Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: A Lok Adalat was held under the chairmanship of Sudesh Sharma, Chairperson, Tehsil Legal Services Committee at Hiranagar.
To settle the cases the bench comprising of Munsiff, Judicial Magistrate, Sudesh Sharma, Amit Bhagat, Tehsildar Hiranagar and Yash Paul Sharma, Bar President, Hiranagar was constituted. The bench was assisted by Advocate Sohan Singh and Advocate Ashok Sharma as negotiator.
In the Lok Adalat, a total of three cases were taken up and finally disposed off.
Among others present were Prosecuting Officer Jai Pal Singh, senior Advocates Naresh Gupta, Thakur Ranjit Singh and Bar members.
3 cases settled in Lok Adalat
JCC delegation meets Chief Secy
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: A 18-member delegation of JCC members met the new Chief Secretary Iqbal Khandey here today and on his assurance they suspended their Feb 28 programme.
A delegation of the JCC led by senior members Abdul Qayoom Wani, Mohd Khursheed Alam, Gafoor Dar and Kulwant Singh during 45-minute long meeting with the Chief Secretary in his office chamber here this afternoon, discussed the pending issues of the employees. The new Chief Secretary sought some time and assured the delegation that Government was actively considering their genuine demands. On the assurance of Mr Khandey, the JCC leadership suspended its Feb 28 programme regarding crucial meeting and decision about next course of action, senior JCC member Gafoor Dar said.
BSNL to train AICTE students
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Under its Employability Enhancement Training Programme, AICTE is signing an MoU with BSNL to use the training facilities and faculty of BSNL for the benefit of students in AICTE approved institutions.
The MoU will be signed tomorrow by Chairman, AICTE and CMD, BSNL in presence of HRM, Government of India, Dr M M Pallam Raju in his office at Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi.
These programs will focus on practical hands-on training in field / lab work supplemented with structured academic content that is currently being provided online and can be supplemented with appropriate theory sessions in academic intuitions / colleges. Practical sessions shall be held in the weekends or other times in flexi-mode that shall expose the students to various state of art telecom equipment and their operation.
Academic content will focus on the various operational procedures / facets of the telecom equipment / technologies present in the BSNL network related to practical aspects in an attempt to provide the students with high end equipment handling practical skills as opposed to rote learning.
The training will be provided through 44 training centres of BSNL, spread across the country.
The students to be trained under the scheme shall be finalized by AICTE for each centre. The Project cost is approximately to be Rs 15 crore and is expected to train 15000 students.
More than 100 training centres of ILFS spread across the Country, are expected to provide facilities in the areas of Communications, Automobiles and Construction sectors and train more than a million students under NVEQF.
Mufti writes to PM on Guru’s remains
SRINAGAR, Feb 26:
People’s Democratic Party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today termed the execution of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru as a “negative reference point in Kashmir’s painful history”.
In a letter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Sayeed demanded that the mortal remains of Guru, who was hanged in Tihar jail on February 9, be returned to his family for proper burial and last rites.
“I am writing this letter after an agonising fortnight that in my opinion witnessed all the efforts at rebuilding a relationship of trust between Kashmir and rest of the country almost evaporate into thin air,” he said.
“The manner in which Mohammad Afzal Guru was executed in secrecy and very obvious unholy haste is another hugely negative reference point in our (Kashmir’s) painful history,” Sayeed said.
The PDP patriach wrote in the letter that he was deeply anxious about the possible fallout of the hanging on younger generations.
Alleging that the Centre had “completely ignored the voices of sanity” on Guru’s hanging, Sayeed said even though the feelings of pain and anger did not erupt as expected, it should not be construed as an absence of such feelings.
He said the hanging does not convey to Jammu and Kashmir a message “of being equal partners in the idea of India”.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, in the letter, said the hanging could impact the peace in the region.
Sayeed also rued the fact that his family was not given a last chance to meet him.
Demanding return of Guru’s mortal remains, he said this would reduce the pain of his family and help in rebuilding of bridges between Kashmir and rest of the country.
“It (handing of the body) will also reduce the pain of his family and perhaps open the way for some rebuilding of bridges at the psychological level between Kashmir and rest of the country.
“I have already said the return of Guru’s remains to his family is the minimum that the Government can do to apply some balm to a deep wound,” the letter said. (PTI)
CCI flays Railway Minister for ignoring Jammu-Chandigarh train
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu has strongly criticized the Union Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal for not announcing direct Jammu-Chandigarh train in the Railway budget.
Sharply reacting over the Union Railway Budget, the Jammu Chamber president Y V Sharma, senior vice president Sham Lal Langar, secretary general- Arun Gupta and other members flayed the Union Railway Minister Mr Bansal for ignoring long pending demand of the CCI and the people of Jammu to start direct train between Jammu and Chandigarh. He said several representations were submitted to the Governor N N Vohra, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Industries Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Secretary and also the Union Railway Minister but the demand has been ignored by the Railway Ministry in the new budget.
CCI members pointed out that hundreds of students from far-flung area of Jammu and Kashmir are either studying or undergoing training for different courses at Chandigarh. They have to face lot of hardships. A large number of patients and their attendants who go to PGI Chandigarh for consultation and treatment from J&K State are also suffering a lot due to non-availability of direct train to Chandigarh.
The Chamber members urged upon the Union Railway Ministry to consider the much awaited demand of the people of Jammu and Kashmir State. They also sought the intervention of Chief Minister of the State and stressed that issue should be taken up with the Union Government. They appreciated the recently launched airlines service between Jammu and Chandigarh.
