alliance Member Abdul Majid Wani said that the proposal of engaging retired Tehsildars will worsen the situation vis-a-vis unemployment and further create unrest among the unemployed youth.

In protest against the proposal and large scale vacancies of the Naib Tehsildars, all the Opposition members left their seats and started terming Government as anti-unemployed.

"Revenue Department is the backbone of Government and in case of any eventuality Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars are required to be approached to get reports but despite being aware of this fact the Government is sleeping over large scale vacancies in the Department", NC’s Sharif-ud-Din Shariq said, adding "the grass root level vacancies in the Revenue Department have affected Government’s performance badly".

Echoing similar views, another NC Member informed the House that three posts of Naib Tehsildars have been lying vacant in the Kalakote constituency for the past quite long time forcing the people to run from pillar to post for any sort of work relating to the Revenue Department while Dr Manohar Lal said that the interviews for the posts of Naib Tehsildars which were advertised about six years back, have not been conducted so far.

Sajjad Kichloo said that there was no manpower in the newly announced Niabats and Tehsils creating lots of problems for the people. Subscribing the views expressed by NC Members, JSM Member Ashwani Kumar said that four posts of Naib Tehsildars were lying vacant in his constituency and Speaker Tara Chand should direct the Government to fill-up the posts in time bound manner.

Expressing concern over the proposal of the Government, Mian Altaf said: "This is for the first time that any Government in the State will engage retired Tehsildars at the cost of deserving and unemployed youth. The proposal seems to be an attempt to encourage back-door appointments and adjust blue-eyed persons".

National Panthers Party (NPP) Member Harshdev Singh expressed surprise that while rationalizing administrative units, the Government failed to pay any attention towards Niabats leading to chaos and confusion among the people. "The situation is such alarming that even people don’t know which are their tehsils and Niabats", he further said and wanted to know whether Government will rationalize grass root level administrative units.

"What sort of Government is it?", NC Member Ajay Sadhotra shouted and said "what to talk of Naib Tehsildars and Tehsildars this Government has even failed to deploy Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs). He asked the Government to prepare crash programme in consultation with SSRB to appoint Naib Tehsildars within time bound period.

Questioning the credibility and seriousness of the Government, another NC Member Ali Mohammad Sagar sought the reason behind referring only 92 posts as against 136 vacancies. Similar question was also posed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Member Abdul Rehman Veeri and NC’s Dr Mehboob Beg.

While NPP’s Yashpal Kundal stressed that recruitment by SSRB should be time-bound, ruling alliance member Thakur Puran Singh asked what would be the fate of Revenue Department if the same situation continued to persist.

Following massive criticism by the Opposition as well as ruling alliance members, Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma said that these technical posts have been lying vacant owing to the shortage of trained people and this was the main reason behind the Government mooting proposal to engage retired Tehsildars. He, however, made it clear that retired Tehsildars will be engaged in transparent manner.

As the Health Minister stressed on the proposal despite strong Opposition to the same by both Opposition as well as ruling alliance members, entire Opposition resorted to sloganeering "Revenue Minister Hai Hai...." and then staged walk-out.

Moharram mourners clash with police

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Jan 18: Even as licensee of the 8th Moharram main Alam and Tazia procession in Srinagar, Yadgaar-e-Hussaini Committee Gurubazar, remained mute to the Government's decision of not granting permission to the religious rally, scores of religious and separatist political activists dismissed the same as "intervention in the matters of faith" and clashed with Police in Civil Lines in the capital city today. Police used force in retaliation and detained over a hundred people for several hours for violating the prohibitory orders.

Like in the last 19 years, authorities have decided not to allow the traditional Alam and Zuljanah processions of 8th and 10th Moharram (Ashoora) in Srinagar uptown, as usual quoting security reasons. As usual again, no other Moharram processions have been banned by the State Government in Jammu and Kashmir. Srinagar uptown has witnessed the last 8 th and 10th Moharram processions in 1987. Officials have been arguing that militants could cause a mischief, like lobbing a grenade or causing a car blast, so as to put the blame on the Government.

