NEW DELHI : In a landmark verdict that can come as a relief to many death row convicts, the Supreme Court today held that death sentence of a condemned prisoner can be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of delay on the part of the Government in deciding the mercy plea.
Giving life term to 15 death row inmates, including four aides of forest brigand Veerappan, the apex court also ruled that a death convict suffering from mental insanity and schizophrenia cannot be hanged.
It overruled its own verdict in Khalistani terrorist Devinderpal Singh Bhullar’s case in which it had held that delay in deciding mercy plea cannot be a ground for commutation of death sentence.
Death sentence in such cases can be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of their mental illness, it said.
Today’s judgement may have implications in various cases, including the petitions filed by three death row convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case who have challenged the President’s rejection of their mercy plea less than three years ago.
Framing guidelines on disposal of mercy petitions and execution of death sentence, a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam ruled that convicts given death sentence must be informed about the rejection of their mercy pleas and should be given a chance to meet their family members before they are executed.
It also held that solitary confinement of a prisoner, including death row convict, is unconstitutional and it should not be allowed in the prisons.
The bench gave its verdict on a batch of petitions filed by 15 death row inmates seeking its direction for commutation of their sentence to life term on the grounds of delay in deciding mercy plea and mental illness.
The bench also said that execution of death sentence should be carried out within 14 days after rejection of the mercy plea.
The apex court also said that the prison authorities must provide legal aid to prisoners facing death sentence so that they can approach courts for commutation of their sentence on the ground of their illness and delay in deciding mercy plea by the Government.
Pronouncing its judgement on 13 petitions filed by the 15 convicts whose execution of sentence had been stayed by the apex court, the three-judge bench clarified that its directions be implemented in all cases whether a person has been convicted under IPC or the anti-terror law.
The issue of communication of rejection of mercy plea assumes importance in view of the controversy surrounding the execution of Parliament attack case convict Mohd Afzal as there was allegation that his family members were not properly communicated about the dismissal of his plea and subsequent hanging.
Earlier, a two-judge bench in April last year had held that long delay in disposing of mercy pleas by the President or the governor of persons convicted under anti-terror laws or similar statutes cannot be a ground for commutation of death sentence.
The April 12, 2013 ruling was pronounced while rejecting Bhullar’s plea for commutation of sentence on ground of delay in deciding his mercy plea. At that time, there were over 20 convicts facing execution.
Later on, an apex court bench had granted relief to a condemned prisoner M N Das who had sought conversion of his death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground of delay in deciding his mercy petition.
Justice Sathasivam, before taking over as CJI, had said that there was a need for “authoritative pronouncements” by a larger bench or a Constitution Bench on issues like mercy pleas to avoid conflicting views by smaller benches.
The 15 death row inmates on whose pleas the apex court delivered its verdict are sandalwood smuggler Veerappan’s aides and others.
The other death row convicts included Suresh, Ramji, Gurmeet Singh, Praveen Kumar, Sonia and her husband Sanjeev, Sundar Singh and Jafar Ali convicted in various cases.
While Suresh, Ramji, Gurmeet Singh and Jafar Ali are lodged in prisons in Uttar Pradesh, former Haryana MLA Ralu Ram Punia’s daughter Sonia and her husband Sanjeev are jailed in Haryana. Praveen is in a Karnataka jail and Sundar Singh is an inmate of a prison in Uttaranchal.
Sonia and Sanjeev were awarded death penalty for killing eight members of her family, including her parents and three children of her brother in 2001.
Gurmeet Singh was convicted for killing 13 of his family members in 1986. Jafar Ali murdered his wife and five daughters. Suresh and Ramji killed five of their relatives. (AGENCIES)
Delay in deciding mercy plea ground for commutation of death penalty: SC
HM comdr, JeM militant killed in South Kashmir
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander and a foreign militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) were killed in two separate gun battles in South Kashmir today.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, South Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar, told Excelsior that top Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Javed Ahmad Mir alias Javed Salfi son of Mohammad Maqbool of Bulbul, Nowgam in district Anantnag, was killed in an encounter in Qazigund area of Kulgam district and a foreign militant was killed in another encounter in Tral area of South Kashmir.
