Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2: Minister for Planning, Labour and Employment, Ajay Sadhotra has elucidated upon the authorities of Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) to improve the delivery system, so that the persons registered with the Corporation will get the benefit of the schemes launched in the State.
The Minister, who is also the Chairman of the ESIC Regional Board, was chairing 14th meeting the Board here today.
Underlining the need for implementation of the previous Board decisions, the Minister said that taking decisions is not sufficient but need is to get them implemented on ground level for overall benefit of the persons registered with the Corporation. He asked the officers of Corporation to pursue the matters at the concerned quarter to obtain the purpose for which the Corporation has been established in the State.
The Board expressed displeasure over non-commissioning of Model Dispensary and Diagnostic Centre (MDDC) approved for Khanmoh, Srinagar and ESI Hospital at Ompora Budgam industrial areas. The concerned officers were asked to follow up the case and ensure that both the facilities are established early in the State. The Board asked Regional Director to advertise all the posts of doctors in local news papers of Srinagar and Jammu required for the Corporation dispensaries and hospitals for making early selection of medicos.
Highlighting the achievements of the Corporation, the Regional Director informed that 1.10 lakh workers from the State are registered with the Corporation, who are getting treatment facilities through 9 ESI dispensaries and one ESI Model Hospital. He said Corporation has paid Rs. 2.13 crore as reimbursement to over 4000 beneficiaries during last financial year.
The meeting was informed that MDDC Kathua has already been commissioned at Kathua while construction of ESI dispensary at Samba has been taken up with SIDCO to start work on the project early.
Sadhotra chairs 14th ESIC Regional Board meeting
No difference between TV and films now: Anupam Kher
NEW DELHI, July 2: Actor Anupam Kher, who will be hosting ‘The Anupam Kher Show’, says small screen has become big and there is not much difference left between films and TV now.
“I don’t think there is any difference left between the two mediums now. Some 10 years back, people used to call it small screen but they used to come and promote their films on TV. I am sure they have realised its potential. Elections were fought on television, almost. It is a huge medium now,” Kher said.
The actor hosted a show called ‘Say Na Something to Anupam Uncle’, starred in TV film ‘Janam’ besides producing many shows for the small screen through his production house. His most recent outing was in Anil Kapoor’s ‘24’.
Kher has donned the hat of a host in his latest turn on TV. Stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Mahesh and Alia Bhatt, Vidya Balan and Kapil Sharma will share stories about their struggle and success with the actor on the show.
“The idea of this show came from my autobiographical play ‘Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai’. It is about my setbacks and failures. I laugh at them now. My play is about my failures and setbacks. Sometimes people have come and told me they are inspired by the play. So, I thought a lot of people can give courage to others,” Kher said.
The 12-episode series, slated to air on Colors from July 6, will have Shah Rukh as the first guest.
“We start with the top guy. He is very charming and entertaining and speaks very well. And there was a lot to catch up with him,” Kher said about his first celebrity guest.
The actor revealed that he tried his level best to get megastar Amitabh Bachchan on the show but his dates were clashing.
“He said he will be on the next season,” the actor said, adding Salman Khan is also likely to be there. (PTI)
Israeli diplomat attack case: Kazmi seeks transfer of his case
NEW DELHI, July 2:
Syed Mohammad Kazmi, an accused in the Israeli diplomat attack case, today approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of his case to another court alleging the judge was biased against him.
A bench comprising justices J Chelameswar and Shiva Kirti Singh, before whom the matter was listed, adjourned the case for tomorrow and asked the Delhi Police counsel to be present.
The bench, however, said that High Court has supervisory power over the trial courts and Kazmi can approach the High Court in case of any bias against him. It said the accused can even ask for video recording of the trial proceedings instead of seeking transfer of case to other judge.
Kazmi approached the apex court challenging Delhi High Court’s order which had refused to transfer the case to another court.
Kazmi’s counsel, Mehmood Pracha, contended that he was not granted opportunity to argue on framing of charges in the case.
