The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Industrial packages fail to yield results Centre, state govt bear fiscal burden of `8,340 cr Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 Although the industrial promotion policies have put a whopping fiscal burden of Rs 8,340 crore on the state and Central governments from 2007 to 2012, the policies have failed to achieve the desired results and the main objectives of such incentives have been defeated. The industrial packages were announced in the state to generate employment but their results are discouraging. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its latest report pinpointed loopholes in the functioning of the Industries and Commerce Department, which is responsible for properly utilising such incentives. “Low industrial output, low employment generation, low end and low value addition manufacturing have defeated the objectives of the Central and state governments’ industrial promotion policies,” the report observed. It also pointed out the underutilisation of Central assistance, unplanned execution of industrial estates/growth centres, leading to unproductive investments, inadmissible and irregular payment of subsidies. The audit assessment during the five-year period from 2007 to 2012 shows that the Central and state governments bore a fiscal burden of Rs 8,340.11 crore (Central government Rs 5,221.37 crore, state government Rs 3,118.74 crore) to provide incentives to the industrial units whose number as on March 2012 was 26,674 with total workforce of 1,33,173 workers. “The total employment generated from the industrial units in the state was 1.03 lakh as on 2007. It rose to to 1.33 lakh at the close of the financial year 2011-2012 while the financial incentives provided to the industrial units from 2007-08 to 2011-12 ranged between Rs 1,289.89 crore and Rs 2,475.88 crore. “Thus, the per capita fiscal burden for each worker employed by the industrial units (including those industrial units not covered by the state industrial policy 2004) was between Rs 1.09 lakh and Rs 2.40 lakh per annum during the same period”, the report stated. The audit, however, noticed that the data of employment generation was recorded on the basis of certificates provided by the unit holders at the time of their registration and it was observed at the District Industry Centres (DICs) that the employment generation by the industrial units was neither monitored nor verified by the DIC general managers after commencement of production by the industrial units. The CAG report observed that the sole yardstick to assess the impact of the industrial policy being pursued by the Central and state governments involving fiscal concession to industrial units was job creation. Employment generation was the basic objective of industrial packages announced in the state. The average employment generated in each unit in the Kashmir province ranged between four and five and in Jammu province between 11 and 16. CAG findings The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its latest report pinpointed loopholes in the functioning of the Industries and Commerce Department, which is responsible for properly utilisation of incentives. Low industrial output, low employment generation, low end and low value addition manufacturing have defeated the objectives of the Central and state governments’ industrial promotion policies The underutilisation of Central assistance and unplanned execution of industrial estates/growth centres, have led to unproductive investments
	Demoted CRPF IG challenges Home Ministry’s orders Ishfaq Tantry/TNS Srinagar, April 8 The IG, CRPF, who headed the operations of the paramilitary force in Kashmir till April 3, has challenged his demotion orders by filing a writ petition before the Jammu and Kashmir High Court. IG (Operations) CRPF, Kashmir, SS Sandhu was on April 3, 2013, demoted by the Union Home Ministry to the rank of the DIG after discrepancies were found in his physical fitness records by a medical board set up by the Ministry. In its subsequent orders, on April 4, the Home Ministry had directed that after his demotion to the DIG rank, Sandhu be posted as the DIG at the CRPF headquarters in New Delhi. However, instead of accepting his demotion and new posting orders, Sandhu chose to challenge the Home Ministry orders before the J&K High Court, where the case was listed before a single bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir today. While seeking quashment of the Union Home Ministry’s orders of April 3, Riyaz A Jan, appearing counsel for Sandhu, prayed that the high court stay the said order. However, the averments of the writ petition were objected to by the Assistant Solicitor General, Union of India, SA Makru, who represented the Home Ministry in the petition. Makru took the preliminary objections on the jurisdictional ground and questioned the maintainability of the petition before the J-K High Court. Without granting any interim relief, the high