Amresh Srivastava

New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS): The Border Security Force will soon get over 100 steel fabricated composite habitats along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, BSF officials said on Friday.

According to the officials, the BSF is in the process of setting up over 100 steel fabricated containers in high altitude Forward Defence Localities (FDLs) along the LoC to protect its troopers from the inclement weather, with an attached kitchen and toilets. The total cost of these will come to around Rs 35 crore, they added.

“These steel fabricated living accommodations will be insulated from inside, have bunk bed facilities and will have both solar and generator power supply,” a senior BSF official said, adding that the locations of these FDLs will range from 8,000 feet to 15,500 feet.

The proposal for these units has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs which has approved it in principle. A further process for financial sanction is underway.

The BSF officials have already contacted senior officials of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in Delhi to get solar power projects sanctioned for these FDLs which has also been approved.

At present, all activities at these locations including cooking and daily ablutions, are carried out using power sourced from kerosene and diesel, they said.

These upcoming habitats will accommodate at least 12 troopers at a time and the attached kitchen will have all facilities to serve freshly cooked food in even the most inclement and harsh conditions. The kitchen and toilets will be attached to the main living huts.

As of now, the troops at these icy locations at altitudes ranging from 8,000 feet-16,000 feet, live in corrugated galvanized iron sheet-made hutments along with their rations and weapons, exposing them to the sub-zero temperatures. Due to the weather, the areas remain snow clad on an average of five to seven months in a year.

The BSF has already finalized the design of these steel huts which will be provided with entertainment systems too. The officials said that once they get final clearance from the government, the construction of these huts will start at the higher altitudes first. They expect that the construction work can start from May-June onwards.

They said that before finalizing the design, they evaluated the composite Border Out Posts (BoPs) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and that of the Army deployed on the higher altitudes to equip them with modern facilities.

The BSF move came after the visit of Director General Pankaj Kumar Singh to these locations in November last year and a proposal was sent to the MHA for approval and the MHA has approved it. The solar power panels that will be installed by the New and Renewable Energy Ministry will help in reducing the carbon footprint and pollution generated because of heavy use of diesel and kerosene by the troopers for their cooking and other needs.

“Under the prevailing conditions for more than five to seven months, it is indeed very hard to survive and protect the borders as the weather is itself a strong enemy”, an officer in the central security forces deployed in the J&K security grid said. Once these steel habitats are set up at these altitudes, the troopers will man the borders in a better way and with more alertness, he added.

Apart from the LoC, the BSF is tasked to guard about 2289 km of the India-Pakistan International Border, ranging from Jammu to Punjab, Rajasthan and up to Gujarat in the western part of the country. (IANS)

Jammu, Jan 28: Four soldiers were injured in an explosion during a training session near the line of control (LoC) in J&K’s Rajouri district on Friday, defence officials said.

Defence sources said the four soldiers including a Havaldar were injured in an explosion that took place during the training session of a regiment in Kalsian area near the LoC in Nowshera sector of Rajouri.

“A routine training session was going on in the area when an explosion, which is likely to have been caused by a hand grenade, took place.

“Four soldiers were injured in this explosion. They were shifted to a nearby medical facility from where 3 of them have been referred to Rajouri Army Hospital while one injured has been referred to Udhampur Army Hospital,” a source said.

Senior officers of the army rushed to the spot soon after the incident and the matter is being probed, the source said. (IANS)

Jammu, Jan 28: The 8,000 feet extended runway at the airport here in Jammu and Kashmir was operationalised on Friday.

“Operationalisation of extended portion of Runway was done at Joint User Airfield of IAF & AAI at Jammu. Runway has been extended from existing 6700 ft to a revised stretch of 8000 feet. The work completed by AAI in coordination with Indian Air Force and MES,” a Defence statement said on Friday.

The airport situated in Satwati area of Jammu is jointly used for defence and civilian flight operations.

The work to extend the runway from 6,700 to 8,000 ft was undertaken last year and the same has been completed without halting either the Indian Air Force or the civilian flight operations. (IANS)

Srinagar, Jan 28: A police man escaped unhurt at SD Colony area of Batamaloo, Srinagar on Friday after unknown gunmen fired at him.

A police official said that unknown gunmen fired at one constable at SD colony Batamaloo.

“The constable survived the attack and escaped unhurt. He is safe,” he said.

“The area has been cordoned and searches launched,” he said. (KNO)

Indo-Asian News Service

New Delhi, Jan 28: The Supreme Court on Friday said laying down a criteria for determining the inadequacy of representation of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) would result in curtailing the discretion given to the state governments.

A bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and B.R. Gavai said: “We are of the opinion that no yardstick can be laid down by this Court for determining the adequacy of representation of SCs and STs in promotional posts for the purpose of providing reservation.”

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal’s stand that court has to lay down the yardstick for measuring adequacy of representation did not yield a favourable result, as the court said that the Jarnail Singh (2018) judgment had found it befitting for states to have the liberty to evaluate the representation of SCs and STs in public employment.

Justice Rao, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said laying down criteria for determining the inadequacy of representation would result in curtailing the discretion given to the state governments.

“In addition, the prevailing local conditions, which may require to be factored in, might not be uniform,” he said.

The bench noted that in M. Nagaraj (2006) judgment, the top court made it clear that the validity of law made by the state governments providing reservation in promotions should be decided on a case-to-case basis for the purpose of establishing whether the inadequacy of representation is supported by quantifiable data.

