Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU,  June 4: Not only the Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India had to conduct another major exercise thereafter to fill up four vacancies of Rajya Sabha and 8 in the Legislative Council within a couple of months after the completion of Assembly polls in the State. Seven more vacancies in the Council had to be filled by the Governor on the recommendations of the State Government.
The elections to Rajya Sabha as well as Legislative Council were likely to be held simultaneously in February-March as all vacancies to them would be arising out in the same months next year.
Of four Rajya Sabha seats, NC-Congress coalition partners hold two each while out of 15 seats falling vacant in the Legislative Council, eight were represented by National Conference, five by Congress, and one each by opposition PDP and NPP. Nominated Congress member Subash Gupta had retired from the membership of Upper House on April 1, 2014 and the vacancy has not been filled so far.
Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra of Congress and Deputy Chairman Javed Ahmad Rana of National Conference were among those MLCs, who would be completing their term after the Assembly elections.
Jammu and Kashmir has four Rajya Sabha seats, the elections to which are held after every six years. As per normal practice, one third members of the Rajya Sabha should retire after every two years. However, this is not the case in Jammu and Kashmir, where all four members retire after six years and the vacancies are filled simultaneously.
Four Rajya Sabha members retiring in Jammu and Kashmir next year are Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Union Minister and PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz (both Congress), Mohammad Shaffi Uri and Ghulam Nabi Ratanpuri (both NC).
All of them would complete their term in February. Initially, NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah had been elected as the Rajya Sabha member in February 2009 but he contested the Lok Sabha election from Srinagar in May 2009 and won. Thereafter, he had vacated Rajya Sabha seat, which was won by NC leader Ratanpuri.
In addition to four Rajya Sabha seats, 15 seats would be falling vacant in the Legislative Council in March-April. Of 15 seats, election would be held for eight while seven other seats fall in Nomination quota.
Fifteen members of Legislative Council retiring in March-April next year are Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra (Congress-Nominated), Deputy Chairman Javed Ahmad Rana (National Conference-Nominated), Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra (National Conference-Nominated), Ajatshatru Singh (National Conference-Elected), Bashir Ahmad Magray (Congress-Nominated) Aga Sayeed (National Conference-Elected), B R Kundal (Congress-Elected), Khalid Nujeeb Suhrawardhy (National Conference-Elected), Nurbo Gyaltsan (Congress-Elected), Ravinder Sharma (Congress-Nominated), Rafiq Ahmad Shah (Nationalist Panthers Party-Elected), Ghulam Qadir Pardesi (National Conference-Nominated), Sheikh Ghulam Rasool (Congress-Nominated), Vijay Bakaya (National Conference-Elected) and Syed Asgar Ali (PDP-Elected).
Congress leader Subash Gupta (Nominated) had completed his term on April 1 this year and his post is lying vacant.
Sources said the election of four candidates in Rajya Sabha, eight in Legislative Council and nomination of seven members in the Council would depend on composition of the next Assembly and the party or parties, which form next Government in the State after the Assembly elections, which were due in November-December this year.
The Government can fill one vacancy arising out of the retirement of Congress MLC Subash Gupta, who belonged to the Congress.
NC Congress alliance had won all four Rajya Sabha seats in February 2009 as they enjoyed majority in the Assembly. Similarly, whichever Government is in power would have the powers to nominate 7 MLCs in March next year for a term of six years.
However, elections to eight posts of MLCs would be conducted by the Election Commission of India along with four seats of Rajya Sabha.
The Legislative Council has a total strength of 36. Of them, 22 members are elected by the MLAs (11 each from Jammu and Kashmir divisions) with one seat each reserved for Leh, Doda and Poonch. Eight members to the Council are nominated by the Governor on the recommendations of the Government. Four MLCs (two each from Jammu and Kashmir divisions) are elected by the Panchayat members while two MLCs (one each from Jammu and Kashmir divisions) are elected by the members of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
In 36 members Council, there are three vacancies, two from the quota of ULBs and one arising out of the retirement of Congress nominated MLC Subash Gupta.
Elections to ULBs were last held in January 2005 and the ULB members had elected two MLCs few months later including Nizam-ud-Din Bhat of PDP from Kashmir and Arvinder Singh Micky of Congress from Jammu, Bhat had quit the Upper House membership in 2009 after he was elected to the Assembly while Micky had completed his term in November 2011.
As the ULB elections were not held despite being due in January 2010, the posts of two MLCs from their quota remained vacant.