While the mainstream political and religious leader Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari's All J&K Shia Association and the separatist political and religious leader Aga Syed Hassan Budgami's Anjuman-e-Sharee Shia'an are holding license to the 10th Moharram (Ashoora) Alam and Zuljanah processions on alternate basis in Srinagar since 1978, a non-political and purely religious organization, Yadgaar-e-Hussaini Committee Gurubazar, has been retaining license for the main 8th Moharram Alam procession since 1949.

As has been a practice since 1993, thin groups of Shia mourners, joined by several separatist activists, appeared at some place on Maulana Azad Road and Residency Road in Srinagar Civil Lines. They began chanting slogans and reciting Nowha while carrying the symbolic Moharram staffs and banners. As the mourners began to form processions, Police swooped on them in thick numbers with the use of tearsmoke and baton charge to disperse them. While different organizations alleged that over 300 of the mourners were arrested, Police officials insisted that less than 100 people were taken into custody for violating prohibitory orders, detained at different Police stations and released in the evening.

Leaders of some separatist outfits issued separate statements in condemnation of the Police action and dismissed the same as "intervention in the matters of faith".

Reports said that small processions were taken out in several downtown localities in the capital city as also in scores of Shia population villages in Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Pulwama and Anantnag districts on occasion of the 8th Moharram today. According to these reports, hundreds of Shia mourners participated in these Alam and Tazia processions. They performed matam in traditional style, chanted Nowha and Marsiya in praise and commemoration of the martyrs of Karbala. Special prayer and commemoration functions were held at Imambargahs all over the Valley as also in Kargil and Leh in Ladakh region.

Prominent Shia cleric Maulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari addressed a huge gathering of mourners at the historic Imambara of Zadibal in Srinagar downtown which was telecast live by local cable television channels.

Main functions of the 10th Moharram (Ashoora) are being held in Shia population localities all over the Valley, particularly in Srinagar and Budgam district headquarters on January 20th. With January 20th being Sunday, State Government has also declared holiday on January 21.

Shiv Khori Shrine Board bill passed
*Bring Sukrala Mata shrine under Board

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Jan 18: The Legislative Assembly today passed a bill to set up Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB) with an amendment that 20 per cent of the shrine funds will be spent for development of Reasi and adjoining areas.

The bill, introduced in the Assembly on January 9, was passed by the House unanimously despite voices of opposition from some members, who wanted the bill either to be referred to Select Committee or sent for public opinion.

The bill will now go to Legislative Council and, if passed, will be sent to the Governor for his assent before becoming a law for paving way for constitution of the Board, which is proposed to be headed by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu.

Seeking support of entire House for the bill, Health and Medical Education Minister, Mangat Ram Sharma pointed out that for the last 2-3 years, a large number of people have started visiting Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi and it has become a major centre of pilgrim tourism.

Hotels and markets have come up in the area, giving boost to tourism and helping local people, he said opposing the demand for referring the bill to select committee, a move which, according to him, will amount to adopting "delaying tactics" for a good cause.

Intervening in debate on the bill, R&B Minister Jugal Kishore, who represents Reasi Assembly constituency and was said to be instrumental in getting Cabinet nod for the proposed Board, strongly supported the bill saying some persons have an eye over 2000 kanals of land in vicinity of the shrine.

Jugal Kishore told the House that a management committee headed by Deputy Commissioner, Reasi was already in place to manage affairs of the shrine.

"As far as rights of baaridars are concerned, their demand is genuine but constitution of the Board is must to manage affairs of the shrine in a better way", he said.

In support of the bill, Minister of State for Law & Parliamentary Affairs, Manjit Singh, who sought passage of the bill on behalf of senior Cabinet colleague, Muzaffar Hussain Baig, observed that after management committee had taken over affairs of the shrine, the number of pilgrims visiting Shiv Khori had gone up from 2.40 lakh in 2004 to 2.50 lakh in 2006. Similarly, income of the shrine has gone up from 31 lakh in 2004 to 53 lakh in 2006.

The Government didn’t agree with NC MLA and former Minister Ajay Sadhotra’s amendment for sending the bill to Select Committee but said the amendments of another NC legislator Mian Altaf that the Shrine Board will set up institutions of her learning and will reserve 20 per cent shrine funds for development of Reasi and adjoining areas have already been taken care of in the bill.

