Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: BJP will celebrate the Vilay Diwas (Accession Day) of Jammu & Kashmir with the rest of India in a spectacular and grand way, said J&K BJP president, Ravinder Raina while addressing a meeting of party’s district presidents and districts Prabharis at party headquarter, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
This time the Day itself holds a great significance as after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A, this will be the first time that the Day will be celebrated with our hearts filled of joy, stated Ravinder Raina.
Former BJP President & former Dy. CM, Dr. Nirmal Singh, former party president and MP (Rajya Sabha), Shamsher Singh Manhas, former party president & former Minister, Sat Sharma CA, party general secretary (Org.) Ashok Kaul, party general secretary & former Minister Sunil Sharma, party general secretary & former MLC Adv. Vibodh Gupta and party general secretary & former Minister, Dr. Devinder Manyal also addressed the meeting. Meeting proceedings were conducted by Dr. Manyal while party vice president Pawan Khajuria also attended the meeting.
Ravinder Raina said “This is the day we have longed for and the land of brave has got what it deserved for decades together”. He said that the whole region is set to celebrate the occasion like 15th August and every BJP leader and activist will make his or her more than maximum efforts for the same. He also declared that most likely senior Central Minister will also address the occasion which is so special for the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as this marks the day when with the pious efforts of all the hardcore patriots the whole territory joined with the Dominion of India.
Raina said that BJP will celebrate this day in the way of a grand rally, which will be of both physical as well as virtual in nature and the programmes will be held in every district and Mandal level.
Dr. Nirmal Singh said that there were numerous attempts made my individual forces to alienate the gullible masses and overshadow the importance of the day with their malicious campaigns and they are even doing this to this day. But their ill efforts will never succeed and the masses of the region will celebrate the Vilay Diwas with full enthusiasm, he added.
Ashok Kaul discussed all the forthcoming party programmes in the meeting with the party leaders. He asked the party leaders to celebrate the programmes like Birth anniversary of Pt. Prem Nath Dogra ji and Vilay Diwas among the common masses.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Oct,21 : Former president, Hotel and Restaurant Association, Katra, Shiv Kumar Sharma has appealed to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) and UT administration to increase the number of Vaishno Devi pilgrims from 7000 to 15,000 per day as the limit fixed for yatra flow has reached to the maximum.
In a statement issued here, today he said for example on First Navratra it was 7000, 2nd Navratra 7000, 3rd Navratra 6172 and 4th day of Navratra was 6319. Further Sharma has made a request to the authorities to open a Yatra Parchi counter at Katra also for convenience of yatris who are unable to obtain online yatra slips.
Sharma however complimented the SMVD Shrine Board and State Administration for increasing the number of yatris to the holy shrine to 7000 per day and removing restriction of pilgrims of J&K UT and outsiders. This will give a sigh of relief to the business community of Katra, he added.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: A verification was conducted by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to look into the allegations that 20 kanals of State land falling in khasra No. 303 Min at village Dhami Nagrota was allotted to one Sawal Singh, who has relinquished his possession since long and the land was further allotted to one Bimla Devi of Pacca Talab Rehari, Jammu by Provincial Rehabilitation Officer (PRO) Jammu in connivance with other concerned Revenue officials.
The land in question is prime land situated on National Highway near Jagti Nagrota, Jammu valued at crores of rupees.
It surfaced during verification that no order pertaining to the allotment of land measuring 20 kanals situated in Village Dhami, in favour of Bimla Devi was issued by the office of Cusdoian, ex-officio Provincial Rehabilitation Officer, Jammu. As per report of Tehsildar Nagrota, the land measuring 32 kanals-14 marlas bearing Khasra No. 303; Khewat No. 55 is under the cultivating possession of Sawal Singh out of which 4 kanals is proprietary land under the ownership of Indru and others and 28 kanals and 14 marlas is State land.
The verification also revealed that out of Khasra No. 303, Fard Intikhabs were issued for land to the extent of 12 kanals and 10 marlas on the basis of which various sale deeds were executed and Mutations attested. The Fards were issued in favour of Balwant Raj, attorney holder for Ishri Devi. The mutations were attested in reference of Muation No. 751, under which Ishri Devi had acquired the land in Khasra No. 303, pertains to Khasra No. 236 min in reference of a Sale deed executed by Sukhdev Singh and Puran Singh (Vendors) and Shawang Gupta (Vendee) and further report of Patwari Halqa dated 02.08.2019 revealed that no such mutation is available in the reference of which has been given in each of the Fard-i-Intikhab as well as mutations attested after the execution of different sale deeds.
