Fake job racket busted

Police today busted a racket engaged in making fake appointment orders in Northern Railways, National Hydro-electric Power Corporation (NHPC) and other Central Government Departments by cheating the unemployed youths and charging Rs 3 lakh from them including Rs 90,000 advance.

Police said one of the accused has been arrested by Bishnah police while two others were absconding. A large number of fake appointment letters on the name of unemployed youth of different parts of Jammu were recovered from the arrested accused.

Mukesh Kumar son of Karan Kumar R/o Kandoli, Nagrota has been arrested by police while Pushpinder Singh Manhas of Krishna Nagar and Som Raj of Ghagwal were absconding.

Police said the accused had been issuing fake appointment letters to unemployed youth in Northern Railways, NHPC and other departments. They had been charging Rs 3 lakh for the appointments including Rs 90,000 in advance from the youth.

On a tip off from some youth, police today arrested Mukesh Kumar. A search was on for two absconders. A number of fake appointment letters seized from the accused were being examined. A case against the accused has been registered at Bishnah police station.

Police parties, which made the arrests, were headed by SHO Bishnah Jaipal Sharma under the supervision of SSP Jammu Prabhat Singh, SP Headquarters Shailender Singh and SDPO RS Pura SS Samyal.

Sanskrit Vidyarthi Parishad strike continues

Gandhian Studies Centre of MAM College organises workshop

Jobs made pensionable illegally

Several Government departments in the state have converted non-pensionable jobs into pensionable for select group of employees by violating the Government orders under which all the Government jobs in the State from 2010 are non-pensionable.

The State Government abolished the pensionable jobs from January 2010 and as per government order any appointment made from 01-01-2010 in any of the Government departments is non-pensionable.

The Finance department of the State issued an order (No. A/36/83-II\128 dated 31-01-2011) under which it was said that the New Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (NPS) will be applicable from 01-01-2010.

Under NPS, the Government employees are not covered under GP Fund Scheme and have to make subscription of 10 percent of their basic pay towards their PRAN number and Government makes equal contribution towards their account.

However, as per the circular (No. A/36/83-II/28 dated 31-01-2011) issued by the Finance Department those Government employees who were already working in the Government sector and were appointed in any other Government department or the same department after 01-01-2010 but have applied for the new job through proper channel are covered under old pensionable scheme.

The circular further said that in case of any violation to the circular by drawing and disbursing officers to the NPS, amount sanctioned unauthorizedly under old pensionable scheme will be recovered from authority that sanctioned it.

Majority of the DDOs in the Technical Education who were appointed after January 2010 are implementing the Old Pension Scheme for themselves in violation of the Government order.

The Government (vide order No. 92 Edu (Tech) of 2010 dated 14-05-2010) appointed 17 Superintendents for the various ITIs in the State after their selection by Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. As these Government employees were appointed in May 2010 they are not covered under Old Pensionable Scheme and can't make any contribution towards GP Fund.

Majority of these Superintendents who are working as DDOs are not implementing the Government order regarding NPS for themselves. They are unauthorizedly drawing their salaries from the General Revenue of the State under Defined Pension Scheme and make their contributions toward their GP Fund instead of PRAN.

According to reports, none of these Superintendents were working in any of the Government departments at the time of the advertisement of these posts and none of them have applied through proper channel for the selection to these posts.

Those officers violating the Finance department's code regarding NPS include Imran Wajahat Hussain, Superintendent ITI Pattan, Ajaz Majid Kakroo, Superintendent ITI Sopore, Showkat Ahmad Superintendent ITI Handwara.

Moderate rains in Valley

Farooq takes over as Secy School Education

55064 posts vacant in 28 Govt Deptts

Despite the availability of manpower of over five lakh educated unemployed youth in the State, more than 55,064 posts of Gazetted, Non-gazetted and Class-IV cadre are lying vacant in twenty-eight (28) Government departments. Out of the total posts available at present, 37390 are of Non-gazetted cadre, 6107 of Gazetted rank while over 11568 of Class–IV.

The State Education department tops the list of available vacancies with total 14,336 posts, followed by Health and Medical Education department where number of vacancies at present is 8,837. In School Education department only, out of the total 14336, 1853 posts available are of Gazetted cadre, 11051 Non-gazetted including majority of them of teachers whereas, 1432 of Class-IV cadre. In Higher Education the total number of posts available are 1393, out of which 736 are of Gazetted cadre, 657 non-Gazetted while 590 are Class-IV.

Official sources disclosed that in Health and Medical Education department, out of the total 8837 posts falling vacant, 1494 are of Gazetted rank, 5532 Non-gazetted whereas and 1761 vacancies of Class-IV cadre. Under Home department, 6413 posts are lying vacant and out of the total available vacancies, 6080 posts are of Non-gazetted cadre. In Forest department over 2840 posts of Non-Gazetted cadre, 118 of Gazetted rank and nearly 200 of Class-IV rank are lying vacant. Over 1500 posts of the same department are said to be referred to the recruiting agencies like SSRB and PSC.