"The Government has kept a provision in the bill that the Shrine Board will set up educational institutes and develop Reasi and adjoining areas", Mr Singh said, adding if Mr Altaf wants to keep a ceiling of 20 per cent expenditure on adjoining areas of the shrine the Government has no objections.

As Speaker Tara Chand put the bill to vote it was passed by the House unanimously in amended form with Mian Altaf’s amendments accepted by the Government.

Mr Sadhotra pressed his amendment for sending the bill to Select Committee but his amendment was rejected by the House with a voice vote. In support of his claim, Mr Sadhotra said Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India guaranteed right of people to profess and propagate religion of his choice and manage his own affairs.

"The Government has no right to interfere in working of religious affairs unless there is some problem. The Government can’t be empowered to control ‘muths’ in violation of fundamental rights of the people guaranteed under Article 25 and 26 of Constitution", he pointed out. He also cited various Supreme Court judgments to claimed that the Government has no right to take over ‘muths’ and that ‘puja’ in a shrine was the right of disciple and not the Government.

The NC leader said this Shrine Board is being made a Government agency which was in total contravention of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

However, taking a different stand, another NC MLA and former Minister Mian Altaf said the SMVDSB has done a good work in every sector like opening of a University and construction of a Cancer Institute. "When Shiv Khori Shrine Board comes up, we hope it will provide facilities like health and education not only to local but also adjacent areas like Budhal and Kalakote", he hoped.

Strongly supporting the bill, MLA Billawar Dr Manohar Lal Sharma demanded that Mata Sukrala and Bala Sundri shrines in Billawar be also brought under the management of Shrine Board. Asserting that 2-3 families were holding monopoly over shrines, misusing their funds, he observed that with the setting up of Shrine Board people from all sections will be benefited. Presently, only few people were taking benefit of the shrine funds, he said.

Mr Sharma said the members shouldn’t advocate the cause of few people and should support the bill for larger interest of the people.

Panthers Party MLA Harshdev Singh said he endorsed the suggestion that right to profess religion is a fundamental shrine and the people who were managing affairs of shrine for hundreds of years can’t be denied their right over the shrine. He demanded that the bill be either referred to a Select Committee or circulated for public opinion under Rule 74 of Rules of Procedure. He charged the Government with trying to rush through the bill.

Earlier, before the House took up the bill for debate, Panthers Party MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia staged a walk-out in the House said a Committee was set up five and a half years back on the issue of baaridars but its report has not been tabled so far.

According to the bill, Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board (SSKSB) will be headed by Divisional Commissioner, Jammu as a chairperson provided that he is a Hindu. In case, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu is not a Hindu, the Board will be headed by Deputy Commissioner, Reasi. In case, both Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and Deputy Commissioner, Reasi are non-Hindus, the Government will nominate an eminent person professing Hindu faith as chairperson of the Board.

DC Reasi will be vice chairperson of the Board but in case he is not a Hindu or he is chairperson of the Board, Additional DC Reasi will be the vice chairperson.

The SSKSB will have seven members including Chief Executive Officer of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for his nominee, Director Tourism, Jammu and in case he is not a Hindu, an officer of the Department to be nominated by the Government but not below the rank of Additional Secretary to Government. Two other members to be nominated by the Government should have distinguished themselves in the service of Hindu religion or culture while two other members should have been top personalities in administration, legal affairs, financial matters, journalism etc. The Board will have a woman member, who, in the opinion of Government, has excelled herself in service of Hindu religion or culture or social work especially in regard to advancement of women.

MLA of the area i.e. Reasi, if he is a Hindu, shall be a special invitee at the meeting of the Board with a right to vote. Barring Government officers, all other members of the Board will be permanent residents of the State.

Members of the Board, other than the officials, will have a term of three years.

7 walk-outs by Opposition in Assembly

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: For the first time during the on-going budget session, the Lower House today witnessed seven walk-outs by the Opposition after regular intervals over different issues.

National Conference MLAs—Mir Saifullah, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Mohd Aslam Khan staged walk-outs twice over an issue of earth-quake victims.

