The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

High Court gets five more judges
Legal Correspondent

Jammu, March 8
Five newly appointed judges of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court were administered oath of office by Chief Justice MM Kumar today at the lawns of the J&K High Court Complex, Janipur.

Senior Additional Advocate General Ali Mohammad Magray; senior advocates Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Tashi Rabstan (from the Bar quota); Special Judge, CBI Court, Jammu, Bansi Lal Bhat and member of the J&K Special Tribunal, Jammu, Janak Raj Kotwal (both from the judges quota) were simultaneously appointed as the high court judges, raising the strength of the judges from seven to 12.

Governor NN Vohra officially authorised the Chief Justice for administering the oath to the newly appointed judges.

The formal notification for the appointment of the new judges was issued by the Union Ministry of Law and Justice yesterday. The notification and warrants of appointment were formally communicated to the high court authorities and the state government yesterday and, thereafter, a final consent was obtained from Raj Bhawan.

The exercise to fill the vacant posts of judges was set in motion in March, 2012, when the collegium of the J&K State High Court, headed by the then Chief Justice, FM Ibrahim Kalifulla, Justice Virender Singh and Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir, had recommended the names of two judges and five advocates for the vacant posts.

Advocate Hakim Ishtiaq Hussain died a day after his name was cleared and recommended by the collegium for the post of one of the judges.

The names were later cleared by the Supreme Court Collegium, headed by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Altamas Kabir, in November last year, following which the file was forwarded to the Union Law Ministry for seeking the consent of the Prime Minister’s Office and the President of India. It is after a long time that the J&K High Court is having 12 judges against the sanctioned strength of 14, including the Chief Justice. The sanctioned strength includes nine permanent judges and five additional judges.

The oath-taking ceremony began with the reading of warrants of appointment of judges by the Registrar General, Suresh Kumar Sharma, and, thereafter, the newly appointed judges were administered the oath by the Chief Justice.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Mir Saifullah, retired high court judges, members of the J&K High Court Bar Association and members of the subordinate judiciary.

15 killed, 24 hurt as minibus plunges into gorge in Rajouri
10 seriously wounded passengers airlifted to Jammu
Ranjit Thakur

Rajouri, March 8
Fifteen passengers, including four infants, were killed and 24 others wounded in a tragic road accident today when a minibus in which they were travelling rolled down into a deep gorge in the border district of Rajouri.

The minibus was on its way from Kandi to Rajouri when it skidded off the road and rolled down into a 500-foot-deep gorge in the Mandir Gala area of Budhal tehsil instantly killing 12 passengers, including four babies, besides injuring 24 others, 10 of them critically.

The accident took place about 11.30 am.

Soon after the mishap, locals from nearby villages and rescue teams of the Army and district administration rushed to the spot to help the victims.

Senior officials of the Rajouri district administration and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mubassir Latifi also reached the spot and supervised the rescue work in a bid to save the maximum number of passengers.

After hectic efforts, the injured passengers were shifted to Rajouri district hospital for treatment from where 10 critically injured passengers were airlifted in a chopper to Government Medical College and Hospital in Jammu for specialised treatment.

Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, Minister for Roads and Transport, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan and PDP MLA from Darhal Zulfikar Choudhary also rushed to the spot in choppers to take stock of the situation.

The ministers said a proper inquiry would be held to ascertain the cause of the mishap.

Besides the government ex gratia for the dead and injured, the District Development Commissioner, (DDC) Rajouri, Saugat Biswas, also announced Rs 10,000 for the dead and 5,000 for the injured from the Red Cross Society fund.

Those who died on the spot have been identified as Noor Hussain of Ladote; Muneer Hussain of Sawari; Mohammed Rashid of Rehan; Meer Hussain of Rehan; Shapri, wife of Mohammed Shah; Shamim Akhtar, daughter of Mohammed Bashir of Trala; 2-year-old Alam Shah; male baby of Mohammed Qadir; two female babies of Abdul Qadeer and Salam Din, respectively; Begum, wife of Nabia; and Abdul Aziz, son of Mohammed Ismail.

