Jammu, April 23
After introducing the single paper system in Class X, the J&K Board of School Education (BoSE) has introduced this system of exams in Class XII from this academic session.

Now, the Class XII students will also have to appear in one paper of each subject and the total marks will be 500 for all streams, including science, commerce, home science and humanities. Earlier, the students had to appear in two papers (A and B) of each of the five subjects and the total marks were 750.

Dr Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Secretary of the education board, said, “The decision has been taken to facilitate the students, as earlier the process was complicated. Now, there will be one paper each of the five subjects containing 100 marks each, including practicals”.

Describing the single paper system, he said it was not a new system, as the CBSE had already adopted it. “Even we have implemented the system in the Class X exams and on the same pattern the Class XII students will get single papers this year,” said Sheikh Bashir.

He added that, “The syllabus is almost the same, as only minor changes have been made. The single paper system has been adopted to save the time of the students”. Some changes were made in the Class XII examinations last year. “This will surely help the students to get good results and improve the quality of the examination system,” he added.

The session of Class XII started in the Kashmir region in October-November last year, while it began in the Jammu region recently. A senior education board official said those students, who had taken the Class XII exams up to 2010 in the Kashmir region and up to 2011 in the Jammu region, would have to complete their backlog/reappear within a period of three years, as per the existing two paper scheme of examinations. He said the new syllabus and the guidelines on the pattern of examinations were available at all major bookstores.

Jammu, April 23
Giving a twist to the cross-voting controversy, former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Chaman Lal Gupta said today that the ongoing crisis in the party was the handiwork of the forces which wanted the restoration of the pre-1953 status to the state.

He admitted that some party insiders were rendering all possible help to such forces to help them accomplish their nefarious designs.

Gupta, who along with six other MLAs, was suspended by the party for allegedly indulging in cross-voting, adopted a defensive posture and cautioned the BJP leadership against falling prey to the gimmicks of such forces. “Every MLA of the party has been claiming that he has voted in favour of BJP candidate Ranjit Singh. So there is something fishy about the entire episode,” he said. However, he did not rule out the possibility of the involvement of the government in manipulating the whole issue.

To substantiate his charges, Gupta recalled the infamous rigging of the 1987 Assembly elections, when ballot boxes were allegedly changed to ensure the victory of the candidates of the coalition partners. “Both Congress and NC were running a coalition government at that time in the state and they are in the government again today,” he added.

Although Gupta avoided naming any of his party colleagues for having proximity to the NC, he made a veiled attack at the chief whip of the BJP, Ashok Khajuria, and said an insider, known for his intimacy with the NC, was involved in the conspiracy. “Earlier it was the erstwhile Jan Sangh and now it is the BJP that has been opposing the restoration of the pre-1953 position to the state,” he said.

He regretted that the fact that with the help of a few BJP insiders, the protagonists of the greater autonomy had hatched a conspiracy to defeat the “nationalist” party so as to implement their own secessionist agenda without any resistance.

Gupta, who is one of the stalwarts of the BJP in the state, regretted that the party leadership had adopted a pick and choose policy while suspending the MLAs over cross-voting. “Some judicious parameters should be adopted to single out the black sheep,” he said and urged the party leadership to take every aspect into consideration while deciding further action.

Gupta said it was all due to his commitment to the ideology of the party that he had left the job of a professor in 1971 to join the Jan Sangh.

Asked whether he was planning to lodge an FIR with regard to the cross-voting episode, he said he had been looking into all aspects. “I am waiting to see what further action the BJP leadership takes,” he added.

Jammu, April 23
Around 400 candidates, who failed the recruitment criteria and were rejected by the Army yesterday during a recruitment rally at Akhnoor, resorted to stone throwing today, forcing the Army authorities to seek the help of the police.

Official sources said the 10 Infantry Division conducted a recruitment rally for porters and candidates yesterday and those who failed to fulfil the criteria were rejected. However, around 400 rejected candidates again turned up at the rally venue this morning and insisted that they be reconsidered for recruitment.