In Power Development Department (PDD) also a large number 4090 posts are falling vacant. They included 1807 posts of Non-gazetted cadre, 160 Gazetted while 2123 of Class-IV employees. In Public Health Engineering (PHE) department the number of posts available are 3230, of which 1482 posts are of Non-Gazetted cadre, 155 Gazetted while over 1593 of Class-IV cadre.

In Finance department, the total number of posts available are 2104, out of which 1804 are of Non-Gazetted cadre, 40 of Gazetted cadre whereas, 260 vacancies of Class-IV workers. In Technical education the number of Non-gazetted posts lying vacant are 1213, Gazetted 601 while those of class IV workers are 301.

In State Information department also the picture is grim. Out of the total 277 posts lying vacant, 198 posts are of Non-gazetted cadre, whereas, 37 posts are of Class-IV cadre. In Industries and Commerce department the total number of vacant posts available are 1542, out of which 1145 are of Non-gazetted cadre and 227 of Gazetted rank. In Cooperative department 129 posts of Gazetted, 217 Non-Gazetted and 117 of Class-IV cadre are falling vacant whereas, in GAD the number of Gazetted posts available are 65, Non-gazetted 190 and 42 of Class-IV cadre. In Estates, 207 posts of Class-IV, 64 of Non-Gazetted and one of Gazetted cadre are available.

Similarly, in Department of CAPD the total number of available posts are 963. Out of the total 363 posts are of Non-gazetted cadre, 25 Gazetted while 575 are of Class-IV cadre. Against many posts of Non-Gazetted cadre, a large number of Class-IV workers are performing duty in CAPD to run the affairs.

In Department of Culture total 197 posts were presently lying vacant, in Science and Technology the number is 144, in Social Welfare department 87, Revenue 448, in Housing and Urban Development 72, Law and Parliamentary Affairs 37 including 27 Gazetted cadre, in R&B 173 of Class-IV, Hospitality and Protocol 95, Civil Aviation 17, Transport Deptt 387 including 308 Non-Gazetted, ARI & Trainings 111 while in Department of Elections 103. No post has been shown available in RDD, Printing and Stationery and Animal & Sheep Husbandry departments. Besides these, many posts were also vacant in sixteen PSUs, the sources added.

Newly appointed migrant employees without salaries

survey on employment

Employees to get Insurance Cover

Kingfisher to start clearing pending salary

Beleagured Kingfisher Airlines chairman and managing director Vijay Mallya on Monday assured the employees that their salary for a couple of months will be disbursed from this week after tax authorities defreezed the airline’s bank accounts.

 Kingfisher’s bank accounts were frozen by the tax authorities in February, which restricted the carrier’s ability to make salary and other payments to ensure smooth running of its daily operations, resulting in the grounding of several flights.

 The bank accounts were unfrozen yesterday after the airline paid a total of Rs 64 crore to various tax authorities before March 31,  Mallya said in a letter to employees.

 Effectively, the airline’s junior staff will be paid on April 4, while all pilots and engineers will be paid on April 9 and 10, he told employees.

 “My only focus now is to start paying your seriously overdue salaries,” he added.

 Mallya is under pressure from his airline’s lenders to inject equity into Kingfisher Airlines, which has slashed its flight schedule and grounded most of its fleet.

Prof Talat Delivers lecture to refresher course participants

SRTC ends strike

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1560 vacancies in Forest Deptt being filled up

Minister for Forests and Environment, Main Altaf Ahmad on Tuesday  informed Legislative Council that 1560 posts in various wings of Forest Department have been referred to recruiting agencies for selection. He said for the first time since 1984 selections to ACFs and Range Officers were made to strengthen the work force in the department.

 Replying to a short notice question by Murtaza Ahmad Khan, the minister said that the most of the posts under direct recruitment quota have been referred to concerned recruiting agencies and posts under promotion quota are being filled up by holding DPCs. The minister said the department engaged labourers on need basis for various developmental activities. Besides, he said engagements are made on casual/need basis to safeguard the forest property as well as activities like anti-grazing, anti-poaching, fire fighting etc.

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4404 posts vacant in Forests

A total 4044 posts were lying vacant in the Forest department while the posts of Assistant Conservators of Forests (ACFs) and Range Officers were filled up recently after a long gap of over 28 years.

Minister of Forests Mian Altaf while responding to short notice question of PDP member Murtaza Khan said that out of the total sanctioned strength of 19533 posts in the Forests department including SFC, at present 4404 posts were lying vacant. He said out of this figure, 1560 posts have been referred to recruiting agencies and they are likely to be filled up shortly. 2844 posts are yet to be filled up and sent for the recruitment.

Mr Altaf claimed that against the posts of FPF Guards, 682 watchers and 46 other Class IV are working. The recruitment process of these posts has been put on hold. As regards Forest Guards, 841 posts have been advertised by SSRB. The selection process for the posts of Foresters and FPF inspectors has been stayed by the Court.