The DIG said that Police, SOG and Army’s 9 RR on a tip-off cordoned off Shampora village of Qazigund in Kulgam district early this morning. The search party of the security forces was fired by the militant from the house of one Ghulam Ahmad Parray, where he hiding. “The troops returned the fire leading to gun-battle in which the militant was killed”, he added.
“We recovered an AK-47 rifle which he had snatched from a police constable at Janglat Mandi area of Anantnag town last year, one pistol and few grenades and his body from the debris of the house that was damaged in the gun battle”, Kumar said.
A police spokesman said that Javed Ahmad Mir joined Hizbul Mujahideen in 1998 and was arrested in 2003. “Later on his release in 2007 he again joined back the outfit. In the year 2009 he was again arrested but recycled back to militancy and was involved in an attack on a policeman at Janglat Mandi, Anantnag on November 15 last year in which the service weapon was snatched from the policeman after shooting him. A case FIR No 348/2013 stands registered in this regard”, he added.
Earlier Police fired tear smoke shells as hundreds of people protested in the village and were preventing police and Army to search the debris of the house that was damaged in the encounter. Protesters pelted stones at police and Army and raised slogans against them.
And in another gun battle, one unidentified foreign militant was killed in an encounter at Dadsar, Tral in Awantipora area of South Kashmir this evening.
Sources said that 3 RR and Police cordoned off Dadsar village in Tral area after tip off about the presence of 3-4 militants of JeM in a house. Militants fired at the troops and they fired back leading to killing of one JeM militant.
Shinde meets PM amid AAP face-off with Centre
NEW DELHI, Jan 20: Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde tonight met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh as the Government grappled with the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s sit-in here.
Shinde’s meeting with the Prime Minister came sometime after a meeting of the Union Cabinet.
There has been talk that the Home Minister was consulting legal experts on the issue of proceeding against Kejriwal who has made serious charges against him on money exchanging hands for transfer and posting of SHOs of Delhi Police.
Shinde left the Cabinet meeting but returned after 45 minutes to meet the Prime Minister. As he reached the Prime Minister’s official residence, the Cabinet meeting had just ended.
He was with the Prime Minister for nearly 20 minutes.
There was no official word on what transpired at the meeting which came as Delhi witnessed an unprecedented face-off between the Centre and Kejriwal who today began a dharna in front of Rail Bhavan calling himself an “anarchist” and asking “honest” police officials to take leave and join his protest demanding action against some of their colleagues.
Defying prohibitory orders in force in the high-security area near the seat of power, Kejriwal accompanied by six of his Ministers, came down hard on the Centre for the current situation arising from their demand for action against officials who refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket in an area in South Delhi.
“Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde,” he told his party MLAs and supporters at the dharna site.
Kejriwal mounted an unprecedented confrontation with the Centre demanding action against some police officials while asking the honest among them to take leave and join the dharna near the seat of power in the heart of the capital.
Unfazed by criticism that he was unleashing anarchy on the streets of the capital, Kejriwal said “I am an anarchist” and have come prepared for a 10-day protest which could prolong further.
The Centre also toughened its stand rejecting the demand for immediate action saying anything can be done only after a proper inquiry which was on. Shinde also ruled out Delhi Police coming under the purview of the Delhi Government.
This is probably the first time a Chief Minister and his Cabinet is holding a dharna on the streets that looks like it may be a prolonged affair.
“We will not move out,” Kejriwal said after a senior police official asked them to move to nearby Jantar Mantar, the place from where Kejriwal and Anna Hazare had launched an anti-corruption campaign two years ago.
The trigger for the agitation that has disrupted life close to the vicinity of Central Government’s seat of power, the Raisina Hill, is Delhi Police’s refusal to raid an alleged drug and prostitution ring in an area under Law Minister Somnath Bharti’s constituency of Malviya Nagar.
Bharti had himself led a team of AAP supporters past midnight on Wednesday last week and demanded a raid but police on the spot refused to do his bidding.
Accusing police of taking bribes and making money while compromising the safety of women, Kejriwal demanded that Central Government suspend four officials who refused to act on the minister’s orders.
Sensing an opportunity ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal, who is also convener of AAP, decided to escalate the confrontation by bringing all his Ministers to sit on dharna in defiance of the prohibitory orders in force in the area.
