Srinagar, June 5
The Chairman of the State Legislative Council on Thursday said he would be shortly examining a report submitted by the Privilege Committee over the pay-off row involving former Army Chief General and Union Minister V K Singh before taking any decision on summoning him.

“The privilege motion against the former Army Chief remains alive,” Chairman of the Legislative Council Amrit Mahlotra told The Tribune.

The former Army Chief, who has taken over as the Minister of State for Development of the North Eastern Region, had disclosed in a television interview in September last year that the Army was paying money to various political functionaries in J&K.

“The six-member Privilege Committee has submitted a report and I will be examining it shortly. A decision on summoning him will be taken after examining the report,” Mahlotra said. “I am not aware of what the committee has mentioned in its report. The committee was constituted after a privilege motion was moved jointly by three members,” he added.

Mahlotra said the nature of proceedings would not be affected with the former Army Chief become a minister now. The former Army Chief had failed to appear twice before the Legislative Council in connection with the privilege motion against him.

In September last year, Malhotra had referred the privilege motion jointly moved by ruling National Conference members Ajay Sadhotra, Devender Singh Rana and Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy on the comments made by the former Army Chief to the Privilege Committee.

Sources, however, said that there was a face-off between the National Conference (NC) and Congress members in the committee over the issue of the legality of the Privilege Committee of the Council. The NC members in the committee had sought that warrants be issued against General Singh. However, Congress members termed the constitution of the committee as illegal.

The J&K Assembly, where the former Army Chief is also facing a privilege motion, rejected his plea for quashing the proceedings against him in January this year.

Jammu/Rajouri, June 5
Two minor rape victims were denied medical treatment in government hospitals within a span of 10 days. A 12-year-old rape victim was refused medical treatment at government hospitals in Nowshera, Rajouri and Jammu.

The other victim who is three years old, a resident of Bishnah, also had to meet the similar fate on May 22. She was refused treatment at three ‘ultramodern’ hospitals.

The 12-year-old victim was denied treatment at Sub-District Hospital, Nowshera, on May 31 after she was raped. She was referred to District Hospital, Rajouri where she was again denied treatment.

The victim was then referred to Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh Hospital (SMGS) in Jammu. The hospital denied treatment to the victim when she reached there at 4 pm on June 2.

The girl was hospitalised at Sarwal Government Hospital.

After media reported the case, three probes were ordered by the Rajouri Deputy Commissioner Hemant Kumar Sharma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Nowshera, Deepti Uppal and Director, Health Services, Baljeet Pathania.

The Rajouri deputy commissioner said, “A probe is being conducted by a magistrate who will be assisted by a block medical officer, gynaecologist and Rajouri chief medical officer (CMO). They will submit their report in a day or two and then action will be taken.”

District Hospital, Rajouri, has three gynaecologists --- Senior Medical Officer Dr Neeru, junior consultants gynaecologists Sangeeta Parihar and Suresh Kapahi.

SDM, Nowshera, Deepti Uppal said: “Three probes are on and the executive magisterial inquiry, which I have ordered, will be hopefully completed in a day or two.”

Rajouri CMO Rajiv Sharma said, “We have sought an explanation from the three doctors and it has been sent to Director, Health Services, Dr Pathania.” Sharma, however, refused to give details of the explanation.

On May 23, the police accompanied the Bishnah rape victim to three government hospitals to get her medical examination done.

However, the hospitals refused to carry out her medical examination even when an FIR had already been registered in the case.

The minor was allegedly raped by a man, a father of two, in Bishnah tehsil on May 22.

The hospitals which denied treatment to the victim are Government Hospital, Bishnah, Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar, and SMGS Hospital, Jammu.

“The doctors who denied medical tests and treatment to the victims are party to commission of crime under the law of the land,” said a senior High Court lawyer.

Health and Medical Education Minister Taj Mohiuddin and Director, Health Services, Dr Pathania were not available for comment.

Jammu, June 5
The State Bank of India’s advertisement reserving 125 posts of assistant for aspirants speaking Kashmiri or Urdu under its special recruitment drive for Kashmir and Ladakh regions has triggered a controversy with the state unit of the BJP seeking necessary amendment in the notification.

The eligibility criteria states that candidates applying for the state of Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmir valley/Ladakh) must have the knowledge (read and speak) of Kashmiri or Urdu language, which would be tested during the course of interview of the candidates who qualify.

It further states that candidates selected for the state of Jammu and Kashmir will be posted in branches or offices of the bank in the various districts of Kashmir valley or Ladakh. The minimum stay in the Valley or Ladakh for newly appointed assistants will be eight years, the advertisement added.

Taking a serious note of the rider attached to the recruitment drive, the state unit of the BJP has written to the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley requesting him to intervene and bring necessary amendment in the notification.

The party said no regional language bar had been imposed upon the candidates of other states, but for the candidates of Jammu and Kashmir the rider had been fixed and condition imposed as it deprived the youth from the Jammu region.

