It’s transitional relief: IMD
Western disturbances bring some respite from heat wave

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, May 4: After several days of scorching and intolerable heat, a sudden improvement was witnessed in the weather conditions across the State in the afternoon providing some relief from rising temperature.

A spokesman of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the sudden improvement in the prevailing weather conditions was brought by the Western Disturbances which started passing over Jammu and Kashmir in the afternoon and caused blowing of winds besides affecting brief rainfall in several parts of the State.

The Western Disturbances caused 3.8 mm rainfall in Srinagar, 0.8 mm in Qazigund, 0.6 mm in Pahalgam, 4 mm in Kokernag and 0.6 mm in Banihal till 5.30 pm. However, the drizzle alongwith blowing of winds in several parts of Jammu region started at around 6 pm.

The weather started becoming cloudy in Jammu after 4 pm and later resulted into drizzle for some time alongwith blowing of winds much to the delight of the people, who were experiencing scorching and intolerable heat for the past several days.

Following the improvement in the temperature, large number of people particularly children were seen flocking the parks and gardens to enjoy the cloudy weather.

Reports from Poonch district said that temperature dipped by three to five degrees due to change in weather conditions. However, no rainfall was experienced in Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua districts where only strong winds blew providing some respite from heat wave.

According to IMD spokesman, the day temperature in both the capital cities was being recorded five degrees above normal for the past over a week. However, the night temperature was comparatively not much high.

The IMD spokesman forecasts rains and thunder storm in few places during the next 24 hours while terming the change in temperature due to Western Disturbances as a transitional period.

"The temperature will further rise considerably throughout the State soon after the Western Disturbances cross the State", he added.

Meanwhile, reports from Srinagar said that after witnessing the hottest day of the season so far, rains today brought a smile to the faces of locals and tourists this afternoon.

Today too the maximum temperature was above normal but rain in the afternoon brought some relief from the heat wave sweeping the Valley for the past couple of days.

Yesterday, the maximum temperature was recorded 29.5 degrees c, which was 7.5 degree above normal. However, the minimum was near normal.

The water level in river Jehlum and its tributaries had increased as snow on the hills had started melting due to the above normal day temperature.

Meanwhile, a report from Kargil said the entire area was facing drought threat because of no rains.

Pilgrims to get on spot registration
SASB rushes team to Amarnath

By Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, May 4: Pilgrims, who have missed registration and were intending to visit holy shrine of Baba Amarnath ji will be allowed on spot registration at three places—Jammu, Pahalgam and Baltal—by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for two month long annual yatra beginning from June 18.

The SASB has, meanwhile, rushed an eight member team to cave shrine of Amarnath ji to ensure that holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva was not tampered with like previous year as there were reports that some people had already managed to visit the shrine while some others were intending to do so.

"The eight member team of SASB officials will stay at the cave, in shifts, till annual pilgrimage officially commenced on June 18", the SASB sources said.

They added that the team was deputed to Amarnath shrine through Baltal this morning and it reached the shrine late this evening. It will stay at the shrine for four to five days and then will be replaced by another team.

Though the SASB maintained that it was task of the State Government to ensure that no pilgrims reached the shrine till official commencement of the yatra, the Board has decided to take some preventive measures on its own by keeping a permanent team at the shrine.

According to sources, the SASB team would ensure that Ice Lingam was not tampered with by any group undertaking pilgrimage prior to June 18. It may be mentioned here that the SASB has already erected fencing around the cave shrine. This year the Ice Lingam was already in full shape, which was evident from pictures of the Lingam released by the Shrine Board after getting them photographed through its own trekkers.

Last year, tampering with the Lingam by the pilgrims visiting prior to official commencement of yatra had led to its complete melting even before the yatra began. This had resulted into downfall in the number of pilgrims to 2.50 lakh as compared to 4 lakh in 2006.

With a view to encourage the pilgrims, the SASB has decided that the people intending to visit the shrine but who had not registered themselves, will be provided on spot registration at Jammu base camp, which is likely to be shifted from MA stadium to Bhagwati Nagar, Canal Road this year, besides two forward base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam.