Delhi Police rushed around 4,000 of its men and women but scuffles broke out between them and AAP volunteers in which the party claimed a local MLA was severely beaten up and a number of others injured. The leave of all Delhi Police personnel has been cancelled to deal with the situation.
While attacking the police he appealed to the honest among them to take leave and join his protest.
“Some people are saying that I am an anarchist. I am spreading disorder. I agree I am an anarchist. Today, I will create anarchy for Shinde,” he said in an impromptu address to his party MLAs and supporters.
Earlier in the morning, Kejriwal along with his supporters attempted to go to North Block housing the Home Ministry to lodge their protest. However, they were stopped near the Rail Bhavan as the nearby Vijay Chowk and the entire Rajpath were sealed for the Republic Day rehearsal that was going on.
In his address to his MLAs and supporters, Kejriwal put the blame squarely on the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the Centre for the situation that has led to his dharna and appealed to people to join him.
He said any crisis arising out of the situation including disturbance in holding Republic Day celebrations will be the responsibility of the Centre.
Kejriwal claimed that a woman official of the Ugandan High Commission met Law Minister Bharti and gave him a letter written by an official of the Mission to the Government in Uganda on a woman from his country brought to Delhi and allegedly forced into prostitution racket.
He claimed the Ugandan official welcomed their campaign on the issue.
The Chief Minister attacked functioning of police saying the streets of Delhi are not safe for women.
Asked about the law and order situation, a senior police official said “We will do everything possible to maintain law and order.”
On whether Kejriwal and his supporters will be evicted forcibly in the night, the official refused to reveal the “strategy” in public.
Kejriwal said his protest will not affect governance as he will clear files from the protest site.
Defending his action to hold dharna, Kejriwal asked those gathered whether it was wrong to demand suspension of policemen in connection with the rape of Danish woman and those who failed to act on his Cabinet colleagues’ letter demanding protection for a woman who was later allegedly burnt alive by her parents-in-law.
Kejriwal said he was demanding action against policemen who failed to check drug and sex racket being run from south Delhi. He said under such circumstances, Ministers should be seen among people instead of sitting in the cosy comforts of their big bungalows.
Kejriwal also criticised a section of the media, Congress and BJP for describing actions of AAP leaders as “vigilantism”.
He also referred to the allegation made by former Union Home Secretary R K Singh against Shinde that he was involved in the transfer of SHOs in Delhi Police.
“It creates doubt that money has changed hands (for the purpose),” said Kejriwal.
He said most policemen are not corrupt and asked the honest ones to join AAP’s movement against corruption. He recalled that the Delhi Government has given Rs 1 crore compensation to the next of the kin of the policeman who was killed by liquor mafia recently. (PTI)
Amarnath yatra from June 28, 6.6 lakh yatris to be registered
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today announced that annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji would this year last 44 days beginning June 28 and concluding on August 10 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
A decision on duration on Shri Amarnath ji pilgrimage, which every year generates controversy over its period, was taken at the meeting of the SASB held in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra in New Delhi.
A total of 6.60 lakh pilgrims would be registered for this year’s pilgrimage i.e. a total of 15,000 per day from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal (7500 from each route everyday), official sources said.
Last year, the pilgrimage had started on June 27 and lasted 55 days till August 21.
The duration of pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas generates controversy every year with several political, social and religious organisations stressing on two month long yatra.
Sources said the SASB would shortly finalise other modalities for the pilgrimage including registration, food menu, issuance of registration certificates etc.
The registration would start on March 1, sources said.
They added that registration of 15,000 pilgrims per day for the twin routes would be apart from the yatris, who would undertake pilgrimage to the cave shrine via helicopters from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Governor N N Vohra, who also happened to be the Chairman of the SASB, presided over 26th meeting of the Board in the Union capital.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, Justice (Retd) GD Sharma, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Vijay Dhar and Dr (Prof) Ved Kumari Ghai, all members of the Board attended the meeting apart from Navin Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer and Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board.
Regarding the duration and commencement of Yatra 2014, the Board relied upon the approach set out by the Board’s Sub Committee, chaired by Ravi Shankar, which had been set up in July 2011 to advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future Yatras.
The Board directed that the CEO SASB would arrange a special pooja on the day of Jyesth Purnima, which falls on June 13 this year. This pooja shall, if possible, take place at the holy cave or any other suitable location in the Yatra area to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage.
