Jammu, July 22
Without having network at the base camps (Baltal and Chandanwari) of the Amarnath shrine, telecomm operators are selling special SIM cards to pilgrims in Jammu.

Reliance Communications is allegedly showing the route map of the cave to claim its coverage to attract more customers despite having no network at both the base camps.

Four telecom operators of the state — Reliance, Aircel, Airtel, and Vodafone — are issuing special sim cards, with the validity of four days, in the state to the pilgrims of the Amarnath shrine, but the operators do not have the network coverage in both the base camps and en route to the holy cave.

Taking advantage of the ban on roaming on pre-paid connections in the state, the telecomm operators have installed their canopies at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and Exhibition Ground, Jammu, to sell their special sim cards, with the validity of four days, to the pilgrims coming to pay obeisance at the Amarnath shrine.

Soma Guha, a pilgrim from Kolkata, said, “As my prepaid connection is not working here, I brought a Reliance connection from here, but it is as good as my old prepaid connection. I didn’t receive any signal on my phone after crossing Srinagar.”

“These counters in the Yatri Nawas should be banned as they are misguiding the pilgrims by selling these dummy SIM cards,” she added.

“I brought an Aircel connection from Bhagwati Nagar, but it didn’t work on the entire route, the signal was only available at Jammu and Srinagar,” said Arvind Jha, another pilgrim from Jharkhand.

“They are cheating innocent pilgrims. Strict action should be taken against these companies,” he added.

Officials of the Reliance Communications and Aircel could not be contacted for comments.

As far as Airtel is concerned, their officials claim that they have their network coverage till Domail at Baltal and Lalipura at Pehalgam. However, Vodafone has network coverage till Gagangarh on the Baltal route and till Pehalgam on the route.

A Vodafone official said, "Vodafone has launched special recharge plans for the Amarnath yatris, offering full talk time on recharge of Rs 53 and Rs 112 and Vodafone is also informing the people purchasing its connections at the time of the purchase about its network availability along the two Amarnath yatra routes.”

“Customers are being requested to sign an acknowledgement form informing them about Vodafone's network coverage on the Amarnath yatra route,” he added.

Jammu, July 22
Minister for R&B Abdul Majid Wani today inspected the pace of work on the New Legislature Complex in Jammu being executed by the Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) at a cost of Rs 191.66 crore.

While inspecting the construction work, Wani asked the executing agency to redouble its efforts so as to complete the project within the fixed timeframe, besides ensuring quality work.

The minister was informed by the JKPCC authorities that the work on the project is likely to be completed by April, 2016, while mechanical, electrical and other related works, including structure, would be done by March, 2015.

The New Legislative Complex is being constructed on an area of 2,38,556 sq feet, which would have all modern facilities and a parking slot.

The minister informed that the Union Ministry for Surface Transport has transferred NHAI roads, viz 1B Batote-Kishtwar-Anantnag, Domail-Katra Road, NH Bypass Srinagar, to the state R&B Department for upgrading and maintenance. These roads were earlier maintained by the Border Road Organisation. He said the Jammu-Poonch, Katra-Pouni, Qazikund-Pulwama-Shopian-Budgam and Kargil-Zanskar roads have been declared as national highways by the Union Government and after an NOC by the state government these roads would also be transferred to the R&B, PWD.

He said with internal adjustments within the department, separate divisions would be created for these national highways for effective monitoring/upgrading of these roads to benefit commuters in the state.

Jammu, July 22
The Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh All Departments Clerical Staff Association (JKLADCSA) has urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to issue immediate instructions to the authorities concerned for the removal of pay anomalies of the clerical cadre.

The association held a meeting under the leadership of its chairman Anil Mehta, general secretary Sukhbir Singh and senior vice-president Ravi Kumar. The speakers claimed that the state government had already assured them that the pay anomalies of the clerical cadre would be removed, but till date no orders has been issued in this regard.

The leaders also criticised the state government for its alleged callous, anti-clerical cadre attitude. They criticised the state government for its criminal silence over the already accepted demands of the clerical cadre and commitment made with their leadership through various agreements.

They appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and issue necessary instructions to the authorities concerned for an issuance of orders for the removal of pay anomalies as agreed in the meeting held between the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) and government representatives.

