Jammu, March 16
Keeping in view an acute shortage of manpower in the Traffic Department, the government has sanctioned 1,496 posts to strengthen the wing and also separate it from the Police Department.

These posts will be filled in three phases to deal with the traffic violations in the state.

Sources revealed that the government had created 653 posts in phase I while a proposal for the creation of 431 posts in phase II was under active consideration.

Manpower shortage is major hindrance in poor implementation of traffic laws in the state where deaths due to accidents exceed those who fell to terrorist violence in the past six years. During 2011-2012, as many as 13, 353 road accidents have been reported in the state in which 2,285 persons lost their lives while 19,863 suffered injuries.

Official statistics reveal a total of 30 gazetted officers are posted in the department which include one Inspector General of Police (IGP), two Deputy Inspector General (DIGs), six Superintendent of Police (SPs), 17 DySPs, one DDP, two CPOs and one senior PO.

Apart from this, 257 non-gazetted officials, including 42 inspectors, 101 sub-inspectors and 114 assistant sub-inspectors and 934 including 143 head constables, 767 selection grade constables and constables, 24 followers and 10 officials of Civil Staff, including one STS officer, five STS assistant, one AAO, two accountants and one draftsman have been posted in the traffic wing of the police department.

Notable traffic violators include travelling a two-wheeler without helmet, triple driving on a two-wheeler, driving a car without a seatbelt and driving while using mobile phone. People park their vehicles in between the roads which also leads to huge jams on the roads.

“The State Finance Commission had also proposed for detaching traffic police from the police administration to help improve the morale and image of the force which is being criticised by civil society groups for sheer inefficiency,” said a senior police officer.

In its report submitted three years back to the government, the Commission while suggesting the measures for “improving administrative ethics/changing profile of administration had strongly recommended that the traffic police should be detached from JK Police and placed under the Traffic Management System headed by the state Transport Commissioner.

Jammu, March 16
The Division Bench of J&K High Court, Jammu, comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur while upholding the eviction orders of premises possessed by the Janata Dal (United) by the Evacuees Property Department asked to take possession of the property, preferably within one month.

It also directed to send the report to the Registrar General for place it on court records.

Sanjesh Gupta, former state wing President of Janata Dal (United) was allotted the premises. A show-cause notice was issued to him stating that he had sublet the same and was earning rent in violation of Rule 14 of the J&K State Evacuees (Administration of Property) Rules, Svt 2008. Gupta, however, did not reply to the notice resulting in eviction order in August 2005.

The eviction order was never challenged before the prescribed authority under the J&K Evacuees (Administration of Property) Act, Svt 2006. However, a civil suit seeking permanent prohibitory injunction was filed by Gupta who died during the proceedings.

The appellant i.e., Janata Dal (U) through its president Inder Mohan Tar Singh challenged the eviction order passed in August 2005 by filing an appeal before the J&K Special Tribunal, which was dismissed in October 2006.

The Tribunal order was challenged before the single judge in a writ which was dismissed.

The Division Bench while dismissing the Letters Patent Appeal observed, “That the order dated October 31, 2006 passed by the Special Tribunal, as affirmed by the Single Judge, does not suffer from any legal infirmity. The lease agreement dated December 9, 2003 was admittedly entered into by Sanjesh Gupta. For some time, the premises were utilised as office premises for Janata Dal (United). In early 2005, the premises were occupied by employees of KC Plaza and Hotel Mansar who started paying rent to Sanjesh Gupta. The property which was given on lease by the Evacuee property Department was being misused by subletting the same which was in patent violation of Rule 14, therefore, no other person or the Janata Dal will have any locus standi to maintain the proceedings before the court or other fora."

Rajouri, March 16
Three students of Class VI of Government Middle School, Ninga Nada, in the border district of Rajouri were allegedly thrashed by their teacher.

