PoK refugees taking out protest march at Panjtirthi on Friday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Mar 1: The refugees from Pak occupied Kashmir (PoK) held strong protest demonstration at Mubarak Mandi and took out a rally towards Panjtirthi here today.
The displaced families from Deva Batala, Chhamb, Mirpur, Manawar, Bhimber, Kotli, Muzaffrabad and Baagh area of PoK assembled at Mubarak Mandi under the banner of PoK Refugees Front 1947, 1965, 1971. President of the organization Capt (Retd) Yudvir Singh and general secretary Rashpal Singh Chib were leading.
Carrying banners and placards, these people including large number of women were raising slogans in support of their demands. They were demanding comprehensive settlement of PoK refugees by granting adequate Central package. They also shouted anti-Government slogans and alleged that many senior leaders only befooled the refugees and did not show keen interest in resolving their six decades old issues.
The refugee leaders alleged that many times representations were given to the visiting Union ministers and the State ministers as well. All of them gave assurances but nothing on ground was witnessed so far. They demanded that Wadhwa Committee report should also be made public. They appreciated the fresh initiative being taken by the new Revenue Minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan as he also held meetings of senior Revenue officers and representatives of refugees/DPs.
The rally started from Mubarak Mandi and then they moved towards Panjtirthi Chowk. Near Police Police Panjtirthi a large number of DPs offered court arrests but the cops did not arrest them or shift them in buses to DPL or Police station. After staging protest there for some time, they dispersed.
`Jammu and Kashmir government today said that the 18-hole Sidhra Golf Course, being built in the outskirts of the city, will be completed by September this year.
Replying to a question in the Legislative Council here, the Minister of State for Tourism Nazir Ahmad Gurezi said that 18 Hole Golf Course along with the club building and other ancillary works is going on in full swing and would be completed by September this year.
He said the work on Sidhra Golf Course was started in the year 2007 and added that the administrative approval was accorded at a cost of Rs 37.39 crore, of which Rs 29.27 crore have been spent so far.
The phase first of nine hole golf course stands completed and is functional, the minister said in response to National Conference member Ajat Shatru Singh’s question.
“There is no loss on account of cost escalation as the project is under execution within the sanctioned cost of Rs 37.39 crore,” he added. (PTI)
Amid demands of death for rapists, a Parliamentary panel today suggested that President should not consider clemency pleas in rape and murder cases and said mercy petitions should be disposed of within three months and reasons for granting clemency should be made public.
In its report tabled in the Rajya Sabha, the Standing Committee on Home also recommended publicising the names of sex offenders after conviction. It has supported government’s view that in cases the rape victim either dies or is left in a vegetative state, the rapist be given death sentence.
However, following differences it did not recommend reducing the age of juveniles.
The Committee in its report on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 said, “Application for clemency should not be considered in rape and murder cases.”
It also said that mercy petitions should be disposed of within three months and reasons for granting clemency should be made public.
Committee Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said the panel had wanted to know the reasons behind former President (Pratibha Patil) commuting death sentence of four convicts of rape and murder cases.
But the Home Ministry refused to share the details citing privilege in discussions between the Home Minister and the President. “Hence the suggestion to make reasons public,” he said.
He also said the delays in clearing mercy petitions was being used by convicts to demand commuting their death sentence to life imprisonment in courts.
“The attention of the Committee was drawn to the issue of clemency given by the President of India. The Committee noted that some persons convicted for rape and murder were given clemency by the President,” the report said.
Article 72 gives power to the President to grant pardons, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases.
“The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence,” the Article says.
The recommendation assumes significance as it comes against the backdrop of clamour for hanging the rapists of the 23-year-old girl in Delhi on December 16. The girl, a paramedic, was raped and brutally assaulted by six persons in a moving bus, because of which she died 16 days later.
Government’s decisions to reject marital rape as a criminal offence was also accepted by the committee which agreed with the Home Ministry’s view that criminalising marital rape would weaken traditional family values in India, and that marriage presumes consent, arguments opposed fiercely by women’s activists.
“… It has practical difficulties. If litigations are allowed, then the family system will be disturbed,” Naidu said in response to questions.
Despite suggestions by several members, the committee decided against recommending a relook at the age of juveniles as the Home Ministry said the Women and Child Development Ministry was examining the matter.
Some members also opposed a recommendation on the issue saying without consulting experts, the panel should not rush to conclusions.
“I raised the issue…There were opinions that the age of juveniles should be reduced from 18 to 16 years,” Naidu told reporters.
Going beyond its mandate to recommend changes in the bill, the panel has also suggested improving courts’ infrastructure and said adequate funds should be earmarked for setting up fast track courts.