"Even after three years the earthquake victims in our constituencies have not been provided relief by the Government", they said by disrupting the proceedings of the House during Question Hour, adding "this is a grave injustice with the people who have fallen prey to natural calamity".

As there was no response either from the Chair or from the Treasury Benches to their demand, the trio resorted to sloganeering—"Quake Victims Ko Relief Do", "Zalim Sarkar Hai Hai" and "Mari Hui Sarkar Hai Hai" before staging walk-out.

The trio again vociferously raised the issue during Zero Hour and said that the earthquake victims have been running from pillar to post for the past three years to get relief but the Government continued to remain mute spectator to their plight.

Though Mushtaq Bukhari and Sajjad Kichloo were also raising some issues but their overtures were not audible because of noisy disorder. Later, Mir Saifullah, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Mohd Aslam Khan again staged walk-out amidst shouting of "Yeh Sarkar Earthquake Victims Ki Dushman Hai".

National Panthers Party (NPP) Member Harshdev Singh also staged walk-out after spat with Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma over the shabby treatment to the gallantry awardees.

"In the adjoining State thousands of rupees are being given to the Paramveer Chakra, Ashok Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra and Sena Medal awardees but in this State they are being paid meagre amount by the Government", he said, adding "this a shame on the part of Jammu and Kashmir Government".

Replying to the issue of Harshdev Singh, Minister for Health said that a committee framed by the Government to look into the issues concerning ex-servicemen and war veterans has submitted its report and Government was considering the same.

He at the same time said that Harshdev Singh never raised this issue when he was Cabinet Minister. However, the Minister was immediately countered by NPP Member, who said "you have been in power for the past 50 years. You have given benefits to the militants but not ex-servicemen".

After spat with the Minister, Harshdev Singh staged walk-out.

Another National Panthers Party Member Balwant Singh Mankotia staged walk-out after Zero Hour over the issue of Baridars of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and said that the report submitted by the Select Committee on the Bill moved by him five years back has not been tabled intentionally so far.

Raising the issue of 1965, 1971, Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) and West Pakistan refugees, Jammu State Morcha (JSM) Member Ashwani Kumar demanded implementation of report submitted by a committee constituted by the Government.

"The Government should bring an amendment bill in the House to provide justice to the refugees", he demanded, adding "the silence maintained by the Government over the issue clearly reflects that it is the enemy of the refugees".

After vociferously raising the issue of refugees, he staged walk-out.

Entire Opposition collectively staged walk-out during Question Hour over the proposal of the Government to engage retired Tehsildars on the vacant posts of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars and large scale vacancies in the Revenue Department.

Ruling alliance Member Abdul Majid Wani also staged walk-out for not having been given opportunity to speak during the Zero Hour.

Discussion deferred to Tuesday
Qarra, Rather clash on budget

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: Ruling PDP and Opposition National Conference members especially Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra and Leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather, former Finance Minister, had heated exchanges in the Assembly on the issue of initiating debate on budget during today’s sitting of the House.

At 1.10 pm, Speaker Tara Chand wanted to start discussion on the budget, listed in today’s business, and asked Mr Rather to initiate the debate as it was a precedent that budget discussion was always started by the Leader of Opposition.

Mr Rather said since only few minutes were left for the House to adjourn at 1.30 pm (as per the schedule, the Assembly was to meet today only upto the lunch break), he will start discussion on next working day of the House.

Health and Medical Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said if Mr Rather didn’t want to speak today, any member of coalition partner can initiate discussion to use 20 minutes time left for the break and Mr Rather can start his speech next days.

"Mr Rather is on backfoot. He has nothing to speak on the budget and so he was not ready to start a discussion. He must concede this that he has surrendered before our budget", Mr Qarra said.

"Hum Namaaz Padne Zayen Yaa Bahas Karen. Zabardasti Musalmanon Ko Yahan Rakhenge, Namaaz Naheen Padne Denge (Shall we go for Namaaz or debate here. They are making Muslims to sit forcibly here and not allowing them to go for Namaaz)", Mr Rather shouted.

He said if ruling party states in the House that Namaaz is not necessary "we will sit here and participate in discussion".

"Aap Surrender Kar Dijiye (you just surrender)", remarked suspended PDP MLA Ghulam Hassan Khan.

