Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah remained admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi for third day today even as his condition was improving and he was responding to the treatment.
Dr Abdullah was admitted to AIIMS on Monday following complaints of chest and pneumonic infections. He had been put on antibiotic injections.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad visited Dr Abdullah this morning before flying to Jammu on a day’s visit. He enquired condition of Dr Abdullah and wished him speedy recovery.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also visited his father for third time today in as many days and then returned to Jammu to attend Cabinet meeting.
Doctors in the AIIMS said Dr Abdullah was responding to the treatment.
Farooq’s condition stable
3 killed, 28 hurt in mishap
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Three persons were killed while at least twenty-eight others injured, some of them seriously when an over loaded mini-bus carrying party workers to Congress rally, skidded off the road and fell into a gorge near Mahanpur in district Kathua today.
The mishap took place at around 12.30 pm when the ill-fated bus bearing registration No. JK08B/ 6597 was on its way to Phinter in tehsil Billawar where large Congress workers’ rally was being organized. Most of the victims hailed from Bohra village near Bala Sunderi in tehsil Billawar.
As the driver lost control at a sharp curve near Mahanpur town, the vehicle rolled down into the gorge. The locals shifted the victims to Mahanpur hospital. The police also reached there to join the rescue work.
Two persons were killed on the spot whereas, third succumbed to injuries while being shifted to nearby Mahanpur hospital. The deceased were identified as Chain Singh (25), son of Parkash Singh, Parkash Chand (55), son of Nek Ram and Kewal Krishan, son of Gian Chand, all residents of Bohra village in Billawar.
SSP Kathua, J L Sharma said that mini-bus was over-loaded and said to be moving fast on this hilly road. He said after coming to know about the mishap, the police rescue party was rushed to the spot.
Out of the ten persons referred to District Hospital, Kathua, four seriously injured were further referred to GMC Hospital, Jammu. They were identified as Ghulam Mohammed, son of Abdul Ghani, Parveen Singh, son of Anant Singh of Bohra, Mohd Iqbal, son of Mohd Din, resident of Faffal and Shanker Singh, son of Bir Singh, resident of Jathana village, at the bank of river Ujh. Six undergoing treatment in Kathua hospital were identified as Mohd Yaqoob, son of Mohd Wali, Shabir Ahmed, son of Khan Mohd, Sameer Singh, son of Bir Singh, Chhaju Ram, son of Mangat Ram, Vikram Singh, son of Man Singh and Man Singh, son of Chatar Singh, all hailing from Bohra village.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand announced ex-gratia-relief of Rs 80,000 in favour of the families of the deceased persons. Minister of State for Cooperatives Dr Manohar Lal immediately after the accident rushed to the Billawar and then Kathua hospital to inquire about the condition of the injured persons and assured every possible help to them.
Mr Azad, DyCM Tara Chand, MP, Lal Singh, former ministers G M Saroori, Jugal Kishore and MLC Subash Gupta condoled the death of three Congress workers in road accident and extended their sympathy with the bereaved families. They said that party will provide every possible help to the families of the deceased persons and even those seriously injured in the accident.
SVO raids CAPD Udhampur Office
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) conducted raid and seized record of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD) office in Udhampur following complaints of large scale irregularities in the ration, both in Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Above Poverty Line (APL) categories.
Official sources confirmed that record of CAPD office of Udhampur has been seized during raid and surprise check.
They said the raid was conducted following reports with the Vigilance Organisation that tons of CAPD ration meant for both BPL and APL categories have been misappropriated by the officers and officials in Udhampur district.
Record pertaining to supply of ration has been seized and was being scrutinized to examine exact quantity of misappropriation and embezzlement of amount.
The Departmental Vigilance Officers (DVOs) of CAPD also accompanied the Vigilance teams during the raid, sources said.
Court frames charges against SO
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Pawan Dev Kotwal, today framed corruption charges against Nasir Khan, then Section Officer in the Planning Section of Deputy Commissioner Office, Jammu, for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.
According to the Vigilance case, Nasir Khan, son of Abdul Majid Khan has acquired movable and immovable assets in the shape of palatial double storey house at Bhatindi worth more than Rs 40 lakh and two luxury cars of worth over Rs 8 lakh.
Moreover, the official is having other luxurious house hold items / electronic gadgets and has kept the ill gotten money in various bank accounts. The combined value of the assets and expenditure is disproportionate to his known sources of income. The gold ornaments weighing more than a kilogram besides, bank accounts, cash certificates, fixed deposits and other incriminating material were recovered from the house of the accused official during the search conducted by the Vigilance sleuths.