The SASB has decided to allow 10,000 pilgrims every day to proceed for pilgrimage—5,000 each from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. On both tracks, sufficient arrangements like accommodation, pre-fabricated toilets etc have been made for the yatris.

This year, the SASB has given permission to 135 ‘langars’ at different places on the yatra route, sources said.

‘PM's package a major initiative in 6 decades’
Azad cautions refugees against vested interests

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, May 4: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today asserted that package announced by the Prime Minister for refugees of West Pakistan and displaced persons from PoK is a major initiative taken by the Government during last 60 years to address their problems and cautioned them not to fall prey to vested interests who were trying to find fault with every good work done "with an eye on votes."

Addressing a function here, Mr Azad said the package deserved to be appreciated as a meaningful beginning for addressing long standing problems of the affected people. He said he has laid a foundation on which further work could be done.

"Many political parties over the years have tried to mislead the refugees from West Pakistan and displaced persons from PoK during elections on false promises but did nothing tangible to address their problems", he said, adding these political parties paid only lip service to them. He added that those who didn’t take even a step towards addressing this problem were now demanding of him to resolve it overnight.

He said he did not claim to have resolved the problem in toto but was happy to have made a serious beginning.

Mr Azad recalled that he had convened an all parties meeting in Srinagar in 2006 on this subject but no consensus could be reached among the political parties and the Government decided on the next possible measure that was announced by the Prime Minister at Akhnoor on April 25.

He gave facts and figures to dispel wrong impression about the package for displaced persons from PoK. He said in 1947 as many as 31,619 families had migrated from PoK, of which, 26,319 came to J&K. Out of them, 22,719 families settled in rural and 3600 families in urban areas. From 1947 to mid-50s, land was distributed among these families at the rate of 32 kanals aabi or 48 kanals khushki per family. From 1956 to 2000, as many as 4988 families had been claiming that they did not get full compensation whether it was aabi or khushki land. He said in 2000 the Central Government announced a package for these 4988 families at the rate of Rs 5000 per kanal with a ceiling of Rs 25,000 and released Rs 5 crore for the purpose.

The Chief Minister said he took up the matter with the Prime Minister and other Central leaders as a result the Government announced a package of Rs 50 crore which would be paid to 4988 families at the rate of Rs 25,000 per kanal of land instead of Rs. 5000 per kanal provided in the package announced in 2000. He said the compensation money now available to these families was five times more than the previous Central Government had sanctioned for them.

As far as refugees from West Pakistan were concerned, Mr Azad said that even as the Constitutional provisions stand in their way for permanent settlement in J&K and in the wake of absence of consensus among the political parties on the issue, the Government had announced perhaps the near best package for them in the given circumstances. He said concessions would be provided to let their children and grand children secure admission in technical educational institutions in other parts of the country.

He said they would be provided domicile certificates on whose basis they could apply for jobs in the Central Government. He said in order to improve their economic conditions and start their own business, bank loans would be extended to them without the security of land since they did not own land or property in the State. He said it was a major concession being extended for the first time in the country which the Prime Minister announced for the West Pakistan refugees.

He said these measures were in addition to the decision taken by the State Government for improving living conditions by way of upgrading civic amenities at the camp sites as well as extending benefits of the Centrally sponsored schemes.

Referring to incentives announced for the border population, Mr Azad said that due to persuasion by the State Government, the Defence Ministry had announced massive hike in rent of land under the use of Army in border areas. He said rent for the land that had come under Defence ditches, bunds and border fencing had been substantially enhanced. "In case of farmers who are not satisfied with the rent, the Defence Ministry was ready to purchase the land in their use from the owners at the current market rates," he added.

.

Para military forces cry foul on ‘lateral entry’ concept

NEW DELHI, May 4: The Paramilitary Forces, which are already seeking allowances on par with Army, are gearing up to fight another recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission which favoured "lateral entry" of Army personnel into their ranks.

The forces feared that this would harm the interests of their personnel.

With Ministry of Home Affairs and the Defence Ministry slugging out to work out the basics of "lateral entry", the Paramilitary forces contend that the move would result in "cleavage within the forces" and they feel "discriminated" by the "omnipresence and wherewithal" dominance of the Army.

