NEW DELHI, May 18:In the wake of infants’ deaths in a Srinagar hospital, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad today lamented the slow progress in opening training schools for nurses in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Jammu and Kashmir has been sanctioned 20 Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives (ANM) and General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) Schools in the past three years, but I have to say this with regret that the progress on this has been very slow,” Azad, a former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, said.
He was replying to a supplementary by Hassan Khan (Ind) during Question Hour on deaths of 358 children in two months in the State-run G B Pant Hospital in Srinagar. Khan said an inquiry had revealed that the high rate of infant deaths was due to lack of nurses in the State Government hospital.
“Centre extends facilities to the State Governments, but it is up to them on how to benefit from it. What can one do if they choose not to benefit from it,” Azad said, adding “we have sanctioned ANM and GNM Nursing Schools and even sanctioned money. We (Centre) cannot build the schools, they have to be built by the State Governments”.
The Minister admitted that there was shortage of ANM and GNM training schools in areas where there was shortage of such staff. Azad said for the first time the Centre had sanctioned 269 ANM and GNM schools for under served areas.
He said that Government is planning to make a one-year stint in rural India compulsory for MBBS doctors as its incentive scheme for the medicos has drawn virtually no response.
Government had launched a 50 per cent reservation in post-graduate courses for MBBS doctors who opt for a three-year rural stint after their graduation, but found no takers, Azad said, adding those MBBS students who do one year of rural service would get 10 marks as additional weightage while those who did three years in the country’s most backward areas would get 30 marks.
“But, I say it with regret that our doctors have decided not to go to the rural areas. Nobody has come forward to avail of the incentives offered by the Government,” he said, adding Government was in discussion with the Medical Council of India for changing the policy and make it mandatory for doctors to serve in rural areas for one year.
In reply to another supplementary, Azad said medical degrees awarded by colleges in the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand were recognized by the Government. However, as per a Supreme Court directive, students studying in other countries will have to undergo tests conducted by the National Board of Examinations before being allowed to practice in the country. Azad said he had visited some countries and found 800 to 1,000 students in a single classroom.
In response to another supplementary, Azad admitted that while perusing the MCI registry it was found that some doctors were registered in three States and there was no record to show whether the medical practitioners had retired or were actually practising.
“Even the figure of 8.4 lakh registered medical practitioners that I have said in the written reply will have to be revised,” he said, adding these shortcomings were noticed during a meeting with MCI officials.
“The MCI has now decided to maintain a live registry wherein one person will not be able to register twice,” he said, adding that efforts were being made to identify active medical practitioners.
Currently, Azad said, there was no record of active medical practitioners as there was no provision to check whether a doctor had retired or settled abroad.
The Minister said as per information available in the Annual Report of the Medical Council of India for 2010-11, the total number of registered medical practitioners in the country was 8,40,130 as on March 31, 2011.
The Indian Medical Register maintained by the MCI is revised from time to time on the basis of information received from the State Medical Councils, Azad said. (AGENCIES)

NEW DELHI, May 18:
Terming as “unfortunate” the spat between Shahrukh Khan and Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials, Union Minister Farooq Abdullah today advised the Bollywood superstar to be a “little more calmer”.
“He carries a lot of weight on his shoulders. His behaviour matters to the industry tremendously, and to every young and old in India. Whatever happened, its unfortunate,” he told reporter outside the Parliament.
Abdullah said Khan should be “little more calmer”.
“I hope that his temper will calm down. As far as BCCI action or the Wankhede Stadium is concerned, I think they should sit down and find a middle way out,” he said.
On arrest of Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer Luke Pomersbach on charges of molestation, Abdullah said, “Action must be taken against them. So that it becomes a thing for all the world to see that India means business, and India is not going to tolerate such behaviour from anybody.”
Asked whether such things bring a bad name for IPL, Abdullah said, “It gives the nation a bad name. IPL is only a small thing.” (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 18: The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in a patrol vehicle had a narrow escape when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) went off seconds after their vehicles crossed over the International Border at forward area of Mangu Chak in Samba sector this morning.
Planted by the militants, the IED reported to have been detonated by a remote control device, official sources said.
