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Employees’ Strike
Patients, students suffer due to stir
Upper House drops controversial Bill
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Inter-district Recruitment
Assembly
Governor calls for quality research
Another exam, another faux pas
A few weeks left for exams, admission to ETT courses still on
Fewer teachers in govt schools
Talks only way to resolve Kashmir issue, says minister
NC MLCs stage walkout over Urdu’s neglect
3 boys killed as minibus falls into gorge
Attack on Cong leader’s house
2 held with poppy
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Employees’ Strike
Jammu, April 5 The employees, who are on strike, have announced a complete shutdown of all government offices for one week. Finance Minister AR Rather announced late this evening that the government was forced to take the extreme step due to the non-cooperative attitude of the employees and after exploring all options. The Finance Minister said the government was already under a burden of Rs 1,800 crore after implementing the revised pay scales. He had earlier in the day revealed in the Assembly that an all-party meeting convened could not find a solution as the PDP and the Panthers Party did not participate in it. Meanwhile, work in state government offices was virtually paralysed today when the Civil Secretariat staff also joined the strike of government employees here today. As soon as the proceedings of the Assembly started, members of the Secretariat Employees Union (Non-gazetted) staged a sit-in opposite the Legislature Complex and raised anti-government slogans. The employees were demanding the release of arrears and enhancement in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. All government offices, including government schools, were also closed as the teachers also joined the strike. Nearly 4.5 lakh agitating employees have been demanding the release of arrears of the Sixth Pay Panel recommendations. The strike was called after talks between the employees and the government failed to break the ice as the latter cited its empty coffers. There was a heated debate in the Assembly also.After the Question Hour, members of the BJP, the Panthers Party, the CPM and the Jammu State Morcha (JSM) asked Minister of Finance Abdul Rahim Rather to give a reply on the issue.The Speaker,Mohammad Akbar Lone, warned the members not to flout the norms. The Finance Minister urged all parties to give their suggestions on resolving the issue as the Centre had refused to give money to the state to settle the issue. “The government needs nearly Rs 4,300 crore to pay the arrears. At present, the government does not have the financial resources to meet the demands of employees. But they are continuously fixing a deadline for the government to release their arrears, which is not possible due to the prevailing fiscal health of the state,” Rather said. Taking the Opposition to task, Rather told Harsh Dev of the Panthers Party that none was present from his party during the recently held all-party meeting on the issue. “Now, you are raising this question here in the Assembly.If you are so concerned about the employees, then you should have been present at the meeting,” said Rather. Ashok Khajuria of the BJP also raised the issue. Meanwhile,Jagmohan Sadhotra, a leader of the Joint Consultative Committee(JCC) of government employees said:“The emergency services in hospitals have been exempted from the strike. Apart from this, all government offices, schools and other departments are completely closed,”. While the Civil Secretariat employees have announced a two-day strike, the JCC has announced a seven-day shutdown till April 11. Another forum of the government employees, the Employees’ Joint Action Committee, has also called for a four-day strike. |
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Patients, students suffer due to stir
Srinagar, April 5 The only son of 60-year-old Amina, a resident of Chrunda village in Uri, had an appointment today with a doctor at the SKIMS, Soura, where he has been undergoing treatment for the past six months, but he could not meet the doctor. “To reach the hospital, I had to travel 100 km and now I have to return. But the worst thing is that we could not meet the doctor as my son’s pain has increased for the past few days,” Amina told The Tribune. Amina was not alone, but hundreds of patients who came from far off areas of the Kashmir valley for check up at the SKIMS and other major government hospitals across Srinagar city had to return dejected as the doctors and other hospital staff was on strike along with state government employees. Barring emergency services, all other hospital services across the state have been suspended due to the strike and common people are suffering the most. “I have come from Pulwama district for treatment, but doctors are on strike. They should not have gone on strike as it is a matter of life and death for many patients,” said Ghulam Rasool. Though the strike had no affect on the emergency services in the hospital, all patients were not able to find a doctor in the emergency wards as they were jam-packed. The employee unions have threatened that if the government fails to fulfil their demands the emergency services would also be stopped. “For now there is no strike in the emergency services, but if the government fails to fulfil our demands we will be forced to snap these services also,” said Khursheed Alam, a leader of the Joint Consultative Committee, an amalgam of various employee organisations. Students have also been hit badly as schools across the valley had opened recently after 100 days of winter vacation that was extended due to cold weather conditions. “On the one hand the government has passed the right to education Bill and on the other all government schools across the valley are shut. Children are the worst sufferers,” said Mumtaza, whose son studies in a government school. |
