A Gujjar offering water to a goat while shifting towards upper reaches at Jajjar Kotli in Jammu on Thursday.     -Excelsior/Rakesh

KATHMANDU, Apr 5:
Breaking his silence, Army Chief Gen V K Singh today dismissed as “absolutely stupid” a report on the “unusual” movement of two army units towards Delhi in mid-January, saying unnecessary attempts were being made to “throw muck” at the government and the army.
Here on a three-day visit, Gen Singh said such reports show that people were unnecessarily trying to throw muck at the government and the army and they need to be taken to task.
“This is absolutely stupid,” he told when asked to comment on the report in the Indian Express yesterday that said the Government was “spooked” on the night of January 16-17 because of the movement of a mechanised infantry battalion from Haryana’s Hisar and a sizeable section of 50 Para Brigade.
“Whosoever is trying to make stories against the army is deplorable.
“And what it shows is that people are unnecessarily trying to throw muck at both the Government and the army and such people should be taken to task,” he said.
The Army Chief is in Nepal to attend a three-day Regional seminar on Natural Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance.
In New Delhi yesterday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the defence establishment dismissed the report as “alarmist” and “absolutely baseless”. (PTI)

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Police have arrested 14 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and dismissed them from services on the charges of instigating their colleagues, posted in upper reaches of Ramnagar and other places in Udhampur district, for going on strike along with weapons.
The weapons of all SPOs, who had gone on strike yesterday and staged dharna at Ramnagar demanding increase in their wages, have been seized, police said.
While 14 SPOs, who had allegedly instigated the strike, have been dismissed from services and arrested at Ramnagar police station, others have been sent back. However, weapons of all 70 SPOs, who had gone on strike, have been seized.
A FIR has been registered against 14 SPOs under Sections 353, 34, 147, 148 RPC and Police Regulation Act.
Further investigations against all SPOs were going on.
Possibility of dis-engagement of more SPOs and arrests for indiscipline has not been ruled out, police said.

From Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Apr 5: Five militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) were killed in a fierce encounter with the security forces in the Kramhoora forest area of Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara today.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Handwara, Choudery Aslam told Excelsior that 21 Rashtriya Rifles of army and police launched a joint operation early in the morning in the Kramhoora forests.
The SP said that during the operation militants fired upon the security forces resulting in a fierce encounter that lasted for several hours.
The SP said that firing has stopped but the operation is going on and it may continue tomorrow also as the security forces apprehend that there are few more militants in the area.
Five militants were killed so far and the operation is going on, said the SP. The identity of the militants is being ascertained; he said adding that 5 AK rifles were recovered from the dead militants.
It may be mentioned here that this is the same area where five militants of LeT including district commander of the outfit were killed in last week.
Five AK rifles, 17 magazines and 3 live grenades were recovered from their possession. They were all foreign militants belonging to LeT.
SP Aslam said that the five militants killed today were part of the same group which was killed last week. He said that this group of militants was based in the forests of the Rajwar area and security forces were after them for long time.
He said that around 15 LeT militants were still operating in the Rajwar forests that have dense vegetation and it gave ample cover to the militants.
Aslam said that security forces were planning today’s operation for past three days and security forces parties were moved inside the forest right during the night and the contact with the militants was established in the morning.
The SP said that these militants were operating from the forests at least for last one year. He said that security forces were planning operation against the militants operating in these dense forests for last few months.
It may be mentioned here that Rajwar forest area has dense vegetation and is near the Line of Control (LoC) and militants have hideouts that gave  cover to them.
Today’s operation is one of the successful operations after last week’s operation in which equal number of 5 militants were killed. Security forces are planning more operations in the forest area to flush out the remaining militants.

By Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 5: Notwithstanding the fact that audit observations/ inspection reports issued by the Accountant General are aimed at ensuring remedial/ rectification action and accountability for the deficiencies and lapses, the Government Departments have been showing lackluster response in complying with the same resulting in continuation of serious financial irregularities and loss to the Government.
