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HC: No official competent to comment on court orders
BJP backs encounter specialist, calls for Doda bandh on July 4
Three hurt as grenade explodes at encounter site in Pulwama
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Killing of two youths
Bandipora case must be probed promptly: Amnesty
Issue notices to hotels flouting pollution norms in Gulmarg: HC
Overall situation in Kashmir better: German envoy
Govt asked to locate missing J-K pilgrims in Uttarakhand
Mufti says his party committed to corruption-free governance
Debate on Article 370 gains momentum
20 days on, police ‘unaware’ of arrest of 3 Chinese
Kishtwar residents join NCP
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HC: No official competent to comment on court orders
Srinagar, July 2 Observing that as per the constitutional scheme of things, courts are free to make orders to sub-serve the requirement of justice, it said that no official authority was competent to comment upon court orders. These observations were passed today by a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur while passing orders against Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) commissioner GN Qasba on a PIL seeking directions to the authorities for removing illegal constructions and street hawkers and vendors from Srinagar roads for hassle-free traffic movement. During a previous hearing on June 27, the Chief Justice had taken strong note to the averments made by the SMC Commissioner in his response to the PIL, and had subsequently sought his apology and personal appearance on the next date of hearing. Accordingly, Qasba, who was present in the court, today personally apologised for the averments made in his response to the court. However, the bench did not appear satisfied by this. ‘Mr Qasba, you have done a blunder, which is not expected of an educated person. Tell us, as a KAS officer, are you not taught how to deal with judicial matters during your training at the academy,” Chief Justice Kumar observed while reprimanding him for making “disparaging remarks” against the courts. “We wish to make it clear that any authority found making disparaging comments about the court orders will be dealt with sternly, howsoever high he may be”, the division bench said in its orders today. “In the constitutional scheme of things, all the courts are free to make orders to sub-serve the requirement of justice. No official authority is competent to comment upon the court orders”, it further said. While accepting the plea to withdraw the controversial affidavit by the SMC Commissioner, the court however warned him not repeat this conduct, observing that then the undertaking submitted by him would be revoked and contempt proceedings initiated against him. The bench also asked the Advocate General, who was present in the court, to convey it to the government officials. “Beware, we will not spare anyone. The officials cannot behave like any other ordinary client before the court,” the bench observed. On collision course?
“The problem (illegal constructions) gets further aggravated due to passing of interim orders by this Hon’ble court due to which the SMC could not take any action”, SMC Commissioner GN Qasba had submitted in his response to the court. Qasba was responding to the failure of the SMC to remove the illegal constructions as was observed by the HC in its orders passed on May 22, 2013, orders The HC however had taken exception to this remark by the Commissioner and had sought his apology. Earlier on June 16, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that people getting court stays on “flimsy grounds” had stalled many development projects and recruitment processes in the state. He was speaking at the inaugural function of J&K State Judicial Academy in Srinagar, which was thrown open by Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir. J&K Chief Justice MM Kumar also attended that function. |
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BJP backs encounter specialist, calls for Doda bandh on July 4
Jammu, July 2 The organisations have given a call for bandh on July 4 in the erstwhile Doda district against, what they alleged, the nefarious designs of the state government to demoralise nationalist forces in the region which was once plagued with militancy. The SI was arrested on June 4 for alleged links with militants. He is presently in judicial custody. Sources said the BJP high command had given a green signal to the state unit to vociferously take up the issue, but family members of the arrested SI had asked local BJP leaders not to politicise the issue. The sources some influential Jammu-based BJP leaders were hesitating to take up the issue because of their cordial relations with top police officers. “It
is the result of the pressure of local BJP leaders of the erstwhile Doda
district that these influential leaders have given their consent to give
a bandh call on July 4,” a source said and added that some religious
groups of Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah had also expressed their anguish
over the attitude of Jammu-based BJP leaders on the issue. The sources
said a meeting of various social, religious and political organisations
would be held at Bhaderwah on July 3 to devise a strategy to intensify
the agitation against the SI’s arrest. Earlier, the BJP had decided to take up the issue before party patriarch LK Advani on June 23 in Jammu but his visit got cancelled. It was Advani, the then Union Home Minister, who had given a star to Sharma for tracking down Pakistani terrorists who were involved in the Chapnari massacre. |
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Three hurt as grenade explodes at encounter site in Pulwama
