Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Principal Sessions Judge Jammu, Kartar Singh has acquitted Usha Rani, wife of Baljinder of Ludhiana  and Rani, wife of Sat Paul of Hoshiarpur, who were facing  trial for smuggling of poppy straw as no witness supported the prosecution.
According to the police case, on November 17, 2009, Usha Rani and Rani were found traveling in a vehicle bearing registration No. 1310-JK-14B from Udhampur to Jammu. During the checking of the vehicle, police recovered 13 kilograms of poppy straw from their possession.
On this, a case was registered and after completion of investigation challan was presented in the court of law. On December 12, 2011 the accused moved an application for confessing their guilt and their statements  were also recorded in support of it in which they admitted all the allegations made against them in the challan.
However, the Presiding Officer did not feel satisfied with the confession of the accused and directed the prosecution to lead evidence. The prosecution was afforded number of opportunities but not even a single witness has been examined and ultimately vide order dated July 23, 2013, the prosecution evidence was closed.
After hearing both the sides, Principal Sessions Judge Jammu Kartar Singh observed, “there is no incriminating evidence worth the name against the accused except their confessions which cannot be relied upon”, adding “not even a single witness has been leaving the court with no other alternative except to disbelieve the confessions made by the accused”.
Accordingly, both the accused were acquitted of all the prosecution allegations for want of evidence.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Even as the National Conference (NC)-Congress Coalition Government is drawing flak for having committed yet another act of discrimination against Jammu through its notification arbitrarily declaring 45 villages as “Backward Area”, BJP National Executive Member and J&K chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh said here today that the notification itself was liable to be challenged in the court of law because it was unconstitutional and in violation of the criterion laid down for declaring an area as “Backward”.
The issue goes beyond the controversy of having only 17 out of 45 villages from Jammu and that too 16 out of 17 of them from constituencies of sitting Congress Ministers, he in a statement pointed out.
Dr Jitendra Singh went on to explain that a village is to be declared backward by the Government only on the recommendations of the State Commission for Backward Classes (SCBC) after the latter has  assessed its development scenario on the basis of 52 indicators including progress in social sectors like health, education and accessibility. While the backward areas receive special attention on developmental front and get a special quota of Government jobs and other benefits, the J&K State Commission for Backward Classes Act makes it mandatory for the Government to undertake the revision of backward villages after every 10 years to exclude such areas from the list which have grown forward on developmental graph, he said.
This means that whenever an exercise like this is undertaken, it is meant not only to include such areas which had been left unincluded during earlier exercise but also to “exclude” from the list such areas which could have been backward earlier but are no longer backward now as per the criterion mentioned above, he added.
A glaring contradiction, cited by Dr Jitendra Singh, is that some villages which were declared backward as early as in 1975,continue to enjoy the same status and privileges even today since there was no revaluation of their status undertaken for the next 30 years or so. This amounts to gross violation of the very concept of providing special privileges to genuinely backward areas, he added.
Unfortunately, Dr Jitendra Singh said, from time to time, those in the ministry have flouted the norms to push in areas from their respective constituencies for the privileged status under the “backward” category and suggested that one remedy to this could be to make the Commission for Backward Classes an autonomous independent body.
Dr Jitendra Singh reminded that the aim and spirit of the law is to bring the underdeveloped areas on the holistic path of progress by providing focused attention and not to reduce the law to a mere tool for securing 20 percent reservation in  Government jobs or 10 per cent reservation in promotions for a handful of blue-eyed ones hailing from a certain Minister’s constituency.

Excelsior Correspondent
 JAMMU,  Jan 7: The executive body of State Government Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC) has demanded that ESMA slapped on the employees be withdrawn and their pending salaries released without any delay.
In a meeting of the EJAC members held here today under the leadership of  Sushil Sudan, Suresh Sharma and Subash Verma the members expressed their serious concern over the attitude of neglect of the Government. They alleged that Government has failed to address the pending issues of the employees. They strongly demanded that ESMA imposed on Government employees be withdrawn and their salaries be released.
They stressed that demands like regularization of daily rated/ casual/ consolidated  employees, enhancement of retirement age, release of 10% DA, 6th Pay Commission arrears etc be  addressed. They further alleged that Government itself was forcing the employees to resort to agitational path.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: The PHE Workers Welfare Association has geared up its activities in connection with the January 10 protest programme.
