Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: Coming to the rescue of Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) candidate after eight years long litigation, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Hasnain Masoodi set aside the judgement of Writ Court and directed that the appellant Veena Kumari shall be deemed to have been appointed from the date she engaged as ReT for upgraded Middle School, Panjah, tehsil Kalakot albeit without monetary benefits for retrospective period. However, the petitioner’s case shall be considered for all the consequential benefits including regularization in terms of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Scheme and other relevant rules governing the field.
According to the appeal filed by Veena Kumari through Advocate Shivani Jalali Pandita, the appellant was engaged as Rehbar-e-Taleem but her appointment was challenged in the Writ Court on the ground that at the time of her engagement she was declared re-appear in one of the subjects of BA Final.
On the directions of the Writ Court, her engagement as ReT was cancelled. Aggrieved over this, Veena Kumari filed appeal against the judgement of Writ Court before the Division Bench with the submissions that on re-evaluation of her result, she was shown as pass for the subject and all this happened before the select panel was prepared.
Deputy AG Shaista Hakim appearing for the Education Department fairly stated that the stand taken by the official respondents in the response filed in the main writ petition, virtually supports the case of the appellant. Considering all the facts, the case of the appellant was ultimately considered to be on more meritorious position as compared to the writ petitioner, she added
After considering the submissions of Advocate Shivani Jalali Pandita for the appellant and Deputy AG Shaista Hakim for the State and Advocate Ashok Sharma appearing for respondent, the Division Bench rendered substantial justice to the appellant Veena Kumari by setting-aside the judgement of Writ Court.
Division Bench directed that the exercise of appointment of the appellant shall be completed within one month only.

Pak refuses to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 18: As Pakistan army continued to escalate tensions on the Line of Control (LoC) by resorting to heavy firing using mortars, rockets and UBGLs after a long time, Army have sent a detailed briefing to the Ministry of Defence and Army Headquarters about the ‘‘evil designs’’ of enemy troops, which today led to suspension of weekly cross-LoC bus service between two parts of divided State on Poonch-Rawlakote route and an uncertainty looming large over four days trade from tomorrow.
This was for the first time that Poonch-Rawlakote bus and cross-LoC trade between two parts of divided State have been suspended due to hostilities between the Armies of the two countries.
Even as an unusual calm prevailed in Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district, the epicenter of heavy firing by Pakistan army, retaliated in a controlled but effective manner by the troops, the Army authorities have given a detailed briefing to the MoD and Army Headquarters over prolonged spell of firing by Pakistan leading to one fatal casualties on this side and six injuries.
‘‘We have apprised the MoD and Army Headquarters about the unusual situation created by Pakistan army in Krishna Ghati sector. A detailed note has been sent to MoD and Army Headquarters. The matter would be taken up with Pakistan at the highest level by the MoD through appropriate channels’’, official sources said, describing suspension of cross-LoC bus service and trade between two parts of divided State by Pakistan as a ‘‘serious matter’’.
However, there was no firing from Pakistan today.
Ever since Pakistan army started heavy firing at KG sector on June 13, authorities of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) had refused to open gates at cross-LoC point of Chakan-Da-Bagh on June 14 and 15, the last two days of four days trade between two parts of divided State, without assigning any reasons. The trucks sent by the traders from this side to the zero line returned on both days.
Today, the weekly bus service between Poonch and Rawlakote didn’t ply from either side as already there were reports that PoK authorities wouldn’t open the gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh. Thirty civilians including 18 PoK returnees and 12 first time visitors from this side turned up at Poonch but returned as the bus didn’t ply.
Similarly, four days trade for the week from Tuesday to Friday was also unlikely to take place going by the attitude of Pakistan authorities. Though officers and traders from this side were ready for tomorrow’s trade, sources admitted that it was unlikely to materialize.
Meanwhile, in another effort to de-escalate tensions on the LoC especially in Krishna Ghati sector, Army today sent another message on hotline to Pakistan Army officials for a flag meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation arising out of heavy firing from across the LoC.
