NEW DELHI: India today said it was working with Pakistan to resolve the situation arising out of arrest of a Pakistani driver for smuggling narcotics worth Rs 100 crore across the LoC but made it clear that the criminal will have to face the “full force of Indian law”.
The Foreign Ministries of the two countries were making all efforts to resolve the situation as early as possible, official Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said admitting it was a “difficult situation” for the Indian drivers who have not been allowed to return by the authorities in PoK which are demanding release of their driver.
India has already summoned Pakistan Acting High Commissioner on Tuesday in connection with the suspension of Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot-Poonch bus services by Pakistan, which has demanded release of its driver.
Observing that there were Confidence-Building Measures relating to trans-LoC trade and travel which bring about immense humanitarian benefits to people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Spokesperson said, “It is surprising that these CBMs have been chosen by Pakistan to be held hostage for the sake of persons indulging in drug trafficking”.
The Spokesperson said though the two ministries are making efforts to resolve the issue, there was “no modality which exempts any person alleged to be involved in criminal activity from facing the full force of Indian law”.
Tension mounted at the Kaman post area in North Kashmir when police last week detained a truck carrying 114 packets of brown sugar, valued at Rs 100 crore in international market, and arrested the driver along with two more people from Bandipore who were to receive the consignment.
In a tit-for-tat action, authorities in PoK detained 27 Indian truck drivers and demanded release of their driver.
The deadlock intensified when authorities in Kashmir were informed by the PoK about suspension of bus services on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot-Poonch sector.
While one driver has been arrested, 48 other drivers from PoK are also stranded at Salamabad Trade Facilitation Centre since the stand-off began last week.
Asked about reports that the Pakistani driver has diplomatic immunity, the Spokesperson said there was no immunity that exempts a person in that category if he is alleged to be involved in criminal activity.
The passenger bus service was started in April 2005 while the trade began in October 2008. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : The probe into the mysterious death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Union Minister Shashi Tharoor, was today transfered to the elite Crime Branch of Delhi Police, a week after she was found dead in a luxury hotel here.
Sources said the high-profile case has been handed over to Crime Branch considering “various aspects” involving it.
On Tuesday, a sub-divisional magistrate, who probed Sunanda’s death, had directed the police to investigate murder or suicide angles in the case after the autopsy report mentioned “poisoning” as the reason for her demise.
52-year-old Sunanda was found dead in a 5-star hotel in South Delhi on Friday night, a day after her twitter spat with Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar over an alleged affair with Tharoor.
In a report to the police, SDM, who has recorded the statements of Sunanda’s brother, son, Tharoor and his staff, said that no family member suspected any foul play in the death.
The sources had said autopsy report also mentions a “deep teeth bite” on the edge of the left palm apart from mentioning over a dozen injury marks.
They had said autopsy report has found mix of two drugs – Alprazolam and Excedrin – in Sunanda’s body. Excedrin is a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine.
The SDM, in his report, had said Sunanda could have died in “just three ways, homicidal, suicidal and accidental” and police should investigate further to ascertain the reason of her death.
The SDM said under section 176 of CrPC his job was to determine cause of the death which has been established as poisoning.
Any death within seven years of marriage is legally required to be investigated by the sub-divisional magistrate. (AGENCIES)
AMETHI : Amidst clamour among Congress workers that he should be named the Prime Ministerial candidate, Rahul Gandhi today said he would definitely consider it if the party comes to power and the elected representatives select him for the post.
“In Congress, elected MPs select the PM. After elections if our party comes to power and the MPs select me then I will definitely consider it,” Rahul told reporters on the second and last day of his two-day tour to his parliamentary constituency Amethi.
He was asked whether he would be ready to bear the responsibility of the top post.
Rahul said even Manmohan Singh was selected by the elected representatives as in Congress there is no system of selecting the PM candidate before polls.
“To select a PM is the right of the MPs and it should stay with them. Selecting a PM nominee before polls is not a democratic system, but part of personality cult,” he said.
At the CWC meeting held recently, party chief Sonia Gandhi rejected demands by leaders from various states to anoint Rahul the PM candidate before elections, saying there has been no such tradition in the party.
