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Anti-graft panel orders probe against Deputy CM
Two moderate tremors jolt Doda, Bhaderwah
3 legislators fume over protocol ‘violation’ at police function
Senior officials told to report on quake-prone school buildings
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Mahila Cong warns against delaying civic polls
State to get new tourism policy
Minister: Govt concerned about hardships of
cops
Omar readies for challenges ahead
Kashmir lays out summer treat for tourists
Finally, Central varsity to have campus at
Ganderba
Cong gears up for coalition meet
Future of 15,000 ETT students hangs in balance
CIC meets Guv
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Anti-graft panel orders probe against Deputy CM
Srinagar, May 13 The commission in an order issued today directed that an inquiry be held against Tara Chand for ordering illegal appointments in the Urban and Local Bodies Department. “From the material on record, we find a prima facie case made out for a regular inquiry against respondent Tara Chand Sharma,” the Commission said in the order. The SAC, constituted under Jammu and Kashmir Accountability Commission Act 2002, inquires into grievances and allegations against public functionaries. Justice (retired) Y P Nargotra, the Commision’s chairman, and Justice (retired) Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain, member of the Commission, passed the order. The order was issued in response to a complaint filed by a Srinagar resident who had levelled several allegations of corruption, misuse of official position, favouritism and nepotism against the minister. In recent months, at least two ministers faced serious allegations, including that of land grabbing and supply of spurious medicines, damaging the government’s image. The complainant, who had alleged “large-scale fake and illegal appointments” were made in the Urban and Local Bodies Department, had also filed copies of various orders and an affidavit in support of his complaint. In response, Tara Chand, who held the additional portfolio of Urban and Local Bodies before the Cabinet reshuffle earlier this year, has denied the allegations against him but acknowledged that a case of illegal appointments came to his notice in 2011 following which the minister had ordered two separate inquiries for Kashmir and Jammu provinces. “From the inquiry it appeared that illegal appointments were made in various local bodies,” Tara Chand said in the reply. He stated that he had initiated a regular inquiry against the then Director of Local Bodies, Farooq Ahmad Renzu, and appointed an inquiry officer. However, the Commission said some of the appointments had been made on instruction of the respondent, Tara Chand. “The orders of appointment/engagement show that these have been made at the instance of the respondent. The appointing authority has, while directing these appointments, specifically stated in the order itself that the appointments were being made at the instance of the Deputy Chief Minister (the respondent),” the Commission said. The Commission said the Minister has “no where denied this fact at all” in his reply that he passed on such instructions to the appointing authority. It further noted that the copies of the engagement order prima facie showed that they had been “Though an inquiry has been ordered in the matter, conspicuous silence of the respondent about his role in the appointments makes the respondent prima facie liable for violation of rules,” the Commission said. |
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Two moderate tremors jolt Doda, Bhaderwah
Jammu, May 13 Meanwhile, victims of the May 1 earthquake in the Doda and Bhaderwah areas are alleging bias in relief distribution. The quake victims are alleging that they are not getting due attention from the district administration and are yet to get tents as their houses have been declared unsafe by the survey team deputed by the administration. Around 80 to 90 per cent structures developed minor to major cracks in the 5.8 magnitude earthquake which jolted the Doda and Kishtwar districts. The Red Cross society sent 1,000 tents to the area on the request of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. But these tents haven’t been distributed to all victims yet. “Our house was declared unsafe for living by the survey team comprising the chief agriculture officer but so far we haven’t received any relief from the administration. The administration is distributing tents to people who have some political or other backing,” alleged Imran Yousuf Tantray, a resident of Ghat, whose house developed big cracks during the earthquake. “We have been visiting the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office and the tehsildar’s office continuously. Each time we return empty-handed,” said Tantray, adding that they had gone to the DC office today also, but their concern was not addressed. Doda DC Mubarak Singh said the tehsildar was looking after the relief-distribution process and nobody had reached him for relief. “We have been visiting both offices but in the absence of the tehsildar, who most of the time is out of his office, nobody paid heed to our demands. I have all required documents, including unsafe certificate, given by the survey team but we haven’t yet got the relief material,” he said. Tehsildar, Doda, Fulail Singh said, “Many people are approaching us for relief. I want to re-check whether those who approach us are genuine. Thereafter, the relief will be distributed among them,” Singh said. |
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3 legislators fume over protocol ‘violation’ at police function
