Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: J&K Government Employees Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) today stressed upon the Government to redress two major left out demands of the employees, which it had promised to settle within one month’s time.
In a meeting of JCC held here at Jammu under the presidium of senior members of JCC- Amrik Singh, Ganesh Khajuria, Balwinder Singh and Darminder Singh, the leaders lambasted the Government for going back from its promise. They said the Government had made commitment to settle within one month’s time that two major demands of the agreement i.e to make regularization policy for casual labourers, contractual and need based workers and removal of pay disparity but the time is over and the demands are still not resolved. They appealed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to fulfill the commitment made with JCC. They also urged the Chief Minister to enhance the Medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 1000 and release 10% DA in favour of employees before Eid-ul-Fitr.
Settle employees’ pending issues: JCC
BJP committed to 33 pc reservation for women: Pandey
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Charging the Congress led UPA Government of betraying the women by not granting reservation to them in decision making bodies, BJP Mahila Morcha National President Saroj Pandey declared that BJP is committed for political empowerment of the women.
Addressing media persons at party headquarters here today along with Member of Parliament Darshana Jardosh, Morcha National Vice President Rashim Dhar Sood and J&K State President of Mahila Morcha Priya Sethi, she said that BJP has all along stood for providing reservation to women in Parliament, State Assemblies and other similar bodies.
She said BJP has already granted reservation to women in its organizational setup and shall in the near future work towards reservation for them in elected bodies. It is unfortunate that the Congress was never in favour of such provisions for women and its assertions of standing for gender equality were only election gimmicks, she added.
Replying to a question on BJP’s pre poll popular slogan-“ Achche Din Aayenge”, Saroj Pandey said that the people should not get mislead by propaganda of Congress and its allies and instead should give some reasonable time to Narendra Modi to achieve the goal of “Achche Din”.
She said that the ill effects of accumulated wrongs, mis-governance, corruptions and scams of astronomical proportions committed during the past 60 years cannot be undone in just six or 60 days. The people should have faith in committed leadership of Narendra Modi and Achche Din Aayenge, will fructify, she added.
Saroj Pandey, while advocating severe punishment for sexual offences, said that people’s faith in law of the land need to be strengthened.
She said that unnecessary and avoidable delays in finalization of offences against women must stop. It is essential that the faith of the society and especially of the woman folk must be restored in the rule of law and all the cases of sexual offences must be tried through fast track courts for early punishment to the culprits. She also assured that the neighboring countries will change their decade’s old attitude towards India and our citizens will lead peaceful lives on the borders.
Meanwhile continuing the process of preparing the party to achieve Mission 44+ for which various organizational training programmes and discussions have been planned, a two day State training workshop organised by BJP State Mahila Morcha National for prominent workers of the Morcha across the State started off with great enthusiasm here today.
The training program was inaugurated by Morcha National President Saroj Pandey and Training Cell National convenor, Alok Kumar, Member of Parliament Darhana Jardosh, State General Secretary Kavinder Gupta, Mahila Morcha National Vice President Rashim Dhar Sood, BJP Jammu Poonch Parliamentary Constituency Incharge Yudhvir Sethi, BJP State secretaries Mamta Singh and Rajni Sethi, Mahila Morcha State President Priya Sethi, Morcha Prabhari Poornima Sharma, National Executive member Sheela Handoo, State treasurer Chander Mohan Gupta, Training Cell State Convener Rajiv Charak and other leaders.
Saroj Pandey, while addressing the participant attending Training workshop for Mission 44+ exhorted them to accept the political challenge of the forthcoming state Assembly elections with confidence and determination for success and with the sense of realization that women are equally important segment of the society which can usher in a drastic change towards betterment of all. She stressed the need for holistic education of the women so that they fully comprehend the potential of the women in effecting the political ambience of the society for upliftment of the society. The women’s role in changing and improving the society is much greater than the men.
SRTC/GTU Pensioners Welfare Association reiterates demands
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: J&K SRTC/GTU Pensioners Welfare Association reiterated the demands of the GTU pensioners and family pensioners.