Three others who succumbed to their injuries in Rajouri district hospital while undergoing treatment were identified as Tazim Akhtar, Shazman and Mohammed Aziz.

Giving details of the mishap, the Rajouri SSP told The Tribune over phone that the 10 critically injured, including the driver Swarn Singh of Sawari village, were airlifted to Jammu for specialised treatment.

The mishap happened after the driver moved the vehicle on the edge of the road and lost control over it, he said, adding that the stretch where the mishap occurred was being repaired by the General Reserve Engineer Force authorities.

Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah have expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the road accident in Rajouri.

FATAL FRIDAY

The accident took place about 11.30 am on Friday

The minibus was on its way from Kandi to Rajouri when it skidded off the road and rolled into a 500-foot-deep gorge in the Mandir Gala area of Budhal tehsil

012 passengers, including four infants, were killed instantly while three passengers succumbed to their injuries in Rajouri district hospital

CM accuses PDP of ‘petty politicking’
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 8
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tore into the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for, what he alleged, playing politics on the suffering of the common masses.

Omar choose an International Women’s Day function to make a veiled attack on his arch rival, Mehbooba Mufti, who is the president of the PDP.

In an obvious reference towards the PDP, the Chief Minister said some people play politics on the sufferings of women and try to utilise these for their vested interests. He cited the example of a girl who received serious burn injuries in an acid attack on her in the Valley. Omar said leaders of the single largest opposition party in the Legislative Assembly (PDP) came out in the media announcing treatment and its cost for the girl at New Delhi.

“A doctor associated with the party (PDP) was on the forefront in announcing treatment for the girl,” he said, adding the bill of Rs 8 lakh for the treatment of the girl at a New Delhi hospital was paid by the government.

“I am making this reference only to drive home how some quarters utilise these incidents for petty politics,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of women in the development and growth of society, he said that unless women were equal beneficiaries of progress, it could be termed lopsided.

He said, in fact, everyday of the year should be dedicated to women and their welfare should be given focused attention always.

“It is being observed that we care for women’s welfare only when some grave injustice is committed against them. We think of making laws for stringent punishment to the wrong-doers and violators of women’s dignity when some incident of that nature comes to the fore. But the focus gradually diminishes with the passage of time,” he said and emphasised the need for making dignity, respect and protection of women above all by inculcating a mindset of ensuring justice and protection to them under all circumstances.

Advising women to be the champions of their own cause and strive with courage to get respectable and deserving place in society, the Chief Minister told them to become their own voice to get due shares in all spheres of life. “You have to become your own voice and work for the comprehensive development of women folk in the country,” he said.

Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo, MLA Bimla Luthra and Vijay Laxmi Dutta addressed the function.

Tension over Afzal’s hanging affects heli-skiing season
Sumit Hakhoo

Jammu, March 8
Amid the din and politics over Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s execution, Kashmir failed to make the most of the heli-skiing season. Professional European and American skiers recently returned from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, following the eruption of violence in the Valley.

A number of skiers had registered themselves for high-altitude skiing, which is mainly organised in February by a private tourism company in Kashmir. The company had brought on lease two helicopters from a French aviation company but the turmoil washed its hope of projecting Gulmarg as an international skiing destination.

“Skiing clients are high-end tourists and it was because of some promotional activities in western countries that people had begun to look towards the Valley but recent events forced many skiers to return to their countries from Delhi,” said Abdul Majeed Bakshi, an adventure skier, who has been organising skiing events for the past two years.

Bakshi said this year, the permission of the Ministry of Defence (MoD) also came late due to which the event was organised for only a few days. “How can we project Kashmir as a skiing destination when we have to get permission from security agencies every year? It is quite frustrating. We don’t even hold the activities close to their area. We had hoped for a good season this year,” Bakshi rued.

