Excelsiordaily

REGD.NO.JK-71/15-17RNI No. 28547/1992

Vol No. 52 No. 41 JAMMU, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2016 18 Pages `̀ 4.00

Mohinder Verma

JAMMU, Feb 10: In amajor embarrassment for theState Government, theDivision Bench of High Courtcomprising Chief Justice NPaul Vasanthakumar andJustice Tashi Rabstan hasimpleaded AdministrativeSecretaries of 13 key depart-ments as party respondentswith the direction to file statusof pending departmentalenquiries within next twoweeks or appear in person onnext date of hearing to explaintheir contemptuous attitudetowards the numerous direc-tions issued till date.

The Division Bench alsoobserved, in the open court, thatdue to inordinate delay on thepart of the AdministrativeSecretaries in completion of 147departmental enquiries all thoseofficers who have been accusedof indulging in misconduct,mal-administration and corrup-tion, continued to remainunpunished and even posted onprime positions.

The Public InterestLitigation (PIL) highlightingthe dilly dallying approach

towards completion of 147departmental enquiries wasfiled on the basis of startlingrevelations made by EXCEL-SIOR in its edition datedFebruary 24, 2014 wherein itwas highlighted that account-ability in the Governmentfunctioning has suffered a bigblow due to inordinate delayin initiating action againstofficers and officials facing147 departmental enquiriesduring the past several years.

It was also highlighted inthis exclusive news-item thatallegations against the indictedofficers were of serious innature and had they been takento task the same would haveyielded deterrent effect on theother officers and officials.

When this PIL filed bySheikh Mohammad Shafi andProf S K Bhalla came up forhearing today, Advocate SheikhShakeel Ahmed drew the atten-tion of Division Bench headedby Chief Justice N PaulVasanthakumar towards theorder dated April 4, 2014 passedby the then Chief Justice M MKumar wherein it was observedthat the status report filed by theGeneral Administration

Department was revealing lessand concealing much more.

“With these observations,the DB had directed that a com-plete disclosure with regard tothe stage of enquiries, nature ofcharges, status of officers andtheir present postings be madeso that appropriate orders arepassed”, Advocate Ahmad said,adding “despite these explicitdirections almost all theGovernment departments aresoft-paddling on the completionof enquiries with the sole inten-tion of shielding the corruptofficials”.

Stating that despite numer-ous directions issued byDivision Bench from time totime in this PIL the depart-ments have not mend theirways and efforts to shield theofficers and officials are stillon, Advocate Ahmad furthersaid, “the latest status reportfiled by GAD in pursuance tothe last order is a testimony ofsoft-paddling on the part ofthose at the helm of affairs inthe departments”, adding “sofar only five departments haveresponded with the fresh sta-tus report and the response

Govt deptts continue to soft paddle on 147 pending enquiries

DB expresses anguish, directs 13 AdmSecys to file status or appear in person

*AG admits deptts not cooperating with GADNeeraj RohmetraJAMMU, Feb 10: Senior

leaders of RSS and BJP todayduring a high-level meeting inNew Delhi reviewed the per-formance of the PDP-BJPcoalition Government in theborder State and discussedvarious options to resolve theon-going political impasse.While there were divergentviews about the performanceof the then coalitionGovernment, most of the par-ticipants favoured continua-tion of the coalition with PDPand early formation of demo-cratically elected Governmentin the State.

Reliable sources toldEXCELSIOR, "the meetingwhich took place in the after-noon at RSS headquarter wasattended by senior functionariesof the RSS, BJP and three seniorleaders of the party from theState. The Central leadershipheld threadbare discussions overthe Agenda of Alliance that wasagreed upon between the twocoalition partners beforeGovernment formation and as towhat were the achievements of

the coalition during its eightmonth tenure".

"The leaders discussed indetail the performance of Stateunit of BJP while being inGovernment and the response ofPDP to all issues confronting theState. The leaders also confabu-lated the status of BJP's ownagenda and status of variousissues including that of borderresidents, refugees and return ofKashmiri Pandits", sources said,adding, "Prime Minister's Rs80,000 crore economic packageto the State was also discussedin the meeting and the stepsrequired to ensure its implemen-tation on ground at the earliestpossible".