The Board directed the CEO to publicise, at frequent intervals, that for securing regulation for the Yatra, the intending Yatris must furnish the prescribed Compulsory Health Certificate issued by the authorised Doctors/ Medical Institutes. The CEO informed that all States and UTs have been asked to furnish a list of Doctors/ Institutes who would issue Compulsory Health Certificates to the medically fit Yatris of the State/ UT.
The Board further directed the CEO to compile State-wise lists of the nominated Doctors/ Institutes and upload the information on the Board’s website – www.shriamarnathjishrine.com – for the information of all intending Yatris.
The Board asked the CEO to intensively publicize, through print and electronic media, the registration procedure; requirement of Compulsory Health Certificate to obtain registration; details of Doctors/ Institutes authorized to issue Compulsory Health Certificates, Do’s and Don’ts to be followed by the Yatris during the course of Yatra and Health Advisories to prevent Yatris from getting afflicted with serious illnesses.
The CEO informed the Board that in view of suggestions received from various quarters and the experience gained during Yatra 2013, the designated Expert Committee had revised the 2013 Food Menu. The CEO stated that this year the revised Food Menu will be applicable to all Langar Organizations as well as to all Food Stalls/ Shops/ any other establishment which comes up in the Yatra area to serve/ sell food or beverages to the Yatris/ service providers during Yatra 2014.
The Board reviewed the Action Plan, which has been drawn up for the conduct of Yatra 2014, particularly the arrangements being made for providing healthcare and sanitation facilities to the Yatris and the measures being taken to preserve the environment of the Yatra area.
LCPC: NC has the final say as two Cong members abstain
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 20: Ruling National Conference today had its say in the Legislative Council Privilege Committee (LCPC), which decided to go ahead with its earlier decision to summon former Army chief Gen VK Singh as two members of the Congress failed to make it to the meeting called by LCPC chairman and Congress leader Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Minister
Gen Singh now faced non-bailable warrants if he didn’t appear before the Privilege Committee on January 22.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the National Conference had the last laugh in the LCPC meeting called by Mr Sharma two days ahead of Gen Singh’s appearance as two members of the Congress (in the Panel)—Ravinder Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Monga—didn’t turn up for the meeting. Mr Sharma had eventually called the meeting to get summons against the former Army chief revoked in the wake of letter submitted by one of his representatives to Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra on January 10.
Sources said Mr Sharma was left wandering and was unable to force his decision as all three National Conference members of the LCPC including Devender Singh Rana, Ali Mohammad Dar and Showkat Hussain Ganaie were present in the meeting while he was the lone Congress representative in the absence of Ravinder Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Monga.
The LCPC has three members each from the two ruling coalition partners—National Conference and Congress.
The LCPC had on December 8 summoned Gen Singh to appear before it on January 9 to reply to the queries on his allegations that the Army had paid Jammu and Kashmir Ministers. While Gen Singh didn’t appear, one of his representatives tried to handover a letter of the former Army chief to one of the Council officials, which was not accepted. The next day, Gen Singh’s representative personally delivered the letter to the Council Chairman.
“In the context of the letter and an inquiry ordered by Mr Malhotra into the Council official’s refusal to receive the letter, the LCPC Chairman had convened today’s meeting with a view to get the summon against the former Army chief scrapped,’’ sources said but added that this couldn’t materialize as the National Conference insisted on personal appearance of Gen Singh on January 22 as per the previous LCPC decision of January 9.
The Congress was unable to force its decision due to absence of its two members.
Worthwhile to mention here that PCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz had said that there was no need to summon Gen Singh personally as he had already denied the charges.
Sources said the LCPC reportedly observed that the former Army chief’s letter, which Mr Malhotra had handed over to the LCPC chairman, had been written by his Advocate.
“It was a letter written by the Advocate not on behalf of the former Army chief but in his individual capacity. Moreover, it had been mentioned in the letter that the LCPC could collect Compact Disc (CD) from the Assembly Secretariat, where it had been submitted earlier,’’ sources said, adding that Gen Singh should have provided the CD to the LCPC.