The report said in case crime is committed by a subordinate in the knowledge of the higher officer and he does not take immediate action, then he should be held responsible and his omission should be recorded in his confidential report.
It said while the bill under its consideration had the clause “… Being in a position of economic or social or political dominance, commits sexual assault on a person under such dominance…,” the term ‘political’ was deleted from the ordinance promulgated last month.
It recommended that the term ‘political’ should be retained in the fresh bill to be tabled in Budget session to replace the ordinance.
Supporting the bill for making acid attack a specific offence under the Indian Penal Code, the committee recommended that in case the convict fails to pay compensation to the victim, the Centre and the state governments should make steps to rescue the victim.
“Cases drag in courts. What will happen to the victim. Therefore, the government should step in,” Naidu said.
CPI member D Raja and CPI-M member Prasanta Chatterjee of the committee gave dissent note on making rape laws gender neutral and exempting martial rape.
“Clause 5 adopts a gender neutral definition of sexual assault as has been done in Section 8 of the ordinance. This is totally unacceptable, unjust and trivialises the large increase in the number of rapes by men,” the joint note of dissent of the two members read.
The bill introduced in Lok Sabha last December will be withdrawn to make way for a fresh bill in the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. The new bill will replace the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance promulgated earlier this month.
Notwithstanding the ordinance, the committee decided to study the bill and give its recommendations on a fast track basis so that these can be incorporated in the fresh bill.
Besides the 2012 bill, the panel had examined the Justice J S Verma Committee recommendations and the ordinance before making recommendations. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today sealed a beauty parlour and tutorial in posh Trikuta Nagar locality for violating land use of the area from residential to commercial one.
The beauty parlour Naturals SPA, situated on first floor at Plot number 3, sector number 5 and the tutorial, namely Phoenix Classes Education, at Plot number 15, sector number 5 in Trikuta Nagar were sealed by the Enforcement Staff of JMC, led by Chief Enforcement Officer.
The action was taken on the direction of K.L. Khajuria Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Jammu, for intensifying the drive against the violations of Land use of the area under the provisions of Section 8 (1) of J&K Control of Building Operation Act, 1988. The drive was conducted with the assistance of local police.
Besides this, the JMC team also conducted the drive against the use of polythene carry bags and inspected various shops in the area of Gandhi Nagar. During the inspection the team seized about 15 kgs polythene carry bags and also charged Rs. 6500.00 as compounding fee from the defaulters on spot.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan today said that the Government has recently appointed 136 doctors under NRHM to address the shortage of doctors in the hospitals especially in far-flung areas of the State.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to an issue raised by Naresh Kumar Gupta during the Zero Hour in the Upper House today.
The Minister said that the new hospital building in Bhaderwah has been completed and funds for the purchase of equipment stand sanctioned. The shortage of Paramedics would also be addressed, he added.
Dr. Shahnaz Ganie highlighted the historical role played by women in Jammu and Kashmir and said that women are now getting proper representation and their empowerment should be further supported.
Ghulam Nabi Monga condemned the gruesome killing of Sarpanch Javaid Ahmad Wani in district Baramulla and other Panchayat members in Sopore.
Mohammad Amin Bhat drew the attention of Government towards frequent traffic jams in Anantnag town, especially between Khanbal to Ashishpora and Khanbal to Mattan. He sought early redressal of the problem.
Syed Rafiq Shah demanded upgradation of Trehgam hospital of Kupwara district.
Sheikh Ghulam Rasool demanded better facilities in schools to facilitate their early opening after winter vacations. He said that frequent extension of winter vacation needs to be avoided for better future of children.
B R Kundal called for evolving a mechanism for ensuring swift restoration of power supply particularly to rural areas after being affected by wind storms, snow etc.
Narbo Gialchan demanded helicopter service for Shey area of district Leh particularly for ferrying teachers and patients.
Subash Chander Gupta demanded creation and appointment of adequate clerical and other staff in five Zonal Education Offices of Kathua district, including Bhaddu, Mareen, Sallan, Mahanpur and Lakhanpur.
Javid Ahmad Rana demanded one time relaxation and early clearance in several SRO-43 cases lying pending with GAD and Home Department.
Drawing attention toward horticulture sector, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri called for sensitizing the beneficiaries about Pre-Harvest Management Programme by conducting awareness programmes.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: A whopping over Rs 1366 crore power tariff is outstanding against the Government Departments and Corporations till December 31, 2012.
This information was provided by the Minister Incharge Power in the written reply to the question of National Panthers Party MLA from Ramnagar, Harshdev Singh in the Legislative Assembly today.
Of over Rs 1366 crore, an amount of Rs 388.68 crore is to be recovered by the EM&RE Wing Kashmir and Rs 978.17 crore by the EM&RE Wing Jammu of the Power Development Department.