After hearing CPO Parshotam Sharma for the Vigilance Organisation, Special Judge Anti-corruption Jammu, Pawan Dev Kotwal, observed, “during his posting as Junior Assistant in the Revenue Department and Senior Assistant, Head Assistant and SO in the office of Chief Planning Officer, DC Office, Jammu from October 1974 to February 26, 2007, the public servant acquired assets in his name and in the name of his family members valuing Rs 98, 77, 446, disproportionate to his known source of income in the shape of two residential houses at Bathindi and Gandhi Nagar Jammu, cash, jewellery, luxury house hold items, electronic gadgets and other items”.
With these observations, the Court framed corruption charges against Nasir Khan.
Jobs made pensionable illegally
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR Apr 18: Several Government departments in the state have converted non-pensionable jobs into pensionable for select group of employees by violating the Government orders under which all the Government jobs in the State from 2010 are non-pensionable.
The State Government abolished the pensionable jobs from January 2010 and as per government order any appointment made from 01-01-2010 in any of the Government departments is non-pensionable.
The Finance department of the State issued an order (No. A/36/83-II\128 dated 31-01-2011) under which it was said that the New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (NPS) will be applicable from 01-01-2010.
Under NPS, the Government employees are not covered under GP Fund Scheme and have to make subscription of 10 percent of their basic pay towards their PRAN number and Government makes equal contribution towards their account.
However, as per the circular (No. A/36/83-II/28 dated 31-01-2011) issued by the Finance Department those Government employees who were already working in the Government sector and were appointed in any other Government department or the same department after 01-01-2010 but have applied for the new job through proper channel are covered under old pensionable scheme.
The circular further said that in case of any violation to the circular by drawing and disbursing officers to the NPS, amount sanctioned unauthorizedly under old pensionable scheme will be recovered from authority that sanctioned it.
Majority of the DDOs in the Technical Education who were appointed after January 2010 are implementing the Old Pension Scheme for themselves in violation of the Government order.
The Government (vide order No. 92 Edu (Tech) of 2010 dated 14-05-2010) appointed 17 Superintendents for the various ITIs in the State after their selection by Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. As these Government employees were appointed in May 2010 they are not covered under Old Pensionable Scheme and can’t make any contribution towards GP Fund.
Majority of these Superintendents who are working as DDOs are not implementing the Government order regarding NPS for themselves. They are unauthorizedly drawing their salaries from the General Revenue of the State under Defined Pension Scheme and make their contributions toward their GP Fund instead of PRAN.
According to reports, none of these Superintendents were working in any of the Government departments at the time of the advertisement of these posts and none of them have applied through proper channel for the selection to these posts.
Those officers violating the Finance department’s code regarding NPS include Imran Wajahat Hussain, Superintendent ITI Pattan, Ajaz Majid Kakroo, Superintendent ITI Sopore, Showkat Ahmad Superintendent ITI Handwara.
Fake job racket busted
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Police today busted a racket engaged in making fake appointment orders in Northern Railways, National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and other Central Government Departments by cheating the unemployed youths and charging Rs 3 lakh from them including Rs 90,000 advance.
Police said one of the accused has been arrested by Bishnah police while two others were absconding. A large number of fake appointment letters on the name of unemployed youth of different parts of Jammu were recovered from the arrested accused.
Mukesh Kumar son of Karan Kumar R/o Kandoli, Nagrota has been arrested by police while Pushpinder Singh Manhas of Krishna Nagar and Som Raj of Ghagwal were absconding.
Police said the accused had been issuing fake appointment letters to unemployed youth in Northern Railways, NHPC and other departments. They had been charging Rs 3 lakh for the appointments including Rs 90,000 in advance from the youth.
On a tip off from some youth, police today arrested Mukesh Kumar. A search was on for two absconders. A number of fake appointment letters seized from the accused were being examined. A case against the accused has been registered at Bishnah police station.
Police parties, which made the arrests, were headed by SHO Bishnah Jaipal Sharma under the supervision of SSP Jammu Prabhat Singh, SP Headquarters Shailender Singh and SDPO RS Pura SS Samyal.
Governor inaugurates sculpture art exhibition
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Governor N. N. Vohra inaugurated a sculpture art exhibition by Vikas Khajuria, a Jammu-based local artist, at the Rinchen Bzangpo Art Gallery at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium, University of Jammu, here this evening.
Usha Vohra, First Lady, was present on the occasion.
The Governor and the First Lady went around the exhibition and evinced keen interest in the sculptures. They enquired from Mr. Khajuria about the ideas behind his various sculptures and complimented him for the high quality of his artistic creations.
Recording his observations about the exhibition in the Visitors’ Book, the Governor observed “I am impressed with the imaginative use of wood, metal and glass in manifesting varied themes and moods. This is the sculptor’s first exposition and very impressive”.
In all, 19 art creations in mixed media on varied themes sculptured by Mr. Khajuria are on display at the exhibition which will remain open for public viewing from 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. upto 20th April, 2012.
