Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: An ex-serviceman died under mysterious circumstances after a scuffle with his cousin at village Mokhe under the jurisdiction of RS Pura police station tonight.
The dead person has been identified as Sampuran Kumar, 45, son of Bodh Raj of Mokhe. He was an ex-serviceman.
SDPO RS Pura Diwakar Singh said Sampuran Kumar had a scuffle with his cousin Satish Kumar, 45, also an ex-serviceman, son of Hans Raj of Mokhe. After the scuffle Sampuran Kumar died.
“There were no visible marks on the body of Sampuran Kumar,’’ Mr Singh said, adding the body has been shifted to RS Pura hospital for post-mortem to ascertain reasons behind the death.
Police have, meanwhile, arrested Satish Kumar for questioning. A case has been registered in this connection for questioning.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: State High Court will observe winter vacations from January 1 to January 24, 2014. However, to hear the matters of urgent nature Chief Justice has nominated Vacation Judges for both the wings.
For Jammu wing, Justice Bansi Lal Bhat will be the Vacation Judge from January 6 to January 10 while as Justice Janak Raj Kotwal will be Vacation Judge from January 15 to January 17 and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur from January 20 to January 24, said a notification issued by the Registrar General, Suresh Kumar Sharma.
For Srinagar wing, Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar will be Vacation Judge from January 6 to January 10 while as Justice Hasnain Massodi will be Vacation Judge from January 13 to January 16 and Justice Tashi Rabstan from January 20 to January 24.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: Police authorities today ordered posting of two SHOs and an Incharge Police Post in Jammu district.
Sub Inspector Hillal Azhar, Incharge Canal Police Post has been transferred and posted as SHO Janipura police station against a vacancy caused with the transfer of Inspector Niaz-ul-Hassan to Samba district.
Sub Inspector Rakesh Kumar has been posted as SHO Kanachak police station in place of a probationer DySP, who has completed his probation.
Sub Inspector Kamal Kishore, Investigating Officer at Nowabad police station, has been transferred and posted as Incharge Canal Police Post vice SI Hillal Azhar.

NEW DELHI, Dec 30: Air Marshal Arup Raha, an ace fighter pilot, will tomorrow take over as the Air Force chief succeeding incumbent Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne.
Eastern Air Command chief Air Marshal RK Sharma will succeed Raha as the Vice Chief of Air Staff.
Born on December 26, 1954, 59 year-old Raha is expected to have a tenure of three years as the Chief of Air Staff.
Commissioned on December 14, 1974 in the fighter stream of the IAF, Raha has held various command, staff and instructional appointments in his 39-year-old career.
He has also served as Air Attache at the Embassy of India in Ukraine.
Besides various technical courses, Raha has done Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course and Junior Commanders’ course. He has commanded Central Air Command and Western Air Command.
Raha has served as Directing Staff at Flying Instructors School, Tambaram (Tamil Nadu) as well as at the Gwalior-based Tactics and Combat Development Establishment of the IAF.
Raha will get the command of the force at a time when it is engaged in a tussle with its largest supplier Hindustan Aeronautics Limited over the issue of indigenous and foreigner trainer aircraft.
The IAF is also engaged in intense negotiations for the procurement of 126 Rafale multi-role combat aircraft from the French firm Dassault Aviation.
Lt Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, who is expected to be the next Chief of the Army, will also move in the Army headquarters as the Vice Chief of Army Staff tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Army chief Gen Bikram Singh today took over as the new Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC) to succeed IAF Chief NAK Browne, who is superannuating tomorrow.
The baton of the CoSC was handed over to Gen Singh by the outgoing IAF chief in a ceremony attended by Admiral DK Joshi and a host of senior military commanders from the three services.
Gen Singh will have a brief tenure of around seven months as the CoSC as he is expected to retire in July this year.
The COSC is the senior-most officer of the three Services and is in-charge for looking after the joint issues related to them. The senior-most of the three Services chiefs takes over the post.
Gen Singh was also speculated to be a frontrunner in the race for being appointed as the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee — a post which has been recommended by the Naresh Chandra Committee for reforms in the higher defence management.
The National Security Council Secretariat is expected to prepare proposals for the appointment of a four-star general to head the tri-services organisation.
However, the Defence Ministry has made it clear that it would like to create such a post only after discussions with other political parties and try to evolve a consensus on it.
The Defence Ministry is also of the view that there should be no haste in taking decision on a matter which will result in bringing about a major change in the military structures. (PTI)

KOLKATA, Dec 30: Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir today said some of the subjects of Indo-Pak relations should be revisited as sincere desire for better relations were expressed in statements, “but sometimes the ground reality appears to be contrary.”
