Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Sept 3: In order to provide succor to the victims of riots and sectarian clashes, the State Government has framed a new policy and the same is likely to be passed by the State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar tomorrow evening. The Cabinet will also take decision on the proposal of the Health and Medical Education Department to carry out amendments in the SRO-384 of 2009 titled J&K Medical and Dental Education (Appointment on Academic Arrangement Basis Rules), 2009.
Authoritative sources in the General Administration Department told EXCELSIOR that Order No.723-GR (GAD) of 1990 regarding grant of relief to the persons affected by law and order disturbances, primarily relates to the payment of ex-gratia relief for the cases of death/disability and damage to immovable property due to bomb blast or other kind of sabotage. However, the cases of losses to immovable property on account of riots and other extra-ordinary law and order disturbances don’t fall within the purview of this order, sources added.
Keeping this in view and recent law and order disturbances in Jammu province after the Kishtwar incidents on August 9, 2013, a proposal for grant of relief in cases of losses/damages to the immovable property due to the law and order situations/riots was placed before the Cabinet by the General Administration Department recently. Accordingly, the Cabinet on August 16, 2013, directed the GAD to frame a detailed scheme on this account in consultation with the Home, Finance and Revenue Departments.
After detailed deliberations with the Home, Finance and Revenue Departments the General Administration Department has prepared a policy for grant of ex-gratia relief and the same is being placed before the Cabinet tomorrow for discussion and approval, sources said. Under the policy, the parameters to be followed while providing ex-gratia relief to the victims of riots and other extra-ordinary law and order disturbances in respect of destruction/damage to immovable property have been laid, sources said.
Under the policy, the amount of relief to be granted for destruction/damage to the immovable property will be equal to 50% of the actual loss or up to Rs 5 lakh whichever is lesser. The assessment of destruction/damage will be made by the Tehsildar of the area to be further verified by the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue.
The relief will be sanctioned by the Deputy Commissioner of the concerned district on the recommendations of the district level Screening-cum-Coordination Committee comprising District Magistrate (Chairman), Superintendent of Police, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Assistant Commissioner and Tehsildar of the district other than the Tehsildar who has assessed the loss (Members), sources informed.
The extent of loss in such cases will be assessed by the concerned Tehsildar/Assistant Commissioner (Revenue) within a period of 15 days and these recommendations will be finalized by the District Level Screening Committee within further period of 15 days, sources said quoting the proposed policy, adding the list of the beneficiaries will be placed in the public domain/official website of the District Magistrate. In respect of loss/damage caused to the ships, relief will be sanctioned proportionately in favour of the tenant/landlord.
Disclosing that if approved the policy will have effect from April 1, 2013, sources said, “the cases arising out of sectarian clashes in district Budgam will also be covered within the ambit of proposed policy for payment of relief”.
Sources disclosed that Cabinet will also take decision on the proposal of the Health and Medical Education Department seeking amendments in SRO-384 of 2009 titled J&K Medical and Dental Education (Appointment on Academic Arrangement Basis Rules), 2009.
If the proposed amendments receive the Cabinet nod, the in-service officials will not be eligible for engagement under the SRO while as the staff engaged on teaching posts will be put on only teaching and research duties and not assigned any administrative duties at any level. The maximum period of engagement will be six years, sources said.
“The extension up to 3 years will be made on year to year basis by the Principal of the College concerned while as for engagement beyond three years the case will be considered by the Government”, sources said, adding “the posts of Medical Superintendents and Deputy Medical Superintendents will be included in the rules and only retired personnel who have held administrative posts will be eligible for such engagement”.
As already reported by EXCELSIOR, Cabinet will also give nod to the summoning of State Legislature on September 23. The two Houses of the State Legislature were last summoned by the Governor to meet at Jammu on February 28, 2013 and on completion of business, the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council were adjourned sine-die by their respective Presiding Officers on April 5, 2013 and April 6, 2013 respectively. Both the Houses were thereafter prorogued by the Governor on April 24, 2013.
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