Jammu, April 30
It is Darbar Move time again. The seat of the government — “the Darbar” — is again moving to Srinagar tomorrow morning after a six-month stay here in the city. Trucks are loaded with trunks and files and any movable stuff required for running the government from the summer capital of Srinagar.

The move, which was started 137 years ago by the then Maharaja considering weather conditions, is now a political compulsion owing to regional sensitivities of Kashmir and Jammu.

The Darbar defies economic logic but political compulsions have always prevailed over it. The exercise costs Rs 40 crore every year. But sources in the Civil Secretariat say the Darbar Move costs more than Rs 60 crore.

This despite the fact that the state has five lakh unemployed youths and empty coffers when it comes to paying over 4.50 lakh employees arrears as per the Sixth Pay Commission report.

The Darbar Move offices closed here today and would open in Srinagar on May 10. The transportation of official records and staff in a fleet of SRTC trucks and buses, including private carriers, cost Rs 10 crore, the sources said.

Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), Basharat Ahmed Dar maintained that the Darbar Move cost around Rs 40 crore to the state.

He said, “Every year the government spends Rs 4.50 crore on the carriage and transportation of official records and 7,000 employees, including judicial and police, while another Rs 30 crore is spent on boarding and lodging of employees.”

The sources also said every single Darbar Move employee, irrespective of his designation, got a special traveling allowance of Rs 5,000. Similarly, just before the Darbar Move non-gazetted employees under advance pay rule 14.26 of J&K Financial Code (volume I) were entitled to withdraw in advance an amount equivalent to their basic pay, they added.

Besides ministers, around 300 bureaucrats out of a total of 559 (including IAS and KAS cadre) would also move to the cool climes of Srinagar for the next six months.

Jammu, April 30
If the state formulates a legislation to allow legal donation as well as transplantation of human organs, kidney transplantation can be done in the state on cheaper prices.

Medical experts told The Tribune that not all could afford transplantation out of the state, but with proper laws, such human lives could be saved.

“An environment needs to be created by the government and doctors for the formulation of a legislation so that surgeries could be conducted in our state also,” Dr A Kumar, principal of the Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, said. He added: “We do have experts in our state, but in the absence of legal provisions, there cannot be any transplantation.”

“If the legislation provides for donation and transplantation, we can do transplantations at much cheaper prices,” Kumar said.

He said: At least 7-10 patients go outside the state for renal transplantation every month, while most of the people fail to get their kidneys replaced despite donors for want of money.” “It is high time the authorities concerned wake up and make concerted efforts for getting the legislation through,” he added.

Echoing similar views, HOD Medicine, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Dr Bharat Bhushan Gupta said: “Over the years there has been tremendous increase in the number of patients with chronic kidney disease and cirrhosis liver disease. In such cases, transplantation is the only hope, so the laws for organ donation and transplantation are need of hour in our state.”

Dr Rakesh Saraf, who is head of the Surgery Department, declined to comment saying: “Please speak to the administrator or principal of the hospital.”

However, GMCH principal Prof Rajinder Singh said: “There are no experts in our state who can do transplantation and, therefore, there is no such legislation.” On being asked if there is need for such laws, he said: “It is an issue on which the government has to make a decision.”

Social activist and founder president of Serving All Humanity Yearningly Over Globe, SAHYOG, Ashvini Jojra said: “It’s quite unfortunate that there is lack of political will over a sensitive issue that is directly related to right to life. In the absence of legislation, only poor are loosing their lives.”

“This issue exposes the government which makes tall claims over strengthening the health sector as one of the important sectors,” he said. “It’s also true that civil society never mounted pressure on legislation, now it is time we wake up the government from deep slumber,” he added.

“Our organisation will soon submit a vision document regarding this issue to the Governor, Chief Minister and the Health Minister,” he added.

Jammu, April 30
Even as the elections to local bodies have been postponed for six months the state government seems to be casual in decentralising power to the grass-roots level, as the coalition regime has not shown any intention to extent 73rd and 74th amendments of the Indian Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir.

While the 73rd amendment deals with panchayats, the aim of the 74th amendment is to render constitutional recognition to the urban local bodies by devolving powers. Although a bill to extend the terms of the Mayors of Jammu and Srinagar municipal corporations, from one year to two-and-a-half years, was passed in the just-concluded Budget session of the Assembly, no action has been taken to empower the local bodies in the real sense.

“Without the extension of the 74th amendment to Jammu and Kashmir, the local bodies cannot be made functional in the real sense,” observed Narinder Singh, a former Mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC). Interestingly, Narinder Singh belongs to the Congress but he questioned the intention of his own party’s government in giving mandatory powers to the local bodies. “I am of the strong opinion that without extending the 74th amendment to Jammu and Kashmir the local bodies cannot achieve their objectives of the third tier of the democratic system,” he said.