court, however, kept the matter on board for April 9, directing the petitioner counsel to address arguments on the maintainability of the petition. While seeking quashment of demotion and posting orders passed by the Home Ministry orders against him, Sandhu, in his petition, has termed his demotion and his subsequent new posting orders as “arbitrary, invidiously discriminatory and violative” of the constitutional guarantees of the petitioner granted under Article 311 (2) of the Constitution. “It is submitted that since this court is already seized of the matter, coupled with the fact that the orders impugned in the writ petition are essentially sequent to the cause being agitated by the petitioner in the aforementioned writ petition pending adjudication before this Honourable Court, the cause of action in the present case as well has arisen to the petitioner in the state of J&K, therefore this Honourable Court is the only forum available in law to the petitioner,” Sandhu has submitted in his petition. Home Ministry orders The Home Ministry in its orders of April 3, 2013, reverted SS Sandhu from the rank of IG (CRPF) to the rank of DIG (CRPF) after discrepancies were found in his physical fitness records by a medical board set up by the Ministry It is perhaps for the first time in the 74-year-old history of the CRPF that a senior officer has been demoted from the IG rank Sandhu, during his tenure in the Kashmir valley, is reported to have been at loggerheads with the state police and had opposed many people-friendly measures being taken by the government
	State loses Rs 4.5 cr in 3 yrs to flight tickets for ministers Arteev Sharma/TNS Jammu, April 8 The state government is apparently going through financial crisis, but has spent Rs 4.45 crore on air travel (both domestic and international flights) of sitting and former ministers during the last three years. This expenditure is in addition to a whopping Rs 12 crore on fuel and maintenance of the state aircraft and two helicopters, which conducted 3,552 sorties for ferrying VIPs, including ministers and bureaucrats, in the last three years. Senior bureaucrats also enjoyed visits to foreign countries on government expenditure. Their “official” tours cost the state Rs 1.06 crore. These figures are in complete contrast to the much-hyped austerity measures announced by the ruling dispensation to cut down expenditure for “improving the financial condition of the state”. A total of 10 new ministers, including six Cabinet ministers and four ministers of state, were also added to the existing 25-member Council of Ministers of the four-year-old Omar Abdullah government on January 15. According to a 107-page official document, some ministers travelled between the twin capital cities (Jammu and Srinagar) by air at least 18 times in a month for “official” purpose in economy class while others preferred to travel by business class. The air travel of Minister for Rural Development Department Ali Mohammad Sagar cost the state exchequer Rs 11.47 lakh, including Rs 3.05 lakh on international travel, from January 2010 to September 2012. Similarly, the state government spent Rs 15.72 lakh on air travel of Deputy CM Tara Chand from April 2010 to January 2013. The air travel of former MoS for Housing and Urban Development Nasir Aslam cost Rs 48.83 lakh, including 32.08 lakh on international travel, from April 2010 to January 2013. The state government had recently disclosed that Rs 11.96 crore expenditure was incurred on state aircraft and helicopters for ferrying Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, cabinet ministers and other VIPs to various destinations within and outside the state from 2010 to February 2013 As per rules, the state aircraft and helicopters are meant to facilitate the movement of dignitaries such as the Governor and Chief Minister. The Chief Minister authorises its use for other VVIPs like visiting Union ministers, presiding officers of the legislature, ministerial colleagues and senior officers of the Government of India and state governments. The government had defended the extensive use of aircraft and helicopters citing the reason of “geographical isolated areas” in the state. Air travel expenditure in 3 years Name Amount spent (Rs in lakh) Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand 15.72 Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather 15.92 Former MoS for Housing & 48.83 Urban Development Nasir Aslam Wani Former Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora 46.09 (now holding charge of Urban Local Bodies) Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Saga 11.47 Bureaucrats 106.94 FINANCIAL CONDITION OF J&K n The state is largely dependent on the Central government assistance for meeting its expenditure, even for salaries of its over 4.5 lakh employees. n The Comptroller and Auditor General report on state finances tabled in the Assembly on April 5 says the fiscal deficit of J-K increased from Rs 1,930 crore in 2006-07 to Rs 3,694 in 2011-12.
