Hushing up of Rajouri Development Authority Scam by SVO
Court directs GAD to hold regular inquiry
Jammu, Oct 26 : A Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar in the open court directed Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, General Administration Department (GAD) to appoint a senior IAS Officer as Enquiry Officer to hold a Regular Departmental Enquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) the then Chief Executive Officer, Rajouri Development Authority and presently Excise Commissioner J&K. The Division Bench further directed that the officer to be nominated must be senior to Mohammad Javed Khan in IAS Cadre. The Division Bench further allowed three weeks time to the GAD to nominate the Enquiry Officer.
After hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocates Rahul Raina and Supriya Chouhan appearing for the PIL whereas Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar for the GAD, the Division Bench observed that since Mohammad Javed Khan has been inducted into IAS as such Tourism Department cannot hold an enquiry against the IAS Officer and accordingly the Division Bench directed the General Administration Department to nominate a senior IAS Officer to hold the enquiry against the delinquent officer Mohammad Javed Khan.
When this PIL came up for hearing, Advocate S.S. Ahmed invited the attention of the Division Bench towards the latest status report filed by GAD wherein it has been stated that the GAD has initiated the process for holding enquiry and in this regard, a proposal has been submitted to the competent authority for approving appointment of some senior IAS officer as enquiry officer to hold a Regular Departmental Enquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS), the then CEO Rajouri Development Authority and presently posted as Excise Commissioner, J&K.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed vociferously argued that all out attempt is being made to shield the delinquent IAS Officer and the competent authority (Hon’ble Chief Minister as Minister Incharge Tourism Department) has directed that the Tourism Department should complete the Regular Departmental Action/Enquiry in the first instance.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed further submitted by referring to Division Bench order dated May, 2, 2016 when the GAD through its status report apprised the Division Bench that the enquiry officer earlier appointed i.e. Director Tourism, Jammu had expressed his inability to conduct an enquiry into the matter as Mohammad Javed Khan the then CEO, RDA is senior to him and has been inducted into IAS. It was also divulged in the said status report that the Tourism Department has already referred the matter to the GAD for appointment of a new enquiry officer and on the said date the Learned Advocate General made a statement that a new enquiry officer would be appointed within 3 weeks.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed further invited the attention of the Division Bench towards the order dated May, 17, 2017 when Division Bench headed by Justice Alok Aradhe directed the GAD to conclude the departmental enquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) within a period of 4 months. Advocate S.S. Ahmed further referred to order dated October, 4, 2017 when Division Bench headed by Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur expressed displeasure against the conduct of Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, Tourism Department for not cooperating with the GAD and for not furnishing comments over the response filed by delinquent officer Mohammad Javed Khan.
At this stage Advocate S.S. Ahmed also submitted that when departmental enquiry was already pending, there was no need for holding fresh enquiry through Tourism Department particularly when the delinquent officer is an IAS Officer.
Confronted with this situation, Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar submitted that earlier enquiry was a preliminary enquiry and now the Government has decided to hold a Regular Departmental Enquiry against the delinquent IAS Officer.
While rebutting the submissions of Senior AAG, Advocate S.S. Ahmed further submitted that in view of the decision to hold Regular Departmental Enquiry against the delinquent IAS Officer, he is required to be shifted from the post of Excise Commissioner, J&K to a non-sensitive post in view of the law laid down by the Apex Court of the Country in case titled Union of India V/s K.V. Jankiraman wherein the Apex Court has ruled that the persons facing serious allegations of corruption/abuse of official position should not be allowed to occupy public dealing posts. Advocate Ahmed further submitted that a very wrong signal is going to the public at large when tainted officers like incumbent Excise Commissioner, J&K, are posted at sensitive positions. Advocate Ahmed referred the earlier orders passed by the Division Bench headed by then Chief Justice M.M. Kumar when the Chairman of J&K Board of School Education was removed from the coveted post owing to the pendency of Departmental Inquiries against him. He sought reply of the GAD in the next status report pertaining to this. Advocate S.S. Ahmed also submitted that his submissions to this regard be recorded in today’s order so that the Government is made to disclose its stand in this regard. However the Division Bench headed by Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur remarked in the open court, “this issue will be examined later”.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, the Division Bench comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Sanjeev Kumar directed Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, General Administration Department (GAD) to appoint a senior IAS Officer as Enquiry Officer to hold a Regular Departmental Enquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) the then Chief Executive Officer, Rajouri Development Authority and presently Excise Commissioner J&K. The Division Bench further directed that the officer to be nominated must be senior to Mohammad Javed Khan in IAS Cadre. The Division Bench further allowed three weeks time to the GAD to nominate the Enquiry Officer.