The BJP state unit pleaded that if the policy adopted by the SBI for the recruitment was not corrected and all the three regions were not given due representation it would lead to playing into the hands of the forces that want to divide the society. When contacted, a senior official in the Central Recruitment and Promotion Department, Corporate Centre, Mumbai, said the bank would soon issue a clarification in this regard.

Srinagar, June 5
Members of the 14th Finance Commission today arrived for a three-day visit to the state. They will hold meetings with the J&K Government and key stakeholders. The commission members, led by former Reserve Bank of India Governor Dr YV Reddy, arrived in the city this afternoon, senior government officials said.

The members visiting the state include Chairman of the 14th Finance Commission Dr YV Reddy, former finance secretary Sushma Nath, director of National Institute for Public Finance and Policy Dr M Govinda Rao, member of Planning Commission of India Prof Abhijit Sen and former acting chairman of the National Statistical Commission Dr Sudipto Mundle.

Soon after their arrival, the commission members held meetings with representatives of rural and urban local bodies, officials said.

The members later also had an interaction with the representatives of the trade and industry sector in which the state Financial Commissioner for Industries and Commerce Khurshid Ahmed Ganai also participated.

The representatives of the trade and industry sector highlighted the required measures that need to be initiated for the development of the sector in the state.

During their stay, the commission members would meet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and officials of the Finance and Planning Departments. The members will also hold meetings with delegations of industrialists, panchayat members and local bodies in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh before finalising their recommendations to address the fiscal needs of the state for the next five years (2015-2020).

The state government is likely to seek additional financial aid from the 14th Finance Commission of India for the development of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies.

The commission will finalise its recommendations by October 2014 after completing its discussions with all state governments, the Government of India and relevant stakeholders.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday presented a memorandum to the 14th Finance Commission in a meeting here and sought that unique constitutional special status must be reflected in its fiscal transfers, a party spokesman said. He said the two-member team from the party comprising chief spokesperson Naeem Akhtar and MLA Peerzada Mansoor Hussain raised the issue about treating J&K a special category state given its unique constitutional special status in the country. “The state’s unique constitutional special status must be reflected in its fiscal transfers. It is not merely a special category state decided by an executive order of the National Development Council such as other special category states. J&K’s special status is enshrined in the Constitution of India,” the party delegation said. They also raised the issue of hydropower and demanded that the state should get rentals of its waters that are used for national hydro-generation and the profit made by the Centre out of J&K’s waters must be shared with the state, the spokesman added. — TNS

Srinagar, June 5
The shrine of Ragnya Devi will be thronged with devotees tomorrow during Mela Kheer Bhawani celebrations. Located at Tullamulla, 27 km from here, the shrine has for years been hosting an annual fair for those seeking blessings and getting wishes fulfilled.

Hardcore devotees consider the shrine, which houses a small white marbled temple over a spring, “very strong”.

“The shrine of Ragnya Mata is very strong and if one knows how to ask, all what he or she wishes for will get fulfilled,” said Chunni Lal, a devotee.

They believe that the Devi earlier resided in the present-day Sri Lanka and was worshipped by Ravana. “Mata came here with Lord Hanuman after she was unhappy with the ways of Ravana, who also happened to be her devotee. Before her arrival, a (local) sage had a vision of her arrival and Mata came here with 360 nagarajas,” Lal said.

Besides seeking blessings, Kashmiri Pandits offer milk and petals to Ragnya Devi during the mela. The changing colours of the spring are believed to foretell the months ahead.

The spring, according to devotees, changes seven colours. “Black or red is not a good omen. Light colours like blue, white and pink augur well for the future,” Lal said as the spring is believed to have turned dark before the eruption of militancy in the state.

While a havan will start at the shrine from tonight till tomorrow morning, adequate arrangements have been put in place for devotees, mainly Pandits and migrants, who come from outside the Valley. Both mainstream and separatist leaders too have been seen at the shrine during the mela during the past few years.

Srinagar, June 5
Governor NN Vohra today felicitated the people on the eve of Kheer Bhawani Mela. The Governor observed that the festival was a shining example of communal harmony and brotherhood, the hallmarks of the glorious pluralistic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.

He prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also prayed for peace and well-being of the people of the state and the country.

Omar said the celebration of the mela in amity and brotherhood had remained the trait of the people here since ages.

Meanwhile, the council of ministers in separate statements greeted the people on the occasion.

Reasi, June 5
At least 30 Shiv Khori pilgrims were injured today, three of them critically, when a bus carrying them overturned at the Taryath Kanda area in Reasi district. The pilgrims belonged to Uttar Pradesh and were on their way to the Shiv Khori cave shrine.

The police said the bus skidded off the road and overturned at Kanda in the Pouni belt resulting in injuries to at least 30 pilgrims. The injured were admitted to a hospital at Pouni near Ransoo, the base camp of the shrine.

The pilgrims who suffered serious injuries were identified as Indra Devi (53), Suda Devi (42) and Ambika (45). They were later shifted to Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu.

Srinagar, June 5
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court today passed strictures against the Pollution Control Board (PCB) authorities for filing a vague compliance report with regard to action taken against the hotels at Katra town in Jammu which did not conform to pollution control norms.