In August 2009, the state government had announced on the floor of the Assembly that the Jammu and Srinagar MCs would be fully empowered to serve people as per their expectations. It was also announced that city roads, health, education sectors would be brought under the purview of the corporations gradually. Even after nine months such assurances of the government remained only on papers.

“The government action to strengthen municipal corporations remained only announcements as nothing concrete has been done so far to decentralise powers to the grass-roots level,” Kavinder Gupta, a former Jammu Mayor, said.

He told The Tribune that as Mayor he brought the matter of strengthening local bodies to the notice of three successive chief ministers, namely Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah, but of no avail.

Gupta saw a nefarious design behind not extending the 74th amendment to Jammu and Kashmir. “The ruling elites don’t want the strengthening of grass-roots democratic institutions in the state due to their fascist mindset,” he said. It was obligatory on the part of the government to extend the amendment but it seemed to be least concerned performing its constitutional obligation.

Echoing similar views, Narinder Singh blamed Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who holds the charge of the Urban Development Department, for eroding the powers of the municipal corporations.

The 74th amendment in 1992 had given constitutional recognition to the local bodies with the overall objective of decentralisation and devolution of powers to the grass-roots level. 

Jammu, April 30
Justice Virender Singh of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today dismissed a writ filed by residents of areas around the Jammu Civil Airport and directed the Airport Authority of India to take up the project of the expansion of the existing runway on a war-footing and complete it as soon as possible since it was vital for the purpose of economic development of the region.

For the purpose of the expansion, the state on a requisition of the Airport Authority of India had initiated the acquisition process under provisions of the State Land Acquisition Act for acquiring the land in the vicinity of the airport by issuing a notification dated November 24, 2005.

The petitioners, in a representative capacity, questioned the validity of the said notification. On the failure of the Advocate-General to inform whether the state was contemplating the formulation of a rehabilitation policy for the settlement of those who were to be uprooted from the dwelling houses and land because of the acquisition, the High Court vide order dated May 31, 2008, restrained the state from demolishing their residential houses, but allowed the authorities concerned to proceed with the project. Against the said order, the Airport Authority of India preferred a Letters Patent Appeal before the Division Bench, which was dismissed. 

Jammu, April 30
While Sikhs from world over will be participating in the May 12-14 tercentenary celebrations of Baba Banda Bahadur’s victory over Muhgals in Sirhind, the community members from this state, his birthplace, will be holding separate functions following a sudden division among them here.

The State Gurudwara Board led by Tarlochan Singh Wazir and the Dera Nagali Sahib headed by Mahant Manjit Singh had earlier agreed upon a joint and large ‘Fateh March’ from Rajouri to Sirhind beginning May 11. But now Mahant Manjit Singh group, which has a large following in the Sikh community here, has announced a separate celebration plan spread over various parts of Jammu division from May 11 to 18.

The division between the Sikhs has the undercurrents of a battle for political oneupmanship between the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (DSGPC) headed by Paramjit Singh Sarna and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. The Mahant group is considered close to the Sarna group.

Though both factions had earlier announced a joint schedule when Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar visited the state last month, trouble arose after Punjab Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah visited the state. He spent much time with the state Gurdwara Board members and announced a revised schedule. Under the revised schedule, the route of the ‘Fateh March’ was changed to go via Gurdaspur and Amritsar.

This did not go well with Mahant Manjit Singh group, which felt its view was not taken and Langah wanted the march to pass through his constituency in Punjab for political gains.

Avtar Singh Khalsa, a spokesperson for the Mahant group, told The Tribune that under the revised plan instead of marching to Sirhind the Sikhs would celebrate the achievements of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur in a function in Rani Talab on May 11, Vijaypur on May 12, Nowshera (Rajouri) on May 13, Udhampur on May 14, Digiana in Jammu on May 15 and Poonch on May 18.

According to the programme announced by Langah, a strong cavalcade would begin from Rajouri on May 11 in the form of a nagar kirtan. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would flag off the march from Jammu to Amrisar via Gurdaspur on May 12 and it would reach Sirhind on May 13 evening.

Jammu, April 30
Even as the police has registered FIRs against some persons for raising provocative slogans at Bhaderwah yesterday, the personal security officer (PSO) of state Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Sheikh Abdul Rehman is still absconding. Jasvinder Singh, PSO of Rehman, had fired some shots in the air without any provocation and it was following the firing that people turned violent and resorted to throwing stones.

Meanwhile, the Bhaderwah administration has cancelled all permissions given to the SP for holding public meetings in the areas after yesterday’s incident.

As reported earlier, tension gripped Bhaderwah town yesterday when some SP leaders passed provocative remarks on the issue of the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Some persons also resorted to throwing stones and sloganeering. The situation was controlled only after senior police and civil officers reached there and pacified both factions.

