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| 150 employees suspended for absenteeism in Kishtwar | | Sordid saga of governance in peripheries | | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar, Feb 17: A day after assuming charge, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Mohammad Javed Khan today ordered suspension of over 150 government employees posted in different parts of the District Kishtwar for absenteeism.
As per the details available with "Early Times" most of the officials who were found absent and suspended by the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar were posted at Marwah, Warwan and Dachhan areas of the District. As per the order of suspension issued by the Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar on the basis of the report submitted by the team constituted by him vide order No: DCK/SQ/1091-1101/14 dated 16-2-2014, among the suspended employees are over 40 Gazetted offic... | |
| | | | `Condom kay bena hasina, Kitna risk hai? | | 92.7 Big FM falls from grace | | | ET Report
JAMMU, Feb 17: 92.7 Big FM is falling from grace slowly but surely. The channel that provided entertainment for the past few years, it seems, is getting polluted. Slogans like `Condom kay bena hasina, kitna risk hai' reflect the rot that the channel has undergone. The channel is encouraging what some modern people call `safe sex'. To put it plainly, the condom, according to Big FM is a licence to have sex.
What will it lead to? A society where promiscuity and licentiousness is already on the rise and where culture is stripped day in and day out in the name of modernization deserves some decent and meaningful broadcasts.
There is no denying the fact that the above slogan is p... | |
| | | | CB, SVO seek permission to prosecute 152 Govt officials in 107 cases of corruption in 3 years | | Govt sits on certain cases for years | | | Abodh Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 17: An insight into the quantum the menace of corruption has assumed in the State of Jammu and Kashmir which has been ranked second most corrupt State in the country after Bihar can be had from the fact that the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) and Crime Branch (CB) have together sought permission from the Government to prosecute 152 Government officers and officials in 107 different cases of graft, misappropriation of funds, disproportionate assets and other similar cases in the last three years.
According to the reply filed by the Government in response to the listed question of BJP MLA from Jammu East Ashok Khajuria, the Government has stated that the State Vi... | |
| | | | SFC castigates discrimination against qualifications acquired through distance learning | | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Feb 17: Censuring the dual policy structure of Higher Education Department with regard to distance education mode, the J&K State Finance Commission (SFC) which submitted its recommendations to the Government for further consideration has opined that restricting those students who have obtained certificates through distance learning to appear for various entrance tests is an act of obscurantism.
The observations of the J&K State Finance Commission on defective policy on distance education learning has come to fore in the form of a Government reply to a starred question tabled in State Legislative Assembly by PDP MLA Choudhary Zulfikar Ali.
The report put forwarded t... | |
| | | | Ministers come to rescue of tainted Principal Government Dental College, Srinagar | | Despite being indicted in corruption case, Dr Riyaz continues to head Dental College | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Despite the Government claims that more than 100 officials have been prosecuted for their role in various scams and scandals no action whatsoever has been taken against Principal Government Dental College, Srinagar, Dr. Riyaz Farooq.
This is despite the fact that State Vigilance Organization (SVO) has already registered a case against Dr. Riyaz for making exorbitant purchases at the college.
Sources told Early Times that SVO has already reached the conclusion that Dr. Riyaz resorted to fraud while making purchases for the Dental College, Srinagar. Sources said that file for prosecution of Dr. Riyaz has almost complete and can be sent for prosecution to... | |
| | | | Saroori refuses Omar's offer of Cabinet berth | | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 17: Former Minister GM Saroori has declined an offer to be inducted in the Cabinet. The offer was made by the Chief Minister, but former Minister refused to accept.
"CM made the offer to Saroori last week. But he declined to accept it citing many reasons," said a senior official, privy to developments.
Saroori has been quite vocal in bringing down the mat of the coalition Government in the Assembly session over many issues. CM apparently to placate him had made the offer.
"Saroori had said he will not be able do much work if he is inducted now. Model Code of Conduct will be in place very soon and when Parliamentary elections are over, State elections ... | |
| | | | Administrative anomalies galore in Agriculture department | | HC directions ignored blatantly | | | Javaid Naikoo
SRINAGAR, Feb 17: Irregularities in the Agriculture department which include re-employment of retired officials, misleading Public Service Commission (PSC) to benefit blue eyed employees, allowing ineligible officials to enjoy prestigious posts are on unabated in State's Agriculture Department and the directions of the State High Court have been ignored.