In its orders passed today, a Division Bench of the High Court, headed by Chief Justice MM Kumar, wanted to know why sealing orders had not been issued against the hotels which did not have sewage treatment plants (STPs), as was done in Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

In its orders passed on March 20, the HC had observed that all hotels at Jammu, Patnitop and Katra must comply with the directions on installation of sewage treatment plants as envisaged under the J&K pollution control norms.

It had told the government to file a status report on the hotels in the areas, complying with the earlier High Court directions on installation of sewage treatment plants.

“The compliance report of the PCB is far from satisfactory. Advocate General (M Ishaq Qadri) assured that all effective steps shall be taken to ensure that the hotels in category-A have the STPs operational,” the Bench said in its orders passed in the PIL, calling for preservation of eco-sensitive areas of Gulmarg and Tangmarg and observing that the compliance report filed by PCB secretary AK Tikoo is vague in nature.

“What is the effect of the suspension of commercial operations (of the hotels in Jammu) is yet to be known. We are left with an impression that the order (of the court) is only on paper and in reality, all 96 hotels are operating (at Katra). And, there is no sealing process undertaken by the PCB authorities as was done in Gulmarg,” the High Court observed in its orders today.

The Bench further observed that the advocate general states that all effective steps should be taken by applying the sealing process to all hotels in the state.

It directed the respondents, including the PCB authorities, to file a proper status report by next hearing, indicating the steps taken with regard to the suspension orders and the sealing process.

The court also asked the advocate general to ensure the presence of the chairman and the secretary of the PCB by the next hearing, fixed on Wednesday.

Earlier directions The court had ordered sealing and suspension of commercial activities of the hotels at Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Srinagar city, which had not complied with the pollution control norms on installation of the STPs. In March this year, the court directed that hotels at Jammu, Katra and Patnitop must also ensure their compliance with regard to the directions on installation of sewage treatment plants.

More than 4.5 lakh employees in the state government have a reason to rejoice as the state Cabinet enhanced their retirement age by two years. It is a gamble that can help the government in the Assembly elections. The move can also backfire as a large section of the youth is not amused by what many call a “historic” decision of the Omar Abdullah government.

For the government staff, it is celebration time as they will now retire after attaining the age of 60 years, instead of 58. They had been asking for this for quite a long time and the government has obliged them because of the obvious political considerations.

It is a case of delayed delivery for the employees who have been agitating over this demand for almost a decade. It is also celebration time for all those who had attained the age of 37 years as the direct recruitment age has been enhanced to 40 years.

On the other hand, the reason for their celebration has become a cause of despair for others. The youth, who could have got jobs till the age of 37, may now have to wait till the age of 40 years, as three more years have been added to their employment period. Going by the current rules, they would have got a minimum service of 21 years (37 to 58), but now it has been reduced to 20 years (40 to 60).

The move is related to the debacle of the National Conference and the Congress in the parliamentary polls and a wish to do better. It is a desperate bid of the two parties to recapture the lost political fields across Jammu and Kashmir. The two parties that contested three seats each in the parliamentary polls recorded their most dismal electoral performance — the Congress in Jammu and Ladakh regions and the NC in the Kashmir valley.

A fact that might have escaped the government is that how will those government employees react who have retired in the past one or two years, or for that matter those who retired in May this year. They will become another block of people who are feeling betrayed. Their political considerations too will become a political factor.

The government while winning the constituency of the employees has at the same time created another constituency against itself — of the employees who retired in the past couple of years and unemployed youth.

The Omar Abdullah government has played the same card that the Farooq Abdullah government had played ahead of the 1987 Assembly elections, when the retirement age was upped from 55 to 58. It may be a coincidence that time too the National Conference-Congress government was in power. Farooq was heading the government with the patronage of then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The National Conference- Congress alliance had won handsomely. The 1987 polls are also infamous for the rigging that triggered militancy in Kashmir.

Omar perhaps thought that such a bonanza for employees would enhance his party’s chances in the Assembly polls, which are drawing closer every passing day. As a young man himself, he should have calculated that keeping the youth idle for such a long time could have its repercussions.

In 2009, when Omar became the youngest Chief Minister at the age of 38, he had remarked that elders should make way for the youth. It was seen as the dawn of a new morrow. Now, he has told the youth to have more patience. Will the strategy work? Only the results in the Assembly elections will tell.

Jammu, June 5
After the decision of the Union Government to change the nomenclature of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) — the territory annexed by Pakistan in 1947, to Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the next strategic move of the BJP is to allot eight seats of the Legislative Assembly to the displaced persons from the region to change the political discourse in the state.

Furthermore, the party has also decided to mount pressure on the Union Government to reserve at least one Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha seat for PoJK refugees.

A total of 24 seats in the Assembly have been reserved for the residents of PoJK because both state and Centre consider the territory a part of India.

Of the total 113, at present there are 89 members (including two nominated females) in the Assembly because a quota of 24 seats has been frozen for the residents of PoJK.

