Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 2: Commercial Taxes (Vigilance and Inspections) today seized 430 kilograms of polythene bags.
As per reports, Deepak Kumar, son of Tarseem Raj of Hiranagar Morh de-boarded from Ahmedabad Express at Hiranagar Railway Station and was loading cartoons of polythene in an auto bearing registration number JK08C-8996.
On specific inputs, incharge Commercial Taxes Check Post Hiranagar Sub Inspector Mohammad Farooq rushed to the spot seized the auto along with 10 cartoons of polythene weighing 430 kilograms.
A team of Vigilance and Inspection headed by Deputy Commissioner Commercial Taxes (Vigilance and Inspection) Suhail Noor Shah comprising of Narinder Singh, CTO and Inspector Rajiv Sharma rushed to Hiranagar and took possession of the seized goods.
The consignment along with the vehicle is being handed over to State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for further action.
It is to mention that, the Government has banned the use of polythene bags in the State.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: A deputation of All Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Teachers Federation  called on Director School Education, Jammu,  and demanded selection grade for the under- graduate teachers.
The deputation, led by Kuldeep Singh, also projected some other demands, which included timely release of salary of the Masters deployed at CEO offices, repatriation of the Masters, who have completed 2 years of service in other districts, immediate posting of promoted Headmasters and strict compliance of the order for ban on transfers during the mid session.
The Director gave a patient hearing to the teachers and assured early order on selection grade to under-graduate teachers.
The deputation comprised of Kulbushan Sharma, Varinder Kumar, Prithvi Raj, Mohan Lal, Maheshwar Prasad and others.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: A K Thatai, Commissioner, Income Tax, J&K, accompanied by R K Kakar, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, J&K and Rakesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner, Income Tax, J&K, called on N.N.Vohra, the Governor, here at Raj Bhavan today.
Mr. Thatai briefed the Governor about the scale of taxes assessed and collected in the State, the progress so far achieved in the ongoing project to   computerize the functioning of the Income Tax Department in J&K, and the use of this system to establish an on line data- bank of all Income Tax assesses in the State and using it to monitor tax evasion by rapidly generating information about the defaulters and high value transactions.
He also briefed the Governor about the functioning of the “Aaykar Seva Kendras” in J&K and their utility in redressing the grievances of the Tax payers.

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 2: People’s Democratic Party members today lashed out at the State Government for failing to address the problems faced by the people of Kashmir valley due to the snowfall.
PDP candidate for Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary constituency, Tariq Hameed Karra told a press conference at the party headquarters that the Government has turned snow blessing into curse for the Kashmiris.
Karra, flanked by the MLA Pahalgam Rafi Ahmad Mir, MLA Pulwama Muhammad Khalil Bandh and MLA Beerwah Dr Muhammad Shafi Wani alleged that the crisis in wake of the snowfall has exposed the “lack of preparedness” of the Government in dealing with the situation during the winter months.
The former Finance Minister said majority of areas of the Valley san electricity and water supply even after three days and it had failed in dealing with the crisis in wake of the snowfall.
“Snow clearance machines were pressed into service in selective areas. In some areas, snow clearance was done partially but the snow clearance machines were withdrawn on the directions of Ministers and were taken to some selective areas of their constituencies,” Karra said.
MLA Pulwama Muhammad Khalil Bandh said the Government has failed to bring people out of difficulties.
MLA Pahalgam complained the power supply was yet to be restored and snow clearance was not done in his constituency
“The electric wires have not been repaired yet. The Power Development Department has been made dependent on MLA CD funds and people purchase transformers from their own money despite the Chief Minister being the Power Minister”, said MLA Beerwa.
PDP senior leader and district senior vice president Anantnag, A R Rather has also expressed concern over failure of the Government in restoring traffic on roads which have been closed due to heavy snowfall for last two days. He said the people’s problems have been compounded due to heavy snowfall and failure of Government to tackle the situation on war footing basis. This has resulted in grave crisis as water and power supply has been totally disrupted while the villages remain cut off from towns and cities as there is no road link especially in villages of district Anantnag.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu today convened a meeting of officers to discuss various issues related to Shri Baba Jitto Mal Shrine Board.
MLA Marh Sukhnandan Choudhary was also present in the meeting.
Threadbare discussion was held on various issues related to development of shrine and its land. Deputy Commissioner discussed development of infrastructure particularly Rural Sports Stadium, Sanitation Complex, fencing of land and to develop a proper lay out depicting different activity areas.
He also sought suggestion from agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, SKUAST, IIIM and other concerned departments for the optimum use and development of land under Shri Baba Jitto Mal Shrine Board.
He stressed for enhancing arrangements in near future for showcasing mela as an important pilgrimage tourist destination.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner expressed his satisfaction for the smooth conduct of Jhiri Mela held recently. He said that we all have to utilize this platform for great promotion of agriculture sector. He asked the officers to work with utmost zeal and dedication so that next year the mela would be a grand success. He further stressed that the arrangements of stalls to be placed in the mela would be in such a way so that it would be easily approachable to all.
It was demanded in the meeting for early installation of street lights along the approach road to Shri Baba Jitto Mal Shrine.
The meeting was attended by ADC Jammu Shenaz Akhtar, BDO Marh Waseem, ACD Jammu K. K. Sidha, CMO Jammu Dr. Javed Chib,  Registrar SKUAST B. B. Gupta, Joint Director Tourism S. K. Gupta, Joint Commissioner Jammu Kapil Sharma, Deputy Director Information Jyoti Slathia and other senior officers of concerned department.

Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Jan 2: Police today arrested a Government employee for theft in a shop at village Vasuki Dhera.
As per reports, Government employee working with Library Department in district Doda identified as Tahir Zargar, son of Late Ghulam Zargar of Mohalla Khakkal carrying sharp edged weapon barged into a shop with the motive of theft at village Vasuki Dhera.
The accused was captured by the owner of the shop namely Amit Manhas, son of Daya Krishan Manhas of village Vasuki Dhera and his friend Rakesh Nath, son of  Guru Nath, resident of same village.
The accused along with sharp edged weapon was handed over to police for action under law.
A case under FIR number 1/14 under Section 457, 380 and 511 RPC has been registered at Bhaderwah police station and investigation started.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: In its continuous drive against the illegal trafficking of bovine animals, a Police Party of Police Station Ghagwal headed by Inspector Anu Sharma SHO P/S Ghagwal under the direct supervision of Anil Magotra, Superintendent of Police, Samba and Munish Anand, DySP HQ, Samba intercepted two trucks bearing registration No. JK08A/0027 and No. JK02V-5437 on NHW Jatwal during Naka checking late last night.
The vehicles were found loaded with 20 bovine animals which were being transported illegally from Kathua to Jammu. The driver of the vehicles managed to fled from the spot. In this context, case FIR No. 01/2014 U/S 188 RPC, 2/3 PC Act, 184 M.V. Act has been registered at Police Station Ghagwal and investigation started.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 2: The High Court directed the State Government to consider only eligible candidates for the post of Principal Government Medical College, Srinagar, strictly, in accordance with the rules.
Justice Virender Singh passed the direction upon hearing the counsel of former Medical Superintendent GB Pant Hospital, Dr Javed Choudhary in which he had prayed that Principal of the GMC Srinagar should be appointed as per the rules.
The Court directed State Government and Commissioner-cum-Secretary Health and Medical Education Department to follow the rules while appointing the Principal GMC Srinagar.

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 2: Army today organised a blood donation-cum-free medical awareness camp here in the memory of soldiers, who laid down their lives while fighting for their mother land.
A team of doctors and paramedics from Blood Transfusion Department of Government Medical College, Jammu conducted the blood donation camp in which Army personnel donated 101 bottles of blood.
A similar blood donation camp was also organised by the Army last year in which troops had donated an equal number of bottles of blood voluntarily.
A medical awareness-cum-free medical check up camp was also organised on the occasion in collaboration with the JK Medicity.

NEW DELHI, Jan 2: The Government today said it will “look into” a demand to raise the quota of subsidised LPG cylinders to 12 per household in a year from the current limit of nine, a day after the price of non-subsidised LPG was increased by a steep Rs 220.
“There is a request that the subsidised cylinders be increased from nine to 12…It came from several Chief Ministers,” Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here.
There have also been demands to roll back the hike of Rs 220 per cylinder of non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG), which customers buy after consuming their quota of nine subsidised cylinders.
Each non-subsidised 14.2-kg cooking gas cylinder currently costs Rs 1,241 in Delhi, about three times more expensive than a cylinder of subsidised LPG.
“I am not sure whether the Petroleum Ministry has actually operationalised the increase in price of non-subsidised cylinders. We will take a look both at the proposal (for a rollback in price) as well the demand from some quarters that nine subsidised cylinders should be increased to 12,” Chidambaram said.
With a view to cut its subsidy bill, the government had capped the supply of subsidised domestic LPG cylinders to six per household in a year in September 2012. The quota was raised to nine bottles per household a year in January 2013.
Officials said state-owned oil firms currently lose Rs 762.70 per cylinder on the sale of subsidised LPG and if yesterday’s hike is to be rolled back, the government will have to increase subsidy. (PTI)