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Post reshuffle: First Cabinet meet likely today

1/22/2013 12:48:17 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: After the recent reshuffle in State Cabinet, the Jammu and Kashmir State Cabinet is likely to meet the first time tomorrow at the Civil Secretariat in winter capital. According to sources, 73rd amendment of the Indian Constitution in the State Panchayati Raj Act will be tabled for discussion. Apart from discussion on the recommendations of the Congress committee report, the security situation in the backdrop of attacks on panchayat members and LoC tension are also to be taken up during the first Cabinet with new faces inducted on Jan 15. 'Besides above mentioned issues, the Block Development Councils (BDC) could also be discussed during this meeting,...

Bifurcating deptts: Would CM 'rationalize' functioning…?

Harsh's logic falls flat on 'prerogative' factor….!

1/22/2013 12:47:17 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: Chairman of J&K National Panthers Party and MLA Harsh Dev Singh, who has lately been crossing swords with ruling allies NC and Congress, has once again chipped in, this time to question the logic and rationale behind the reshuffle besides reallocation of portfolios to new Council of Ministers in the State. Though a belated reaction, certain points raised by him carry some weight whereas some arguments simply fall flat for lack of rationale from his side too. While NPP MLA has hit hard on the point in no necessity of inclusion of new incumbents in what he has aptly put as jumbo sized coalition Ministry headed by Omar Abdullah, his critique on coalit...

Babus reluctant to function as PIOs, Appellate Authority

Posts being downgraded to defeat RTI Act

1/22/2013 12:48:04 AM

ET Report srinagar, Jan 21: To defeat the provisions of the Jammu Kashmir RTI Act 2009, the authorities have downgraded the post of IO and First Appellate Authority. According to legal experts, this has been done to save the Babus who otherwise are supposed to furnish information that is sought under the Act. Earlier, Special Secretary GAD was designated as PIO and the Commissioner Secretary was designated as 1st Appellate Authority. But after some time the Deputy Secretary was designated as PIO and the Special Secretary was designated as 1st Appellate Authority. There are reports that presently an Under Secretary to Govt is functioning as PIO in the same Department and earlier also for ...

Omar forced to drop pre-poll alliance demand

1/22/2013 12:46:58 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: The day Rahul Gandhi made his first speech as vice-president of the party from Jaipur, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressing party workers in Srinagar didn't make any mention of the pre-poll alliance with the Congress. Omar earlier on many occasions had said the Abdullahs' and Gandhi family share a personal bond. He had said both parties had worked well in the past. Omar by making these statements was hinting at pre-poll alliance. However, he didn't made any mention of it the day Rahul Gandhi was to address the nation. Rahul Gandhi in his speech had said that party wants to groom about 15 leaders in every State who could be capable of becoming the C...

‘Anti-Jammu and politically motivated’

Reverse Darbar

1/22/2013 12:45:55 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: Omar Abdullah's statement of reverse Darbar move is a well planned move from the National Conference (NC) working president to take everything from Jammu to Srinagar. Though he defends his statement by assuring his availability as and when people need him, the political motive behind this is well thought-out to give more time to Valley people and stay away from Jammu for most of the time. Since Omar became Chief Minister, he is considering shifting the budget session of the legislature to Srinagar as it has to be held in the months of February and March when the Darbar is in Jammu. When Darbar is in Srinagar, Valley gets one week to 10 days of session, w...

Private companies greasing palms to render sub standard services

What lies behind poor performance of BSNL?

1/22/2013 12:45:31 AM

Asif Iqbal Naik kishtwar, Jan 21: Notwithstanding inconvenience to the large number of people following withdrawal of Tata Indicom services from the State, BSNL, the public sector telecom giant is rubbing salt in their wounds by offering poor and substandard services. People in Kishtwar have alleged criminal nexus between BSNL officers and private players for fetching illegal benefits. "Despite the fact that the company launched its 3G services in Jammu and Kashmir in the month of July 2011, more than one and half year later, the company is deliberately not extending these services to people of Kishtwar as the private companies have been regularly greasing the palms of the BSNL officers s...

Cross LoC trade declines by 30% in Poonch

1/22/2013 12:45:01 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: The traders involved in cross Line of Control (LoC) trade with Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK), which has been suspended temporarily, at Poonch in Jammu region, say that the trade through this area was on decline due to indifferent attitude of Governments on both the sides. Pawan Anand, President of Cross LoC Traders' Association told over telephone from Poonch that number of tradeable items were coming down and "it (trade) was slipped to 30 percent of the business taking place in the beginning." The items being traded are depending on the demand and are timely items guided by season or the requirement. According to Pawan Anand, "the cross LoC trade u...