They said when the Army authorities refused to give them another opportunity, the candidates went berserk and resorted to stone throwing. “Though there was overcrowding, no one was injured in the incident. We do not know why they (rejected candidates) started throwing stones,” said an Army officer of the 10 Infantry Division.

SHO, Akhnoor police station, Naresh Sharma said after getting reports of overcrowding at the recruitment rally, he along with some police personnel rushed to the venue to conduct recruitments in a hassle-free manner.

“There were around 400 to 500 candidates, who wanted to block the road, but we did not allow them to do so. We tried to convince the Army authorities to afford them another chance,” said Sharma.

He, however, denied that there was any incident of stone throwing. Around 2,000 candidates appeared in the rally for 600 posts of porter, he added.

New Delhi, April 23
The Dogra certificate issue, which was being used by vested interests in Jammu and Kashmir to vitiate the atmosphere, ended yesterday with the Union Home Ministry amending its earlier order and announcing relaxation to all permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Home Ministry came out with the amended order last evening in which it said that now the relaxation for recruitment to the central armed police forces was open to all permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

In its January order, the MHA had announced relaxation for residents from the Kashmir and Leh and Ladakh regions under the geographical criteria while extended the same relaxation to the Dogra people under the ethnic tribal community.

Taking a cue from this order, state Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla had directed Tehsildars and Deputy Commissioners of Jammu to issue “Dogra certificates”, a move which prompted angry reactions from separatists and some political parties alleging this was a clear attempt to divide the state on communal lines.

However, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had asked the Centre to amend its order and extend the relaxation to the people from Jammu and Kashmir rather than putting them under different categories of geographical terrains and ethnic categories.

“The government desires to recruit more persons to the central armed police forces from Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, there is a case for relaxing the eligibility conditions for all sections of people in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Jammu region. Henceforth, the said relaxation will be available to all permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said in a written statement.

The level of recruitment has been stepped up in the last two years and is likely to continue at this level for a few more years. In 2009, the central armed police forces recruited 1,109 constables in Jammu and Kashmir and in 2010 the figure stood at 2,309 constables.

As a result of the proposed amendment, all sections of people in the state will be benefited and Jammu and Kashmir will be on a par with states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura as far as relaxed eligibility conditions are concerned.

The government hoped the relaxation of eligibility conditions for all candidates in Jammu and Kashmir would be welcomed by all sections of people of the state, the spokesperson said.

Highly-placed sources in the state government said the order issued by Bhalla was to be rescinded. — PTI

Jammu, April 23
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that the visible climate change in the form of cloudbursts, earthquakes, tsunamis, snow-less winters, cooler summers, erratic rains and many more environmental shifts should serve as a wake-up call to human beings to address this hazardous phenomenon collectively.

“The young generation has all the more responsibility in this regard to awake society and contribute positively towards the maintenance of eco-balance and environmental conditions,” he said, urging the youth to play their important role to save the Earth and its ecology from further degradation and damage.

Speaking at a function organised by the Kashmirink Foundation on the theme of “Climate Change” at the Zorawar Singh Auditorium in the University of Jammu here, the Chief Minister stressed on universal awareness about the subject.

Omar also referred to the bio-diversity and ecological fragility of the state. He said the effects of climate change and environmental degradation had started impacting the weather cycle. “There is no snow in Gulmarg during the prime winter, rain pattern has shown a remarkable shift, Ladakh witnessed flash floods and a cloudburst. Similarly, the climate change in sub-tropical and temperate regions of the state are visible,” he added and gave a clarion call to one and all to feel the responsibility towards this aspect.

“Everyone of us are equal stakeholders in the task of saving the Earth from continuous degradation to help sustenance of life and safeguarding the future for coming generations,” Omar said, referring to the far-reaching effects of climate change and global warming.