"Main Aapke Budget Ki Dajiyan Udane Wala Hoon (I’m going to fully expose your budget)", Mr Rather said replying to Mr Qarra’s charge that the Leader of Opposition has nothing to speak on the budget.

He added that he was not going to fall in the trap of treasury benches to speak just for 7 minutes (left in today’s business of House) and stop. "I will speak threadbare and pooh-pooh your budget word by word", he shouted.

Mr Qarra countered the NC benches saying there has been a tradition that the House keeps sitting till 1.30 pm on Friday. Moreover, he pointed out, earlier the discussion on budget used to start very next day after presentation (of the budget). "Now, we have even given a day’s break and still Mr Rather is not prepared to speak", he added.

Mr Rather, however, asserted that in the revised calendar, Friday had been marked as a holiday but it was changed recently with a direction from the Chair that the House today will meet only till lunch break.

Finally, the Speaker adjourned the House at 1.10 pm. Debate on the budget was deferred till Tuesday when the House will meet after three day break.

Taj cornered over misleading reply
Members’ ire forces Minister to apologise

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: The ire of Opposition National Conference and ruling alliance Members forced the Minister for Animal and Sheep Husbandry Taj Mohi-ud-Din to apologize on the floor of the Lower House over the incorrect and misleading reply.

The cornering of the Minister started when he, in reply to the question of Abdul Majid Wani, denied any proposal for establishment of a Veterinary College at Doda.

"This is incorrect reply", Mr Wani shouted, adding "the Minister has been given wrong feed-back by the officers of his department hence strict action should be taken against them".

He said that Chief Minister while launching NERG Scheme at Doda on February 2, 2005 had announced establishment of a Veterinary College at Doda in the presence of district officers of the Animal Husbandry Department. "Denying of the announcement by the Minister is an insult to the House and its members", he added.

Mr Wani received shot in the arm when National Conference Member Sajjad Kichloo said that he and Dr Chaman Lal were also present in the function wherein the Chief Minister had made announcement about the Veterinary College.

Intervening, Majid Wani and Sajjad Kichloo, the Minister said that the proposal might be with the General Administration Department or Chief Minister’s Secretariat but the same has not been conveyed to Animal Husbandry Department.

This infuriated National Conference Member Ali Mohammad Sagar, who remarked "the performance of the Government can be judged from the fact that even Chief Minister’s announcements are not being honoured". He asked the Speaker to take serious note of it.

Another National Conference Member Dr Mehboob Beg termed the reply of the Minister as joke with the House and said that Government has collapsed. He demanded that Minister should apologize before the House for incorrect and misleading reply to Government’s associate member.

Joining the issue, National Panthers Party (NPP) Member Harshdev Singh said that reply given by the Minister reflected lack of coordination and poor performance of the Government. "This is the third year of CM’s announcement but the reply is given in ‘ifs and buts’. The Chief Minister and Ministers should act as cohesive force and one unit", he added.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Abdul Rehman Veeri demanded that since dairy system in the State has been successful, the Government should open veterinary units in all the districts for its promotion.

Another PDP Member Sartaj Madni said that on the request of the Animal Husbandry Department he had given names of five villages for setting up of Veterinary units about three years back but till today not even a single unit has been opened by the Government.

"The incorrect reply by the Minister is a question mark on the credibility of the Government", BJP’s Jugal Kishore said.

Succumbing to the ire of the Opposition as well as ruling alliance members, the Minister for Animal Husbandry Taj Mohi-ud-Din admitted his mistake and said "I apologize to the House for my officers failure to take up the matter with other departments following CM’s announcement". He added that the commitment of the Chief Minister will be fulfilled.

He informed the House that there has been a demand of 1000 veterinary centres across the State and paucity of the funds coupled with non-availability of trained stock assistants the centres could not be opened.

"We are relaxing the qualification bar for the training of stock assistances and hopefully by March I will be able to open 500 centres across the State", he further said.

It was only after the apology by the Minister that Opposition as well as Ruling Alliance Members stopped grilling him.

SVO registers case on Lone’s charges

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: The State Vigilance Organisation today registered a corruption case on the statement of Shoaib Lone, Independent MLA from Sangrama as recorded by Jammu Police, under Prevention of Corruption Act to investigate the allegations of bribery.