6 employees found absent
Excelsior Correspondent
BANDIPORA, Feb 26: Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora today inspected various Government offices and Sub-District Hospital, Hajin and found 6 employees including 2 doctors unauthorizedly absent from their duty. Action under rules was initiated against the absentees.
While inspecting various wards of Sub-District Hospital, Hajin, he took stock of the medicare facilities of the patients and cleanliness in and around the hospital.
Later, an officers meeting was held at Sumbal during which a review was made with regard to ration, drinking water, power, LPG besides medicare facilities being provided to people.
Regularized teachers of Bhaddu Zone without salary for 5 months
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Teachers of Zone Bhaddu, regularized under SSA, have not been paid their salaries for the last five months.
These teachers had received their last salary in August 2012. Even as the matter has been brought into the notice of concerned authorities, no action was taken.
Highlighting the grievance of these teachers, Zonal president of J&K ReT Teachers Forum, Vinay Pathania has appealed the Education Minister to personally look into the matter and ensure that the salary grant gets released at the earliest.
Rural infrastructure getting focused attention: DyCM
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Flagging up gradation of rural infrastructure as priority area, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, said exemplary development initiatives have been taken for the purpose and focused attention is being paid to core areas of roads, energy, water supply, health and education.
He said mega-projects have been launched all across the State to develop rural packets on modern lines and to take the development revolution to every nook and corner.
“Exemplary development taken initiated taken by the Government clearly show seriousness of current dispensation towards all round development of the State”, said Tara Chand.
Continuing with the drive to reach out to people and bring administration to their doorsteps, Tara Chand conducted 2-day extensive tour to different areas of constituency and convened a series of public rallies and inspection of various ongoing development works.
Lauding unprecedented support of the Central Government, the Deputy Chief Minister said that with the help of liberal funding, major development initiatives have been taken and the State Government has launched mega projects for all round development of all the three regions of the State.
He said two cluster model villages have been sanctioned and work on the same is going on at fast pace. All the villages coming up under these clusters would be developed on modern lines with required infrastructure, he added. He said with completion of the cluster model village project, 31 villages of Pallanwala area would be facilitated with several specialized schemes in education, health, communication sewerage and drainage, agriculture and above all provision for a bus terminal and development of tourist attraction spots in the area.
Asking executing agencies to speed up the pace of work on the project, Tara Chand said special package of Rs. 16 crore has been announced for the model village and no delay would be tolerated in its completion.
Responding to the demands projected by the people, the Deputy Chief Minister directed for constructing deep drain in the area and assured that all genuine demands would be met on priority.
Uncertainty of peace stumbling block in economic progress: Omar
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Describing uncertainty of peace major stumbling block and quite unfriendly for promotion of industries and tourism, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that the unresolved political issues between India and Pakistan have further hampered the process of growth and economic development in Jammu and Kashmir.
“When you are confronted with uncertainty and political instability, the normal process of progress is severely hampered”, he said underlining the need for initiatives aimed at cultivation of permanent peace in the State.
Replying questions of students of Mass Media from Wilson College of Mumbai at an interaction meeting here, the Chief Minister said that the growth and promotion of tourism and creation of required tourist infrastructure alongwith industrialisation largely depends upon the peace and conducive atmosphere prevailing in the area.
The students, who are here on a 7-day study tour, put host of questions to the Chief Minister pertaining to various aspects which were answered by Omar Abdullah in detail.
In reply to a question regarding return of KPs, the Chief Minister said that the lack of sense of security among them forced them to leave the Valley and his Government is working to create a situation which would help to re-cultivate this sense of safety in them and they return voluntarily. “We have initiated various measures and are implementing a special package with the assistance of Central Government for the return of KPs to Valley”, he said, adding that their return cannot be forced.
On the issue of human rights, Omar Abdullah mentioned his advocacy for constitution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission on South Africa model to find out answers to so many questions that are associated with militancy and violence related incidents.
On power generation, Omar Abdullah said that his Government has taken new initiatives to generate hydro electric power and various projects have been already launched through Joint Venture Company while many are under execution in PPP and IPP mode. He said that within next 7 to 10 years the State is expected to transform from a deficit energy State to power sufficient one.
Replying a question about the use of plastic, the Chief Minister said that Government is determined to reduce the use of plastics in the State and ban on polythene is already in force. He said most of the food items are coming from outside the State in tetra packs or tin foils which create problem in managing the cleanliness of cities and towns.
He said that the issue of pollution can be addressed in its right perspective when the Government and people work together towards this goal. He said better civic sense is imperative to keep the surroundings clean and arrest pollution.
The students also asked questions about drug use, urbanization, sadbavana programme of army, handling of situation in the State after the hanging of Afzal Guru, functioning of Government, working of media, village defence committee, infrastructure development, tourism, trade, environment, etc which were replied by the Chief Minister elaborately.
JU VC calls on Governor
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 26: Prof. M. P. S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, called on N. N. Vohra, Governor, at Raj Bhavan here today.
Prof. Ishar discussed several issues relating to the University’s functioning with the Governor, who is Chancellor of the Jammu University. The matters discussed included budgetary problems relating to the off-site Campuses and issues relating to private institutions affiliated to the University.
The Governor stressed the vital importance of ensuring the highest standards of teaching and research in all centres within and outside the University Campus.
Navin K. Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Governor, was present during the discussions.