Minister for Tourism Nawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of State for Tourism Nasir Aslam Wani, political adviser to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana, besides a large number of students were present on the occasion.

A cultural programme “Silk Route” was also presented on the theme of “climate change and cultural diversity” on the occasion.

Jammu, April 23
During their visit to Jammu, the Centre’s interlocutors interacted with a cross-section of society. After visiting Doda and Kishtwar districts, the team of interlocutors comprising Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MM Ansari reached Jammu last evening and held discussions with the representatives of various social, political and religious organisations.

Representatives of the Bar Association of Jammu, during an interaction with the interlocutors, alleged discrimination against the Jammu region. They said the solution to any problem was not possible without removing discrimination that had been continuing for the last 63 years.

BS Slathia, president of the association, stressed the need for politically empowering the Jammu region. He also stressed the need for adopting a rational and fair criteria for the purpose.

Stressing on the delimitation of constituencies, Slathia said Jammu had more voters and more area, but less Assembly seats. “The prevailing political and economic injustice with the Jammu region should be removed and a mechanism evolved for giving equal treatment to all regions and sub-regions of the state,” he said.

He alleged discrimination against the region in the allocation of funds. He said the region had a huge tourism potential, but it had been ignored in the sanction of funds for exploring tourism.

The Gujjar Mahasabha’s delegation highlighted its problems and cautioned the interlocutors against ignoring the rights of the Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections of society. A delegation of the Samajwadi Party also met them and submitted a memorandum of demands to them.

Senior police and civil officials also called on the interlocutors and briefed them about the prevailing situation in the state.

Jammu, April 23
The three-member team of interlocutors comprising Dileep Padgaonkar, Prof Radha Kumar and MM Ansari, currently on a visit of the state, met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

This was their fifth meeting with him. During their two-hour meeting with the Governor, the interlocutors held discussions on issues emerging from their meetings with various shades of opinion during their present visit.

Jammu, April 23
The police seized 52 litres of illicit liquor and arrested five persons involved in its distillation during raids on five places in Rajouri district yesterday.

The arrested persons have been identified as Ravinder Singh, a resident of Tanda, Kamal Singh, a resident of Dharmsal, Sham Singh, a resident of Channi, Bansi Lal, a resident of Makri, and Jagdish Chander, a resident of Lam in Nowshera tehsil.

The police said on specific information it conducted a raid on Tanda village of Sunder Bani tehsil and recovered 30 litres of illicit liquor from the house of Ravinder Singh. Illicit liquor was also recovered from the accused, during raids on Dharmsal, Channi, Makri and the Lam area of Rajouri district.

Jammu, April 23
The Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Pawan Kotwal, has notified the summer working hours in the state government offices and educational institutions in various districts of the Jammu division with effect from May 1 to September 30.

As per a press note issued here today, the timing of 8 am to 2 pm shall be observed during summer in government offices and educational institutions in the districts of Jammu, Udhampur, Rajouri, Samba, Reasi, Kathua (except Bani tehsil). In Bani tehsil, 10 am to 4 pm timing shall be observed in government offices and educational institutions.

In Poonch district, the timing in government offices shall be from 10 am to 4 pm, while in educational institutions from 8 am to 2 pm. In Ramban district (except Ramban tehsil and Niabat Batote of Ramban tehsil) 10 am to 4 pm timing shall be observed while in Ramban tehsil the government offices shall function from 10 am to 4 pm while the timing for the educational institutions shall be 8 am to 2 pm. Niabat Batote shall observe the timing of 10 am to 4 pm.

The summer timing in Doda and Kishtwar districts (except Doda tehsil) shall be from 10 am to 4 pm. In Doda tehsil, the government offices shall function from 10 am to 4 pm and the educational institutions from 8 am to 2 pm.

Jammu, April 23
To boost the morale of the party cadre, BJP national general secretary and in charge of Jammu and Kashmir affairs JP Nadda addressed a meeting of party workers here today. He asked them not to get demoralised over the cross-voting episode.