Jammu, July 22
The Shastri Nagar playground in Jammu is in bad shape after the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council decided to lay a new turf there.

The Sports Council dumped a heap of soil in the ground in June, due to which children and youth are not able to use the ground.

The playground is used by children and youth of Shastri Nagar and adjoining areas for playing football, volleyball, cricket and other games. But after the Sports Council dumped a heap of soil in the ground, the youth have stopped playing these games.

The Sports Council authorities said the work is going on to improve the condition. “We are installing angle iron rods and covering the electric transformer. Other works are also on and by the end of monsoon season the ground will be levelled,” said Rajan Sharma, Sports Officer of the J&K Sports Council.

But today not a single worker or official of the Sports Council was seen on the ground. All the iron rods were lying on one side of the ground and not a single angle iron rod has been installed.

These days students of various government and private schools are enjoying summer vacations, which will continue till July 31. During June and July months, these students get ample time to play outdoor games, but as the playground is in such a condition, sports activity in it has come to a halt.

“We used to practice everyday in this ground, but after the dumping of soil in the ground, we have been unable to play there,” said Akash Sharma, a boy who was standing outside the ground.

Rajan Sharma said till the ground is brought back to its original shape, the youth can go to Maulana Azad Stadium or Green Field ground. “Many youth from within the city and adjoining areas go to MA Stadium and Shastri Nagar youth can also avail themselves of the facility,” he added.

Jammu, July 22
Streetlights in the city are posing danger to drivers and pedestrians as their safety boards lie uncovered and live naked wires hang from poles.

Lights have been installed by the Power Development Department (PDD) and Municipal Corporation together in several areas of the city during the last 10 years, but in the name of maintenance not much is being done. Uncovered wires pose danger to pedestrians, particularly women, children and elders.

In the last 10 years crores of rupees have been spent on the installation of lights at Paloura, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Channi, Parade, Kachi Chawni, Janipur, Roop Nagar and Bari-Brahman, but they are in a very poor stage. Regular maintenance of streetlights is not being done.

At some places, shopkeepers have positioned these lights towards their shops, depriving commuters and drivers of the benefit for which they were installed.

Rohit Gupta, a resident of Canal Road, said earlier the lights were not functioning and now when these are functional there is no effort to maintain them. Moreover, the workers concerned do not switch off these lights during day hours in their respective areas and these remain glowing all day.

As per the data, there are 29,882 streetlights in the city, with most of them installed after 2005, when the last Municipal Corporation elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir after a gap of 23 years.

However, in race to install lights to keep masses happy, civic agencies had failed to cover power lines supplying electricity to streetlights at many places, which threaten lives of commuters and drivers.

Srinagar, July 22
Four persons were killed and three others injured after a gas cylinder exploded at a community kitchen early today morning near the Baltal base camp of the Amarnath yatra in Ganderbal district.

A police spokesman said the explosion took place at 4.15 am when workers of the Shiv Shakti Bandara started preparing breakfast at Dumail.

He said soon after the gas cylinder exploded, the langar area caught fire, killing four persons and injuring three others.

The police said the explosion was caused due to a leak in the LPG pipe. The fire was brought under control later.

All four killed in the blaze belonged to Punjab. They have been identified as Gurdeep Singh and Sandeep from Mansa, and Yadvendra Singh and Babu Singh from Bathinda.

The condition of the three injured is stable, said the police. They have been identified as Manjeet Singh, Jasbir Singh and Harpaul Singh, all from Bathinda.

The police said an FIR had been lodged into the incident. On Friday, a scuffle between two stall owners had led to clashes at Baltal.

Meanwhile, the Amarnath yatra went on smoothly from both the Baltal and Chandanwari routes. An official said 6,849 devotees offered prayers at the cave shrine today. He said a total of 3,11,725 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave since the yatra began via the Baltal route on June 28.

The pilgrimage via the Chandanwari route began on July 2 as accumulation of snow had postponed the start.

Jammu, July 22
The Panun Kashmir, a frontal organisation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, today demanded establishment of fast track tribunal to investigate the killing hundreds of people belonging to minority community in the Valley after the eruption of militancy in 1989-90.

