Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by one Paras Gupta regarding indecent, vulgar, inappropriate, untrue advertisements and programmes on various TV channels, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today directed the Union of India and State to file response within four weeks.
After hearing Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi for the petitioner whereas ASGI KK Pangotra for the Union of India and Senior AAG Gagan Basotra for the State, Division Bench observed, “the PIL highlights blatant violations of various provisions of the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act ,1995 and the rules framed there under; Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 in the State of Jammu and Kashmir on account of un-regulated television content in the shape of either advertisement for commercial products and serials”.
Division Bench directed Senior AAG Gagan Basotra to inform the court with regard to the steps, which the State Government seeks to take for regulating objectionable television content on the analogy of the provisions of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954 in the State.
The DB further directed Senior AAG to apprise the Court as to what steps, the state seeks to take for regulating the broadcasting of television advertisements and television programs, which are not in conformity with the various provisions of the Television Network Act of 1995 and the Cable Television Network Rules 1994, applicable in State of J&K.
Division Bench also directed ASGI KK Pangotra to file a detailed affidavit regarding the steps taken by the Regulatory Authorities prescribed under the Act and Rules Supra for regulating the television content as has been highlighted in the petition.
DB directs State, UoI to file response
Cop among three receive serious burn injuries
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: A constable of Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) was among three persons received serious burn injuries in a house at Panjore area, falling under the jurisdiction of Kanachack police station.
As per police sources, a fire broke out in a house at Panjore area of Kanachack under mysterious circumstances.
On getting information, police team from Kanachack police station rushed to the spot and fire fighters were pressed into service to douse the flames.
Three seriously injured persons identified as Parsino Devi, wife of late Balwan Singh, Poli Devi, wife of Janardhan Singh and JKP constable Rajesh Singh, son of Balwan Singh, all residents of Panjore, Kanachack were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where their condition was stated to be critical, when reports last came in.
A case in this regard has been registered at Kanachack police station and investigation started.
Saroori convenes ‘Public Darbar’, distributes cheques worth Rs 30 lakh
Excelsior Correspondent
CHATROO (Kishtwar), June 13: For addressing grievances of people at their door steps, especially those living in far flung and hilly areas, senior Congress leader and MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori today convened a ‘Public Darbar’ at Mugalmaidan and Chatroo and also reviewed progress of ongoing developmental works in the area.
Among others, Tehsildar Chatroo, XEn PHE, R&B, PMGSY, AEE PDD, ZEO Chatroo, officials of RDD, In-charge DYSP Chatroo, prominent citizens, Sarpanchs/ Panchs, other district officers of all departments also attended the ‘Darbar’.
While speaking on the occasion, Saroori enjoined upon the officers to work with devotion and dedication for the socio-economic development, benefit and welfare of the people living in the area. Regarding progress of different ongoing developmental works in the area, he directed the concerned executing agencies to redouble their efforts for their time bound completion.
Various demands and grievances were raised by the people during the darbar, which include deficiency of staff in various schools, augmentation of power and drinking water distribution system, land compensation issues, replacement of damaged transformers and old worn wires, inadequate ration supply, bad condition of different roads, regarding land compensation for the land owners which has been acquired by PMGSY department, timely supply of seeds and fertilizers to farmers besides various other demands were highlighted during the ‘Darbar’.
Saroori directed the Horticulture, Agriculture and Social Welfare Officer to aware the people about various schemes launched by the State as well as Central Governments for their benefit.
Earlier, Saroori inspected Tourism huts beside enquired about the availability of stock and supplies in the area. He also met various deputations at Dadpeth and Mugalmaidan and passed onspot directions to the concerned officers for immediate redressal of their grievances.
He also distributed cheques worth Rs 30 lakh as financial assistance among beneficiaries.
Old, disabled retirees should get pension at doorstep: Govt
NEW DELHI, June 13:
Pension woes of old and disabled retired employees may become a thing of past as the government is trying to ensure delivery of pension funds at their doorstep besides ensuring that pension payment order is handed over on the retirement day itself.
