Jammu, May 21
The University of Jammu, which has remained in the centre of controversies in recent times, has issued a fresh controversial diktat banning the admission of candidates with criminal background in all departments, colleges and educational institutions affiliated to it.

The move has received a sharp criticism from the student community, which accused the university administration of following “dictatorial policies to appease certain vested interests” and “violating the fundamental right of education of a person”.

Interestingly, Jammu University holds the distinction of being the country’s first ISO-certified institute of postgraduate studies and higher learning.

“A candidate having a criminal background shall not be considered for admission to any course or programme in a university department or college or institution affiliated to the university,” a notification issued by the Registrar of the university, Prof Manoj K Dhar, said.

The irony is that the university fails to define the "nature of crime" to be considered for not giving admission to a candidate with a criminal background intending to pursue education, besides it also lacks the specified information as whether the students, who are desirous of pursuing higher education through distance education mode, would also be covered under the notification.

Furthermore, the university has also made it mandatory for the candidates to produce a character certificate from a police station or police post before their admission to the university or any college if he or she has a case pending or an FIR registered against him or her.

“According to the J&K constitution, the Right to Education is a fundamental right of every person and no one can deny this right to any person. The varsity order is illegal and absurd as it violates the provisions of the constitution. If someone really wants to pursue higher education and he is on reformative path despite his criminal background, how can the university deny him or her admission,” Dinesh Chauhan, a senior lawyer of the J&K High Court, said.

Ashwani Sharma, president, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Jammu University unit, said the university issued the order under the influence of some vested interests which were bent on ruining the future of students and scholars.

“We met the Vice Chancellor today and requested him to revoke this flawed notification which is violative of the fundamental rights of a person. The order doesn’t specify anything and it will even ban the admission of candidate who may not be guilty of any crime,” Sharma said.

Prof Manoj K Dhar, the Registrar of the varsity, when contacted, said they were reviewing the order and any decision, whether to revoke it or not, would be taken in a day or two.

Jammu, May 21
Mobile phone users having prepaid connection in the state, especially the youth, woke up with a big smile on their face this morning as the inbox of their phone started receiving SMSes after a gap of four years.

Though the Short Message Service (SMS) has lost its relevance during this gap, in the age of mobile internet and smart phones, as dozens of applications are available on these smart phones, which allow the user to send and receive unlimited messages to their friends, but the restoration of the SMS on prepaid phone connection still brings a smile on the face of the youth.

Nidhi Anand, a student of Jammu University, said, “We are happy with the restoration of SMS on prepaid connections, but it didn’t give that much happiness as compared to the pain at the time of the ban.”

On the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the restriction on SMS to the prepaid mobile phone connections in the state was revoked on Tuesday. The subscribers of the prepaid connections had made requests to the Chief Minister in this regard and he issued instructions to the agencies concerned to lift the restriction.

Vinayak Puri, a prepaid connection subscriber, said, “Earlier when people were demanding the restoration of SMS on prepaid sim cards, the CM used to say that it is the decision of the Union Home Minister, now how did he issue orders to revoke the ban?”

“I think now the youth is familiar with internet and smart phones, so it hardly matters to them, if SMS is working or not. They are already enjoying the services of Whatsapp, Vchat etc,” he added.

But the people who cannot afford internet on their mobile phones or not familier with internet are quite happy with the restoration of the SMS.

Dhyan Chand Sharma, a shopkeeper, said, “It is good that the ban on the SMS has been revoked. Sometime when the network is not so good to talk, SMS plays an important role in communication.”

“It is really a helpful service. I wonder what made Omar to delay this decision for four years when it could have been revoked within a year,” he added.

Jammu, May 21
Interference of the Transport Commissioner (TC) and disobedience by the staff allegedly forced the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Jammu, to go on leave.

Arvind Kotwal, RTO, Jammu, went on leave when his orders for the internal adjustments in his own office were ruled out twice by his staff and the Transport Commissioner also interfered in the matter.