The tall claims to curb favoritism in the State Administration by coalition partners time and again have fallen flat as like in many other Government, re-employment of the blue eyed employees has continued unabated. The documentary evidence in this regard reveals that on the analogy of one Government order number 59-agri-201... | |
| | | | Subscribers frustrated by Reliance services, Customer Care | | Using number portability to switch service provider | | | Avinash Azad
JAMMU, Feb 17: Maligning its brand image and reputation as one of the leading companies of the country, customer care service of the Reliance communication has actually been extending disservice to its customers who are already frustrated by company's poor services by blocking the numbers of the customers who repeatedly try to reach out to customer care executives.
Fed-up with poor service of Reliance communication, Naveen Gupta, a Reliance user said that one has to wait for at least 5-15 minutes for getting connected to customer care executive. "Reliance tagline 'Kar Lo Duniya Mutthi Mein' rather should be 'Customer Phasa Ke Rakho Mutthi Mein' by telling lies/claiming to pro... | |
| | | | SIC lambasts DySP (Hqs) Jammu for withholding information | | Violation of transfer policy by Police | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 17: The State Information Commission (SIC) while lambasting the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Hqrs) has directed him to disclose information sought under RTI Act about posting of police officials in Jammu district court and Chief Prosecuting Officer's office (CPO) to an information seeker as the said information was earlier denied by the DySP who is also the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the District Police Office Jammu to an RTI applicant. The PIO had invoked section 8 (1) of JK RTI Act 2009 and had termed information to be personal in nature. The SIC said that the said information should have been pro actively available on the official website of po... | |
| | | | NC unlikely to mitigate hardships of refugees | | Congress threatens agitation | | |
Neha
JAMMU, Feb 17: The Pradesh Youth Congress (PYC) has decided to launch an agitation to make the State Government address the refugees' issues, including the demand of refugees from West Pakistan seeking citizenship rights. It is a different matter that in 2007 the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led coalition Government had rejected the private member's bill on the refugee issue on the floor of the Assembly. All the Kashmir-based legislators, without any exception, and all the Congress legislators, without any exception, had in no time defeated the said private member's bill. It happened in Jammu.
Any way, it is a positive development that the PYC has decided to take up the refugee issue. "The ma... | |
| | | | Vested interests in Assembly oppose critics of Article 370 | | Against people's empowerment | | | Rustam
JAMMU, Feb 17: On Sunday, the Assembly witnessed a war of words between the supporters and opponents of Article 370. The opponents demanded its abrogation saying such a change in the constitution would help the people of the State and empower them. One of the critics of Article 370 said during the debate on the annual budget proposals for 2014-2015 that "you (NC-Congress coalition) have developed Modi phobia. You should come out of this phobia" and abrogate Article 370". Another critic of Article 370 took on the ruling coalition and demanded its repeal in the interest of the State and its people. He said: "if the Article is abrogated the situation will be far better in the State.
B... | |
| | | | NC, Congress may loose one seat each in Kashmir and Jammu | | Pahari people to play important role in LS polls | | | Sandeep Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 17: The Congress and National Conference (NC) which are in coalition in the State of Jammu and Kashmir may loose one seat each in Kashmir and Jammu province in the coming Lok Sabha elections which are going to be held in May-June 2014.
As per reliable sources the Jammu- Poonch Parliamentary constituency which has a sizeable population of pahari speaking people deprived of scheduled tribe status from the last 25 years will play an important role in deciding the next Member of Parliament from this constituency.
The constituency has around sixty to seventy percent population of pahari speaking people mostly concentrated in the areas like Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri... | |
| | | | Pandemonium in LA, opposition stages walkout over ration scarcity | | | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb17; Entire opposition was on its feet today morning in the Legislative Assembly over non-availability of ration in many areas and against the failure of the government in providing ration to the households even on 2001 census. The house witnessed complete pandemonium when over the question of G M Saroori entire opposition wanted to ask supplementary questions which was not allowed by the Speaker at the first place.