A previous such message by the Army to Pakistan for a flag meeting had been turned down by Pakistani troops without giving any reasons. So far, Indian authorities have only lodged their protest over Pakistan firing on the hotline as the flag meeting hasn’t materialized.
Troops on this side were confident that with calm prevailing today in Krishna Ghati sector with no firing from across the LoC, Pakistan army might come forward for a flag meeting tomorrow to discuss the issues and resolve tensions.
Pakistan army has reportedly claimed that they had lost four jawans while five civilians have been injured on their side in retaliatory firing by the Indian Army.
‘‘This was the major reason that they were not responding to the calls of flag meetings and also refusing to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh for cross-LoC bus and trade’’, sources said, adding that Pakistan army committed most inhuman act when they even didn’t allow an injured Army soldier Rajinder Singh to be evacuated from the forward post in Nangi Tekri area of Krishna Ghati sector leading to his killing and injuries to three jawans, who had gone to the spot to evacuate him.
Sources said the civil administration has also sent a detailed report of PoK authorities’ refusal to open gates at Chakan-Da-Bagh for cross-LoC bus service and trade.
Though the bus and the trade had earlier also been suspended for different reasons, this was for the first time that PoK authorities didn’t open the gates due to firing on the LoC.
Ceasefire between India and Pakistan Armies had come into force in November 2002 and since then it has been holding barring few exceptions from Pakistan side, which generally opened firing to push infiltrators into this side. However, this was after a long gap that Pakistan army violated ceasefire without facilitating the infiltration bid on the LoC.
Sources said during four days of firing by Pakistan army on June 13, 14, 16 and 17, no movement of infiltrators was spotted in any side of Krishna Ghati.
It may be mentioned that Pakistan army had also used mortars, rockets, Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs) and heavy machine guns in the firing on forward Indian posts in Krishna Ghati sector.

Allotment of 31 halls/shops at Bahu Plaza
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: In the much publicized and controversial allotment of 31 shops/halls at Bahu Plaza, Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Virender Singh and Justice Mohd Yaqoob Mir dismissed the appeal filed by two allottees against the orders of the Writ Court dated February 22, 2012 and June 6, 2012 whereby the Commissioner Secretary of the General Administration Department (GAD) was asked to file Action Taken Report (ART) with regard to the judgement of June 1, 2009 passed by the High Court in a batch of petitions.
The High Court vide its judgement dated June 1, 2009 had quashed the orders of the then Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad regarding cancellation of all the allotments at Bahu Plaza with the directions to the State Government to issue fresh orders only after giving reasonable opportunity of hearing to those who may be pre-judicially affected its order.
After hearing Senior Advocates DC Raina and A V Gupta appearing for the appellants and Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for private respondent Sunil Mahajan, Division Bench observed, “the arguments advanced by Senior Advocates may be attractive but are not appealing”.
“The Writ Court on June 1, 2009 had given a fresh hand to the Government to examine the impropriety or illegality of the allotments of shops/ halls made by JDA and pass appropriate orders as warranted under law after affording reasonable opportunity of hearing to those who may be pre-judicially affected by the order”, the DB further observed.
The DB further observed that while dealing with OWP No 818/2007 filed by Sunil Mahajan against the allotment of hall in the favour of Sajjad Ahmed Bhat (brother of Union Health Minister), it came to the notice of the Writ Court that the State Government had not proceeded ahead at all following the judgement dated June 1, 2009 as such directions were issued to the State Government to file Action Taken Report on the illegal allotments made by JDA.
“Despite giving free hand to look into the impropriety or illegality of the allotments of shops/halls at Bahu Plaza, the concerned officials of the State were sleeping over the matter for the last more than 3 years”, the DB observed.
While expressing displeasure over the slackness of the State respondents, the DB said, “it is a simple case of inaction on the part of officials of State Government. In other words the Writ Court made the official respondents of the State answerable as they were sleeping over the matter. By no stretch of imagination, it can be said that observations made by the Writ Court are perse illegal”.
