Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 24: A major impediment in re-organization and expansion of State Forensic Science Laboratory for speedy disposal of case has been cleared as the State Government today issued SRO on Gazetted Service Recruitment Rules in the FSL.
The Department of Home today issued SRO-12 governing Gazetted Service Recruitment Rules in the State FSL after more than 46 years of creation of the Forensic Lab unit, official sources informed the Excelsior.
Issuance of the SRO has cleared decks for promotion of officers, fresh recruitment at gazetted level and expansion of the FSL for speedy disposal of cases, the number of which has multiplied more than 20 times in recent years, sources explained.
Established in 1967, the State Forensic Science Laboratory is a unit of Jammu Kashmir Home Department and is headed by a Director of the rank of IAS/IPS. Presently there are six positions of Deputy Director, 12 Scientific Officers, 32 Assistant Scientific Officers, and etc in the FSL set up.
However, owing to no Gazetted Service Recruitment rules in the FSL till issuance of the SRO -12, all the six positions of Deputy Director are so far lying vacant while Section Officers have been working against the post of Scientific Officers on charge allowance, sources said.
On the other hand, the work load has increased manifold during the last few years forcing overtime working by the available officers. Even as the number of cases for forensic investigation increased more than 20 times, there was no augmentation of the staff ever since the FSL came into existence.
Now, with the issuance of SRO-12, decks have been cleared for regularization of 12 Section Officers as Scientific Officers and their further promotion as Deputy Director after three years of their confirmation as Gazetted Officer, sources explained.
Besides, sources added, the Home Department has already approved creation of six more positions of the Deputy Director in the FSL and a formal recommendation in this regard is likely to be cleared by the Finance Department soon.
The creation of six more positions of Deputy Director will not only ensure adjustment of 12 promoted Scientific Officers but also fresh recruitment of 14 new Assistant Scientific Officers in the FSL.
When contacted, Director State FSL Inayat Khan, who is credited with conducting eight DPCs in the last two years and initiating a proposal on augmentation of the staff, confirmed that issuance of SRO-12 has cleared major hurdle in promotions, fresh recruitment at Gazetted level and consequent expansion of the FSL.
Pertinent to mention here that the major aspect of the FSL expansion move is creation of 99 new posts of officers and officials, who include six positions of Deputy Director, 12 Scientific Officers, 12 Assistant Scientific Officers and 24 Lab Assistants.
The State Home Ministry has submitted details of the financial implications for the proposed expansion to the Finance Department over the move. A formal proposal for the expansion and augmentation of the staff was submitted by the FSL Director last year.
Decks cleared for expansion of FSL
Avalanche hits Gulmarg; Swiss Skier killed, 2 injured
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 24: A Swiss Skier was killed and two others received minor injuries when an avalanche hit Gulmarg this morning.
The Senior Superintendent of Police Baramulla, Zubair Ahmad Khan, told Excelsior that an avalanche hit Gulmarg this morning when a group of Swiss Skiers were skiing in Kangdori and Affarwat area of Gulmarg.
“Arno Roy, 59, was found dead by the rescuers while two of them were rescued with minor injuries by the rescuers of Police and Ski patrol team. Body had been brought to the hospital and it will be dispatched after completion of the legal formalities”, he added.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Shailender Kumar, has appointed District Magistrate, Baramulla, Ghulam Mohammad Khawaja, as Enquiry Officer to ascertain the cause of death of the skier.
The District Magistrate, Baramulla has been asked to complete the enquiry and submit the report within 5 days to the Government.
Kumar said that Medico Legal formalities of the deceased are being completed and the Swiss Embassy has been informed about Roy’s death.
The Officer Incharge Gulmarg Ski Patrol, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, told Excelsior that these skiers were skiing in back country, away from the safe zone declared by its experts when an avalanche was triggered.
Dar said that 16 member Ski patrol team gets expert advice from its expert Collin Mitchel who has been hired by the Department of Tourism for maintaining the safety of Ski slopes of Gulmarg.
The head of the Ski petrol team said that every morning the patrol holds a meeting at around 8 a.m. before the team is deployed along the Ski slopes for the safety of the skiers.
Dar said that the Swiss group had gone out of the designated area during skiing and Roy who was killed triggered a snow avalanche after he entered into a zone against the advice of his guide, John Folkner who was accompanying the group.
The officer said that incident took place at 11.45 p.m. and Ski petrol team reached to the spot in seven minutes. He said that at around 11:55 a.m. Roy’s body was found. He said that two other skiers were rescued with minor injuries.
The ski petrol head said that these six Swiss skiers arrived in Gulmarg on January 19. He said some of the foreign skiers on their own risk and responsibility go for skiing in non-designated areas. He said that the boundaries of the ski slope are marked and skiers are briefed about it.