First it was Saroori who alleged that the government was in deep slumber and that it has failed in providing ration to the consumers on the basis of 2011 census nor has it taken any concrete step to ensure timely distribution of ration even on the basi... | |
| | | | Police, army launch manhunt for `dreaded' militants | | Posters seeking whereabouts appear in Pulwama | | |
Mustansir
Srinagar, Feb17: Army and Police have jointly launched a manhunt the 'most dreaded militants' allegedly operating in South Kashmir and has pasted scores of posters at different places in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, portraying the active militants of Lashkar, Jaish, and Hizb as dacoits and murderers asking people to inform police about their whereabouts.
The posters read: "Anyone who helps police in tracing these thieves and dacoits would be given a government job and cash reward." These posters appeared in different parts of Pulwama town including Chakoora and Litter.
The five 'dreaded militants' whose names have been mentioned in the posters include Showkat Ahmed ... | |
| | | | Court extends judicial remand of 2 traders | | Trans LoC narcotic case | | | Syed Tahir Bukhari
BARAMULLA, Feb 17: Principal Sessions Judge Baramulla, Rashid Ali Dar today extended the judicial remand of two traders who are in custody for their involvement in the supply of narcotics recovered from the truck of a truck driver of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) exactly a month back.
The two traders Tariq Ahmad Sheikh and Showkat Habib lodged at Sub Jail Baramulla were brought under security cover and presented in the court of Principal Sessions Judge, Baramulla. However, the driver identified as Mohammad Shafiq Awan was not presented in the court and is expected to be presented tomorrow. Awan continues to be in judicial remand with likelihood that the same may be... | |
| | | | Protest demonstrations at encounter sites posing challenges to security establishments | | | | Saahil Suhail
Srinagar, Feb 17: Although the security agencies in the Kashmir valley are claiming a steep decline in militancy, the protest demonstrations of youths after the gunfights in every corner of the valley are posing a tough challenge for the security agencies and Jammu Kashmir police, which is the exposing lack of strategy within the security establishments.
Jammu and Kashmir police, which is contributing in anti-militancy operations along with army, is worried over growing phenomena of protest demonstration of youths around encounter sites as this can definitely derail the prevailing peace in wake of the coming elections.
Highly placed sources inside security agencies like i... | |
| | | | 8 out of 12 tourism projects funded by Union Govt still incomplete | | | | Bijay Charak
Jammu, Feb 17: The Union Government for promotion of tourism in J&K had sanctioned 12 projects in 2005-06. Funds for the projects were also released but astonishingly eight projects are still incomplete.
Documents in the possession of Early Times reveal that in fiscal year 2005-2006, six projects which were sanctioned under product infrastructure development for destination and circuits, out of which four projects were incomplete.
"The total cost of six projects is Rs.941.13 Lakhs and the amount released Rs. 782.9 Lakhs. The projects which are incomplete include Development of Integrated circuit Bhaderwah-Sinthan-Srinagar, their cost is Rs. 691.13 Lakhs and the amount rele... | |
| | | | Taj assures 50% concession for BPL category masses | | PDP corners Government over PPP | | | Bivek Mathur
Jammu, Feb 17: Major opposition-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today cornered National Conference-Congress government over recently launched Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in twin Government Medical colleges of Jammu as well as Srinagar.
PDP's Member Legislative Council (MLC) Yash Pal Sharma today questioned the implementation of the policy (PPP) saying-"Sufferings of public will increase manifolds after the said scheme will be launched in the government hospitals of the state".
He (Sharma) raised supplementary over this and questioned whether tenders have been invited or not for the equipments being purchased for the hospitals to be run under the PPP mode in the st... | |
| | | | Agriculture on decline in JK as 40% farmers give up farming | | | | Arun Singh
Jammu, Feb 17: Notwithstanding the fact that that Agriculture is the important economic activity of the state but enormous declining interest in agriculture has been witnessed in last one decade as 40% of farmers have left the occupation so far.
As per state economic survey which reveals that in Census 2001 the there were 9.49 lakh cultivators in Jammu and Kashmir for whom the faming was the main occupation but this number drastically declined to 5.66 lakh in 2011 census. To be specific the percentage of cultivators to main workers lost around 15% between two Censuses (2001 -2011).