“Our stand is clear that from the quota of 24 reserved seats, at least eight seats should be allotted to the displaced persons of PoJK living in different areas of the Jammu region,” said BJP leader Hari Om. He referred to the resolution passed in the last state executive committee meeting of the BJP in which the party had supported the demand of grant of six seats to the PoJK refugees and reservation of three Assembly seats to the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

The BJP has reasons to rake up the demand of allotting eight seats to PoJK refugees because the party has strong base among the displaced community. “The allotment of eight seats to PoJK would enhance Jammu’s share in the J&K politics and would help in changing the political discourse,” a senior BJP leader told The Tribune and added that it would help the party to stake its claim to form the government on its own in J&K.

The BJP won three of the total six seats in the Lok Sabha elections in J&K.

Presently, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh have 37, 46 and 4 seats, respectively, in the Assembly.

As per the J&K Constitution, two women members are nominated to the Assembly. “If the Union Government is so serious about resolving the issues of the PoJK refugees, it should allot at least eight Assembly seats to the displaced community members out of the total 24 frozen after 1947,” said Narinder Singh, convener of the PoJK Refugee Sangharsh Morcha. ore than 33 per cent of the population of PoJK is presently living in the Jammu region so from the quota of reserved seats, at least eight seats should be allotted to us as per the population proportion,” he said.

Party wants seats in LS for refugees Of the total 24 Assembly seats freezed for PoJK refugees, the BJP demands eight for refugees living in Jammu. The party also decides to mount pressure on the Union Government to reserve Rajya Sabha or Lok Sabha seat for PoJK refugees.

Srinagar, June 5
With an eye on the forthcoming Assembly polls, the National Conference-led government has decided to fill nearly 2,500 vacancies in the Higher Education Department.

The Public Service Commission has put out a notice inviting applications for filling up 1,651 posts of assistant professors for teaching 44 subjects across various degree colleges of the state.

The move comes days after the National Conference received a drubbing in the recently concluded parliamentary polls. The party lost all the three seats it was contesting on in the Valley.

Of the total posts advertised, 782 vacancies have been reserved for various categories including Residents of Backward Area, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and physically challenged.

Official sources said over 630 posts of lecturers will soon be filled for teaching Class XI and Class XII students of government higher secondary schools of the state.

The state Cabinet had recently changed the recruitment rules for teaching posts in the Higher Education Department, making written test compulsory for even those candidates who have qualified National Eligibility Test and State Level Eligibility Test.

The aspirants while appreciating the government move said giving 90 per cent weightage to post graduation score as per the new guidelines would put students of state universities at a disadvantage.

“Kashmir University and Jammu University are known for stringent marking and therefore the post graduate pass outs from these varsities turn out to be scoring less in PG-level courses as compared to their counterparts from outside the state universities,” said Maira, a Srinagar-based post graduate in management.

“Giving 90 per cent weightage to just post graduate score is uncalled for and it appears written test and interview are mere formalities,” she said.

Job bonanza The Public Service Commission has put out a notice inviting applications for filling 1,651 posts of assistant professors Of the total posts advertised, 782 vacancies have been reserved for various categories, including Residents of Backward Area, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and physically challenged 630 posts of lecturers will soon be filled for teaching Class XI and Class XII students of government higher secondary schools

Jammu, June 5
Despite a spurt in intrusion bids from across the border, the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers today held second round of meeting at the Zero Line close to famous shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamliyal, in the Ramgarh sub-sector of Samba.

“The commandant-level meeting was held today around 11 am wherein the BSF sought to know from the Rangers the list of Pak delegation, which would be visiting the Chamliyal Mela (fair) on June 26,” a senior BSF officer said.

He said a similar meet was held between the two sides at the same place yesterday.

“A wing commander from the Rangers’ side along with his subordinate officers and a company commandant from the BSF and other officers attended the meeting,” the officer said, adding the two sides discussed fair-related issues, like number of invitees to come from Pakistan on June 26, the area where seating arrangement would be made for the visiting dignitaries, etc…

“The Rangers will inform us about the exact number of visiting dignitaries in due course of time,” he added.

“In today’s meeting, other issues pertaining to border guarding, including removal of wild growth from the tracks on both the sides of the Zero Line also cropped up,” the officer said.

On June 27 last year, at least seven serving judges and as many mediapersons from Sialkot district were part of the 40-member delegation from Pakistan that participated in the annual fair held in the memory of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas.

The three-day annual fair is held every year on the last Thursday of June.

The Rangers offer “chaddar” at the shrine, while the BSF in turn gives “shakkar (soil)” and “sharbat (holy water)” from the shrine to Pakistani devotees.

Srinagar, June 5
A delegation of the organising committee of the 33rd Ladakh Kalchakra-2014, led by Minister for Urban Development and Urban Local Bodies Nawang Rigzin Jora, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

The delegation invited the Governor to attend the Kalachakra initiation. It comprised of Nubra MLA Tseatan Namgyal, former MP Khampo Rinpoche, president of the Ladakh Buddhist Association Tondup Tsewang and president of the Ladakh Gonpa Association Geyshe K Namgyal.