Anantnag, July 2 Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants and a policeman were killed in the encounter yesterday while three security personnel, one policeman and two CRPF personnel were injured. The residential house in which the militants were hiding was completely damaged in the gunfight. “This morning the locals went to clear the debris of the house and that’s when the hand grenade exploded, leaving three people injured,” a police statement said. While the police maintained that it was a ‘minor’ explosion and the injuries that the three people sustained were minor too, sources revealed that two of the three injured were shifted to Srinagar in a critical condition. “We had told people not to venture near the encounter site because the site was not sanitised completely,” read the statement. “We had even made an announcement in the local mosque,” it read. The locals, however, deny that any such information was provided to them. “We are not naive that even after an announcement we will venture near an encounter site. We believed that the forces must have sanitised the site before leaving,” a local said. The police today, in another press release, alleged that one of the slain militants, Shabir Ahmad, alias Adil, a Hizb commander, was involved in an attempt to kill police officers in the area and in a number of other killings. The other two militants were identified as Shahnawaz Ahmad Mir, a resident of Dadsaroo village of Tral, and Aijaz Ahmad Laway, a resident of Lurgam in Tral. Meanwhile, the slain militants were laid to rest in their native villages. Hundreds of people attended their funeral prayers and mourned their death. They raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. A shutdown was observed in the Tral area today
to mourn the death of the militants. |
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Killing of two youths
Srinagar, July 2 Sources said Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Markundal Sumbal, was detained for questioning by the police upon receiving information that he was with the soldiers in the village during the night the firing incident took place. Two youths — Irfan Ahmad Ganai of Markundal village of Bandipora district and Tariq Ahmad of Kondbal village of Ganderbal district — were allegedly killed in Army firing during a counter-insurgency operation at Markundal village on Sunday morning. The Army has denied shooting Ganai and said it shot at Ahmad in self-defence when protesters, agitating against Ganai’s killing, tried to attack an Army ambulance. “Someone spotted me with Army men in a vehicle after the firing took place. I own a tipper and also work as a part-time driver with the Army. That night they (the Army) told me they have to go to Sonmarg,” Sheikh had said on Monday. The police said Sheikh was detained last evening for questioning to know the sequence of the events on Sunday morning. “We have registered an FIR in Sumbal police station against those responsible for the killing of two civilians and also taken up the investigation. We are looking into different aspects of the case,” said a police officer in north Kashmir. Meanwhile, protests and clashes continued for the third day in various areas of Bandipore district. Sources said clashes were reported from Naidkhai, Hajin and the Bandipora area. The police had to fire teargas shells to quell the mob at various places in the district. A complete shutdown was observed in Bandipora to protest the killing of the two youths.
Ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh
On the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for Higher Education and local MLA Mohammad Akbar Lone on Tuesday visited the house of Tariq Ahmad of Kundbal Safapora, who was killed allegedly in Army firing. The Minister handed over a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the family members as ex gratia relief and assured the family that the benefit of compassionate appointment would also be extended to the next of kin of the slain youth. |
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Bandipora case must be probed promptly: Amnesty
Srinagar, July 2 “These deaths must be investigated promptly, thoroughly and impartially, and where sufficient admissible evidence is found, a competent, independent and impartial civilian court should prosecute the suspects,” said Shashikumar
Velath, Programmes Director, Amnesty International, India, in a statement. |
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Issue notices to hotels flouting pollution norms in Gulmarg: HC
Srinagar, July 2 The court has directed the PCB to comply with the objectives tasked upon it under the environment protection Act, pollution control norms and various statutes by issuing notices to the hotels violating the norms. These directions were issued by a division bench comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today in a public interest litigation filed by Mohammad Rafiq Zargar, wherein he had sought intervention of the courts in safeguarding the eco-sensitive areas of Gulmarg and Tangmarg from illegal constructions. As per rules, all hotels having a capacity of more than 19 rooms are supposed to have an individual STP facility in case a common STP facility for the hotels is not available. However, during a spot inspection of various establishments, including hotels and restaurants, at Gulmarg by the Gulmarg Development Authority official in May it was found that not even one hotel had an STP facility that was functional. “We direct the PCB to comply with its objectives tasked upon it under various statutes, like air, water and environment protection Act and various other statutory rules,” the bench said in its orders today. “We are amazed by the fact that no efforts are made by the PCB by issuing notices to the defaulters (hotels violating PCB norms),” it said after the appearing counsel for the PCB undertook before the bench that “steps will be taken to comply with all the legal obligations and the directions issued by the court in May. The bench also directed the JK Chief Secretary to comply with the time schedule fixed by the court over taking action against the leasehold violations by different hotel and hut owners. The bench said the “court cannot be taken for granted as for as the schedule fixed for deciding such matters is concerned.” “The Chief Secretary shall have to file a proper application giving reasons for any extension in schedule,” the bench added.