The organisation, while rejecting the return package announced by the central government, said the government cannot ignore the fact that lakhs of community members left the Valley due to threat of militant groups and selective killing by armed insurgents forcing the community to leave their homeland.

“The government should constitute an independent tribunal to hear the cases related to the killing of community members, which include some prominent poets, judges and social workers, and those involved in the brutal killings should face the law,” Panun Kashmir convener Agnishekhar told reporters here today.

He said issue of displaced community was not only economic, but political and the government was trying to make them forget people, who forced them to leave their homes.

Addressing a joint press conference, Panun Kashmir leaders Dr Ajay Chrangoo and Agnishekhar also expressed concern over the increasing influence and sway of the Pan-Islamic fundamentalism in Kashmir and parts of Jammu.

“It is shocking that the political class in the state and rest of India continue to downplay the growing influence of fundamentalists in Jammu and Kashmir and during protests people openly raise slogans in favour of the Taliban and the Al-Qaida in Kashmir, which is a matter of concern,” Chrangoo said.

The organisation said the community hopes that the new government in New Delhi would address the issue of return of Kashmiri Pandits as a political one and not weight it as an economic package.

“The community has always rejected package for its return to the valley because it is a political issue and not an economic as lakhs of people did not migrate on their free will but were forced by the militants and fundamentalist elements,” Chrangoo said.

The Panun Kashmir, meanwhile, once again reiterated that a separate homeland for the community in the Valley with the union territory status was the only sustainable and viable means of resettling the internally displaced Pandits in Kashmir.

Jammu, July 22
The BJP is likely to finalise the first list of candidates for the forthcoming Assembly polls on July 26 when a meeting of the state election committee will be held at Jammu. The list will be forwarded to the parliamentary board of the party to take a final decision.

Highly placed sources said the BJP has already completed the process of getting feedback from party workers to select candidates, but final decision would be taken by the parliamentary board at Delhi.

During the July 26 meeting, the party would only finalise names on a dozen seats while discussions on other constituencies would also be held.

Sources said some offshoots of the Sangh have cautioned the party leaders against repeating the “tainted” MLAs, who were earlier expelled after the infamous cross voting episode in April 2011 when seven out of 11 BJP legislators had voted in favour of the National Conference and Congress candidates.

“Sangh leaders have suggested to the BJP to field only candidates with clean image so as to get the maximum number of seats,” a source said, adding that like in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Sangh Parivar has decided to play an active role in the Assembly polls too.

Srinagar, July 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said his party, National Conference, would emerge victorious in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Omar, who is also the National Conference (NC) working president, while addressing workers’ conventions in Gurez and Naidkhai-Sumbal in north Kashmir, said the party would script a historic victory in the Assembly elections as the people of J&K would continue to repose their faith in it.

He claimed that his party had not only proven to be a bulwark that protected the state’s political interests and regional aspirations but had also ensured unparalleled and unprecedented development across the length and breadth of the state in the last five and a half years.

“The Assembly elections are based on matters of local governance and is in fact a test of approval for path-breaking initiatives and all efforts that have been put in to usher J&K towards a corrective era of growth and prosperity,” Omar said in his address.

“The National Conference, while in the government in the last five and a half years, Omar said, had outperformed every past dispensation in ensuring pioneering steps were taken to make J&K self-reliant, developed and prosperous.

“Every single sector of governance — health, power production, education, infrastructure, roads and bridges, higher education, tourism and rural development — has witnessed remarkable development and systemic upgrade during the last five and a half years,” he said.

Srinagar, July 22
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed concern over the rising cases of female foeticide in the state calling it a sin.

Omar, who spoke during the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on “gender and child rights” organised by the government in collaboration with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy, said he was surprised that female foeticide was often committed in a society where security and respect of girls was a cultural trait.

“I had never dreamt that such type of sin will be performed in a society where the protection, security and well-being of girls and women are a cultural trait,” he added.

The Chief Minister said female foeticide was one of the primary issues concerning the state which had to be dealt with sternly.

He impressed upon the stakeholders to come forward and raise awareness against the social evil .

He said the police had all the more important responsibility of tackling law and order situation in the state.

