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Sonia calls for women’s empowerment
Mehbooba: Trade across LoC to be facilitated soon
Public schools produce men of merit: Minister
AICC chief visits satellite township
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13 officers
transferred
Mir seeks public help for water conservation
HC finds no compelling reason to set aside acquittal
India’s approach rigid on Kashmir: Hurriyat
Minor riders let off after parents’ assurance
One held in bank scam
3 teachers found absent
Child dies after eating poisonous substance
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Sonia calls for women’s empowerment
Jammu, April 12 Addressing supporters of the mahila Congress at the police parade ground, Sonia asked women to contribute their might in ensuring a win for the Congress in the forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. She said women should stand up against social evils like female foeticide, which plagued the society. “Issues concerning women not only affect the society as a whole, but also have an impact on the future,” she said. Stating that the Congress had always laid emphasis on issues pertaining to women, she said the government was working on increasing reservation for women in various fields, including representation in the Parliament and the state legislatures. She said the government was also encouraging self-help groups for women. Old-age pension, concession in railway fares, schools for girls and special education schemes for girls were among the measures introduced by the government, she added. Sonia said the Centre had allocated Rs 4,500 crore for developmental activities in the state. The project to construct 4,000 dwelling units on the outskirts of Jammu, which would accommodate 25,000 persons, was making good progress, she added. Local leaders urged Sonia to tackle issues like inflation, which directly affected women. They demanded special packages for the uplift of SC/ST in border areas and an increase in reservation for women in Parliament from 33 per cent to 50 per cent. Union home minister Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, union minister for water resources Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz and All-India Mahila Congress president Dr Prabha Thakur were also present on the occasion.
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Mehbooba: Trade across LoC to be facilitated soon
Srinagar, April 12 She was addressing a daylong convention of PDP workers at Sopore today, this being the first public appearance after returning from Pakistan. The PDP has stepped up its mass contact programme ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. While the PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has been touring different parts of the Jammu region, including border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, his daughter Mehbooba has been concentrating on the Kashmir valley. Mehbooba said during her recent visit to Pakistan she was assured by the political leadership of that country that cross-LoC trade through Jammu and Kashmir would be facilitated by this year. “I am sure that during the upcoming Indo-Pak composite dialogue process, the modalities of cross-LoC trade would be finalised and trucks would start running on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road anytime”, she said. Mehbooba said the Government of India was also committed at the highest level to facilitate cross-LoC trade through the state. She said the PDP had suggested a two-tier mechanism to make the process of cross-LoC cooperation more comprehensive and result-oriented. “While at one level India and Pakistan will sort out the issues at the bilateral level, setting up of an intra-Jammu and Kashmir Regional Council involving elected representatives from both the sides can identify the areas for mutual cooperation to facilitate free flow of people, goods, ideas, services and cultures between the two parts of Kashmir”, she said. The idea had been put forth during her recent Pakistan visit. This, she said would be such an arrangement that could eventually lead to transforming the state into a politically stable and economically vibrant entity. The PDP president said her party was credited with ensuring an effective role for the mainstream political parties in the Kashmir resolution process. “The exceptional reconciliatory policies adopted by the PDP-led Coalition Government after 2002 elections brought the state government, for the first time, on the vanguard of the Kashmir resolution process”, she said. |
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Public schools produce men of merit: Minister
Jammu, April 12 Addressing alumni of Scindia School here this evening after releasing a coffee table book “The Fort Pupils’, Jora, alumni of Sainik School, Chittorgarh, and St Stephen’s College, said Sainik Schools prepared students largely for the Army and other defence forces. “However, public schools like the Scindia and the Doon have done tremendously well,” he said, adding that “Sainik School are more physical in their approach as compared to public schools.” Earlier, Scindia School principal NK Tiwari in his address described the institution as a legacy that developed leadership qualities among the students. “Away from home students pursue their academics and extra co-curricular activities at Scindia School and then they carve a niche for themselves wherever they go,” he said. Not confined to plain academics only, the boarding school offers a wide array of activities ranging from sports and adventure to students’ exchange programme with 80 countries. Tiwari in his exhaustive speech informed the gathering that the school affiliated with the CBSE was definitely an elite school but not the elitist in the country. Earlier, the Scindia Old Boys’ Association (SOBA), Jammu, president Bipin Sharma welcomed the gathering. Later, Scindia School also started registration for the new academic session. Among others the function was attended by former Chief Secretary Dr SS Bloeria, Rajinder Singh Pawar, SOBA Jammu secretary Col DS Trehan and Dr Nira Singh.