Dar said that despite warning and advisories some skiers ski in the areas where ski patrol team does not patrol for safety of the skiers.
The Meteorological Department had issued avalanche warning in the hilly areas of Kashmir where there was heavy snowfall. The areas where the skiers were skiing has a snow depth of over 5 feet.
In February 2010, 17 Army personnel were killed in Gulmarg when an avalanche hit their High Altitude Warfare School.
In the meantime after the improvement in weather, around 3000 vehicles crossed the Banihal tunnel by this evening from Jammu to Srinagar after the highway was re-opened for fresh traffic today. The Highway was closed on Wednesday after heavy snowfall in Kashmir valley.
Inspector General of Police, Traffic, Muneer Ahmad Khan, said that around 3000 vehicles moved from Jammu in the morning and majority of them crossed the Banihal Tunnel this evening. He, however, said that the highway will remain closed for the night due to slippery roads conditions caused by freezing in Banihal and Patnitop areas.
Khan said that traffic will be allowed to move from Srinagar to Jammu tomorrow, however, no traffic will be allowed from Jammu to Srinagar.
And after heavy snowfall earlier this week, Kashmir today remained in a grip of cold wave as maximum day temperature recorded in Srinagar was 4.9 degree Celsius while minimum was 0.9 degree Celsius.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 8.4 degree Celsius, Pahalgam minus 5.5 degree Celsius, Qazigund minus 1.0 degree Celsius, Kupwara 0.7 degree Celsius, Kokernag minus 1.3 degree Celsius, Leh minus 4.0 degree Celsius and Kargil minus 18.4 degree Celsius.
Pahalgam recorded a maximum of 1.3 degree Celsius, Qazigund 3.2 degree Celsius, Kupwara 4.3 degree Celsius, Kokernag 1.4 degree Celsius, Leh 4.5 degree Celsius and Kargil minus 1.7 degree Celsius.
Jammu recoded a maximum of 20.6 degree Celsius and minimum of 6.8 degree Celsius.
‘Rush through calendar’ issued for Assembly’s budget session
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Determined to present and pass the general budget before imposition of Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections, the Government today got a “rush through calendar” issued by the Assembly for budget session of the Legislature, which would last 25 days and have 21 sittings with a couple of Sundays also listed as the working days.
This, according to official sources, has been done to get the budget passed on February 25 as the Election Commission was likely to impose Model Code of Conduct either in the last week of February or first week of March.
As per the provisional calendar, the Assembly session would start on February 10 with Governor’s Address to joint session of Legislature and conclude on March 6.
Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather will present the budget for 2014-15 on February 13.
Out of 21 sitting, 12 days would have double sittings.
Only one and a half days have been listed for debate on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address and budget respectively.
On February 11 and 12, there would be discussion on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address followed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s reply.
On February 15 and 16, there would be discussion on the budget followed by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather’s reply.
The budget of different departments would be debated on February 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
The budget (Appropriation bill) would be passed on February 25.
On February 26 and March 4, the Assembly would take up Private Members’ Resolutions while February 28 and March 6 have been listed for the Government business.
The Private Members’ Bill would be taken up on March 3 and March 5.
Generally, the Governor’s Address and budget is debated for at least three days while budget of different departments is debated for 12 to 13 days as against eight days fixed in the upcoming session.
Sources said this would be 11th session of the 11th Legislative Assembly and last budget session of present National Conference-Congress coalition Government as Assembly elections were due in the State in November-December this year.
A brief session of the Legislature could be held in Srinagar, the summer capital of the State, before Model Code of Conduct is imposed for the Assembly elections.
700 vacant posts of doctors being filled up soon: Shabir
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan today said that 700 doctors would be soon added in health services system by filling up the vacant posts.
He said in this regard the selection process for recruitment of doctors through Public Service Commission (PSC) is at final stage.
Stating that provision for better quality health care facilities has received focused attention of the Government, he said that besides upgradation of health infrastructure, including construction of hospital buildings in rural and hilly areas, many new health institutions in difficult topography areas have also been prioritized.
Addressing a public meeting at Pallian, Rajouri after inaugurating New Type Primary Health Center Building constructed at a cost of Rs 1.07 crore, the Minister said that economic welfare of rural and hilly areas is the top priority of the Government, adding that implementation of special schemes for socio-economic transformation have yielded tangible results at grass root level in the State.
Dogri adaptation of Kannada play concludes Theatre Fest
Lalit Gupta
JAMMU, Jan 24: Theatre Festival-2013, organized by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, concluded with presentation of Dogri play X-Reflection by Natraj Natya Kunj, at Government College for Women auditorium, here today.