Jammu, May 13 They alleged that they were not given due respect according to the protocol enshrined under Warrant of Precedence during the 24th Attestation-cum-Passing out Parade at Sardar Prithinandan Police Training School in Kathua. Charanjit Singh, MLA from Kathua assembly segment, Durga Dass, MLA from Hiranagar, and Member of Legislative Council Subash Chander Gupta walked out of the function and threatened to move a breach of privilege notice if the department failed to take action against the police officers “responsible for the goof-up”. Incidentally, it all happened in the presence of Minister of State (MoS) for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo and Director General of Police (DGP), J&K, Ashok Prasad. Talking to The Tribune, Charanjit Singh said he, Durga Dass and Gupta were subjected to “humiliation” during the passing out parade ceremony. “The sitting arrangement was in utter violation of the protocol as we were made to sit at the tail end of the row. The police officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Deputy Superintendent of Police were seated in the front row. We stayed there for 15 minutes but no respect or honour was given to any of the elected member,” the MLA said. He said, “If they (police officers) don’t recognise the elected representatives, there is no reason for the common man to believe that they (police) will be concerned about them. I will move a breach of privilege notice to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly if the police officers responsible for the ill-treatment to the elected members are not punished.” Gupta, who is a Congress MLC, said they were officially invited for the passing out parade but the police department didn’t honour the privileges and protocol enjoyed by the legislators. “We felt that a wrong precedence is being set up by the police officers by showing no respect to elected representatives and we left the venue to show our resentment. We are hopeful that the minister concerned would hold an inquiry and take action against the police officers and officials responsible for it,” Gupta said. Ramesh Kumar Bhat, Principal, Police training School, Kathua, when contacted, sought to downplay the controversy by saying that there was no wrong done on “our part”. “I don’t think anything wrong happened. I was accompanying the MoS Home and the DGP. If something had happened at that time, I don’t know about it. When they (MLAs) left the function, we sent our officers to call them back so that they could have a cup of tea with us,” Bhat said. Incidentally, a nine-member Committee on Privileges constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had recently expressed displeasure over the “attitude of bureaucrats and police officers for not giving due regard to the powers, privileges and immunities” conferred upon legislators under the Constitution of the state. |
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Senior officials told to report on quake-prone school buildings
Srinagar, May 13 Interestingly, the directive comes after a report of the Union Ministry of Human Resources Development slammed the state government for not following the standard measures to construct earthquake-resistant school buildings especially in primary schools under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The state falls in the high seismic zone of IV and V. Nearly, 228 school buildings as per the official report suffered damage due to the earthquake on May 1 especially in Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu division. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, said the directive had been issued to the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts in Kashmir to submit a report stating the number of school buildings prone to earthquake damage. “We have taken a strong notice of the massive damage to school structures in remote districts of the state and have directed the respective DCs in each district to prepare a comprehensive report on the number of such schools housed in kucha buildings. We have also issued orders to construct quake-resistant school buildings from now on,” Kumar said. As per the School Education Department report in 2012, 22 per cent of the schools in the state were being run from kucha buildings, tents and in open spaces, thereby putting the children at risk during earthquakes,” he said. Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Shah, said there may be even school buildings in the summer capital which are built with sub-standard material and that earthquake measures which were issued post massive 2005 earthquake may not have been followed. “We have received orders from the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir office. We are in the process of preparing a report on all such government and private school buildings which are housed in earthquake-prone structures,” Shah said.
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Mahila Cong warns against delaying civic polls
Jammu, May 13 Addressing a meeting of workers at the Bahu Fort area, state president of the Mahila Congress Indu Pawar said the Congress was committed to decentralising power at the grass roots and the party would not hesitate over taking any extreme step to get democratic institutions strengthened at the village level. She said empowering the panchayats through the 73rd Amendment of the Indian Constitution was a dream of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Congress workers would fulfil his dream. She stressed the need for all women to come forward and take part in the coming urban local bodies elections. — TNS
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State to get new tourism policy
Srinagar, May 13 Omar said the comprehensive policy would govern and guide the growth of tourism and take necessary care for protecting and conserving the environment of the state. He said the policy should be formulated while taking all stakeholders on board. “All residents of Jammu and Kashmir are equal partners in the process of revival of tourist glory in the state,” the Chief Minister said. “A balanced approach has to be taken to rope in tourists from within the country and abroad.” The Chief Minister said the government was making all endeavours for the holistic development of tourism by encouraging adventure, sports, pilgrim and conventional tourism in the state. “The private players associated with the industry have to substantiate the government’s efforts so that the stupendous goals in the sector are achieved,” Omar said. Those present at the meeting were told that the state government had sanctioned Rs 383 crore for various development projects in the tourism sector during the last four years and 66 projects had been completed during the period. The meeting was attended by Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey, Commissioner Secretary, Tourism, Atul Dullo, senior officials and representatives of various associations and chambers connected with tourism, trade and travel. |
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Minister: Govt concerned about hardships of
cops