	Tufail Mattoo killing case Family challenges ‘closure’ order of trial court, HC seeks records Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 8 In the Tufail Mattoo killing case, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought the records from the lower court which recently accepted the police closure into the matter and closed the proceedings of the case as ‘untraced’. The directions were issued by a single bench of the high court comprising Janak Raj Kotwal in a petition by the family of the deceased teenager, seeking to set aside the orders of the Special Mobile Magistrate, Srinagar, issued on February 27, 2013. The killing of the teenager, Tufail Mattoo, in 2010, had triggered unrest and a cycle of violence in the Valley. More than 120 persons were killed in firing by the police and security forces in 2010. Tufail was killed on June 11, 2010, while he was returning home from tuition. A teargas shell fired by the police had allegedly hit him while he was walking near Gani Memorial College in the old city. He died instantly. While challenging the “closure” orders of the trial court, the petitioner family have submitted to the high court that after adjourning the matter and fixing the next date of hearing on March 1, 2013, it was not open to the trial court to pass the “closure” orders dated February 27, 2013. “As would appear from the reading of the interim order of February 27, 2013, recorded by the trial court, it is evident that after recording the statement of Tufails’ father, the court had felt it necessary to examine the roznamcha (daily diary) of the District Police Lines, Srinagar, of June 11, 2010. Accordingly, it directed the prosecution to produce the same on the next date of hearing and fixed the case for further proceedings on March 1, 2013,” petitioner counsel Mian Qayoom today submitted to the high court while seeking to set aside the February 27 orders. “It appears that the trial court has passed the interim order in a mechanical way and in violation of the law. Once the case was adjourned to March 1, 2013, it was not open to the trail court to pass the impugned order at the back of the petitioner and without affording him an opportunity of being heard,” Qayoom submitted in the petition, while terming the February 27 orders of the trial court as “illegal, improper and liable” to be set aside. Qayoom prayed before the high court that his petition be allowed and the trail court orders be set aside. He also prayed that the record of the case filed by the police before the said trail court be sought and the matter be considered by the high court along with the earlier petition into the matter, which is already being heard by the high court. After going through the petition and hearing the submissions, Justice Kotwal directed that the record from the trail court be sought and the matter be listed along with the main petition next week. Trial court orders “The undersigned is in consonance with the investigation of the police final closure report and the same is accepted as not traced,” Srinagar Special Mobile Magistrate Ashwani Kumar Sharma had said in his orders on February 27, 2013, which have now been challenged before the high court by Tufail’s family. “In these circumstances, even if the father of the deceased (Tufail Mattoo) has stated before the court that he is not in consonance with the investigation undertaken by the Investigation Officer (IO), the same is not enough because in a murder case, an innocent person cannot be put forward for a trial,” the court observed in its orders. The trial court, however, had observed that the case can be “reopened” if any clues about the culprits are received at a later stage. “The investigation of the case can be reopened and shall be conducted de novo,” the trial court had observed in its orders, adding that the file after its “due completion” be “consigned to records.” THE CASE FILE In June 2010, Tufail Mattoo’s death triggered violence leading to unrest across the Kashmir valley On the behest of the court, an FIR was registered by the police on July 15, 2010 The family later approached the high court to appoint a special investigation team to probe the matter. That petition is still pending before the high court The SIT, in its final report, to the high court in November last year had said the case was closed and the culprits remained “untraced”
	Don’t misinterpret apex court observation on Afzal: BJP Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 BJP state chief spokesman Jitendra Singh today dissuaded the separatist leadership and separatist-friendly Kashmiri-centric political parties and leaders from misleading people by misinterpreting the content and spirit of the Supreme Court order of April 6, which stayed the execution of eight persons. Singh sought to put the record straight by stating that a careful study of the judgment passed by Justice P Sathasivam and Justice MY Eqbal made it clear that nowhere had the judges made any observation against Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s hanging. In a statement issued here today, Singh said the comment made by the court with regard to Afzal Guru was a mere ‘‘procedural” comment, wherein the judges observed that the intimation about Afzal’s execution should not have reached his family after his hanging and that this should not happen in other similar cases. He said the Kashmir-based politicians, including those of the ruling National Conference (NC), were committing a contempt of court by misinterpreting the Supreme Court order and manipulating the same to present as if the court had endorsed the unconstitutional stand taken by some NC leaders that Afzal’s execution was “selective” or carried out without giving him an opportunity to go through the full judicial process. As regards ordering a stay of four weeks on the execution of eight persons whose mercy pleas had been rejected by the President, Singh explained that the judges had taken cognisance of advocate Colin Gonsalves’ argument that the delay in carrying out death sentences and adjudicating mercy pleas in all these cases ranged from 3 to 12 years and therefore there could be a ground for seeking commutation of death penalty to life imprisonment. The stay order simply intended to allow time for discussing the merits of advocate Gonsalves’ argument and in no way could be construed as a dissenting observation against the earlier court order of execution against the eight persons or the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, he added. Singh warned that the politicians, who were trying to raise the Afzal Guru bogey following the April 6 Supreme Court judgment, were playing a dangerous game of divisive politics through appeasement of anti-India elements in the Valley.