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Upper House drops controversial Bill
Jammu, April 5 PDP MLC Murtaza Khan had introduced the controversial Bill in the Upper House on March 8. The Bill provided for the disqualification of a woman from being a permanent resident of the state on her marriage with a non-permanent resident and on the termination of the marriage of a non-permanent resident woman with a permanent resident man. It deprives such women of the state of the right to own and inherit immovable property, get state government jobs and other privileges. The Bill had nearly brought the erstwhile PDP-Congress coalition regime in 2004 to the brink of collapse. As soon as Question Hour ended this morning, Panthers Party MLC Rafiq Shah, on a point of order, sought to know the status of the Bill No. LC-4, 2010, which was introduced by Murtaza Khan on March 8 in the presence of Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla during the current Budget session. Seeking the attention of Deputy Chairman Arvinder Singh Micky, Shah wanted to know the status of the Bill. Was it covered by Section 9 of the state constitution as it directly pertained to basic, civil and political rights of women, said Shah. If so, it amounts to amendment to Section 9 of the state constitution and thereby became an amendment Bill, he added. The Panthers Party legislator further wanted to know whether there was a restriction on such a Bill to be introduced in the Upper House within the ambit of Section 9. At this stage, Congress MLC Ravinder Sharma referred to Section 147 of the constitution saying any Bill seeking an amendment to the constitution should be first passed by the Legislative Assembly. “The Bill invites an amendment and thereby it becomes the prerogative of the Legislative Assembly,” he said. Amid din Congress and Panthers Party legislators described the Bill as anti-Hindu and anti-Muslim. Micky also referred to Section 9 and Section 147 of the constitution. He also felt that any Bill that invited a constitutional amendment had to be first introduced in the Lower House. After going through the constitutional provisions the LC Bill No. 4 of 2010 stands dropped and it would be non-existent in official records, said Micky. While members of the NC and ministers remained silent over the issue, PDP legislators, including Murtaza Khan, were conspicuous by their absence. |
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Inter-district Recruitment
Jammu, April 5 As soon as the Bill was introduced in the House, Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone adjourned the Assembly and announced April 9 as the next date for discussing the issue. Annoyed over the decision of the Speaker to adjourn the House without discussing the Bill, the main Opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), termed the action as a glaring example of “undermining” democratic institutions. Today was the last day of the budget session of the Assembly and the government had promised to introduce the Bill that was already approved by a government committee. As Congress, the coalition partner in the government, has been opposing any move to ban inter-district recruitment, the ruling National Conference was looking for a way out to resolve the crisis. Throughout the day, hectic parlays between leaders of the Congress and National Conference continued to evolve a consensus on the issue. Congress Ministers and MLAs separately convened their meetings to devise a strategy on the issue. The controversial Bill was listed as item number 4 in today’s business in the Assembly. Interestingly, the Opposition PDP that had announced to boycott the rest of the budget session, today also returned to the House to support the Bill to cash in on differences between two coalition partners. When the Bill came up for discussion in the House in the morning session, the Speaker deferred it as the last item of today’s business, so that it could be tabled in the evening session. Suspense on the Bill continued till evening, when Speaker allowed Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar to introduce it for discussion. As soon as the Minister introduced the Bill, Speaker announced adjournment of the House and extended proceeding of the Assembly up to April 9. “We will discuss this Bill on April 9,” Speaker announced and gave no time to any member to raise any objections on the Bill. The PDP members, who especially came to support it, were also surprised over decision of the Speaker. Although, the Speaker adjourned the House after tabling of the Bill, members of Jammu-based political parties, especially those belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) community resorted to shouting slogans. The BJP, Panthers and JSM members, while terming action of the government as anti-SCs, continued to shout slogans in the House. It is important to mention here that the SC and ST communities have been opposing the move because the Bill, if enacted as law, would debar candidates from one district to apply for recruitment in other districts. |
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Assembly
Jammu, April 5 The objective of the Bill was to provide effective protection of the rights of women, who are victims of violence of any kind occurring within the
family and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto, guaranteed under the Constitution. Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development Department Nasir Aslam Wani moved another Bill, the objective of which was to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000. This Bill aimed at extending tenure of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations. Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather moved three Bills, including one to amend the Jammu and Kashmir State Finance Commission Act, 2006, another to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Excise Act, Samvat, 1958 and a Bill to provide for regularisation of the employees appointed on ad hoc, contractual or consolidated basis. Other Bills passed in the House include a Bill to consolidate the laws relating to generation, transmission, distribution, trading and use of electricity and generally for taking measures conducive to development of electricity industry. This Bill aimed at bring reforms in the power sector. |