As per the verification conducted, Riyaz Ahmed then Patwari Halqa Dhami, Nagrota Jammu and Rajesh Kumar Thakur, then Tehsildar Nagrota in connivance with Balwant Raj issued fake and fraudulent fard-i-intakhabs of state land measuring 12 kanals and 10 marlas falling khasra No. 303 of Village Dhami Nagrota, Jammu in favour of him, as an attorney holder of Ishri Devi and facilitated the sale of state land to different persons etc.
They produced a copy of fake and factitious Mutation No. 597/1 pertaining to khasra No. 303 before the vendees showing the land to be allotted to Smt. Ishir Devi Wd/o Azad Ram R/o Samba and convinced them for the purchase of land in question. As per the said fake mutation No. 597/1, the land was shown allotted to Ishri Devi by PRO Jammu but in fact no such allotment exists in the records of PRO Jammu.
While issuing the fard-i-intakhabs, the Patwari referred basic mutation No. 751 in the said fard-i-intakhabs which actually pertains to the purchase of 3 kanals of land by Shawang Satya Gupta from Sukhdev Singh in Khasra No. 236.
On spot inspection of the said State land, a luxurious building is found under construction at village Dhami, Nagrota.
By acting in this manner, the officers / officials of Revenue department by abuse of their official positions and in league with each other as well as the beneficiary have conferred undue benefit upon him. The acts of omission and commission on the part of Rajesh Kumar Thakur, then Tehsildar Nagrota, Riyaz Ahmed, then Patwari Halqa Dhami Nagrota, Balwant Raj attorney holder of Ishri Devi and others constituted offences punishable.
A case was registered against them and investigations are on.

20 parties vow to fight for cause

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,Oct 21: The representatives of around 20 political and social organizations, civil society, intellectuals, lawyers, dents and youth associations and trade bodies today held a joint session and passed a resolution in Jammu christened as ‘Jammu Declaration’ seeking statehood for Jammu region in view of persistent neglect and deprivation faced by the people of the region in multifarious fields including general development, funds allocation, tourism promotion, employment etc for the past several decades.
The participants observed that the disregard for the incarcerated Jammu region continued even post re-organization of J&K State and abrogation of Art 370 thereby leaving statehood as the only available option for the people of Jammu region. The meeting was convened by Chairman JKNPP, Harsh Dev Singh and former Minister. It was attended by representations of various political and social organizations including Former Session Judge, Pavitar Singh and president, Amar Kashatriya (Rajput) Sabha, Gulchain Singh Charak, president, Dogra Sadar Sabha, Yash Paul Kundal, general secretary, NPP and Ex-Minister, Manish Sahni, president, Shiv Sena (Bal Thakray), Krishan Manhas, Chairman, Hindu Shiv Sena, Rajiv Mahajan, president, Shri Ram Sena, Col. (retd) S.S Pathania, Chairman, Sainik Samaj Party, Ankur Sharma, Chairman, IKKJUTT Jammu, M.S Katoch, working president JPPF, K.S Salathia, convenor UDA, Tarlok Motton, president, All India Batwal Biradari Welfare Association, Sudhir Singh, retired IGP, Prof. Jai Kumar, retired Director Colleges, Rakesh Singh, advocate, Parshotam Parihar, secretary Dogra Kranti Dal and Raj Pratap Singh convenor, ‘Jammu ki Yuva Soch’ besides others.
Speaking on the occasion, Harsh Dev said that even after abrogation of Article 370, Jammu continues to suffer and bleed. The much touted slogans of Jammu’s empowerment and equitable share in State’s resources besides assured benefits of several other Central laws and schemes have proved a hoax. While Ladakh and Kashmir continue to receive the focussed attention of the Centre, what actually falls in the lap of a marginalized Jammu region is mere peanuts. The first select list issued post de-organization of State by the Government relates to Fire Services Department wherein Jammu region has got a bare sprinkling in the form of 10% share while the major decisions continue to be taken keeping Kashmir in mind.