Kotwal had issued an order, No. 86RTOJ, on March 19, in which he ordered some internal adjustments in the department for its smooth functioning. But after 12 days of his orders he received a letter from the office of the Transport Commissioner in which he enquired about the reason for the adjustment of one particular employee, and even after giving a satisfactory reply, the office of the Transport Commissioner (TC) ordered the RTO to withhold the orders and directed him to get prior approval of the TC before doing such adjustments.

Annoyed with the interference of the Transport Commissioner, the RTO sent a letter to the Secretary, Transport, vide letter number 107/RTOJ/PA/2014, dated May 7, in which he narrated the story and desired directions from the department.

Sources in the Regional Transport Office informed that some employees in the office had direct link with the Transport Commissioner and they did not follow the directions of the RTO and when the RTO ordered some internal adjustments inside the office for the smooth functioning of the department, the Transport Commissioner withhold the orders.

Again on May 12, vide order No 92 RTOJ of 2014, the RTO made some internal adjustments, which were different from the earlier adjustments, but the staff didn't followed the orders and remained on the same seats.

"The RTO was left with no other option, but to leave the office, so he went on leave for 20 days," the sources said.

When asked about the issue, the department tried to hush up the matter saying that the RTO is on leave for his personal reasons.

Raj Kumar Katoch, Additional Secretary, Transport, said, "I heard that there were some internal adjustments done by the RTO for the smooth functioning of the department. He can do so as he is the in charge of his office. But I am not aware of the facts, if the Transport Commissioner interfered in his orders," he added.

Srinagar, May 21
The ban on bulk messaging will remain in force in the state, even as the government lifted the ban on Short Messaging Service on pre-paid numbers.

Principal Secretary to the J&K Government, Home Department, Suresh Kumar had yesterday issued orders to end the four-year ban on SMS after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the authorities for its revocation. The government order has, however, made it clear to telecom operators not to allow generation of any bulk messages in the state.

“The bulk messages generated from various internet portals, Short Message Peer to Peer (SMPP) clients of various telecom service providers should be disallowed by all the licensed telecom service providers,” the government order stated.

“Further, no commercial bulk messages should be allowed to originate from/terminate in J&K state,” it added. Chief General Manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), RK Koul said the ban on sending bulk messages continues to remain enforced in the state.

“Though the ban on SMS on prepaid has ended, ban on bulk messages continues,” Koul said.

The ban on SMSs on all mobiles was imposed in J&K in July 2010 following the widespread unrest in the Valley which left over 120 dead.

While the ban on the messaging service on post-paid connections was lifted in December 2010, the government continued the ban on sending SMS in bulk on postpaid numbers.

It was suspected that bulk messages were sent by rumour-mongers and anti-social elements for spreading panic among the people. An official spokesman on Tuesday had said the ban on SMS was lifted on the instructions of the Chief Minister.

“The subscribers of pre-paid services had requested the Chief Minister in this regard and he issued instructions to the concerned agencies to lift the said restriction,” the spokesman had said. 

Jammu, May 21
As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah scrapped the new recruitment policy in the state, educated youth have expressed satisfaction over the decision.

The decision from the Chief Minister has come after the worst-ever poll debacle of the National Conference in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.

We welcome the step taken by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The idea of this policy was not right. If a person is employed under this scheme and is the sole bread earner for his or her family, how he or she will be able to feed the family by getting only Rs 2,300 or Rs 4,000. Even in teaching, which is seen as a noble profession, teachers started to look out for new options to get money.— Ayesha Mahajan, a contractual employee at pg college, udhampur

I have led a 38-day-long movement under the banner of the 'Youth of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh' for scrapping the new recruitment policy, but the government didn't listen to our demands. There was strong resentment among educated youths, who were left with no other option but to look out for some other alternatives. Presently, I am getting Rs 24,000 as scholarship, but when I will finish my PhD, the money will not be there and if I am appointed as a government teacher, I will only be getting Rs 4,300 for the first five years, which is not acceptable to us. Now, as the Chief Minister has scrapped this policy, it is a welcome step and is beneficial for the educated youth.— Nasseb Ali Choudhary, research scholar, department of urdu, university of jammu