The Sixth Pay Commission had endorsed the practice of transferring Army personnel with usually 15 years of experience to various Paramilitary forces in different ranks.

But the Paramilitary forces have now petitioned the Home Ministry that this move would have a bearing on the professional capabilities of the forces since there was difference in "training" in both the security apparatus.

"The furtherance of lateral entry would not only result in countermanding the operational effectiveness of the force, but also administrative problems. This is because both the Army and the Paramilitary forces have emerged from different ethos and culture," a senior Paramilitary officer said.

"There can be no assimilation between the forces. An Army man would have already rendered 15 years of service by the time he joins any Paramilitary force," the officer added.

His view is seconded by other Paramilitary officers.

"We will be getting officers and personnel who would have already served the youth of their life in the Army. Looking at the extent of operational responsibilities the Paramilitary forces are entrusted with, it turns out to be a lopsided and ineffective shift", another senior official said.

In a memorandum submitted to the Home Ministry, the Paramilitary forces contended that if Army personnel are given an entry into the forces, the arrangement may also "expose" its personnel to an unfamiliar supervisory cadre and new colleagues.

"The lateral entry of Armed forces is not practical for us. This move is not conducive for Central Paramilitary Forces," Ajay Chaturvedi, the spokesperson for Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), said.

Countering the Pay Commission’s notings that the Defence Forces are now being mainly used for counter-insurgency operations and hence transfer to Paramilitary forces should not be a problem, a senior official at the force headquarters here said the Paramilitary forces have as much presence as the Army in the counter-insurgency and security details at the borders and within the country.

"If the Army is trained to kill, the Border Security Force (BSF) is also doing the same at the borders and the CRPF is combating the left wing extremism similarly, making full use of their weapons," he added.

In a joint statement, the Central Paramilitary Force (CPMF) had earlier contended that "this (lateral entry) need to be reviewed after consulting the State police forces and by taking a comprehensive view of the entire career prospects of the personnel".

The Army personnel currently hold the posts of constables to Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) in the organisational hierarchy of the Paramilitary forces.

The Paramilitary forces also petitioned seeking grant of hardship allowance, ration money allowance, peace posting and continuance of security aide (Suraksha Sahayak), which are granted to the Army making it an "unequal" and "discriminatory" proportion for them.

Advocating an "equal pay for equal work", the Paramilitary forces have asked for a "Para Military Service Pay" (PMSP) on the lines of the Military Service Pay (MSP). (PTI)

We will take people's wishes into account: Farooq
*NC patron hits out at PDP

Excelsior Correspondent

AISHMUQAM (PAHALGAM), May 4: Former Chief Minister and National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah today declared that any solution to Kashmir problem will be reached only after taking into account wishes and aspirations of the people.

Addressing a massive public meeting here in the stronghold of ruling coalition partner and NC rival, the PDP, Dr Abdullah called upon the electorate to vote a stable NC Government in the State in ensuing Assembly elections so that the view point of a common man is listened while a solution to Kashmir issue is debated and reached.

"The NC had always been in favour of taking the people’s aspirations into account while formulating a solution to Kashmir. We will ensure this when we are voted to power in the forthcoming polls", he said, adding the NC had always been in favour of good relations between India and Pakistan and would like further improvement in their ties as well as peace process.

The NC, he added, will play a major role in bringing a "sustainable solution" to Kashmir problem, which is acceptable to the people.

Alleging that the coalition Government could create disturbances and even go to the extent of capturing booths, the former Chief Minister warned that any such attempt would be thwarted by the people who have realised machinations of the PDP.

Describing "use of Pakistan currency in J&K" as another "political slogan of the PDP" after failure of its previous two slogans of self rule and de-militarisation, Dr Abdullah asserted that the PDP was only trying to befool the people with slogans as it has miserably failed to do anything practical during its five and a half years in the Government.

"Muzaffar Hussain Baig (Deputy Chief Minister and PDP leader) even couldn’t make his self rule concept to the Centre. He met me in New Delhi and was unable to say what self rule really meant. How he and his party will explain this formula to the people"? he asked.