Leaders, who were privy tothe meeting, were categoricalthat most of the leadersfavoured continuation of thealliance with PDP, which hadcatapulted BJP to power forthe first time in the borderState. "There was near con-sensus that efforts should beinitiated for early resolution ofthe political impasse so as topave way for Government for-mation. But, there should beno deviation from the already

agreed Agenda of Alliancebetween the two coalitionpartners and all future discus-sions should take placebetween the parameters of thealready agreed roadmap",sources asserted.

BJP's national general secre-tary and point-man of J&K,Ram Madhav when contactedtold EXCELSIOR, "talks weregoing on with BJP through somechannels and we are hoping forearly end to the political stale-ment in the State".

Asked about his proposedvisit to Kashmir for taking thedialogue with PDP further, hesaid, "I shall be visitingKashmir to discuss the issuesraised by PDP leadership, butthe date hasn't been finalised".

To a pointed query if thePDP has set forward somenew conditions, he said, "itwouldn't be appropriate tocomment at this stage". It ispertinent to mention here thatPDP president, MehboobaMufti has categorically toldthat the Modi-ledGovernment at the Centreneeds to take certain

Top leadership of RSS, BJP favourscontinuation of coalition with PDP

*Ram Madhav visiting Srinagar on Feb 15

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 10: In orderto ensure punctuality and pro-mote transparency and effi-ciency in its offices and estab-lishments, Government hasdecided to switch over to theAadhaar Based BiometricSystem on or before March 31,2016 and a detailed directionshave been issued to all theconcerned for strict compli-ance.

According to the directionsissued by the GeneralAdministration Department, nosalary or wages would be drawnin favour of the Governmentemployees of any category forthe month of March 2016onwards unless they haveenrolled themselves in theAadhaar Based BiometricSystem. This condition alsoapplies to the PSU employees,contractual, consolidated andcasual workers drawing wagesin any form from the publicexchequer.

The DDOs have been direct-ed to ensure enrolment in thesystem before March 31 andfurnish a certificate for the samealong with salary/wage bill pre-sented in the Treasury withoutwhich the Treasury Officers willnot entertain any salary/wagebill.

Stating that from April 1,2016 onwards the marking ofattendance in the systemwould be compulsory for allcategories of employees andwage earners, the GAD said,"it would be only after scruti-ny of monthly attendance, theDDOs would preparesalary/wage bill and a certifi-cate in this regard would beaccordingly furnished along

with the bill to the Treasuriesconcerned".

Even the pensioners havealso been asked to enroll them-selves by obtaining Aadhaarnumber by March 31 as thiswould help them to digitallyidentify themselves in future atthe nearest Common ServiceCentre/ Khidmat Centre or anyother place having the systeminstalled. They would not berequired to physically presentthemselves before the pre-scribed authorities to prove thatthey are alive. "This initiative isbeing undertaken as a part ofJeevan Parnam Scheme", theGAD said.

It has also been decidedthat all persons drawing bene-fits like old aged pension,widow pension, student schol-arship, stipend, honorarium,wages under MGNREGA orany other similar cash benefitfrom the Government wouldneed to enroll themselves inAadhaar based BiometricSystem initially and marktheir continued eligibilityperiodically as decided by theconcerned department by pre-senting and marking beforethe concerned authority.

"The concerned departmen-tal officers will be responsiblefor getting enrolled all such ben-eficiaries in the system for theiridentification without whichthey would not draw any benefitafter April 1, 2016", the GADsaid.

About the infrastructure andnecessary support, the GADsaid, "the AdministrativeSecretaries/ HoDs and DDOs ofvarious departments/corpora-tions shall ensure installations

Step aimed to ensure punctuality, transparencyGovt to switch over to

Aadhaar Based BiometricSystem before March 31

*No salary, wages without enrollment

Governors should be catalyticagents of States: PM

NEW DELHI, Feb 10:

Against the backdrop of a row over actions of ArunachalPradesh Governor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today saidGovernors should work as catalytic agents in the States, speedingup and improving processes "without themselves becoming a partof them".

Addressing the concluding session of 47th Governors'Conference in Rashtrapati Bhawan, he pitched for extending thespirit of 'cooperative federalism' to 'competitive federalism' whichwill involve healthy competition among States and between theStates and the Centre.