SEWAGE TREATMENT
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Overall situation in Kashmir better: German envoy
Srinagar, July 2 Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a function at the Convocation Complex at the University of Kashmir, Steiner said his country was sticking to the eased advisories for the tourists to visit Kashmir. Lamenting the loss of lives in the turmoil in Kashmir, Steiner said it was a “tragedy”. He said the overall situation in Kashmir was better and the people,
particularly youth, were eager on various fronts, including economy and progress in life. Referring to the need of development on various fronts, the German ambassador said he would ask for investment from German companies. He said he would be in touch with the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the matter would be taken up with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Investors could be engaged for investment in the state, though taking due care of the security scenario, the ambassador said. He added that both India and Germany knew about each other. “Music really plays in Germany…. There is economic revival in Europe and the Euro currency is stable during the past two to three years,” Steiner said in reply to a question. Acknowledging development on various fronts in India, the German envoy hoped that his country could increase links with India and Kashmir. “Serious talks and business can be done with Kashmiris,” he said, adding that Germany is one of the “most dynamic labour markets of the world”. He invited Kashmiri students for studies
and jobs in his country and said his country enjoyed the least rate of unemployed youth. The German ambassador addressed the students and teachers of the university in presence of Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad and
Registrar Zaffar Ahmad Reshi. He also interacted with students. |
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Govt asked to locate missing J-K pilgrims in Uttarakhand
Jammu, July 2 A meeting of the Dogra Sabha was held here today under the chairmanship of its president Gulchain Singh Charak. A two-minute silence was observed to pay homage to the victims of Uttarakhand tragedy and for peace to the departed souls. The Dogra Sabha demanded that the government should let the people of the state know that how many pilgrims from
J&K had gone for the pilgrimage to Uttarakhand and the number of pilgrims who had returned home safely. The organisation said it would like to know the number of persons who were still missing. It demanded that a nodal officer be appointed as
had been done by most of the states to look into all the problems related
to the pilgrims during the disaster.
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Mufti says his party committed to corruption-free governance
Jammu, July 2 Addressing a function to welcome Congress leader Hamid Chowdhary, who joined the PDP here today, Mufti said eliminating corruption and improving the quality and efficiency of governance in Jammu and Kashmir was the priority of the PDP. Chowdhary is a known loyalist of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2002 and 2008 Assembly elections from the Nagrota segment. Launching an attack on the present government, Mufti said, “Apart from political uncertainty, Jammu and Kashmir is also suffering from crisis of governance during the last five years.” He added that the PDP during its tenure had proved how to provide good governance to the people by improving the quality and capacity to deliver. Mufti said there was widespread public recognition of the fact that the credible leadership and pro-people agenda of the PDP had positively transformed the state’s political, economic and development landscape after 2002. Seeking mandate from the people to fulfil the PDP’s unfinished agenda, he said, “The process of the state’s political and economic transformation started by the PDP-led coalition government in 2002 has to be now taken to its logical conclusion with the support of the people.” “It is unfortunate that the present National Conference-led regime has failed to carry forward the development agenda which was started during the PDP-Congress regime after 2002,” he said. Observing that the present regime had lost its credibility, he said, “After the formation of the National Conference-led government in 2009, the state has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis and this regime has become synonymous with chaos and uncertainty.” |
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Governor reviews Amarnath yatra
Srinagar, July 2 He reviewed all important aspects of the pilgrimage, which began on June 28, at a meeting at Raj Bhawan here today. The Governor has been monitoring the movement of the pilgrimage everyday. For this purpose, CCTV cameras were installed at the access control gates at Chandanwari and Domel. These cameras have been directly linked with Raj Bhawan through Internet. The movement of the pilgrims as they arrive at the access control gates at Domel and Chandanwari at 5 AM, is monitored live by the CEO of the shrine board. Updates are sent to the Governor regarding the camp-wise position of the number of pilgrims every four hours. Information is gathered on the number of pilgrims arriving and moving towards the shrine as well as the number of those who have performed darshan at the holy shrine. The weather status is also reviewed several times a day. The Governor along with the CEO and the Additional CEO of the Board and other officers concerned, spent considerable time at the NIC today to monitor the movement of the pilgrimage. Live footage from both the access control gates at Chandanwari and Domel was being beamed. During this period, the latest status of the movement of the yatra was ascertained from the camp directors at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps as well as at Chandanwari and Domel and the camps enroute. The camp directors were asked to take required measures to ensure