Jammu, August 19
Even as a large number of state government employees today proceeded on a two-day strike, fissures have already started to appear in various employee unions as some of the associations have called off their strike call. Nearly 4.50 lakh employees under the banner of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) had threatened to go on a two-day strike, but many employee associations disassociated themselves from the strike call and continued their work as usual.

The All Public Sector Employees and Workers’ Federation, Jammu, today disassociated itself from the strike call and hailed the decision of the Cabinet sub-committee of converting the cost of living allowances (COLA) into DA in favour of the PSU employees.

People in the Jammu region had to face various hardships as they remained in perplex about the status of the strike.

Mohammed Gafoor Dar, member of the JCC, said: “The strike in Jammu province was a complete success as staff of most of the state government offices in the region remained on strike. However, the impact in Srinagar was partial as some employee organisations there went in an agreement with the government.”

The JCC had been demanding the immediate implementation of the state Cabinet decision taken on February 19, in which it had agreed to provide the benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to the state government employees.

The employees have also been demanding the removal of discrepancies in the SRO 93, 20 per cent HRA, enhancement of retirement age to 60 year from 58 years, conversion of cost of living allowance (COLA) into dearness allowance (DA) and 20 years of qualifying service for pension.

“Three months on, the government has failed to implement its Cabinet decision and even failed to hold a meeting in the first week of May with the JCC as promised by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” Subash Chander Verma, JCC member, said.

He said the striking employees would assemble near the exhibition ground on August 20 would hold a massive rally to show their strength to the state government.

Srinagar, August 19
After a meeting with Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather here last evening, the Joint Consultative Committee of employees called off the proposed two-day strike beginning today. The Joint Consultative Committee is spearheading the agitation for the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.

This was decided after an assurance from the Cabinet sub-committee headed by the Finance Minister that the government would constitute a committee to look into the issue of pay anomalies. The committee would address the issue within six months, an official spokesman said.

The meeting decided to sort out the pay anomaly issue of the employees appointed after January 1, 2006, by August-end. It was stated in the meeting that conversion of cost of living allowance into DA in favour of the Public Sector Undertaking employees was under active consideration of the government. The issue will be decided within two months.

Asking the employees to give up agitation, Rather said HRA was being rationalised. He said the government had already taken several decisions, including the implementation of recommendations, despite a resource constraint. He said all genuine demands of the employees had already been fulfilled and the Cabinet decision implemented in letter and spirit.

Other members of the Cabinet sub-committee who were also present include Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, Minister for PHE Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Minister for Industries SS Slathia.

Srinagar, August 19
The government intends to start MI-17 helicopter services for Gurez, Tangdar, Drass, Paddar, Machhail, Zanskar, Marwah, Warwan and other remote areas to provide a constant communication link, especially during the winter season.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said this while speaking to a deputation of the Polo Promotion Committee, Drass, here today.

He said the Union Ministry of Tribal Areas Development would be approached for support in this regard.

The Chief Minister said the matter of constructing a tunnel through Zojila Pass was being pursued vigorously with the Central authorities. “We are also looking for weekly helicopter services to remote areas by hiring big helicopters like MI-17,” he said. This would not only help airlift passengers and essentials, but also open these areas for tourism and sports, he added.

Announcing the first of its kind Chief Minister’s Polo Championship to be played at Drass every year, the Chief Minister said possibilities to start the championship this year after the month of Ramdhan itself would be explored. He said the event would be made a permanent feature in the coming years and besides inviting national teams, international polo teams would also be invited.

The Chief Minister said the government had flagged off development of rural and far-off villages as a focused area and steps had already been initiated to achieve the integrated and comprehensive development of all such areas along with cities, towns and district headquarters. He said while attention was being given to upgrading basic amenities in far-off villages, the focus was also on improving road connectivity and linking unconnected areas with the highways. 

Jammu, August 19
The government is gearing up to take a series of measures to decongest traffic in the winter capital, including making Interstate Bus Terminal (ISBT) operational and restricting idle parking of passenger buses at the old bus stand or on its peripheries.

The decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Jammu Divisional Commissioner (DC) Pawan Kotwal. The DC directed for issuance of early notification for making the ISTB operational.

“The BC road has become crowded because of plying of interstate buses from here, so I have asked the regional transport officer to divert all these buses to the Narwal bus stand. The RTO has assured me of quick action after he discusses the matter with the Transport Commissioner,” the DC said.

The ISBT constructed at Narwal with a capacity of about 300 buses is complete for past so many years but not being used. Earlier, it was constructed to shift the general bus stand of Jammu to this site, but because of the strong protest of the shopkeepers’ community, who feared losing their business, the matter got delayed.

The general bus stand of Jammu has now become chaotic because of the ever-increasing load from the interstate and intrastate buses and the parking of idle buses.

Kotwal also directed to start minibus services from the Narwal bus terminal to avoid inconvenience to the commuters. Kotwal said: “The interstate buses will ply from Narwal whereas the intrastate buses will keep plying from general bus stand.”

The meeting also decided to restrict the idle parking of intrastate route buses at the new bus stand at Khanpur near Nagrota bypass till it was made fully operational.

This bus stand will take care of the buses plying for Ramban and Banihal route - which is a busy route to travel to Srinagar. The Khanpur bus stand meant for Banihal and Billawar-route buses is also complete, barring some minor work.

Jammu, August 19
Members of the Jammu Joint Students’ Federation (JJSF) held a protest at GGM Science College here today against the state Board of School Education for changing the syllabi of Class 1 to VII in the middle of the session.

The JJSF members led by Partap Singh Jamwal, state vice-president of the federation, along with students of various colleges and schools burnt the effigy of the Education Minister and raised slogans against the education board.

Jamwal asked the government to review the decision to change the syllabus of various classes in middle of the session. He said all schools had conducted unit test I and II before the announcement of the new syllabi.

Jamwal said it was not possible for the students to cover the new syllabus when half of the session is over. He also said the syllabus of class III was totally different from the previous syllabus.

The JJSF urged Chief Minister Omar Abdhullah to intervene in the matter.

Jammu, August 19
The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Srinagar, comprising Justice (retd) GD Sharma and Rifat Aijaz, member, allowed a consumer complaint directing a payment of an assessed amount of Rs 13,33,650 to the complainant with an annual interest of 8 per cent after two months from the date of a receipt of the surveyor’s report till the final payment is made. The litigation expenses of Rs 10, 000 were also awarded in favour of the complainant.

M/S AR Enterprises dealing in pesticides secured a loan limit of Rs 19 lakh from J&K Bank, Sopore, and obtained an insurance cover for the stock in trade effective from April 3, 2005, to April 2, 2006.

During the currency of the insurance policy, an encounter between militants and security forces took place and the militants took a refuge in the second story of the insured building. The encounter ended when whole building along with the insured stocks were gutted in fire. An FIR was registered. Since the activities were covered under the terms of policy, a claim was lodged with the insurer and the surveyor assessed a loss of Rs 13,33,650. As the insurer failed to settle the claim within a reasonable time, a complaint was filed.

A preliminary objection was raised regarding the maintainability of the complaint that the Tariff Advisory Committee under the Insurance Act had issued a circular dated March 13, 2002, excluding damage caused to insured property if the same was the result of the action taken by the security forces in controlling, preventing or suppressing any act of terrorism.

The commission while allowing the complaint observed: “The complainant obtained the insurance cover for the protection of his property in the militancy-prone Sopore town. He paid a premium of Rs 150 to cover the risk of terrorist acts. At the time of entering into the contract of insurance, the complainant was not made aware that a loss or damage, cost or expenses of whatsoever nature directly or indirectly caused by, resulting from or in connection with any action taken in controlling, preventing, suppressing or in any way relating to action taken in respect of any act of terrorism shall be excluded.