This has been pointed out by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in its latest report tabled on the floor of State Legislature on last day of the Budget Session.
The hand book of instructions for speedy settlement of Audit Observations/ Inspection Reports issued by the Finance Department provides for prompt response by the executive to the Inspection Reports (IRs) issued by the Accountant General to ensure remedial/ rectification action in compliance with the prescribed rules and procedures and accountability for the deficiencies and lapses brought out in the IRs.
Moreover, the Heads of offices and next higher authorities are required to comply with the observations contained in the Inspection Reports and rectify the defects promptly and report their compliance to the Accountant General.
According to the CAG report, nine Audit Committee meetings were held during 2010-11 in respect of paragraphs contained in Inspection Reports pertaining to the civil wing wherein 627 transaction audit paragraphs were discussed and 241 settled.
“At the end of March 2011, 5613 Inspection Reports involving 28769 paragraphs pertaining to the period between 1998-2001 were outstanding”, the CAG said while highlighting the intensity of lack of response to audit.
“The lack of response to audit indicates inaction against the defaulting officers and continuation of serious financial irregularities and loss to Government”, report said and suggested that Government should look into this matter seriously and revamp the system to ensure proper response to the audit observations from the departments in a time-bound manner.
Painting gloomy picture about non-submission of suo-moto Action Taken Notes, the CAG said that to ensure accountability of the executives to the issues dealt with in various audit reports, the Finance Department of the State Government had issued instructions in June 1997 to the Administrative Departments to furnish to Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU) suo-moto Action Taken Notes on all the audit paragraphs featuring in the Audit Reports irrespective of the fact that these are taken up for discussion by these Committees or not.
As per the instructions, these Action Taken Notes are required to be submitted to these Committees duly vetted by the Accountant General within a period of three months from the date of presentation of Audit Reports in the State Legislature.
Consequent upon the holding of National Seminar on Legislature Audit Interface on July 5, 2010 at New Delhi regarding strengthening of Legislative Control over the financial activities of the Government and securing greater response of the executive to the report of CAG and recommendations of the PAC and COPU on these reports, the suggestions of CAG were adopted by the Committees.
These Committees skipped over the paragraphs prior to Audit Report 2000-01 and sought Action Taken Notes on all the pending audit paragraphs thereafter 2007-08 from the concerned Secretaries. However, it was noticed that out of 356 paragraphs featuring in the Civil Chapters of Audit Reports from 2000-01 to 2008-09, suo-moto Action Taken Notes in respect of only 167 paragraphs were received during the period between January 2011 and March 2011, the report said.
“The Action Taken Notes duly vetted by the PAG on the observations/ recommendations made by the PAC/COPU in respect of paragraphs discussed by them, are required to be furnished to these Committees within six months from the date of such observations/ recommendations”, the report said, adding “out of 356 paragraphs featuring in the Audit Reports for the years 2000-01 to 2008-09 (excluding Audit Reports presented in State Legislature on March 31, 2011), only 122 paragraphs were discussed by the PAC up to March 2011.
The recommendations in respect of 108 paragraphs were given by the PAC but Action Taken Notes on the recommendations of the Committee was received in respect of only 22 paragraphs despite the PAG taking up the matter with the Chairperson of the Committee and the Chief Secretary.

Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Apr 5 :  Governor  N. N. Vohra, today visited the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji and took stock of the various ongoing development projects launched by the Shrine Board for expanding and upgrading the facilities for the pilgrims, as well as for the beautification and protection of environment.
The Governor, who is the Chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, paid obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum and prayed for peace and prosperity of the State. He was accompanied by Usha Vohra, First Lady, Navin Kumar Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO, Sheetal Nanda, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi, Atul Goel, SSP Reasi, Mr. Mohan Lal, SP Katra, senior Board Officers and others.  