Out of the total vacant posts, 1304 are in Teritorial Forest, 1173 in FPF, 221 in SFC, 68 in Wild Life department, 23 in Forest Research Institute, 30 in Soil Conservation, 16 in Environment and Remote Sensing, and nine in Social Forestry. These posts are yet to be referred to the recruiting agencies.

The minister said there was need to make amendment in recruitment rules, Forestry graduates and PGs are needed to be given preference. He said recruitment of ACFs and ROs was made in the department recently after 28 years. While responding to recruitment made in SFC in last two-three years, minister admitted that some people were engaged as casual labourers and workers on need basis to safeguard the forest property as well as other activities.

Replying to a question regarding names and parents of people engaged since 2009, the minister said since the persons have to be temporarily engaged on work basis, the issuance of formal engagement orders does not arise. He also avoided to give vacancy position of the casual and need basis workers.

Kashmir Valley plunged into darkness

Dal Lake other water bodies freeze

Army saves life of pregnant woman

50 percent faculty posts vacant in GMCs

More than 50 per cent faculty positions are lying vacant in the Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar, which are considered as premier institutions of the State. As far as Government Medical College, Jammu, is concerned, as against 48 sanctioned posts of Professors, 26 are presently lying vacant while as 23 posts of Associate Professors against sanctioned strength of 49 are vacant. Similarly, against sanctioned strength of 67 Assistant Professors, only 33 are in position while as 34 are lying vacant. There are only 23 Lecturers against the sanctioned strength of 127.

This information was provided by none else than Minister for Medical Education, R S Chib in response to the question of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA, Ch Zulikar Ali in the Lower House today.

Like GMC Jammu, the Medical College of Srinagar is also reeling under acute shortage of the faculty members.

As against sanctioned strength of 69 Professors, only five are in position and 64 posts are lying vacant. Out of 74 sanctioned posts of Associate Professors, 40 are vacant while as 72 posts of Assistant Professors are vacant against the sanctioned strength of 125. Likewise, out of 232 posts of Lecturers, 124 are lying vacant.

When asked about the steps being taken to fill up the vacant posts, the Minister said, "vacant faculty positions in the Medical Colleges are being filled up on academic arrangement basis under SRO-384 till these posts are filled up on regular basis through PSC/ DPC".

About the latest facilities introduced in the Government Medical College, Jammu and its Associated Hospitals, the Minister said that digital radiography, mammography and colour doppler machines have been installed in the Radio Diagnosis Department while as the number of ventilators has been increased from 8 to 14 and CT scan machine installed in the SMGS Hospital.

Moreover, fully automated coagulation and a tissue processor have been installed in Pathology Department and Video-Assisted Thoracoscopy in CTVS Department, the Minister said.

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3 Fci officials detained

45426 ReTs Engaged 25054 Regularized

Minister for Medical Education, R. S. Chib informed the Legislative Council today that 45426 ReTs were engaged in the State since the inception of the scheme. He said of them, 25054 ReTs have been regularized so far.

Replying to a question of Jehangir Hussain Mir, the Minister said the proposal for enhancement of honorarium of ReTs has been submitted to Finance Department for consideration.

Replying to a question of Dr. S. Bashir Ahmad Veeri, the Minister told the House that in respect of administrative posts and non-clinical teaching and tenure posts of Medical Education Department and rest of the doctors have not been banned for practicing in the interest of general public.

The Minister said setting aside the circular instructions of Education Department, the High Court has also imposed ban on private practice by the doctors and adding that Government would take a decision soon in this regard.

Meanwhile, Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo told the House today that a joint representation of 32 villages of Mohar Garh Panchayat has been received by the backward commission.

Replying to a question of Master Noor Hussain, the Minister said the matter has been referred to the concerned Deputy Commissioner for details on socio-economic position of the area. She said as and when, the information is received, the cases would be placed before the commission for consideration.

Shiv Sena condemns Drama by MLAs

Hanuman Jayanti Celebrations 

Modernization of Jammu Rly Station

1802 Adhoc Contractual Workers Regularised

Minister of State for Finance Dr. Manohar Lal informed the Upper House that till date the Empowered Committee (EC) has recommended 1802 cases out of 6850 to different Administrative Departments for their regularization.

He said 6850 cases of employees of Adhoc, contractual, consolidated basis were recorded by the Finance Department as per the information received from various departments for their regularization under Special Provision Act 2010.

The Minister was replying to a clubbed question of Javid Ahmad Rana and Syed Asgar Ali in the Legislative Council today.

Regarding casual labourers, the minister said the information received from various departments, 19384 casual labours were reported to be existing in different department upto ending December 2011. He said in this respect, the Government has constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee. He said the concerned health departments were advised to furnished full details of these engagements so as to enable the committee to go into the extent/magnitude of the problems relating to the casual workers i.e financial, legal and administrative that may arise in the regularization of such temporary workers and workout an appropriate policy in this regard.

He said since the departments furnished inadequate information, they were again requested to furnish the references of officers who engaged these casual labourers which is still awaited. He said as soon as, the relevant information is received on the subject, the Cabinet Sub-Committee is expected to deliberate upon the issue and finalize its recommendations. He said against the total number of 59105 daily wagers, a balance of 3501 daily wagers still exists in the records of the Finance Department as un-regularized.