"A survey by National Sample Survey Office (2005) reveals that 41% of farmers in India want to... | |
| | | | Petitioner Rana likely to be dropped from committee, NC reduced to minority | | Privilege against ex-Army Chief goes into oblivion! | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Feb 16: National Conference (NC) which has been demanding issuance of non-bailable warrants against ex-Army Chief Gen. V.K.Singh is likely to be reduced to minority in the Legislative Council's Privileges Committee.
Sources said that Provincial President of National Conference and close aide of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Devinder Singh Rana is likely to be dropped from the privilege committee, as and when the committee meets again. Being complainant, sources in the State Legislative Council said that Rana should not have been originally included in the committee when it was constituted.
When Congress MLC and spokesman of the party Ravinder Sharma pointed ... | |
| | | | Promotion, adjustment of ineligible officials continues unabated in Technical Education department | | | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Feb 16: Despite the fact that the recruitment rules are yet to be updated in the Technical Education department adjustment as well as promotion of blue eyed officials is going on with no end in sight to the favouritism.
Without caring for the seniority and existing recruitment rules, Director Technical Education, Jai Pal Singh issued order number 52 of 2014 dated 20-01-2014 under which seven vocational instructors were promoted as supervisors against four promotion quota posts.
Sources said that this order was issued in violation to SRO 254 of 2002 dated 10-04-2002 and final seniority list of vocational instructors circulated by Deputy Director Technical E... | |
| | | | NC workers, Revenue officials involved | | Hanuman Temple land grab | | | Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Feb 16: The NC-Revenue official nexus are allegedly involved in selling the temple land, while as memorial trusts of Kashmiri Pandits are tired of waking up concerned officials.
At a time when Revenue officials deny information to social activists about the Revenue records of historical Hanuman temple of Kathidarwaza Srinagar, some Revenue officials in nexus with NC workers encroached a large portion of the temple land and constructed houses on the said land are secretly approaching the money lenders of the area to buy the land on cheap rates with fake Revenue documents. Despite the matter being brought to the notice of Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and Reve... | |
| | | | Opposition take Govt to task on use of pellet guns, stage walkout | | | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb 16: The Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly witnessed unruly scenes today when opposition PDP, BJP, NPP, PDF and independent MLA, Er. Rashid separately raised issues of use of pellet guns on protesters in Shopian, regularization of daily wagers and poor power scenario in Udhampur district. The entire opposition later staged walkout from the House in protest.
Opposition PDP on Sunday morning walked out of the Legislative Assembly after uproar against the use of pellet guns in Shopian, some days back. Three protesters eyes were injured critically when hit by pellets in Gugloro, Shopian after the killings of three militants during an encounter. As the legislative... | |
| | | | Omar questions Constitution but finds faults with Kejriwal | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 16: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah , has questioned the rules followed by former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in introducing Lok Janpal bill, which eventually led to his resignation..
"I don't think he followed the rules. There are rules for taking assent of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi but he didn't deemed it. His popularity was also declining," said Omar Abdullah while talking to reporters in Kashmir.
Omar has himself questioned the constitution and had even bypassed it number of times. The CM had questioned the integrity of the State, which has been established by the Constitution.
The Chief Minister had locked horns with the Army over revoking A... | |
| | | | Temple Bill Row: Select Committee to hold 'final' meeting today | | Written suggestions sought from members | | | Majority view on retaining original spirit of Bill may prevail
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 16: The controversies related to Temple Bill are likely to end as the Select Committee which has been discussing the issue threadbare for the entire year is holding its final meeting tomorrow.As the issue remained enveloped in controversies with many quarters resisting some shrines to be brought under the purview of the Bill and members of the panel also divided lately, consensus eluded till the last meeting which was held on Febraury 10 , the day on which Budget session commenced. Even as the 'pressure groups' are mounting influence on some members to persist on non inclusion of certain s... | |
| | | | JK at bottom with lowest CDR of 30.58 %, State potentially energy deficient | | 45% habitations yet to be electrified, 25% lack road connectivity | | | Bivek Mathur
Jammu, Feb 16: The crown of India-Jammu and Kashmir under the reign of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has seen only bottoms when majority of comparisons are drawn with other states of the country which seems evident from the figures appeared in the economic survey.