Earlier, on arrival at the University, the Governor was received by Prof. M. P. S. Ishar, Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, senior functionaries of the varsity, prominent citizens and art lovers, who were present on the occasion.
Prof. Ved Kumari Ghai, Savita Bakhshi, Additional Secretary, Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, Prof. Nilamber Dev Sharma and Raj Bharti were among those present at the inaugural function.
Jora inaugurates Jashn-e-Kashmir
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, Apr 18: Jashn-e-Kashmir, a chain of cultural youth workshop coordinated by the Ministry of Home Affairs with Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism and Culture, Nawang Rigzin Jora, at Kumbha Auditorium of Indo Tibetan Border Police, Leh.
“India being a diverse nation has vibrant forms of culture deep rooted in its origin. With the passage of time culture too evolve in its shape and style but it is of utmost importance to keep its originality intact in the basic form and such workshops are great step in keeping the values and importance of culture alive by exposing it to the youths, the future of a nation that will help and guide each individual to become a responsible, civilized and educated citizen”, said Jora.
He asserted on making every child aware of the art and culture of his region and to respect its values and follow its norms. He said that culture is not just confined to clothes and food but it projects through our civilized mannerism, truthfulness, patriotism and respect for others.
Appreciating the initiatives of Ministry of Culture, he said that holding of mega workshops like Jashn-e-Kashmir in sparsely populated region like Ladakh exhibit Centre Govt.’s care and concern for us.
Presiding over the function, CEC Leh Rigzin Spalbar the children of Leh would get benefited by this workshop. “Children from this remote hamlet may even get the opportunity to reach on international platform carrying his cultural baggage through this workshop,” asserted Spalbar.
Highlighting the programme of the workshop, Anand Vardan Shukla, Director North Culture Zone, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India said that the participating children would be given the training by experts for 20 to 30 days in 18 schools and towards the end a district level competition will be held that would be followed by State and National level competitions.
Govt keen to solve DPs issues: Bhalla
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today said that the Government has submitted a proposal of Rs. 1775 crore to Central Government to facilitate one time settlement of 1947, 1965 and 1971 displaced persons (refugees).
This was stated by the Minister, while interacting with a deputation of Chhamb displaced persons of 1965, here today.
Mr. Bhalla said that the Government has already regularized 16-camp and non-camp basties of Samba district, adding that left out would be regularized soon after reconciliation of revenue documents. He informed that most of colonies of refugees are also being regularized under 254-C Revenue Act at Kathua and Jammu, adding that the areas would be developed on modern lines by providing all basic amenities like safe drinking water, road connectivity, electricity, health, education besides better lanes and drains at par with urban pockets.
The Minister said for improving the socio-economic condition of the DPs, the Centre Government has approved Rs 49 crore package for distribution among them as land deficiency compensation, adding that out of which Rs 32 crore has already been distributed by arranging public darbars in their respective basties.
For facilitating the displaced families, Mr. Bhalla said the Government has enhanced compensation from Rs. 25000 to Rs. 1.50 lakh. He asked the left out families to approach the revenue officers for land deficiency compensation.
The President Chhamb Displaced Persons Association, Ch. Partap Singh, apprised the Minister that out of 8100 families who were displaced during 1965 Indo Pak War, 3500 families were resettled in two districts of Jammu and Kathua in 27 basties. He said 5 Basties were settled in Hiranagar and 22 in Samba, Bishnah, R S Pura and Jammu. The population of Chhamb Sector refugees was about 26000 at the time of 1965 war thereafter about 8000 population consisting of about 3500 families were temporarily settled in 27 basties.
Govt committed to reforms in PHE sector: Taj
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 18: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohi ud Din today reiterated the commitment of the Government for undertaking urban reforms in PHE sector.
Chairing a review meeting of PHE and irrigation schemes in Udhampur, the Minister asked the engineering wings to pace up the process of metering (both electric and water) at all the pump stations and water supply schemes besides individual consumers. He also reviewed the progress in revenue realization from consumers.
Reviewing the status of hydraulic schemes in Udhampur town, the meeting was told that 33 schemes in irrigation sector have been sanctioned for the district this year. The Minister directed timely completion of all the ongoing schemes in the district and making requisite manpower available for their operation.
The meeting also discussed the status of several schemes like Ratian and Trehan Water Supply Schemes and Kambal Danga and Lander Kotla projects.
The Minister stressed upon early completion of Girnai and Himbra schemes besides early completion of Over Head Tank at Women’s College, Udhampur.
MLA, Udhampur, B. S. Mankotia, Commissioner-Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, B. D. Sharma, Chief Engineer, PHE, Jammu, A. K. Dogra, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, Jammu, Ashwani Sharma and other officers and engineers attended the meeting.