Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: BJP Cultural Cell State convener Pt. Vipon Shastri in consultation with BJP State president Jugal Kishore Sharma, BJP State general secretary (org) Ashok Kaul and Incharge Cells of the party Sat Sharma (CA) nominated team of office bearers of the State.
As per a release, Arun Sharma and Shweta Lengeh were nominated as State co-conveners. The other members of the Cell included Vijay Verma, Bishmber Singh, Pt. Som Dutt Sharma, Arun Kumar, Vikas Sharma, Varender Verma, Vivek Sharma, Rajinder Gupta, Chander Mohan Sharma and Surinder Kumar.
BJP Cultural Cell nominates office bearers
Shri Chauntra Mata pilgrimage arrangements discussed
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMNAGAR, Mar 16: To discuss arrangements for smooth conduct of 25th Shri Chauntra Mata Annual Pilgrimage during coming Navratras starting from April, 11, a meeting of tehsil officers and Akhand Jyoti members was held under the chairmanship of Tehsildar, Ramnagar, Sushil Kesar, today.
Threadbare discussions were held on arrangements like drinking water, power supply, security, first-aid, transport and sanitation at the Shrine site and enroute.
The Akhand Joyti would be lit on first day of Navratra at Narsingh Ji Temple in Ramnagar town and would remain there for darshan till April 13, 2013 and would be carried to Chountra Mata Darbar on April14, 2011 morning in a procession of devotees chanting religious hymns.
HC dismisses appeal of insurance company against MACT decision
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: State High Court today dismissed an appeal filed by the New India Insurance Company Ltd against the award passed by the MACT Samba to the tune of Rs 1,68,09,089 in an accident case.
According to the case, on March 30, 2009 a vehicular accident took place at Vijaypur Chakpura wherein one Venkata Subramanyam Bopana lost his life. The accident had allegedly been caused due to rash and negligent driving of one Deepak Kumar, driver of offending vehicle TATA SUMO.
The legal heirs of deceased— wife and minor son approached the Tribunal seeking compensation from the insurer-appellant for the life of deceased having gone astray due to the accident. Respondents claimed compensation to the tune of Rs 2.50 crore along with 12% interest per annum from the appellant and MACT Samba awarded Rs 1,68,09,089 on April 26, 2012 which was challenged by the New India Insurance Company Ltd.
After hearing Senior Advocate R K Gupta with Advocate Prem Sadhotra appearing for the appellant whereas Advocate R K Jain and Advocate Vishal Sharma appearing for the respondents/claimants, Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir observed, “Court is of the considered view that Tribunal has rightly awarded Rs 1,68,09,089 for loss of dependency, loss of estate, funeral expenses and loss of consortium respectively”.
“The sufferings, pain and agony of the family consisting of a lady and a minor child having lost its only earning member can just be imagined. The sufferings have got multiplied by the conduct of appellant/ insurer who has dragged them unnecessarily and kept them busy in litigation. Therefore Court deems it proper to impose costs too”, Justice Mir said.
Accordingly, the appeal was dismissed with costs of Rs 10,000 payable to the respondents/ claimants.
Bharat Darshan of CD volunteers concludes
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Weeklong tour of Civil Defence (CD) volunteers, which was undertaken by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) under its Civic Action Programme, concluded.
The volunteers were received by Dy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Home Guards and Civil Defence, Sham Lal Sharma and other senior officers here at Battalion Headquarters Gulshan Ground.
Welcoming the touring wardens and volunteers of 20 districts of the State, Mr Sharma said that the tour was aimed to have interaction with the volunteers of other states of the country and enhance their proficiency in their services. He asked the volunteers to utilize the experiences gained during the tour to make their future activities more effective.
During the tour the group visited Chandigarh, Ajmir, Jaipur and Delhi. In New Delhi, the group interacted with Director General NDRF and Civil Defence MHA, P M Nair and other senior officers.
On the occasion, the volunteers also shared the detailed feedback and experience achieved during their week long and said that the tour would make their noble service more active and vibrant.
Earlier, the Commandant SDRF, Ghulam Sarwar Chouhan and Staff Officer, Ranbir Singh Manhas, threw light on different activities of SDRF and Civil Defence.
Among others, the function was attended by Deputy Superintendents of Police, Dushant Sharma and Sudershan Kumar Mehta, Chief Warden Jammu, Jugal Mahajan, Dy Chief Warden, Vinod Malhotra, Dy Divisional Warden, Vijay Magotra, CD wardens, prominent citizens and other police officers.
Christian Association protests for reservation
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Demanding reservation for the community, activists of All J&K Christian Minority Welfare Association today held a protest demonstration near the Press Club Jammu, here today.