“Keeping in view the prevailing situation, we have withdrawn permission given to SP leaders to hold public meetings in Bhaderwah,” Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Bhaderwah, Yasha Mudgul told The Tribune said. She further informed that the SP leaders had been asked to convene a closed-door meeting.

On the absconding PSO allegedly involved in unprovoked firing, the SDM said the police authorities had been asked to produce the PSO before the Bhaderwah Police for further inquiry. Meanwhile, former state president of the BJP and former MLC Daya Krishan Kotwal said it appeared to be a deliberate attempt to vitiate the atmosphere and generate communal tensions so as to gain a foothold in some other sections of society. 

Jammu, April 30
The official announcement of the appointment of Vice-Chancellor of Central University, Jammu, is awaited, but many organisations and agencies have decided to show their resentment against former Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Prof Amitabh Singh Mattoo’s likely appointment to the post.

The Dogra Liberation Front, Jammu Joint Students Federation (JJSF), People’s Revolutionary Movement, Bar Association and the Chamber of Commerce have given a Jammu bandh call for tomorrow under the banner of the Jammu Central University Morcha (JCUM).

They demanded that the government should appoint a local Vice-Chancellor for the new central university. While speaking to The Tribune today, Rampal, president of the Dogra Liberation Front, said by appointing outsider on this coveted post by ignoring local people, the central and state governments would do injustice with the well-educated and deserving professors of Jammu province.

He said: “We will fight for the cause of Jammu and will defeat the nefarious designs of anti-Jammu forces.”

Rampal added: “We have got the central university after a long battle, and if government will appoint an outsider or valley-based person as Vice-Chancellor, then we will loose all benefits. If local person will be appointed as the Vice-Chancellor, only the educated local youths will get more employment opportunity in the university.” Pushivernder Singh, state president of the JJSF, also expressed similar views.

Meanwhile, the BJP and the Panthers Party have also given their support to the bandh call. However, the Rasa Javedani Literary Society, Jammu Kashmir Students’ Union, National Sikh Front and the Jammu State Student Morcha have welcomed the reports about the likely appointment.

Jammu, April 30
On the last day of the Darbar in Jammu, the state government today assured to give relief to Shabnam’s family on Monday.

Her husband, a former militant, Shafaqat Mohi-ud-Din Kuchey today told The Tribune that the DIG, Jammu-Kathua range, Farooq Khan, had assured them that his wife would be given a job in the police as they had given an application in this regard earlier.

“At a meeting with the DIG, we were assured that a job will be provided to my wife and other demands will also be considered carefully,” said Kuchey.

Fed up of visiting various government offices to get monetary relief, Shabnam had jumped before the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s cavalcade at the Civil Secretariat here on April 16. She was taken to Omar’s residence where a senior bureaucrat had assured her to provide some relief for their rehabilitation, but nothing concrete took place.

When the government “failed” to fulfil the promise made to the aggrieved woman, Shabnam along with her husband and two children threatened that they would immolate themselves outside the Relief Commissioner’s office, if the government did not keep its promise of providing them relief. However, the police foiled their attempt on April 19.

Kuchey further said for almost eight years, they were waiting to get the monetary relief as promised under the policy for those militants who had surrendered. Shabnam said: “Let us see what happens on Monday.Earlier, the government had assured us to give relief a number of times, but nothing came out.”

However, repeated attempts to contact DIG Farooq Khan proved futile.

Srinagar, April 30
The Army foiled an infiltration bid and killed three heavily armed militants while trying to sneak into the Indian side in Machil sector in Kupwara district in the wee hours today.

“Our alert jawans noticed some militants moving near the LoC trying to infiltrate into our side,” Srinagar-based defence spokesman Lt-Col JS Brar said.

He said the militants were challenged and asked to surrender, but they started firing on the Army. “The fire was retaliated and three infiltrators were killed,” he added.

The Army had launched a search operation in the area to foil infiltration attempts by militants, Brar said adding that arms and ammunition were seized from the slain militants.

After a lull in militancy-related incidents last year, the Army this

year predicted a surge in infiltrations and an increase in militancy-related violence in the Kashmir valley.

Sources say despite India’s objection the terror infrastructure was still intact in Pakistan and a large number of trained terrorists were waiting to infiltrate. “Still there are 42 training camps operating across the LoC and out of which 34 are still active. There are around 20 launching pads with 400 terrorists waiting to sneak into the Indian side,” said Brig Gurmeet Singh, Brigadier General Staff of Srinagar-based 15 corps.

The Army says arms and ammunition seized from the slain militants also supported the view that “the Pakistan army and intelligence agency continue to provide support to the militants”.

Meanwhile, sources said with the melting of snow at the higher reaches the Army expected an increase in infiltrations from across the LoC and measures had been taken to check these.

They said the militants were using sophisticated equipment and were relying mostly on navigational systems like GPS and satellite phones to infiltrate.