I welcome the step taken by the Chief Minister, which surely will benefit the educated youth. The new recruitment policy was a kind of mental harassment for the educated youth, like they were in a tight corner. They were left with no option and every passing day the agony was increasing. — Nisha Choudhary, research scholar, department of chemistry, university of jammu

If the new recruitment policy would have not been scarped, it could have led to increase in corruption. When a government employee like a patwari or a sub-inspector only gets Rs 2,300 or Rs 4,000, he or she is left with no other option but to look for other avenues of earning money. But as the Chief Minister has announced scrapping of this policy, the educated youth will be able to breathe freely. — Nitin Bakshi, a student of the department of law, university of jammu

It is certainly a welcome step which the Chief Minister has taken and the youth are its direct beneficiary. Even if only few people are employed, they will get handful amount to become bread earner for their families. — Swati Sharma, research scholar, department of chemistry, university of jammu

A friend of mine was appointed as a patwari under the new recruitment scheme, who is only earning a few hundred rupees. He is waiting for completion of five years of service so that his salary increases and he can think of tying the knot. This is one of the biggest drawbacks of th new recruitment policy. There was an urgent need to scrap it and as the Chief Minister has scrapped the policy, it is a welcome step. — Ajay Kumar, a student of the department of law, university of jammu

Srinagar, May 21
The Cabinet, which met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, sanctioned the promotion of various officials besides approving opening up of seven new BEd colleges in the state.

The Cabinet, which met for the first time since February 24, accorded the sanction to promote Kuldip Lal Khajuria, Kamla Devi, Ali Raza, Bashir Ahmad Bhat and Anil Sharma to the special scale of the KAS Super Time Scale.

It also approved the promotion of 39 officials.

The list includes two officials from the Information Department --- Afsan Masood and Mohamamad Hussain and nine officials from the Revenue Department --- Zaffar Shawal, Devinder Paul, Abdul Hamid Zargar, Ghulam Ahmad Mala, Rajiv Magotra, Mohammad Syed Khan, S Paramjeet Singh, Inderjeet Singh and Sushil Keasar.

The others included in the promotion list are Sumira Shamim, Devinder Singh Bhau, Dr Arvind Karwani, Neelam Khajuria, Fayaz Ahmad Fayaz, Ghulam Qadir Wani, Veveik Puri, Jalal-ud-Ganie and Rohit Sharma, all from the Rural Development Department.

Tabasum Shafat Kamili, Harbans Lal, Syed Shabir Ahmad, Deepika Rana, Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh, Dr Khalid Hussian Malik, Ansuya Jamwal, Satish Kumar, Anil Sharma, Reyaz Ahmad Shah, Dr Zakir Hussain (ALC), Prem Singh (RBA), Mohammad Ashraf (ST) and Sachin Jamwal, all from the Social Welfare Department.

Vinakshi Koul from the Tourism Department and three officers from the Secretariat --- Amreet Singh, Mohammad Shafi Dar and Ravi Mohan Khajuria, were also promoted.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved the adoption of the Defined Pension Rules in respect of the employees of the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), authorising the Director SKICC to sanction pensions and other retirement benefits to the eligible employees of the SKICC.

The financial burden on account of pension will be borne by the SKICC out of its internal resources.

The Defined Benefit Pension Rules will be applicable to the employees of SKICC retiring on or after January 1, 2014.

However, all the appointments made in the SKICC on or after January 1, 2010, shall be governed by the New Pension Scheme Rules.

The Cabinet also approved the opening up of seven new private BEd colleges as recommended by the University of Kashmir, subject to corresponding reduction in the overall intake capacity of BEd seats in the Kashmir division.

It further approved the creation of 208 posts of different categories for organisational set up of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) at state and district levels.

The Cabinet also accorded sanction to the creation of 71 posts in various categories for the State Vigilance Commission. 

Srinagar, May 21
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the killing of a 12-year-old girl in a shell blast in Budgam district on Monday.

Terming the killing of the girl and the mutilation of her younger brother in the explosion as a grave human rights violations, the rights commission in its orders passed today observed that being a disciplined force, the Army is not expected to litter live shells like trash of paper anywhere, particularly in inhabited areas.