“It is important that we start revisiting some of the subjects of Indo-Pak relations with an open mind,” he said.
“I acknowledge that in our statements, we express most sincere and profound desire of better relations, but sometimes the ground reality appears to be contrary. And that is where the media comes in, as it has to play a great role in changing the narrative,” Bashir told a meet-the-press programme at the Press Club here.
Noting that it was in the common interest of both the countries to have the best of relationships, he said, “We have a mechanism to address each others’ concerns in the domain of crime, terrorism etc.
“So, if we allow those mechanisms to work, it will lead to much better situations,” Bashir said, referring to the DGMO and DG level talks between BSF and Pakistani rangers.
“The two joints statements that were issued talk about constructive and forward-looking things. So, when you allow the people concerned to get in contact and work, the picture starts looking different. I think it’s time we really start to look at each other with different prisms,” Bashir said.
Holding that the leadership of both countries understood that they need to have friendly and cooperative relations, the envoy said it was time to move forward instead of remaining mired in stereotypes.
“It is generally understood by the leadership and the people of the two countries that they need to have good, friendly, cooperative relations. We need to sort of revisit and proceed on the basis of more enlightenment instead of remaining mired in stereotypes,” he said.
On the obstacles in Indo-Pak relations, Bashir said both countries needed to work on issues of convergence and minimise differences.
“There are issues we need to resolve peacefully. While we address those issues in a civilised and forward-looking manner, but with an eye to the future, there are certain issues on which we have differences. There are also many other issues on which we have convergences. So, I think we should build on convergences and minimise the differences,” he said.
The Pakistani envoy also noted that one of the main hurdles in the bilateral relations was the public perception about Pakistan in India.
“The biggest obstacle is the public perception here. In our country, we are working on it…You will hardly find any negative coverage about India in Pakistan.
“The role of media is very important in changing (the perception). We sincerely believe that we want to develop economically, we need a friendly and stable neighbourhood,” he said.
Bashir said more people-to-people contact between the two countries would help in improving ties.
Asked about the resolution adopted by Pakistani Parliament condemning execution of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla in Bangladesh for war crimes of 1971, Bashir said, “Parliament is a sovereign body.
“As you know very well, it is not proper for me or for anybody from Pakistan to be here in India and comment either on the Indian political process or on any situation in any other country.”
Replying to questions, Bashir said a regime change in India would not come in the way of bilateral ties between the two countries.
“I don’t think that regime change really matters. The relation between States are State relations. They are not personal or party-specific. It is the considered policy of Pakistan to forge friendly and cooperative relations with India,” he said.
“So, your question remains relevant in terms of reciprocation and it is my sense that people of India are desirous to see better relations with Pakistan in their own interest. That’s my sense,” Bashir said.
Asked about BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Bashir said, “We respect every leader of every political party. You said it rightly that it is your internal matter.
“We don’t have any opinion on that. Every leader of every political party represents the people of India. We are reaching out to the people of India and in democracy, whatever democracy delivers is something that is good. We believe in that.
“I think it is not fair for me to make any comment on any particular person or leader in the political process,” Bashir said, refraining from directly commenting on Modi.
The High Commissioner, accompanied by his wife, earlier met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and invited her to visit Pakistan.
“The Pakistan High Commissioner has conveyed to me the invitation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to visit their country at a convenient time,” Banerjee said on Facebook. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 30:  High Court today quashed a Government order in which Public Works Department had placed Assistant Engineers as In-charge Superintending Engineers in their own pay and grade.
Justice Ali Mohammad Magray asked the Government to take necessary steps commensurate with the High Court exigencies in the department to make different promotions in different cadres of the service.
High Court said that order dated 29/11/2013 is “totally nonspeaking”.
“It does not speak of any of the compelling or exigent reasons on which such arrangements could be ordered in terms of rule 25 (4) of  Classification Control and Appeal (CCA) rules which provides where it is necessary in the public interest owing to an emergency which has arisen and could not have been foreseen to fill a vacancy immediately by promotion from lower category, and where promotion in accordance with these rules would undue delay or expenditure or cause administrative inconvenience, “the court said.
The court said the appointing authority may promote a person otherwise than in accordance with these rules but such temporary promotion in no case exceeds three months on each occasion.
Referring to various judgments passed by the High Court and Supreme Court, the court said: “Could the respondents be placed as in charge superintending engineers, more so on the ground that being from reserved categories they are entitled to consequential seniority in terms of Rule 24 of CCA rules and that too without considering the petitioners, and under the garb of powers under Rule 25 of CCA rules.”