“A well thought out procedure and mechanism needs to be adopted to ensure controlling of situations at one hand and safeguarding the rights and ensuring security of juveniles on the other,” Omar said. He expressed hope that the workshop would ponder upon the issue and come up with viable expert recommendations for the government for implementation.

Omar said in a state like J&K, regular incidents of violence also had a telling effect on children, especially on their psyche.

While referring to women empowerment, the CM said the state initiative, Umeed, was specially launched to strengthen the voices of women and give them more rights. 

Srinagar, July 22
The PDP leader and party candidate from Amira Kadal Assembly segment, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, has been nominated as member of the manifesto committee which was constituted by the party yesterday.

The nine-member manifesto committee would be headed by senior party leader and MP Muzaffar Hussain Baig. The committee was constituted after a meeting of the party’s Political Affairs Committee which was chaired by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Monday.

“The committee has been tasked with preparing a draft manifesto for the party for approval after consultations,” a PDP spokesman said, adding that Bukhari would also be a part of the committee. The other members of the manifesto committee include MP Tariq Hameed Kara, S Rangeel Singh, economist-turned-politician Haseeb Drabu , Rafeeq Hussain Khan, AR Veeri, Naeem Akhtar, Zaffar Manhas and Firdous Tak. — TNS

Srinagar, July 22
An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of police was allegedly thrashed by Army men at the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district yesterday for checking the identity card of an Army officer.

The Army has said it has ordered an inquiry into the incident and the personnel found to be involved in the incident have been replaced.

The incident happened when an ASI of the District Police Lines, Ganderbal, posted at the Baltal drop gate told an Army officer, who was in his civvies, to show his identity card before allowing him inside the base camp of the Amarnath yatra.

“The police officer identified as Nazir Ahmed told the Army officer to prove his identity as no one was allowed to enter the base camp during the evening hours. There was an argument between the two which was followed by a brief scuffle,” a source said.

Sources said later a group of soldiers arrived at the spot and allegedly thrashed the ASI, who was later rushed to a hospital.

A senior police officer said: “We are looking into the case and legal action will follow,” he said.

Senior Army and police officers today visited the area to take stock of the situation.

“The Army authorities have ordered an inquiry into the incident and assured the police that the personnel found to be involved in the incident have been replaced while the matter is under investigation. Disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty,” an Army statement said. 

Srinagar, July 22
CRPF Director General (DG) Dilip Trivedi today visited Baltal, the base camp for the Amarnath yatra, and took stock of the situation in the wake of recent clashes.

The DG, CRPF, was accompanied by Inspector General (IG), CRPF, KS Bhandari, and IG (Operations), CRPF, Nalin Prabhat.

“The DG, CRPF, took stock of the situation and interacted with CRPF officers present on the ground,” a CRPF spokesman said.

Trivedi had arrived on a two-day visit to Kashmir yesterday. He reviewed the law and order and security situation in Kashmir during an interaction with senior officers of the forces after his arrival in the Valley.

“The DG talked to senior officers of the CRPF about the present law and order situation in the Valley,” the spokesman said. 

Rajouri, July 22
The Rajouri police today recovered 41 live rounds of AK rifle from a village under the jurisdiction of Chinigus police station.

Sources said the consignment might have been hidden by some militants or by some over-ground worker (OGW) of militants inside the corner of a field when militancy was at its peak in the area.

The rounds came out when the corner of the field was damaged in the torrential rains today.

The sources said a villager of Manyalan village informed the police about the rounds.

A police party rushed to the village and after search recovered 41 rounds of AK rifle.

However, a senior official denied that the rounds were abandoned by some OGWs to avoid police action as militancy was almost wiped out from the area. — TNS

Srinagar, July 22
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has rejected an affidavit by the state government with regard to compliance of its earlier directions, wherein it (government) had been told to consider paying ex gratia to the left-out families who had lost their kin in the unrest in 2010.

In its orders passed today, a Division Bench of Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice Hasnain Masoodi granted the government two weeks to file a fresh affidavit.

The High Court is hearing a PIL seeking investigation and registration of FIRs into 117 civilian killings in 2010 by the government forces.

The government says an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh each had been paid to the next of kin in 102 cases while 15 families had been left out.

“The affidavit filed is not in conformity with the directions issued on June 30, 2014,” the Bench observed in its orders made available today.