Dr. Manohar Lal also informed the House that 457 industrial units have been identified as sick in the State which includes 368 units indentified in Kashmir region and 89 in Jammu.

Replying to a question of Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, the Minister said under Rehabilitation Policy for sick industrial units, the industrial units which have been declared sick by State Level Rehabilitation Committee (SLRC) and are potentially education viable have been given soft loan at the rate of 1% interest per annum subject to maximum of ` 30 lakh. He said ` 69.42 lakh have been sanctioned for Jammu region under the scheme out of which ` 5.50 lakh have been disbursed till ending January 2012. Similarly, ` 801.31 Lakhs have been sanctioned for Kashmir region out of which ` 364.07 lakh stands disbursed during the same period, he added.

To revitalize industrial activities in the State, Dr Lal said that Prime Minister's Task Force on MSME has recommended setting up of a fund of ` 100 crore by the Government of India for implementing a special rehabilitation package for identified sick units in J&K.

Technical Education blocks entry of Engg Graduates

Flouting rules, blue eyed officials promoted

The Department of Technical Education in the State is blocking the entry of Engineering Graduates into the department by violating its own recruitment rules. Around 1000 Engineering Graduates are unemployed in the State and vested interests are blocking their entry into the Department.

As per the records of the department, for the past 12 years, 99 departmental candidates were promoted to the posts of Superintendents while only 28 candidates were selected through the Public Service Commission (PSC) directly.

According to the SRO 328 dated 29-08-2002 of the department, 50 percent Superintendents have to be appointed directly by the PSC and 50 percent have to come through departmental promotion of Supervisors with Degree, Diploma or ITI+ATI in Engineering Trade.

The promotion of departmental candidates on the posts of Superintendents meant for direct recruitments is in gross violation to Government Order No 107 GAD of 2007 dated 18-01-2002 after the Cabinet decision No 186\15 dated 27-12-2001 which restricts the Administrative Secretaries of the Government from such promotions.

The Government order says: "It must be ensured that no promotee is put in the direct recruitment quota, temporarily or on stop gap or adhoc basis when such direct recruitment posts have not been referred to PSC\SSB."

"No quota be diverted from one source of appointment to another and where ever it has been diverted the same should be restored to such sources in future", the order adds.

The records of the department suggested that at present 21 departmental candidates are working against direct quota of Superintendents in the department and these posts have not been referred to the PSC just to favour the blue eyed officials of the department.

Only last month, the department in violation of the cadre management rules adjusted 8 blued eyed officials as Superintendents against the direct quota last month vide Government order No 39 -Edu (tech) of 2012 dated 15-02-2012.

These officials are Group Instructor Bashir Ahmad Beg, Supervisor Javed Hussain Wani, Supervisor Abdul Majid Dar, Supervisor Abdul Latief Beg, Supervisor Rama Kant, Group Instructor Abdul Rashid Bajard, Foreman Ratan Lal Wali and Technical Assistant Muzaffar Ahmad Shah.

One of these candidates, Technical Assistant Muzaffar Ahmad Shah did not fall within the purview of promotion category. Shah has been promoted directly as Head of the institute, ITI Seer Hamadan in district Anantnag, with DDO powers which is gross violation of recruitment rules.

As per SRO 145 of 2002 governing SSR of Technical Education, the promotion category of Technical Assistant is Supervisor and after five years' service as Supervisor and as per seniority is eligible for promotion to the post of Superintendent.

Two more officials, Bashir Ahmad Beg and Javed Ahmad Wani who were promoted as Superintendents are without Craft Training of Instructors, CTI, required for the promotion. They have been posted in ITI Ganderbal, Central Kashmir and ITI Tral in South Kashmir. Besides this Group Instructor Abdul Rashid Bajard who has been posted in ITI Kupwara, North Kashmir was also not eligible for the promotion.

Besides this the department has flouted the rules and promoted eight officers as Superintendents in 2009 under Government order No. 89-EDU (Tech) of 2009 dated 14-10-2009. Out of eight promoted as Superintendents, seven doesn't fall in the seniority list issued by the department DTE|Estt/101/53/44-91 dated 07-01-2008.

Those who were not figuring in the seniority list are Vivek Sagar, Rajesh Gupta, Naresh Singh, Qazi Arif, Ujwal Mahajan, Irshad Ahmad Jan and Mudasir Shamas. Only one, Altaf Hussain was in the seniority list.

In order to encourage more departmental promotions and block direct recruitments, the records of the department suggested that there were 68 Supervisors as on August 2007 against the sanctioned strength of 39 only. 

451 posts created for 22 new degree colleges

Minister for Higher Education Abdul Gani Malik in reply to a question of Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy informed the Legislative Council that the Government has sent a proposal to the Union Government for opening of Women’s Degree College at uncovered district headquarters of the State.

He said there is a pressing demand from the people all over the State for Women Degree Colleges.