“Admittedly the notices have been issued upon certain allottees including the present appellants to which they have a right to respond. If their allotment is illegal, undoubtedly they have to be shown ouster and if legal, they can put forth their claim over the shops/halls, of which, they are already in possession”, the DB said.
With these observations, Division Bench dismissed the appeal filed by Tarun Bali and another.

NEW DELHI, June 18:
Breaking his silence, A P J Abdul Kalam today declared that he would not contest the Presidential poll, snubbing Trinamool Congress and BJP which wanted him to be the Opposition’s candidate against UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee.
Kalam, the former President whose name was propped up by Trinamool leader and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said he had taken the decision of not entering the fray after considering “the totality of this matter and the present political situation”.
In a statement here, he made it clear that he had “never aspired to serve another term or shown interest in contesting the elections” but Mamata and “other political parties” wanted him to be the candidate for the Presidential poll to be held on July 19.
“I have considered the totality of this matter and the present political situation, and decided not to contest the Presidential election 2012,” Kalam said.
The former President, who had earlier insisted that he could consider entering the fray only if there was surety about his victory, took the decision to stay away apparently as he was sure that numbers were not in his favour despite Trinamool, BJP and some other parties.
Clearly snubbed, Trinamool Congress, which broke the ranks with UPA to pit him in the fray, did not give any reaction immediately on the development.
BJP, which was trying to persuade Kalam to be the common nominee of the Opposition, also refused to react, saying any decision on whether or not to have a candidate against Mukherjee would be taken by the NDA, which is likely to meet tomorrow.
Congress welcomed Kalam’s decision and asked Mamata to again consider supporting Mukherjee.
JD-U leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refrained from clearly spelling out whether his party favoured contest against Mukherjee, saying it will not be appropriate for any constituent of the alliance to make public its separate viewpoint when discussions were on within the joint forum of NDA.
Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal said his party will back the decision taken by NDA.
Shiv Sena is also keeping its cards close to chest but is talking to other coalition allies on the issue.
Interestingly, BJP MP Maneka Gandhi today met Mukherjee in his North Block office of the Finance Ministry, and said whoever becomes the President should be a consensus candidate.”
Commenting on the former President’s decision to opt out, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said Kalam is a “very distinguished person. We have highest respect for him. We hold him in high esteem. If in his wisdom he has taken a decision it must obviously be an appropriate decision.”
Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh said Mamata and the party have “done their duty by proposing his (Kalam’s) name for the Presidential election as the ablest candidate for the highest post.” He said a comment on Kalam’s opting out will be made by Mamata.
BJD chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had put forth the candidature of Sangma, continued to push it.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh, who was with Mamata in propping up Kalam’s name before making a U-turn, said “Kalam chapter is closed one”.
After Mamata pushed Kalam’s candidature, BJP also tried hard to persuade him to contest.
BJP leader L K Advani called him thrice and sent his close aide Sudheendra Kulkarni twice to convince him. However, he made clear to Advani that his “conscience” is not permitting him to contest, sources said.
“Many, many citizens have also expressed the same wish (that he should contest). It only reflects their love and affection for me and the aspiration of the people. I am really overwhelmed by this support,” Kalam said.
“This being their wish, I respect it. I want to thank them for the trust they have in me,” he said.
When referred to Kalam’s move to opt out, BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said her party will discuss all such issues with other allies of NDA before a decision is taken.
The NDA, which met here yesterday, failed to reach any decision as it was divided over opposing Mukherjee and there was lack of clarity on extending support to P A Sangma.
JD-U, a crucial constituent of the NDA, wanted that there should be no contest against Mukherjee because of his stature, but BJP was of the view that there should be a fight.
Kumar today said he favoured a consensus on the issue of candidature for which efforts are on within the Opposition alliance.