They said the site of blast was close to SM Khwara Post of Mangu Chak forward area where a group of five to six militants had tried to infiltrate into Indian territory on the night of Monday. The BSF had foiled the intrusion bid.
Sources said the IED was of very low intensity and wouldn’t have caused much damage. It was, however, aimed at disrupting the flood lighting work being carried out on the International Border as it would block all possibilities of infiltration attempts by the militants.
“It was a chance that a BSF vehicle passed from near the site few second before the blast”, sources said, adding the militants camping across the International Border and the Rangers were deeply frustrate over their miserable failure to push militants into this side in view of high alert maintained by the BSF jawans.
According to sources, on Monday night when the intrusion bid was foiled by the BSF jawans with retaliatory firing on the ultras, at least two intruders had been injured. The BSF jawans had seen through their Night Vision Devices the militants being carried on shoulders by their four fleeing associates.
The intercepts revealed that one of the injured militant appeared to have died on other side of the border.
To take revenge of the killing, the militants with the help of Rangers appeared to have planted a low intensity IED on this side of the border either to cause casualties among the security personnel or create panic among the workers engaged in flood lighting work. However, the militants failed in their designs, sources said, adding the BSF officers and jawans conducted searches in the area after the blast and recovered one detonator, one battery cell and some plastic material indicating that the IED had been fabricated there.
The material was recovered between Pillar Nos. 144 and 145.
The Bomb Disposal Squad and BSF jawans of 182 battalion conducted searches in the area but didn’t find any other IED or signs of movement of the militants. The BSF jawans have been maintaining a high alert in the area anticipating that the ultras could make a fresh intrusion bid from other side of the border.
Meanwhile, BSF jawans and Rangers held a flag meeting Chamliyal forward area in Ramgarh sector of Samba district for half an hour this morning as the BSF wanted to remove `sarkanda’ from near the IB in preparations of upcoming Baba Chamliyal mela.
The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, sources said, adding the BSF would shortly start preparations for the mela along with civil and police administration.

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 18: Hoping that tourists will cross 50 lakh mark in Kashmir this season, National Conference (NC) senior leader and Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar has said that it’s an encouraging sign that in the initial few months the hotel occupancy is near complete and the people associated with the tourism are upbeat
Continuing the weekly Friday meeting at the headquarters under the chairmanship of provincial president Ali Mohammad Dar, the Rural Development Minister said that the initiatives taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to encourage tourists can be seen on the ground with the encouraging response of the large number of tourists arriving in Kashmir.
“This season we are hopeful that tourist will cross 50 lakh mark. This is an encouraging development and will go a long way in boosting the economy. The hotels in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam are almost full with tourists. Let’s hope and pray that we break all previous records,” Sagar said.
Talking about the resolution of the Kashmir issue, the NC senior leader maintained that Kashmir can be resolved by only political means and the Chief Minister has time and again reiterated it.
“Omar on all the forums has always maintained that resolution of Kashmir issue can be only possible by a political solution. Our party is committed that the resolution of Kashmir issue can only be achieved by the restoration of autonomy which has been even recommended by Justice Sageer Committee,” he said adding that “NC and its autonomy is in the hearts of the people”.
Reiterating the stand on AFSPA, the NC senior leaders said that the Chief Minister is committed to revoke AFSPA. He said that the State Governments in consultation with the security agencies are continuously discussing the revocation of AFSPA from selective areas. We are hoping that people of the State will see a positive outcome over AFSPA in days to come,” he said.
Launching a scathing attack on PDP, Sagar said that PDP is losing its ground in south Kashmir and its leaders are making baseless allegations against NC for ignoring Srinagar city. “Srinagar is and will remain a bastion of NC. The people of Srinagar are aware about the contribution of NC in developing the Srinagar city,” he said.

NEW DELHI, May 18:
The Delhi High Court today dismissed a plea seeking a CBI probe into the mysterious death of a non commissioned officer of Army Intelligence Corp nearly 34 years ago when he was allegedly taken into military custody in connection with the infamous Samba spy case.
“The petition is dismissed,” Justice M L Mehta said and did not allow the plea to re-open the case relating to the death of Havildar Ram Swaroop.