Asserting that Jammu Pradesh was the biggest causality of Kashmir crisis, Singh said that there was no justification whatsoever in clubbing Jammu with Kashmir and classifying it as a Union Territory. “The peace loving people of Jammu region were well known for their nationalist, secular credentials and respect for country’s Constitution, its integrity and sovereignty. Jammu region had remained most peaceful even when the other states witnessed violent protests, arson and bloodshed as seen during the recent CAA and NRC agitation in the country. It was however most distressing to note that it was being made to suffer only for the troubles in Kashmir and divested of even its basic rights. The 4G Internet connectivity was snapped in Jammu region only because of problems in Kashmir. Statehood was snatched from us only because of issues with Kashmir. The democratic rights have been denied to us only because of adverse security situation in Kashmir and so on and so forth”, lamented Singh.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 21: Power Development Department has ordered promotion of 2 Incharge Executive Engineers (Electric) as Incharge Superintending Engineers (Electric) and 8 Incharge Assistant Executive Engineers (Electric) as Incharge Executive Engineers (Electric).
The promotees are Rajinder Kumar Kohli, Ghulam Qadir Dar, Rahul Dev Manhas, Suresh Kumar, Sunil Dutt Pandoh, Ashol Kumar Chibber, Muneer Ahmad, Mehraj-ud-Din Ganai, Rakesh Sharma and Sheikh Rashid Ahmad.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 21: The Home Department of the Union Territory Government today extended ban on 4G mobile data services in Jammu and Kashmir except Udhampur and Ganderbal districts till November 12.
An order to this effect has been issued by Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary to Government Home Department.
As per the order, the high speed mobile data services will be available in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts only while in rest of the districts, the internet speed will be restricted to 2G.
While the post paid SIM card holders will continue to have access to the internet, these services will not be available on pre-paid cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections.
The latest instructions will remain in force till November 12, unless modified earlier.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Government of Jammu Kashmir Union Territory today nominated Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners as the Nodal Officers for facilitating speedy disposal of representations/grievances received by Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
The Nodal Officer will coordinate with the  ’Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat References Monitoring Cell’ established in the General Administration Department for expeditious follow-up and better coordination with the Administrative Departments/ Deputy Commissioners as required for disposal of the representations/grievances received by Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat.
For better coordination between the ‘Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat References Monitoring Cell’ and Administrative Departments / Deputy Commissioners, the need was felt that all the departments/organizations nominate Nodal Officers for the purpose.
Accordingly, all the Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners have been nominated as Nodal Officers for speedy disposal of the grievances/references pertaining to their respective Departments/ Offices.

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 21: High Court today directed the Government to retrieve and repossess the public land in J&K which is under illegal and unauthorized occupation and encroachment by the unauthorized occupants.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta observed that the disposals of public property can be only by transparent and fair processes and persons who are under expired leases have no right to continue to do so.
“The respondents shall take immediate steps for retrieval of public land which is under unauthorized occupation and encroachment”, DB directed in general while dealing with a matter pertaining to the protection and preservation of world famous tourist resort Gulmarg.
The DB in this connection has sought an action taken report with regard to properties which continue to be in unauthorized occupation which are under the control of the Department of Tourism positively before the next date of hearing.
With regard to demarcation of Forest Land it has been brought before the court that the dispute regarding demarcation of the property is between the Revenue Department and the Forest Department. In this regard, the Minutes of Meeting held by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir have been placed before the court.
Court has been informed that the demarcation of the public land, forest areas and land leased out has been completed and exercise has been carried out. Divisional Forest Officer, Special Forest Division Tangmarg has reported that an area of 1549 kanals 13 marlas stands transferred to the Gulmarg Development Authority and land comprising 5190 Kanals and 05 marlas are in possession of the Forest Department which is recorded as Maqbooza Janglat.
Court has been apprised that the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir is taking steps for resolution of the differences between the Forest Department and the Revenue Department in order to enable marking of the boundaries and a report in this regard has been submitted to the Chief Secretary of J&K UT.
“Let a status with regard to the demarcation be filed before us on affidavit by the CEO, Gulmarg Development Authority; the Secretary Revenue; the Secretary Tourism and the Secretary Forest. Reports will be filed under the signatures of these officers within two weeks from today”, reads the order.
On the issue of encroachments by specified hotels the Forest Department has reported encroachment of forest land of 13 marlas by Hotel Khyber Resort and 7 marlas by Hotel Castle for which notices have been issued by the DFO concerned for eviction.
Court said the reported encroachment of forest land is in violation of several orders passed by the Supreme Court of India and the National Green Tribunal and several directions passed by this court.
“Both the Khyber Hotel and Castle Hotel shall not obstruct the Tehsildar and forest authorities from visiting the properties and demarcating the land. This exercise shall be done within one week from today. A direction is issued to Hotel Khyber Resort and Hotel Castle to forthwith remove their trespasser and restore the land to the Forest Department”, DB ordered and added that the Special Forest Officer, Tangmarg, and the Tehsildar concerned shall visit on spot for retrieving the land in question.