Looking into the importance of the matter the Division Bench directed the Registry to list this matter after three weeks.
Will support dialogue process if India accepts three conditions: UJC
Srinagar, Oct 26 : Conglomerate of local militant outfits, United Jehad Council Thursday came up with three conditions for the viable solution of Kashmir issue.
The UJC Chief Syed Salahuddin while addressing a press conference said that India should admit that Jammu and Kashmir is a dispute that can be resolved in the light of UN resolutions through tripartite talks.
He said from past seven decades India has been illegally ruling Kashmir and in the name of dialogue it has always committed fraud. “When there remained no option, youth of Kashmir took to arms. Under present circumstances, armed struggle remains the only way out,” he said and added that India is eager to change the Muslim demography of Jammu and Kashmir.
“India is playing with the honour and dignity of Kashmiri women by chopping off their braids. The irony is that world community is silent while Pakistan needs to play proactive role on diplomatic and political front,” he said.
Syed Salahuddin said that they are with the Kashmir leadership in case they start dialogue process. “Since India is no sincere so we have laid down our three conditions. Let India declare Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory and accept there are three parties. Let India accept Kashmir issue will be resolved in the light of UN resolutions as per the aspirations of people of Kashmir, we will fully support the Hurriyat leadership,” he said and added that dialogue process should be meaningful.
Throwing light on the history, Syed Salahuddin said that India used dilly dally tactics to avoid implementation of UN resolutions in Kashmir. He said that India used ways and means to snatch the rights of people and adopted different tactics to cheat world community.
CNS distances itself from malicious news report about Hizb Chief
Srinagar, Oct 26 : News agency CNS Wednesday clarified that the malicious news report about Hizbul Mujhadeen Chief Syed Salahuddin posted on its website was the handiwork of some unscrupulous elements who not only are devoid of any ethics but also played with the reputation of the news agency.
CNS in its statement said: “On Wednesday hackers after hacking its website posted a news report with the sole intention to malign the image of Hizbul Mujhadeen Chief Syed Salahuddin. We tender our unconditional apology to all those who were hurt and want to clarify that the news report was not the brainchild of our agency.”
Meanwhile, Hizb spokesperson Salim Hashmi in a tele-statement condemned the action and said that those hackers who post malicious news reports to defame Hizb Chief and Kashmir Freedom Struggle will be identified and taken to task.
Congress stages protest against braid chopping in Anantnag
Ruling PDP BJP regime failed on all counts. Congress
Srinagar Oct 26 : Blaming ruling dispensation of PDP BJP for failing to restore confidence and ensuring safety and security of the people, Congress today described the braid chopping and harassment of the people on the part of some anti peace and anti-social elements as very disturbing and serious matter, saying that this is highly unfortunate and Govt has failed to ascertain the identity of the culprits leading to the deep alienation among the masses.
Lodging a strongly protest against what it called the failure of the Govt on all counts, the Congress, as part of its week long awareness campaign, held a meeting of Senior Party Leaders and Workers at Kahanbal in Anantnag today and protested against harassment of the people especially braid chopping, which the party believes is being carried to disturb the peace and tranquility in the valley.
The meeting was presided over by Former PCC President Peerzada Mohd Syed, in which Former Minister and Senior Leader Taj Mohi U Din, MLA Mohd Amin Bhat, MLA Gulzar Ahmad Wani participated and lashed out at ruling dispensation for inaction and inability to unravel the mystery behind braid chopping.
Addressing the meeting Peerzada Mohd.Syed said that this is highly unfortunate that untoward incidents like braid chopping, which was never expected in this state is happening now and irony that despite having all resources and facilities available, Govt has not been able to ascertain the identity of the culprits, besides that it has also miserably failed to unknot the mystery behind these shameful acts, which is an attack on the modesty of the women.
Expressing concern over the fear psychosis created due to braid chopping among the people, Peerzada said that it was compulsory on the part of Govt to take very serious and effective measures to restore confidence of the people, but this highly condemnable that not even a single culprit was identified, so far, which is indicative of utter failure of the PDP BJP ruling dispensation on all counts.
Addressing the gathering Taj Mohi U Din expressed serious concern over the failure of the Govt to ensure safety of people saying that Govt must come clean on braid chopping and apprise people on this issue, for the fact, braid chopping has added chaos to the people, which the Govt should address and find out who is doing it and why?
