Jammu, June 14
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today slammed ‘Delhi’ for talking to him through newspapers.

Apparently angry over a front-page report in newspapers on the Central government asking him to transfer power to panchayats in the state, Omar posted on microblogging site Twitter: “When will ‘Delhi’ learn not to talk to me via newspapers”. He also posted the link of the story that appeared in the newspaper.

The report had quoted sources as saying that the Chief Minister had been advised to empower panchayats to avoid another phase of trouble in 
Kashmir.

Omar had admitted on Sunday that there were forces within the system who were resisting the empowerment of panchayats. “The resistance to empowering them from within the system will have to be tactfully dealt with, but with a strong will, a way normally emerges,” he posted on Twitter.

He also expressed satisfaction over the successful completion of the multi-phased panchayat poll, which saw a nearly 80 per cent turnout. “We concluded the panchayat elections in the Valley on Saturday. I never in my wildest dreams expected such a smooth ride through 16 phases,” he said.

Responding to another tweet about the origin of the story, the Chief Minister said, “Read between the lines & (and) you’ll know where in ‘Delhi’ this emerged from”. The panchayat elections are being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir after one decade and Omar has repeatedly promised to empower the grass-roots level institutions for the all round development of the state.

Meanwhile, Omar expressed confidence that the National Conference (NC) would continue to stand for peace, development and political stability of the state.

Speaking to party office-bearers belonging to Budgam district here this morning, the Chief Minister said the” NC’s credentials need nobody’s certificate”.

“People have been witness to the struggle of the National Conference since its inception for the dignity and honour of the state and its people. History speaks for you.Your story is the story of the people of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh”, he told the workers and said that false propaganda against the party stood exposed.

Reminding the activists of the role they had to play in the political stability and prosperity of the state, the Chief Minister told them to follow in the footsteps of their elders who stood like a monolith against all pressures and strengthened the hands of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah first and then stood by party president Farooq Abdullah.

The Chief Minister asked them to be a catalyst in the socio-economic and political stability of the state and show their strength to their detractors by their unity and universal public service. “You have been taught high principles of amity, brotherhood, equality and compassion even for those who do not belong to your political philosophy”, Omar said, and told them to make the people aware at all levels about the new and innovative measures, the present government had taken for the holistic and equitable development of the state.

ammu, June 14
After the Baba Amarnath Yatri Niyas and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) worked out a middle path, people here not only welcomed the development, but also felt that an amicable resolution of the issue had put an end to the confusion among devotees.

After hectic deliberations between the niyas, an amalgam of social and religious organisations and the SASB last evening, the latter agreed to hold “Pratham Poojan” on Jayesth Poornima tomorrow at theAmarnath cave shrine , thereby, bringing to an end the row over the commencement of the pilgrimage this year.

While the SASB had already announced that the pilgrimage would begin from June 29, the niyas had been insisting upon starting it on its own from June 15.

“I welcome the development. The two aspects of the yatra, like Pratham Poojan on Jayesth Poornima as per the religious calendar of Hindus, and the safety of the pilgrims, had to be kept in mind,” said former DGP MM Khajooria, and added it was sensible on the part of both sides to have solved the problem amicably.

State president of the VHP and founder member of the niyas, Ramakant Dubey, said, “We were party to the decision and now there are no doubts about the commencement of the yatra. Our two-member team has already left for performing Pratham Poojan in the shrine area”.

He said the twin tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam to the cave shrine were covered under snow, but the administration had assured to clear them at the earliest. “As soon as the tracks are cleared, the yatra will start,” he added.

Echoing similar views, the Director of the Department of Life Long Learning in Jammu University, Poonam Dhawan, also expressed satisfaction over the amicable resolution.

“Conflict leads us nowhere and I think any decision which avoids conflict is in the interest of civil society,” she said.

By arriving at a unanimous decision, the niyas and the SASB had exhibited a mature response to the issue, she added. Meanwhile, sources in the SASB also described the decision as a good development. “The SASB has given in writing to the niyas that Pratham Poojan will be performed on the day of Jayesth Poornima and the yatra will start from June 29,” they added.

Two members each from the niyas and the SASB would fly to the cave shrine area in a helicopter and wherever it could land, the team would per-form Pratham Poojan there, they added.

In a last-ditch effort, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had yesterday sent a team of officials from Srinagar to break the ice.

Srinagar, June 14
The police detained more than 30 teachers here today for holding a march in support of their demand for the release of the Sixth Pay Commission’s arrears and the regularisation of the services of Rehbar-e-Talim teachers working as education volunteers.

“Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Teachers’ Forum Abdul Qayoom Wani and district president of the forum Budgam Mohammad Akbar Khan were arrested by the police when we were holding a peaceful protest in Srinagar,” said Gulzar Ahmed, a teacher.

The police said some of the teachers, who were leading the protest, were detained. SSP, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari said: “The police dispersed the protesting teachers as Section 144 of the CrPC was in force in the Valley”.

The teachers, who had gathered at a park, tried to march through the city in support of their demand for the release of the arrears of the Sixth Pay Commission, regularisation of the services of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers and a pension scheme.

Several teachers later waited outside Kothi Bagh police station, where their colleagues were detained. “More than 30 teachers have been detained at the police station. They are not allowing us to meet them,” Ahmad said.

Jammu, June 14
Despite India’s strained relations with Pakistan, a Jammu family is thankful to the Sindh Governor and Ansar Burney, noted human rights activist, for the release of a Merchant Navy officer by Somali pirates.

The family claims that a ransom of Rs 10.5 crore was paid to the pirates with the ship owner and Burney each contributing half of the amount.

The officer, Narottam Kumar Sharma, was one of the six Indians released by the pirates, near Egypt, along with four Pakistan nationals, six Sri Lankans and 11 Egyptians today after remaining in captivity for over 10 months. Even though External Affairs Minister SM Krishna, while talking to reporters in Delhi, did not give the credit to anyone for the release of the captives, the Sharma family based in Bari Brahmna town, 12 km from Jammu, said Ansari had been talking to them daily.

“The past 10 months have been an ordeal for us. We approached even the Prime Minister, but only got assurances of help. No one offered money to be paid as ransom for Narottam’s release,” said Madhu,wife of the officer.

She said they became hopeful after reports that a Navy warship was approaching the pirates’ ship. She expressed gratitude to the Sindh Governor, who, along with Burney, was helpful in getting the captives released.

Besides worrying about her husband’s safety, Madhu had a bigger challenge at home of convincing her 10-year-old son Nikhil and six-year-old daughter Niditya about the welfare of their father.

“They did know their father was in captivity. But as he was away from home for an unusually long period of time, they kept enquiring about him. Now, their papa will come back and tell them about the pirates,” she said.

Madhu said the pirates seemed to have treated the captives well. “The ship was hijacked on August 2 last year. We learnt about the incident after a month. The pirates allowed my husband and other captives to make phone calls to their relatives and others”.

Jammu, June 14
Khalid Bashir Mughal, alias Papu Mughal, a former militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen, has donated blood 21 times. Mughal was motivated to donate blood by some Good Samaritans and he made it a mission of his life. “Helping a needy person is the best way to serve humanity,” Mughal told The Tribune over the phone from the Bhadewah area of Doda district.

“As my blood group is O negative, which is considered a universal group, I regularly receive emergency calls for blood donation,” he said, and added that, “Whenever possible, I respond to the emergency calls to save human lives”.

Mughal said he had donated blood a number of times at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, and the SMGS Hospital, Jammu, after travelling over 200 km from Bhaderwah to Jammu. “In Jammu hospitals, I have donated blood 21 times,” he said.

After the eruption of militancy in the Bhaderwah area in 1989, Mugal, who was 19 then, was lured into joining militancy by a Hizbul Mujahideen ultra.

It was only after Mughal’s surrender that a group of over 50 militants led by the then Al-Jehad chief Babar Badar had laid down their arms before the security forces and joined the mainstream. “In 1994, I gave up the path of violence and joined the mainstream to lead a peaceful life,” Mughal said. “My cousin, Dr Shahid Mughal, who is a doctor in the Health Department, convinced me to donate blood because my blood group is universal”,he informed.

As he has donated blood 21 times in Jammu hospitals, Mughal has been given a certificate by the authorities concerned in appreciation of his services to humanity.

Dr TR Raina, Head of the Blood Bank of GMCH, said the certificates were given to donors in recognition of their services to society.

Jammu, June 14
Despite drawing flak for the mess in the elementary teachers training (ETT), the state government has failed to curb malpractices in the process and provide a fair education system to students, mostly from the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

Like the previous year, the students will face a number of problems this year also as 11 days are left for the admission process to be completed. A large number of colleges and institutes have neither obtained a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the Education Department nor re-affiliation from the J&K State Board of School Education, but are offering admission to the ETT course in violation of rules.

A senior official of the education board said of the total 439 ETT colleges and institutes across the state, only 30 to 35 had obtained an NoC from the Education Department and also got the re-affiliation of the board.Yet, a majority of them were offering admission to the course.