Led by Michael Wazir, the Christian activists raised slogans in support of their demand for reservation and an end to alleged discrimination with the community in Jammu and Kashmir.
While addressing the gathering, Michael Wazir highlighted the grievances of the community and demanded one percent reservation in professional institutes, Government jobs and setting up of an advisory board for the Christian Dalits in J&K.
Others who addressed the gathering included Nasir Masih, Rewal Masih, Rohit George, Shammi Sotra, Ravi Nayar, Marshal Sotra, Seema Daizy, Renu Angelena and Victor Gill.
8 cases settled in Lok Adalat
Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Mar 16: A Lok Adalat was held at District Court Complex here today.
The Lok Adalat was presided over by MA Chowdhary, Principal, District and Sessions Judge, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority and was assisted by Khalil Ahmed Chowdhary, Sub Judge, CJM.
A total of 14 cases were taken up during the Lok Adalat, out of which 8 cases were settled by mediation and reconciliation.
Woman succumbs to burn injuries
Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Mar 16: Reva Devi, wife of Mohan Lal who received grievous burn injuries on March 12 when LPG gas caught fire while she was cooking meals for her husband in village Chak Gopal falling under Rajbagh Police Station of Kathua district succumbed to her injuries in GMC Hospital, Jammu this morning.
According to reports Reva Devi had received 90 percent burn injuries and she was battling for life in GMC while she was undergoing treatment.
Her husband also received burn injuries after trying to save Reva Devi and couple was hospitalized on the same day. But Reva Devi in her last statement had told police that the fire was accidental and there was no foul play in it.
2G scam: CBI court postpones hearing on Sunil Mittal till Mar 19
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: A special CBI court today reserved its order on a complaint filed by an NGO, alleging involvement of Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Mittal in the case of additional Spectrum allocation during the NDA regime.
Telecom watchdog, an NGO, has alleged in complaint that CBI in ‘connivance’ with Mittal has ‘misled’ the court by hiding material facts in the chargesheet against Airtel on the issue of additional spectrum allocation.
Special judge O P Saini, who is trying 2G spectrum allocation scam case, asked the NGO why its plea was against one particular company.
The NGO’s counsel Sudhir Malhotra said, “The issue was not against one company but as the evidence was available only against Mittal, the complaint has been filed against him. If the evidence would have been against other companies, we would have raised that also.”
Judge O P Saini after hearing the arguments has adjourned the matter till March 19. (UNI)
Govt urged not to grant permission to Prof to receive Pak award
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Professors of Zakir Hussain College here today urged the Government not to grant permission to eminent Urdu litterateur Professor Gopi Chand Narang to go to Pakistan to receive an award.
“We the Urdu teachers of Delhi university have come to know that Ministry of External Affairs is considering to grant permission to Professor Gopi Chand Narang to go to Pakistan to receive the honour Sitara-i-Imtiaz,” a statement from Professors of Zakir Hussain College said.
They said considering the recent series of incidents such as beheading of Indian soldiers by Pakistan army at the LoC and resolution passed by Pakistan National Assembly criticising hanging of 2001 Indian Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, it does not appear to be appropriate and wise to receive any award or honour from the Pakistan Government.
The academicians said the Indian Government should advice Professor Narang to stay away from accepting the award.
“It would definitely enhance the reputation of Professor Gopi Chand Narang who has already been awarded Padam Bhushan and Padam Shri by Government of India,” they added in the statement. (UNI)
Swiss embassy calls for swift investigation in gangrape case
NEW DELHI, Mar 16: Distressed over gangrape of its national in Madhya Pradesh, Switzerland today sought a “swift” investigation into the incident so that the victim gets justice.
Strongly reacting to the incident in which the Swiss citizen was gangraped by seven to eight persons last night, the embassy here said the health and treatment of the victim was the priority for them at the moment.
The Swiss embassy also got in touch with authorities in Madhya Pradesh and requested for speedy probe into the incident.
Swiss Ambassador Linus von Castelmur has already spoken to the victim and assured her of all help.
“The Embassy is most distressed with the gangrape of a Swiss national in Madhya Pradesh. The Ambassador has been able to speak to the victim and her partner and has assured them of all possible support. Their health and treatment is the priority of the moment.
“The embassy has also been in touch with the local authorities and has requested for swift investigation and for justice to be done,” the Swiss embassy said in a statement.
The 39-year-old Swiss female tourist on a cycling trip with her husband was gangraped by seven to eight people at a forest area in Datia district of Madhya Pradesh last night, police said.
The incident took place at Jharia village, eight km near Datia town, at around 9 PM last.
Twenty people have already been detained on the basis of suspicion and are being questioned in connection with the incident, DIG (Chambal range) D K Arya said. (PTI)