Jammu, February 17
The state government has decided to appoint special judges, one each in Jammu and Srinagar to expedite the trial in corruption cases.

This is apparently being done to ensure that the cases are taken to their logical conclusion and the trial does not get delayed.

Disclosing this here last evening while addressing valedictory session of the seminar on ‘Responsive Governance-Issues and Perspectives’, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “We plan to appoint special session judges one each for Srinagar and Jammu to expedite the trial of corruption cases.

The seminar organised jointly by state Vigilance Organisation and J&K Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration.

The Chief Minister said his mission was to ensure people centric, citizen-oriented governance responsive to the needs and welfare of the people across the state.

He said, in the democratically run societies and nations, the importance of a people oriented and responsive governance cannot be over emphasised.

Referring to transparency in governance, he said a responsive administration presupposes greater openness and transparency in its functioning and informed public participation by the citizenry in achieving constitutional goals.

He said to ensure transparency in governance the state Right to Information Act was being appropriately amended to make it identical to the Central Act.

The Chief Minister said the focus of the government has been on introducing systematic changes and healthy work culture.

He said that timely completion of the projects without any compromise on quality is a challenge, which could be achieved by good governance only. The time bound completion of works makes it possible to avoid time and cost over run.

The Chief Minister said to improve overall governance in the state, a comprehensive scheme of incentives and disincentives has been introduced for the government officials, who are the key players in the system.

He said Chief Minister's Gold Medal with a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh and a certificate is given for honesty, integrity and efficiency and rewards are also being introduced for honest and efficient contractors and engineers for timely completion of projects while maintaining quality.

Similarly, Chief Minister’s medal for whistle blowers is also being given to discourage malpractices and corruption. He said anti-corruption law in the state has been strengthened under which ill-gotten property of proven corrupt officials is confiscated.

He said during the last five years a number of steps have been taken to curb corruption and in the last two years the percentage of proven cases has gone up to over 90 per cent. He said all these decisions have sent a right signal across the state.

Central Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha, Chairman J&K Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public Administration S. S. Bloeria also addressed the seminar.

Talwara (Reasi), February 17
Concerned with the increase in the number of cases of suicide and fratricidal killings by jawans, the Army has decided to incorporate psychological test as an essential part of the recruitment process in the Armed forces.

“On a trial basis this process would start in the month of April,” director of recruitment, Colonel Pardeep Dhaul, who has been assigned the job to conduct recruitment in the entire Jammu region comprising 10 districts told The Tribune.

“If the trial proved successful then the psychological test would be made an essential part of the recruitment procedure”, he said and admitted that steps should be taken to solve the problem of suicide and fratricidal killings by soldiers.

Army officers were of the view that psychological tests at the time of recruitment would help the defence authorities to single out the candidate possessing “negative psychological traits” at the initial stage.

“It is too early to say what would be the procedure of conducting the psychological test. Everything would be finalised after only after the trail proves successful,” Colonel Dhaul said and informed that presently the selection process was confined only to written and physical tests.

The defence authorities have constituted a committee comprising experts from the Defence Institute of Psychological Research and some recommendations of this committee have already been accepted by the defence authorities.

This committee had recommended the introduction of “selection system of jawans” which would take into account the psychological strength of candidates at the time of recruitment.

Furthermore, this committee also recommended that yoga be taught to the soldiers. It was due to the recommendations of this committee that the Army authorities had been adopting new techniques on a “trail basis.”

Colonel Dhaul said this time, the recruitments would be conducted on the basis of an already set procedure but the process would be changed next time.

Recently, at a seminar in Jammu, some experts had suggested the conducting of psychological tests before recruiting jawans.

Participants in the seminar also suggested that jawans should be taught to convert stress into “positive stress.”

Experts said this makes a jawan alert to fight and ward-off any eventuality. They said various yoga centres had been set-up where jawans would be enrolled.

Srinagar, February 17
Jammu and Kashmir High Court (HC) has listed a case against Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad filed by a suspended forest officer following allegation and counter allegation by petitioner's counsel and state advocate general.

Hearing the case for about four-hours, the single bench of the High Court comprising Justice Hakeem Imtiyaz said the case may be listed for hearing again after two weeks.

When the case came up for hearing, former general manager State Forest Corporation, Ghulam Hassan Marazi's counsel Mohammad Yousuf Bhat sought to know why the case was transferred to Justice Hakeem's court when it was first heard by a single bench comprising Justice Bashir Ahmad Kirmani.