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AICC chief visits satellite township
Jagti, Nagrota, April 12 However, she didn’t respond to media queries on rising inflation and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s proposal at the recent Pugwash conference of dual control over Jammu and Kashmir. Much to the chagrin of mediapersons, who were waiting for her arrival here since early morning, Sonia after her 20 minutes stay at the site, returned to Jammu where she addressed women workers. A chopper carrying Sonia Gandhi, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Union Water Resources Minister Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz besides Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai landed here at 11.18 am. She straightaway visited one of the under construction blocks and then project officials briefed her about the satellite township. Thereafter, the AICC Chairperson, Patil, Azad and Soz planted Chinar saplings before flying back to the winter capital at 11.38 AM. The township, scheduled to be completed before September, 2009, would have 176 blocks comprising 4218 flats for a population of 25000 people. Conceived by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, the UPA government has sanctioned construction of 5242 flats at different places across Jammu region at a total cost of Rs 345 crore for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. The government has already allotted 754 flats in the first week of March to such families at Muthi and Purkhoo.
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13 officers
transferred
Jammu, April 12 Joint director, Industries and Commerce (development), Jammu, S.C.
Sawhney, has been posted as additional secretary to government, Rural Development Department in place of Arun Kumar Sharma, who has replaced Munshi Muzaffar Hussain, general manager, DIC, Srinagar, has been transferred and posted as joint director, Industries and Commerce (Development), Kashmir against a vacant post. J.S. Tandon, who was awaiting orders of adjustment, has been posted as joint commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Jammu on deputation. Verinder
Slathia, assistant commissioner (revenue), Udhampur, has been sent on deputation with the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for a period of two years. Rajesh Sharma, assistant commissioner (revenue), Relief (migrants), Jammu, has been posted as assistant commissioner (revenue), Udhampur, in place
of Slathia. Anil Kumar Gupta, project officer, Watershed, Jammu, has been posted as general manager, J&K State Women’s Development Corporation against a vacant post. Ghulam
Mohi-ud-Din, manager, Kamraz Rural Bank has been posted as development officer, J&K State Women’s Development Corporation, Kashmir, in his own pay and grade. Inam-ul-Haq
Sidiqui, secretary, J&K State Advisory Board for the development of Pahari speaking people, who was also holding additional charge of the post of secretary, State Advisory Board for the development of Gujjar and
Bakerwal, has been posted as secretary, J&K State Advisory Board for the development of Gujjar
and Bakerwal. Syed Shahzada Bano, secretary, J&K State Women’s Development Corporation has been posted as secretary, ST, SC and OBC Development Corporation in her own pay and grade against a vacant post. Mushtaq Ahmad, administrative officer in the office of commissioner of vigilance has been posted as secretary, J&K State Women's Development Corporation in his own pay and grade. Raj Kumar
Kundal, assistant director, Rural Sanitation (Rural Development Department) has been moved to the Finance Department for further posting in the Excise and Taxation Department. The government has also accorded sanction to the pre-dating of the promotion of 24 IAS officers of 1995 batch in the selection grade of IAS with effect from January 1, 2008. Meanwhile, the government has also ordered the transfers and postings of 35 officials in the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department with immediate effect. |
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Mir seeks public help for water conservation
Srinagar, April 12 Speaking at the second phase of workshop on “Community Participation in Rain Water Harvesting and Water Conservation”, at Baramulla today, Mir sought cooperation from people in conservation of water for the posterity. Senior scientists and experts in rain water conservation from outside the state, local senior engineers and people from the rural areas of Rafiabad participated in the workshop. The workshop will also deal in private partnership building in community-based water conservation and rain water harvesting project, regional and local problems of water supply and contamination, public capacity building in rural water management and participatory micro-watershed project planning and implementation strategies. He said such workshops would also be conducted in district and tehsil levels. He said availability of water was pre-requisite for sustenance of life on the globe. He made an appeal to the people to inculcate a sense of commitment and belonging for conserving natural resources and participate in a big way in Rain Water Conservation Programme in the area. He told the officers and engineers to formulate integrated projects for creating water resources by dovetailing activities of horticulture, irrigation and PHE resources and programmes. The two-day conference-cum-travelling workshop was inaugurated at the SKICC here yesterday, in which expert delegates from various parts of the country participated. In his inaugural address here yesterday, the minister underscored the need for conservation of rainwater as the whole world was concerned about the global warming, which in future is a prediction for water crisis in the world. Mir said to avoid any conflict over water, this forum would recommend various suggestions for water management and rainwater harvesting in the state.