The court’s decision came on the petition of Anguri Devi, wife of Swaroop, seeking re-opening of the investigation claiming the post-mortem report, which is now available to her under the Right to Information Act, suggested 39 injuries on his body.
The widow said her husband was brought dead at the Base Hospital on the night of September 30, 1978, under mysterious circumstances.
In the Samba spy case, 41 Army officers were allegedly charged with spying activities and passing on information about the troop movement to others, the petition said.
Firstly, a constable of Delhi Police informed the widow that Ram Swaroop’s body had been found, the petition had said, adding that later the army retrieved the body and “disposed it of by performing the last rites in the late hours under the supervision of army officers.”
Seeking to revisit the case, the petition said as the post mortem report is available, the court may order “registration of FIR …And transfer investigation to CBI or to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).”
Ram Swaroop was allegedly killed in custody after being detained by the officers of military intelligence on August 26, 1978, in connection with the Samba Spy case.
The accused officers were charged with passing ORBAT (an order in which the army moves in the event of war), the petition had said, adding such “highly classified” information can be accessed only by an officer not below the rank of a Brigadier.
Not an officer of the rank of Brigadier was charged in the spy case, it had said.
The high court had in April, 1996, dismissed the plea for registration of the FIR on the ground that there was no material on record to substantiate the unnatural death of the petitioner’s husband, it said, adding the post mortem report, necessitates re-opening of the probe into the case.
“Besides the post-mortem report, this petition is accompanied with the CD containing the statements of IB chiefs, senior army officer and star witnesses of the army. If these statements are taken into consideration, they make a very colorable case of serious cover-up,” it had said. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 18: In the much publicized Choudhary Nagar Singh interrogation CD case, Special Municipal Magistrate, Jammu, V S Bhou has directed summoning of then SSP Jammu, Basant Rath and SP Mubasir Latifi, Incharge Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Amandeep murder case, for tendering their explanation.
The case where the interrogation of the accused in the police lock-up has been recorded in the CD is under enquiry under Section 202 CrPC before Special Municipal Magistrate Jammu.
After hearing Advocates Rajesh Kotwal and Mandeep Singh, the Special Municipal Magistrate directed that notices be sent to both the officers through IGP Jammu Zone. The Court further directed that the notices be handed over to Senior Prosecuting Officer, Rohit Gupta for onward transmission to IGP Jammu for compliance.
Choudhary Nagar Singh, who is facing trial in the much publicized Amandeep Singh murder case and presently lodged in Sub-District Jail Hira Nagar, has filed this complaint under Section 500, 503 RPC and under Section 66-A Information Technology Act.
In the complaint, he has mentioned that police officers namely Basant Rath, then SSP Jammu, Mubassir Latifi, then SP, Abdul Rouf Lone, Kamaljeet Singh and Hardeep Singh Gill subjected the complainant to unprecedented torture, both physical and mental, while he was in custody of the police for a criminal case under FIR No 247/2009 under Sections 302/201/409/120-B RPC at Police Station Gandhi Nagar,
The complainant has submitted that to his surprise and shock police officers instead of confining themselves to the contours of the allegations against him in the said case, were bent upon to extort his confession with respect to certain other cases not known to the complainant. In the process, they (police officers) used abusive language not only against the complainant but also against his wife, his daughter-in-law and advocates being engaged by the complainant.
According to the complaint, all this was done willfully by all the police persons knowingly that such false and concocted imputations were bound to harm the reputation of the complainant. In furtherance of their conspiracy to publicly defame the complainant, the police officers without the consent of the complainant made a video film exhibiting complainant’s custodial interrogation and thereafter transmitted the same to a number of persons on their cell-phone and YOUTUBE.
The video film having been viewed by a number of persons on their cell phones and internet, has lowered the reputation and image of the complainant in the estimation of the right thinking members of the society. It has further been submitted that all the police persons in the complaint are guilty and have exposed themselves to an in-evitable criminal liability and their prosecution and conviction under law.

Div Com files 3rd amended status report
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 18: In the much publicized Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against land grabbing by certain politicians, police officers and bureaucrats occupying responsible position, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Pardeep Gupta, filed third amended status report before the High Court along with an application seeking permission to amend the status-report earlier filed on April 23, 2012 by then Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal.