Confirming the same, Zonal Education Officer, Rajouri, Naresh said the parents of the three children reached his office and alleged that their wards were thrashed severely by their teacher Sunil with sticks. “I have initiated an inquiry into the incident and also withheld the salary of the teacher on the complaint of parents about alleged thrashing”

He said further course of action would be decided after the children’s statements were taken. He said the teacher had already apologised to the parents of students,” the Zonal Education Officer said. 

Batote, March 16
Three buildings were gutted in fire across Kishtwar district in the past four days.

In the first incident, the wooden ceiling of a two-storey house was burnt in a fire on Thursday afternoon. The building was earlier a hostel of the District Institute of Education and Trainings (DIET) and was lying abandoned after vacated by the CRPF in 2010.

With the timely action of the fire brigade and police officials, the fire was prevented from spreading.

In the wee hours of Tuesday, another two-storey kutcha house belonging to Ghulam Mohd Reshi and his sons was completely gutted in fire at Dillar village in the Chatru area.

Fourteen cattle, three horses and a dog were burnt alive in the blaze that reduced the six-room house to ashes.

Reports said by the time police, fire-brigade and revenue department officials reached the spot it was razed to the ground. Electric short-circuit was believed to be the cause of fire.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) RK Shavan gave Rs 5,000 as compensation from the Red Cross Society fund and a cheque of Rs 15,000 from the National Calamity Relief Fund to each of the families. Fifteen blankets, a bag of rice and wheat was also given to the victims.

On the first day after three-month-long winter vacations, the six-classroom block of Government High School at Bandarna was gutted in a blaze on Monday night.

The police did not rule out sabotage in the DIET and school fire cases. None was injured and no records were burnt in the incidents. 

Jammu, March 16
The state government today said 421 schools in Jammu and Kashmir were without their own buildings and due to sustained efforts by the government this figure would be reduced to zero during this fiscal year.

This was said by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand in the Legislative Assembly to a question put by MLA Chaman Lal Gupta.

The minister said 689 schools were housed in private buildings during the last financial year and the number has reduced to 421 during the current financial year.

He said an amount of Rs 1.36 crore had been paid as rent charges of these private school buildings during 2011-12 and 2012-13 by the School Education Department. The minister said the government was trying to provide accommodation facilities to all educational institutions, adding that in this regard a comprehensive school building construction programme was being mulled over.

The Deputy Chief Minister said drinking water and toilet facilities were available in most of the schools in Jammu Division. He said, however, where permanent facilities are not up to mark, temporary facilities are provided.

Tara said that rules of Jammu and Kashmir Education Act 2002 have been framed under SRO-123 of 2010 to curb the tendency of charging heavy fee by private educational, institutions and steps are being taken for regularisation of salaries of their staff. He said under this Act every private school shall, before the commencement of each academic session, notify, for general information the details of its fee structure. He said under the Act the admission fee shall be charged only once i.e upon first enrolment of the child/student in the school. He said there shall be no mid session revision of fee adding that under the Act the school shall effect any revision of fee only in consultation with the parents association under intimation of the concerned Director School Education.

Javid Ahmed Dar and MY Tarigami raised supplementaries on the main question and demanded upgradation of educational infrastructure facilities and creation of teaching staff in upgraded schools. —TNS

Jammu, March 16
Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone has stressed upon the private educational institutions to focus on viable and job-oriented courses so that more and more educated youth can get job opportunities.

The Minister was speaking at the valedictory function of a two-day seminar on “higher education in India: role playing parameters of excellence”, being organised by Sai Shyam College of Education, sponsored by ICSSR New Delhi.

Lone said the need of the hour was to implement human resources so that job opportunities are achieved.

“Our mission is to provide quality education and push forward the country in general and the state in particular in the field of education”, he said, while elaborating on education as the key to over-all development.

Knowledge was the greatest power which could liberate the society from the web of ignorance and uncertainty. Education sector is receiving focussed attention of the government and a number of innovative measures have been initiated to expand the reach of education to every part of the state, especially rural and far off areas, he added.