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20 hurt during refugee front’s protest
Jammu, April 5 As soon as they reached near Shalamar Chowk, the police tried to stop them. When the agitators did not disperse, the cops cane-charged them and
used water cannons to disperse them. Sources revealed at least 20-25 tear gas shells were lobbed , which not only left some of the protesters injured, but also caused injuries to some shopkeepers and cops. The protesters raised anti-government and anti-Chief Minister slogans and threatened the government with dire consequences, if their demands were not accepted soon. Finally, the police foiled the protesters’ attempt to gherao the assembly. A few of them were also rounded up and released later. A leader of the front said they had been living in unhygienic conditions in slums and colonies for the past 61 years. “No claims have been registered for the movable and immovable properties which we left in the PoK,” said Chaudhary Dev Raj, senior vice- president of the front. However, a senior police officer said the protesters violated orders passed by a duty magistrate under Section 144 of the CrPC, and so were mildly cane-charged. He added no protester was injured. Even traffic police personnel, including senior officers, were deployed. |
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Governor calls for quality research
Jammu, April 5 The Governor, who is the chairman of the institute, suggested that important research findings should be published in collaboration with leading national and international publishers for securing wider readership across the globe. He emphasised the need for attracting talented research scholars from within the country and from the SAARC countries to undertake research projects. He observed that a comprehensive entrance test should be designed for admission to the institute to attract the best available talent. The Governor asked for the preparation of a detailed calendar of academic activities of the institute for the next 2-3 years so that the results could be measured. He also stressed the importance of seminars, being organised in each of the three regions of the state, on varied vibrant topics. Referring to the proposal for construction of a new building for the institute, the Governor observed that such a complex would need to be in complete harmony with the surroundings and overall aesthetics of the area and, therefore, should be got designed by an experienced architect well-known for mountain architecture. He added that the complex should house the required infrastructure, including a well-stocked library,a computer laboratory and other logistics to facilitate quality research and other academic activities. |
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Another exam, another faux pas
Jammu, April 5 The English paper-B was earlier scheduled for March 19 but was cancelled because it was leaked. Though the BOSE re-conducted the paper yesterday, it was full of grammatical mistakes. For instance, question 1 sub part (e) of the paper (set number HSHRJMX 2074) begins with an incorrect sentence, which was “In our democratic system, there may be differences in many spheres but we rise about them”. Another sentence in the same paragraph was “If we cannot remove united and the country does not remain strong with whom shall we have differences”. The other sentences of the paragraph were “When we have fighting for the freedom of our country, it did not mean only political freedom.” and “Since of them are openly our enemies, but many become unintentional paws of others.” In question 2 sub part (f) in which students were asked to make the passive voice of the sentence, which was written as “She shave the visitors the rose garden”. In sub part (g) of the same question, the students were asked to change the narration of the sentence that was “He said, Please don’t came tomorrow as I won’t he here”. Similarly, there were grammatical mistakes in question 3 sub part (b), (C) (i) and in (d) (ii). Talking to The Tribune, most of the parents, whose children appeared in the exam, expressed dismay over basic grammatical errors in the paper. A parent said, “The careers of our children are at stake because people who do not know the basic language are conducting exams.” “If our children commit such mistakes in the paper, will they forgive them and give them marks?,” he asked. The parents appealed to Education Minister Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed to look into the matter. However, BOSE chairman Prof Desh Bandu Gupta said after receiving a written complaint today, he forwarded the question paper to experts. The BOSE, it may be stated here, would be adopting a new examination model from the next academic session to overcome
paper leak. |
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A few weeks left for exams, admission to ETT courses still on