Mr Vohra asked the CEO to improve the pace of construction of pony stand and immediately commence work on the new locker complex in the Bhawan area, both of which were lagging behind the envisaged completion schedules. The 4-storey pony stand, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.57 crore, will provide space for about 350 ponies. The 4-storey New locker complex, estimated to cost Rs. 2.40 crore, will provide about 3000 lockers.
He also asked the CEO to early identify suitable sites for creating additional locker complexes.
He was apprised that the construction of Parvati Bhawan (at the main Bhawan), with a capacity of around 150 beds, is scheduled to be completed this year. The Governor stressed for completion of all projects within the envisaged time frames.
The Governor discussed with the CEO and the Additional CEO of the Board various facets of the comprehensive plan formulated to upgrade infrastructure from Katra to the Holy Cave to meet the requirements of the progressively increasing Yatra which crossed one crore mark last year. These included augmenting accommodation facilities for the Yatris, improving availability of water, sanitation, solid waste management, widening and re-tiling of all the tracks, smoothening of gradients and segregation of mules and pilgrims track by installing dividers.
The Governor was briefed that the work on the dedicated mule track from Katra to Adhkwari is going apace and would be completed shortly. Steps are being taken to increase manpower and use to-date systems for ensuring complete sanitation on the entire Yatra track as well as in the Bhawan area. The Governor also reviewed the to-date status of the Material Ropeway Project from Siar Dabri to Bhawan and Passenger Ropeway up  from Bhawan to Bhairon Temple.
The Governor also reviewed the progress on the various activities being undertaken as part of the year-long Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Shrine Board which had commenced on 30th August last year. These included the Special Sanitation Drive involving manual collection and disposal of huge quantities of garbage which has accumulated over the past years on the hill slopes along the Yatra route between Banganga and Bhawan, setting up additional toilet units along the track; and undertaking extensive renovation of the existing toilet blocks.
Enroute Sanjichhat to the Holy Cave, the Governor reviewed the progress on the plantation drive. He was briefed that 2.25 lakh plants of forest and flowering species were planted from July 2011 to March 2012 to further beautify the area. He issued instructions to the CEO to take all required measures for the continuous repair, improvement and beautification of the track besides replacing tiles wherever required. He also interacted with the Yatris and enquired about their views and impressions about the facilities available for the pilgrimage. The majority of them expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.

By Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 5: Despite the availability of manpower of over five lakh educated unemployed youth in the State, more than 55,064 posts of Gazetted, Non-gazetted and Class-IV cadre are lying vacant in twenty-eight (28) Government departments. Out of the total posts available at present, 37390 are of Non-gazetted cadre, 6107 of Gazetted rank while over 11568 of Class–IV.
The State Education department tops the list of available vacancies with total 14,336 posts, followed by Health and Medical Education department where number of vacancies at present is 8,837. In School Education department only, out of the total 14336, 1853 posts available are of  Gazetted cadre, 11051 Non-gazetted including majority of them of  teachers whereas, 1432 of Class-IV cadre.  In Higher Education the total number of posts available are 1393, out of which 736 are of Gazetted cadre, 657 non-Gazetted while 590 are Class-IV.
Official sources disclosed that in Health and Medical Education department, out of the total 8837 posts falling vacant, 1494 are of Gazetted rank, 5532 Non-gazetted whereas and 1761 vacancies of Class-IV cadre. Under Home department, 6413 posts are lying vacant and out of the total available vacancies, 6080 posts are of  Non-gazetted cadre. In Forest department over 2840 posts of Non-Gazetted cadre, 118 of Gazetted rank and nearly  200 of  Class-IV rank are lying vacant. Over 1500 posts of the same department are said to be referred to the recruiting agencies like SSRB and PSC.
In Power Development Department (PDD) also a large number 4090 posts are falling vacant. They included 1807 posts of Non-gazetted cadre, 160 Gazetted while 2123 of Class-IV employees.  In Public Health Engineering (PHE) department the number of posts available are 3230, of which 1482 posts are of Non-Gazetted cadre, 155 Gazetted while over 1593 of Class-IV cadre.
