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Protesting PDD daily wagers again lock Commissioner
Proposed denotification of areas
Rail restoration work to be over in fortnight
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Legislative Council
Youth killed in head-on collision
MA-I (Hindi) students protest early conduct of exam
DD, Akashwani staff observe strike
Varsity students stand third
Upgrade sports infrastructure in state, says
Governor
Class XI student’s body fished out
JCO injured near LoC in Poonch
Job fair at Chenani in December
Bandh call evokes mixed response in Valley
JOB Plan
Omar for cordial police-public ties
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Protesting PDD daily wagers again lock Commissioner
Jammu, November 24 The protesting workers are demanding the regularisation of the services of around 3,000 workers of the department who have completed seven years of service. Meanwhile, the agitating PDD workers got the support of the Provincial Power Employees Union (PPEU) here today. After deciding to support the cause of the PDD workers, Shakti Gupta, president of the PPEU, said, “If the state government does not regularise the services of daily wage workers, who have completed seven years of service in the department, we will also go on strike.” Tarun Gupta, president of the Daily Wagers’ Association, said, “Senior officers have told us a number of times that a meeting with the Chief Minister will be fixed, but the meeting never happened. So, we again decided to lock the building today to lodge our protest.” Expressing gratitude to the PPEU for its support, Tarun added, “The PPEU is a large union having nearly 2,000 members. With their support, our agitation will get strengthened.” He added that at present a daily wage worker was getting a meagre daily wage of Rs 110. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who returned from Mussorie yesterday, did not meet the agitating workers outside the Civil Secretariat here. The PDD workers, who had already met Minister for Power Shabir Khan, were hopeful that the Chief Minister would listen to their grievances, but in vain. Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister BB Vyas had assured the agitating PDD workers that their meeting with the Chief Minister would be arranged. It may be mentioned here that the PDD was virtually being run by 9,950 daily wage workers, who are performing all kinds of jobs, including the supply of electricity and collection of revenue. The agitating workers had already served an ultimatum on the government to take a final decision immediately, otherwise, they would intensify their struggle. Earlier, the protesting workers had snapped power supply to the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch last year. They also locked the Power Development Commissioner in his office on November 19.
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Proposed denotification of areas
Jammu, November 24 The worst fear is that if the state government goes ahead with it, the move would eventually render the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) ineffective. “The Army’s lines of communication are through urban centres as in the case of Srinagar and the suburbs. In case of attacks on convoys carrying troops and supplies, the Army will not be able to react independently as it would not be within the ambit of the AFSPA,” sources in the Army inform The Tribune. Furthermore, it is felt that Army personnel will be subjected to legal scrutiny for actions in areas that are outside the purview of the DAA and subsequently the Army would be involved in fighting HR and related legal cases for every incident. Not only this, militants will make the non-DAA areas as their stronghold and operate with impunity from there, say the sources. Once outside the purview of the DAA, such areas will turn into a safe haven for militants who will enter neighboring districts and take refuge in areas not covered under the DAA to regroup, they say. The sources add if the Army is recalled to restore the situation in such areas, it will result in unnecessary casualties. Moreover, in areas declared not under the DAA, the land will have to be vacated by the Army and handed over to the government. Subsequent retrieval of the land, if required, will be difficult. Referring to Manipur, an Army officer says, “The DAA was removed from Imphal, which led to problems there, and it has become politically difficult to re-impose the Act.” He adds in case the DAA is removed from one district, it will have a cascading impact because there will be a clamour for removal of the Act from other districts by vested interests. Sources in the Home Department say the state government is “seriously” pondering over de-notifying Srinagar from the purview of the DAA. “It will happen soon and as a result, approximately 2,500 troops will be shifted out of Srinagar and its suburbs,” informs a senior official. It may be stated here that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has been endorsing the removal of the DAA from peaceful areas and either the revocation or dilution of the AFSPA to make the law more humane, had recently stated that the AFSPA could be withdrawn from some areas but with a rider that if situation warranted, the Army can step in again. On June 18 this year, The Tribune had reported that the Chief Minister had initiated an exercise on the suggestion of the Union Government to assess the ground situation in four districts - Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar and Budgam.