Jora apprised the Governor about arrangements being made at Leh in connection with celebrations of the Kalchakra, scheduled to be held from July 3 to 24.

The Governor told the delegation that he would participate in the ceremonies.

The Governor and the delegation discussed important matters relating to the growth and development of the Ladakh region. — TNS

Pulwama, June 5
After experiencing a good crop of peas this year, farmers in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district said the Department of Agriculture was doing nothing to market the crop properly and encourage them to increase its production.

Many farmers in this agrarian district have shifted to pea farming, replacing mustard and vegetables, due to its commercial value and prospect of being a seasonal cash crop.

The farmers said shifting to pea cultivation last year had fetched them more money than the previous years.

“Two years ago, we used to cultivate mustard but one of our neighbours experimented with pea and fetched good money. We also took to pea cultivation but lack of proper marketing has made us desperate as buyers buy it at a low cost,” said Abdul Rehman, a farmer.

While admitting that the pea production had increased in the district, District Agricultural Officer, Pulwama, Ghulam Hassan Guroo said: “It was not grown on a commercial level a few years ago so we were not registering its production. But as its production has been witnessing an increase, we have established a cluster centre in the district,” said Guroo.

“We do not have any marking section in the department which could monitor the rates,” said Guroo, adding that market regulation needs to be done so that the farmers are not deceived or exploited by some vested interests who indulge in money laundering.

Samba, June 5
Residents of border Madhoon village held a protestat Rajpura against the Power Development Department (PDD) for not restoring power supply to the area.

Protesters raised slogans against the authorities and demanded restoration of power supply in the area. They said they would intensify their protest if the power supply was not restored soon.

The protesters alleged that the people of the Madhoon area had been reeling under constant darkness due to some technical problem in the transformer which had not been replaced by the department.

"We are living in scorching heat for more than two weeks and the authorities have been acting as mute spectators" said Ramdhan, naib sarpanch of the village.

He said the people of the area had informed the authorities about the crisis but nothing had been done in this regard so far.

"There is no light for the last two weeks and nobody is listening to us. We have made several complaints to the authorities but all in vain," said Veena Devi, a local. — OC

Jammu, June 5
Though the Army in militancy-plagued Jammu and Kashmir has so far not come across any visible signs of Taliban in the “crucial” year of 2014, top officers here certainly feel that their (Taliban cadres) diversion to the restive state in the presence of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) can make things “difficult” for the security forces.

“As of today the Kashmir valley alone has 50 to 60 Lashkar cadres,” Kashmir zone IGP Abdul Gani Mir told The Tribune.

On May 29, a day before his retirement, outgoing Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra had also voiced his concern that post NATO forces drawdown from Afghanistan this year, Jammu and Kashmir will “feel a considerable effect”.

“Though we haven’t come across any substantial or clinching sign that can indicate Taliban diversion to Jammu and Kashmir in the current year as yet, the possibility of Taliban getting diverted and presence of Lashkar within the state could certainly make things difficult,” said a top Army officer.

Highly indoctrinated by their handlers, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Toiba fighters are also known for their guerrilla warfare tactics.

An intelligence source said, “With the Lashkar-e-Toiba already in the state and if Taliban gets in, then these two outfits could flare up insurgency and make things difficult. Therefore, security forces have to remain extra cautious on the borders.”

After an encounter between the Army and a group of terrorists in Bagial Dhara on the Line of Control in the Poonch sector on May 10, a police officer had reportedly decoded a mark “TTM” from an AK-47 rifle butt recovered from one of the two slain militants as “Tehreek-e-Taliban Mujahid” — a terror outfit comprising Taliban cadres that operate in various parts of Pakistan.

However, DIG, Rajouri-Poonch range, AK Atri said, “The mark on one weapon alone can’t be a testimony to the diversion of Taliban cadres to Jammu and Kashmir. We cannot draw such conclusions.”

The DIG said it might have been a deliberate attempt either by Pakistan's secret agency ISI or terror outfits operating in PoK to mislead Indian security forces.

Another Army officer said, “We are fully alert to the changing dynamics in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Keeping in mind all changes which are happening around, the men at the borders are fully prepared to take on the challenges.”

It may also be placed here that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai during his recent visit to Delhi had squarely blamed Lashkar for attacking Indian consulate in Herat.

Handwara, June 5
Patients in Handwara are facing problem as the CT scan machine at District Hospital, Handwara, is non-operational. The machine was procured by the hospital management some three months ago for Rs 3.60 crore. It is non-operational due to lack of services of a neurologist.

“I paid Rs 4,500 to get a CT scan done at a private clinic in Srinagar. At the district hospital, it could have cost me Rs 500,” said Ghulam Mohammad Bhat from Sudal village of Handwara tehsil.

Handwara residents said they had made several representations to the medical superintendent of the hospital to make the machine functional but nothing had been done.

“What is the point of having a CT scan machine at a hospital when it is of no use to the patients. We made several requests to the head of the hospital to make the facility functional but nothing has been done,” said Manzoor Ahmad Malik, a Handwara resident.