Major reshuffle in Police, Civil administration on cards

1/22/2013 12:44:22 AM

Bashmir Assad Jammu, Jan 21: Major reshuffle in police and civil administration is on cards in the State. Official sources said the State Government is expected to reshuffle its civil and police administration corollary to the recent Cabinet reshuffle- cum- expansion in Omar Abdullah led Council of Ministers. "The higher officials in consultation with the Chief Minister and respective Ministers are busy in finalizing the list of the officers to be shifted", sources in the Civil Secretariat told Early Times. "If everything goes well the reshuffle will be ordered in the next Cabinet meeting to be held after January 26-the Republic Day, most probably on 29 of this month. ", sources said. ...

`Bhalla, Wani, Taj own fortunes; Malik, Sharma conceal facts'

NPP seeks VO probe into assets of Ministers

1/22/2013 12:44:06 AM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: Accusing Ministers of the coalition Government of plundering State resources to amass wealth, the National Panthers Party (NPP) has sought Vigilance probe into the assets acquired by them as Ministers. Syed Rafiq Shah MLC and president Young Panthers has expressed grave concern over the growing menace of corruption in the State and the utter failure of the Government to curb it. He said it was ironical that despite Government's tall claims, corruption had plagued the entire system and the State was heading to occupy number one slot in the reckoning of Transparency International. Lambasting the Government for `breeding and encouraging' corruption, Rafiq ...

CM’s ex-security in-charge Shabir again in soup, SP rebuts own statement

Inquiry into Larnoo molestation case

1/22/2013 12:42:42 AM

Sumit Sharma JAMMU, Jan 21: Chief Minister's ex-security in-charge DySP Shabir Ahmed is again in the news for wrong reasons. Two girls, aged 17 and 18 of village Larnoo were allegedly molested by cops led by SHO Kulgam in an overnight raid. Government has instituted an inquiry into the alleged incident of night raid asking Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Kulgam M.Y. Zargar to furnish factual report within a fortnight. A Government handout sprang surprise since the SP Mohammed Shafi who today tore apart honour and dignity of the two girls and their family by labeling them as rogues besides rebutting the allegations of night raid. He stood like rock behind the concerned...

BJP's struggle for political space in Jammu and Kashmir

Search for a clicking agenda

1/22/2013 12:43:40 AM

Neha Jammu, Jan 21: The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got new president in the person of MLA from Nagrota Jugal Kishore Sharma last month. Two days ago, he announced the names of other office-bearers, besides the names of those who will constitute the party's executive committee. One may term it as a new team or one may describe it as old wine in a new bottle. New team in the sense that the party dispensed with most of the earlier office-bearers. Old wine in a new bottle in the sense that those who were there at the helm in the party before continue to be there in one capacity or the other. Nothing abnormal. Such things do happen and, hence, nothing surprisin...

Maimed officers attempting to find favours with new Ministers

Ahead of anticipated reshuffle, hectic lobbying starts

1/22/2013 12:44:46 AM

Abodh Sharma Jammu, Jan 21: In anticipation of an across the board reshuffle in civil and police administration, intensive lobbying has started with many a tainted officers trying to strike chord with the newly inducted Ministers. Sources in the Police administration divulge that certain officers who have held vital positions in Police administration in Jammu are seen marking their attendances at the residences of their political masters in anticipation of their benevolence to grab top posts. Interestingly, these officers are seeking favours from their political bosses even though a few of them gained infamy after they were recorded abusing the politicians during custodial interrogation ...

Politician lands in controversies for illegal construction, timber smuggling

1/21/2013 10:56:53 PM

Early Times Report Jammu, Jan 21: A high profiles politician from Kalakote tehsil of Rajouri lands in controversies for his name allegedly surfacing in illegal construction and timber smuggling in the area, sources from Kalakote said. Sources said that a complaint against this high profiled politician is reportedly dispatched to Chief Minister's Secretariat for action. According to sources, the said politician has allegedly grabbed the land in close vicinity of Coal mining field in Kalakote Rajouri and then started illegal construction. However the matter was taken to the notice of J&K Mineral Department and Geological and Mining Department. Meantime a complaint was also lodged with the co...

CBI raid in AIR office; Administrative Officer among 2 booked

1/21/2013 10:57:20 PM

SUMIT SHARMA JAMMU, Jan 21: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested two employees of All India Radio for taking graft from pensioners in a late hour's raid that was conducted in the premises of All India Radio station here in Panjtirthi today. The accused have been identified as Hazara Khan, Administrative Officer and clerk Jagdish Raina. Official sources said that in the raid CBI recovered Rs 3000 graft money from the possession of both the employees. Sources further said that CBI sleuths also seized the record of AIR station for further scrutiny. ACB CBI Jammu Dr. Arman Deep Singh when contacted confirmed the reports and said that investigation is in progress. Sources said...