In a statement, Chairman of the association Ajit Singh Adyal said that all the erstwhile GTU employees/pensioners and family pensioners were suffering for delay in disbursement of the arrear payment of 6th Pay Commission. Liability of Rs 10 crores 43 lakh sanctioned by the State Government should be provided to SRTC so that it will be able to disburse the arrears, he added.
He demanded payment of arrears w.e.f January 1, 1992 to August, 1993, implementation of SRO 14 in favour of erstwhile GTU employees, who were not covered under DPC.
Adyal also demanded immediate clearance of cases pending with the AG Office on account of pay anomalies from January 1, 2006 and removal of DA anomaly of JKSRTC employees and bringing it at par with State Government employees. He also reiterated for removal of pay anomalies.
He added that the old scale grade of 3050-4590 should be revised by the Government to 5200-20200+GP 1900, while old scale grade of 3050-4500 should be revised by the Corporation to 5200-20200+GP 1800. The old scale grade of 4500-7000 should be revised by the Government to 5200-20200+GP 2800, while the old scale grade of 4650-7050 should be revised by the Corporation to 5200-20200+GP 2400. The old scale grade of 6500-200-10500 should be revised by the Government to 9300-34800+GP 4200, while old scale grade of 6500-250-10250 should be revised by the Corporation to 9300-34800+GP 2800. The old scale grade of 10050-15200 should be revised by the Government to 15000-39000+GP 2800, while old scale grade of 10000-15250 should be revised by the Corporation to 9300-34800+GP 4600.
He stated that JKSRTC management and Transport Department should make efforts to take up the matter with the Finance Department to redress the demands.
He urged the Finance Minister to intervene in the matter and resolve the issues at the earliest.
One dies, 3 injured in road mishaps
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, July 19: One person died and another injured when a tipper rolled down near Kasar Morh at Kud National Highway, here today.
According to the police reports, a tipper bearing registration number JK02AT-6176 rolled down near Kasar Morh when its driver could not negotiate the sharp curve. People took the injured to Sub District Hospital Chenani where doctors declared one of them as brought dead.
The disease was identified as Dharam Pal son of Parkash of Chenani while the injured was identified as Sabiti son of Indru of Madha.
Meanwhile, a motorcyclist and his pillion rider sustained serious injuries when their bike was hit by a truck on the National Highway near Kud. The injured were identified as Rakesh Kumar, son of Rajinder Kumar of Barrian Udhampur and Rohit Kumar son of Shiv Kumar of Barrian.
Chotta Amarnath, Prachin Amarnath Yatras on Sawan Purnima
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: The annual pilgrimage of Chotta Amarnath Ji Shri Maha Dyneshwar in the dense forests of Arin Dardpora in district Bandipora of North Kashmir will be performed on Sawan Purnima falling on August 10.
This was stated by Sharda Mata Trust Bantalab which is organizing the annual yatra to holy shrine for the second time this year with support of APMCC.
The devotees intending to have the pilgrimage can approach the organization and fill up the registration forms in this regard up to July 25.
The yatra will move towards the holy shrine on August 8 from Sharda Mata Trust, Adarsh Nagar Bantalab here and in the evening it will reach base camp of Sharda Mata temple Kaloosa, Bandipora.
After a night halt at the temple the yatris will move towards holy shrine on August 10 for darshan of Lord Shiva’s Lingam at the shrine and return to base camp.
Meanwhile the Yatra of Prachin Amarnath in Thajewara in Bijebehara tehsil in South Kashmir district of Anantnag will also be held on Sawan Purnima this year as usual by the Bijebhera Devasthan Prabhandak Committee.
The Sanstha which held a meeting here today under the chairmanship of its president Raja Ji Tickoo reviewed the arrangements for this years yatra and said every thing has been kept in place.
The meeting expressed concern over the Mattan incidents and appealed the Government to enforce Supreme Court order in letter and spirit.