In the present case, the building was set ablaze by the militants themselves and how higher echelons of the insurer can explain that the act of loss by fire was not caused by the militants but because of fire opened by the security forces on the militants in saving the lives of innocent civilians? The circular being unconscionable and opposed to the public policy has no application in any manner. The artificial bar imposed on the contract of insurance is unilateral in nature, unconscionable and against the public policy is struck down.”

Jammu, August 19
Gujjars have appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ask the Northern Command of the Army to revoke the order of eviction issued to them from traditional dokhs (pastures) in Reasi district of Jammu division.

Addressing a press conference here, the Gujjars, who have been asked by the security agencies to vacate their traditional pastures along with their livestock in five days, have threatened to go on an indefinite fast if the order was not revoked immediately.

The security agencies in the upper reaches of Reasi district have also given an ultimatum of five days to all Gujjar families to vacate the dokhs immediately.

A group of Gujjars from Reasi under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Gujjar United Front said they were being forced by the local security agencies to vacate six major pastures -- the popular dhoks Mangnad, Nadi, Burja, Pathri, Pathriyan and Jallandhar -- located in the upper reaches of Himalayas in the Shivalik range before August 23.

They said they had been using these dohks as pastures since centuries and this was for the first time that they were being forced to vacate the area.

The Gujjars sought the intervention of the Chief Minister and requested him to take up the matter with the Northern Command of the Army.

Srinagar, August 19
Doctors serving in rural areas will get extra incentives while district hospitals will have a CT scan and other diagnostic facilities to improve the rural health infrastructure, the state Assembly was informed today.

During question hour, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma said the government had undertaken an ambitious programme to equip all district hospitals with modern diagnostic machinery in a phased manner.

To begin with, the latest CT scan machines, each costing Rs 1.17 crore, would be installed in six district hospitals this year.

As part of encouraging medical services in rural areas, the government would increase incentives. Regular doctors would be provided extra incentives ranging from Rs 4000 to Rs 8000.

The government order (SRO 430) is also being amended to make it mandatory for health care employees to work for a minimum period of five years in rural areas.

The remuneration of doctors engaged on contractual basis under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) has also been raised from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000. — PTI

Srinagar, August 19
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today issued notice to the state government to file its reply by August 27 on a plea filed by police officials arrested in connection with the rape and murder of two women in Shopian earlier this year.

Hearing the criminal revision petition filed on behalf of the police officials -- SP Javed Iqbal Mattoo and DSP Rohit Baskotra, Justice Sunil Hali asked the state to file its reply by August 27.

Pressing for the release of his clients, counsel for the suspended police officers contended that they had been kept unnecessarily behind the bars despite extending all cooperation to the special investigating team constituted on the direction of the High Court to probe the case.

The bail plea of four police officials was rejected by a sessions court in Shopian which said it was "undoubtedly premature" to grant them bail as the probe was not complete.

Besides Mattoo and Baskotra, former Shopian SHO Shafeeq Ahmad and Sub-Inspector Gazi Abdul Karim were suspended on June 22 for their alleged involvement in destroying evidence relating to the rape and murder of Asiya (17) and her sister-in-law Neelofar (22) on May 30.

Counsel said the status reports submitted by the SIT had not thrown any light on the role of the policemen in the case.

Appealing for their release on bail, he said in a written submission that the sessions judge in Shopian had failed to appreciate that there was no material against the petitioners till date "and their continued custody is ex-facie wrong. He also said Baskotra was a patient of hepatitis and undergoing treatment at Delhi and Jammu for more than a year.

"As far as Baskotra is concerned there is no averment in the entire status report as to what steps he did not take in the investigation of the case," the submission said.

Counsel said the SIT formed in June had not been able to question either the victim's husband, Shakeel Ahangar, or brother Zirak Shah despite recommendations of the Jan Commission.

The Commission in its report had said there was clear indication suggesting enmity between Neelofar's maiden family and her in-laws. — PTI