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Rail restoration work to be over in fortnight
Budgam, November 24 The train services, which started on October 11, 2008, however, may not be resumed soon as the vital signalling system is yet to be restored. This would take at least 45 days, sources here said. In that case, the operations are expected to resume by mid-January next year. The railway lines, the signalling system and some structures were damaged by angry mobs following a series of killings across the Valley in June this year. A heavy damage was also caused to the line in Bagh-e-Mahtab and the Mochhu area on the city outskirts between Srinagar (Nowgam) and Budgam railway stations. The line been restored in the first phase of the restoration during the past two days. Minor damaged portions were being repaired from Nowgam on the southern stretch to Qazigund. It was completed up to Pampore railway station this evening, while more damaged portions on the Kakapora-Panzagm stretch were being repaired. The restoration work between Srinagar and Qazigund would be completed in the next two weeks. |
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Legislative Council
New Delhi, November 24 The High Court had quashed the election of Rajouri resident and PDP legislator Tassadiq Hussain from the council seat and had declared Poonch resident and National Conference candidate Mohammed Rashid Qureshi elected in his place. “The High Court's conclusion that the expression ‘a resident of Poonch district’ in Section 50 of the J&K Constitution (reserving the council seat for him) does not include a resident of Rajouri is just and fair,” said the Bench in its order yesterday, dismissing Hussain's appeal against the High Court’s judgement. “The (J&K) Constitution is absolutely clear and unambiguous and, therefore, the reservation provided thereby for a resident of Poonch district, should not be construed to mean to include a resident of Rajouri district," the Bench said endorsing the High Court ruling. The Bench said the meaning of a district should be understood in terms of its ordinary and popular meaning, which includes the territory within its existing boundary. Hussain and Qureshi had contested the March, 2005, poll for the state Legislative Council seat reserved for a Poonch resident. At the time of filing the nomination, Qureshi had raised an objection before the Returning Officer to Hussain's candidature for a seat reserved for a Poonch resident as the PDP candidate had disclosed in the nomination paper that he was a Rajouri resident. Following the objections, the Returning Officer had referred the matter to the Election Commission of India, which had dismissed the objection on the ground that Rajouri was earlier part of Poonch and the residents of former were entitled to contest for the seat. Quoting Section 138 of the J&K Constitution which empowers the poll panel to conduct elections in the state and have its superintendence and control over them, the Election Commission in its communication to the Returning Officer and later to the High Court had asserted that its view on the matter was binding. —
PTI |
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Youth killed in head-on collision
Jammu, November 24 Manjeet Kumar, a resident of Samba, was going to Samba from Jammu, when an Ikon car hit him around 5 pm, in which Manjeet sustained multiple injuries, the police said. Meanwhile, the police has arrested car driver Mohinder Singh and initiated probe into it. — TNS
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MA-I (Hindi) students protest early conduct of exam
Jammu, November 24 Binakshi Sharma, a MA-I (Hindi), said, “The university usually conducts the examination in January or February.” The students requested to the university authorities to grant at least 20 days for the preparation of the examination. Worried over the unavailability of some books in the market, the student said, “The books of some courses are not available in the market and in the absence of proper notes and books, how will we prepare for the examination?” Binakshi alleged that the DDE delayed the academic session of the first semester this time and due to the delay around 50 per cent of the syllabus was still incomplete. “The DDE started personal contact programme (PCP) classes on November 9, which would continue till November 28. Now, the university has announced to conduct the examination on November 29, one day after the completion of the PCP classes. We were not informed in advance about this change in the academic calendar,” said Binakshi. Demanding the postponement of exams, Binakshi said the students should be given at least four days’ break between the first and second papers as “both are lengthy.” Anu Verma, another student, said, “The university has mentioned in its prospectus that the students can submit their assignments from November 15 to December 1. Most of the students have not submitted their assignments so far.” She added that the candidates would get roll numbers only after the submission of the assignments. Altaf Ali, another student, said the university had not mentioned anything about the early examination in the prospectus. Meanwhile, speaking on the issue, Meenakshi Kilam, Director of the DDE, said, “The university has postponed the examination and has decided to conduct it from December 16, which is a reasonable date.” “We will issue a new date sheet of MA (Hindi) after two days. The new date sheet will be available on the website of the DDE,” said the Director. She said the DDE was trying to streamline the academic calendar and the early conduct of the examination was a step towards it. “We are taking this step in favour of the students. We want to streamline the academic calendar on a par with the rest of India”, said the Director.
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DD, Akashwani staff observe strike
Jammu, November 24 The protesting employees, who had been demanding a repeal of the Prasar Bharti Act 1995, had halted all transmissions since last morning. “Not a single programme have been aired on both modes since yesterday morning in the state and it is high time for those at the helm of affairs to concede to our demand,” said an employee of Radio Kashmir, Jammu. The government would better wake up and bring Akashwani and Doordarshan under the ambit of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, he added. “We have been cheated in the name of the Prasar Bharti Act 1995. Neither autonomy was given to the institutions nor benefits percolated down to the employees,” said another employee. The strike would continue till 9 am tomorrow and then the future course of action, as decided by the NFDAE, would be implemented, the protesting employee said.
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Varsity students stand third
Jammu, November 24 According to a statement issued here, the competition was organised by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population Development, New Delhi. The university team was given a cash reward of Rs 5,000 and a trophy. The topic of the debate was “In the opinion of the House, population stabilisation is a prerequisite for preservation of environment”. Thirty-eight teams from various universities and institutions from all over the country participated in the competition.