He said he has a “good relationship” with Mukherjee but his relations with Sangma “is not bad”. “In politics, one shares good relations with all,” Kumar said. (PTI)

BSP leader Surinder Ch joins party
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: Patron of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said his party, through its convictions, had created an atmosphere for initiating bold Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) which ultimately led to restoration of peace in the whole Indian sub-continent. He said that it was result of the visionary policies of the PDP that successive Governments at New Delhi had endorsed whatever steps the previous PDP led regime had taken for restoring peace in this region.
Mufti was addressing a rally to welcome state general secretary of BSP Surinder Choudhary in the party. Choudhary, a veteran trade union leader, today joined PDP along with hundreds of his supporters in an impressive function. Choudhary had contested last Assembly election from Nowshera Assembly segment and had secured more than 12,000 votes.
Mufti said that despite having just 16 MLAs in 2002, PDP had changed political discourse of the State and restored dignity and honour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “It was result of our convictions that successive Governments at New Delhi supported whenever steps we had taken during our tenure”, he said and reminded that previous NDA regime headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee and present UPA Government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh have endorsed PDP’s view points on Kashmir.
He further said that his party has pioneered a political and economic agenda to establish sustainable peace in the subcontinent and to fulfill the wishes and aspirations of all regions and sub-regions of the State. He especially mentioned historic rally of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Srinagar was turning pointing in improving relations between India and Pakistan.
“Establishing lasting peace and to consolidate the reconciliation process is on the top of the agenda of PDP “, he, adding “our party, through its pro-peace policies, has consolidated reconciliation process and facilitated the efforts of establishing peace in this region”.
“Attaining power is not the only aim of PDP. We, with the support of the people, want to change the present ineffective system”, he said and added that it was aim of the PDP to establish a system where every sections of the society would get equal opportunities of development and upliftment. “During our short tenure we had proved how to bring transparency and accountability in the governance”, he reminded and added that that during PDP led regime more than 70,000 Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers were appointed.
Similarly more than 30,000 Anganwari workers were also appointed but not even a single case of favouritism and nepotism was highlighted. “We institutionalized the recruitment process to ensure that only deserving and meritorious candidate should be recruited”, he said.
Pointing towards totally collapsed power system in the State, he reminded that with same infrastructure, PDP led regime had provided uninterrupted power supply to the people. “During our regime Baglihar project was not commissioned but we provided uninterrupted power to the commoners”, he said and exhorted the workers to agitate for their rights.
Terming PDP as a movement to change destiny of the people, Mufti said that his party has emerged as strong and credible voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir because common masses have faith on this party. “The pro people visionary agenda of the party is formulated by incorporating wishes and aspirations of all sections of the society and we never compromised with our agenda for attaining power”, he said and reminded when PDP-Congress coalition was formed in 2002, PDP’s agenda was prominently incorporated in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the Government.
Mufti, while lambasting the coalition regime for undermining democratic institutions like Panchayats and civic bodies, said that Government was delaying elections of the urban local bodies just to appoint people through backdoors. “I failed to understand why this regime is not conducting elections of urban local bodies”, he said and regretted that Government has been depriving people of their democratic rights just to accomplish its nefarious designs of appointing people through backdoors.
Speaking on the occasion, Surinder Choudhary said that his joining PDP was home coming. He said that visionary agenda of PDP was the only practical and viable solution of all problems of the State. He said that Mufti Mohammad Sayeed as Chief Minister of the State had showed the others how to rule the State. He assured PDP leadership that he would work with dedication to spread message of party. He said that he has decided to join PDP due to the visionary policies being propagated by the party.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: With arrival of para-military forces from the Centre and mobilization of companies of CRPF and police from within the State, deployment of forces for pilgrimage to holy cave shrine on Amarnath ji has nearly been completed at most of the places, which have been cleared of snow.
“Deployment of para-military and police has also started at Baltal and Nunwan base camps while CRPF and police would be deployed at Jammu base camp at Yatri Niwas in the next couple of days as pilgrims were expected to start reaching here on June 22, two days ahead of the start of yatra’’, official sources said.