INSIDE WEATHER* Land acquisition ...Page 8* Science in people’s serviceGanai reviews performanceof departments, inspectsJhelum dredging ..Page 3Dewan reviews preparations forupcoming JKBOSE examinations ...Page 3DGP reviews security situationin border areas ...Page 5JKCCTU opposes 7th Paypanel recommendations ...Page 14India wins 16 medals in Wushu;J&K’s Surya Bhanu Pratapbags gold ...Page 16

JAMMU : Light rain/Thundershowers

TEMPERATUREMax: 21.1 Degree C Min: 9.0 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 83.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 55.0 per centSunset on Thursday: 06.13 p.m.Sunrise on Friday: 07.18 a.m.

KASHMIR:Rain/Snow.

TEMPERATUREMax: 12.3 Degree C Min: 2.5 Degree C

RELATIVE HUMIDITYRH-I (Morning): 72.0 per centRH-II (Evening): 57.0 per cent

LEH: TEMPERATUREMax: 9.2 Degree C Min: -6.0 Degree C

Internet Edition: www.dailyexcelsior.comE-Paper: http://epaper.dailyexcelsior.com

facebook.com/dailyexcelsiortwitter.com/dailyexcelsior1dailyexcelsior.com/apps

(Contd on page 6 Col 7)

Siachen braveheart battles for life; nation prays for his early recovery

NEW DELHI, Feb 10:

The condition of Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad, whosurvived a six-day burial under an avalanche in Siachen, deterio-rated today at the Army's RR Hospital here, even as the entirenation right from the top political leadership to Mumbai's iconicDabbawala prayed for the braveheart.

"His condition has deteriorated despite aggressive therapy andsupportive care," said the medical bulletin, issued by the ArmyHospital (Research & Referral) here in the evening.

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

Weatherman predicts snow, rainfall in ValleyExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 10: Weatherman today predicted snow andrainfall in Kashmir Valley even as the minimum temperature roseabove the freezing point at most places in Kashmir after lightsnowfall in hills and drizzle in plains.

A Meteorological Department official said that the snow andwidespread rainfall is expected in the Valley tomorrow. The skyhere remained covered with dark clouds throughout the day,resulting in decrease in the maximum temperature. The day tem-perature was recorded 12.3 degree Celsius in Srinagar and the

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

GMC Principal a seniority post : HCExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 10: Jammu and Kashmir High Court todayobserved that the post of the Principal Government MedicalCollege Srinagar is a seniority post and rejected the argument ofcounsel for the present GMC Principal, Dr Kaiser Ahmad Koul,that it is a selection post.

The Court has directed the State Government to come up withclear stand about filling the post of Principal Government MedicalCollege, Srinagar by next week.

The observation of the Division Bench of Justice MH Attar andJustice B S Walia about the GMC Principal being a seniority post

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

JNU orders enquiry into Afzal Guru eventNEW DELHI, Feb 10:

JNU administration today ordered a "disciplinary" enquiry intoholding of an event on campus against the hanging of Parliamentattack convict Afzal Guru despite cancellation of permission say-ing any talk about country's disintegration cannot be "national".

The university's move came in wake of protests by members ofABVP outside the VC office demanding expulsion of studentswho "misled" the university about nature of the event.

Maintaining that the act by students amounted to "indisci-pline", the university authorities said the committee headed by theChief Proctor of JNU will investigate the matter and come up with

(Contd on page 6 Col 3)

Rail budget may hike passenger faresNEW DELHI, Feb 10:

Facing resource crunch, Railways is said to be mulling the pos-sibility of effecting a 5 to 10 per cent increase in the passengerfares in the coming budget.

The proposal is being considered against the backdrop of adecline in both passenger and freight earnings and the additionalburden of Rs 32,000 cr towards implementing the 7th pay com-mission recommendations, Railway Ministry sources said.

On top of this, the gross budgetary support for the 2015-16 hasalso been slashed by Rs 8,000 cr by the Finance Ministry due tolow spending by the Railways.

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

Sanjeev PargalJAMMU, Feb 10: The

Election Commission has setthe process into motion forholding elections to 78Municipal bodies includingtwo Corporations and sixCouncils after receivingreports from all DeputyCommissioners on reservationof Wards for women,Scheduled Castes andScheduled Tribes.

The State ElectionCommission will segregate andpublish draft electoral rolls ofall Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)by the middle of this month,anytime on or after February 15and give 15-days time for objec-

tions before final publication ofrolls.

Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Shantmanu told theExcelsior that the process forholding elections to 78Municipal bodies after a gap ofabout 11 years has been set intomotion after receiving reportfrom all 22 DeputyCommissioners of Jammu andKashmir on reservation ofWards of the ULBs, fallingwithin their territorial jurisdic-tion.