Rahul today told reporters in Amethi that “democracy is not strong enough” in Uttar Pradesh and there is too much of personality cult.
“There is too much of personality cult in Uttar Pradesh. In BSP Mayawati distributes the ticket and in SP only one family distributes it. In UP there are only MLAs and they do not have freedom to work properly,” Rahul alleged.
When told that even Congress is being run by Gandhi family, he said the party was not run by 10 Janpath and has maximum democracy.
“Democracy is not strong enough in UP. Without associating people, neither the democracy will get strong nor development will take place in the state. I am confident that I will bring Congress government in the state,” he added.
Evading direct reply to a question that the party was leveling allegations against the state government, but why it was not opposing it, Rahul said recently the party staged demonstrations against the SP regime and even the state president Nirmal Khatri faced lathis.
Rahul alleged that while the previous Mayawati government halted the entire development of Amethi, the current SP regime overlooked the area on power and road front.
“UP was deprived of development from the last 30 years and unless Congress government comes the situation will remains the same,” he said.
Dismissing allegations that development work has been neglected by him in his parliamentary constituency, Rahul said, “We constructed a number of national highways in Amethi due to which this area will be connected with prominent cities in the next five years and industries will be set up.”
The local MP said that he had worked for the development in the area, but constructing link roads and power supply are the responsibility of the state government.
He alleged that power situation in the state could not improve as the thinking of the political parties ruling from the last 21 years was not clear.
Lamenting that primary education system in the state is in poor condition, he said running schools is the responsibility of the state government and not that of the Centre.
He said that he had fixed three objectives for Amethi – first, to promote agriculture under which a scheme has been started to set up 40 units of food parks to export local produce, second for education under which several institutes would be established and the third one was for dairy promotion.
He said that seven years ago there was no market for dairy in Amethi and today more than one lakh litre milk was going out of the area.
“I also developed Fursatganj airport and started Indira Gandhi national aviation academy,” he claimed.
On being asked about renaming the district and its division, the Congress leader said he was not concerned about that as he connects with the people of Amethi.
“Amethi is our home, it’s a family and we have a long relationship with it,” he said.
“Papa (Rajiv Gandhi) had asked me to work with far sightedness and full commitment. I am doing so, here and in Delhi,” he said.
Attacking BJP he said, “We got some revolutionary bills passed in Parliament. Those bills were not passed by BJP. Lokpal bill was not passed by BJP, but by us. Whenever a bill comes in the House, BJP opposes it. They have only work to oppose.” (AGENCIES)
SRINAGAR : The 300-km-long Srinagar-Jammu national highway remained closed for the second day today due to heavy snowfall and landslides.
The highway was closed due to heavy snowfall for the past 24 hours, official sources said, adding that there was two to three feet of snow accumulated at different places on the highway, particularly at Jawahat tunnel, Banihal and Patnitop. They said heavy rains triggered landslides and shooting stones in Rambu and Ramban area. Due to heavy snowfall there is a threat of avalanche in Jawahar tunnel and Banihal area. However, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) responsible for the maintainance of the highway has pressed into service sophisticated machines and men to clear the snow and landslides on the road.
The BRO cleared the accumulated snow a number of times on the highway, but continued snowfall during yesterday delayed early reopening of the road, connecting the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country.
There is a possibility of opening the road later today, they said, adding that it has been decided to allow only stranded vehicles to move towards their respective destinations. However, every precaution will be taken before allowing stranded vehicles as there is a threat of avalanches and shooting stones on the highway, they said adding efforts are going on to clear avalanche at Zidmorh, triggered by snowfall. No fresh vehicle will be allowed from Jammu or Srinagar till a green signal is received from BRO and traffic police officials posted at different points on the highway. (AGENCIES)
NEW DELHI : Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and is believed to have discussed the controversy surrounding Law Minister Somnath Bharti, who is under attack for allegedly heading a group of assaulters in a midnight raid in south Delhi.
The meeting came a day after various women rights activists and Delhi Commission for Women sought action against Bharti for allegedly taking law into his hands.