Accordingly, Division Bench comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar directed that copy of the 3rd amended status report be furnished to the counsel for the other side and allowed two weeks time to the petitioner Prof S K Bhalla to file his objections/ response. The DB also directed the Registry to list the PIL immediately after two weeks.
Advocates Virender Bhat and Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed were appearing for the PIL and Additional Advocate General AH Qazi for the State. The AAG also filed a fresh motion seeking permission to amend the status report filed on April 23, 2012.
In the amended status report, which is based on the fresh communication of Deputy Commissioner Jammu bearing No:- DCJ/SQ/ Encroachment/ 2012-13/521 dated May 12, 2012, it has been submitted that Tehsildar Akhnoor Vide his Letter No OQ/81 dated April 24, 2012 has reported that due to clerical mistake the details of private land owned by Madan Lal Sharma and Sham Lal Sharma, sons of late Gushu Ram of village Plattan requires amendment in terms of area and also inclusion of Khasra numbers.
It has been clarified that earlier it was wrongly mentioned that Sham Lal Sharma owns 104 kanals of land in village Plattan and 24 kanals and 18 marlas in village Palwan of Akhnoor tehsil. In fact, Sham Lal Sharma owns 9 kanals and 2 marlas in village Plattan, 30 kanals and 2 marlas in Pallanwala, 24 kanals and 18 marlas in Palwan— total of 64 kanals and 2 marlas and rest of the land belongs to other co-sharers.
Similarly, Madan Lal Sharma owns 9 kanals and 2 marlas of land in village Plattan and 71 kanals and 10 marlas in village Pallanwala— total of 80 kanals and 12 marlas instead of 89 kanals and 4 marlas mentioned in the earlier status report.
In the third amended status report, it has been stated that whole matter has been examined by AC(R) Jammu, Tehsildar Jammu, Tehsildar (S) Jammu and Tehsildar Akhnoor and they have intimated that none of these persons is in possession of State land. It has again been reiterated that Satish Kumar, son of Madan Lal had applied for 41 kanals of State land falling under Khasra No. 424 Min situated in village Lalyal, tehsil and district Jammu for grant of ownership rights under J&K State Lands (vesting of ownership to the occupants) Act 2001 but the same stands rejected.
It is worthwhile to mention here that prior to the 3rd amended status report, two status reports were filed by the then Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr Pawan Kotwal and the first status report was not accepted by the Division Bench vide order dated April 10, 2012. The Division Bench had asked the Divisional Commissioner to file fresh status report as per the observations of the Court. In the second status report, then Divisional Commissioner filed a comprehensive detail of the immovable property owned by those whose reference has been made in the Annexure B and V of the PIL.
In the PIL, the petitioner Prof SK Bhalla has prayed for the constitution of Special Investigating Team (SIT) comprising officers of a proven integrity from State Vigilance Organization and Revenue Department to probe allegations of land grabbing leveled against certain police officers, politicians and bureaucrats.

First ever Cong convention in Srinagar today
Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 18: Over 300 Congress delegates including Ministers, legislators, former ministers, Member Parliaments and district presidents are participating in the first ever one day state level convention of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) here tomorrow.
The party delegates belonging to the three regions of the State have already arrived here to take part in the convention. Two senior Congress leaders Mohan Prakash and Janardhan Diwedi arrived for the convention here today while as Union Health Minister and former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad is expected to reach here on Saturday morning.
JKPCC President, Professor Saif-ud-din Soz is overseeing the overall arrangements for the convention going to be held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
Talking to Excelsior, Senior Vice-President PCC and Congress spokesman, Mohammad Muzaffar Parray said that the aim and purpose of the convention is to bring about unity in the party. He said the delegates would discuss and deliberate on the steps that can be taken to strengthen the party in the State.
“The convention is unique in the sense that it is for the first time that such a huge event of Congress party is being organized at Srinagar. During the convention discussions would be held in order to bring about a consensus for the election of the JKPCC President. This time most of the Congress leaders and other rank and file are in favour of electing the JKPCC President,” said Parray.