He also submitted that on May 3 the trial court only heard arguments on Kazmi’s application for discharge and the court said he had argued on framing of charges, which was wrong. (PTI)
Dr Nisar is new president KUOA
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 2: Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir, Deputy Registrar Kashmir University has been elected as new president of Kashmir University Officers Association (KUOA), elections of which were held yesterday.
G M Shah was elected as vice-president and Ab Rashid Sofi as general secretary while Showkat Shafi and Mubarik Ahmad Shah were declared elected for the post of media secretary and treasurer, respectively.
Abid Qadri, Dr Peer Naseer Ahmad and Ab Hamid Shah were elected as executive members.
CBI court adjourns hearing in Shah’s discharge application
MUMBAI, July 2:
The special CBI court today adjourned the hearing in the discharge application of BJP leader Amit Shah, in connection with the alleged fake encounter cases of Shorabbuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati, till July 14.
The new judge B H Loya, before whom the case came up for hearing today, adjourned the case.
Meanwhile, Shah is likely to appear before the court on July 4 for the regular hearing.
It can be noted that the previous judge J T Utpat was transferred to Pune on June 25.
The court had on May 9, issued summonses Shah and other accused in the case, which was transferred from Gujarat.
The CBI had charge-sheeted Shah and 18 others,including several police officers in the case, last September.
According to CBI, gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who was claimed to have links to Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba, and his wife Kauser Bi, were abducted by Gujarat’s Anti-Terrorism Squad, when they were on way from Hyderabad to Sangli in Maharashtra and were killed in an alleged fake encounter near Gandhinagar in November 2005.
Tulsiram Prajapati, an eye-witness to the encounter, was killed by police at Chapri village in Banaskantha district of Gujarat in December 2006.
Shah, who was then Minister of State for Home, was allegedly involved in the conspiracy behind both the incidents. (PTI)
Absconder arrested
Excelsior Correspondent
MENDHAR, July 2: An absconder wanted in connection with a theft case was arrested today by Mendhar Police, a police spokesperson said.
The absconder identified as Manmohan Singh son of Ajit Singh and resident of Mendhar was arrested from the main market of Mendhar Town by a police team headed by Sub-Inspector, Saleem Altaf Raina under the supervision of SDPO Mendhar, Surinder Choudhary.
He was wanted under FIR No 41/2008 under Section 379 registered in Police Station Mendhar.
Stokes included in England squad for first Test against India
London, July 2:
All-rounder Ben Stokes has returned to the England national team for the opening Test against India as the only addition to the 12-member squad that recently lost 0-1 in a two-Test series at home to Sri Lanka.
The England selectors today announced a 13-member squad to be led by Alastair Cook for the first Test, commencing at Trent Bridge on July 9.
The 23-year-old Stokes, who made his debut against Australia in Adelaide last year, had sustained a self-inflicted wrist injury while punching a dressing-room locker following his dismissal for a golden duck in Barbados during his subsequent tour to the West Indies.
It forced him to miss the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and the start of the English season against Sri Lanka.
The four-Test old Durham all-rounder, however, regained full fitness and also did well with the ball in the domestic circuit, claiming a career-best seven for 67 for Durham against Sussex and a 10-wicket haul in the match.
Although, he could not make much impression with the bat, having scored 172 runs at 28.66 in four Championship matches.
Stokes showed his potential during England’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia when he scored his maiden century in his second Test at Perth and took eight wickets in Sydney.
“The selectors would like to congratulate all the players selected in the squad for the 1st Investec Test against India and in particular Ben Stokes who returns to the squad having worked hard to regain his fitness following an injury this winter,” National selector James Whitaker, said.
“This series against India will no doubt be a tough one and the selectors would like to wish Peter Moores, Alastair Cook, the coaches and players all the best for a good performance next week at Trent Bridge,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cook, despite concerns over his own form and tactics as skipper, has managed to retain his position.