He alleged that the PDP has swindled huge Indian currency and now wants Pakistan currency to fill the pockets of its leaders.

The NC patron said the PDP has spoiled the State by giving just slogans—one after the other—and doing nothing for the people. The coalition Government, he added, has also failed on all fronts and the people were waiting for the time to get rid of this dispensation.

"The National Conference is the only political party which has never made false promises to the people. Whatever we have to say we say it openly. We make only those promises which we can fulfill after getting the power", Dr Abdullah said alleging that the PDP has failed to fulfill even a single promise made to the people.

Re-instatement of judges to drag

LAHORE, May 4: The issue of reinstatement of Judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf is likely to drag beyond the May 12 deadline announced by former premier Nawaz Sharif with much fanfare as there is still no consensus on how to go about it.

Highly placed sources told the Daily Times that the date of May 12 for the restoration of the judiciary was not "cast iron" and the issue could be stretched if all "stakeholders" —Asif Ali Zardari’s PPP, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N, Supreme Court Judges and President —were not on board.

The sources said that a couple of options were on the table. In the first scenario favoured by the PML-N, which has taken a firm position on reinstating the Judges sacked by Musharraf, the Parliament would pass a resolution on May 12 and the PPP Government would send an ordinance to the President enhancing the number of Judges on the SC from 17 to 26 and the President would pass it quickly.

But the greater likelihood is that he would delay it for a maximum of 45 days. During this time, the coalition would get a constitutional package ready for reinstatement of Judges and have it passed.

This would let the PPP and PML-N off the hook as far as public pressure is concerned to restore the Judges and put the onus on the President for the delay, the Daily said.

"The civilians could also make noises about impeaching the President while they get a Constitutional package ready," the Daily said.

The other option is for the PPP to back out of the executive order or ordinance route by insisting on moving the constitutional package before the order. In that case the PML-N would consider sitting out of the coalition without leaving it forever.

In both cases, the restoration of the Judges will not happen on May 12 even if the resolution is passed because the fate of the Judges is inextricably linked to that of the other stakeholders, the Daily said.

The report came as PPP chairman Asif Ali Zardari remained non-committal on Sharif’s statement, which came after three-day talks between the two parties in Dubai, that Judges will be restored through a Parliamentary resolution of May 12.(PTI)

.

Army goes pro-active on corruption

CHANDIGARH, May 4: The CBI, in a joint operation with Military Intelligence on Saturday, took into custody, A K Sondhi, a civilian employee in the Ordnance Branch of the Chandimandir based Headquarter Western Command from his Panchkula residence, while allegedly accepting a large amount of money from a prospective candidate for recruitment in an Army Ordnance establishment.

Army authorities had been keeping a tab on his activities for the last six months and Sondhi was arrested red-handed while allegedly accepting the bribe, an official spokesman said here today.

The preliminary searches at Sondhi’s residence led to the recovery of huge amount of cash and other liquid assets including FDs and bonds. Coincidentally, the wife of the individual is also an employee in the same department.

The CBI is interrogating Sondhi to establish the extent of their involvement in the recruitment racket and other corrupt practices. His main modus operandi was to lure the poor, needy civilian boys with offers of permanent Government jobs in various Army Ordnance establishments, for which he used to extract large sums of money from them.

Since the CBI is the competent authority to conduct investigations into corrupt practices by Government employees, the Army authorities sought their assistance in a bid to identify and root out corruption from within its own ranks.

Assets recovered from the residence of Sondhi, during the search indicate to his amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. (PTI)

BJP for action plan on terror

BANGALORE, May 4: Accusing the UPA Government of adopting "a casual approach while dealing with terror", BJP today demanded the Centre to chalk out a comprehensive and integrated action plan against the menace after taking all major political parties into confidence.

"The UPA Government’s approach has been casual while dealing with terror and other anti-India activities," BJP president Rajnath Singh told a press conference here.

"The existence of more than 5,000 sleeper modules in almost all parts of the country is a clear indication that India is virtually sitting on a tinderbox," he said quoting the US state department’s annual report on global terrorism, which said India continued to rank among world’s most terror-afflicted countries and it took more than 2,300 lives in 2007.