In today’s meeting, the BJP workers gathered for the first time after the cross-voting episode.

Sensing the mood of the workers, who were annoyed over the cross-voting incident, Nadda urged them to work with dedication and sincerity, as the BJP had to play a greater role in the state.

Terming the recent developments in the state after the Legislative Council elections as unfortunate, Nadda said the party leadership took a decision that was necessary for the party under its constitution.

He emphasised the need for approaching the workers and people in the present crisis. He said at times the leadership had to take such decisions in the interest of the party.

“It is in this connection that our national leaders pay regular visits and interact with people. The party has held a meeting of the national office-bearers last year also,” Nadda said.

“We have constituted a five-member study group of MPs on Jammu and Kashmir and we have been consistently fighting for the abrogation of Article 370 and the full integration of the state with the rest of the country,” Nadda added.

Srinagar, April 23
The IGP, Kashmir Zone, SM Sahai, has promoted 86 head constables as assistant sub-inspector (ASI) and 380 constables as selection grade constables.

The Departmental Promotion Committee constituted by the Zonal Police Headquarters had earlier approved their inclusion in the promotion list. The list is part of the ongoing process initiated by the zone to remove stagnation and create more promotion avenues, an official spokesman said.

Pulwama, April 23
Six girls were injured allegedly in a cane-charge by the police during a prize distribution function for the winners of a marathon organised by the Army as part of its goodwill operation in south Kashmir today.

The police baton-charged the students after a section of the participants resorted to hooting alleging that the contest was conducted in a fraudulent manner, eyewitnesses said.

However, SSP, Pulwama, Amit Kumar denied there was any use of force by the police. “I was not present there, but my reports are that there was no lathi-charge,” he said.

The General Officer Commanding (GoC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt-Gen Syed Ata Hasnain left the venue soon after the police action. “I do not want to be embarrassed like this,” Hasnain said as he boarded the vehicle hurriedly.

However, a defence spokesman said the crowd was instigated. “I will not say whether the miscreants were present or not. But you can see how things started. Some people were instigating the crowd,” defence spokesman Lt-Col JS Brar told reporters. Brar, however, refused to comment on the police action.

Four of the girls injured in the lathi-charge were from Army Goodwill School at Balapora in Shopian district. The injured girls were treated at a medical camp at the venue.Two injured boys were taken away in an ambulance, the eyewitnesses said. It was not clear whether the boys were injured in the alleged police action or in the stampede, which followed the lathi-charge. — PTI

Srinagar, April 23
Years of turmoil in the Kashmir valley has seen an alarming increase in the number of youth taking to drugs. More than two lakh youth in the Valley are addicted to various types of drugs. “According to a report of the United Nations there are around 60,000 drug addicts, while, according to a local expert, there are around two lakh drug addicts in the Kashmir valley. Most of them are addicted to codeine phosphate,” said Abdul Gani Mir, DIG, central Kashmir range, Srinagar.

Mir was speaking at a symposium on ‘Misuse of prescribed drugs’ organised by the state police here today. He said these addicts sourced drugs from some stockists and retail drugstores.

Advising medical stores not to sell drugs without prescription, the DIG said, “The medical stores should not sell drugs without prescription and not allow the use of their premises for illicit drug trade. The law will take its own course against those who are found dealing in this illicit trade. The guilty will be prosecuted under the relevant sections of tje Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the NDPS Act”.

The DIG emphasised the need for taking cognisance of the ills being imposed on society by the menace of drug addiction. He advised the medicine distributors to maintain a register and proper records of the sale and purchase of prescribed medicines, which were likely to be misused.

He asked the medical stores to monitor the actions of their employees with regard to the unauthorised sale of such medicines.

The DIG also highlighted the importance of the police Drug De-addiction Centre and the Stress Management helpline of the police control room, Srinagar, where group, individual counselling and stress-busting exercises were offered to the addicts.