In 2008, after two decades of suspension, the state government had invited world-renowned heli skiing expert Sylvain Saudan, also known as the "impossible skier" to revive heli skiing in Kashmir. Sudan is believed to have been one of the few climbers to have scaled the Hidden Peak, known as the K5, which is Pakistan's third highest mountain.

After securing government clearance, skiing was started in 2011, reviving a practice thwarted for years by violence and red tape that sees skiers taken by helicopter and dropped on remote peaks.

Assistant Director, Tourism (Gulmarg), Ilyas Ahmed said most of the events were organised by private agencies and the tourism department was providing them logistic help. “It was a small show this year, unlike last year. This time, two helicopters were kept ready for people.”

Despite travel advisories issued by the governments of western countries for the past two decades, Gulmarg has been recognised as one of the finest ski resorts by an international body.

Society should help underprivileged sections, says Usha Vohra
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 8
Governor NN Vohra’s wife Usha Vohra has called for further intensifying activities of the Association for Social Health in India (ASHI) and mobilising all possible resources to bring an increased number of beneficiaries under the ambit of its initiatives.

Usha Vohra, who is the president of ASHI (J&K Chapter), was chairing the governing body and annual general body meetings of ASHI here today.

Expressing satisfaction over the significant growth in the activities of ASHI, Usha Vohra said all members of society need to contribute meaningfully for helping the underprivileged sections and promoting their socio-economic advancement.

She emphasised the need for according greater thrust on sanitation, health care, literacy, computer education and skill upgrade programmes undertaken by ASHI. She called upon all ASHI members to focus on adult literacy programmes, particularly for women, alongside its ongoing efforts for ensuring education to all children, especially the girl child, in adopted villages of the Jagti and Panjgrain panchayats.

She said adult education should be one of the thrust areas of ASHI’s activities during 2013-14.

She reviewed the functioning of two short-stay homes, “Neha Ghar” and “Apna Ghar”, which are run by ASHI.

On behalf of the Governor, she presented a cheque of Rs 2.20 lakh to ASHI for purchasing computers for staring smart classes in three more schools of the Jagti and Panjgrain panchayats and for purchasing TV sets for the short-stay homes.

She also announced Rs 51,000 for ASHI for undertaking an adult literacy programme and Rs 36,000 towards meeting the expenditure on account of the salary of the warden of Apna Ghar.

The meeting approved the budget and action plan of ASHI for the next financial year. Sushma Choudhary, vice-president, ASHI (J&K Chapter) said the meetings held today had acquired added significance in view of these coinciding with International Women’s Day.

BSF reaches out to women on border
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 8
On the International Women’s Day, the Border Security Force (BSF) today reached out to women living close to the Indo-Pakistan border in the RS Pura sector to make them aware about issues related to health and hygiene.

The BSF’s 94 Battalion under the aegis of the BSF Wives’ Welfare Association (BWWA) organised awareness programmes in Abdulian and Suchetgarh villages on the International Border here.

At Abdulian village, Dr Rinchen Angmo of the BSF interacted with over 150 women of Abdulian, Chandu Chak and Laiyan on issues such as hygiene, sanitation, ailments related to women and their role in the national security and nation building, said a BSF officer.

“Our doctors and paramedical staff also conducted health check-ups and prescribed medicines to needy women,” he said.

At Suchetgarh Community Hall, at least 120 women from Suchetgarh, Karotana Khurd and Naiya Basti villages were attended by BSF doctors.

NC, Cong MLAs join Oppn to corner govt on poor health services
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 8
The ruling National Conference-Congress coalition government today faced an embarrassing situation in the Legislative Assembly when the members of the two parties along with opposition members cornered the government on various issues.

While the NC legislator from Poonch, Aijaz Ahmad Jan, staged a walkout from the House in protest against the government’s failure to install a CT scan machine at District Hospital, Poonch, despite repeated announcements by the Health Department, Congress members slammed the government for its delay in opening more health centres, particularly in hilly and remote areas of the state.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with Langate MLA Engineer Rashid protested against the imposition of curfew in the Valley and demanded a reply from the government.