According to the survey, 45 per cent habitations in Jammu and Kashmir are un-electrified, de-electrified or partially electrified as on October 2013. Similarly, despite milking Government of India in the name of different policies and flow of huge funds under various centrally sponsored policies, approximately 20-25% habitations in the state are yet to be connected by roads.
Further when the indicator 'Road densit... | |
| | | | Members cut across lines to protest `discrimination' | | Furore over medical colleges in LA | | | Kunal Shrivatsa
JAMMU, Feb 16: Alleging discrimination in sanctioning four Medical Colleges by the Union Government, the legislators cutting across party lines created furore in the State Legislative Assembly here today following which the Speaker had to adjourn the House for about 20 minutes.
The ruckus in the Lower House of the State Legislature began while Question Hour was going on and Minister of State for Power, Vikar Rasool had been replying to a question of Panthers Party MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia.
While the Minister Vikar Rasool was responding to the query, one of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs Abdul Haq Khan rushed to the well of the House in protest against denia... | |
| | | | Reliance promises skies, delivers zero | | `Causes mental agony' | | | Avinash Azad
Jammu, Feb 16: Think before switching to Reliance. The slogans 'Kar Lo Duniya Mutthi Main, 'Atoot Bandhan' and 'Simply Reliance' are attractive but the delivery is not satisfactory.
According to a consumer, it disconnects and causes mental agony. Reliance communication which claims world’s 14th largest mobile network provider is fleecing its customers. After company's failure to extend satisfactory services to its customers, now Reliance is duping them. Moreover, Reliance virtually playing fraud with customers, as Reliance Netconnect, remains snapped in roaming network. Interestingly, if one complains, Reliance blocks your number so that you are unable to contact them.
R... | |
| | | | Congress's Kashmir policy to harm it in elections | | Jammu's election scene | | | Rustam
JAMMU, Feb 16: The local Congress leadership in Jammu & Kashmir day in and day out claim that the Congress this time would emerge stronger in all the three regions of the state and will form the next government either on its own strength or in alliance with one or the other Kashmir-based party. It is an exaggerated claim and this is what the current political situation suggests. The Congress is somewhat well placed in Ladakh, but it returns only one member to the Lok Sabha and four to the Assembly. In the cold-desert region, it is pitted against two strong contenders the National Conference and the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is difficult to say that the Congress would win more th... | |
| | | | Baigh pooh-poohs Rather's budget speech | | | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Feb 16: Senior PDP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffar Hussain Baigh today said the budget presented by the State Government in the House on 13th of this month neither reflects the true state of economy nor it points to the proclaimed economic recovery and regeneration.
Baigh while initiating discussion on the 2014-15 budget presented by Finance Minister, A R Rather described the general budget in the Legislative Assembly 'directionless, misleading, incoherent, contradictory and jugglery of words'. He said the Finance Minister who has presented a record 14 budgets in the assembly can't escape the responsibility of sorry state of affairs in the State in ... | |
| | | | Opposition in Kashmir to new administrative units in Jammu flawed | | Controversy | | | Neha
JAMMU, Feb 16: It was on February 1, 2014 that the NC-Congress coalition government partially adopted the report of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on new administrative units in the state. Ever since then, Kashmiri separatists and certain Valley-based commentators have been criticizing both the state government and New Delhi for no reason. It was just a normal administrative decision and should have been appreciated, notwithstanding the fact that certain areas in the state remained untouched.
Sadly, many separatists and commentators, instead of hailing the government decision, turned against it. Syed Ali Shah Geelani and colleague of the APHC-M Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and former chief of th... | |
| | | | Only 27% representations for areas under backward classes disposed off | | 89% pendency in Omar's Constituency | | | Bivek Mathur
Jammu, Feb 17: The pendency of rural and far-off areas of the state to be included in backward class areas owing to poor access to basic amenities is rising alarmingly as government is failing to keep pace with the genuine aspirations of the people. Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Itoo admitted on the floor of the House that among many reasons for the pendency, was shortage of chairman and staff with the Backward Classes Commission in the past and said pendency is a continuous process.
The question in this regard was raised by former Chief Secretary and now Member Legislative Council Sheikh Ghulam Rasool who sought to know about the total representations received by the... | |
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