The AAP government has come under attack from rivals and women’s activists who said the Chief Minister had staged a two-day dharna in the name of women’s safety but was following “double standards” on the issue of the minister.
Bharti was involved in a row with the police last week when they refused to raid an alleged drug and prostitution racket following which he allegedly led his supporters in forcing African women to give urine samples.
With the minister becoming a source of a major embarrassment, AAP has advised him to be “careful and humble” while making public statements.
A number of party leaders are said to be upset with Bharti who had earlier stoked controversies by seeking a meeting of Delhi judges and was involved in talking to a witness he was cross examining as a lawyer.
One of the African women, who has recorded her statement before a magistrate, had said she identified Bharti as having led the group that barged into her house and attacked them.
“We were attacked on Wednesday night by Indians who were led by Somnath Bharti…We were harassed, we were beaten, they were having long sticks. They said we should leave their country or else they would kill us one by one,” the Ugandan national had said.
Bharti has refused to make any comments on the demands for his removal while the party and his colleagues came in his defence, saying any citizen, more so a minister, has the right to ask police to act on any illegal activity. (AGENCIES)
Sir,
It is really a saddening news for the inhabitants of the twin districts of Rajouri and Poonch that Govt of India has shelved the proposal of connecting Rajouri-Poonch by rail link with rest of the country. It is really a failure of the representatives of the area. Despite having feasibility and other reports on the issue the authorities have not agreed to construct the rail line for this already backward and neglected area. It was a long cherished dream of the masses of the area to see rail chugging but the dream got shattered even before it started.
The people of Rajouri and Poonch Distts have always been patriotic and peace loving and they always had full faith and hope in Delhi establishment. But this sudden shock of not giving rail link to this belt have put the residents in a dilemma.
The concerned quarters are requested to take up the matter with the establishments to give a relook to the proposal so that the long cherished dream may come true one day.
Yours etc….
Latif Choudhary
Rajouri
A Railway policeman stands guard as a train runs on snow-covered track at Anantnag Railway Station on Wednesday. —Excelsior/ Sajad Dar
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, Jan 22: Entire Kashmir Valley and many parts of Jammu region experienced heavy rain and snowfall of the season throwing life out of gear and plunging many areas under darkness, whereas, Jammu- Srinagar National Highway has been closed following land slides at many places and closure of Jawahar Tunnel due to massive snow.
Weatherman said this spell is the heaviest one recorded in January in the last 10 years and issued heavy snowfall warning in the region for next 12 hours. It has disrupted the train and air traffic in entire Kashmir valley.
Two persons were buried alive in a house collapse in Kud area of Udhampur due to heavy rain while seven flights to Srinagar were cancelled due accumulation of heavy snow at Srinagar airport.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that Government is monitoring the weather situation and has kept teams ready to restore electricity and connectivity.
“People must accept that it is difficult to restore electricity and connectivity while it is still snowing. The situation is being monitored,” Omar posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. “I recognise the disruption that heavy snowfall causes. Teams are on standby and will swing into action as soon as the snowfall eases”, he added.
The Director Meteorological Department in Srinagar, Sonam Lotus, told Excelsior that this is the heaviest snowfall in the past 10 years in January. He also issued a heavy snowfall warning for next 12 hours.
The Weatherman asked the people near mountains to exhibit caution in view of the threat of avalanches and snow-slides due to heavy snowfall. He, however, said that weather will start improvement in the afternoon tomorrow.
Residents in Kashmir valley woke up to heavy snowfall this morning, struck inside their houses as roads were covered with snow and no electricity.
Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal recorded one feet snow, Baramulla six inches, Sopore seven inches, Gulmarg two feet, Pahalgam 2.5 feet, Anantnag, Kulgam, Kokernag around two feet, Banihal 1.5 feet, Zojila three feet, Gurez three feet and Jawahar Tunnel around three feet of snow.
Heavy snowfall closed the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway despite efforts by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) to clear the highway of snow.