Mr Malik said at present there are 95 degree colleges sanctioned in the State out of which 73 degree colleges are functional and the recently sanctioned 22 degree colleges including one degree college at Thathri and Doda district are likely to be made functional during the ensuing Academic session.

Regarding Degree College Doda, the Minister said that the infrastructure like the administrative block including library, science block, 8 lecturers halls, BCA Lab and Chowkidars hut are in place in the said college. He said that in addition to this construction of examination hall and lecture theater have been taken at an estimated cost of ` 113.50 lakh, besides the boundary wall of the college is likely to be completed during the current financial year at an estimated cost of ` 43.13 lakh.

In reply to another question by Haji Ali Mohammad Bhat, Mr Malik said that sufficient staff has been provided as per student roll requirement in Degree College Ganderbal. He said out of 11 sanctioned posts 7 are filled on regular basis and against remaining 4 posts, candidates have been engaged on academic arrangements.

He said the vacant posts of the college have been referred to the recruiting agencies and will be filled on receipt of selections.

In reply to yet another question of Ravinder Kumar Sharma, he said that 451 posts both teaching and non-teaching have been created for all the newly sanctioned 22 degree colleges of the State for making them fully functional.

Regarding status of Degree College Nowshera and Sunderbani, the Minister said that both the colleges are presently functioning in Higher Secondary School Nowshera and Govt Middle School, Sunderbani.

Mr Malik said the land measuring 99 kanals and 16 marals for Degree College at Nowshera has already been identified and funds to the tune of ` 50 lakh have been released in favour of concerned Deputy Commissioner. He said for the construction of Government Degree College, Nowshera ` 1.33 crore have been released in favour of constructing agency during current financial year while as ` 85 lakh have been approved under annual plan 2011-12 for construction of GDC Sunderbani.

Tourist rush in Kashmir
Scholar alleges harassment by KU

HC stays selection list of AIOs

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has stayed the provisional selection list of Assistant Information Officers, released by the Services Selection Board (SSB) on January 31. The Court also issued notices to the official respondents and private respondents. Responding to a petition filed by Ashfaq Ahmad Tantray and Ashiq Hussain, Justice Hasnain Masoodi directed that the selection list shall not be acted upon. He issued notices to respondents including Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Information, Secretary Services Selection Board and order private respondents.

The petitioners had prayed that the SSB authorities adopting a 'faulty' criteria and meritorious and deserving candidates have been left out in the selection list. They said candidates were selected by giving preference and consideration to the points scored in the interview and the aptitude test rather than considering the academic merit, which has been rendered meaningless by giving weight-age across the board.

"The settled proposition and norm adopted by the SSB with respect to the criteria is that the points are allotted on pro-rata basis, by which due credence and reward is given to the merit obtained by the candidates in the academic qualifications", the petitioners submitted.

Seeking quashing of the provisional selection list and the reframing of the list on pro-rata basis on the marks obtained in the post graduate degree/diploma examination in Mass Communication and Journalism, the petitioners prayed that the court should come to their rescue so that deserving candidates are selected.

Fake appointments multi crore scam busted

Police has busted a major recruitment racket involving transactions worth crores of rupees for fictitious appointment orders including computer generated forged approvals of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s office.
In this connection, so far, three persons--Tahir Farooq Sheikh a resident of Munawarabad Barbarshah, Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh son of Habibullah Sheikh a resident of Harinow Budgam and Mohammad Younis Dar son of Ghulam Mohi-u-Din a resident of Bagawanpora Barbarshah have been arrested by police and all of them are lodged at central jail Srinagar.

Sources in police said that a laptop, a desktop and two Santro cars besides around 60 fake appointment orders and their Xerox copies have been seized from the possession of the three accused.

Giving details of the case, reliable sources said that on a tip off received by police station Kralkhud Srinagar, on December 20, last year police swung into action and arrested Younis red handed while copying the fake orders at Barbarshah. The seized orders were screened by police and later forwarded to the respective departments. “The departments later confirmed that these orders are fake and have not been issued by the department heads,” sources in police told said.
Later on December 26, 2011, the police arrested Tahir and Manzoor and two Santro cars were seized from their possession at Barbarshah. Police registered an FIR number 53/2011 into the matter under offences like 420, 467, 471 and 120 B RPC.

Investigations into the matter have revealed that the three accused would dupe people in different villages of Budgam assuring government jobs to the qualified unemployed youth. “The three accused persons have duped over a hundred people including well educated unemployed youth. Manzoor would project Tahir as assistant public relations officer and Younis as Public Relation Officer (PRO) of MLA Habba Kadal Shameema Firdous and collect money ranging from three to four lakh rupees from each person. Younis has reportedly taken active part in her political campaign in 2002 elections,” source privy to police investigation said.