The Trade union leaders and senior members of the Association led by Bakshi Singh and Subash Verma held series of meetings at various PHE/Pumping stations in the city today and called upon the workers to actively participate in the January 10 protest demonstration programme. The Trade unions leaders alleged that Government has failed to resolve the pending issues of the employees and they are left with no other option. They also demanded that pending wages of the PHE workers be released without any delay as they are facing starvation.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Natrang Jammu in collaboration with Rangroots Theatre and Amar Mahal Musuem is all set to make history in Jammu by bringing before public Shakespeare’s World famous ‘Play’ Richard III using the Amar Palace as set of the play.
Four shows of this historic play are opening from January, 10, 2014. Each day the play will be staged at 6 pm and will be open for public.
Giving details, Natrang Director Balwant Thakur informed that something outstandingly exciting and thrilling is going to happen in Jammu with the presentation of the Shakespearian Play Richard III at Amar Mahal Jammu.
Directed by Asheish Nijhawan a product of London International School of Performing Arts and with light design by Sajal Mondal- a product of National School of Drama, the presentation of the Play Richard III with the environs of Amar Mahal is all set to create the city of Jammu a world destination of theatre.
Balwant Thakur further informed that never before people had the occasion to witness theatre using Palace as its setting.
The story of the Play moves like this—after a long civil war between the royal family of York and the royal family of Lancaster, England enjoys a period of peace under King Edward IV and the victorious Yorks. But Edward’s younger brother, Richard, resents Edward’s power and the happiness of those around him. Malicious, power-hungry, and bitter about his physical deformity, Richard begins to aspire secretly to the throne-and decides to kill anyone he has to in order to become king.
Using his intelligence and his skills of deception and political manipulation, Richard begins his campaign for the throne. He manipulates a noblewoman, Lady Anne, into marrying him-even though she knows that he murdered her first husband. He has his own older brother, Clarence, executed, and shifts the burden of guilt onto his sick older brother King Edward in order to accelerate Edward’s illness and death. After King Edward dies, Richard becomes lord protector of England-the figure in charge until the elder of Edward’s two sons grows up.
Next Richard kills the court noblemen who are loyal to the princes, most notably Lord Hastings, the lord chamberlain of England. And the story goes on.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Police today arrested a narcotic smuggler along with large quantity of intoxicant capsules and sharp edged weapons from Paloura area, falling under the jurisdiction of Janipur Police Station.
As per police sources, on specific inputs, police party from Janipur Police Station laid a naka near Paloura and intercepted an auto bearing registration number JK02AH-2511.
During checking, police recovered 450 intoxicant capsules and a sharp edged weapon from the vehicle and arrested the smuggler, who has been identified as Hazrat Ali alias Raju, son of Sobet Ali of Gujjar Mohalla, Paloura.
A case under FIR number 3/14 under Section 8/20/21 Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered at Janipur Police Station and investigation started.
Police party headed by SI Rahul Mahajan made the arrest under the supervision of SI Hilal Azhar, SHO, Janipur Police Station, SDPO West Shriram Ambarkar and SP North Yougal Manhas.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 7: J&K State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People became the first Advisory Board in the State to have its official website with Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, launching it (www.jkpahariboard.org) here today.
Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Kafeel-ur-Rehman; Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Vice Chairman, OBC Board, Kuldeep Raj Verma; former legislators, Syed Mushtaq Bukhari, and Mirza Abdul Rashid; Secretary, Department of Social Welfare Department, Mohammad Shafi Rather; Director, Social Welfare Department, M. H. Bhatti, MD, WDC besides HoDs of different wings of the department were present on the occasion.
After launching the website, Sakina Itoo said that the objective of equipping the Board, with technological innovation is to extend an enhanced public delivery system with added transparency, accountability and responsiveness to the people. She said that this will greatly help the people to optimally utilize the welfare and development schemes of the Government for Pahari speaking people.
The Minister said that the website will have details of all the schemes and their modes of implementation, activities and achievements of the Board, details of scholarships being given, list of students being provided the scholarship from across the State etc. The site will act as a bridge between the stakeholders and the board thus helping in the effective implementation of the schemes. She also asked the Board to ensure that the site is timely updated in all respects.
Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People, Kafeel-ur-Rehman, while speaking on the occasion, highlighted the functioning and achievements of the Board.
Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan urged the board to also upload the things of cultural and traditional significance of pahari areas in the website.
Earlier, Secretary PSP Board, Showkat Qazmi gave a detailed view of the achievements of the Board during past 5 years.