	Congress to make its displeasure known to NC on pro-Afzal remarks Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 After repeatedly facing embarrassment during the recent budget session over “eulogising” of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, the Congress has decided to send a clear message to its coalition partner National Conference that “enough is enough”. The party has decided to exert pressure on its coalition partner to take action against government employees, who have been “openly instigating people against the country by lauding Afzal”. Sources in the Congress said during a meeting chaired by J-K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz, party leaders expressed strong resentment against the attempt of National Conference to continue its campaign in praise of Afzal. Congress leaders pointed out that some government employees were openly instigating people and eulogising Parliament attack convict but no action had been taken against them so far, the sources said. They alleged that president of the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Nisar-ul-Hassan was openly praising Parliament attack convict but the authorities had failed to take action against him. Congress leaders pointed out that Nisar, who belonged to Afzal’s village, had warned on February 13 that Afzal’s hanging had the potential to trigger a new wave of struggle that would culminate with Kashmir’s solution. The Congress sources said there was a feeling among party leaders that the failure of the government to keep a check on those who had been praising Afzal was badly affecting the party. The leaders told Soz that the pro-Afzal campaign would prove disastrous for the party in the Jammu region and in Kashmir. The sources said the party leaders were given the assurance that the issue would be brought before the National Conference so that appropriate action could be taken against those who have been allegedly preaching secessionism by raking up the Afzal issue.
	Attack on soldier: Police yet to record victim’s statement Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 Even as relatives of a soldier, whose was found with eyes gouged out in Chowki Chora on April 3, staged a protest in Rajouri demanding arrest of culprits, the Jammu Police today said they cannot pressurise the soldier to record his statement. The soldier Rajesh Dutta of the counter insurgency force of 11 Rashtriya Rifles was found in a rivulet in Chowki Chora on Jammu-Poonch highway with his eyes gouged out in an unconscious state on April 3. “We cannot pressurise him to record his statement. He is still in Military Hospital at Satwari and we are talking to him softly to tell us about the incident. Unless and until he tells us about the incident in detail, it would not be possible for us to crack the case,” said SP (Rural) Rajesh Kumar. “His statement matters the most. We are trying to work out the case and we hope to achieve a breakthrough in a couple of days,” he said. “No link or vital clue has emerged so far. The soldier is not fit to record his statement,” SSP, Jammu, Rajeshwar Singh said. On April 4, IGP, Jammu zone, Rajesh Kumar had said three teams had been constituted by him in Akhnoor, Nowshera and Jammu to crack the case. The injured soldier is a resident of Lam village in the Nowshera area of Rajouri district. The police has registered a case of attempted murder under Section 307 of the RPC at the Akhnoor police station.
	Kashmiri Pandits meet Governor, demand temples and shrines Bill Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 A delegation of the Kashmiri Pandit Conference presented a memorandum of its demands to Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today. The delegation was led by president of the Kashmiri Pandit Conference Kundan Kashmiri. The demands presented by the delegation included early enactment of the Hindu Temples, Shrines and Religious Places Bill, speedy implementation of the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation Package, representation to the community in the state Council of Ministers, legislature and Rajya Sabha, financial assistance to the over-age Kashmiri migrant youth to set up their income-generating units and financial support to the Kashmiri migrants suffering from serious ailments and cannot afford the cost of treatment. Other demands included augmenting water and power supply at Jagti township, facilitating visits of pilgrims from the state to the Sharda Mata Temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and augmenting accommodation facilities for Kashmiri migrants at Jammu and Delhi who are putting up in rented accommodations. Another delegation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Christian Minority Welfare Association met the Governor at Raj Bhawan here today and presented to him a memorandum of its demands. The delegation, led by Michael Wazir, president of the Association, demanded setting up of an Advisory Board for the development and welfare of the Christian community in the state, reservation for Christians in government jobs and professional institutions and putting in place hostel facilities for students of the community in the Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions. The Governor listened to the delegation and observed that he would address Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this regard.