But when the Court informed Bhat that the case was assigned to this court on the instructions of the Chief Justice of the state, he said he has no objection and would argue the case in any court.

Bhat alleged that his client was attached with the general administration department and suspended from service after he refused to accept the “unfair” demands of the brothers of Chief Minister.

He alleged that the Chief Minister had malafide intentions in attaching Marazi and constituting the Kundal committee to benefit his brothers.

Bhat sought directions from the court that the grounds on which the Chief Minister ordered the attachment of the official should be presented before the court.

He alleged that Ghulam Mustafa Bhat and Sajjad Ahmad Bhat, brothers of the Chief Minister, had made a representation before the State Forest Corporation (SFC) that marking of trees in certain compartments should be done and then the work be allotted to them with 100 per cent raise without any tendering process.

However, the Managing Director of SFC forwarded the letter to his client who rejected the application on the basis of illegalities.

Arguing further the counsel claimed that Chief Minister on a representation of contractors association of Doda directed commissioner secretary, Forest to discuss the matter with him at the earliest.

However, Marazi in his draft letter pointed out that 33 lakh cft in Doda region were held by the contractors, including Abdul Majid Wani, MLA Doda (14 lakh cfts), 2.53 lakh cft with Ghulam Mustafa Bhat and 1.8 lakh cft with Muhammad Yaseen Wani. — UNI

Jammu, February 17
People in Jammu and Kashmir are watching with cautious optimism the general elections being held in Pakistan tomorrow.

With all the main political parties in the fray spelling out their priority for a peaceful relationship with India, there is lot of expectation across the state that the elections there would lead to durable peace.

India and Pakistan were supposed to had moved very close to reaching an agreement on Kashmir. The National Security Advisor, M.K. Narayan had also said on record that the things were cooking up and in an advanced stage.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has also said on several occasions that the leaders of the two countries were close to an agreement but for the situation over there.

While there is already a broader consensus within India about long-term peaceful relationship with Pakistan, so far the political parties there were singing different tunes.

If one party tried to sound reconciliatory towards India, others would accuse it of betraying the national interest.

However, the situation now seems to have changed with all the political parties in their manifestoes pledging to carry forward the peace process with India.

The Pakistan People’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharief), the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaidi Azam) that supports the President, Pervez Musharaf, the Muhajir Qaumi Movement and Awami

National Party have been quite clear and unambiguous about forging a peaceful and trustworthy relationship with India. All of them have even said they will not allow Pakistani soil to be used against the neighbour.

In this backdrop whichever party forms the government in Pakistan after tomorrow's general elections, there is all likelihood that it will carry forward the peace process to its logical conclusion.

This has already led to some optimism in Jammu and Kashmir, among both the secessionist as well as the mainstream political parties. At the same time there are apprehensions about fair and peaceful polls in Pakistan.

Jammu, February 17
Boosted with the return of Ajatshatru Singh, son of veteran Congress leader Karan Singh, in the National Conference camp, the party leadership seemed to carry out more such inductions into the party in the near future in order to win the Assembly elections due for October-November 2008.

The NC has already weaned away Vikas Dutt from the Congress and Romesh Mottan from the PDP.

As far as Ajatshatru was concerned, two factors are stated to have motivated him to rejoin the NC, which he had left in May 2003.

It was for the first time that he had got a berth in the Cabinet headed by Dr Farooq Abdullah between 1996 and 2002. The first is that Singh felt totally isolated in the Congress.

As a scion of the Dogra rulers and as a former Cabinet minister, he expected to be associated with every activity of the Congress.

As the fear of isolation increased, Singh according to sources close to him, had apprehensions that he may not even get the Congress ticket for contesting the next poll from the Nagrota constituency from where he had won in 1996 and lost in 2002.

Though he had announced at the time of joining the Congress in May 2003 that he resigned from the NC as he felt that a regional party could not bring development in the state, he felt suffocated as senior Congress leaders kept him at an arms length.

However, Congress spokesman Ravinder Sharma said, “Ajatshatru Singh would neither visit the PCC headquarters nor participate in any function organised by the Congress. His contribution in strengthening the Congress during the past five years has been zero.”

He said Singh devoted his time in looking after the Hari Niwas Hotel and the Jammu wing of the Delhi Public School. Informed sources said another factor responsible for Singh’s return to the NC was that his wife Ritu Singh prevailed on him to rejoin the party.

NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah respects Ritu Singh and when he learnt about the level of disillusionment of Ajatshatru with the Congress, he persuaded Ritu to motivate her husband to return to the NC with the promise that he would be fielded as a NC candidate from the Nagrota constituency.

Evidently Ritu was present at the function where her husband was inducted into the NC. Sources said Ritu was not in favour of her husband quitting the NC in 2003, but when the lost power in the 2002 elections, Dr Karan Singh persuaded his son to join the Congress.

Udhampur, February 17
The decision of Ajatshatru Singh to desert the party and rejoin the National Conference (NC) has been termed as a “severe blow” to the Congress especially, in Udhampur and Reasi districts.

Facing the dearth of potential candidates to take on the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and the BJP in the district, the Congress had finalised its plan to announce Ajatshatru Singh as the party candidate from Udhampur to use influence of the erstwhile “Royal Family” in the entire belt in the coming Assembly elections.

“Ajatshatru has shattered our plan by joining the NC,” disclosed a senior Congress leader on the conditions of anonymity, adding, “The party had decided to utilise the influence of the family of the erstwhile Dogra rulers to make inroads in the Rajput vote bank of the Panthers Party.”

Ajatshatru was the one and the only potential candidate with the Congress who, due to his family background, was competent enough to tackle the Panthers Party.

Jammu, February 17
After being forced to leave their entire property behind them in the valley, more than three lakh Kashmir Pandits, who migrated to other parts of India in search of a better and safe future, find themselves a cheated lot.

After remaining in exile for more than 18 years, the community rue that the promise that were made to them during and after their exile from the valley stand unfulfilled.

“If you look at the figures, you would find that majority of the educated youth of Kashmiri Pandits are unemployed,” said Chaman Lal, a displaced Kashmiri Pandit.

Kashmiri Pandits said they have been cheated as the successive state and Central governments have failed to fulfil the promises that were made to them.

Speaking to The Tribune, Agnishekhar, Chairman of Panun Kashmir said, “We have been let down under a deliberate design of the government as after 18 years of exile from our homeland Kashmiri Pandits stand a marginalised community.”

He further said while the political parties in the state, including the Peoples’ Democratic Party, the ruling alliance partner in the state, are contemplating the safe return of militants, who had crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control to take arms and ammunition training, then why the community which was deliberately made the victim to the turmoil in the valley is being neglected.

“We were the worst sufferers of the turmoil, we paid through our nose and had to face wrath of terrorist as we were the flag bearer of India in the valley and still the central and state government has failed to take care of the community,” he added.

Ashwani Chrangoo, president of Panun Kashmiri Movement said, “Eighteen years in exile and still no employment package has been announced for displaced Kashmir Pandits.”

He said, “Living a life of a refugee that too in his own state is the worst form of torture one can be subjected to.”

Jammu, February 17
The displaced Kashmiri Pandit migrants who had left the valley after armed insurgency broke in, would soon get the possession of the newly-constructed 256 two room flats.

After their mass migration from the valley 18 years ago, these Kashmiri Pandit migrants have been living in government buildings and small camps.

Minister for rural development Mula Ram who visited the construction site of the 256 two room flat in Purkho migrant camp, inspected the construction work of the flats and said these flats were almost ready to be handed over to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

Earlier, the minister dedicated a primary health centre equipped with X- ray and ultrasound facilities, besides, a latest pathological laboratory to residents of Purkhoo area.

The public health centre set up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh by the migrant relief organisation would cater to the healthcare needs of residents in general and the inmates of the Purkho migrant camp in particular.

Mula Ram congratulated the camp inmates for having the latest diagnostic facilities at their doorstep.

Jammu, February 17
President of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and MP Mehbooba Mufti has said the landmark pro-people political and developmental initiatives pioneered by the PDP had transformed the scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, forcing the exploitative politicians to run for cover.

“The politicians who have all along been banking on dubious means for their survival are unnerved by this new political realisation and their frustration is now vivid,” she said.

Addressing a public meeting at Nagrota today, Mehbooba Mufti said the recent contradictory statements dished out by top National Conference (NC) leaders had exposed the inherent contradictions within the party and also depicted the “desperation and frustration” that had overtaken its ranks.

‘While on the one hand, NC patron Farooq Abdullah is trying to upstage his son from the state’s political scene, on the other hand, he is desperately trying to shift the blame of the tragedies that have befallen the state mostly due to NC’s wrongdoing on others.”