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HC finds no compelling reason to set aside acquittal
Jammu, April 12 Madhu Sharma had died an unnatural death on October 10, 1996 within seven or eight months of her marriage with respondent-Bal Krishan. Suspecting foul play, her father lodged a complaint in a police station, Akhnoor. After conducting proceedings, a case under Sections 306/498-A RPC was registered against the respondents. The trial court came to conclusion that prosecution failed to prove that the respondents had treated the deceased with cruelty and in view of that matter presumption under Section 114-C of the Evidence Act, was not attracted in the case. It accordingly acquitted the accused. B. S.
Slathia, AAG appearing for the state submitted that the trial court had erred in holding that the provisions of Section 114-C of the Evidence Act were not attracted because once the commission of suicide was established, a presumption would arise that the same had been abetted by husband or any other relative of the husband. While dismissing the criminal appeal filed by the state, the HC judge observed that “I have considered the submissions of state counsel and do not find any substance in it because perusal of Section 114-C of the Evidence Act indicates that the presumption under the section would arise against the husband or any of his relative only if it had been proved that the husband subjected his wife to cruelty as defined in Section 498-A of Ranbir Penal Code,
Svt. 1989.” HC further held that “perusal of the definition of cruelty as it so appears in Section 498-A of Ranbir Penal Code, demonstrates that mere harassment of a woman may not amount to cruelty unless such harassment was with a view to coercing her or any other person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or was on account of failure by her or any person related to her to meet such demands.” |
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India’s approach rigid on Kashmir: Hurriyat
Srinagar, April 12 Shah said this, while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the opening of the district headquarter office of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) at Kulgam, in south Kashmir today. He said the separatist leadership had agreed to hold tripartite talks despite of UN resolutions. He added that Hurriyat’s “political struggle” would continue till the issue was resolved in accordance with the aspirations of the people. He said there was international pressure on India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. Shah said the process of opening district offices had been initiated, following Shah’s return to the Hurriyat fold on January 14, urging all separatist organisations to unite under its umbrella. The decision to formally launch these offices in Kashmir, in the first instance, had been started in Kashmir that would be followed by similar units in Jammu and Ladakh regions, he added. While several groups have joined hands with the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference leading to the setting up of district offices in Srinagar and a couple of others, the hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has been averse to the unity fold.
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Minor riders let off after parents’ assurance
Srinagar, April 12 Traffic police, SSP, Shabir Ahmad said they launched a drive against traffic violators, especially two-wheeler riders, and challaned 50 persons. He said a large number of themwere caught riding without helmets. The decision of the police to take minor offenders to their office to inform their parents has been welcomed by many. “We have tried to tackle it in a lenient way but under the legal boundaries. Their parents came to us and gave assurance that they would ensure that their children did not drive vehicles again,” a traffic official said. |
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One held in bank scam
Srinagar, April 12 Official sources said some bank officials were also among the suspects, but declined to reveal
if any of them had been arrested. The sources said a party of CBI officials from Delhi assisted by the local team were probing into allegations that the bank had given loans running in crores to several persons whose identities and addresses had turned out to be fictitious. Sources said a list of suspects had been drawn and it carried 78 names. They said the officials had nabbed suspects after raids in the Rainawari and Qamarwari areas in the old town. |
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Rajouri, April 12 Sources in the district administration told TNS that tehsildar, Darhal, visited Government School at 11.30 am and found that headmistress Fareeda Begum, teachers Abdul Razak and Bua Chowdhary were absent from the school. — TNS
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Child dies after eating poisonous substance
Srinagar, April 12 Official sources said 12 children during their lunch break went to the house of one Ghulam Hasan Dar, a local resident known to them, and ate some poisonous substance used to kill rats. The children were rushed to the hospital. One Zahid Ad Khande (4) died later. The administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. “It was only when they felt sick that locals realised that something was wrong. The delay in discovering the matter deteriorated matters for them,” a local said. |
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Jammu, April 12