	Better facilities for pilgrims to Buddha Amarnath shrine demanded Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 A delegation of the Shaheed Major Rohit Sharma Memorial Society, Mandi, Poonch, today called on Governor NN Vohra at the Raj Bhavan here. The eight-member delegation led by Akbar Ali Banday, general secretary of the society, briefed the Governor about their activities. They thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the activities of the organisation and development of the state, particularly the remote areas such as Mandi. The demands presented by them included establishment of an ITI in Mandi, augmenting accommodation and other facilities for pilgrims to the Buddha Amarnath shrine and provision of an office for the society in Jammu. Usman Baba, a member of the society and an artist, presented one of his paintings to the Governor. The delegation said the Society was planning to organise exhibitions of Baba’s work on the theme of peace and harmony in Srinagar in August coinciding with the Independence Day and in Jammu on the Republic Day next year. The Governor assured the NGO that its initiatives would be supported. He also assured them that the issues raised by them would be taken up with the authorities concerned. A 15-member delegation of the All J&K OBC Mahasabha also presented a memorandum of their demands to the Governor today. Their demands included provision of political reservation to the OBCs in the state, 27 per cent reservation to them in government jobs as per the Mandal Commission recommendations. The Governor assured to take up their demands with the state government.
	Protest held against govt’s anti-farmer policies Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 A large number of farmers from rural and border belts of Jammu province held a protest here today under the leadership of BJP MLAs, Sukhnandan Kumar Choudhary and Shyam Choudhary, against the anti-farmer policies of the state government. They held placards with slogans against harassment of farmers in the name of recovery of pending electricity tariff of the last 15 to 20 years. MLA Sukhnandan Kumar, while addressing the protesters, said the farmers across Jammu were being harassed by the government on the pretext of collecting power tariff. He said the farmers were asked to deposit bills of the last 15 to 20 years by the Power Development Department, which had sent a wave of fear among them (farmers) and was giving them sleepless nights. He said the government’s move to demand tariff after a long gap could not be justified by any means. Warning the state government to stop harassing the farmers, Kumar announced that the farmers would take out a tractor rally and march towards Jammu city after Baisakhi. MLA Shyam Choudhary said the farmers of Jammu did not get electricity for water pumping motors when it was needed. “On the one hand, they (farmers) do not get electricity and on the other, they are told to deposit large amounts of electricity tariff, which is unfortunate,” he said. Om Parkash, Sat Pal Pappi, Soudagar Singh, Harjeet Singh, Raj Singh, Tirath Sharma, Shyam Singh, Dharminder Kumar, Vinod Kumar, Sarwan Singh, Satish Bharti, Varinder Singh, Prem Singh, Raj kumar, Dharam Pal, Mohinder Singh, Raghuvir Singh and Darshan Lal Motten addressed the protesters.
	Ordnance Corps celebrates 238th Raising Day Tribune News Service Jammu, April 8 The Army Ordnance Corps today celebrated its 238th Raising Day to commemorate its raising as the “Board of Ordnance” way back in 1775. The Corps is entrusted with the task of managing a large and complex inventory and providing logistic support to the Army. On the occasion, Lt Gen KT Parnaik, GOC-in-C of the Northern Command, extended his greetings to all ranks, civilians and families of the Corps and lauded their professionalism, dedication and efforts to provide effective logistic support to the equipment-intensive field Army across a wide spectrum. Maj Gen S Vayaboury, MG, AOC, Northern Command, felicitated all ranks and civilians of the Northern Army Ordnance fraternity and exhorted them to rededicate themselves to the call of the Army with renewed vigour.
	10-day police remand for Dutch national Srinagar, April 8 Dutch national Richard De Wit, who is accused of murdering 24-year-old British tourist Sarah Elizabeth on Saturday, has been remanded in police custody for 10 days, police sources said today. Elizabeth was found dead in her room in a houseboat on the Dal Lake here with multiple stab wounds early Saturday morning. — TNS