Squad: Alastair Cook (Capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Matt Prior, Sam Robson, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes. (PTI)
Govt to review security given to VIPs
NEW DELHI, July 2: The NDA Government will completely review the security provided to more than 150 VIPs by the previous UPA regime after completion of the upcoming budget session of Parliament.
After the budget session, which ends on August 14, the threat perception to all these VIPs will be reviewed and it is likely that the list would be pruned with a major cut in security cover for those who had used their political clout to get the same, said a Home Ministry official.
Those who were given either Y, Z or Z-plus security during the tenure of Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde include former Union Ministers Sachin Pilot, Manish Tewari and Beni Prasad Verma, BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra and former Congress MP Naveen Jindal.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief PS Bajwa, the party’s Lok Sabha candidate from Allahabad, Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, Congress Legislature Party chief in Uttar Pradesh, Pradeep Mathur, journalist Anirudh Bahal and former Union Minister Matang Sinh are few others who were given security during the UPA regime.
Two BJP leaders — Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy — and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani were accorded ‘Z’ category security during Shinde’s tenure.
“No decision has been taken so far. But threat perceptions of all VIPs will be reviewed and security will be given accordingly,” the official said.
A committee, headed by the Union Home Secretary, periodically reviews the threat perception of VIPs and, accordingly, recommends security for them.
A ‘Z-plus’ category protectee is entitled to security with a total of 25 commandos, a ‘Z’ category protectee gets a cover of 11 security personnel while a ‘Y’ category VIP gets security of two armed commandos.
A Home Ministry statement said that Home Minister Rajnath Singh was today apprised of the security arrangements for VVIPs/VIPs. Singh called for the security arrangements to be reviewed and suitably strengthened wherever required.
Asked whether there was any move to reduce the security for any VIP, the Home Minister said no such decision has been taken. (PTI)
CCI delegation meets Goni, discusses issue of erratic power supply
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 2: A delegation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) headed by its president Rakesh Gupta today called on Chief Engineer, Electric Maintenance & RE (EMRE), Sahnaz Goni, and apprised her about the problems being faced by the people of Jammu in general and the business community in particular due to erratic power supply.
Rakesh Gupta asked the Chief Engineer that there should be no power cuts especially in the evening from 6 PM to 9 PM, which is also necessary for the promotion of business as well as from the security point of view.
It was also brought into the notice of the Chief Engineer that the traders of Ware House which is the business hub are facing acute shortage of power on account of unscheduled power cuts in the area and they are unable to carry on their day to day business.
The delegation also apprised the Chief Engineer about the problems being faced by the industries of Akhnoor Road area.
The Chief Engineer while reacting informed the delegation that there are no scheduled power cuts at present in the areas where 100% metering has been completed. However, on some occasion the feeders in some areas are over loaded due to which the unscheduled cuts become necessary in the areas being supplied power from those feeders.
Goni also assured the delegation that it will be ensured that there will be no power cuts during working hours in the Ware House.
Regarding the continuous power supply to the industries on Akhnoor Road, Goni assured that within two or three days the problem will also be solved.
She also informed that M/s Ircon has been allotted works under RAPDRP for which Central Government has provided funds for improvement of electric infrastructure in the State, adding within next two to three months the new transformers and cables will be installed and after that there will be no power cuts.
NH-1A giving people quite tough time: Hamid Choudhary
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, JuIy 2: PDP leader Hamid Choudhary has said that absence of traffic police on National Highway 1-A has not only created chaos but is also giving people quite a tough time to deal with where pilgrims, tourists, locals, patients and even soldiers besides vehicles carrying essentials are getting struck in massive traffic jams for hours together every second day.
In a statement issued here senior PDP leader, Choudhary Hamid, alleged that tourists, pilgrims, domestic travellers, patients and even essential supplies are getting hit by massive traffic jams which have become order of the day on this highway but Government is least bothered to look into the details or set the system right. He said people are returning to their homes with bad memories of our State which is disgraceful on part of the Government.