The hospital is witnessing a huge rush of patients from across Kupwara district.

The locals have appealed to the health minister to take steps and make the machine operational for public use at the earliest.

“We appeal to the minister to post a neurologist at the hospital and make the facility available. In the absence of this facility, patients are forced to visit private clinics in Srinagar,” said Nazir Ahmad Magray, a trader from Handwara.

Medical Superintendent of the Handwara hospital Dr Rouf said, “I have again written to the director, Health Services, Kashmir, requesting him to post a neurologist (at the hospital) at the earliest. I am looking forward to posting of the doctor for handling the operations.”

Rajouri, June 5
The BJP today urged the Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University authorities here to work for the prosperity of the institute rather than engaging in political activities for their vested interests.

The party called for Chief Minister and Chancellor of the university Omar Abdullah’s intervention to control the damage to the reputation of the institute.

“Instead of concentrating on improving the existing courses and facilities in the university, the authorities are busy politicking and that too when examinations are in progress,” said Vibodh Gupta, BJP state vice president.

He alleged that some of the pass out students from the varsity had approached him with the complaint that they were facing difficulty in perusing higher education and getting jobs as the diploma provided by the institute was not approved by the All India Council for Technical Education.

Gupta also suggested that the university must try and retain employees and provide 25 per cent reservation to the local qualified people.

He urged the varsity authorities to stop recruiting lecturers on ad-hoc basis as it affects the quality of education imparted at the institute.

“The university should recruit people on permanent basis so that they can contribute towards the progress of the institute,” he said.

Jammu, June 5
Mercury soared to 43.6°C in the city today, making it the hottest day of the session. A clear and hot day was observed in the winter capital of the state. Heatwave may intensify in the coming days.

The hottest day has been observed in Jammu with the maximum temperature of 43.6°C. Weatherman announced that the heatwave had made its way into the city and the temperature was expected to oscillate between 42 and 45°C till the weekend. The maximum temperature might rise up to 45°C and no respite from the heat was expected before the monsoon set in.

The Met Department of the state forecasts, "Overall weather will be mainly dry over the state and heatwave to continue in some pockets of the Jammu region."

The Met Officer said it was the maximum temperature in last two years. The maximum temperature in 2012 was 45.2°C on May 25, while the maximum temperature recorded last year was 42.1°C on June 6, in 2011 it was 42.4°C on May 17.

Met officials said, "The heatwave will continue to grip the state till the monsoon sets in. Monsoon, which is expected to reach Kerela by a day after, may hit the state at its scheduled time, which is July 1."

The overall maximum temperature was recorded at 43.6°C in Jammu and minimum at 26.2°C.

Jammu, June 5
The tourist and pilgrimage season started with rise in airfare up to 50 per cent, whereas all trains from or for Jammu are packed for the next two months.

Pilgrims and tourists planning to visit Vaishno Devi and other tourist places of the city during summer vacation are disappointed with the means of transport as all the trains from and for Jammu are full for the next two months and the air fares are about 50 per cent higher than the normal rates.

Despite having daily traffic of about 30 trains to and from the Jammu Tawi railway station, pilgrims fail to get confirmed tickets these days.

Sapna Panday, a Vaishno Devi pilgrim from Delhi said, “We didn’t get the train ticket for Jammu even in the Tatkal quota, so we decided to come by air, but the airfare has also been increased. The waiting list from Delhi to Jammu is more than 100.”

RN Meena, Divisional Traffic Manager, Northern Railways, said, “ All trains to and from the Jammu Tawi railway station are fully packed.”

“To control the heavy rush and accommodate all the passengers and pilgrims, we have started eight special trains,” he added.

However, many of the passengers are still not getting a confirm ticket.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the heavy rush during vacation, all the airlines have increased airfare for Jammu. The average rate of the airfare for the Jammu-Srinagar flight was around Rs 4,000, but for the months of June and July the fare in not less than Rs 7,800 in any flight. As far as the flights from Delhi to Srinagar are concerned, the cheapest flight from Delhi to Srinagar is around Rs 9,900, which more than double the normal fare.

“I usually get ticket for Srinagar within Rs 4,500, but I was shocked when I checked the rates for June 8, there was no ticket below Rs 8,600,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a businessman from Srinagar.

Arvind Khajuria, a ticket agent said, “We always face the problem of availability and fare rise in this season, but this time the rates have been increased by more than 50 per cent.”

“We always suggest our regular customers to book their tickets a month before travelling in summer vacation to get availability in trains and better fares in flights,” he added.

Airline officials say that this is the trend of the airlines. Whenever the demand rises, the fare increases accordingly. It is completely on the first come, first serve basis.

Srinagar, June 5
The Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club (JKHC) today demanded to waive licence fee on exploration of underground water.

During a public hearing meeting that was organised by the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA), the JKHC team raised the issues being faced by them.