Simran was killed while her brother Fayaz, also a minor, critically injured after an unexploded shell, they mistook for a toy, went off in the Parraypora village near the Tosa Maidan firing range in Budgam district on May 19.

The locals had claimed that the children were returning home from school when they had spotted the littered shell on the banks of a fresh water stream in the village, which flows down the Tosa Maidan meadows, where the Army’s field firing range is located.

Srinagar, May 21
Kashmir politicians, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, today welcomed Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s invitation to SAARC leaders, particularly Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, on his swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 26.

Welcoming Modi’s invitation to Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he hoped that this was the beginning of a sustained dialogue between the two countries. “Excellent move by @narendramodi to invite SAARC leaders, especially Pak PM for his swearing-in. Hope this is beginning of sustained talks,” Omar wrote on his twitter handle soon after the news came about Modi’s invitation.

Hailing Modi’s invitation to Sharif, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in her statement termed it “a positive beginning that would generate hope among the people belonging to the large peace constituency” in South Asia.

“It is encouraging to see Modi reaching out to his neighbours at the very beginning of his tenure as the Prime Minister. He has actually sent out an encouraging signal that he is serious about following Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s initiatives of friendship towards Pakistan,” Mehbooba said while expressing hope that the Pakistan PM would positively respond to Modi’s invite.

The state looks up with renewed hope to a new beginning on the resolution of Kashmir, Mehbooba said. Her party, Peoples Democratic Party, has been a strong votary of the self-rule formula as the resolution for Kashmir.

Stating that Pakistan and Kashmir have historically been the two major challenges that all prime ministers in India have faced, Mehbooba said it augured well that Modi had recognised the importance of Pakistan as a neighbour at the outset and had set the ball rolling for a meaningful engagement.

She said the invite must result in the initiation of “solid progress” on the ground. The J&K-specific confidence-building measures between the two countries had to be strengthened and taken to the next level, she added.

Terming Modi’s invitation to Nawaz Sharif a welcome step, Kashmiri separatist leader and chairman of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said this would create “mutual trust and bring the two nations close” to each other.

“But, the Hurriyat hopes the process moves beyond invitations and results in a sustained Indo-Pak dialogue over Kashmir,” Mirwaiz said.

Srinagar, May 21
Governor NN Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), undertook an aerial survey of the Nunwan-Chandanwari-Sheshnag-Panjtarni-Baltal axis to review snow situation on the ground to assess the time by which work could commence to prepare for the annual yatra scheduled to commence on June 28. Accompanied by RK Gupta, CEO, SASB, Saugat Biswas, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, and others officials, the Governor also visited Chandanwari to inspect the status of infrastructure at the access control gate at Chandanwari.

After going around the area, the Governor directed Saugat Biswas, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, to ensure timely repairs being done to the serious damage suffered to the access control infrastructure because of an avalanche and have suitable barricades constructed to avoid mud and soil slips near the gate.

He also passed directions for the queueing area being provided CGI shelter covering and erection of chain link fencing along the pony track to regulate the movement of ponies across the access control gate. He also directed for the construction of a shelter shed and installation of high mast lights around the gate area for facilitating yatris.

The Governor inspected the entire Nunwan Base Camp area and gave directions for effective arrangements being made for the daily collection and disposal of garbage and maintenance of cleanliness in all parts of the camp, particularly the toilets area.

Poonch, May 21
In yet another violation of ceasefire, Pakistani troops targeted Indian posts near the Line of Control 
(LoC) in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district late Tuesday.

Defence spokesman Co Manish Mehta said the Pakistani soldiers violated ceasefire in the Krishna Ghati area of the LoC in Poonch yesterday.

"They opened unprovoked firing using small arms and automatic weapons. Our soldiers responded using similar calibre weapons. No damage or casualty has been reported on our side," he said.

The Pakistan army has violated the bilateral ceasefire agreement five times this year. — OC

Rajouri, May 21
The Army arrested two shepherds belonging to the Kotli tehsil of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) near the Line of Control on Tuesday.