Chief Engineer, Project Beacon of BRO, Brig R K Sharma, told the Excelsior that snow clearance operation was started at 6 a.m. today. He said that despite heavy snowfall and avalanche threat the BRO men and machinery was clearing the snow from the National Highway. “However, the snow clearance was stopped in the evening as the weather showed no respite and it was snowing heavily”, he added.
Sharma said that nearly 3.5 feet snow was recorded near Jawahar Tunnel and it was snowing in the evening and there was threat of avalanches and snow clearance operation was suspended for the night. “The snow clearance will resume once the weather improves in the morning”, he added.
Inspector General of Police Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan told the Excelsior that there will be no traffic movement on the National Highway tomorrow as it is heavily snowing in Jawahar Tunnel area.
The IGP said that in view of forecast of heavy snowfall, around 4000 vehicles were cleared yesterday towards Srinagar and the passenger vehicles from Qazigund were also allowed to move towards Jammu last evening.
The IGP said that the continuous rains along the Highway have triggered land slides between Ramban, Ramsu and Banihal at few places and BRO are on job to clear them.
The BRO men started snow clearance from Srinagar Airport early in the morning but could not make it operational due to continuous snowfall. “The snow clearance continued throughout the day but it could not be made operational due to continuous snowfall. We will clear the snow from the airport during the night to make it operational tomorrow”, said Beacon Chief Engineer.
The rail service between Banihal in Jammu and Baramulla in North Kashmir also remained suspended as the railway tracks were covered with snow and roads leading to Railway Stations were also buried under snow. The snowfall plunged Kashmir valley into darkness with majority of the distribution lines developing snags.
A PDD official said that due to snowfall there has been power breakdown throughout Valley but they are making efforts to restore it. The breakdown of the electricity started from last night only as snowfall started. The power supply remained disrupted even in the posh colonies of Srinagar including Jawahar Nagar, Rajbagh, Gogjibagh, Peer Bagh, Hyderpora, Sanantnagar. However, power supply was restored in certain areas of Srinagar city late in the evening while majority of the Valley is reeling under darkness.
Authorities pressed into service the snow-clearing machines on major roads in Srinagar early in the morning, but most of roads in the Valley remained blocked. The traffic on Srinagar and other roads was skeletal and was moving at snail’s pace due to slippery road conditions.
The heavy snowfall led to collapse of houses at several places and three people, including siblings were injured today as five residential houses collapsed at several places in South Kashmir due to heavy snowfall.
Mohsin, 10, and his four-year-old sister Sabina children of Mohammad Yaqoob Dar of Arwani were injured when their residential house in Arwani village of Anantnag district collapsed due to heavy snowfall.
Four more residential houses belonging to Ghulam Rasool Wani, son of Mohammad Rafiq Wani, Abdul Rashid Ahangar, son of Mohammad Jamal of Dhamal Khushipora,Ghulam Hassan Khanday, son of Habibullah and Mohammad Abdullah, son of Nazim Wani of Hillar Kokernag, also collapsed due to heavy snowfall. One person was injured in the incident of house collapse.
The snowfall, however, brought relief from bone-chilling cold by raising the temperature from last night’s minus 1.7 degree Celsius to 0.2 degree Celsius. The night temperature in Srinagar remained between minus three and four degrees last week.
Kashmir University postponed all examinations scheduled to be held on January 22 and 23 till further announcement due to snowfall that disrupted normal life.
A statement from SMC said that around 2,700 men were deployed since morning in to clear snow from Srinagar roads to restore essential services like hospitals, main Government offices, banks. “Around 21 machines, including robots, skid steers, caterpillars, hoppers and loaders, were pressed into service to ensure people do not face inconvenience while travelling to hospitals”, the statement said.
An official spokesman quoted the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shalindra Kumar saying that Divisional Administration is fully ready to face challenges posed by heavy snowfall and all necessary arrangements are in place to provide essentials and basic needs to people, particularly during current harsh weather conditions.
The spokesman said that Kumar interacted with people from various walks of life during his extensive visit to various parts of Srinagar city. He went round Lal Chowk, Batmaloo, Karan Nagar, Safa Kadal, Nowhatta, Khanyar and other adjacent areas of Srinagar and reviewed pace of snow clearance work from roads, lanes and bye-lanes.