"This figure is nearly 10 per cent of the total 22,685 people killed by terrorists in the world in 2007," he said.

"The repeal of POTA and delay in hanging Afzal Guru, convicted in the Parliament attack case, has further encouraged terrorists and other anti-national elements to carry out their activities without much fear," he said.

The Government has been saying that the President was yet to decide on the issue of clemency to Afzal. But a recently published book by P M Nair, who was the Secretary to the then President A P J Abdul Kalam, has stated that the Union Home Ministry had not send its recommendation to Kalam till his last day in office, Singh said.(PTI)

J&K gets Rs 28 cr for police modernisation

NEW DELHI, May 4: Assam and Jammu and Kashmir received the highest allocation of additional funds for Police modernisation during the last fiscal.

Twenty-four States had demanded a total of Rs 537.91 crore additional funds but the Centre allocated Rs 346.28 crore only based in their utilisation of funds in 2006-07 and funds available at the revised budget estimates.

Assam got the highest allocation of additional funds of Rs 30.61 crore even as it demanded Rs 37.70 crore for modernising its forces in the fight against insurgency, a senior official said.

Punjab was the only State which got more money than it demanded. The State received Rs 16.98 crore as against its demand for Rs 10.78 crore.

The second highest allocation went to militancy-affected Jammu and Kashmir which got Rs 28.21 crore, the amount they demanded for the purpose.

The north-eastern States of Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland were the only other States which were alloted the same amount they demanded.

Manipur got Rs 11 crore, Meghalaya Rs three crore and Nagaland Rs six crore.

The Naxal-affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand received Rs 21 crore, Rs 19.25 crore and Rs 13.5 crore respectively.

Orissa (Rs 19.5 crore), Karnataka (Rs 18.71 crore), Bihar (Rs 15 crore), Haryana (Rs 13.75 crore) and Gujarat (Rs 12.05 crore) were the other major beneficiaries.(PTI)

Offices reopen amid tight security

SRINAGAR : The offices of the Chief Minister, his Cabinet Colleagues and other darbar move departments reopened here this morning amid unprecedented security arrangements.

The offices were closed at Jammu on April 25 in the afternoon.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and his cabinet colleagues were among first who arrived in the Secretariat at 0915 hrs.

Security personnel were seen guarding the streets including Civil Secretariat— the area where offices of Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and his ministers are located. A large number of security force personnel have been deployed in and outside the Secretariat to keep a close watch on pedestrians and vehicles.

Official sources said about five more companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and State Police have been deployed to thwart any militant attempt to attack Secretariat.

Security forces were also deployed on the fly-over where militants detonated a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in March resulting in the death of a civilian and injuries to 16 others. In 1990s, militants made about a dozen rocket and grenade attacks on Secretariat causing injuries to employees.

All the officials coming with the Darbar move, except those who have their own house, will be given fully protected accommodation at identified places in the city.

There are 75 hostels containing 2100 rooms for move officials in safe zones being protected by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and State Police Personnel round the clock.

The employees were taken to Secretariat and other offices in 62 fully protected buses from their residence. (UNI)

Metlife unveils "loan assure" for J&K bank customers

SRINAGAR : Metlife India Insurance Company, one of the country’s fastest growing Life Insurance firms, today introduced here a ‘loan assure’ scheme that would provide life cover to J&K bank’s loan customers.

"Met loan assure is a customized product developed exclusively by Metlife for our customers, keeping in mind the growing demand of credit in the State," J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Haseeb Drabu told reporters.

The plan will add value to the customers because it will help them take loans with the safety net of life insurance, he added.

The product covers all types of loans — home, education, vehicle and personal loans.

It is a specially designed group insurance plan that provides life insurance cover specifically for a loan taken by an individual, Metlife Managing Director Rajesh Relan said.

It ensures financial security for the loan holder as the insurance proceeds can be used to repay the outstanding loan amount in case of the unfortunate demise of the insured individual, he said.

Through the product, the company want to help the loan customers achieve peace of mind so that "the asset remains an asset for the family," Relan added.