In Finance department, the total number of posts available are 2104, out of which 1804 are of Non-Gazetted cadre, 40 of Gazetted cadre whereas, 260 vacancies of Class-IV workers.  In Technical education the number of  Non-gazetted posts lying vacant are 1213, Gazetted 601 while those of class IV workers are 301.
In State Information department also the picture is grim. Out of the total 277 posts lying vacant, 198 posts are of Non-gazetted cadre, whereas, 37 posts are of  Class-IV cadre. In Industries and Commerce department the total number of vacant posts available are 1542, out of which 1145 are of Non-gazetted cadre and 227 of Gazetted rank. In Cooperative department 129 posts of Gazetted, 217 Non-Gazetted and 117 of  Class-IV cadre are falling vacant whereas, in GAD the number of Gazetted posts available are 65, Non-gazetted 190 and  42 of Class-IV cadre. In Estates, 207 posts of Class-IV, 64 of Non-Gazetted and one of Gazetted cadre are available.
Similarly, in Department of CAPD the total number of available posts are  963. Out of the total  363 posts are of Non-gazetted cadre, 25 Gazetted while 575 are of Class-IV cadre. Against many posts of  Non-Gazetted cadre, a large number of Class-IV workers are performing duty in CAPD to run the affairs.
In Department of Culture total  197 posts were presently lying vacant, in Science and  Technology   the number is 144, in Social Welfare department 87,  Revenue 448, in Housing and Urban Development 72,   Law and Parliamentary  Affairs  37  including 27 Gazetted cadre,  in R&B 173 of  Class-IV, Hospitality and Protocol 95, Civil Aviation 17,  Transport Deptt 387 including 308 Non-Gazetted,  ARI & Trainings 111 while in Department of  Elections 103. No post has been shown available in RDD, Printing and Stationery and Animal & Sheep Husbandry departments. Besides these, many posts were also vacant in sixteen PSUs, the sources added.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram would hold a high level security review here during his one day visit to Jammu on April 10. He would also review the activities of Pradesh Congress with the party leaders.
Security arrangements for peaceful summer in Kashmir, Baba Amarnath yatra, Mata Vaishno Devi yatra and the International Border besides internal security would be reviewed at a high level meeting by the Home Minister during the day, official sources said.
Mr Chidambaram is schedule to arrive here on the morning of April 10 from New Delhi. After being received at Jammu Airport, the Home Minister would fly to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji and pay obeisance to the Goddess. He would trek about three kilometers from Sanji Chat to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan and offer prayers at the holy cave shrine.
Sources said the Union Home Minister would review security arrangements at Vaishno Devi Bhawan, 13 kilometers track and base camp of Katra with Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officials and security agencies responsible for security of the shrine and other places including Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP).
Ahead of the Union Home Minister’s visit to holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi, Governor NN Vohra, who happened to be Chairman of the SMVDSB, today visited holy cave shrine and reviewed arrangements.
Sources said Mr Chidambaram would stay at the Bhawan for about half an hour before flying back to Jammu.
He would chair a high level security review meeting at banquet hall of the Chief Minister’s residence with top brass of para-military forces, Intelligence agencies and police. Heads of para-military forces were expected to accompany the Home Ministry from New Delhi.
The security review meeting would last two hours. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Minister of State for Home Nasir Aslam Wani and Director General of Police (DGP) Kuldeep Khoda would also attend the meeting.
Sources said keeping Kashmir peaceful during summer, security arrangements for Baba Amarnath yatra and internal security would also be reviewed at the high level meeting.
The Union Home Minister would meet prominent Congress leaders including office bearers of the State unit and all legislators in a meeting at the State Guest House. He was expected to share report of the Interlocutors with the senior party leaders.
The Interlocutors—Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MM Ansari had submitted their report to the Union Home Minister in October last year after an year long exercise.
Mr Chidambaram was expected to receive some delegations before flying back to New Delhi in the evening.