The spokesman said that Kumar also visited SMHS hospital and SKIMS and took stock of the facilities being made available to the patients. He interacted with attendants, doctors and para-medics and directed them for keeping all emergency services ready.
Official sources said that due to continuous rain and land slides near Samroli in Chenani area and at five other places between Ramban and Banihal, followed by heavy snowfall, the vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway came to grinding halt. The traffic on Udhampur-Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road also came to halt. There was nearly three feet snow in Jawahar tunnel area, one feet at Banihal and Batote while one and half feet at Patnitop and Bhaderwah areas. The electric supply to many areas has been snapped due to rain and snowfall. Even in many parts of Jammu city, there was no power supply through out the night.
Trikuta hills of Mata Vaishnodevi also experienced fresh snowfall but yatra was going on despite rain. The helicopter service to Sanji Chhat from Katra base camp remained suspended today due to bad weather. Thannamandi-Dera Gali- Bafliaz-Surankote, Rajouri-Budhal-Mahore, Reasi-Mahore -Sungri Chasana, Gool Gulabgarh, Dudu- Basantgarh and Basohli Bani roads were also closed due to landslides and snow. Due to massive land slide near Kardoh, about 18 kms short of Bani, about 100 ft road patch has gone down. At Seri near Ramban, mud slides stalled the movement of traffic. Between Ramban and Banihal there were nearly five places where massive land slides have taken place. The BRO men tried to clear the slides but bad weather and rain hampered the road clearance work.
Though there was fresh snowfall in Bhimber Gali and Krishna Ghati area but the road was through this evening. The Army authorities had installed additional snow cutters and dozers and the clearance work was going on despite rain and bad weather, a defence spokesman said.
Meanwhile, reports from Udhampur said that 38-year-old Kali, wife of Ghulam Ali and their 12-year old son, Reyaz Ahmed were buried alive when their muddy house collapsed due to heavy rain last night at village Katwalta in Kud. The family and the villagers extricated the buried bodies in the morning. The police and tehsil administration also reached the site and provided immediate relief to the family.
SP Airport, Jammu Ashok Sharma told the Excelsior that in view of bad weather and heavy accumulation of heavy snow at Srinagar airport, seven Srinagar bound flights were cancelled today. He said the flights between Delhi and Jammu operated normally but could not operate between Jammu-Srinagar and Delhi-Srinagar. The chopper service to Mata Vaishnodevi shrine also remained suspended.
A senior traffic police official disclosed that due to blockade of National Highway and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar road at least one thousand vehicles including light, medium and heavy passenger vehicles, trucks and load carriers were stranded at various places. He said a large number of vehicles have been stranded at Samba and Nud, Dayala Chak -Chhallan Road, Dhar Road, Udhampur Jakheni-Bye Pass Road, Nagrota Bye Pass, Ramban, Batote, Chanderkote and Banihal area.
Meanwhile, an official spokesman said that all the sectoral officers of Kashmir division have been directed to ensure snow clearance, restoration of power and water supply within the shortest possible time in view of the heavy snowfall experienced in Valley. The instructions were issued by B B Vyas, the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister during a video conferencing to get the first hand information about the status of snow clearance, restoration efforts for power and other essential services being carried out by the Divisional administration.
The video conferencing was also attended by Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary PDD A K Mehta, Commissioner/ Secretary PHE Dr Pawan Kotwal and Secretary Health Gazanfar Hussain. In Kashmir it was attended by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shalender Kumar,Political secretary to Chief Minister Tanveer Sadiq, Chief Engineers of PDD, PHE and R&B besides other officers from various departments.
Mr Vyas while asking the officers to personally monitor the snow clearance, power restoration, water and other services, directed for control rooms and help lines set up for the purpose to be proactive in all respects so that they are responsive to the public grievances and address the same within the shortest possible time. The officers were also asked to ensure the availability of LPG and other essentials so that people do not face inconvenience.
