J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

107 J&K officers may be sent to Centre
JAMMU, March 7 — Though the State Government has proposed to downsize the establishment and initiate steps to prune the “top heavy administration”, it has no plan of reducing the retirement age from 58 to 55 as had been suggested by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, last year.

4 militants killed on Gujjar's tip-off
JAMMU, March 7 — Four militants were killed by the security forces in border village of Amb in Samba sector today. Reports said that these militants had taken shelter in the house of a Gujjar soon after infiltrating from across the border. The Gujjar phoned the Telecommunication Department about their barging into his house.

Mirza Rashid files papers for RS seat
JAMMU, March 7 — Mirza Abdul Rashid, put up by the National Conference, today filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir.

107 J&K officers may be sent to Centre
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, March 7 — Though the State Government has proposed to downsize the establishment and initiate steps to prune the “top heavy administration”, it has no plan of reducing the retirement age from 58 to 55 as had been suggested by the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, last year.

The Finance Minister, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, who has proposed, in his Budget for 2000-2001 reduction in the size of the establishment told TNS that he planned to send top bureaucrats on deputation to the Centre.

He said over the years a situation has developed in which “we have several senior officers posted for carrying out the work which hitherto was being done by one officer.” In this context he cited the example of posts of principal secretaries and commissioners, special secretaries, additional and joint secretaries in various departments. He said this had hampered speedy disposal of cases and had burdened the state exchequer.

There are more than 107 IAS and IPS officers who could be sent on deputation to the Centre without filling the vacant posts and this could result in pruning the “top bureaucracy”.

The Finance Minister has also decided to ban on appointing substitutes to fill leave vacancies. He said that the vacancies available as a result of retirement were proposed to be “frozen” except in essential cases.

However, during question hour several members, including Mr Ashok Khajuria of the BJP, raised the issue of what they called “backdoor appointment” of youths in several government departments. Mr Khajuria alleged that children of legislators belonging to the National Conference, ministers and bureaucrats were provided government jobs without proper procedure.

The Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, intervening in the debate said that the government would shortly issue a White Paper and all the members of the House would come to know whether backdoor appointments had been made or not.

In reply to a question raised by Mr Piara Singh (BJP), the Chief Minister, said thefts of foundation stones was a usual practice in the state because the projects, for which the foundation stones were laid even by luminaries like Dr S. Radha Krishnan and Justice Hidayatullah, could not be executed because of resource crunch. His remark that the foundation stone Dr Abdullah had laid for construction of the office complex of the Regional Transport Office had been covered by moss. “Shukur Alah ka is foundation stone for gaas chade hein aur koyee isey utha key nahein legaya hain.”

During the zero hour the Panthers Party MLA, Mr Harsh Dev Singh, was supported by the CPM member, Mr M.Y. Tarigami, and NC member Syed Abdul Rashid when he said that the Public Service Commission had committed a breach of privilege by not submitting a copy of its annual workload to the Governor and the Assembly.

The Speaker, Mr Abdul Ahad Vakil, said the matter was serious and asked the Law Minister, Mr P.L. Handoo, to examine the matter and report to the House.

In the Legislative Council noisy scenes were witnessed during question hour when Mr Javed Shah (NC) said several government employees were in league with militants and they continued to draw their salaries even if they had crossed the border several times to bring arms and material from Pakistan.

The House was informed that 341 employees had been identified for having links with militants. Dr Abdullah intervened to inform the House that 131 government employees had been dismissed for their involvement in militancy.

When Mr Shah and Mr D.K. Kotwal (BJP) insisted that even those who had been jailed and suspended from service on the charge of having links with the militants had been reinstated, Dr Abdullah assured the agitated members that he would ask the Chief Secretary to examine the matter and the House will be informed about it.

The Legislative Assembly had an hour long debate on the Budget. Several Opposition members, including Mr Ram Chand Bhagat and Mr Prithvi Chand, appreciated the Finance Minister for having proposed a balanced Budget. However, Mr Tarigami, Mr Ashok Sharma (Cong) criticised the Budget proposals. Mr Mubarak Gul (NC) said despite acute cash crunch no fresh taxes had been suggested.

4 militants killed on Gujjar's tip-off
Tribune News Service and UNI

JAMMU, March 7 — Four militants were killed by the security forces in border village of Amb in Samba sector today.

Reports said that these militants had taken shelter in the house of a Gujjar soon after infiltrating from across the border. The Gujjar phoned the Telecommunication Department about their barging into his house.

The Telecom authorities informed the police. A joint operation was launched by the Army and the police. Militants opened fire on the security forces, the police returned the fire killing all the four on the spot.

An official spokesman said the security forces killed four militants in an encounter at Goran village early this morning during a search operation. Some arms and ammunition were also found.

Panic gripped the busy Hari Singh High Street this afternoon when militants hurled a hand grenade on a security force picket. However, the grenade missed he intended target and fell in the river Jhelum.

He said the security forces gunned down two militants Abdul Rashid Andarif Shah during an encounter at Dangernar Bandipora in North Kashmir last evening. Two houses were also damaged in the shootout. However, villagers alleged that the security forces fired mortars during the operation, causing damage to these houses.

He said one militant each was killed by the security forces in Baramulla and Shilvat Sumbal during a search operation last evening.

Militants threw a hand grenade towards a security forces picket at Bulbul Nowgam in South Kashmir last evening. However,the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside causing injuries to eight civilians and two police personnel, the spokesman said.

He said militants killed a surrendered militant Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh at Marhama while forces and militants exchanged fire at Mujgund early this morning.However,there were no reports of any casualties.

He said an encounter took place between militants and security forces during a search operation at Gundna this morning during which one militant was killed. One woman also died in the encounter, he said.

He said forces captured a self styled section commander of Hizbul Mujahideen at Prang Kangan today.

Mirza Rashid files papers for RS seat
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, March 7 — Mirza Abdul Rashid, put up by the National Conference, today filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Farooq Abdullah, Mr P.L. Handoo, Mr Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah, Mr Abdul Rahim Rather, Mr Mubarak Gul, Mr Mohammad Sharief Tariq, Choudhry Mohammad Hussain, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Syed Ghulam Hassan Geelani and Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Shah (Bukari) proposed his name.

Mir Abdul Rashid filed his nomination papers before Mr Mohammad Iqbal Ganai, Secretary, Legislative Assembly, who is the returning officer.

The last date for filing of nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha seat is March 14, 2000. Scrutiny of papers would be held on March 15. Withdrawals can be done on or before March 22 and if necessary voting will take place on March 29, 2000.