She said bereft of any agenda, the NC leadership had turned into a politically bankrupt and publicly discredited lot, which clearly reflected in their malevolent utterances and hysterical disparage.

Jammu, February 17
Mushrooming of brick kilns on the outskirts of Jammu region is wreaking havoc to the environment here. As to meet the growing demand of bricks, hundreds of kilns have mushroomed up at the outskirts of Jammu region.

The land, which was once fertile, with people cultivating paddy, maize, peas, etc has now turned into barren land.

These kilns work round the clock to produce more bricks, thus they not only go on adding pollutants to the environment but also scoop out soil from the cultivable land.

These kilns use electric motors to suck water from the ground, trees are cut down and plastic bakelite wastes are used as fuel to fire the clay bricks.

To make bricks these kiln owners scoop the upper layer of the soil, which is the most fertile part of the land, when it gets removed the land becomes barren,” said environmentalist Preetam Singh.

He said, “In the absence of any strict guidelines, these brick kilns are continuously exploiting the ground water and are adding dangerous pollutants to the atmosphere.”

Hundreds of acres of cultivable fields have been converted into barren land due to the continuous excretion of clay from these fields.

“Fertile, cultivable lands are plundered by the brick kiln owners, many farmers find no other option other than to sell their land at a throw away price and leave the village,” said Madan Lal Sharma, a farmer in Saroal village in Bari Brahmna at the outskirts of Jammu city.

The villagers, who live in the vicinity of these kilns, rued that due to being battered all the time by the smoke belching out of the area, majority of them have developed breathing problems and lung diseases.

“Majority of the villagers have developed various breathing complications and lung diseases, as they inhale toxic smoke coming out of the chimneys of these kilns,” said a doctor at a local hospital in Bari Brahmna.

The villagers here are also angry with the fact that these brick kilns have failed to provide employment to locals as majority of the labourers working there have been brought from other states.

These kilns have not only failed to provide employment to the locals, but have also dealt a death blow to the traditional brick making industry, which used to function only during summer, whereas these modern brick kilns operate throughout the year.

Srinagar, February 17
An organisation of Gujjars and Bakerwals in Jammu and Kashmir today alleged that the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party were following anti-tribal policies and warned of a poll “boycott.”

“We will boycott elections in the state if some of the legislators of ruling PDP and opposition NC continue anti-tribal policies in the state,” Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar Bakerwal joint forum Haji Shamsher Ali Boken said here.

“The PDP and NC should shun their anti-tribal Gujjar policies or face wrath of scheduled tribes of the state,” he said.

The body was reacting to media reports that 10 legislators belonging to PDP and NC led by Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi last evening to demand Scheduled Tribe status for Pahari speaking people in the state.

Dismissing the demand of Pahari speaking people for ST status, Boken claimed Paharis were neither tribal nor nomadic in character and were not socially, economically and educationally backward.

“The demand of Pahari speaking people is merely based on language despite that dialect or language is not any criteria to declare any class as ST,” he said. — PTI

Srinagar, February 17
A local court here has granted interim bail to two people accused in sexual exploitation, rape and murder of a teenage girl in the downtown.

Earlier, the chief prosecuting officer (CPO) opposed the bail plea of the accused stating that they were involved in a heinous offence.

Granting bail to accused at this stage will affect investigations in the case because on the basis of their disclosures, a police party had gone to Jammu. This will provide the accused opportunity to tamper with the witness, he argued.

However, the Chief Judicial Magistrate granted interim bail to accused in the case filed by the Forum Against Social Evils (FASE) in the sexual exploitation and subsequent murder of Aaliya.

The court gave interim bail to Imtiyaz Ahmad Matoo and Meraj-ud- Din Mandoo who were booked under section 342 RPC, 32/NDPS act and 5/PITA for aiding and abetting Sahiba alias Gypsy alias Aabida of Lal Bazaar, the main accused in the case. The CJM said the bail should not be withheld as a measure of punishment.

Application for the grant of bail was allowed and the accused were granted interim bail till February 29 on conditions that they will remain available with the investigation agency, the court said, adding that the accused shall not directly or indirectly make any attempt or endeavour to influence the prosecution witness and they shall not leave the territorial limits of the state.

“If during the course of investigation it appears to the concerned in-charge officer that continuance of the accused on bail is going to thwart due course of law, he shall be at liberty to approach the court of CJM for appropriate orders,” he said. — UNI