On January 9, the LCPC had issued summons to Gen Singh through Haryana Home Secretary and Director General of Police for appearing before it on January 22 after he didn’t appear on the due date. Sources said the LCPC would explore further options including issuance of non-bailable warrants if Gen Singh didn’t appear again.
However, Gen Singh’s counsel had assured Mr Malhotra on telephone that the former Army chief was in Tamil Nadu on January 9 and would appear before the Council positively on next day of summon.
Two cross-LoC bus services suspended
Fayaz Bukhari/Gopal Sharma
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 20: Pakistan today suspended the trans-Line of Control (LoC) Karvan-e-Aman bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and another service between Poonch and Rawlakot (PoK) to press for the release of a Pakistani driver, who was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir Police after narcotics worth around Rs 114 crore was recovered from his truck at Uri in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district last week.
Regional Passport Officer, Firdous Iqbal said, “We were informed by PoK authorities that the bus service shall remain suspended today. However, no reason was given by them.”
The historic bus service between Srinagar-Muzaffarabad was started in April 2005 and is considered to be a major Jammu and Kashmir centric Confidence Building Measure between India and Pakistan.
The bus service survived last year’s worst border crisis between India and Pakistan when the troops of the two countries exchanged firing along the LoC for most part of 2013.
The suspension of the bus service seems to be pressure tactics by Pakistan to press for the release of driver Mohammad Shafiq Awan, son of Abdul Aziz Awan of Shard, Muzaffarabad, PoK from whose truck 114 kilogramme narcotics was recovered last week. The narcotics has been sent to laboratory testing but authorities feel that it is brown sugar whose value in international market is Rs 114 crore.
Pakistani authorities detained 27 trucks and drivers of these vehicles at Chakoti across the LoC since Friday following recovery of the narcotics from a PoK truck and arrest of the driver by J&K Police. Forty eight PoK drivers and their trucks are also stranded at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre in Uri since the stand-off began last week and Pakistan refused to take back these trucks. Tomorrow is the first LoC trading day since Friday’s standoff and it is unlikely that the trade on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad route will commence tomorrow in view of the ongoing row.
Meanwhile, the PoK authorities today claimed diplomatic immunity for the driver who was arrested after recovery of huge haul of brown sugar from his vehicle. The claim has been made by PoK’s Director General of Trade, a retired Army officer during a meeting with the State Government officers for breaking the deadlock. But no much progress could be achieved in this direction.
The cross LoC trade is conducted from Tuesday to Friday every week while the weekly bus service runs every Monday across both the LoC points near Uri and Poonch.
At Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point in district Poonch, the Pakistani authorities did not open the gates today creating high drama. A weekly bus carrying 29 passengers including 26 PoK returnees, started from Poonch city at around 10.30 am today. The passengers besides Immigration and Security staff kept waiting there for more than two and half hours but the Pakistani authorities did not open the gate.
The bus then returned to Poonch and made yet another attempt after an hour after officers took up the matter with the authorities on that side. But it was conveyed by one of the security officers that there were no orders from the top to open the gate today for any trans LoC activity. The passengers later moved to meet the Deputy Commissioner Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan, seeking extension in their permit.
Deputy Commissioner, Poonch when contacted said today total 29 passengers were dispatched to Chakkan-da- Bagh in a weekly bus. But unfortunately, nobody from Pakistani side reported to the cross-LoC point. They even did not open the gates. Majority of 26 passengers in the Rawlakote bound bus were PoK residents. TFO Jagdish Lal was accompanying the passengers. As the passengers and Indian staff kept waiting for long, TFO asked them to come back at around 2 pm.
Mr Khan said the stay of most of the PoK residents is now illegal here. They have been forced to be stranded here by the Pakistan authorities. They have requested to grant extension in their stay here. The matter has been taken up with the External Affairs Ministry. If they agreed, the stay for at least one week would be granted to them as they have been held up here without their any fault.
When asked whether trade is going to take place tomorrow via Chakkan-da-Bagh LoC point, the DC said from the circumstances emerging and the developments at Uri, it seems that no trade would take place tomorrow. However, the TFO and other staff has been asked to remain ready for any further development or directions from the top, Mr Khan maintained.
Meanwhile, the police is investigating the case of recovery of the major narcotics consignment from PoK driver. Police have identified the trader as Tariq Sheikh for whom the Almond consignment was booked from PoK by Al-Fajar Trading Company but they are looking for the person for whom the narcotics were to be delivered.