The Jammu-based Defence spokesperson Lt Col Manish Mehta said the two individuals were repatriated via Chakan da Bagh crossing around 2.25 pm on Wednesday. He said the duo was released on humanitarian grounds and as a 
goodwill gesture.

Mohd Shabir, 50, and Moulvi Said, 60, reportedly crossed the fence yesterday while grazing their cattle.

Intelligence sources said the two had entered into the Indian territory after crossing the Line of Control (LoC) near the Bump post in the Keri sector. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Chingus police post.

Around 4 pm on Tuesday, Mohd Shabir and Moulvi Said, both residents of Mitidhara village in Kotli tehsil in PoK entered the Indian territory and were challenged and arrested by the Indian soldiers, source said.

Both were put to sustained questioning. However, it was found that the duo had entered the Indian territory inadvertently while grazing their live stock, they added.

Pahalgam, May 21
As Pahalgam turns into an assemblage of urban mess, the nearby picturesque retreat at Aru too is facing problems related to illegal constructions and sewage disposal. The unchecked flow of waste and garbage into one of the prime sources of the Lidder river at Aru is further aggravating the worsening health of the water body.

Situated 12 km north-west of Pahalgam, Aru is a mesmerising meadow base camp for trekking to the Kohlai glacier and the Tarsar Lake.

The serpentine mountainous road to Aru, running parallel to a gushing stream, which is one of the two sources of the Lidder river, is a terrible pathway to one of the best retreats in the Valley.

The road from Pahalgam to Aru is a mess of potholes over which cabs, carrying tourists, drive less and wobble more.

Polythene wrappers, plastic bottles are dumped on the slopes, which get washed into the stream.

Outside Pahalgam, where the road to Aru begins, settlements of hotels and guesthouses and colonies of huts dot the river bank, which threaten the ecology and environment of the Lidder.

Along the road to Aru also, several residential compounds have been turned into guesthouses without proper garbage disposal and sewage treatment facilities.

“No one comes to clean it here, we throw it (garbage) randomly in the area,” a restaurant owner at Aru said.

What happens to the garbage then? Scavengers eat some part of it, rest goes into the steam, he said.

A large number of tourists, who stay overnight at Pahalgam, keep trickling to Aru every day, making a brief stopover at the resort as there are no basic sanitary facilities available there.

The Aru resort, which largely remained off the tourist map in the past over a decade after a group of westerners camping there were kidnapped in 1995 by militants linked to little known Al Faran outfit, is now increasingly attracting tourists and trekkers from across the country. The possibility that Pahalgam’s unplanned transformation, mostly consisting of illegal structures, is getting expanded to Aru and it is likely to have disastrous consequences for the Lidder river. “The government is non-serious towards Pahalgam. It is allowing construction on its own will. The court has imposed a blanket ban, but the government is allowing (the construction because) there are political as well as monetary pressures,” Rafi Ahmad Mir, who represents the Pahalgam segment in the Legislative Assembly, told The Tribune.

Mir had earlier this month shot a letter to a senior government official complaining about the illegal construction in the resort area and had sought the government intervention.

Asked about the impact of growing number of residential complexes being turned into guesthouses along the Aru axis, Mir said: “Absolutely, it will have damaging consequences.”

He also accused the state government and the local authorities of “inaction”.

The health of the Lidder river has already worsened as researchers have found that its water quality has deteriorated over the time due to dumping of garbage from Pahalgam’s hotels and restaurants.

The Lidder gets its water from two mountain torrents, one of which is the Aru stream that originates from Kolhai mountains. It is joined by the streams flowing from the Tarsar and Chandasar lakes.

Srinagar, May 21
Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Chancellor Srikumar Banerjee today admitted that around 700 students of the university were facing accommodation problem as the university was still operating from three rented buildings in Zainakote, Sonawar and Magarmal Bagh of the city.

Banerjee was addressing mediapersons here wherein he said the CUK campus in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir would be functional within a few months.

“The students are definitely facing problems of accommodation, but we are in nascent stages of development and we are sure of improvisation in a few months. By now, our Master Plan for the CUK campus is ready and we have shown the same to Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. We have included their inputs as also the suggestions made by the civil society in our Master Plan,” the CUK Chancellor said.