As soon as the House assembled for the day’s proceedings, the PDP members were on their feet and blamed the state government for its failure to control the prevailing situation in the Valley.

Senior PDP legislator Abdul Rehman Veeri alleged that the government had turned the Valley into a “prison” by resorting to curfews and chain of arrests.

“What was the need for imposing curfew. The Chief Minister was himself triggering disturbances by his statements and then ruling the state through the barrel of the gun,” Veeri said.

Engineer Rashid also joined them and trooped into the well of the House, raising slogans against the government. He demanded a discussion on the issue and continued his protest for an hour.

Speaker Mubarak Gul said it (PDP) had not moved any motion on the discussion on the issue and there was no rule to hold a debate without any motion.

The NC MLA from Poonch took on the government and said: “There is no justification with the government as to why the CT scan machine was not installed at District Hospital, Poonch. There was a shortage of funds and the delay holds no justification,” he said and walked out of the House.

Congress members from the Ramban and Chenani Assembly segments also cornered the government on poor health services in remote and hilly areas and demanded opening of more health institutions.

Protests in parts of Valley despite curfew
Azhar Qadri
Tribune News Service

Policemen patrol the curfew-bound Srinagar on Friday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Srinagar, March 8
The state government on Friday imposed severe restrictions on the movement of civilians across the Valley as tension continues to mount after the killing of a protester in Baramulla earlier this week.

Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel patrolled the streets in Srinagar and other major towns of the Valley during curfew. Concertina wires were laid at major crossroads inside the city. Armoured vehicles and anti-riot vehicles remained on standby at several sensitive locations, where protesters have clashed with police in the past.

Roads across the city remained deserted as shops, banks, colleges and universities remained closed for the fifth day.

Not a single passenger bus or private cab was seen plying on the city roads and few private cars, which were moving around, were being stopped by police and paramilitary personnel at checkpoints across the city. Friday congregational prayers were not allowed at several mosques in Srinagar’s old city, locals said.

The highway connecting north and south Kashmir districts with Srinagar also remained deserted as residents preferred to remain indoors in the wake of the harsh restrictions.

The Kashmir valley has seen a series of protests this week since the mysterious death of a Kashmiri student in Hyderabad on March 2 and over the killing of a 24-year-old protester in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in “Army firing”.

Despite curfew and restrictions across the region, protests erupted at several places. At Barzulla, in uptown Srinagar city, protests broke out after Friday congregational prayers. Reporters and photojournalists who attempted to reach the protest spot were stopped by a police and paramilitary contingent. The police spokesman said protesters threw stones at an ambulance near Palhallan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district causing injuries to the driver and damage to the vehicle. The spokesman said two protesters and three policemen were injured in the clashes there.

The spokesman said four “stone throwers” were arrested in north Kashmir’s Sopore town on charges of extortion. “They were collecting Rs 100 to Rs 500 from car owners depending upon the model and make of the car,” the spokesman said.

Clashes also erupted at several places in Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara districts in north Kashmir in which at least eight protesters were injured while protests also erupted at several locations in south Kashmir.

A resident of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district said protests took place at least in four locations in the district despite restrictions in the area.

Army starts probe into Baramulla killing
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 8
The Army has begun a Court of Inquiry (COI) into the killing of a youth in Baramulla, which sparked tension across the Valley. The inquiry is being headed by Brigadier D Saini of 79 Brigade. Official sources said the COI had started recording the statements of Army personnel of 46 Rashtriya Rifles, the unit which is accused of killing Tahir Rasool Sofi (25) on March 5. The Army said the statements of other eyewitnesses, including policemen, paramilitary forces and local residents, would be recorded in the coming days.

“We will seek the help of the police in identifying the local witnesses who would record their statements before the COI,” said a senior Army officer.