Selected jail warden candidates raising slogans during hunger strike at Jammu on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Jan 21: Hunger strike by the all selected warden candidates in jail police of the Prison Department entered 51st day here today.
The shortlisted candidates for jail warden during hunger strike outside Press Club raised slogans against the callous attitude adopted by the Government and the concerned authorities.
Addressing the gathering, one of the protestor Ashwani Kumar demanded release of the final selected candidates, which was pending for the last more than three years due to the reason best known to the concerned authorities.
He informed that about 43000 unemployed youth had applied for the post and 1246 candidates were short-listed for the interview, which was held in the month of September 2010.
He said that the even after more than three years, the final selection list has not yet been released.
“We had taken up this issue with the Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, concerned officers and senior leaders of opposition parties, but nothing has been done by them”, Kumar alleged.
The protesting candidates urged the Chief Minister to personally intervene in the matter and redress their demand at the earliest.
DIG BSF addressing a meeting of farmers in village Sai in R S Pura area on Tuesday.
JAMMU, Jan 21:The Border Security Force (BSF) 193 Battalion held a meeting with farmers at border post in village Sai in R S Pura Sector today.
On the occasion DIG BSF, J C Singla was also present along with SDM R S Pura, Sukh Dev Singh and Commandant BSF, Neeraj Dubey. A large number of farmers of the area also participated in the meet.
The meeting while highlighting the problems of the border area farmers demanded that border fencing be taken up to Zero line and the permission for visiting Zero Line be made easy.
Sarpanch Hari Singh, while advocating for grant of relief to farmers demanded that the land ahead of border fencing has turned barren and farmers be allowed to cultivate it.
The DIG informed the meeting that the proposal of land beyond fencing is lying with Union Government and after the same is okayed by the Centre the farmers will be paid compensation.
He also disclosed that in coming days the BSF with the help of JCB will try to plough the barren land so that it is re-used for cultivation purposes.
He said besides the security of borders BSF is always ready to serve people living on border.
The SDM also assured people that Government is committed to solve their problems. The Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area were also present on the occasion.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: A deputation of All Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Teachers Federation called on Secretary School Education and submitted him a charter of demands.
The deputation, led by Maheshwar Prasad and Kuldeep Singh, discussed adjustment of newly promoted Principals and Headmasters, confirmation order of EV teachers, strict compliance of the ban on transfers in School Education Department, filling up of vacant posts, release of salary of the deployed teachers, etc.
The Secretary informed that the confirmation orders of EV teachers will be given on February 10 during a formal function in this regard while the other demands would also be considered.
The Secretary proposed that the Government was ready to pay 75 percent of the fee for BEd of all the 12000 untrained teachers through IGNOU if the remaining 25 percent of the fee is paid by the teachers.
The deputation comprised of Kuldeep Raj Sharma, Kuldeep Singh, Raj Kumar, Ram Pal Saini, Raj Rani, Kiran Pandita, Vijay Kumar, Kulbushan Sharma and others.
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 21: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan today dedicated the newly constructed Primary Hospital building to the people of Jamola in border district of Rajouri.
The construction work of this hospital building has been completed at a cost of Rs 82.85 lakh having facilities of required diagnostic sections besides outdoor and indoor patient rooms and providing improved healthcare facility to a large population of Kandi Block of the area.
Member Legislative Assembly, Darhal, Choudhary Zulfikar Ali was also present on the occasion.
Addressing a public meeting on the occasion, Mr. Shabir said to further augment the rural health services the Centre has sanctioned 676 new sub health centers for J&K. He said these health centers would be setup soon in uncovered areas. He said the Government by the financial support of Centre under NRHM has enhanced the incentives to the doctors working in remote and inaccessible areas, adding that now such doctors would get remuneration of up to Rs 55000 per month.
The Health Minister said that Government very soon would launch another health welfare scheme by the name of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Kaaryakram (RBSK) in the State under which children up to 18 years age would get free healthcare. He said under this Scheme over 1000 unemployed skilled youth especially ISM doctors and ANMs have been engaged who would work at block levels to screen children for different diseases for free treatment facilities at primary to tertiary hospitals.
The Health Minister underlined the need for providing best treatment to the patients in the Government health institutions and asked the doctors to render the public service with highest degree of responsibility and commitment towards the society.
The Minister gave on spot directions to various departments to redress grievances and development needs of people on priority basis. He also exhorted upon the officers to complete the on going projects within the stipulated time, ensuring quality as per norms.
