Cabinet to approve law to prohibit advts of drugs claiming magical properties

Extension in services of Vyas to get nod

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 11: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairpersonship of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on June 13, will accord approval to the enactment of first ever law in Jammu and Kashmir to prohibit advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties and make the same a cognizable offence.
Moreover, the Cabinet will accord sanction to the creation of 22 posts—one in each district for posting full time Secretaries of the District Level Services Authorities as per the instructions issued by the State High Court a number of times.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that though objectionable advertisements about drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties are seen at public places in different parts of the State yet no attention was paid towards the same by the Government.
On one side people were being lured through these advertisements and on the other side the Government was feeling handicap to take action against those promoting drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties in the absence of any law.
Finally, a decision was taken to come out with a mechanism to check such advertisements on the pattern of an apparatus evolved by the Union Government way back in 1954, sources said while disclosing that recently hectic deliberations were held at the Government level and it was decided to enact the law on the pattern of Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act of the Union Government.
The exercise in this regard has been completed by the Government and a draft bill titled J&K Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) is being placed before the State Cabinet on June 13 for deliberations and approval for enactment of law, sources said.
Moreover, the Cabinet will also accord approval to the creation of 22 posts—one in each district to provide full time Secretaries to the District Legal Services Authorities.
A resolution in this regard was passed during the country-level conference of the State Legal Services Authorities several years back but Jammu and Kashmir was dilly-dallying on implementation of the resolution as a result of which Sub-Judges at the district level were reeling under burden.
With the creation of these 22 posts, the High Court will be able to depute Judicial Officers of the rank of Sub-Judges especially to look after the work of the Secretaries of the District Legal Services Authorities and in this way the Sub-Judges, who are holding the courts regularly will be relived of the burden of looking after the work of District Level Services Authorities, sources said.
It is pertinent to mention here that State High Court was repeatedly insisting on creation of posts so as to depute full time Secretaries of the District Level Services Authorities and finally Cabinet will redress the concern of the High Court.
The Cabinet will also accord approval to the implementation of Shetty Pay Commission recommendations in respect of ministerial staff of the High Court thereby bringing justice to this section of the employees in the judiciary.
“The Government has already implemented the recommendations of Shetty Pay Commission in respect of certain sections of employees and now the ministerial staff is also being given the benefit after obtaining certain clarifications from the High Court”, sources said.
The Cabinet will also put seal of approval on the extension in the services of B B Vyas as Chief Secretary of the State, which was granted by the Department of Personnel and Training of the Union Government on the request of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti few days back.
Up-gradation of post of Medical Superintendent of Government Dental College Jammu and transfers at the Administrative Secretary level are also on the agenda of the Cabinet, sources informed.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here