The Department of Pension and Pensioner’s Welfare is working on this front with the vision of ensuring a life of dignity for pensioners, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh said.
“The goal is to ensure 100 per cent payment of all retirement dues and the delivery of pension payment order to retiring employees on the day of retirement itself,” Singh said at the first interactive conference with state secretaries (pension) here yesterday.
The minister also said that for old and disabled pensioners, there should be “a mechanism for delivering pension at the doorstep,” according to an official release.
Invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mantra of ‘skills, scale and speed’, Singh said the Department of Pension should look into the urgent need to utilise the skill and experience of the pensioners for the betterment of the society.
“This was specially necessary in view of the increase in the number of retiring employees and increased life span,” he said.
The minister suggested that pre-retirement counselling workshops, which are being institutionalised by the Department of Pensions for the central government retiring employees, should also be organised by the state governments for its employees.
“Workshops should also be geared to prepare even the younger employees to be ready to face life after retirement,” he said.
The Pension and Pensioner’s Welfare department has taken a number of steps like review of forms and simplification of procedures.
An online Pension Sanction and Payment Tracking System called ‘BHAVISHYA’ has been launched, the release said.
“By ensuring complete transparency, this system would obviate delays in sanction and payment of pension,” it said.
In furtherance of Modi’s idea that benefits should reach all the states and not merely be restricted to the Centre, the department had convened a meeting-cum-workshop with pension secretaries of the state governments to share information, experience and best practises on pension matters.
The workshop was attended by 23 states and Union Territories.
There are about 50 lakh central government employees and 30 lakh pensioners. (PTI)
Jammu emerges overall champion in Speedball
Excelsior Correspondent
GANDERBAL, June 13: The first of its kind tournament in Kashmir, the State Level Speedball Championship organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, with technical support of Jammu and Kashmir Speedball Association, concluded here today.
The technical officials of the association were Sahil Janjua, Ankit Sharma, Manika Sharma and Sakshi Vaid.
The championship was held in boys and girls groups for Under-17 and Under-14 categories.
About 150 participants from 8 districts of Jammu division and 2 districts of Kashmir division took part in this 3-day long event held in College of Physical Education Ganderbal.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Paramveer Singh was the chief guest and Dr Hartej Singh, Principal COPE was the guest of honour, who later-on distributed medals, trophies and certificates among the players and officials.
Jammu bagged the overall championship with maximum number of gold medals, while Ganderbal claimed runners-up trophy.
District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Ganderbal, Haji Noor-ul-Haque Andrabi was also present on the occasion.
Result: Under-17 singles boys: Gurmantjeet Singh (Jammu), Shubham Khajuria (Kathua), Rakesh Sharma (Udhampur) bagged gold, silver and bronze respectively, while in Under-17 singles girls, Sugandh (Jammu), Sunia Jaan (Ganderbal) and Rita (Udhampur) claimed the first three positions respectively.
Tractor trolley turns turtle, driver killed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: A driver was killed, when the tractor trolley he was driving turned turtle inside Army Ammunition Depot at Birpur area, falling under the jurisdiction of Bari-Brahmana police station.
As per police sources, a driver was seriously injured when the tractor trolley he was driving turned turtle inside Army Ammunition Depot at Birpur. The driver failed to negotiate the sharp curve and the vehicle truned turtle.
The injured was rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), where he failed to respond to the treatment and succumbed to his injuries.
The body of the deceased identified as Baldev Raj of Jallo Chak was handed over to family members for last rites after completing legal formalities.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Bari-Brahmana police station and investigation started.
Court grants bail to Ballistic Expert, FSL Constable
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu Nighat Sultana today granted bail to Sarwar Hussain Bhukhari, the then Ballasitc Expert FSL and Raj Singh, the then constable in FSL, who were facing trial in the much publicized Amandeep murder case and in custody for the last more than 4 years.
After hearing Advocates AK Sawhney, Aseem Sawhney and Piyush Gupta appearing for the applicants, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge observed, “plea of both the accused have the force and the cases of the applicants are nowhere different from the other accused”.