He said people have lost faith in the present regime, as a result they do not feel secure, as they understand fully that the inaction on the part of Govt on this issue amounts to an encouragement of culprits, so it is high time for the Govt to identity the culprits for server punishment and restore confidence among the people.
Speaking on the occasion Legislators Mohd Amin Bhat & Gulzar Ahmad Wani urged upon the people to remain vigilant and defeat the designs of anti-social elements hell bent upon to create confusion in the society under the garb of braid chopping.
Those who addressed the meeting included Vice President JKPCC Mohd Anwar Bhat, General Secretary Hilal Ahmad Shah,Abdul Qayoom Shah, Mohd Iqbal Mir, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, Ali Mohd Mantoo, Ab. Rashid Lone, Gulam Mohd Mir, Gh. Mohi U Din Bhat, Mohd Iqbal Khan and others.
Later Congress Leader submitted a Memorandum to His Excellency the Governor Shri N.N.Vora through Deputy Commissioner Anantnag seeking action against culprits involved in braid chopping. The Memorandum also reads that Govt has miserably failed to restore confidence of the people and urged that effective measures must be put in place to identity the persons involved in braid cutting.
JK Pensioners to get free insurance cover from next year: Dr Drabu
‘Senior citizens are nation’s treasure, repository of culture’
Srinagar Oct 26 : In a significant decision, Minister for Finance and Labour & Employment, Dr Haseeb A Drabu, today announced that the pensioners of Jammu and Kashmir government will get free insurance cover from the next year.
“Pensioners are a nation’s treasure. They are the repository of our tradition and culture. Keeping in view their contributions and hardships, we have decided that the government will provide them free insurance cover from the next fiscal,” Dr Drabu said.
The Finance Minister was speaking at a function at Sheikh-ul-Alam Hall in Budgam where hundreds of pensioners from J&K Pensioners Welfare Association were present. They were led by the Chairman of the Association, Sampath Prakash.
The meeting was also attended by District Development Commissioner, Budgam, Muhammad Harun, Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, Tejinder Singh, Senior Citizens, Civil Society representatives and other officers of the District Administration.
The Finance Minister said the situation in the last three decades has taken a toll on the society which has lost the sense of eldership, “Our cultural values and tradition have got eroded due to the situation in the last three decades. Society has changed enormously which also impacts the way our senior citizens are treated in their day to day life,” he said.
Dr Drabu said the new insurance scheme will cover all the state pensioners of Jammu and Kashmir, “Our Government's endeavor is that all senior citizens should get insurance cover, whether they have been state government employees or not and we will hopefully move towards that end in coming years,” he said.
Earlier, the pensioners put forth a list of issues faced by them before the Finance Minister and sought his intervention in getting them addressed. They said the benefits given to pensioners of state government must be extended to state pensioners also.
The issues include removal in anomalies in SRO 94, enhancement of medical allowances for pensioners from Rs 300 to Rs 2000, decreasing commutation from 15 to 12 years, in toto implementation of Senior Citizens Act, fulfillment of demands put forth in pre-budget discussion in Dec 2016, separate department to deal with the issues of pensioners, hostels for pensioners in every district headquarter, OneRank-One Pension policy for police personnel and low rate of interest on bank loans for pensioners.
The Finance Minister assured them that their genuine demands will be addressed in a proper timeframe.
Altaf Bukhari inaugurates retail outlet Kunj-e-Zebaish at Kashmir Haat
Outlet offers for sale traditional goods designed by students of Women’s College Nawakadal
Srinagar Oct 26 : In a bid to promote the skills of students, the Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today inaugurated a retail outlet Kunj-e-Zebaish at Kashmir Haat where the products designed by students of Government College for Women, Nawa Kadal are put for sale.
The outlet offers dozens of goods including Papier Mâché items, paintings, tablecloths, Roti baskets, aprons, T-shirts, Abhayas, tray covers, traditional Kashmiri items and other innovative goods.
The Minister was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmed Khan, DC Srinagar, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, Principal Government College for Women, Nawa Kadal, Prof Rifat Gillani, students, and other concerned officials.
The Minister praised the college authorities for this novel initiative and encouraged them by shopping various items worth Rs 11,000 from the outlet. He also asked them to install a PoS machine for smooth transactions.
Prof Rifat Gillani informed the Minister that the Skill Empowerment Cell which is already established at Government College for Women, Nawa Kadal, provides the training to students in dress designing and Papier Mâché craft.