Department of Tourism on framing of policy about expired leases informed the court that after coming into force of J&K Reorganization Act 2019 it is for the Central Government to take decision on the issue.
Court has pulled up the department for taking the shield of J&K Reorganization Act, 2019 and submitting that the Central Government has the power to adopt laws for the Government of J&K.
The DB said, that there is a valuable body of jurisprudence available on the subject in the context of leases/expired leases/rights if at all of lessees/manner of disposal and grant of rights to private persons in public properties at prime locations in Delhi including Chanakya Cinema Complex, the Taj Mahal Hotel on Mansingh Road, New Delhi, and other properties. “The public exchequer is being exposed to tremendous loss and damage by the respondents by their dilatory tactics and their failure to take action with regard to public property”, DB recorded.
Referring to various citation of Apex court, the DB said these rulings binds this Court and certainly binds the Government functionaries in their dealing with public lands, grant or renewal of leases/ licences, retrieval of public lands from encroachments.
Registrar Judicial has also pointed out encroachment by Pride Resort regarding which the Forest Department has not taken any action. Court directed the DFO and the Tehsildar to visit the Pride Resort and inform this Court about the status of this property especially encroachment of public land, if any.
Court directed the Member Secretary PCB to conduct an inspection to Hotel Khail, Hotel Pine Spring, Hotel Grand Mumtaz, Hotel Gulmarg Resort and Hotel Alpine Ridge, and find out whether STPs have been installed by these hotels and are functional for sewage treatment.
Court has been assured that essential and efficient steps for ensuring solid waste collection management and disposal would be undertaken in Gulmarg and sought a report in this regard. Court also directed the respondents-GDA to also provide the date on which the Solid Waste Management Bylaws were notified as well as the details of the fines imposed and collected by the respondents thereafter.

Mgmt playing with our future: Students

Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Oct 21: Owing to the ‘financial downfall’, the Devki Arya Putri Pathshala (DAPP) is set to close down the school by the end of this month, leaving scores of students in a lurch.
As per the details, the school is facing financial crunch for last one year and recently the issue of salary to teachers cropped up after which the school administration took up the matter with the office of the Deputy Commissioner.
As the students came to know about what they called as a sudden move of the school administration, they started protesting against it and said that the school administration was playing with their career.
”We were given the reason that the school building is unsafe due to the damages caused to it during the floods. How come the building was safe since 2014 and now, all of a sudden, the building is unsafe for us?” Aisha a class 9 student of the school told Excelsior.
The school is more than 100 years old and currently, almost 300 students are enrolled there in different classes
After the school administration approached the authorities, the ADC visited the school and took the stock of the situation. However, after the visit of the ADC, a letter was written to the Director School Education, informing him that the administration of the school has decided to close down the school due to the financial crunch and is not in a position of repairing the building which is in dilapidated condition.
The letter issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner states that they have received a communication from the President, Devki Arya Putri Pathshala, Hazuri Bagh that they are facing financial downfall.
The students, who have been left in the lurch, said that they are indecisive on what they are supposed to do. “We have got nowhere to go. To get the admission in another school, we need to get the migration certificate, they have made it difficult to us; how can they decide to close the school all of a sudden,” said Shahnaz, another student of the school.
President of the School, Veena Chandok told Excelsior that due to various factors, it was difficult for the management to keep the school functional and subsequently it was decided to close it down.
“We have tied up with the Khalsa School, they are ready to accommodate all the students; the fee structure is the same and I request the parents to let the school [Khalsa] admit their wards,” she said.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 21: Government has constituted sub committee for identifying the shortcomings/bottlenecks and suggest improvements in implementation of various beneficiary oriented schemes viz Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, National Urban Livelihood Mission and National Rural Livelihood Mission.
According to the order, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development Department will be the Chairman of the committee, while Chief Executive Officer Urban Development Agency Jammu/ Kashmir as Member Secretary.
Secretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Representative of HUDCO for UT of J&K, Convener of the UT Level Bankers Committee, Vice President, Lead Bank Department J&K Bank, Representative of Punjab National Bank for UT of J&K, Representative of State Bank of India for UT of J&K, Representative of J&K Grameen Bank for UT of J&K, Representative of Ellaquai Dehati Bank for UT of J&K, Representative of Indian Bank for UT of J&K and Representative of HDFC Bank for UT of J&K will be the members of the committee.