In its earlier directions passed on June 30, the High Court had told the state government to identify the remaining affected families whose members had got killed since January 2010 up to December 2010 and disburse ex gratia in their favour.

In compliance with the directions, the government in its affidavit had said “the names of the deceased persons mentioned in the PIL who have died between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2010, due to causes directly attributable to civil disturbances shall be placed before the designated committee in the Home Department for consideration of special ex gratia.

“Based on the recommendations of the said committee, a request shall be made to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs for provision of special ex gratia in respect of the recommended cases,” the state government further stated in the affidavit, which has now been rejected by the court.

On April 24 this year, while considering the matter regarding ex gratia to those killed during the 2010 unrest, the court had observed that so far Rs 5 lakh each had been granted in 102 death cases.

“Ex gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh each has been paid to them (102) while regarding remaining 15 cases, the decision has yet not been taken. Those 15 cases also pertain to 2010,” the court had observed in its April 24 orders while telling the government to take a stand on the restoration of the commission of inquiry, formed to probe the civilian deaths in 2010.

Srinagar, July 22
Officiating Vice Chancellor, Central University of Kashmir (CUK), Mehraj-ud-Din along with Muhammad Afzal Zargar, registrar of the university, called on Governor NN Vohra here today.

Other officials of the CUK and SC Mishra and Rajesh Pandita, architects and planners, accompanied the Vice Chancellor.

The Vice Chancellor and the planners explained to the Governor details of the master plan of the CUK campus, coming up at Ganderbal. The site plan of the campus and details of the traffic flow, landscaping, provision of drinking water, sewage treatment and creation of biodiversity park were explained in the presentation.

The Governor told the VC to ensure that the first phase of the upcoming campus should have provision for basic shopping, medical clinic, kindergarten and primary school. The Governor stressed the need for providing hostel accommodation to girls, boys and scholars.

The Governor told the VC to see that all buildings had eco-friendly design and the natural scenic beauty was preserved while designing the north-south pedestrian path and the overbridges on multiple water bodies on the campus. The Governor also stressed the need for installing solar panels on the rooftops of all buildings on the campus for harnessing solar energy to the maximum extent possible. 

Srinagar, July 22
Darakhshan Andrabi, president, Socialistic Democratic Party, called on Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhawan here today.

Andrabi briefed the Governor about the activities of her party in the past months. The Governor discussed with her certain issues related to  enhancing the pace of socio-economic development and poverty alleviation in the state. 

Doda, July 22
Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Shyam Vinod Meena today convened a meeting of prominent citizens and district officers to review arrangements for Eid-ul-Fitr at the meeting hall in the Deputy Commissioner’s office here.

Regarding the shortage of essentials supplied through the public distribution system, the DDC directed the Assistant Director, Food, Doda, to streamline the supply. He said he would personally inspect food stores in the district to ensure adequate food supply to the consumers. — OC

Srinagar, July 22
Even though the High Court passed directions to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD) to ensure provision of day-to-day standard commodities to the masses on approved rates, locals in Srinagar allege that they are being overcharged in markets ahead of Eid celebrations.

The residents said, “All shopkeepers selling daily commodities have kept their own rates without taking into consideration the government approved rates. Particularly in the month of Ramadan, shopkeepers and vendors overcharge people as they know people have no option but to buy. Besides, there is no checking at all,” said Abdul Khaliq, a resident of Srinagar.

Another local said meat and chicken were being sold at different rates and consumers exploited. “The government approved rate for 1 kg of meat is Rs 298, but it being sold at either Rs 360 or Rs 380. No one asks them about the rate list,” a local said, adding that the rate of chicken has also been increased and being sold from Rs 120 to Rs 130 per kg.

The prices of eggs, fruits and vegetables have also shot up with sellers taking undue advantage of festival season. The traders are openly violating the rates fixed by the administration. “If this continues, basic commodities will go out of reach for poor. One kg of carrot is being sold at Rs 40 which was earlier sold at Rs 20 or 30. Similarly, the rates of fruits have also touched the sky which remain in demand at this time of the year when festive occasions are around,” said a resident of Kawdara in old Srinagar city.