J&K man held in Gujarat with charas
AHMEDABAD, July 19:
A team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today detained a Jammu and Kashmir-based man who was allegedly carrying 15 kg charas, estimated to be worth around Rs 90 lakh in the international market.
“We seized 15 kg charas from a J&K-based person, Farooq Qureshi, at Sabarmati Railway station here this morning,” NCB Zonal Director in Gujarat Hariom Gandhi said.
Acting on a specific tip-off, the NCB team zeroed in on Qureshi when he arrived here by Delhi-Ahmedabad Ashram Express with the drug consignment, the officer said.
The cannabis was brought from Jammu and Kashmir for distribution in Ahmedabad’s old city area. The estimated value of the seized contraband drug in the international market is Rs 80 to 90 lakh, Gandhi said.
Qureshi had been earlier arrested for drug trafficking and he has served almost 10 years in jail, the NCB Director said.
“After his release from prison, he again got involved in drug trade but had managed to avoid getting apprehended. But this time we caught him,” Gandhi added.
NCB has initiated a probe to find out who all were associated with Qureshi in the drug smuggling, he said.
“He (Qureshi) is a distributor. We are investigating who were to buy the charas from him and find out others who may be part of his network,” Gandhi added. (PTI)
Haleema’s brother files petition against MCC officials
Karachi, July 19:
The Haleema Rafiq suicide case took a new turn after the deceased’s brother filed a petition in the Multan bench of the Lahore High Court, demanding the registration of a FIR against the Multan Cricket Club officials, accused of sexually harassing his sister and her colleagues.
Muhammad Arshad filed the petition on Friday, according to the family of Haleema Rafiq.
The 17-year old female cricketer died on the night of July 14 after consuming toxic acid at her residence in Multan.
She and four other female players had accused Maulvi Sultan Alam and other selectors of the Multan Cricket Club of (MCC) sexually harassing them last year, but an inquiry by the women’s wing of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dismissed the allegations and banned the girls for six months.
After the inquiry, Maulvi Sultan also filed a petition of 20 million rupees against Haleema and the other girls.
“We have asked the court to direct the police to register a FIR under section 302 against Maulvi Sultan, who is chairman of the club and other selectors for causing mental torture to Haleema and forcing her to commit suicide,” one family member said.
Interestingly, the family had initially first declined a Post Mortem of the body and later also didn’t turn up at the police headquarters to register the case.
A source said that the family was initially feeling threatened and were completely drained by the tragedy but had now decided to approach the court.
The source said Arshad approached the court since he does not trust the police. (PTI)
17 employees suspended
Excelsior Correspondent
BANDIPORA, July 19: To ensure regularity and punctuality of employees in offices, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora today inspected the offices of Tehsildar Sumbal, Block Development Officer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Board Office, Zonal Education Office and Public Health Engineering in Sumbal Sonawari.
During the inspection, 17 officials who were found unauthorizedly absent from duty were placed under suspension.
Trent Bridge pitch rated ‘poor’ by ICC
Dubai, July 19:
Criticised by all quarters, the trent bridge pitch, on which India and England played out a dull draw in their opening Test, was today declared “poor” by ICC match referee David Boon and ECB could be penalised for it pending an investigation.
In accordance with Clause 3 of the ICC Pitch Monitoring Process, Boon submitted his report to the ICC expressing his concerns over the quality of the pitch. (PTI)
DB sets aside 12 yrs RI awarded to narco smuggler
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal has set-aside 12 years rigorous imprisonment and fine of Rs 2 lakh awarded a narcotics smuggler namely Mohd Naseer by the 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu on May 12, 2009.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the appellant, the DB observed, “search has been conducted in violation of Section 50 of the NDPS Act even though the officer concerned had felt necessity of invoking the provisions of the Section”.
“The evidence led by the prosecution fails to provide reliable link evidence to establish beyond doubt that the substance recovered from the bag of the accused was in fact a contraband”, the DB said and set aside the impugned judgment and order of sentence.