J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Lawyers clash in Kashmir court
Srinagar, November 26
Work in the lower courts in the Kashmir valley came to a standstill today as judicial employees and members of the Kashmir Bar Association clashed in the court premises here resulting in injuries to two lawyers and smashing of window panes of several buildings and vehicles.

Azad reviews facilities for Haj pilgrims
Srinagar, November 26
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has stressed the need for adequate facilities for Haj pilgrims, who are scheduled to leave here from December 3. He was addressing a high-level meeting here to review the arrangements for this year’s Haj pilgrims yesterday.

Reorganise J&K, says Panun Kashmir
New Delhi, November 26
Lamenting that the government has initiated talks with separatists, but failed to include Kashmiri Pandits in measures to seek a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio, Panun Kashmir, a representative body of the minority community, has recommended a reorganisation of the state for a peaceful resolution.

Regulate traffic: directs HC
Jammu, November 26
With chaos continuing to prevail on the roads in Jammu and Kashmir where the traffic police, transport department and the pollution control board have miserably failed to enforce the traffic laws, the state high court has issued fresh directions for immediate setting up of pollution testing centres and implementation of traffic rules to restore orderly movement of vehicles.

Lawyers clash in Kashmir court

Srinagar, November 26
Work in the lower courts in the Kashmir valley came to a standstill today as judicial employees and members of the Kashmir Bar Association (KBA) clashed in the court premises here resulting in injuries to two lawyers and smashing of window panes of several buildings and vehicles.

President of the Judicial Employees Union (JEU), Abdul Salam Dar said the union had called for a strike today to protest the alleged misbehaviour of lawyers during a function organised by it yesterday to felicitate Chief Justice Bashir Ahmed Khan on his assuming office.

Members of the KBA resented the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig at the function whom the JEU had invited in his capacity as the law minister.

Mr Baig had to beat a hasty retreat as the members of the KBA shouted slogans against him claiming his presence tantamounted to political interference in the affairs of the judiciary. They even raised pro-independence and anti-government slogans.

Today’s clash occurred when the members of the JEU came out from a meeting and raised slogans in favour of the chief justice and were confronted by about 60 lawyers affiliated with the KBA shouting slogans against them.

In the clashes, both sides used stones and furniture articles resulting in injuries to two lawyers and smashing of window panes of the sessions court. Two cars also suffered damage in the melee following which the police rushed to the scene and restored order, but no arrests were made.

KBA vice-president Mohammad Abdullah Pandit said his association resented the presence of the deputy chief minister at the function as they did not to permit the court premises to be used for political purposes.

The injured lawyers were identified as Ghulam Rasool Rah and Bashir Siddiqui.

Meanwhile, speaking at the function, Chief Justice Khan called for bringing more transparency in the judicial system and ensuring timely disposal of cases pending in various courts. — PTI

Azad reviews facilities for Haj pilgrims
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 26
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has stressed the need for adequate facilities for Haj pilgrims, who are scheduled to leave here from December 3. He was addressing a high-level meeting here to review the arrangements for this year’s Haj pilgrims yesterday.

The Chief Minister was informed that 9300 pilgrims are scheduled to undertake the pilgrimage. The Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Muzaffar Hussain Baig, Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Peerzada Mohammad Syed and other senior officers also attended the meeting.

The Chief Minister asked the Divisional Commissioner to immediately start work on Haj House at Bemina on the pattern of Bangalore Haj House.

Mr Azad also reviewed the arrangements made at the Tourist reception Centre (TRC) where a temporary pre-fabricated hall is being constructed. He issued orders for completing the hall

The Chief Minister also instructed that adequate staff of Home Guards and volunteers should be deputed at the TRC where all Hajis are scheduled to assemble before their departure.

The weight of luggage which Hajis are allowed to carry has been increased from 25 kg to 35 kg. From Jeddah to Srinagar, they are allowed to carry 45 kg in addition to 10 kg of handy baggage.

The Chief Minister advised the authorities to ensure timely and proper distribution of “Abi Zum Zum” to pilgrims when they return after performing Haj.

The Chief Minister advised that adequate board and lodging arrangements for pilgrims of Jammu, Kargil and Ladakh be ensured.

The Chief Minister advised Haj Committee to prepare a Haj flight schedule which may be communicated to all district headquarters.

