Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 12: A 25 member delegation of Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) led by its President, R.K. Bhat, called on N.N. Vohra, Governor, here at Raj Bhavan.
Mr. Bhat informed the Governor about the various difficulties faced by the Kashmiri migrants living in camps and raised demand for the urgent implementation of the State Cabinet’s decision to appoint the already selected Kashmiri migrant candidates against the de-reserved posts advertised under the Prime Minister’s Employment Package for Kashmiri migrants.
The Governor assured the delegation that he would take up their demand with the Chief Minister.
YAIKS delegation calls on Governor
293 employees of Agriculture Deptt promoted
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 12: In a slew of measures towards welfare of the Agriculture Department as envisaged in the road map set by the Government, 293 employees of Agriculture Department Kashmir were promoted today to the next higher posts lying vacant in the department.
The Departmental Promotion Committee that earlier met under the chairmanship of Director Agriculture Kashmir, Mushtaq Peerzada cleared their promotions. However, the formal orders were issued today.
It may be reiterated that during 2013-14 about 450 employees were promoted in the department.
Court upholds imprisonment in cheque bounce case
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, RS Jain today upheld the imprisonment of six months and fine of Rs 20,000 to Raj Singh Chib, son of Puran Singh Chib of Satriayan Camp, R S Pura in a cheque bounce case.
In August 2005, on the request of accused for financial assistance, the complainant gave Rs 45500 and for repayment of the debt, accused issued a cheque which was however dishonored by the bank vide memo dated 6.2.2006 on grounds of ‘insufficient funds’.
On receipt of the dishonored cheques, the complainant sent a notice to accused asking him to make the payment of the cheque amount. Despite the notice, accused did not make the payment following which a complaint under Section 138 Negotiable Instrument Act was filed.
The Trial Court awarded imprisonment of six months and fine of Rs 20,000 to Raj Singh Chib. However, the same was challenged before the Principal Sessions Judge.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge found no illegality or infirmity in the judgment dated 9.5.2012 passed by the Trial Court. Accordingly, the accused present in court was taken into custody for serving the reminder of the sentence imposed upon him by the Trial Court.
Comprehensive programme undertaken for development of State: Sagar
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 12: Asserting that the Government has undertaken a comprehensive programme for ensuring need based and sustained development of the State which would go a long way in providing all the necessary basic facilities to the people, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Ali Mohammad Sagar, today said necessary instructions have been passed to ensure timely completion of all the developmental projects.
The Minister was interacting with scores of deputations which met him today, including non-teaching staff of SKUAST, Western Transport Association besides the deputations from Rajouri, Mendhar, Pampore, Budgam and Panchayat representatives.
The Minister asked the people to actively involve themselves in the implementation of these welfare programmes and provide the necessary feedback about the status of implementation so that the corrective measures are taken where necessary.
The Minister while interacting with the deputations assured them that all their genuine grievances would be redressed in time bound manner. He said that necessary instructions have already been passed down the line so that various developmental and welfare programmes are completed within the stipulated time frame for the benefit of people.
Last batch of Tawi Trekkers leaves for Mongri
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: The last batch of Tawi Trekkers, J&K comprising of 36 students, including 8 girls of Oriental Academy Higher Secondary School, Jammu left today for Mongri to participate in J&K Himalayan Trekking Programme being organized by the club at Mongri in Udhampur.
The group led by Aman Arora, a trained mountaineer was flagged off by Vivek Chouhan, Administrator of Oriental Academy and Ram Khajuria, General Secretary of Tawi Trekkers, J&K and included four teachers namely Nishu Dubey, Seema Bakshi, Sukanya Sharma and Sheetal Raina.
During the 3 day venture, the budding trekkers will be trained in rock climbing and river crossing besides learning the dos and don’ts of trekking and conservation of nature. They will also be taught to respect nature and leave a clutter of left over in the jungles en route.
It may be recalled that Himalayan Trekking Programme was undertaken by the club in 1990 for school children in the age group of 10-14 years in order to catch them young. During the past 25 years, it has been the most popular activity of the club during summer vacations in which over 1000 boys and girls have participated so far.
US Supreme Court rejects Rajat Gupta’s last bid to avoid jail
NEW YORK, June 12:
India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta will have to report to jail on June 17 to begin his two-year sentence on insider trading charges after the US Supreme Court rejected his last-ditch bid to stay out of prison while he appealed his conviction.
Gupta, convicted in 2012 of passing confidential board room information to his friend and business associate Raj Rajaratnam, is scheduled to begin his prison term on Tuesday.