The Congress spokesman said that Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other senior leader are in favour of making Congress a strong party in the state. He said Congress President, Sonia Gandhi has also asked the party leaders to work for strengthening the party. He said Azad and other leaders want the party to come up as a strong political force so that a challenge is posed to the other political parties.
“Congress general secretary and in-charge Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Mohan Prakash is attending the convention while as another general secretary, Janardhan Diwedi is attending as a special invitee. We want the Congress to come to the power on its own without support of any crèches. The delegates would carry out their discussions during the convention,” said Parray.
He said there is likelihood that a consensus would emerge during the convention about the candidature of a person for the post of JKPCC President. He added the Congress party believes in democratic process adding that this holds true for the election of the JKPCC President as well.
“During the convention if there is a consensus about the candidature of a person for the JKPCC President then the same would be forwarded to the Congress President and she would take the final decision. The election of the JKPCC President along with the steps taken for strengthening the party would be the focal point during the convention,” said the Congress spokesman.
Parray said that there are neither two factions of Congress in the State nor there are differences. He, however, was quick to add that differences if any are good for the overall health of the party. He said the Congress leadership in the State is as strong as granite monolith.
“The convention has nothing to do with the assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2014. Elections are far away and cannot presume the situation up to that moment of time. The convention would discuss the organizational matters more so those relating to the election of next PCC President,” said the Congress spokesman.
More than 300 Congress delegates including sitting Ministers, legislators, former Ministers, MPs, district presidents and at least one representative from each block will be participating in this convention.

Speaker orders EC probe
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said that he will take up issue of the GP Panth hospital with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, as Cantonment Board is not allowing the extension of the Children’s hospital.
While addressing a function on the occasion of inauguration of Joggers park at Rajbagh this evening, Omar assured that there will be marked improvement in the hospital in the next 10 days. He said that there is no dearth of the space in the GB Panth hospital but the Cantonment Board is not allowing the Health Department to operationalize 70 beds that are lying idle.
“I will knock the door of the Prime Minister for the operationalizing of the idle space of the hospital”, said Omar adding that government is constructing a 300 bedded super-specialty hospital adjacent to the SMHS hospital on 16 kanals of land.
In the morning, the Chief Minister made a surprise visit to the hospital and inspected its various units.
He said the Government has already taken decisions regarding administration, staffing, equipment, sanitation, hygiene and other aspects relating to the improvement in the functioning of Children’s Hospital making its monitoring a regular feature by the Director SKIMS.
There is scope for improvement in the functioning and maintenance of hospital, he said, adding that the measures initiated by the Government and decisions taken in this regard would show visible improvement in the functioning of the hospital within a week’s time.
Omar underlined the importance of public support in maintaining the hygiene and sanitation of the hospital besides improving the discipline.
While Government would take all measures in upgrading the functioning of the hospital and improving its maintenance, the attendants with the patients and those visiting the hospital should cooperate fully in this task, he said, adding that necessary checks have been put in place for the monitoring the hospital.
Minister for Medical Education, R S Chib, also visited the hospital today and chaired a meeting of the doctors and officers of Medical Education Department at G B Pant Children Hospital in which Brigadier Roy and Commandant 192 Base Hospital Srinagar Cantonment were also present.
The meeting discussed various aspects of improvement and upgradation of the Hospital and making its service befitting and up to the mark.
Meanwhile to augment infrastructure and improve functioning of the health institutions, Secretary Health and Medical Education, M K Diwedi, today said that sanction has been granted to the engagement of 265 staff comprising 150 Junior Grade Nurses, 15 ANMs, 25 Junior Pharmacists, 10 X-ray-Dark Room Assistants, 15 Theatre Assistants and 50 Anaesthesia Assistants on academic arrangement basis to make up the deficiencies of the para-medical staff and to further improve the patient care in the Government Medical Colleges and its Associated Hospitals with special focus on G. B. Pant Children Hospital, Srinagar.
In another development, the Speaker Legislative Assembly today ordered probe by the Estimates Committee into GB Panth Hospital deaths.
Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone, ordered the probe by the Estimates Committee that is headed by MLA Handwara and National Conference Vice president Choudery Mohammad Ramzan. He has been asked to file a detailed report in a week’s time.
