Rajouri, June 2
Ignoring the order of the Directorate of School Education telling all private schools to close down for summer vacations from June 1,a majority of the private schools have refused to comply with the orders and will be closing down according to their norms.

The Directorate of School Education on June 1 said it had informed all heads of the private recognised institutions falling in summer/winter zones of Jammu division to observe summer vacations (50 days for schools in summer zone whereas 10 days for those in winter zone) from June 1. It also said "in case of any default on the part of private recognised schools in the observance of the calendar of vacations, authorised by the government, shall attract action under the law.

Unfazed by the order, a majority of the private recognised schools here still are running beyond the deadline and will close for summer vacations in the second or third week of this month. Even the private schools are planning to cut short the duration of the summer vacations to 40-45 days, which again flouts the government order.

If the International Public School is most likely to close for 45 days summer break in the second week, Himalyan Education Mission School will close in the third week for 40 days’ summer break. Other private schools like Panorama Public School, Rajouri Public School and Taleem Ghar too will close for summer break in the second or third week of this month and the duration of vacations in these schools will be from 40 to 45 days.

Staff members of one of these private schools expressed helplessness to close down the schools as per the orders of the directorate. "Directorate should have given prior intimation for closing the schools. How can we close on one day’s prior information", he said, asking not to be named. "We have to give home assignments to the students and it takes some time. We cannot close down the schools at such a short notice".

Minister of state for education Manjit Singh said any private recognised school violating the government order on summer vacations would be strictly dealt with. "We are asking the chief education officers concerned to make a list of the private schools violating the government order on the date of closing and duration of the summer vacations. In case any private school violates the order, we can de-recognise that school".

Jammu, June 2
Fastening of seat belt while driving in Jammu is not enforced not that mishaps do not occur here, but because traffic cops are liberal and do not bother about helmets or seat belts.

Three persons riding two-wheelers and use of cellular phones while driving are common sights in winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, which does have not a single traffic light or signal across the city. Traffic cops, attired in blue, handle vehicular congestion amidst smoke and dust day and night without masks, while the public transport matadors blowing pressure horns ply hassle-free in the busy markets, as their drivers boast of ''greasing the palm of cops'' to escape traffic challan.

Admitting bribery was prevalent amongst the city traffic cops, a senior police official said on the condition of anonymity mentality of the citizens here had reached an extent they could escape challan through contacts with high -ups or simply by bribing the traffic cop.

'The youngsters befriend the cops in this city which has a strong social fabric,'' he explains laughing.

Residency Road, BC Road, Parade, City Chowk, Kacchi Chhawni and Pakka Danga are some places where an outsider often gets stuck with his vehicle as he is taken by surprise in these congested markets.

The Jammu Traffic Police had submitted a proposal to the state government to instal traffic lights at certain crossings but it was shelved some years back, a senior officer said.

Traffic Police DSP N Sonam said the lights were needed at certain points of congestion like on the Janipur Road, Vikram Chowk and City Chowk, while several unauthorised constructions needed to be demolished as those created bottlenecks at many places.

Pollution certificate being mandatory was another neglected area which needed to be implemented and regulated, he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has been issuing notices and guidelines to the Jammu Police to implement traffic rules and vehicular pollution norms in the city but to no avail.