"We are committed to providing our customers with a comprehensive financial solution under one roof...We have help desks set up at most of our branch offices to handle all inquiries about this product," Drabu said.

Met loan assure is a single pay MRTA (Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance) solution on a group platform. The product is designed to target financial institutions or employers who lend loans.

Explaining the key features of the plan, Relan said all persons between the age 18-60 are eligible to this insurance.

Maximum maturity age is 70 years or the day on which the outstanding amount is repaid in its entirety, which ever is earlier, he said.

Met loan assure could be offered on a single life or on a Joint Life Basis (Joint Life is available only for home loans) depending on the way the loan is held.

The minimum and maximum coverage terms are three years and 25 years.

He said, premium payment mode is single premium and the payment can be made directly by the customer or it can be even financed by the bank.

The sum assured is minimum of Rs 5,000 per life, maximum is equivalent to the loan amount outstanding at the commencement of risk cover, he said, adding, but this cannot exceed Rs five crore at any point.

Metlife through its bank partners and company-owned offices is present more than 600 locations and the insurer has more than 32,000 financial advisors who help customers. (PTI)

Militants waiting to enter country: BSF

CHANDIGARH : BSF today said that militants across the border are waiting to enter the country once mountain passes in Jammu and Kashmir open with the melting of snow.

"The BSF has strong inputs that militants are waiting along the border to enter the country," BSF Director General A K Mitra told reporters on the sidelines of a foundation stone laying ceremony for a BSF building here.

He said along the Western border, the infiltration is presently low.

However, "once the mountain passes open, the militant activities along the border are likely to increase manifold," he said.

He did not rule out the possibility of increase in the militant activities in the wake of upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

"In the past also it has been observed that whenever elections are close in Jammu and Kashmir, attempts have been made by militants to step up violence," he said.

Mitra also said that number of training camps of militants in Pakistan had gone up but did not give out any figures.

On queries on ways to check infiltration, Mitra said certain terrains along the border were such that these were susceptible to militant activities.

He said infiltration along the border with Bangladesh is more but maintained that steps were being taken to bring it down.

He said that the level of inadvertent border crossings had decreased in the wake of bi-annual meetings between BSF and Pakistan Rangers.

Mitra said smuggling as well as constructions along the border was still in progress.

He said the BSF had dedicated this year to providing water, electricity and toilets at around 4000 Border Out Posts (BOPs).

"A major chunk of Rs 278 crore will be spent on improving facilities at the BOPs," he said adding BSF had been able to provide basic amenities to six out of total 31 BOPs which were only air-maintained. (PTI)

Women’s reservation bill likely to be
introduced tomorrow

NEW DELHI : A bill, providing for reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Assemblies, is likely to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow.

The Women’s Reservation Bill, which provides for 33 per cent quota for women, will be considered by the Cabinet tonight and is expected to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha, sources said here today.

The bill is expected to be referred to the Standing Committee soon after being tabled in the Upper House, they said.

The proposed legislation has been stuck for long due to differences between political parties over the percentage of reservation, with some parties insisting on providing for quota for women from backward classes.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a Left parties’ delegation on Saturday that his government was committed to providing reservation for women in the elected bodies and would introduce the bill in the current Budget session of Parliament. (PTI)

Revised pay package for armed forces to
be finalised tomorrow.

NEW DELHI,: A revised pay package for the armed forces personnel including enhanced military service pay for those below officer rank would be finalised at a crucial meeting to be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrashekar tomorrow.

Besides the Cabinet Secretary, the meeting would be attended by the Navy Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Air Chief Marshal F H Major and Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor.

The meeting would also be attended by other Secretaries in the empowered group of Secretaries set up by the Government to go into anomalies in the pay packages of armed forces personnel.

The meeting was scheduled to be held today but was put off till tomorrow, official sources said.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister A K Antony today said there was no "large scale" departures from the services despite the Sixth Pay Commission Recommendations did not come up to their expectations.

"Army personnel are allowed to leave service on account of various reasons like suppression, extreme compassionate grounds, low medical category and failure to acquire minimum educational qualification," the minister said in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha.

He put the number of officers who were permitted to leave services due to various reasons during the last five years at 3474. (PTI)