The petitioners, Civil Engineers (General Category), who are also Assistant Engineers,  had questioned the Government  Order No: 437-PWD (R& B) in which respondents (other Assistant Engineers) were placed as Incharge  Superintending Engineers in their own pay and grade in Public Works Department this year in November.

The court said that as per Law the officiating promotion could not be made without the consultation of the Public Service Commission (PSC) for more than six months when in charge arrangement is made, it has to be for a short duration not exceeding six months.
Citing rules, the court said the seniority of the class of services is to be determined only when they are appointed by promotion to the post as per rules and only when they become permanent members of the class of service.
“No reservation is permissible for the reserved categories of Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribes in so far as the promotion of SE is concerned,” the court said.
The petitioners were represented by advocate Altaf Haqqani while senior Additional Advocate General J A Kawoos represented the Government.

GRENOBLE (FRANCE), Dec 30: Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One champion who often braved death on the tracks, was fighting for his life Monday after an off-piste skiing accident in the French Alps.
The German racing legend, who turns 45 at the end of the week, was helicoptered off a mountain in the upmarket Meribel resort Sunday after falling and slamming his head on a rock while skiing off-piste with his 14-year-old son.
News of the accident stunned the Formula One community and racing stars joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and legions of fans in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Initially described as non-life-threatening, his condition gradually deteriorated and the hospital where he was being treated eventually announced late Sunday that Schumacher was critical, had serious brain trauma and had undergone an emergency operation.
In an update to reporters on Monday, doctors at the hospital in the southeastern city of Grenoble said that while it was too early to make a prognosis on the famous patient, he was fighting for his life.
“He is in critical condition, his condition can be described as life threatening,” Jean-Francois Payen, head of the intensive care unit, told reporters.
Stephan Chabardes, the professor who operated on Schumacher, said the former racer arrived in hospital Sunday in an agitated state — his arms and legs jerking uncontrollably — and was not able to answer questions.
His condition “rapidly deteriorated” and he fell into a coma, he told reporters.
Payen said he was immediately operated on and still suffered from “serious and diffuse brain lesions”, which indicates his injuries are not localised but more widespread.
He added that Schumacher would not be alive if he had not been wearing a helmet.
“Given the violence of the impact, his helmet partially protected him. If someone had had this type of accident without a helmet, they would definitely not be here,” he said.
In a statement released later Monday, Schumacher’s wife Corinna and the rest of his family thanked well-wishers and gave a special nod to the doctors treating him.
“We would like to thank the medical team who, we know, do everything possible to help Michael,” Corinna said in a statement.
The star’s accident comes after several off-piste skiers died or were injured in the Alps, and on Sunday authorities in the Savoie department where Meribel is located asked skiers to be extra “vigilant”.
Schumacher, who won the last of his world titles in 2004, towered over the sport since his debut in 1991, winning more Formula One world titles and races than any other. He had a record 91 wins and is one of only two men to reach 300 grands prix.
His duels in his heyday with Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve, fired by an unquenchable competitive spirit, have gone down in Formula One lore.
Schumacher was born in January 1969 near Cologne, Germany, the son of a bricklayer who also ran the local go-kart track, where his mother worked in the canteen.
By 1987, Schumacher was the German and European go-kart champion and was soon racing professionally. In 1991 he burst into Formula One by qualifying seventh in his debut race in Belgium and a year later, he won his first Formula One grand prix.
He joined Ferrari in 1996 and went from strength to strength over the next decade, dominating the podium, before retiring aged 37.
During his retirement he survived a horror accident that knocked him out when racing a motorbike in Spain, though that time he was released from hospital after just five hours.
But the father of two could not resist the lure of the track and in 2010 he came out of retirement, signing a deal with Mercedes before quitting for good in 2012.
His helmet had a message for fans: “Life is about passions — Thank you for sharing mine.” (Agencies)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 30: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tomorrow morning, will discuss the report of Justice (Retd) R C Gandhi one man judicial enquiry commission into the communal clashes of Kishtwar district.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that report of Justice (Retd) R C Gandhi is being placed before the Cabinet for discussion and action on its recommendations.
It is pertinent to mention here that Justice Gandhi commission recently submitted its interim report to the Government whereby Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, MLA Kishtwar, was given clean chit. Following its report, the Government re-inducted Mr Kitchloo in the Council of Ministers.
According to the sources, the Cabinet is likely to direct the one man Commission for completion of enquiry as early as possible and submission of complete report.