smooth and convenient movements of the pilgrims so that they do not face any difficulty. The Governor reiterated directions that all the agencies involved in the overall management and conduct of the pilgrimage must ensure close effective coordination to facilitate the pilgrims, particularly regarding the forward movement of the pilgrims to the camps and to the cave shrine. The Governor also directed about effective maintenance of sanitation and cleanliness at all the camps during the pilgrimage and along the tatra route. The CEO informed that a number of workers were engaged in carrying out cleaning round-the-clock and, besides, all the camp directors have been asked to launch special cleanliness drives in their respective camps to ensure disposal of all bio-degradable and non-bio-degradable waste. The CEO informed the Governor that by July 1 51,291 pilgrims had performed darshan and the officials of the Shrine Board, various state government departments, Army, paramilitary forces, the police and all other agencies concerned have been performing their duties in coordination, for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. He said the yatra was running smoothly so far. |
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Debate on Article 370 gains momentum
Jammu, July 2 Amid the debate, these groups have seized this opportunity to highlight the issue of West Pakistani refugees who have been denied the basic fundamental rights due to the special status despite living in the state since 1947. “What is the utility of this Article when a large chunk of population, including the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), has been denied its constitutional rights due to the special status,” said Ghulam Ali, a leader of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, which is spreading a campaign for abrogation of Article 370. “Ruling elite in the state is brazenly abusing the Article to continue their domination on the decision-making power,” he said and pointed out that unlike other parts of the country, STs were not granted political reservation in the state. In an obvious reference towards recent statement of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah against abrogation of Article 370, Dalit leader Bali Bhagat said, “Ruling class in the Kashmir valley has been blackmailing on this issue. But in real sense, common people in the Valley are the worst sufferer due to this special status. “There is a huge chunk of OBC population among Kashmiri Muslims but they have been denied their constitutional right of reservation due to Article 370. Those who claim leaders of Kashmiri people have never raised this issue,” he said. “The OBCs all over the country are getting 27 per cent reservation in the government jobs, but in J&K, they have been denied the same due to the special status,” he added. Jammu State Morcha (JSM) president Varinder Gupta said, “Abrogation of Article 370 will solve most of the problems presently faced by the state. The Article has not given any benefit to the people in general. Instead, the successive state governments have used the Article against the interests of the people. The recent examples are not doing delimitation of Assembly constituencies, not empowering the panchayats, not providing reservations to Gujjar Bakerwal tribes in the Assembly and not implementing the reservation policy for the OBCs. Politicians, particularly of the Valley, have used it as a tool to exploit the common masses”. “Weaker sections are the worst suffers due to this so-called special status,” said Tulsi Dass Langeh, state president of the Bahujan Samaj Party. He pointed out that many programmes specially formulated for weaker sections were not implemented in the state due to the special status. Langeh also pointed towards the plight of West Pakistani refugees who had been denied citizenship rights all due to the special status. |
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20 days on, police ‘unaware’ of arrest of 3 Chinese
Jammu, July 2 “Twenty days have gone and we are simply not aware of the incident as none from the ITBP or the Army has approached us,” Leh district SSP Vivek Gupta told The Tribune over phone. “None is talking about the issue here and unless we are involved, we can’t say anything about the incident,” he said. A police source said as per the law of the land any foreigner, who illegally crosses the border, had to be handed over to the police for booking him under the relevant sections of the law. The IG, Kashmir zone, Abdul Gani Mir, said he, too, had no information about the issue. Despite repeated attempts, ITBP officials in Ladakh didn’t respond to The Tribune phone calls. “Yes, we apprehended three men of Chinese origin identified as Adil, Salamo and Abdul Khaliq inside the Indian territory on June 12. They were speaking Yarkandi language and we had no translator to understand their language. After preliminary questioning and formalities, we handed them over to the ITBP,” a senior Army officer had told The Tribune on June 30. The three Chinese men belong to the Uyghur community and speak the Yarkandi dialect. Yarkand is a county in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.had nabbed them near the Murgo post along the LAC. |
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Kishtwar residents join NCP
Jammu, July 2 Welcoming the new entrants into the party fold, Singh said the present National Conference-Congress coalition government had looted all resources of the state and had made the whole nation dance to their tunes.
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Three people were injured after a hand grenade exploded at yesterday’s encounter site in Mandoora village of the Tral area in Pulwama district today.
Taking note of the fact that hotels at the famous tourist resort Gulmarg are running without sewage treatment plants (STPs), the High Court has said it is “amazed” by the non-compliance with the Pollution Control Board (PCB) rules in this regard.