“Data collected to determine inadequacy of representation needs to be reviewed periodically. The period for review should be reasonable and is left to the Government to set out,” it said.

The bench emphasised that before providing for reservation in promotions to a cadre, the state is obligated to collect quantifiable data regarding inadequacy of representation of SCs and STs.

“Collection of information regarding inadequacy of representation of SCs and STs cannot be with reference to the entire service or ‘class/group’ but it should be relatable to the grade/category of posts to which promotion is sought. Cadre, which should be the unit for the purpose of collection of quantifiable data in relation to the promotional post(s), would be meaningless if data pertaining to representation of SCs and STs is with reference to the entire service,” it added.

The bench added that determination of inadequate representation of SCs and STs in services under a state is left to the discretion of the state government, as the determination depends upon myriad factors which the court cannot envisage.

The Central government had asked the apex court to lay down a definite and decisive ground for it and the states to implement reservation in promotions to SCs and STs in government jobs. Several states had moved the apex court, as many high courts had struck down the provisions providing reservation in promotion along with an application seeking clarification in the Jarnail Singh case. After hearing detailed arguments in the matter, the top court in October last year had reserved the judgment.

The top court said the Nagaraj judgment — which laid down conditions like collections of quantifiable data, adequacy of representation, and overall impact on efficiency of administration — will have prospective effect.

It also declared the B.K. Pavitra II judgment in 2019, is contrary to law laid down in judgments in Nagaraj case and in Jarnail Singh case. This judgement allowed collection of data on the basis of group and not on cadre.

The bench did not accept the contention that a major share of quota for members of SCs and STs, often reaches select few within these categories. “We are not inclined to express any view on discontinuation of reservations in totality, which is completely within the domain of the legislature and the executive,” it said.

The top court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on February 24, in connection with pleas by different states and Centre against the decision of various high courts quashing the decision on reservation in promotion. (IANS)

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Jan 28: The fresh lockdowns imposed by the government have again adversely impacted the livelihood of daily wagers and businesses community, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCC&I) said on Friday.

Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad, President, KCC&I as per a statement urged the administration to keep the livelihood of the business community in mind before taking any future decision and tackle the situation in consultation with traders / industry/ business community.

As the successive pandemic triggered lockdowns have wreaked havoc on economy, after the receding of second wave, the businesses had started to resuscitate. But much to the dismay of stakeholders, the lockdown came again to haunt.

The years of lockdowns have pushed Business Community to the wall and they are reeling under tremendous stress.  The only stability they have been staring is financial instability.

The government according to President should ensure that people adhere to COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and the protocol is followed strictly. Lockdowns cannot be the first solution or perhaps are not solution as it does more harm than good.

The business community ensures support to the administration in implementing proper Covid protocol.

In times like these, when the financial instability is marring the community, we request government to come out with certain  packages for the business community  in the prevailing circumstances .

Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad , President, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industries  urges Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene and demanded a “financial sustenance  package” for the businesses community.

Srinagar, Jan 28: The annual bird census was carried out in the famous Wular Lake of J&K’s Bandipora district on Friday.

The annual survey was carried out by Wular conservation and management authority of Kashmir.

Volunteers from multiple bird clubs and organisations participated in the census process. This is the first such major census carried out in the Lake in which 25 volunteers took part.

For counting purposes, 22 points were laid across the Lake for bird count. Volunteers used boats wherever those were required to complete the census.

Migratory bird species like mallards, coots, teals, gadwalls, ruddy shelducks, greylag geese etc are found in the Lake in large numbers.

Mudasir Mehmood, the coordinator of the survey, said that regular scientific monitoring of birds and other faunal diversity is being carried for long term population monitoring and to take informed management decisions. The report on the census will be published soon after analysing and assessing the data. 

Principal GMC refutes allegations, says tried level best to save her

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, Jan 28: An 80-year-old lady from Yaripora hamlet of Kulgam district died at Government Medical College Anantnag on Friday, while the family alleges medical negligence for her death.

Deceased’s family members and relatives protested outside the hospital and demanded an investigation in this regard.

Family members said that Hajra Banoo resident of Kathpora Yaripora was referred to GMC Anantnag on Friday morning from SDH Yaripora.

“Since 7 am we were in the emergency ward as the blood pressure of the patient was down and oxygen level was below 60. Doctors checked her when she was brought to hospital but then no attention was given towards her,” they said.

“As condition of the patient was going from bad to worse, we requested doctors to shift her to the ICU ward where nine beds were lying vacant but we were told that they have received calls from some patients and beds are for them,” they alleged. “Wasn’t it their duty first to save the patient who was before them or is it just an approach which works. Where will poor people go?”

The family alleged that they were kept in the emergency ward like flock of sheep amid Covid-19 and despite repeated requests to the concerned authorities they were not allowed to take her to the ICU ward despite having beds vacant.

“We also requested them to refer our patient, to provide medicines on golden card but they didn’t listen,” they said, adding that the lady died of medical negligence and authorities must investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, GMC Anantnag Dr Tariq Qureshi while refuting the allegations said that the 80 year old lady was checked by doctors several times and was put on oxygen as well.

“The doctors tried to save the elderly patient who was having multiple underlying problems.  The family members are lying. I personally went before them and showed them that the doctor has seen the patient four times and put on oxygen as well besides given medicine,” he said.

“Family has even agreed to pay for the damage they did in the ward and requested us doesn’t lodge an FIR against them,” Qureshi said. (KNO)