The three accused would purchase and dispose off different cars at Karangar. “They have purchased Santro, Wagon R, Ritz, Ford Fiesta, I 20 and Tata Safari   and later disposed off in Karangar. They would visit the villages like Khan Saheb, Krimshore, Yachigam, Harinow, Chadoora and other villages of Budgam in different cars to impress the gullible targets,” sources disclosed.
However, Shameema Firdous, MLA Habba Kadal when contacted told JK News that she does not know Tahir and Manzoor but Younis would come to her to seek help. “Younis would come here as he belonged to a poor family of my constituency. He would seek help from me but he had nothing to do with my public relations. Nazir Ahmad Bhat is my PRO. Younis has nothing to do with my political campaigning. I heard about the case and inquired about the same form police station Kralkhud,” Firdous added.
Showing fake orders issued by commissioner secretary PDD, PHE, Tourism, CAPD, chief engineer PHE, PDD, PWD, DG Northern Railways, Director General of Police, IGP Kashmir, DC and ADC Srinagar, the three accused would cheat innocent youth of rural areas of Budgam charging money from them on the pretext of providing them jobs.
The three accused would manage computer generated approvals from the chief minister’s office on the recommendations made by various MLAs for police recruitment and other jobs to dupe the youth in Budgam and Srinagar, sources added.
“They (three accused) would use state emblem on the CM’s approvals using their laptop as Tahir is a computer knowing person. And they would also take along the innocent unemployed youth to civil secretariat and other department directorates   where they would handover the fake order and get money from them,” informed sources disclosed.
Through these means, sources said, they (three accused) have collected 1.5 Crore rupees. “And even we have checked the transactions carried out by Younis which shows he had deposited 75 lakh rupees in his account number SB-15711 Air Cargo JK Bank Raj Bagh branch. The money amounting one and half crores has circulated in three accounts of these three accused. They would deposit cheques, cash and TTs.  But the money has been withdrawn using ATMS and other means,” police sources revealed.  
SHO Kralkhud, Aftab Ahmad says that the police is investigating the matter. However, he confirmed that the police has seized fictitious approvals of Chief Minister’s office from the three caused. “We have seized many fictitious orders which include fictitious approvals from the chief minister’s office,” Aftab said.
Asked if the police has found any nexus between the three accused and any senior government officers, the SHO Kralkhud said the police is investigating the matter but so far, no such links have been found.
Meanwhile, Tahir and Manzoor had applied for bail which was rejected by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) on Monday. After hectic arguments made by the Chief Prosecuting Officer (CPO) Afaq Ahmad, the CJM Rajeev Gupta has rejected their bail plea.
The CPO Srinagar had submitted that since the police have foolproof evidence against the accused and the investigation being in the initial stage, the bail to the accused would definitely hamper the investigations.
Afaq Ahmad, also prayed that the accused have not only committed an anti social offence but have maligned the image of state government and created a dent in the credibility of the state machinery and the bail at this stage can dilute the case. Later the court rejected the bail plea of the two accused, sources in the court said.
The CPO also informed the court that so far 82 witnesses have recorded their statements before police and the more witnesses are expected to record their versions. Younis has applied for bail today.
The police have sent the seized items including laptop and computer to the Forensic Science Laboratory for chemical analysis.

Zulfikar Ahmad, SP West, when contacted told JK News, that investigations was on and he was scheduled to convene a meeting in this regard in the evening. “We have arrested few people and the police is ascertaining the facts,” he added.

Women Anganwari Workers not paid their Wages for 9 Months

Seems like it is not only the low rung public employees, thousands  of women Anganwari workers working in centres across valley have also not received their salaries for last nine months, with the concerned social welfare department citing the reason of inadequate budget for non-payment of the salaries.

Interestingly, the payment of salaries to the workers/ supervisors under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is being funded by the central government. Under this scheme, all the social welfare departments were directed to increase the salaries of field workers operating in various centers from Rs 2100  per month to Rs 3600  per month with effect from April 2011.

However, in  Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of Anganwari workers were paid  the hiked salary for just the month of April , and have been working wage- less since then.

Protesting against the indifference of state authorities towards their concerns, Parveena, Head , Anganwari Helpers and Workers Association told Kashmir Times that they will go on an indefinite strike if the department further delays the payment of salaries.

Women Anganwari workers from various districts of the valley protested against the indifference of government towards their problems and threatened to go on an indefinite strike, if they are not paid their pending wages.

“We work all the year, for providing meals and nutrition to the children from poor families. However when it comes to paying us our due wages, this department always shies away from the same. We have even approached Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo. We have only got assurances from them. We cannot work any further as we have families to feed too,” Nuzhat, an Anganwari worker said.

The workers said that paying the pre-revised salaries to them would be sheer injustice as the workers elsewhere in the country are getting the salaries according to newly revised rates.

“Non-payment of dues has now become a routine with us. Usually, we are paid our wages after 2-3 months with the department citing the unavailability of funds as the reason every time. This certainly seems to be the mishandling of the affairs by the state management, because central agencies funding our salaries have announced payment of our hiked salaries on time,” Parveena told News Agency.

When contacted, director social welfare department, Hilal Ahmad Parray  said  the decks for payment of hiked salaries have been cleared and that as of now the department is ready to pay the salaries to its workers as per old schedule.