The J&K Government and PoK authorities have approached to the respective Central Governments’ for resolving the crisis. Sources said that the Home Ministry will take a call and then the Foreign ministries of the two countries will discuss the issue and arrive at a conclusion to end the standoff.
Quarrying at environment cost unabated; mountain completely damaged near Tikri
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 20: At a time when environment degradation has become a major concern for everybody, the Geology and Mining Department has been allowing quarrying across the Jammu and Kashmir without paying any heed to this vital aspect just for the sake of earning royalty thereby causing immense damage to the environment. Moreover, the related departments like Environment and Irrigation and Flood Control are not being consulted and inconvenience to the people in the nearby areas is being completely ignored despite the fact that the same has already been viewed very seriously by the J&K State Water Resources Management Authority.
One of the examples of ignoring environment aspect while granting permission for quarrying is Chiryai Muthal area in Maand village near Tikri in Udhampur district where a mountain having a plateau and greenery on the slopes was allowed for quarrying by the Geology and Mining Department and the same has been rendered completely defaced by the miners.
According to the reliable sources, while granting permission to one Purshotam of Maand village (who was forcibly retired from the Revenue Department by the then Government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad for being involved in corrupt practices), the Geology and Mining Department didn’t bother to consider whether quarrying would cause any environment degradation or damage the vital road and bridge near the mountain.
“The quarrying was allowed despite the fact that plateau on the mountain was being considered for development of a helipad keeping in view the potential of promoting tourism in Chiryai Muthal area, which forms part of a project already submitted to the Government of India for funding”, sources said, adding “the miner, who was even enjoying the political patronage, carried out quarrying beyond the permissible limit and resulted into complete defacement of the mountain besides causing extensive damage to the vital and only road to the area and a bridge”.
While concerned officers of the Geology and Mining Department remained mute spectator to the violation by the miner, the district administration came to know from locals about the environment and other damages because of quarrying and got the same stopped by imposing Section 144 despite immense political pressure from certain quarters about ignoring the quarrying, sources informed.
“Though following district administration intervention the Geology and Mining Department got the quarry permit stopped yet for quarrying beyond the permissible limit only meager amount of fine has been imposed on the miner”, they said. How could damage to environment and road/bridge can be justified for paltry fine? sources asked and stressed that this issue should be taken very seriously at the highest level in the Government so that such an activity fraught with causing huge environment damage could be stopped forthwith in other parts of the State.
When contacted, District Mineral Officer, Dr Rajinder Rana confirmed that fine has been imposed on the miner for carrying out quarrying beyond permissible limit, adding “quarry permit has also been stopped and presently no mining activity is going on in the area”.
It is pertinent to mention here that non-consultation of connected departments has already been taken seriously by the J&K State Water Resources Management Authority headed by former Chief Secretary S S Kapur but the way process of granting permissions by the Geology and Mining Department is continuing it seems that environment is no issue for those at the helm of affairs in this department.
The scant attention towards the environment degradation from the Geology and Mining Department is notwithstanding the fact that State High Court has already directed the Government to constitute committees comprising one member mandatory as an expert on environment and forest in each district to examine the quarrying activities.
India test fires Agni-IV
BALASORE, ODISHA, Jan 20: India today successfully test fired its 4000-km range nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni-IV’, making it ready for induction into the Army.
“The test firing was a total success. The missile travelled its full range,” M V K V Prasad, director of Integrated Test Range, told.
The third consecutive trial of the missile was conducted at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast at 10.52 am, DRDO said, adding the serial production of the missile would begin now.
The test fire is the last one in the series of development launches.
Propelled by composite solid fuel rocket motor technology, Agni-IV was launched from its road mobile launcher, which is also indigenously developed by DRDO.
The long range radars and electro-optical tracking systems which were located all along the coast tracked and monitored all the parameters throughout the flight.
Two ships located near the target point tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event, a DRDO release said.
Defence Minister A K Antony congratulated DRDO chief Avinash Chander and his team on the successful test launch.
“The missile took off majestically, rose to a height of over 850 km, covered the intended range in about 20 minutes, hit the target with two digit accuracy; meeting all mission objectives and proving the capabilities of the missile,” DRDO spokesman Ravi Gupta said.