Among the defaulting departments are Health, R&B, Revenue, Animal Husbandry, Education, PHE, Rural Development Agriculture, Finance, Sericulture, Horticulture, SRTC, Wildlife, Sales Tax, Judiciary, Municipal Committees, Irrigation and Flood Control, Tourism Development Corporation, Hospitality and Protocol, SIDCO/SICOP, Industries and Commerce, UEED, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Fire and Emergency Services, Kashmir University, SKIMS, State Forest Corporation, Police Department and State Recruitment Board etc.
Notwithstanding such huge arrears, the Minister Incharge Power said, “the entire cost of the power purchase and supplies is borne by the Government and therefore the matter will be dealt with accordingly”.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking apex-court monitored probe by a special investigation team (SIT) or CVC into the alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3600 crore VVIP chopper deal.
“It is not a correct forum,” a bench comprising justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash said while dismissing the PIL filed by an advocate.
The PIL filed by M L Sharma had sought an SIT or Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) probe under the supervision of the apex court without involving CBI which, it had alleged, was under government’s control.
It had also asked for a direction to the Defence Ministry to scrap the contract with Italian company Finmeccanica for the supply of 12 AW101 helicopters. Finmeccanica’s subsidiary AgustaWestland manufactures the choppers, three of which have been delivered to India to ferry VVIPs.
The petition had alleged that despite information available since 2011, no FIR was lodged against Indian citizens allegedly involved in the deal.
The PIL was filed after Defence Minister A K Antony had ordered a CBI probe into the allegations of payment of bribes to clinch the deal.
Giuseppe Orsi, who was the head of Finmeccanica, was arrested last month on charges of tax fraud and corruption including alleged pay-offs in the chopper deal. India has put on hold the receipt of the remaining helicopters as well as rest of the payment for the deal struck in 2010. (PTI)
Union Minister for Telecommunication and Information Technology Kapil Sibal today assured the Rajya Sabha that a round table of Members of Parliament would be convened once the Supreme Court gave its verdict on the need to regulate offensive content on social media.
Replying to a Private Members’ resolution moved by Mr P Rajeeve, CPI-M, on the arbitrary use by enforcement agencies to arrest citizens posting comment on social media in violation of the right to freedom of speech, the minister noted that the norms on limits of social media were yet to be prescribed as when the Constitution was framed there was no social media which was a recent phenomenon.
While print had a brief life, in the case of social media, abusive content did not die out in a day and in that sense was ”a continuing offence”, he pointed out.
Before rushing with any amendment to India’s cyber laws, the minister suggested awaiting the judgement of the apex court since the social media being a new media there was a need to have guidelines for it.
There were no clear cut international rules under which the media operated. ”Governments and citizens all over the world are grappling with it,” he told the House.
Mr Rajeeve in his reply before withdrawing his resolution urged the Government to act in a time-bound manner as the issues raised were of a very serious nature.
Globalisation has changed the nature, definition and content of social interaction, he added.
NEW DELHI, Mar 1:
Aiming at increasing the footfalls of foreign tourists, Ministry of Tourism has sought Visa-on- Arrival (VoA) facilities for 16 more countries, including Germany, France, South Africa and Russia.
Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi today met Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and submitted a proposal seeking extension of VoA facilities for 16 important countries.
“The extension VoA facilities for tourists to the countries is important as we feel that these are potential source markets to India,” said a senior ministry official.
Consistent with the look east policy, Tourism Ministry has included Thailand, Malaysia and Brunei in the proposed VoA list.
Keeping an eye on the emerging market of CIS countries, the Ministry has sought the extension of the VoA facility for Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
The other new countries proposed for the extension of the facility are Spain, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago.
Currently the VoA facilities are available for tourists from 11 countries including Singapore, New Zealand, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Philippines.
There were total 16,084 foreign tourists who had availed the VoA facility in 2012 as against 12,761 in 2011.
VoA is an attraction for potential tourists in key markets and at times also helps in tapping people who make decisions at the last moment.
An independent study conducted by Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) has noted that the VOA scheme has a significant and positive impact on the decision to travel to India and it should be expanded to cover more countries and more ports of entry. (PTI)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul, today reconstituted the Business Advisory Committee.
As per notification issued here today by the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, the Committee, with Speaker as its Chairman, will have Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Agriculture Production, G. H. Mir, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah, Deputy Speaker, Mohammad Sartaj Madni and MLAs, Mehbooba Mufti, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, Harshdev Singh and M. Y. Tarigami as its members.
Besides, Legislators Hakim Mohammad Yasin, Tsetan Namgyal, Ashok Khajuria and Ashwani Kumar Sharma will serve as special invitees to the Business Advisory Committee.