Lone expressed hope that the deliberations held during the seminar would prove beneficial to the participants and pave a way to bring about excellence in higher education.

The students of the college presented colourful cultural programmes.

Katra, March 16
A seminar on personal excellence was organised by College of Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra. John Samuel, Chief Post Master General, Jammu and Kashmir, was the chief guest at the seminar.

Dean, College of Management, Dr D Mukhopadhyay welcomed the guest and briefed Samuel about the college.

Samuel laid emphasis on managing one’s personal life. He said excellence not only meant getting a good job but also the interest to do something beyond ordinary. He suggested to the students to work with passion. While sharing his views with the audience, he threw light on the importance of achieving excellence in one’s personal life. He quoted examples of great people like Dr Abdul Kalam, Mother Teresa and Mahatma Gandhi. Samuel also emphasised on the need to identify his purpose, principles and priorities in life as these factors guided the individual’s performance.

He advised the students to move out of the comfort zone to the courage zone.

Samuel also threw some light on the future planning of Indian Postal Sector.

At the end, a question answer session was held wherein Samuel responded to the queries from the audience with great enthusiasm

Jammu, March 16
Dogri Sanstha, Jammu, in collaboration with Duggar Kala Manch, Sunderbani, organised a kavi sammelan at Sunderbani today.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Naushera, Rajender Khajuria was the chief guest while Tehsildar, Sunderbani, Devender Pal was the guest of honour at the programme.

In his address, Khajuria said such programmes enriched the cultural life of the people and worked for the promotion of local languages.

He gave instructions to make the hoardings and display notices at hospitals, dispensaries and other public offices in Dogri, for easy understanding of the public. He appreciated the efforts of Dogri Sanstha for promoting the language and literature among masses.

Local poets who recited their poems in the kavi sammelan included Pushkar Raj Sharma, Balak Ram Baral, Babu Ram, OP Bajowalia, Joginder Pal Sharma, Pyaru Ram, Birbal Sharma, KK Khaki, Nathu Ram Sharma, Mulk Raj Sharma, Chander Mohan Sharma, Sanjeev Khajuria, Sumit Khajuria, Amarjeet Sharma and Shiv Kumar Sharma.

The poets from Jammu and Kathua who participated in sammelan were Darshan Darshi, Surinder Manhas, Inderjeet Kesar, Randhir Raipuria, Usha Kiran, Vijaya Thakur, KK Shakir, Ratan Doshi and Susheel Begana.

Jammu, March 16
The government is contemplating to seek amendment in the Consumer Protection Act after consulting various stakeholders to ensure protection of interests of consumers and time-bound disposal of the complaints against trade malpractices.

This was stated by the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Muhammad Ramzan, at a function organised to mark the World Consumer Day at Mahant Bachittar Singh College of Engineering and Technology. The event was organised by Consumers Welfare Association- a local NGO.

Ramzan said stringent laws and enforcement was important, along with an informed citizenry, to ensure that the consumer rights were respected and protected. Ramzan called for strengthening the enforcement wings of the concerned departments to check the unscrupulous trade practices and to safeguard the consumer interests. “The awareness programmes should not be restricted to specific days rather the organisations associated with consumer protection should reach out to maximum number of people for making them aware about their rights,” he said.

Jammu, March 16
Shree Toyota unveiled ‘New Etios and Liva’ today. According to the company, the 'New Etios & Liva' has a variety of features like new dual tone premium interiors, new premium seats, new dash board with combi meters, new AC control panel, new wooden arm rest, new audio player & many more features.

In addition to these, the exteriors of the vehicles have been changed as well. The New Etios & Liva have the best mileages in their class. Besides, the management of Shree Toyota has announced a ‘Loyalty Discount’ of Rs 7,500 on the New Liva and Rs 10,000 on the New Etios for the customers till March 31. —TNS