Agni-I, II, III and Prithvi are already in the arsenal of armed forces, giving a reach of over 3000 km and the country an effective deterrence capability, DRDO said.
“The event is of greater significance since the system was tested in its deliverable configuration with the active participation of Strategic Force Command personnel. The missile is now ready for induction and its serial production will now begin,” said Chander, who is also the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister.
Chander, who commanded the launch sequence, said it took the country’s level of deterrence and preparedness and effectiveness to newer heights.
“Seen together with recent momentous events – the second launch of ‘Agni-V’, operational clearance of ‘Tejas’, achieving the criticality of nuclear rector of India’s first nuclear powered submarine ‘Arihant’, completion of development phase of underwater launched missile BO5 and development of mark II version of Arjun – main battle tank, it (today’s testfire) also reflects the high maturity level of India’s capabilities in design development leading to production, contemporary weapons and platforms for strengthening its deterrence and defence capabilities,” he said.
He congratulated all team members from DRDO and Strategic Force Command.
Agni-IV is equipped with state-of-the art avionics, fifth generation on-board computer and distributed architecture, besides latest features to correct and guide itself for inflight disturbances, the DRDO said.
The most accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system and supported by highly reliable micro navigation system ensured that the missile reached the target within two-digit accuracy.
The re-entry heat shield withstood temperatures in the range of 4000 degree centigrade and made sure the avionics function normally with inside temperature remaining less than 50 degree centigrade.
V G Sekaran, Director General of Missiles and Strategic Systems reviewed the launch activities and guided the team. Tessy Thomas, project director of Agni-IV led the team of scientists during the test firing. (PTI)
English version of book on Raghunath temple launched
NEW DELHI, Jan 20:
An English version of a book on Raghunath Mandir, detailing historical background and architecture of the shrine located in Jammu, where a large number of devotees from all over the country come to pay obeisance, has been launched.
The book “Shree Raghunath Temple, A Unique Religious Complex” by well known Kathak artiste Shovana Narayan who translated the Hindi version titled “Shri Raghunath Temple, Jammu”, that was brought out in the year 2010.
“For a person like me who has not visited the Raghunath Mandir in Jammu ever, here is a great chance to experience the beauty of the temple by just exploring some pages,” said Shovana during the release of the book here recently.
The function was presided over by Union Culture Minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch and Indian Council for Cultural Relations president Karan Singh at the Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan here.
The original book in Hindi was authored by Kamal Kishore Mishra on the request of Karan Singh.
“On the demand by tourists and pilgrims the book has been printed in English also. It is much more than a guide book as a lot of research work has been done in it,” Singh said.
The temple was built during the period 1835–1860 by Maharaja Gulab Singh and his son Maharaja Ranbir Singh.
The specialty of the temple, said Singh, is that it is the only one in North India which contained every ‘devta’ and ‘devi’ as well as their incarnations.
“The temple has nearly 300 deities and for the past few years I was thinking about a book to be written which brings all this to the people, people only go and come out of the complex (after worshiping the gods and goddesses)”, he said.
Shovana said she felt that she had paid a visit to the entire temple while translating the book.
“It was an amazing experience translating the book because I haven’t been there myself. So, I have visited the complex through reading and translating the manuscript,” she said.
“It was very very Unique complex it exudes the spirit of Indian philosophy. There are perhaps three hundred Ramayanas and this book is sort of adding to that.”
Kamal Kishore Mishra said “This (Raghunath Temple) is the first temple complex here more than 300 deities of gods and goddesses have been given space and the role of each god whether its Ramayana, Ramcharitra Manas, Puranas or Vedas an encyclopedic work has been formed.” (PTI)
IT raids in 3 industries
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Investigating Wing of the Income Tax Department today carried out raids in the premises of three industries at Bari Brahmana.
Official sources said that the sleuths of Investigation Wing of Income Tax Department raided Abhay Industries, Shiva Mint Industries and Jai Amba Industries at Bari Brahmana and laid hands on several documents pertaining to the production and stock of these units.
Stating that all these groups are owned by Delhi based industrialists, sources said, “the raids in Bari Brahmana were part of massive exercise carried out by the Department in Delhi in order to detect the concealed income”.