Directed by Abhishek Bharti and adapted in Dogri by Kumar A Bharti, the play originally in Kannada, titled ‘Siri Sampige’ by Chandrashekhara Kambara, is based on a Kannada folk tale about a prince who has a human and a serpent form.
In the play the prince, who in search of the perfect woman makes his relatives to cut his body into pieces and put him into pots. When pots are finally opened a Nagraj appears out of one of the pots and disappears while from the other the prince who becomes himself again, comes out.
Unable to find his perfect mate, Prince marries Siri Sampige (Shampa in Dogri). But refuses to be with her and continues his search instead. The Nagraj after seeing Shampa is being rejected by her husband takes the form of the Prince and is with Shampa who becomes pregnant. Upon refusal by Prince to accept the child, Shampa undergoes a ‘priksha’ and the prince has to accept the pregnancy. The unhappy Prince comes to know about the snake. When Shampa reveals that it was the Nagraj who took form of the prince, while being with her, the prince knows now that it was the whole time his other self who was with Siri and he can finally accept her and the child. In the end, the prince in a fit of jealousy kills the Nagraj and dies himself. Thus fulfilling the ancient prophecy that he will die upon the death of his brother.
Today’s performance incorporated a mix of folk style and modern theater languages like Body Theater and mime. Complimenting the Dogri script, today’s presentation by using native dance poetry forms like Kud, ‘Haran’, ‘Yatr’ and ‘Kaarak’, came out as ingenious endeavor that along with ‘sutradhar’ included elements of dance, drama, narration, song, sex, death and religion. With the result the dramatic experience for audience was like participating and sharing a religious ritual in the form of a play.
The other highlights of the play were appropriate design of masks, lights, background score, sound effects and make up. A well-knit production, which saw all the departments working in unison, the play came out as a befitting finale of the theatre festival.
The cast included Akshay Razdan as Prince, Surbhi as Shampa, Rishi Kumar as Nagraj, Priyanka Thakur as Maharani, Aditya Bharti as Sunder, Abhishek Sharma as Nat, Neha Bhat as Nati, Rishav Satti as Wazir, Kanav Sharma as Dyala, Amandeep Sharma as Sarpanch, Rakesh Dogra as Lambardar, Garu Ram as Jogi, Lalit Sharma as Haran\Samant, while in chorus were Tejan Bharti, Rahul Sharma, Allen, Niharika Sakshi, Shubangi Dhamir and Aditya Gupta.
Bakaya promises redressal of Kalika Nagar residents’ problems
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Former Chief Secretary and MLC Vijay Bakaya assured the residents of Kalika Nagar Lower Muthi that all steps will be taken to solve their problems of drinking water and power.
Addressing the meeting of the residents of the area organized by Kalika Nagar Residents Welfare Association (KNRWA), Mr Bakaya assured them sanction of electric poles, ration depot and prompt gas delivery in their locality. He also assured them that for this purpose money will be sanctioned from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The residents after pinning high hopes on Mr Bakaya appealed him to solve their long pending demands. On the occasion 20 members of the area also joined NC.
The meeting was also attended by working president NC Minority Cell M K Yogi, other leaders, S N Dhar, Pinky Bhat and Rajnath Fotedar. While Capt (retd) Subash Chander, A K Pandita and Inderjit Sharma were among the prominent members of Residents Association who attended the meeting.
Speaker for double shift work to ensure timely completion
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Speaker Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul has directed J&K Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) to start double shift work on the upcoming Rs 104.44 crore new Legislative Complex to ensure its early completion.
This direction was given by the Speaker while inspecting the pace of work on the project here today. He asked the JKPCC to put in more men and machinery in place to start double shift work and complete this prestigious project in a time bound manner.
The Speaker also stressed for close monitoring to ensure quality of work and use of standard material. He said any lapse in this regard will not be tolerated.
Earlier, Mr. Gul inspected the renovation work on existing Assembly Complex including face lifting, whitewash in and outside, besides flooring, fixing of electricity faults, replacement of tubes and other lights in the Central Hall and in the House. He asked the Estates Department to engage adequate manpower to ensure completion well before the Budget Session commencing from February 10, 2014.
Secretary Assembly, M. Ramzan, Director Estates Sheikh Fayaz Ahmad, a team of officers of JKPCC and Assembly Secretariat accompanied the Speaker during his visit.
Later, the Speaker convened a meeting with the Head of the Information and Public Relations Department and discussed various issues related to the facilities to be kept available for the print and electronic media during the upcoming session.
Director Information, Tasaduq Jeelani and other senior officers of Assembly Secretariat attended the meeting.