Meanwhile, just three days ago the High Court had asked the SMC and the CAPD Department to identify 20 places in Srinagar so that hoardings in the city be erected to display price of essential commodities as fixed by the committee, but nothing has been done on ground.

Srinagar, July 22
As the holy month of Ramadan is in its last phase, religious congregations, particularly during nights, are being held at various mosques in the Kashmir valley.

The last 10 days of Ramadan particularly witness a huge rush of devotees in some of the most popular mosques in the city, including Dargah Hazratbal, Jamia Masjid, Ali Masjid and Rangar Masjid in Srinagar.

The Islamic scholars are of the opinion that a lot of time especially the nights should be dedicated to prayers and reading religious texts towards the end of Ramadan.

The Shab-e-Qadr (night of power) which falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan is spent in worshipping the God, listening to sermons and reading Quran.

The Shab-e-Qadr this year will fall on Friday night and most Muslims spend the whole night awake, remembering and worshipping the God and praying.

Devout Muslims, however, spend the odd nights of last ten days awake in mosques, aiming to seek more rewards and remember God.

A large number of mosques in the city are also witnessing Itekaafs (10 days’ gatherings) of those who choose to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in mosques, dedicated to worshipping.

Usually the mosques even in the neighbourhood witness a lot of individuals who wish to spend the last ten days in mosques and away from routine activities.

“It is basically a rigorous spiritual exercise during Ramadan that brings calmness and peace of mind to an individual. Depending upon your work schedule and family requirements, one can take 10 days off and spend time in mosque with others learning new things about one’s faith and developing spirituality,” Abdul Bakir, a local, said. 

Srinagar, July 22
The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) today conducted a sanitation drive at the Eidgah grounds here and nearby mosques ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.

“In continuation with the special sanitation drive, the SMC conducted an extensive sanitation at Eidgah, Jenab Saab Soura, Kailashpora, Khan Qahe masjid and other lanes and bylanes adjoining to these religious places,” an SMC official said.

The main Eid prayers congregation is held at the Eidgah grounds.

Joint Commissioner of the SMC Bashir Ahmed Khan, who was accompanied by Chief Sanitation Officer Manzoor Tarray and various ward officers and sanitation officers, personally monitored the drive.

The SMC official said all preparations on account of sanitation, functioning of streetlights and deployment of vehicles and other machinery were thoroughly reviewed by the Joint Commissioner.

Srinagar, July 22
The Kashmir Bar Association has denounced the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and Arab League for adopting a “silence” on killings of Palestinian civilians in Israeli action at Gaza.

In a statement issued here, the Bar has urged people in Kashmir to continue rallying in solidarity with Palestinians.

“The Bar Association once again condemns the Israeli aggression and killing of civilians in Gaza and expresses its shock over the criminal silence maintained by the world powers over the said massacre,” Bar General Secretary M Ashraf Bhat said in a statement here.

“The Bar also denounces the role of Arab League and OIC, who have become lifeless institutions. While the Palestinians are being butchered, they (OIC and Arab League) are issuing only statements and are emphasising on Hamas to agree to a unilateral ceasefire,” it said, while urging the “Muslim world” to get “united” and call a meeting of the heads of state of Islamic countries to discuss the issue of Palestine.

The Bar association asked people in Kashmir to continue to show their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Rajouri, July 22
Patients in Rajouri are suffering on account of shortage of medical staff as health institutes across the district, including District Hospital, Rajouri, are functioning without adequate number of consultants and surgeons.

According to the data provided by the Health Department, Rajouri, 164 out of 269 posts of senior consultant, consultant, assistant surgeon, medical officer and other hospital staff are lying vacant.

The district hospital building at Rajouri, which is equipped with modern medical instruments, is craving for a radiologist for the past over three years. Despite repeated promises by the authorities concerned to fill the vacancy at the earliest but nothing has been done so far.

Minister for Medical Education Taj Mohiuddin and Director, Health Services, Jammu Dr BS Pathania during their visit to the hospital in May had assured that the post of radiologist would be filled soon, but all in vain, a hospital official said.

Two posts of B grade and one post of junior grade radiologist have been sanctioned for the unit, he said.

The situation in other health blocks of the district is even worse.

In Sunderbani, out of 55 sanctioned posts, 37 positions of consultant and medical officer are lying vacant.