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 22: Amid heated arguments between National Conference and Congress members in the Legislative Council Privilege Committee (LCPC), all three NC members in the Panel walked out of the Committee as Congress questioned legality of the Committee and refused to issue non-bailable warrants against former Army chief Gen VK Singh, who failed to appear before the Committee for second consecutive time to reply to pay-offs allegations against Jammu and Kashmir Ministers.
LCPC Chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma, former Minister and senior Congress leader, later referred the issue of legality of the Privilege Committee to Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra for his verdict. As the LCPC would remain in abeyance till Mr Malhotra gave his verdict, Gen Singh has heaved a sigh of relief as the Panel didn’t issue any fresh summon for his personal appearance as was done in the previous meeting on January 9.
Three members of the ruling National Conference in the LCPC-Devender Singh Rana, former Political Advisor to Chief Minister, Ali Mohammad Dar and Showkat Hussain Ganaie staged a walk-out of the Committee after the LCPC Chairman refused to concede their demand for issuance of non-bailable warrants against Gen Singh for his second time defiance of the summons issued to him by the Committee.
Mr Malhotra told the Excelsior that National Panthers Party (NPP) leader Prof Bhim Singh appeared before him this morning as counsel for the former Army chief and stated that Gen Singh has not been intimated about January 22 having been fixed as date for his appearance before the Privilege Committee. Bhim Singh submitted a letter to Mr Malhotra on behalf of Gen Singh seeking any other date for his appearance after January 26.
A copy of the letter had also been addressed to the LCPC chairman.
At 2.30 pm when the LCPC met at the Legislative Council Secretariat, its Chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma apprised the members about the letter submitted by Bhim Singh to him as well as Mr Malhotra stating that he hadn’t been served with any summons for his appearance on January 22 and that he had come to know only through newspapers that he had been called to appear before the LCPC.
NC member Devender Singh Rana wanted to see the `Vakalatnama’ or authorisation letter of Gen Singh given to Bhim Singh for appearing before the Council Chairman and writing letter on his behalf. The NC member wanted to know whether Bhim Singh appeared as a counsel of Gen Singh or it was his friendly appearance.
Jugal Kishore said Bhim Singh is himself a former member of the Upper House as well as a senior Advocate and he shouldn’t be doubted as a genuine representative of the former Army chief.
As skirmishes between the NC and Congress, the two coalition partners in the State Government, were on, another Congress member and Advocate Ravinder Sharma, who had missed the last meeting of the Privilege Committee due to illness of his wife, raised a legal point saying under Rule 257 of Rules of Procedure of House, the LCPC should have only five members as against the present six and, therefore, the composition of the Committee itself was illegal.
“Under the Rule, the Privilege Committee can have five members only while here we have six members, which means composition of the Panel was illegal and the matter was required to be referred to the Legislative Council Chairman, who has set up the Committee,” Mr Sharma said drawing strong protests from all three NC members.
The NC members charged the Congress leaders with raking up the issue of legality of the Privilege Committee “only to shield the former Army chief” saying the Congress members didn’t take up the same issue while debate other privilege motions as the Panel was in place for past quite sometime now.
“Now, when it has come to the appearance of Gen Singh, the Congress members are raising the issues, which have nothing to do with privilege of the House,” one of the NC members said and charged a Congress member in the LCPC with raking up the issue on the directions of PCC (I) chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz.
Asserting that Bhim Singh had no authorisation letter from the former Army chief, Mr Rana stressed for voting on issuance of warrants against the former Army chief as he has failed to appear before the Privilege Committee twice. As the Congress insisted on its stand, Mr Rana called for voting in the Privilege Committee for issuing warrants against Gen Singh.
However, LCPC Chairman Jugal Kishore and his colleague Ravinder Sharma insisted that a question mark has been raised over legality of the Privilege Committee. Therefore, they said, till the Legislative Council Chairman settled the issues, the Privilege Committee can’t proceed ahead.
NC, however, was of the view that the Chairman has powers to nominate any number of members to the LCPC.