Reorganise J&K, says Panun Kashmir
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 26
Lamenting that the government has initiated talks with separatists, but failed to include Kashmiri Pandits in measures to seek a solution to the Kashmir imbroglio, Panun Kashmir, a representative body of the minority community, has recommended a reorganisation of the state for a peaceful resolution.

Pointing out that Kashmir is not a homogenous entity and that the interests of the peoples of Jammu, Ladakh and other hill areas too need to be acknowledged, it was mentioned that ironically while opinions are being sought from across a wide spectrum, Kashmiri Pandits are being secluded from the dialogue process.

Addressing a seminar here today, Dr Ajay Chrungoo , Chairman, Panun Kashmir, said that despite acknowledging that the Hurriyat had no control over the ground situation in the troubled state, the government chose to initiate a dialogue with them, but when an alternative perspective was attempted by any other group, they were asked to prove their representative nature.

“Why does the government try to scuttle any attempt made to offer an alternative solution,?” he questioned. Critical of the government’s policy of keeping the Pandits out of any dialogue, he said a unilateral discourse was going on and all other alternatives were discouraged.

Making a case for the reorganisation of the state, where the Jammu and Ladakh regions will stake claim to becoming independent states, Prof Balraj Madhok said, “it is time to face the fact, Kashmir is going to be divided…sooner or later. It is a real tragedy that traitors are being appeased, and the nationalists are being ill-treated”.

Dismissing the possibility of Indo-Pak peace he said, “There can be no peace with Pakistan. Pandits should stand up and reclaim their land because we are today facing a crisis of nationalism and secularism”.

Indicating that Ladakh too wanted to opt for independence, Mr Thpstan Chhewang, MP from Ladakh said, “Ladakh has made its point clear…now we must unite and coordinate our functioning to make an action plan for the reorganisation of Kashmir”.

Dr Subramanian Swamy, former Union Law Minister advocating the reorganisation of the state said, “Article 370 was intended to maintain a certain religious composition’ in the state, but with Pandits having being forced into exile, any government has the right to scrap it”.

Reiterating that the rights of the ethnic minorities must be recognised, Dr Ramesh Raina of the Kashmiri Samiti said there was a perfect case for the reorganisation of the state, where the aspirations and expectations of the minorities were respected so that they can reclaim their homeland.

Regulate traffic: directs HC
Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 26
With chaos continuing to prevail on the roads in Jammu and Kashmir where the traffic police, transport department and the pollution control board have miserably failed to enforce the traffic laws, the state high court has issued fresh directions for immediate setting up of pollution testing centres and implementation of traffic rules to restore orderly movement of vehicles.

A Division Bench consisting of the Chief Justice, Mr B.A. Khan and Mr Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir, while taking a serious note of the traffic chaos, have ordered strict observance of traffic laws.

The court has directed minister of Consumer Affairs and the Transport Commissioner to take immediate steps to create the CNG infrastructure in the state.

While relaxing for six months the direction to take off 15-year-old commercial vehicles from the roads, the court has ordered the Transport Commissioner to issue notices to the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP informing all operators that 15-year-old vehicles would not be allowed to enter the territorial limits of the state and that the vehicles would not be allowed to ply without fitness and anti-pollution certificates one week after the notice. The IGP (Traffic) shall, thereafter, stop all such vehicles from entering into the state’s limits.

The court has ordered the transport commissioner to set up 30 pollution testing centres at Srinagar and Jammu within 10 days. The chairman of the pollution control board shall also take steps to equip these centres with standard testing machinery.

The court has ordered the DGP, Managing Director of the state transport corporation and all head of departments to ensure that the departmental fleet of buses, trucks and other vehicles possess fitness and pollution check certificates within one month.

The IGP (Traffic) has been directed to ensure that two wheeler riders wear helmets and prosecute them in case of violation of the law.

The court has also directed the police to take immediate action against those who were indulging in the sale of kerosene for being used in diesel-operated vehicles.

Unrecognised schools to be locked

Srinagar, November 26
The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered the closure of unrecognised private schools in the Kashmir valley.

All the chief education officers of Kashmir division have been directed by the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) to ensure immediate closure of such private schools which are working without permission from competent authority.

The officers have been asked to furnish the action taken report and compliance report to the Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, by November 30 and December 2, 2005, respectively. — UNI