“Obtainment of licence or deposit of any fee will put the stakeholders in huge crisis. We, as business community, have to observe and obey lot of directions, requirements and guidelines from the government time to time and other authorities to run the business. It will further burden our units,” the JKHC members pointed out as per Musadiq Shah, secretary general of the association.

Stating that the hoteliers faced water scarcity problem during summer months when tourists arrive, the JKHC statement said: “It is the groundwater (tubewell) which that provides some relief to hoteliers. We further suggested that there should be no bar on the depth of tubewell or what it is connected with - electric motor or a hand pump. We strongly advocate for removal of licence fee on exploration of groundwater or restricting the depth of tubewell.”

Shah said the JKWRRA chairman assured them that they would see what best could be done.

Jammu, June 5
As the summer vacation (June 6 to July 31) in all government institutions, including recognised private schools up to higher secondary level, falling in the summer zone commences tomorrow, the Chief Education Officer (CEO), Jammu, warned that strict action would be taken against private educational institution it they were found violating the order of summer vacation in schools.

Tarsem Lal, Chief Education Officer, Jammu, said strict action would be taken against the erring institutions if found violating the Director, School Education (DSE), order.

"We will leave no stone unturned to ensure proper implementation of this order," Tarsem Lal said.

"Though there are some private educational institutions which are not ready to obey the orders claiming that they have affiliation from the Central Board of School Education (CBSE), but now they have to follow the order in its true letter and spirit," Tarsem Lal maintained.

"After the summer vacation starts, we will keep a strict vigil on all educational institutions whether they have closed or not and if any school found violating the order, whether it is affiliated with the CBSE or J&K Board of School Education (JKBOSE), strict action will be taken against it," Tarsem Lal said.

Sources said the warning had been given by the CEO in advance after reports poured in from different parts of the city during previous summer vacation regarding opening of some private institutions. They were found violating the order passed by the DSE, Jammu, openly.

The sources added that parents of the students of some private schools had complained to the authorities that their children had faced great hardship while attended the schools in the severe hot weather in the last summer vacation. They claimed that the managements concerned had not closed the institutes despite a clear order issued by the DSE, Jammu.

"During the previous summer vacation, my ward was asked to come to school without uniform for attending tuitions during the vacation period. Not only the parents like me, but also our children were worried over the decision of the managements of private institutions with regard to late summer vacation," a parent said.

Srinagar, June 5
Even as the Supreme Court has given clear guidelines for schools to follow while transporting the children to and from school in buses, something which is not being adhered to in Kashmir schools, putting the lives of children at risk.

According to the SC guidelines, all school buses should be painted yellow with the name of school written on both sides with phone numbers, but in the city the situation is different as only a few schools have their own vehicles. “Many schools completely violate the norms. They do not follow the guidelines, thus putting the lives of children at risk. The vehicles don’t have proper insurance and cover for the safety of children,” said a parent.

Some schools hire private vehicles to ferry children and the children are packed like cattle. This is in gross violation of the guidelines as these buses don’t comply with the desired standards and norms. They also lack proper seating arrangement and ventilation.

Officials of the Regional Transport Office Department while admitting that the department was facing a human resource crunch said they only pass those vehicles for fitness test that follow the guidelines, but the parents who send their wards to school should also check such violations.

“There were some schools in the city that used SRTC buses for transporting students, but now we have completely banned them,” said the officials. The officials said they had also written letters to all educational institutions to strictly adhere to the guidelines keeping in view the safety of schoolchildren.

“It has to be a collective effort. We have already written letters to schools,” an official of the Regional Transport office said.

They alleged that there was no proper space in buses to keep bags below the seats, leave aside first-aid kit and fire extinguisher, which the SC guidelines have made compulsory.

Besides, the schools should ensure reliable locks in bus doors and the vehicles should not cross the speed limit of 40 km/per hour. However, sadly the guidelines are often flouted.

SC guidelines School buses should be painted yellow with the name of school written on both sides with phone numbers Every school bus carrying children should install a speed governor of specified standard so that the speed of the bus doesn't go beyond a permissible limit Windows of the bus should be fitted with horizontal grills There should be a fire extinguisher fitted in the bus The doors of the bus should be fitted with reliable locks There must be a qualified attendant in the school bus to attend to children A teacher should also travel along with children so that safety measures are ensured The driver of the vehicle should have at least five years of experience in driving heavy vehicles. And if a driver is fined for more than a year, he should not be employed

Srinagar, June 5
Students of Hattrick Public School enacted plays to mark World Environment Day on its campus here today. The students enacted plays and skits creating awareness of environment.

Chairman of the school Showkat Chowdhary said, “The school provides the students best environment to build their overall personality. We want our students to compete with the students from outside the state who have a lot of facilities. We are providing them all those facilities which will help them grow intellectually and academically besides improving their overall personality,” said Chowdhary.

“The performance of our students is appreciating. Our students can perform at any place at any level,” said Chowdhary.

He said the school did not only make students aware about the environment, but also makes them enact and perform on the stage.

The students made dustbins, planted trees and performed plays which inculcated in them the sense of the environment around them. “In this social age, we don’t want to advertise, we want to engage kids in practical measures to preserve environment,” he said.