With Congress including the Privilege Committee Chairman insisting on their stand, both sides had heated arguments as NC pressed for issuance of warrants against Gen Singh for defying the summons twice and Congress in no mood to accept the NC’s version.
All three National Conference members then staged a walkout from the meeting.
LCPC Chairman Jugal Kishore referred the issue of legality of the Committee raised by his party leader Ravinder Sharma to the Legislative Council Chairman along with presence of Mr Rana as a member of the Panel on the ground that he was mover of the privilege motion against Gen Singh in the Council. Mr Rana had moved the motion in the Council in the last session in October at Srinagar along with Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra and Khalid Najib Suhrawardhy, former Minister of State for Home.
Mr Rana later told the reporters that three NC member in the Privilege Committee didn’t accept the letter of Gen Singh as Bhim Singh had no authority to present it.
“We insisted on issuance of non-bailable warrants against Gen Singh for not appearing before the LCPC twice but the Congress was adamant on its stand. Therefore, we walked out of the meeting,” he said, adding the LCPC infighting can’t be described as National Conference-Congress difference as they were confined to the Privilege Committee only.
Mr Rana said the NC members would take up the issue with the Council Legislature Party.
LCPC Chairman Jugal Kishore Sharma and his party colleague Ravinder Sharma told reporters that they had only raised the legal points in the Privilege Committee before initiating further proceedings against the former Army chief.
They said the legal issues have been referred to Legislative Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra, who would settle them.
Mr Malhotra said he would examine the two issues in the context of Rules and Procedures of the House and then deliver his verdict.
Sources said till Mr Malhotra settled the issue, the LCPC wouldn’t proceed further against the former Army chief. At present, neither there were any warrants nor summons against Gen Singh.
It may be mentioned here that the LCPC had on December 8 issued summons against Gen Singh asking him to appear before it on January 9 in connection with his allegations that Army had paid Jammu and Kashmir Ministers. On January 9, fresh summons were issued to him for appearance on January 22, which were not received by anyone at his residence at Gurgaon, Haryana.
The LCPC has six members-three each from National Conference and Congress. One of the Congress members-Ghulam Nabi Monga was not present in the meeting.
JAMMU, Jan 22: State Cabinet will give nod to the release of Dearness Allowance installment to the State Government employees/pensions as per the revised rates effective from July 1, 2013.
Sources said that Cabinet will put a seal of approval on the proposal of the Finance Department regarding release of DA installment at the rate of 10% of pay raising the total DA of the State Government employees from 80% to 90% with effect from July 1, 2013.
It will also give nod to the release of DA installment at the rate of 17% of pay in respect of those State Government employees, who continue to draw their pay and allowance in the pre-revised pay scales as per the 5th Central Pay Commission.
“Enhancement of DA will also apply to the work charged/whole time contingent paid employees working in a regular time scale”, sources said, adding “this increase will also apply in the case of All India Service Officers serving in connection with the affairs of the State”.
The DA arrears with effect from July 2013 to February 2014 on account of the enhanced rates will be paid to the State Government employees through the GPF route with lock-in-period of one year and the enhancement of DA will form part of the monthly salary of the Government employees from March 2014 onwards, sources said, adding the Government servants governed by the New Pension Scheme will be paid DA arrears in cash from July 2013 to December 2013 in the month of January 2014.
The employees’ share at the rate of 10% will be deducted at source and credited to their respective PRAN numbers along with the matching share of employer. Thereafter, the enhancement of DA by 10% will form part of their monthly salary, sources informed.
The Cabinet will also give nod to the proposal regarding release of DA installment at the rate of 10% raising the total DA of State Government pensioners/family pensioners from 80% to 90% with effect from July 1, 2013, sources said, adding the arrears on account of the enhanced rate of DA from July 2013 to December 2013 will be paid in cash to the pensioners/family pensioners in the month of January 2014 and will form part of the monthly pension thereafter.
Meanwhile, State Cabinet will accord sanction to the promotion of Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, IAS officer of 1982 batch, to the Fixed Scale of IAS.