“We currently do not have sufficient funds for payment of revised salaries. As soon as we get the funds, we shall pay them as arrears to the workers. We have written to general administration department regarding that. Meanwhile, the payment of salaries as per old schedule is already being done,” he added.

Employment fair in Kashmir

3-day employment fair inaugurated at Poshkar Khag

Under the new initiative of state government to organize employment fairs in all districts of the state. The district employment and counseling centre Budgam in collaboration with district administration organized 3 day employment fair from November 2 to 24, 2011 at Poshkar Khag. The aim of conducting this employment fair is to make aware common masses articularly the employees educated youth about various self employment schemes and programmes launched by the state government. The employment fair inaugurated by District Development Commissioner, Budgam who was the chief guest on the occasion and was accompanied by concerned heads of the participating offices. As many as 20 departments financial institutions have established their stalls in the fair demonstrating and depicting their productions, incentives and programmes. In his welcome address, the District Employment Officer, Budgam said that during the fair unemployed youths of the  surrounding areas would be encouraged to set up income generating units under various SES programmes. In addition, employment departments will also register the eligible candidate under VSA scheme besides other departments/institutions have also been asked to carryout the same in the intent of minimizing the unemployment menace. The DDC Budgam on the occasion, said that this is the fourth such kind of employment fair organized since last year in the  district. He said there are opportunities in offing were from alternative employment opportunities can be created government jobs are not only source of employment available. He appealed the youth to participate in the 3 day event and make themselves aware about these schemes and opportunities.Later, the DDC distributed cheques worth Rs. 40 lakh among 70 beneficiaries sponsored by J&K Bank and other financial institutions for establishing their own income generating units under various SES particularly SHG, SGSY.

Recruitment of local staff in PNB jammu

The All India Punjab and National Bank Officers Federation (AIPNBOF) has demanded that local staff should be recruited in the P&NB branches of the state as absence of local staff is seriously hampering the growth of bank in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a press conference after the office bearers meeting here today, T. R Verma, general secretary, AIPNBOF said that manpower planning has taken a severe beating since the locals are not staffed in the PNB branches in the State. He said that retention policy of PNB employees of outside states in Jammu and Kashmir should be banished at the earliest.

"There is acute shortage of staff in the branches and special recruitment of officers and workmen staff in Jammu and Kashmir needs to be carried out. The drive should be initiated at the earliest so that like other parts of country PNB achieves progress and growth in this state," said Verma.

Verma said that special drive can help in tiding over the crisis on account of unemployment of educated youth. He said the Association would leave no stone unturned in approaching the higher ups of the bank so that direct recruitment is carried out in the state. He said there should be regulated banking hours for all the employees of public sector banks irrespective of their cadre and designation. He said that public sector banks should be allowed to observe five day week, adding that pay disparity between PNB and State Bank of India (SBI) employees should be removed.

Dr. Kumar Arbind, President AIPNBOF said that Khandelwal Committee recommendations are anti-employee and demanded that the recommendations should be out-rightly rejected by the Central Government.

"The Khandelwal Committee recommendations are anti-employee, anti-officer and anti-trade unions. It is an attempt to scuttle collective bargaining and in one voice we reject it. We would hold a dharna before Parliament on December 14 and will project our demands" said Dr. Arbind.

Protests continue on recruitment policy

While the chief minister was defending the new recruitment policy inside the civil secretariat on the first day of the opening of the darbar in the winter capital today, the undercurrent of resentment against the policy was apparently visible in the city till late evening in the form of street protests.

Although, the protests were marred and foiled by the heavy deployment of security personnel, yet the protesters in small groups made three different attempts to march towards the civil secretariat but were arrested.    

Atleast 50 protesting students including girls were detained by the police in this process.

However, despite few protest demonstrations at Shalamar Chowk and City Chowk, civil secretariat opened in the winter capital amid stringent security arrangements.

There was tight security cover in and around the secretariat. Barricades were erected and passenger and private vehicles were being searched at several places in the city.

Activists of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), Youth of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Movement (YJKLM) made few bids to proceed towards civil secretariat from Shalamar Chowk and City Chowk in small groups amid raising slogans against the state government but their attempts were foiled by police contingents deployed there.  

Near about 45 students of ABVP assembled at Shalamar Chowk and City Chowk early in the morning at 10:45 am carrying banners and placards depicting slogans “Taanashahi Nahi Chalegi”, ‘Revoke Job Policy Or Face Hate’, ‘Omar Abdullah, Hai-Hai,’. The protestors staged a massive protest and tried to proceed towards the secretariat, demanding revocation of new job policy introduced by the state government in three different groups.

One of the ABVP groups showed black flags as mark of their resentment against state government. They held a protest demonstration for half an hour; later the police arrested all the activists when they tried to proceed towards secretariat and they were sent to the local police station in police jeep and bus. The agitating students including six girls were  detained by the police under preventive measures and were shifted to the District Police Lines. However, all the activists who were detained were later released in the evening.

Meanwhile, in a similar way, over a hundred students and activists of various student organisations mainly Progressive Students Association (PSA) and Gujjar Bakerwal Students Welfare Association (GBSWA) gathered in front of Central Library of Jammu University at 11 am and held a strong protest demonstration and raised slogans against the state government and the new recruitment policy.  