US district judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over his trial, would recommend that 65-year-old Gupta be assigned to a medium-security prison in Otisville, about 112 kilometres northwest of New York City.
Gupta had submitted an 118-page submission to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on June 10, requesting to remain free on bail and saying that if an appeals court rules in his favour, he will “likely” be entitled to a new trial.
The former Mckinsey head, who has so far remained free on bail, said he presents no risk of flight or danger to the community, and he has abided by all conditions of release set by the district court.
Ginsburg, who oversees emergency applications, denied Gupta’s request in an order passed yesterday.
Ginsburg made no comment on denying Gupta’s request.
A spokesperson at the office of Gupta’s lawyer Seth Waxman, a former US solicitor general, said Waxman does not usually comment on pending matters but added that “unfortunately Gupta’s application was denied.”
Harvard-educated Gupta is one of the most high-profile Wall Street executives to be convicted of insider trading, charges that were brought against him by Manhattan’s India-born top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara.
Apart from the two-year prison term, Gupta has been ordered to pay USD 5 million in fine and a separate USD 6 million in restitution to Goldman Sachs.
Gupta’s submission to the US Supreme Court was his last-ditch effort to avoid going to prison. He had last month filed a motion in the court of appeals to stay his surrender date and for bail pending the disposition of his rehearing petition but the court had denied that motion.
In his application to the Supreme Court, Gupta had requested the “continuation of his release on bail pending the disposition of his petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc to the Second Circuit…And, if necessary, this Court’s disposition of his petition for a writ of certiorari.” (PTI)
DB grants 2 weeks time to ADC, SSP for compliance of order
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vasu Dubey regarding violation of Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 read with various provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and seeking direction to implement guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today granted two weeks time to the Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu and SSP Jammu for filing report in terms of order dated May 9 failing which they will have to appear before the court on July 2, 2014.
Vide order dated May 9, 2013, the Division Bench had directed Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu to issue notice for general area of Jammu and Bishnah in particular so as to make people aware about the provisions and directions of the court. Similarly, SSP was directed to register the complaint of the petitioner and take necessary action in terms of J&K Instrument (Control of Noises) Act 1959. The DB had further directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner and SSP Jammu to submit the report regarding compliance of the directions.
After hearing Advocate Varut Kumar Gupta for the PIL whereas Senior AAG Gagan Basotra for the State, DB granted two weeks to time to Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu and SSP Jammu for filing report in terms of order dated May 9, 2014.
Girl rescued from Dal lake
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 12: Police today said a girl from Banihal plunged into Dal lake near Jetty No 3.
She was rescued by locals of the area and police has registered a case in this regard.
HC sets aside election of Sainik Cooperative House Building Society
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: In two different petitions filed by Col K S Padwal and Anchal Singh challenging the rejection of their nomination papers for election to the Managing Committee of the Society, Justice Tashi Rabstan today quashed the order of Returning Officer and directed the respondents to allow the petitioners to contest election of the society if they are not otherwise ineligible.
After hearing Advocate BS Manhas appearing for the both the petitioners whereas AAG HA Siddiqui and Govt Advocate Meenkashi Bhutyal for the State and Advocate Rohit Verma for the Sainik Cooperative House Building Society Ltd, Justice Rabstan observed, “this Court vide order dated 12.07.2013 while allowing the respondents to hold the election on 15.07.2013 had directed for deferring the counting and declaration of the result till further orders”.
“Thus, in view of this order, neither the counting could commence nor the result declared till date. Now, since the petitioner has been held eligible to contest election of the Managing Committee of the Society, the election of the Society held on 15.07.2013 is set aside with a direction to the Deputy Commissioner to issue fresh notification for holding election of the Managing Committee of the Society”, the High Court said.
Holy pilgrimage of Rudhra Sandiya performed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 12: The holy pilgrimage of Rudhra Sandiya (Lidder Sandiya) in Batshandloo area of Hillar Shahbad of Amanita district South Kashmir was performed after over two decades by some Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims.
The pilgrims after taking a dip in the holy water performed pooja -archana. The Rudhra Sandiya is the part of three pilgrimage centres of Trisandiya, Pawan Sandiya in South Kashmir district of Anantnag where annual religious functions used to be held prior to mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits.
For last some years the pilgrims again started visiting these religious places highly revered by Kashmiri Pandits and it was for the first time that pilgrims after over two decades visited holy Rudhra Sandiya. The team of pilgrims was led by Dr Ramesh, Ajay Kaul and Ramesh Bhat.