NEW DELHI, June 4:

Amid his thrust on speedy delivery systems, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked bureaucrats to do away with “archaic” rules and procedures which hamper governance by creating “avoidable confusion” and encouraged them to take decisions with a promise of backing them.
Holding a meeting collectively with 77 Secretaries and senior officers of all the ministries and departments here, he asked them to approach him directly through phone or email to give suggestions or seek his intervention to resolve any issues.
During the marathon two-and-a-half hour meeting, Modi “listened extensively” to the top bureaucrats and empathized with their sentiments while noting their anguish in not being able to realize their true potential because of “circumstances”, an official statement said after the first such meeting in eight years.
Expressing full faith in their commitment and competence to build a better future for the country, he asked them to simplify and streamline administrative rules and procedures to make them people-friendly.
He said that “there may be rules and processes which have become outdated, and instead of serving the process of governance, they are leading to avoidable confusion” and stressed upon the need to “identify and do away with such archaic rules and procedures”.
Promising to be accessible to all officers, he encouraged them to approach him with their “inputs and ideas”.
He also “encouraged the officers to take decisions and assured them that he would stand by them,” the statement said.
Laying emphasis on use of technology for “greater efficiency and effectiveness in administration”, Modi said that “in a democracy, redressal of citizens’ grievances is very important, and information technology can help greatly in this regard.”
He pushed for a “team spirit” and urged the secretaries to be leaders of their teams, saying “only through collective action, faster results can be achieved.”
Offering to be always ready to give an account of the work being done by him, the Prime Minister said that “in the process of governance, ideas should be converted into institutions because institutions last longer than individuals.”
The senior bureaucrats echoed sentiment and welcomed a similar standard of accountability.
He said the process of governance of his Government should begin with cleaning-up of the offices, improving the workplace, which would automatically result in a better work culture and efficient services to the citizens.
Modi said that “through the use of technology, and better understanding among departments, administrative and schematic convergence is possible.”
During the meeting, Modi made initial remarks and then asked Secretaries to raise issues. About 25 Secretaries spoke on the sectoral issues under their responsibility.
Previously, the Secretaries had been asked to prepare a 10-minute presentation for the Prime Minister listing successes and failures of the past regime as well as points of action for the next five years. That process may start tomorrow.
Notes of Finance Ministry officials for the meeting included inflation, fiscal consolidation, controlling the current account deficit, clarity on tax administration and disinvestment in non-core sectors like steel and cement.
Liberalising the FDI policy in defence, e-commerce retail, railways and construction development and hurdles in land acquisition and cumbersome project clearances topped the agenda of Commerce Secretary Rajeev Kher.
Updates on the monsoon and a new insurance scheme to protect farmers from crop failure figured on Agriculture Secretary Ashish Bahuguna’s notes, while the consumer affairs department was concerned about rising onion prices.
While the Oil Ministry went with a list of pending decisions, including an increase in natural gas prices which was due on April 1, the Power Ministry cited round-the-clock power supply and easing of fuel shortages as its top focus.
Divestment of stake in PSUs such as SAIL and opening of closed mines were the focus areas for the steel and mines ministry.
Meanwhile, Modi today assured the nation that all efforts will be made in Parliament for fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of ordinary citizens.
“People of the country have elected the 16th Lok Sabha by blessing the public representatives and casting their votes in unprecedented numbers,” the Prime Minister told reporters at Parliament House before the commencement of the first session of the 16th Lok Sabha.
“I assure the people of the country that all efforts will be made in this temple of democracy to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of ordinary citizens of India,” he said.
In his brief address, Modi also extended his good wishes to the citizens. (PTI)