Later, the Minister distributed cheques worth Rs. 6.5 lakh among 78 Pahari students as Post Matric Scholarships.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: Minister of State for Agriculture, Sheep and Animal Husbandry, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Nazir Ahmad Gurezi today said that Agriculture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry   have been tagged as the priority sectors by the Government to make these profitable activities.
He said that keeping in view the fact that about two third of the State population is associated with the agriculture and its allied sectors, the Government has been paying focused attention for its growth and make it a profitable activity.
He said various intervention schemes have been introduced, while new technologies are being introduced to increase the livestock to attain self-sufficiency in dairy, mutton and milk products in the state which are presently imported from outside.
The Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Kissan Mela and Block Veterinary Office (BVO) building at Bhalwal Jammu. The single storey building has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs.17.05 lakh.
He called upon the farmers to adopt scientific techniques     in agriculture, cattle and sheep breeding by seeking the help of experts of the department and agriculture   universities.
He said Government was spending crores of rupees on research in agriculture and allied sectors and these should be brought to the field and adopted for maximising livestock.
The Minister directed the Director, Sheep Husbandry Jammu to constitute State Level Breeders Committees (SLBC) involving progressive breeders to know their problems and aspirations. He called for holding fortnightly meeting of these committees in all districts to get feedback and know the areas where focus was to be laid.
Earlier, the Minister went round various stalls put up by the department displaying modern machinery, equipments, implements, tools,   together with their usage.
MLA Raipur Dommana Bharat Bushan also spoke on the occasion and urged for early filling of   vacant posts in animal and sheep husbandry departments.
Former Minister Sat Paul Lakhotra and prominent breeders   also spoke on the occasion and projected the problems being faced by them   on the ground.
During the inaugural address, Director Sheep Husbandry, Jammu Sant Ram informed the audience about the aims and objectives of the Mela besides activities of the department.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 7: President Pranab Mukherjee today delivered his New Year message to the students and the faculty of the Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Central Universities of other States, National Institute of Technologies (NITs), National Institute of Technologies (NITs) across the Country, through video conferencing facility using National Knowledge Network (NKN).
Mukherjee wished the Vice-Chancellor of Universities, Directors of the Indian Institute of Technologies (IITs) and National Institute of Technologies (NITs) heads of other academic institutions, faculty members and students, a very happy and prosperous New Year-2014.
The video conferencing was held at the Zainakote Campus of CUK where Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abdul Wahid, Registrar, Prof. Muhammad Afzal Zargar, Deans of Schools, Heads of Departments, other employees of the University and students took part.
“Education is the true alchemy that can bring India to its next golden age. My first and foremost concern is the quality of education in our country. The standard of higher education has a direct relation with the development of a nation and the quality of lives of its citizens,” Mukherjee said.
The president said between Sixth Century BC and twelfth Century AD, our seats of higher learning – Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri – dominated the world which were visited by knowledge seekers from round the world. But now, many bright Indian students go abroad for higher studies.
“Nobel laureates Har Gobind Khorana, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Amartya Sen and Venkatraman Ramakrishnan did their graduate or post-graduate studies in Indian universities before they went abroad to pursue higher learning,” he said.
The President added it is due to the lack of research facilities and opportunities of creating an innovative thinking to nurture and retain talent that our higher education system that is capable of producing world class scholars loses them to foreign institutions
“Our institutions must increase their potential for research and promote an ecosystem conducive for creativity and innovation. What we need today are mere collaborative partnerships on cutting edge technologies and better linkages with industries and greater industrialization,” he said.
He added this will not only encourage meritorious students to do research but will also attract talent from foreign universities. In a country of about 1.2 billion people, only eight Indians have so far won the Noble Prize. This country is eager to see an increase in the number.
Mukherjee said the institutions must arrange a common platform of resources to be used by all faculty members for skill enhancement and knowledge gathering to bring about qualitative changes in teaching.

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Jan 7: Rehber-e-Taleem Teachers Forum held a meeting under the chairmanship of its district senior vice president Uttam Singh and provincial general secretary Tariq Chowdhary.
During the meeting, long pending demands of ReT teachers were discussed including regularization of EVs converted ReTs, release of pending salaries and arrears of ReT and SSA regularized ReTs, inclusion of five year period in service record and transfer policy.
The forum urged the higher authorities of School Education Department to redress their demands at the earliest or face agitation.
Among others present were Vikas Khajuria, Asif Choudhary, Arshad Chowdhary, Aftab Malik, Shoket Mir, Irfan Chouhan, etc.