“The products made by students of the Nawa Kadal College will be put on sale at the outlet,” she said adding, this will help in boosting the confidence of students who can start their own business ventures in future.
Altaf Bukhari also visited various stalls where the artisans have put on sale of their products in the ongoing 12-day National Handloom Expo 'Dast-e-Hunar' which will conclude on November 3.
On the occasion, shopkeepers informed the Minister about the shortage of water in toilets at Kashmir Haat to which he assured a water tank will be installed within a day to address the issue.
Mehbooba’s chair proved very expensive for people of J&K – NC
Rather addresses workers at Chadoora, leads protest march
Srinagar Oct 26 : National Conference on Thursday said Mehbooba Mufti’s singular goal of becoming the Chief Minister of the State had proved to be a very expensive bargain for the people of the State and had resulted in an assault on the State’s special status and political identity. Addressing a workers’ meeting at Chadoora today, Former Finance Minister and Senior National Conference Leader, Mr. Abdul Rahim Rather said the present stage of uncertainty, fear and anxiety was the darkest phase for the people in recent history.
“The present phase of fear, anxiety and chaos is the darkest phase in recent history. The people of Kashmir have witnessed unimaginable suffering and pain over the past few decades and the present circumstances are unprecedented in the extent of how the people have been left to suffer in an atmosphere of hopelessness and helplessness. It is the Government’s basic and primary responsibility to ensure peace and stability and safeguard the lives and dignity of the people. Since the past three years not only has the PDP-BJP Government failed to ensure peace and stability but it has gone a step further to rob the people of peace of mind. The Mehbooba Mufti Government has utterly failed to dispense its duties”, Abdul Rahim Rather said.
The Senior NC Leader and Former Finance Minister said the State had witnessed unprecedented turmoil, unrest and chaos since the very inception of the PDP-BJP Government in the State. “We had cautioned Late Mufti Sahab against aligning with the BJP and had even offered unconditional support to the PDP. Sadly, PDP chose to side with communal and divisive forces to satiate its thirst for power and today the consequences are in front of our eyes. PDP had promised and claimed that its alliance with the BJP would ensure that the State’s special status is safeguarded and said that there would be a status quo on Article 370 and Article 35-A. Contrary to a status-quo, the BJP has left no stone unturned to launch one indirect assault after another against Article 370 and Article 35A through its affiliates. And despite these assaults, PDP is silent and has surrendered its voice to remain in power”, Rather added.
“Through the extension of GST to the State, PDP has robbed us of our fiscal autonomy and has also paralyzed the State’s Economy. Every sector of our economy is in deep distress and unemployment has increased manifold”, the Senior NC Leader further said.
Lashing out at the Government over hundreds of incidents of braid-chopping across the Valley, the Senior NC leader said our mothers, sisters and daughters were living in a state of anxiety and apprehension as the Government was clueless and had failed to nab the culprits and unearth the mystery. “Misgoverance has become rampant and every key government department has utterly failed to provide people with basic public services and utilities”, the Former Finance Minister added.
Rather also led a protest march against the Government on the issue of assaults on women and incidents of braid chopping on this occasion. Senior NC Leader and Central Zone President, MLC Mr. Ali Mohammad Dar, District Secretary Mr. Ghulam Ahmed Naseem, District Organizer Mr. Mohammad Maqbool, District Vice President Mr. Abdul Rashid Zargar and Block presidents of the area were also present on the occasion.
LeT asks people to observe Oct 27 as black day
Srinagar, Oct 26 : Mahmood Shah, Chief Lashkar-e-Taiba, said that 27th of October is marked as the Black Day for Kashmir when the occupational Indian forces forcibly penetrated their forces into Jammu Kashmir, plunging Jammu Kashmir into 70 years of tyranny.
India has committed mass atrocities, killing millions of innocents. Kashmiris and their sympathizers throughout the world will commemorate the day as the Black Day in the history of Jammu Kashmir.
Mahmood Shah appealed to the nation to conduct rallies and protests so as to expose the tyrant face of Indian barbarism to the world.
Mahmood Shah stated that the Freedom Struggle of Jammu Kashmir continues its journey to its glory. India tried all the possible tactics to seize the indigenous Freedom Struggle but in vain. The prime reason behind the successes is the strong sense of unity and understanding between the nation and Mujahideen.
Braid chopping incidents have exposed the sick tactics of Indian establishment, India has kept its inhumane behaviors. Modi is continuously supporting the occupational forces and their inhumane acts.
FROM : (CNS)