He also elaborated on the pre-engineered structures which would be made operational in Ganderbal soon.

The university, which is currently offering various postgraduate courses, has just two hostels and faculty strength of 78.

University VC Mehraj-ud-Din said various job-oriented courses, including tourism management, automobile repairing, nanoscience and languages, would also be taught that would increase the options of courses in the Valley. 

Srinagar, May 21
Two days after the arrest of the President of the Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), Nissar-ul-Hassan, for “unlawful” activities, condemnations poured in from civil society members, separatist groups and doctors demanding his immediate release.

Hassan was arrested on Monday and booked under the Unlawful Activities Act. The police have also lodged an FIR against him. The DAK has threatened to go on indefinite strike if their president was not released.

“If Hassan is not released by tomorrow, we will be forced to shut the emergency services and the state government will be responsible for that,” said a member of the DAK.

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), Government Medical College, Srinagar, and associated hospitals, condemning the arrest of their colleague while performing professional duties, said due to his arrest, teaching and patient care had suffered in the SMHS hospital.

“We have approached the police as well as the GMC principal. They have assured us that they would take up the issue with the health minister. Tomorrow we will decide the future course of action if he is not released,” said President of the RDA Adil Ashraf.

Meanwhile, the Coaching Centres Association (CCA) of Kashmir has condemned the arrest of Nisar-ul-Hassan. The association demanded his immediate release.

The Separatist Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Geelani also condemned the arrest, besides various traders’ organisations.

The Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) while condemning the arrest said, “If he has been arrested over his statements against the government then it clearly proves that the government is restricting the freedom of expression.” 

Srinagar, May 21
Normal life was affected here today due to the shutdown call given by the separatists and the restrictions imposed by the authorities concerned in parts of the city.

The authorities concerned imposed restrictions in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of seven police stations to thwart the “Eidgah Chalo” march by the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference to commemorate the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Umar’s father Molvi Farooq and slain Hurriyat leader Abdul Gani Lone.

These included the areas falling under Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, MR Gunj, Kralkhud, Zadibal and Safakadal police stations.

Farooq was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on May 21 at his Nigeen residence in 1990, while Hurriyat leader and People’s Conference head Abdul Gani Lone was assassinated by suspected militants on May 21 in 2002 in the Eidgah area of Srinagar.

The shops, businesses, and other commercial establishments, including banks, remained closed in Srinagar. Besides, the public transport was also off the roads.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was also detained at his Nigeen residence by the authorities concerned. However, in the afternoon he was allowed by the authorities to address a press conference.

Though the authorities had imposed restrictions in most of the old city areas, the impact of the shutdown call was partial in north Kashmir areas, even as the inter-district traffic plied normally.

However, shops and other business establishments in south Kashmir, including Ananatnag and Bijbehara towns, remained closed for the day. The traffic on the highway, however, plied normally.

Condemning the imposition of restriction and foiling of the proposed Eidgah march, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said these steps exposed the tall claims of democracy by the government. “Every nation has a right to offer tributes to their leaders and martyrs, but the situation in Kashmir is different, which is an eye opener for the world community,” Mirwaiz said. 

Srinagar, May 21
The Jammu and Kashmir State Contractual Doctors Association (JKSCDA) today demanded that they should be paid salaries on par with the doctors of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

“We are the lowest paid doctors in the country. We are in a state of gloom as we are not able to take care of us and our families properly. We demand that our salaries should be on par with the NRHM doctors who too have been recruited on contractual basis,” President, JKSCDA, Imtyaz Maqbool Banday said.

“We represent all those doctors who have been recruited under SRO-255 of J&K. We are the unfortunate bunch of doctors whose status and values have been degraded by a mere contractual tag,” he added. Claiming that they were being paid less than permanent peons, the JKSCDA statement said: “We are being paid a consolidated salary of Rs 14,700 per month, which is sheer injustice with our profession keeping in view the amount of hard work which one gives in becoming a doctor.” — TNS