Jammu, May 13 The minister was speaking at the 24th attestation-cum-passing out parade at Police Training School (PTS), Kathua, this morning. He announced that a corpus fund would be established for the welfare of the police personnel and their families and an initial amount of Rs 5 crore would be provided by the government. Kichloo said manpower and infrastructure would be strengthened to bring improvements in the working of the traffic and railway police. DGP Ashok Prasad, in his welcome address, said the state police had played a pivotal role in fighting militancy and bringing normalcy in the state. Principal of Police Training School Ramesh Kumar Bhat gave an oath to recruit constables, who completed their 14 months of rigorous basic-training course at the Centre. A total of 832 recruits passed out from PTS, Kathua. Recruit constable Mulkit Singh was declared all-round best trainee and was conferred one rank promotion as a selection grade constable on the spot. Other trainees who performed extraordinary during the training period, including Zahid Ahmad Pampori and Shujat Hussain, were given cash rewards by the minister. Later, the DGP commissioned a four-storey barrack at the District Police Lines, Kathua, which has been constructed by the Police Construction Division at a cost of Rs 1.40
crore. |
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Omar readies for challenges ahead
Srinagar, May 13 He said he had learnt a lesson from his earlier experiences. A month after his taking over as the Chief Minister of the state, Omar had shared the ‘initial findings’ in the case of death of two women in Ranbir Nullah of south Kashmir in May 2009. He had to handle one of the most difficult law and order situations that summer. In 2010, his coalition government was faced with the most difficult situation in which a ‘vicious circle’ of clashes and killings resulted in the death of 120 youths in the Valley. “Many incidents have taken place in the past six months. I am happy that we are here again,” said Omar on the occasion of reopening of the Civil Secretariat here recently. The Chief Minister covertly referred to the developments in the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru on February 9 when the government was functioning from Jammu. Having witnessed adverse situations, Omar, soon after getting the information from the Centre about the execution of Afzal Guru, had alerted security agencies to handle the fallout in Kashmir. After several weeks of clashes and protests by angry mobs, the situation gradually returned to normal. The timing of Afzal Guru’s execution was well chosen, as it did not cast its shadow on the summer season, when the peace is most fragile. There is also an undercurrent of disenchantment among the Valley residents over the spurious drug scam over the recent weeks. After the last two peaceful summers, the season ahead may pose a challenge to the NC-led coalition government on the political front. Already in an election mode, all major political parties in Kashmir, the ruling National Conference, the Congress and the PDP, are eyeing the Assembly elections. |
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Kashmir lays out summer treat for tourists
Srinagar, May 13 “Air India is offering a special package so that more tourists come to Kashmir. The airline is offering 20 per cent discount on all flights while the tourists will also get a special discount during the festival period,” Tourism Minister G A Mir said while addressing a press conference here today. He said the festival would be inaugurated at the Kashmir Haat tomorrow and the authorities concerned are organising a host of cultural events to keep the tourists entertained in the evening hours as well. “There are no recreation activities available in the evening and the tourists usually do not have anywhere to go after sightseeing during the day. We will be holding several cultural programmes in the evenings, beginning with a qawwali performance by Sabri brothers on May 15,” Mir said. He said several other programmes showcasing the culture of Kashmir had been lined up to keep tourists entertained in the evenings. The minister said they were hopeful that the festival would be a big success as the weather conditions in the Valley were pleasant as compared to the rising temperatures elsewhere. Speaking on the occasion, the Director, Tourism, Kashmir, Talat Parvez, said the main aim of the festival was to bring back the tourism sector on the “revival path”. He said through the festival, they also wanted to introduce the cultural traditions that included Sufi music, folklore and other art forms. The Tourism Department along with the J&K Academy of Art Culture and Languages (JKAACL) is also hosting a two-month folk festival across the Valley these days that was inaugurated on May 4. Parvez said they were holding several adventure sports-related activities like paragliding and water sports that had not been exploited to its full potential. On the development of unexplored tourist destinations, Mir said the authorities could not fully develop the infrastructure due to the unfavourable conditions in the past. However, he said, the government was working on developing the required infrastructure so that the full potential of the tourism sector was exploited. |
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Finally, Central varsity to have campus at
Ganderba
Srinagar, May 13 Prof Qureshi was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the university in 2009. He is the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kashmir. “The university offers many courses of social relevance and market demand to students,” said Qureshi, while talking to The Tribune. The university also had a distinction of having soft-skills and socially oriented courses offering technical education to the students, he said. The CUK was one of the 10 universities in the country that conducted a common entrance test for admissions to various courses, he said. The university has 500 students enrolled in various courses. The university is also offering research programmes in English and management studies. It also offers five-year integrated LLB programme. The university started with three postgraduate departments in 2010, followed by four in 2011 and three in 2012. “We are not getting the requisite accommodation at one place,” the VC said. The university’s administrative block at Sonwar accommodates two postgraduate departments, while three other departments are housed at Magarmal Bagh and five departments at Zainakote on the city outskirts. “We are looking for accommodation for one more department,” said Qureshi. On the appointment of teachers, the VC said since the Central university had its own norms, there was no challenge to any university in the state on account of shifting of faculty. Nearly 50 per cent of the approved posts of teachers have been filled and the process is on to fill the other vacancies, said Qureshi. He said the university had young faculty members from various parts of the country. He said 95 per cent of the non-teaching positions had been filled over the recent years.