The yatra would start from Jammu on June 24 and from Nunwan and Baltal base camps on June 25. It would culminate on August 2 on the occasion of Sharawan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Sources said mobile towers along the yatra tracks today started functioning. During this year’s pilgrimage, the yatris would be given special SIM cards, which would operate for four days. This would help the yatris stay in touch with their family members and others even during the pilgrimage.
According to sources, deployment of security forces, para-military and police has nearly been completed along the twin tracks, base camps of Kashmir and Jammu and other sensitive places. However, deployment along Jammu-Lakhanpur and Jammu-Srinagar National Highways would be made a day ahead of the start of the yatra.
Over 2.5 lakh pilgrims have already registered themselves for the yatra while the process of registration was on and it was expected to go up further. Sources said Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and police authorities were expecting arrival of a large number of unregistered pilgrims at the base camps, like previous years especially during the initial days when the yatra witnessed maximum rush.
Sources said Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva was in full bloom in the holy cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas and this would attract maximum rush of the yatris.
Repair work of the tracks at many places was still going on but, sources said, it would be completed well before start of the yatra as heavy men and machinery have been deployed for making both the tracks fit for pilgrimage.
X-ray machines have been installed at all base camps in Jammu, Nunwan and Baltal for scanning luggage of the pilgrims. Sources said all yatris would be frisked before being allowed for the yatra.
“Security arrangements this year were more tight than the previous year’’, they said, adding that Army would be manning heights of both the tracks and the cave shrine while para-military forces and police would be deployed all along the tracks, base camps and the National Highways.

Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, June 18: The hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today warned of armed uprising in Kashmir if the Government continued to curb the peaceful protests.
Addressing a press conference here, Geelani said that militancy is an option available with the youth of Kashmir. He threatened that armed uprising may re-visit Kashmir if the restrictions on the peaceful protest programmes are not lifted by the State Government.
Geelani said that the peaceful options for the youth is no longer left due to frequent curbs and restrictions imposed on the protest programme announced by the separatist parties.
He said that space should be provided for peaceful protest programme. He accused the State Government of sabotaging his last week’s programme of commemorating the victims of 2010 summer agitation.
“Youth can go in any direction since they are not allowed to assemble and raise peaceful protest against various forms of human rights violations in the Kashmir valley. Since options are available to the youth one cannot rule out the extreme step taken by them. The message should go out loud and clear both to the State Government as well as Government of India,” said Geelani.
He said that restrictions are imposed on the free movement of the people especially separatists. He added that the separatist leaders are not being allowed to take part even in religious and social functions.
“Youth are feeling frustrated as they witness frequent house arrest of their leaders. Some of the youth have met me and they said that they are being pushed to the wall. They have threatened to go to any extent and the Government would be responsible for the consequences thereof. Since options are available to the youth one can expect any action from them,” said Geelani.
He took a dig at the claims of the State Government that peace has been established in the state. He said the Government is enforcing peace by imposing curbs and restrictions on the movement of separatist leaders and not allowing them to hold peaceful protest programmes.
Geelani said that demilitarization of Siachen glacier would not lead to any result adding that the primary issue of Jammu and Kashmir should be resolved first. He termed Siachen as an off-shoot and said that first the basic issue should be resolved.
“There is no doubt that Siachen is an issue between India and Pakistan but that does not mean the primary issue is kept in the back-burner. If the Kashmir issue is solved then the subsequent issues would get automatically solved. Siachen is an expensive affair and if Kashmir issue is solved then both India and Pakistan would be saved off the expenditure made at the Siachen glacier,” said Geelani.
He rubbished the claims of police that his programme at Eidgah on Sunday may have been targeted by the activists of the Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He said the State Government is providing un-reasonable and un-justified reasons for putting him under house arrest on regular basis.
Geelani demanded that United Nations should set up a war tribunal so that the alleged human rights violations are probed in the State. He condemned the alleged desecration of holy Quran at Bandipora and said that such incidents have taken place during the two decades of militancy.