On the developmental sector, the Minister said that the promises made by Coalition Government are being fulfilled one after another.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: While rejecting the Mushtaq Ganai Committee, the Jammu State Morcha has demanded creation of seven more districts in Jammu region.
While expressing the resolve of Jammu State Morcha to re-activate Statehood movement and hold public rallies, seminars and conference to awaken the people against discrimination, a spokesman of the Morcha took strong exception to the recommendations of Mushtaq Ganai Committee, constituted to recommend new administrative units. He said that the committee has not done justice with the Jammu region and the JSM did not approve its recommendations.
He said that Morcha demands seven more districts in Jammu region for better administration. They included Bhaderwah, Nowshera, Akhnoor, RS Pura, Basohli, Billawar and Ramnagar. There are apparent disparities in the matter of development among these districts. There are many other areas which are equally neglected in the State. Therefore, the Morcha proposes formation of District Councils in each district of the State with powers as enjoyed by Development Councils in Leh and Kargil.
The spokesman said that JSM has decided to create a special cell which shall collect the information data on corruption related issues and discriminatory treatment with people of Jammu region and on day today based grievances. The ‘Cell’ shall operate from Shubam Hotel on Gurdwara Sunder Singh Road, in Jammu. The people can also contact on Nos. 2463031/ 9419196301/ 9419137071 to lodge their complaints, he added.
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. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: A man was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Trikuta Nagar.
As per reports, Shabir Ahmed, a resident of Andhra Pradesh was found dead under mysterious circumstances in Trikuta Nagar.
The body has been shifted to mortuary of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for postmortem.
Police has taken the cognizance
Natrang Director, Balwant Thakur, felicitating former Natrang artist Asheish Nijhawan for directing Shakespeare’s play ‘Richard- III’ at Jammu.
JAMMU, Jan 21: Natrang today honoured Asheish Nijhawan, a former Natrang artist, for directing William Shakespeare’s play ‘Richard-III’, which created a history for Jammu Theatre.
Natrang Director, Balwant Thakur, who did the honours, while speaking on the occasion said that Asheish Nijhawan has done the Indian Theatre proud by using a majestic palace as a set of the play and conceptualized a play suiting to the environment.
He disclosed that Natrang is all set to present Richard-III at Amar Mahal Jammu continuously for a month for the Jammu audience.
Asheish Nijhawan, who started his acting career from Natrang, was selected as an artist in its National Repertory company and worked there for over a year and travelled with his performances across India and abroad.
He has performed in more than 35 plays. In the last 6 years, he has been associated with various international projects and worked with internationally celebrated theatre directors. He founded the Rangroots Theatre Group, aiming in the development and promotion of theatre art in J&K, particularly among the displaced community of Kashmir valley.
He has also been awarded the prestigious Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholar Award 2012-2013 by Inlaks Foundation and junior fellowship in theatre from Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 21: Pacca Danga police today arrested a person along with 500 grams of gold from Parade.
As per police sources, police team from Pacca Danga police station during patrolling intercepted a man, who was moving suspiciously in Parade.
During checking, police recovered 500 gram of gold, which the person was carrying without paying Sales Tax.
The person identified as Narinder Singh, son of Joginder Singh of Govindpur, Amritsar was arrested by police and later handed over to Sales Tax Department for further action.
The arrest was made by SHO Mahesh Sharma under the supervision of DySP Kulbir Handa and SP City Yougal Manhas.
Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Jan 21: Representing the people of Zanskar Sub-Division, the Executive Councilor for Tourism and Zanskar Affairs, LAHDC Kargil, Skalzang Wangyal called on the Cabinet Sub-Committee for creation of new administrative units, here today.
Mr Wangyal, who was accompanied by Councilor Lungnak constituency, Tenzin Sonam and ex- EC Sonam Namgyal, held detailed discussion with the CSC members and its chairman Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. They discussed the proposal for creation of new administrative unit in Zanskar.
According to a release, they demanded district status to Zanskar Sub-Division, tehsil for Langna region, creation of CD Block for Stoth and Sham region, Niyabat for Pheykarsha and Zangla, Girdwar circle for Test, Icher, Abran Phey Stongdey, Ufti and Sani, Patwar Halqa for Sking, Shun-Shaday Raru, Atting, Tungri, Hamiling, Pishu, Tsazar and Salapi-Ruk Ruk, creation of 23 more Numberdar Halqa in Zanskar and inclusion of Rangdum under Stoth Block of Zanskar.