Later, police personnel resorted to mild lathicharge at demonstrators to disperse them when they made an attempt to cross the university gate amid sloganeering. The protest demonstration continued for one and a half hour. Police arrested two activists of the said organisations as a preventive measure and later released them at 3 pm. However, no one was injured in the scuffle.

In the evening, five activists of PSA and GBSWA were detained by police when they were protesting at Gole Market at 5 pm. They were distributing pamphlets and were asking the passersby to deposit the same with the state exchequer. The activists arrested included MS Bhatti, Manik, Rohit Bharti, Talib Hussain and Azhar.

SHO Gandhi Nagar, Sajjad Khan said, “Police has arrested 5 activists of PSA and GBSWA at Gole Market when they were protesting.” They have been detained as a preventive measure and no case has been registered so far. It will be decided later, he added.

22000 teachers posts vacant in jammu kashmir

National Panthers Party MLA from Ramnagar and working chairman of the party Harshdev Singh today claimed that over 22,000 posts of teachers were lying vacant in the State and School Education authorities have failed to take cognizance of the matter.

Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Singh alleged a break down in the Educational set up in the State. He said that thousands of Government schools were facing acute deficiency of teaching staff with Government maintaining a criminal silence over the issue. Mr Singh said remote area schools were the major sufferers and had almost become defunct due to staff paucity and non-availability of teaching faculty.

The NPP leader pointed the State Government itself admitted in the meeting of Project Appraisal Board held in Delhi in June this year that 13020 posts of teachers were vacant at the Elementary level, with 8014 vacancies in Upper Primary schools and 4916 vacancies in Primary schools. Apart from this, more than 8000 vacancies of Masters, Headmasters and Lecturers were available at Secondary level including High and Higher Secondary schools. The figures provided that schools are facing overall shortage of nearly 40 % teachers, Mr Singh added.

Mr Singh alleged that Government has failed to create posts of teachers/ lecturers and provide adequate staff in schools. He also alleged that Government has failed to launch RMSA (Rashtriya Madhamik Shiksha Abhiyan) in the State though it was started in the country in 2008. He sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister into the matter and said that studies of the students has been badly hit in the State.

Bose to change exam policy

To curb the menace of copying in examinations, State Board of School Education has decided to set separate question papers for each student in the coming exams.

Chairman BOSE, Professor Sheikh Bashir Ahmad said the decision to set different question papers was taken to negate the chances of copying. “In future the question papers will be different to every student so that there is no room left for copying,” he said.

He said that the change in the examination procedure had been supported by policymakers and board authorities. “It was after the discussions over the examination policy that we changed it,” he said.The Chairman said that question papers would be set in different series which will control copying internally as well as externally. “When question papers are set differently, there is no chance of copying,” he said.He said that framing question papers would be difficult but “will stop copying menace.” He said that they had had meetings with the civil society and police authorities to control the menace.

Prof Bashir said that Section 144 would be imposed outside the exam centers. He sought support from parents and civil society for this endeavor. “The policy will fail if people won’t support us,” he said.The Chairman claimed the miscreants who had exposed 10th class results via Facebook in 2010 were booked under

Kashmir CET Topper

Kashmir CET topper’s success mantra is stress free study


Firdous Ahmad Ganai, who topped the 2011 Common Entrance Test (CET), has one— and the most important, he says advice for students aspiring to crack the exam: study without stress.

Ganai, who scored 205 marks to secure the top position in Kashmir division—and an MBBS admission in the Government Medical College Srinagar— attributes his success to “stress-free preparation.”

“The key (to success) is overcoming the fear of failure,” he says. Ganai, a resident of Palpora Khag in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, says that although he was selected for admission to BDS in his previous two CET attempts, his father, Hamzullah Ganai, motivated him to give another try for the prized MBBS course. “In the first two attempts the pressure of qualifying for MBBS proved too much. But this time around, I just concentrated on the studies without caring for the result,” he says.

“My father told me that hard work is in the hands of man but success in the hands of Allah,” says Ganai, who did his 10+2 from Iqbal Memorial Institute Bemina.

Ganai says that he studied 12 to 14 hours a day. “Time management is very important . You have to dedicate time to every subject (biology, physics and chemistry in Ganai’s case) and revise as much as you can,” he says.And how important is coaching? “I have been self studying for the past two years, but coaching is important in the sense that it helps to understand the dynamics of objective exams,” he says.

So abandoning all leisures and burying oneself in books must be taxing? “Namaz,” Ganai says, “is the best way to keep your concentration intact.”

Around 21000 students appeared in CET-2011 across the state on June 25 and 26. The students vied for over 3200 seats. There were 300 seats each in Medical and Agricultural Sciences while as 2500 seats were available for Engineering and 100 for BDS.

Abhinav Chetan son of Ashok Kumar Bhat from Jammu secured the first rank with 207 marks in the state while Firdous, with 205 marks, secured second rank in the state and first in Kashmir division.