Noted academician Hawa Bashir, who was the chief guest, highlighted the importance of environment.

Expressing concern over the deteriorating environment, she urged the students to preserve it and plant trees. She also urged the school administration to involve students in measures to preserve the environment.

Bashir complimented the school for organising such an event.

Schoolchildren and guests also planted trees as part of the plantation drive organised on the day.

Srinagar, June 5
Hosts Jammu and Kashmir dominated the first-ever open National Mountain Running challenge for both men and women at the famous hill resort of Pahalgam in south Kashmir yesterday.

Five medals, including two golds and silver each, were shared by the state athletes, while Maharashtra pocketed a bronze medal, a spokesman for the Indian Mountain Running Association said.

He said both men and women athletes from different states participated in the competition organised by the association.

In the men's category, Tanveer Hussain, who is working in J&K Bank, bagged gold, while Imtiyaz Ahamad of the state police got silver and Hakeem Aqib, also from Jammu and Kashmir, won the bronze medal.

In women's section, Farhana Bhat from the state bagged gold, Shazia Ali won silver, while Alfiya Mulani from Maharashtra pocketed the bronze medal, the spokesman said.

The first 10 position holders of the event were given merit certificates, the spokesman said. — PTI 

Jammu, June 5
The first batch of 42 students, including 21 girls, of St Xavier Convent Higher Secondary School, Barnai, left today for Moungri, Udhampur, to participate in the J&K Himalayan Trekking Programme being organised by Tawi Trekkers.

The group was flagged off by Urmil Padha, administrator of St Xavier Convent Higher Secondary School. Sonam Sidharth, a trained mountaineer, is the group leader, while three teachers of the school, namely Updesh Kour, Divya and Niharika Sharma, are also accompanying the group.

During the three-day-long trekking-cum-adventure camp, the participants will stay at Moungri in a Youth Hostel, where all the activity will be conducted. Besides trekking to the sacred Shiv Parvati cave and Gouri Mitti (7,000 ft), the participants will also be imparted practical training in rock climbing, rappelling, jummaring and other adventure activities by experts in the field.

Besides offering the young boys and girls a healthy outdoor activity during summer vacation and thus initiate them into adventure life, the purpose of the programme is also to highlight the adventure tourism potential of the otherwise neglected and lesser known beauty spots of Jammu and thus bring them on the tourist map of J&K.

Jammu, June 5
Continuing the tradition of exploring the talent and providing a platform to budding artists, the Nirvana Academy organised the fifth season of the Golden Guitar Fest on an awareness theme of "Say no to tobacco".

Commendable performance by young guitarists held the audience spellbound for hours together during solo, duet and group guitar categories competition.

The programme was organised in collaboration with the Indian Red Cross Society, Jammu region, at Red Cross Bhawan Auditorium, Kachi Chawani, wherein more than 100 artistes from different parts of the country took part.

Golden Guitar awardee-2012 Puran Singh Wazir and guitarist and owner of Mythya Band Goutam Kotwal adjudged the guitar competition.

Secretary, Red Cross, RC Puri was the chief guest, while Naresh Kumar Sharma, founder of the Strings Guitar Institute, was also present.

The programme commenced with a guest lecture on tobacco awareness in which issues related to tobacco consumers, especially youth, were raised. Others who were present on the occasion included Hitesh Badyal, president, Nirvana Academy, Neeraj Sharma, vice-president, Nirvana Academy, Nishant Vaid, press and publicity secretary, Nirvana Academy, Vikas Dogra, vice-president, Prayas, Sumit Sharma, cultural head, Deepak Kumar, Vikas Bawa, rockstar Anmol Amla, Kuldeep Kumar, Subhash Dey, Anish Matto, Sahil, Amrit Pal Singh, Avnish Sharma, Amit Sharma, Paramjeet Kour, Bushra Hasan and Deepika Pandita.

The programme was anchored by Tarun Sharma, actor and radio jockey. General secretary, Nirvana Academy, Meenakshi Sharma presented the vote of thanks.

Jammu, June 5
An exhibition on teaching aids was organised at the National College of Education (NCE).The exhibition was conducted on the culmination of teaching aids workshop, wherein trainees were given an orientation regarding different kinds of teaching aids - conventional, projected, non-projected, three dimensional aids, etc.

The dignitaries who attended the function included Ajay Singh Jamwal, Dean, Administration, Institute of Engineering and Computer Sciences, Prof KG Gupta, Principal, and Prof KR Sharma, Principal, North Polytechnic. They appreciated the efforts of the students and the staff in making impressive audio-visual aids for teaching purposes. The exhibition was organised and supervised by Principal, NCE, Neena Sharma, and the teaching faculty. — TNS

Srinagar, June 5
A 45-year-old labourer died after being hit by a shooting stone in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district, the police said today.

Ghulam Ahmad Malla was critically injured after he was hit by a shooting stone while working in a stone quarry near his home in Manasbal, a police spokesman said. He said Malla was shifted to SKIMS, where he succumbed to the injuries. — PTI