Nishikant Khajuria

JAMMU, June 4: As Jammu recorded this season’s maximum temperature on Wednesday, the prevailing heat wave further intensified forcing people to stay indoor while the State Government today formally declared summer vacation in all schools of the summer zone from June 6.
Today’s maximum temperature was registered at 42.3 degree Celsius, which was more than two degree Celsius above the normal temperature during these days, said an official of the Metrology Department.
The maximum temperature on Wednesday recorded an increase of 1.6 degree Celsius over yesterday’ temperature while the minimum temperature, which was 24 degree Celsius also increased two degree Celsius in 24 hours, the official explained.
The normal temperature during these days should be 39.2 degree Celsius maximum and 24 degree minimum.
As the mercury kept soaring, there was no respite from the heat wave, which has been intensifying for the last few days. During the afternoon hours, the city roads wore a deserted look as people preferred to stay indoor due to the heat wave. Pedestrian, mostly women and girls, were seen covering face and carrying umbrellas to protect themselves from the direct sunlight. Prolong and frequent power cuts in Jammu multiplied woos of people in the scorching heat.
Heavy rush was witnessed at Ranbir Canal where people, particularly youth and children  had reached for seeking a respite  from the sweltering heat. By the evening, the rush was continuously increasing. Roadside vendors selling sugarcane juice, ice candies and lemon water witnessed had brisk business and rush due to the prevailing heat wave.
According to Dr B C Sharma, Head of the Agrometrolgy Division in SKUAST Jammu, the heat wave will continue to prevail in next few days as the chances of local rains in plains are remote till June 10.
Earlier on May 29, the maximum temperature was 41.8 degree Celsius  and on May 1 it was 40.3 degree Celsius, which reached to 42.3 degree Celsius today and may further increase in next two three days.
Meanwhile, the Directorate of School Education, Jammu issued formal order for summer vacation in all schools, Government as  well as private, falling in Summer zones of Jammu division with effect from June 6 to July 31.
As per the order, any default on the part of private schools in observance of the calendar of vacations  shall attract action under rules.

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 4: Several Government departments have concealed the posting details of the officers and officials facing the departmental enquiries on the allegations of corruption, nepotism and throwing rules to winds to obtain and provide pecuniary benefits. Public Works and Revenue, which are notorious for corrupt practices, are on the top of the list of such departments.
The most shocking is the aspect that in these departments even inquiries into tampering of the records and use of substandard material are allowed to linger on for more than five years thereby boosting the morale of the officers indulging in illegal acts.
According to the official data available with EXCELSIOR, Public Works (R&B) Department has not submitted the posting details of the officers and officials facing departmental enquiries to the General Administration Department despite explicit directions from the High Court in this regard. The Vigilance Wing of the GAD had sent 24 cases to the Public Works Department for departmental enquiries during the period between 2008 and 2012.
Among the officers and officials, whose present place of posting has been concealed by the department, are those facing charges of large-scale corruption in the conduct of surveys in Rajouri district; causing loss of Rs one crore to the State exchequer; amassing assets disproportionate to the known sources of income; double drawls against non-existing works; use of substandard material; misappropriation of Government funds; allotment of works on fake turnover certificates; allotment of tenders to blue-eyed persons; drawl of amount against non-existent works etc.
As far as large-scale corruption during survey in PWD Rajouri is concerned, the department has mentioned that it has not received the case while as about the case regarding use of substandard material in Billawar it has not responded to the GAD despite repeated reminders.
Similarly, the Vigilance Wing of the General Administration Department had sent 15 cases to the Revenue Department for departmental enquiries mostly in 2009, 2010 and 2011. However, Action Taken Report has not been submitted even in one case.
The intensity of shielding the officers and officials facing various charges can be gauged from the fact that present place of posting of such employees has not been furnished to the GAD for the obvious reasons. Among such officers are those who were involved in transfer of 1200 kanals of Government land to land grabbers in Kote Bhalwal area of Jammu district; drawl of Rs 10 lakh against non-existing works in Sheikhpora Migrant Colony in Budgam district and illegal mutation of land.
Indicating that practice of shielding corrupt officers and officials is also at its peak in the Housing and Urban Development Department, the data said that present posting of employees facing 11 departmental enquiries has not been revealed to the GAD. These cases were forwarded to the Housing and Urban Development Department during the period between 2008 to 2012.
Those facing charges of allotting prime land at Bahu village to owner of Hotel Taj for Rs 50 lakh; ordering backdoor appointments in Jammu Development Authority; conniving with the land mafia in grabbing land at Lower Roop Nagar; issuing tenders to favourites repeatedly for a single work are among the officers and officials whose posting related information has been concealed by the Housing and Urban Development Department.
The Public Health Engineering and Irrigation and Flood Control Departments have also concealed the posting related information of officers and officials facing 10 departmental enquiries. The charges against the officers facing these enquiries are misappropriation of funds; drawl of payment against fraud and non executed works; misplacement of vital records pertaining to the execution of various works; drawl of Rs 80 lakh against non existing works in Kishtwar and engagement of daily wagers after getting bribe from them.
Similarly, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department has concealed the posting related information of officers facing four departmental enquiries for misappropriation of funds and drawl of fraud bills etc.
The Higher Education Department has broken the record of all these departments by completely omitting the information pertaining to two Principals of the Government Degree Colleges despite the fact that State Vigilance Organization has established charges against them.
The other departments, which have also shielded the officers facing numerous charges, are Technical Education, Forest and Agriculture Production.