In Sub-district Hospital, Sunderbani, alone 31 posts out of sanctioned 47 are lying vacant.

Sunderbani is situated at the centre of the Jammu-Rajouri highway and is a highly accident prone zone. A number of accident victims loss their lives due to lack of immediate medical care in the absence of enough number of doctors.

Two sanctioned posts of medical officers at public health centre Uppar Hathal, Siote and Balshama in this block are lying vacant for the last many months.

The situation is no better in the adjoining Nowshera block, where out of 26 sanctioned posts of medical officer 17 are lying vacant. Public health centre at Seeri, Lamberi Laroka and Androot are functioning in the absence of medical officers.

In Darhal mediacl block, 24 posts out of sanctioned 33 are lying vacant and people are forced to visit Rajouri or Jammu in case of emergency.

Community health centre at Darhal and Thanamandi are functioning with just five officials as 12 positions remain vacant.

In Manjakot, home town of former Health Minister Shabir Ahmed Khan, 11 out of sanctioned 16 posts of medical officer are lying vacant.

Out of 33 posts of medical officer in the Kandi medical block 27 are vacant, the data revealed.

A senior doctor said one of the main reasons behind the shortage of staff was the “sporadic transfers”.

“Political interference and greed for money are some others factors, which force doctors to stay in cities,” he said. In Kalakot medical block 27 posts of doctor are lying vacant.

Also, the Family Welfare Department is functioning without an immunisation officer. The malaria department is also headless as the post of district malaria officer remains vacant for the last many months.

There is no assistant surgeon in the leprosy department. The posts of para medical supervisors are also vacant.

The district also faces the shortage of pharmacists as 11 out of 13 posts of head pharmacist remain vacant, besides four posts of nursing supervisors also remain unoccupied. 

Srinagar, July 22
The Physical Education postgraduates urged the state government today to recruit them under the pattern of Rehbar-e-Taleem.

The protesters said they have completed their post-graduation in physical education and were unemployed for the past several years.

They urged the authorities concerned to adjust them as Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers were employed. They stated that they met education and physical education ministers and urged them to end their woes.

They told mediapersons that they had approached the Chief Minister’s office wherein Tanvir Sadiq, political secretary to the CM, assured them of taking up the matter with the Chief Minister.

Sources said after holding sit-in at the city’s Press Enclave, they were bundled in police vehicles and detained at the Kothi Bagh police station. 

Poonch, July 22
A deputation of education volunteers, who have been regularised as general line teachers, met District Education and Planning Officer (DEPO), Poonch, Narinder Mohan Suri, at his office here today and demanded formal regularisation orders and 13 months’ salary.

While interacting with the DEPO, the teachers led by Najam Jafri, state secretary, ReT Teachers Forum, sought formal regularisation orders to all education volunteers, who have completed seven years of service in the department.

They said they had completed over eight years in the department as education volunteers, but had not been issued a formal regularisation orders as Rehber-e-Taleem teachers, besides they had not been paid salary for the period after the completion of seven years in the department.

The teachers said two education volunteers namely Mohd Isaq and Majeeda Begum had died after completing seven years as education volunteers, but did not get formal orders.

The District Education and Planning Officer said the matter had been conveyed to the higher authorities and probably would be resolved by August. He also assured to release the salary of SSA teachers soon. 

Srinagar, July 22
The Jammu and Kashmir government has re-employed former vice-chairman of the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Irfan Yasin, for a period of six months following the High Court directive.

Yasin retired as the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority vice-chairman last year and was given one year extension that ended March this year.

The bureaucrat has been re-employed as the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority head on the directions of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, which is hearing public interest litigation (PIL) on restoration of the Dal Lake.

After the PIL was filed in 2002, the High Court has been monitoring the preservation of the lake and the Lakes and Waterways Development Authority and other developmental agencies have to report to it about the progress of the conservation work on the monthly basis.

“In compliance of the directions of the High Court, sanction is hereby accorded to the re-employment of Irfan Yasin as vice-chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Srinagar, with immediate effect, for a period of six months,” a government order issued on Monday stated.

The High Court had directed the state government to re-employee Yasin as Lakes and Waterways Development Authority head, but the government went to the Apex Court against the directions.