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Cong gears up for coalition meet
Jammu, May 13 The meeting holds significance because the National Conference, which is heading the government, did not attach importance to the issues raised by the Congress in the last meeting which was held on April 6. Congress sources said party leaders were enraged over the “non-serious” attitude being adopted by the National Conference towards the issues which were discussed in the last meeting. “In the last meeting, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Saifuddin Soz, who is chairman of the Coordination Committee, had set June-end deadline for conducting the urban local bodies elections but the National Conference has not taken any step in this regard”, a senior Congress leader told The Tribune on condition of anonymity. “It seems the National Conference is not taking the state Congress leadership seriously,” he added. JKPCC spokesman Ravinder Sharma said the party representatives in the Coordination Committee would take up the issue of the 73rd Amendment and civic elections in the meeting. Ravinder Sharma had headed the committee which was constituted by JKPCC chief to identify the relevant clauses of the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution to be incorporated in the exiting J&K Panchayat Raj Act. In the last Coordination Committee meeting, it had been decided that serious steps would be initiated to adopt the relevant clauses of the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution for panchayat empowerment. It was decided on April 6 that within a week’s time both Soz and Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, who belongs to the National Conference, would hold a meeting to take a final decision on the 73rd Amendment. “More than a month has passed after the last meeting but nothing has been done on the subject,” the Congress leader said. The Congress sources said leaders of the state unit of the party had brought the matter to the notice of the party high command. “The Congress high command has directed leaders of the warring factions to work unitedly to aggressively pursue the party agenda,” a source said. The coalition Coordination Committee comprises six members, three each from the National Conference and the Congress. |
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Future of 15,000 ETT students hangs in balance
Jammu, May 13 Sources said the school education board had earlier issued a notification to start counselling for the 2011-13 batch. Sources added that around 20,000 applications were received by the board and out of that 12,000 candidates had appeared in the counselling. With 8,000 seats left vacant in the counselling due to poor outcome, the ETT institutes had requested the board chairman to extend the date. Sources said the reason behind the poor response to the counselling was that the some of the institutions had failed to complete some official formalities on time and were not able to take part in the process. Sources said after submitting all the necessary formalities, the management of ETT institutes started admitting students for pursuing the course after verbal assurance given by the then board chairman that their list of students would also be accommodated while preparing the final list of students who would appear in the annual examinations. “In spite of verbal assurance given by the chairman, the authorities were not ready to accept the list of students submitted by the ETT institutes. The institutes then staged protests against the alleged negligent attitude of the school education board,” Deep Singh, one of the members of the Jammu Private Schools and ETT Institutes Association (Progressive) told The Tribune. “The board chairman then not only constituted a committee in a bid to break the deadlock but also promised to take up the issue in the high-level meeting. Unfortunately, all his attempts proved futile because he failed to put forth the case of ETT institutes before the higher authorities in a proper manner,” Deep Singh said. “As a result, the authorities have now decided to allow only those candidates to appear in the examinations whose list was prepared during the counselling process while those students who were admitted by the institutes later are not eligible to sit in the examinations,” he said. “Now, the teaching practice is beginning from May 14 and as per the date sheet issued by the board, the examinations would commence from June 14,” said another member of the association. |
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In a major setback to the J&K Government, the State Accountability Commission (SAC) has ordered an inquiry against Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand for making illegal appointments in a department he headed till recently.
Two moderate-intensity tremors were felt in the region around 8:45 am and 12 noon today. The tremors have again brought fear among the people who were trying to gather their lives after the May 1 earthquake. The tremors lasted for a short time.
As the two-week-long Kashmir Tourism Festival is getting underway tomorrow, the authorities are offering special concessions on hotel tariffs to tourists during the period besides 20 per cent discount on all Air India flights to the Valley.