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Upgrade sports infrastructure in state, says
Governor
Udhampur, November 24 Referring to the golden jubilee celebrations, the Governor observed it was an important milestone in the evolution of an institution. He added that during the past five decades, the college had produced many well-known personalities, who had made a mark in varied fields and in this context referred to Prof R. N. K. Bamzai, Vice- Chancellor, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, an alumni of the college. The Governor released the college newsletter, ‘Devika’, on the occasion and declared the tournament open. Underscoring the need for the college to have an all-weather indoor volleyball court, the Governor announced a financial support of Rs 4 lakh from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Earlier, the players were introduced to the Governor. He released balloons and pigeons, considered to be a symbol of peace, good luck and well-being. He witnessed the inaugural volleyball match played between the teams of Government Degree College, Udhampur, and Government Degree College, Rajouri. In all, 32 boys teams from various colleges of Jammu division are participating. The Principal of the college, Dr Nutan Kumar Resutra, in his address of welcome, gave details of the achievements of the institution in the academic and sports activities, besides dwelling on its contribution in promotion of education during the past 50 years. He also presented to the Governor a cheque of Rs 50,000 as relief for the Leh flood-hit people. |
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Class XI student’s body fished out
Jammu, November 24 Since then an operation was going on to fish out his body. But the Army divers got success in tracing and fishing it out from the lake today. The Basohli police said the family members of the deceased were informed and asked to complete legal formalities before taking the body. |
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JCO injured near LoC in Poonch
Jammu, November 24 Official sources said JCO Naib Subedar Shahji Memaney was patrolling the LoC between Sagar and Bhalla posts in the Mankote forward area of the Mendhar sector when some persons, suspected to be militants, opened fire around 1.15 a.m,injuring the JCO on the left leg. The sources said the JCO was later evacuated to a garrison hospital in Rajouri where he was stated to be out of danger. They said, soon after the incident, troops took up positions anticipating an intrusion bid.However, an Army officer said that there was no intrusion bid in the Mankote forward area. |
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Job fair at Chenani in December
Udhampur, November 24 A comprehensive programme was finalised in the meeting of the officers of various government departments chaired by District Development Commissioner, Udhampur, Baseer Ahmed Khan here on Monday. It was also decided that the first fair would be organised at Chenani next month while it would be organised in Ramnagar and Panchari in January and February next year. The fair would last three days each time. Their timing would be between 10 am and 4 pm on all days. The departments of Employment, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Fishries, Industry, Handloom, KVIB, Flouriculture, Handicrafts, Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Tourism, SC/ST/OBC Corporation, ISM, ITI, DRDA, DUDA and banks had been directed to set up their stalls and highlight the schemes being implemented by them. The DDC asked the officers to distribute loan application forms and brochures indicating the details of schemes at all stalls. The departments concerned were also instructed to make adequate arrangements of security, first aid, sanitation, power and drinking water at the venue site during the fair days. |
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Bandh call evokes mixed response in Valley
Srinagar, November 24 The call evoked a mixed response. While shops and business establishments were closed in the main markets, government offices, educational institutions and banks functioned normally. There was near- normal traffic with passenger transport plying in many areas of the city and elsewhere in the Valley. Educational institutions, many of which have been conducting the annual examinations of various classes up to Class X, functioned normally. Traffic on inter-district routes was also normal. Stray incidents of stone throwing were reported from a few places in downtown Srinagar and from Pampore township, about 15 km from here, on However, there were no reports of any injuries.The day passed off peacefully and there were no reports of any untoward incident from any place, a police spokesman said here With the hardline faction of the Hurriyat Conference, spearheading the agitation over the past several months, scaling down the protest programme in response to the feedback from various sections of society, there has not been much response to the bandh calls given by it during the past two weeks.
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JOB Plan
Srinagar, November 24 The group is headed by Dr C. Rangarajan, former Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Reserve Bank of India and at present Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC). The group had wide ranging discussions for over three hours in two sessions, the first session involving conversations with the Fruit and Flower Growers Association, representatives of the Dairy, Poultry and Sheep sectors and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Artiyas Association. In the second session, the group had an extensive interaction with representatives from various IT companies, the House Boat Owners Association, the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Owners Federation, the Travel Agent Society of Kashmir, the Travel Agents Association, Kashmir, and the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Association. |
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Omar for cordial police-public ties
Jammu, November 24 At a meeting of Home Department officials here,Omar said: “The present scenario has put multifarious responsibilities on the shoulders of the police and as such, it should be fully trained, professional, well-equipped and modernised to deal with different situations effectively and amicably”. He added there should be close and cordial public-police ties to maintain peace in the state. He also discussed the matters raised by some police officers regarding the creation, upgradation of police stations and modernisation of the police. The Chief Minister said the government was keen on strengthening the police in all respects. “Every step will be taken in this direction”, he said, adding that the issues raised by the district SPs and the requirements put forth by them would be addressed properly and shortly. Those who attended the meeting included DGP Kuldeep Khoda, Principal Secretary, Home, BR Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, BB Vyas, and some other senior officers.
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The protesting daily wage workers of the the Power Development Department (PDD) again locked the Power Development Commissioner, Asgar Ali, and other senior officers.
The distance education students of MA-I (Hindi) held a protest on the premises of Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) today to express resentment against the university and the DDE authorities for scheduling examination early. However, the DDE Director said the exam had been postponed to December 16.