Jammu, April 5 Unbelievable, but true. This is what is happening with the ETT courses. Admission to these courses is on despite a few weeks left for exams. Though norms make it obligatory that there should be at least 180 working days in an academic year for holding the annual examination, all one is required to do is to shell out some extra bucks to get the degree. What could be termed as a mockery of “quality education”, the last date for admission in the 2008-10 session came to a close on July 26, 2009, and subsequently the exams were fixed in April. Similarly, the admission process for the session 2009-11 got over on March 17 this year and the annual exam in October 2010. Indicating deep-rooted corruption in the J&K Board of School Education and the Education Department, an advertisement published in a daily on March 28 invited candidates for admission for the sessions 2008-10 and 2009-11. Usually an ETT course requires two years for completion, but there are some institutes that have been luring candidates to get degrees within a few months. One such advertisement given by the Shastri Memorial Educational Training Institute, that has its colleges in Jammu and Kathua, says candidates can get direct admission in both sessions. The advertiser has given at least three contact numbers in the advertisement and assured the candidates of “direct admission” on nominal fees. Earlier, The Tribune had reported on February 7 last year that despite court’s ban on admissions to all ETT colleges in 2007, students were admitted. However, students had expressed resentment after they could not appear in the exam. Sources told The Tribune that a well-oiled nexus of agents was operating in connivance with the officials of the school board, the Education Department and several ETT institutes. According to them, the students appearing in these courses willingly dole out money as demanded by such agents and institute owners. “Even students prefer to pay double the amount as they get degrees within a desired time span without any hurdle, as most of them are from outside the state and prefer to sit at home,” the sources said. They added, “Most of the candidates don’t attend classes and appear only in annual exams.” “The admission process for general and management seats is long over in all 272 ETT institutes across the Jammu region,” said joint secretary, registration, school board, SS Salathia. Asked about the advertisement, he expressed ignorance. |
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Fewer teachers in govt schools
Jammu, April 5 The protesters were reportedly agitated over the lack of staff and infrastructure in local schools. “Only one teacher is posted at High School at Kota in Gangota for 300 students,” the protesters said. “Similarly, there are just two teachers in Government High School in upper Joura Khurd, which has 250 students. Higher Secondary School at Halam in Thatri tehsil does not have adequate infrastructure,” they added. General secretary of the front Kuldeep Rao said: “This has been hampering the studies of students.” |
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Talks only way to resolve Kashmir issue, says minister
Srinagar, April 5 He said all parties, including separatists, should have positive thinking and approach to settle the Kashmir issue permanently and added they had to create a conducive atmosphere to achieve this goal. Describing the youth as future of the state, he appealed to parents to provide proper guidance to them. He said the youth arrested for stone throwing would be released after conducting investigations. He appealed to people to participate in the civic and panchayat elections and elect honest candidates. Sagar asked the Rural Development officials to clear all pending bills of labourers in five days and prepare work plans for lanes and drains of the area. |
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NC MLCs stage walkout over Urdu’s neglect
Jammu, April 5 Trouble erupted this morning during Question Hour, as NC legislator Mohammed Rashid Qureshi accused the coalition regime of slackness in promoting Urdu in the state. Jora, a Congress minister, in a bid to counter Qureshi, asked what the NC, which ruled the state for 27 years, did to promote the language. Infuriated over Jora’s remark, NC MLCs shouted slogans against him and then staged a walkout. Earlier in his reply, Jora said various government institutions in the state were using the Urdu language, including the judiciary. Not only this, the Urdu language was being used by departments like revenue and police as well, he said, adding that departmental exams in combined state government services were also being conducted in Urdu. |
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3 boys killed as minibus falls into gorge
Jammu, April 5 It said the driver of the minibus (JK-11-4369) lost control over the vehicle at a blind curve and the vehicle collided with a tanker (JK-11-5718). It fell into a gorge claiming the lives of three youngsters, Shahnaz (14), Talib Hussain (18) and Mohammad Farooq (17). The police said the bus was coming from the Baba Ghulam Sham University to Rajouri. “No student of the university was travelling in the ill-fated bus,” said Kewal Krishan, Rajouri police station SHO. A senior police officer said a rescue operation was launched and the bodies were extricated from the ill-fated vehicle. He further said the injured were also shifted to a hospital in Rajouri. |
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Attack on Cong leader’s house
Srinagar, April 5 On being challenged by Mushtaq Ahmed, Personal Security Officer(PSO) of the leader, the militants opened fire.The PSO returned the fire,killing one of the militants, Aslam Kalas, alias Janbaz of the Hizbul Mujahideen, and injuring another Later, the injured militant was arrested by the police and admitted to hospital here. Meanwhile, the police has given a cash reward and a one-rank promotion to Mustaq Ahmad who repulsed the militant attack.
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2 held with poppy
Jammu, April 5 They were interrogating accused driver Aliaz and Bulla, to get information about others involved in the illegal practice, it added. Jajjer Kotli SHO Ajay Bhat claimed that they had seized the largest-ever narcotics in a week in the state.
— TNS |
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