By taking clue from the judgment of Apex Court and State High Court whereby Rakesh Singh, Manohar Singh and Sultan Mehmood Mirza have already been bailed out, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge granted bail to the petitioners and directed to release them on furnishing bail bond to the tune of Rs 1,00,000 each with the condition that the applicants shall attend the Trial Court on each and every date of hearing and shall not leave the territorial jurisdiction of this court.
“They shall not try to give a slip to law in any way. Moreover, they shall not attempt to influence any witness or any other person related to the case. In case of the applicants’ violation of any of these conditions, the State will be free to apply for cancellation of the bail granted by this court”, 2nd Additional Sessions Judge said.
HC nominates Vacation Judges
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: High Court today nominated the Vacation Judges for the period between June 16 and June 27, during which the High Court will observe summer vacations. These Vacation Judges will hear matters which are required to be immediately dealt with.
According to the notification issued by Registrar General, Justice Janak Raj Kotwal will be the Vacation Judge of Jammu Wing from June 23 to June 27 and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat will be the Vacation Judge of Srinagar Wing from June 23 to June 27.
Meanwhile, CJM Jammu, S C Katal nominated four Judicial Magistrates to function as Duty Magistrates during the Summer Vacation to deal with emergent criminal cases of Jammu district.
Susheel Singh, Munsiff Jammu will hold the court from June 16 to June 19, SS Bali, Sub-Judge will hold the court from June 20 to June 23, CJM will also function as Duty Magistrate from June 24 to June 26 and Khem Raj, Sub-Registrar Jammu will hold the court from June 27 to June 30.
Theft cases worked out, 4 held
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 13: Samba Police solved four different theft cases and arrested the main accused and recovered the stolen property.
A special Police Team constituted by Anil Magotra Senior Superintendent of Police Samba headed by Inspector Ravinder Singh, SHO P/S Samba today apprehended four accused persons namely Akshay Kumar S/o Beli Ram Bhagat R/o Bishnah, Sunil Kumar S/o Rakesh Kumar R/o Ludhiana, Vipan Kumar S/o Bua Ditta Bhagat R/o Bishnah & Sahil Kumar S/o Ashok Kumar R/o Ward No. 6 Samba, involved in theft cases under FIR No. 14/2012 U/S 379 RPC P/S Samba, FIR No. 57/2014 u/s 379 RPC P/S Samba, FIR No. 60/2014 u/s 379 RPC P/S Samba & FIR No. 96/2014 u/s 457/380 RPC P/S Samba and recovered stolen property i.e. three Motor Cycles bearing Registration Nos. JK08B-6711, JK02AE-2126 & JK02AC-3044, 01 LCD and Rs. 9500/- in Cash.
Further investigation into the matter is on and involvement of these accused persons in other cases can not be ruled out a police spokesman said.
Financial crisis result of Govt’s inefficiency: Naeem Akhtar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 13: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) today expressed serious concern over the prevailing financial crisis in the State and held the Government responsible for the same.
In a statement the party chief spokesperson, Naeem Akhtar, said it was saddening to see that the treasuries were running dry badly affecting the people particularly contractors and employees besides impacting work on some key social sector schemes. He said it is not the first time that such a situation has arisen in the State but in the past as well the people had to face immense problems on account of the Government’s utter failure on the fiscal front.
“Shortage of funds at treasuries has become a hallmark of this inefficient Government which is least bothered about the people,” he added. He said the bad fiscal scenario has not only affected the contractors and employees only but it has also hit a large number of claimants seeking GP fund, gratuity etc.
Castigating the State Government for its failure on every front, Naeem said it has brought the J&K to a position where everything is in ruins. Though, for their own pleasures the ruling politicians have no problem of money, but the pensioners, casual labours, seasonal and need based workers are not getting their dues for months together. “These are all signs of bankruptcy”, he said adding that rot in the system is direct result of the Government’s inefficiency as it has not been able to utilize hundreds of crores of rupees as plan allocation from the Centre over the last more than five and a half years.