Sources said that Mr Ganai, who was on Central deputation, was relieved by the Government of India on December 31, 2013 and he joined the parent cadre on January 8, 2014.
The Screening Committee, which has the mandate to recommend the name of the officer(s) for promotion to the Fixed Scale of IAS, considered three officers—A K Angurana (IAS officer of 1980 batch), Khurshid Ahmad Ganai (IAS officer of 1982 batch) and B R Sharma (IAS officer of 1984 batch).
On the basis of performance and eligibility, the Committee found Mr Angurana and Mr Ganai fit for promotion to the Fixed Scale of IAS. Since Mr Angurana has declined to join the State cadre, the Committee has recommended the promotion of Mr Ganai.
On the Cabinet approval, Mr Ganai will be promoted to the Fixed Scale with effect from January 8, 2014 when he joined the parent cadre.
Sources said that Cabinet will also discuss the proposal of the Animal/Sheep Husbandry Department regarding regularization of Joint Directors as Directors in relaxation of rules and creation of additional staff for J&K State Legal Services Authority.
JAMMU, Jan 22: As the ways and means of corruption have changed with the spread and outreach of the administration, the State Government has decided to overhaul the existing anti-corruption laws and appoint a watchdog for exclusively investigating the charges of corruption and maladministration in the Panchayati Raj Institutions. To achieve this objective, the Government will introduce two significant bills during the Budget Session of State Legislature beginning from next month and approval to these proposed legislations would be given by the State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on January 24, 2014 (Friday) afternoon.
Highly placed official sources told EXCELSIOR that Government has decided to carry out several amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 and make appointment of an Ombudsman for Panchayats and draft bills prepared in this regard by the General Administration and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Departments will be placed before the State Cabinet on January 24 for its approval for introduction in the State Legislature during the forthcoming Budget Session.
“The amendments in the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 are aimed at making the offences cognizable and non-bailable, insertion of new provisions to prevent exercise of personal influence with public servants to show favour or disfavour to any person(s) or to influence the decision making by such public servant or for authorizing payment in respect of contracts, for execution of a work or supply of goods when the work done or goods supplied are not in accordance with the contract”, sources informed.
Stating that punishment of offences under the Act has also been proposed to be enhanced, sources said, ‘several offences, which are presently not covered under the existing Act, will also be brought within the ambit of the amended legislation”. The proposed amendments have been worked out by a High Powered Committee.
“Due to incorporation of the non-bailable provision the proposed amendments will make the Act more stringent”, sources said while disclosing that in the proposed amendment minimum and maximum punishment has been enhanced in order to tighten noose around the habitual offenders. They said that more time limit has been proposed for passing order regarding seizure or attachment of the properties. Even lesser time period has been proposed for filing an appeal from the date of receipt of order of the Special Court in order to make the law more stringent.
It is pertinent to mention here that High Court, in a Public Interest Litigation, had also issued directions for overhauling the anti-corruption laws. For examining and suggesting amendments in the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, a committee comprising Chief Secretary and four other members was constituted in January 15, 2013 and the Committee decided that the amendments be suggested by the State Vigilance Organisation. In addition, some suggestions were made during the hearing in the PIL.
About the appointment of Ombudsman for Panchayats, sources said, “since the State Government has devolved some of the powers of 14 departments to the Panchayats, the possibility of Panchayats not performing their functions either strictly as per the Panchayati Raj Act or indulging in certain practices detrimental to the public interest cannot be ruled out”.
“There is a need to have an institutional mechanism for the purpose of investigating charges of corruption and maladministration in the Panchayati Raj Institutions so that transparency and accountability is ensured in these institutions”, sources said, adding “the Ombudsman would meet this requirement. The institution of Ombudsman is further important for attracting grants under General Performance Grant of 13th Finance Commission”.
It is pertinent to mention here that the State Government has not been able to assess the performance grant of Rs 363 crore already allotted in absence of the institution of Ombudsman.
According to the sources, the Cabinet will also take decision on Kashmir and Jammu Universities (Amendment) Ordinance prepared by the Higher Education Department and J&K Para-Medical Council Ordinance of Health and Medical Education Department.