The last date for the submission of admission forms for the 2011-13 session is June 25, but the colleges have not yet completed the official procedure,which is likely to create problems for the students.

However, the education board officials said they were trying their best to make the ETT process simple and clean. “Though the government has directed all ETT colleges and institutes to get re-affiliation from the education board before the beginning of every session, contrary to the order some institutes and colleges are offering admission to the students. Even the students have to submit their forms at the board’s office,” said AK Gandotra, assistant secretary, ETT, education board.

He added that, “Though almost all institutes have applied for re-affiliation, till they get it they can’t start the admission process. Hence, the board has issued them notices”.

Gandotra said the board would not take the responsibility of the erring institutes and the students should submit their admission forms at the board’s office in the local Rehari Colony. ETT colleges in the state are popular among the students from Punjab and Haryana, as they can clear the course without bothering about attendance.

Jammu, June 14
The National Secular Forum (NSF) today urged Governor NN Vohra to order a probe into the “substandard” material used in the construction of the building of the University of Jammu over the last three years.

Vikas Sharma, state president of the NSF, said, “The works department of the university has become a hub of corruption. Engineers of the department are hand in glove with contractors and are indulging in corrupt practices.

He said the students and scholars of the university had been highlighting the issue but nothing had been done so far.

“We seek the intervention of the Governor to save the university from the clutches of corrupt officials and engineers,” said Vikas.

Jammu, June 14
The police arrested two drug peddlers and seized 2,200 intoxicant capsules from their possession in the Bus Stand area last night.

Official sources said acting on a tip-off a police team raided the bus stand and arrested two drug peddlers. It also seized 2,200 capsules and 150 intoxicant tablets from them.

The arrested persons have been identified as Harvinder Singh, alias Goldi, of Bakshi Nagar, and Kuldeep Kumar, alias Kala, of Ban Talab. A case under the NDPS Act has been registered against them.

Srinagar, June 14
The Vice-Chancellor, Kashmir University, Dr Talat Ahmad, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan here today.

During the meeting, the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, discussed with Dr Ahmad various matters relating to the achievement of excellence in different areas of learning and research and in the overall academic environment of the university.

This was Dr Ahmad’s first meeting with the Governor after taking over as the Vice-Chancellor recently. The Governor wished Dr Ahmad a successful tenure. — TNS

Jammu, June 14
A Division Bench of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, comprising Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain and Justice Sunil Hali, while setting aside a judgement and decree dated January 22, 2001, by the First Appellate Court and upholding a judgement and decree dated February 7, 1998, passed by the Second Additional District Judge, Jammu, held that “It is a settled principle of service jurisprudence that an order of dismissal or removal from service can be passed by the appointing authority or the authority which is equivalent to the status of the appointing authority. Since the appointing authority is admittedly the Board of Directors, as such, the power of dismissal was passed by an incompetent authority”.

The appellant,Moti Lal Wattal, while working as Junior Administrative Officer, which is equivalent to the post of Manager, was alleged to have committed gross misconduct as defined under the J&K Bank Ltd (Revised Recruitment Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1972. In this regard, an enquiry was initiated against the appellant, which was preceded by the issuance of a charge-sheet on July 26, 1973. The enquiry was initiated by an officer of the level of Deputy General Manager, which culminated into the dismissal order on June 23, 1976. A suit was filed before the trial court, which allowed it vide its judgement dated February 7, 1998, holding his dismissal from service as void, illegal and ineffective.

Aggrieved by the judgement, the bank filed a civil first Misc appeal, which was allowed on January 22, 2001, whereby, the judgement and decree passed by the trial court was dismissed. However, the appellant filed a Letters Patent Appeal on the question as to whether in the absence of rules, a charge-sheet can be framed by any other person except the competent authority as defined under the rules.

A Division Bench, while allowing the appeal, observed that “a plain reading of the J&K Bank Ltd (Revised Recruitment Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1972, reveals that the chairman is a repository of the power and such power can only be exercised by any other authority to which the same is delegated by the chairman. The scheme of the rules clearly envisages that all the powers are required to be exercised by the chairman which includes any disciplinary action required to be taken against the official (s) / office (s). It be seen that the chairman vide no jkb/cmo/76-176,dated April 29, 1976 delegated power to the General Manager, who was competent to serve charge-sheet and initiate inquiry against any person after April 29, 1976 and not before that.The charge-sheet was served upon the appellant on July 26, 1973, when admittedly the General Manager was not competent to serve the charge-sheet and initiate the inquiry against him”.