“We have received thereport of all 22 DeputyCommissioners on reservationof Wards of the ULBs. TheDCs had earlier been asked tosubmit the report on rotation

of reserved Wards within 15days after completing theexercise in consultations withthe concerned departments.The DCs have submitted theirreports,” Shantmanu said,adding the reports were beingstudied by the ElectionDepartment and would befinalized in next about oneweek.

Earlier, there was a viewwithin the Election Commissionto hold the Municipal electionswithout rotating the reservedWards but later the Commissionhad left the matter up to theDeputy Commissioners andasked them to submit theirreport to this effect. The DCshad been asked to examine rota-

tion of Wards and report back tothe Election Commission withina fortnight, which they havedone.

Sources said there was ageneral view that rotation ofWards could take time and,therefore, the Commissionshould go ahead with the exist-ing reserved Wards but a finaldecision would be taken withina week.

In another decision aimedat expediting the process forholding the Urban LocalBodies elections in the State,the Election Commissionwould be publishing segregat-ed draft electoral rolls for all78 ULBs by the middle of

Poll process set into motion, rolls by Feb 15

EC receives report on rotation of reserved Wards, decision soon

Gopal SharmaJAMMU, Feb 10: It may

sound incredible but it is truethat against the strength ofnearly 4500 employees in theCAPD department working inKashmir province, hardly 613are running the affairs of thedepartment in Jammuprovince.

Making startling revelationshighly placed sources in theCAPD department told the"Excelsior" that against thesanctioned strength of 4900employees in the CAPD depart-ment in Kashmir, just 980 isthe sanctioned strength ofemployees including Gazetted,Non-Gazetted and Class- IV in

Jammu region, despite the factthat Kashmir region's area isequivalent to erstwhile Dodadistrict of Jammu region.

This glaring example of dis-crimination within the depart-ment has exposed the systemand the people at the helm ofaffairs, who never bothered todo justice with the other regionand allowed the people to sufferin view of poor delivery ofessential services for decades.The CAPD supplies in manyarea like Kishtwar, Chhatroo,Paddar, Wadwan, Doda,Bhalessa, Rajouri, Budhal,Khwas, Mahore, Gulabgarh,Chassana, Dudu- Basantgarh,Pancheri-Ladhar, Bani, Lohai -

Malhar, Machhedi etc inJammu province could not bestreamlined since independencebecause no sincere efforts weremade by the concernedMinisters and bureaucrats dur-ing past several decades. Theyfailed to maintain the balancingact.

Even after the creation ofnew administrative unitsabout two years back, includ-ing formation of new Tehsilslike Marheen, Dinga Amb,Ramkot, Lohai Malhar,Machhedi, Rajpura inKathua; Doongi-Garati, BeriPattan, Qila Darhal, Khawas,Siot, Ladoka, Manjakote,Mogla etc in Rajouri and

other districts and SubDivisions, no new infrastruc-ture was developed by thedepartment or much neededstaff appointed there. Total 77new Tehsils were created inJammu province and 56 inKashmir but new TSOs andother staff was not appointedtill date. New units wereallowed to function throughthe old existing system withinthe department.

Sources in the CAPDDepartment further disclosedthat in Jammu province, thedepartment is reeling under theshortage of 40 to 45 % staff.Even some TSOs, inspectors,

CAPD Deptt faces 40 % staff shortage in Jammu

Against sanctioned strength of 4900in Kashmir, Jammu has just 980

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 7)

Restrictions disrupt commercial

activitiesExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 10:Commercial activities came toa halt in Valley's business hub,Lal Chowk, due to restrictionsimposed by police to scuttle aproposed separatist rally ofJammu and Kashmir LiberationFront (JKLF) on the eve ofhanging anniversary of group'sco-founder and militant ideo-logue Mohammad MaqboolBhat.

Since early morning, policehad sealed the entry and exitpoints of Lal Chowk and itsadjoining Budshah Chowk,Regal Chowk and Maisuma byerecting barbed wires whilelarge posse of security forcespersonnel including CentralReserve Police Force (CRPF)were deployed all across the

(Contd on page 6 Col 5)

(Contd on page 6 Col 1)

(Contd on page 6 Col 7)

High level meeting reviews implementation of Agenda of Alliance

(Contd on page 6 Col 7)