The case was registered by Vigilance Organisation’s Kashmir police station as corruption was said to have been paid by the MLA to Altaf Noorani, a driver of Board of School Education (BOSE) attached to the then Minister for School Education Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, in Srinagar in June last year.

Mr Lone’s statement was received by the SVO from Police Headquarters today for action under law. A case FIR No. 2/2008 under Section 5 (2) Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) read with Section 161 and 120 B RPC has been registered by the SVO for further investigations, official sources said.

However, the cases of threatening call made to Mr Lone’s mother by Altaf Noorani and Peerzada’s wife will be investigated by Gandhi Nagar police where a case has already been registered against them.

Brig Guha new Leh GoC

JAMMU, Jan 18: Brig Abhijit Guha, the Brigadier General Staff (information wing) of the Northern Command, has been elevated to the rank of Major General and would take over the Leh-based 3 Infantry Division under XIV Corps in Jammu and Kashmir, sources said.

"The GoC designate of 3 Infantry Division will take charge on January 22," sources in the Udhampur-based Northern Command said.

The General Officer has been an effective Media Manager for the Northern Command and was the pick of Lt Gen H S Panag, GoC-in-C Northern Command, for the crucial post on the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh.

"In Brig Guha, Lt Gen Panag has placed his own man as the head of the most active division before his own proposed posting to the Lucknow-based Central Command," sources said, asserting that the posting of an Artillery Officer as the Commander of the crucial Infantry Division was a matter of point.

The 3 Infantry Division had become ‘headless’ after its GoC Maj Gen A K Lal was removed following ‘misconduct’ charges levelled against him by a subordinate woman officer.

An Army Court of Inquiry found Maj Gen Lal guilty of the charges levelled by Captain Neha Rawat in a case filed in September last year.

At present, the General Officer is attached to the XIV Corps to face court martial proceedings and summary of evidence in the case, sources added. (UNI)

New CJs for 3 States

NEW DELHI, Jan 18: Mr Justice Jagdish Bhalla, Judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, was today elevated as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, it was officially announced here.

The appointment is effective from the date he assumes office.

In other developments, Mr Justice Rajeev Gupta, Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court, has been transferred as Chief Justice, Chhattisgarh High Court while Mr Justice Vinod Kumar Gupta, Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court, will be the new Chief Justice of Uttarakhand High Court. They have been directed to assume charge of their respective office by February 2.

According to the announcement, the changes were made "in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 217 of the Constitution of India." (UNI)

Highway blocked for 3rd day

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained block for the third consecutive day today due to continuous shooting of stones at highly vulnerable spot of Panthyal.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Traffic, National Highway, Danish Rana said that though there was improvement in the weather yet the road clearance operation could not be executed due to continuous shooting of stones at Panthyal.

No vehicle - either from Jammu or Srinagar - was allowed on the National Highway even today and clear directions were given to the Traffic Police personnel at twin capital cities not to allow any fresh movement of the vehicle till reopening of highway and clearance of the stranded vehicles, Mr Rana said.

Due to the closure of the highway, 360 trucks and 100 Light Motor Vehicles have been stranded at Udhampur, 210 trucks at Manwal and 80 trucks, 30 Light Motor Vehicles and three buses at Ramban.

Spl Asstt, Pvt Secy transferred

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 18: Government today ordered transfers and postings of a Special Assistant and Additional Private Secretary.

Tsetan Dolkar, Special Assistant with the then Minister for Social Welfare has been transferred and posted as Special Assistant to Minister for Technical Education and Youth Services and Sports in her own pay and grade.

During her posting with the Minister, she will retain lien in her parent service.

Meanwhile, Subash Chander Chibber, Additional Private Secretary with the then Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats has been transferred and posted as Additional Private Secretary with Minister for Roads and Building and Mechanical Engineering Departments on ex-cadre basis.

Vikas Gupta, Junior Stenographer of J&K, Secretariat (Subordinate) Service, presently posted in the Personal Section of Financial Commissioner, Home has been transferred and posted in the Personnel Section of Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, Cooperative and R&B with immediate effect.