PDP laid strong foundation of peace, inter-regional unity in State: Beigh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Terming Jammu as symbol of brotherhood and secularism, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today exhorted residents of all the three regions of the State to work unitedly to frustrate evil designs of forces propagating divisive agenda for petty political gains.
Addressing meeting of the PDP Jammu urban, Mr Beigh appreciated Jammuties for providing shelters to people from different regions-irrespective of their caste, creed and religion, when violence was on its peak in the State. He said that during crucial time people of Jammu maintained communal harmony and brotherhood and frustrated evil designs of divisive forces.
Reiterating resolve of PDP to cement inter-regional relations, Mr Beigh said that patron of PDP Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is crusader of peace, is symbol of unity and secularism. “Under the leadership of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, PDP has been propogating the agenda of peace, unity and reconciliation in this region”, he said and reminded the party workers that with 16 MLAs PDP has changed political discourse of the State and has laid strong foundation of peace and inter-regional unity in the State.
Vice President Trilok Singh Bajwa, Senior Leader Ved Mahajan, Dhaman Bhasin, Shanti Devi, Deepender Kour, Ch Hussain Ali Waffa, Fallail Singh, Hamid Choudhary, Maj Gen (retd) R S Jamwal, Dist Presd R K Bali, Amrik Singh Reen, Capt Anil Gour, Suresh Sharma, Rafiq Malik, Ashiq Hussaain, Ashok Jogi, Rajender Manhas, Kuljeet Singh Jamwal, A V Gupta, Ashok Bhat, Ashok Siddah, Mohinder Kotwal, Chaman Angral, R S Billoria, Puneet Jamwal, Jitender Bhat, M K Bhat, Susheela Jamwal, Anju Bhan, Vikram Singh and others were present in the meeting.
“Before 2002 there were complaints of discrimination with Jammu region but PDP led Government under the leadership of Mufti Mohammed Sayeed had carved out a path of inclusive development and growth in the State”, he said and listed various steps which were taken under PDP regime to remove discrimination with different regions and sub-regions of the State.
Earlier in the meeting of the Jammu urban, PDP demanded that all historical places of Jammu should be preserved as heritage sites.
In the meeting a resolution was passed with one voice. In the resolution party demanded that Mubarak Mandi, Bahu Fort and other historical places should be declared as heritage sites to attract tourists. Being a historical city Jammu has potential to develop as heritage city.
It was also demanded that Jammu district should be declared as separate tourist destination. A separate tourist circuit should be announced for Jammu district.
Jammu region has potential to develop as biggest industrial centre. There is a need to start some big industrial units in Jammu. Setting up of such big industrial units would provide employment to unemployed youth and would also help in creating indirect employment for number of youth, party demanded.
Talwara migrants stage dharna, demand relief as per SC judgment
Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, Jan 24: Talwara migrants today staged a massive dharna in front of the office of District Magistrate (DM) here, demanding relief as per SC judgment.
Hundreds of militancy-affected migrants of Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur and Doda districts resorted to a massive dharna in front of the DM office this morning. They were demanding implementation of 2007 Supreme Court direction to the Government of India to pay them (Talwara migrants) the cash relief at par with the Kashmiri migrants.
Addressing the protesting migrants, Prof Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party (NPP) and Member of NIC accused NC-Congress Coalition Government in J&K of ignoring Jammu Migrants.
The State Government is forcing the Talwara migrants to starve and die in distress only because they are from Jammu Pradesh, he said and reminded the Central Government that Supreme Court in July 2007 had directed the Central Government as well as State Government to pay Rs 21 crore to the Jammu Migrants as arrears because they had not been provided any relief since 2004.
Prof Bhim Singh said that the Supreme Court had referred a contempt petition to the High Court of J&K in 2009 for appropriate action, but the High Court has not been able to ensure implementation of his own order in four years, he regretted.
He alleged that half of the migrants who were determined and approved by the Government have been deleted from the list of the migrants.
The migrants in a resolution decided to march to Delhi and stage dharna in front of Parliament in February 2014 to seek implementation of Supreme Court order.
Protest against police, people block road
Excelsior Correspondent
SUNDERBANI, Jan 24: Residents of Sunderbani town including traders today came out on the road and held protest demonstration against police for its failure to solve the theft cases in the area.
The local shopkeepers and residents assembled in the main market and then took out of protest march against local police authorities. They alleged that last night thieves broke into two shops in the main market and decamped with cash and other items while several houses in the area were burgled in last one week. The police has failed to prevent the thefts and trace the burglers.
The protesters then moved to the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch highway and blocked it for about half an hour. Later, with the intervention of Additional SP Nowshera, Parshotam Sharma, the people lifted dharna. He assured the public to solve the cases and also pull up the concerned police staff. The traffic remained disrupted for half an hour on the busy road.