The Speaker ordered the probe after two People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs, Mansoor Ahmad and Syed Basharat Bukhari made a representation to him asking for setting up of a committee that will look into the hospital deaths.
The two legislators in their representation told the Speaker that it is a grave situation and expressed doubts over the probe that is being conducted by the Director SKIMS, Srinagar Dr Shoukat Ali Zargar.
The Estimates Committee comprised 13 members and the two petitioners, Mansoor Ahmad and Syed Basharat Bukhari, have been made special invitees for the conduct of the probe. The committee will look into the circumstances that led to high mortality rate and fix responsibilities.
It may be mentioned here that Government had ordered probe into GB Panth Hospital deaths to be conducted by the Director SKIMS, Srinagar Dr Shoukat Ali Zargar. He has submitted his interim report after which the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Javed Chowdery was attached.

More cases under review of Home Deptt

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 18: Ahead of 2012 summer during which heavy rush of tourists and Amarnath yatris was expected in the Kashmir Valley, the State Government has withdrawn 284 First Information Reports (FIRs) against the Kashmiri youth giving relief to more than 2000 youth, who would be free of the charges of stone pelting and other crimes of similar nature, registered mostly against them during 2010 violent summer in which more than 100 civilians were killed.
The Home Department of the State Government, held by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has cleared 284 FIRs registered at various police stations across the Kashmir Valley for withdrawal from the court, official sources told the Excelsior.
Acting swiftly on the orders of the Home Department, the Kashmir Police has withdrawn prosecution in 284 FIRs from the courts, which involved more than 2000 youths, who now would be free of the charge of stone pelting, violence and other such charges slapped on them during 2010 summer.
The Home Department was still working on about 50 more FIRs, which could be withdrawn in the next few days, sources said.
They added that only those FIRs have been withdrawn in which the youth had been booked for normal offences of indulging in stone pelting, stray incidents of violence and instigating street protests etc. However, the youth charged with serious offences like attacking para-military and police personnel or indulging in arson would face the charges in the court of law.
Sources said since the police has withdrawn prosecution against the youth from the court of law on instructions of the Home Department, the FIRs registered against them would be rendered null and void.
“The withdrawal of 284 FIRs will benefit over 2000 youth as, in some cases, five to seven youth had been booked in one FIR during 2010 summer protests’’, sources said, adding that nearly 450 FIRs involving about 4000 youth had been registered during the summer unrest.
While some more FIRs involving offences of minor nature were under consideration of the State Home Department for withdrawal, the remaining cases would be pursued as they involved serious nature of offences like arson, attacks etc, they said.
The Government decision to withdraw 284 FIRs against the youth comes ahead of the summer in Kashmir and was intended to make it peaceful unlike 2010 when violent protests had rocked the Valley leading to over 100 casualties and large scale damage. However, 2011 summer had been quite peaceful and the Government was anticipating that this summer would also be peaceful.
According to sources, the Government was expecting heavy rush of tourists in the Valley this summer. Number of Amarnath yatris was also expected to go up considerably during annual pilgrimage from June 25 to August 2.
Sources said the Public Safety Act (PSA) Board was also expected to review some cases of detentions under the PSA very soon. Some of the youth detained under the PSA in the recent past could be released under the Act, they added.
The Home Department has already set a process into motion in this regard and a meeting of the PSA Board was expected to be held soon to withdraw charges against some of the youth, who were either not involved in major offences or have completed most part of their sentence handed over to them under the Act.
The Legislature had recently amended the PSA Act in its budget session in February-April.
The changes approved in PSA by the Legislature included that a Board constituted by the Government for confirmation of PSA, imposed by the District Magistrates on recommendations of the District SPs, would have to confirm or reject the PSA within six week instead of earlier term of eight weeks.
It had approved that the PSA would be imposed only for three months instead of one year in case of public law and order problem. However, it would be extendable up to a term of one year, if necessitated. However, in case of a threat to national security, the PSA would be imposed for a period of six months only instead of earlier term of two years. It would be extendable up to a period of two years.
Term of the chairpersons and members of the Advisory Board for the PSA would be for a period of three years extendable for two more years.