New Delhi: Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana on Friday said that a new trend has developed in the country to malign the judges, if people do not get orders of their choice, and when judges complain to the CBI and the IB, they also do not help.

“New trend developed in the country. If an adverse order is passed, then judiciary is maligned… No freedom given to judges. If judges complain to the IB and the CBI, they are not helping the judiciary at all. This is a serious matter. I am saying it with a sense of responsibility,” he said.

The bench, which also comprised Justice Surya Kant, said that in some cases where gangsters and high-profile accused are involved, they attempt to intimate judges physically and mentally, and some people, who do not get orders of their choice, circulate messages on WhatsApp and other social media platforms with an intent to malign judges.

The Chief Justice added that it is sad that the Central Bureau of Investigation has done nothing. “No change in CBI attitude. We are sorry to observe that.”

The top court made these strong observations while hearing a suo motu case in connection with the mowing down of Dhanbad Additional District Judge Uttam Anand by an auto-rickshaw and sought a status report on the investigation from the Jharkhand government through the Chief Secretary and the DGP within a week.

The Chief Justice noted that the Jharkhand government has done nothing in connection with the security of judicial officers, against the backdrop of the presence of coal mafia in the state and pointed out that Anand was killed nearby his colony.

Attorney General K.K. Venugopal said that in criminal cases, the judges are vulnerable and there should be a body to assess such situations. “I have collected news reports on attack on judges inside and outside the court and some measures need to be taken to stop these incidents,” he added.

As the Jharkhand government said it had handed over the case to the CBI for further investigation and it will provide full cooperation to the investigating agency, the CJI said: “So, you washed up your hands.”

To counsel’s submission that they will build boundary walls and fences, he said: “Boundary wall and fencing. Do you think it will stop criminals from killing.”

The top court issued a notice to the CBI and posted it for further hearing on Monday. It noted there are several incidents of judges being threatened and asked state governments to file status reports on measures taken for the security of judicial officers. (IANS)

By: Arul Louis

United Nations: India on Friday demanded that those supporting terrorists should be held accountable and there should be an assurance that neighbours are not threatened by terrorism as Afghanistan transitions with US withdrawing its troops.

India’s Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti told the Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan: “Those providing material and financial support to terrorist entities must be held accountable.”

Speaking before Tirumurti, Afghanistan’s Permanent Representative Ghulam Isaczai had accused Pakistan of aiding the Taliban which is carrying out attacks on his government.

The meeting presided over by Tirumurti took place under the shadow of an upsurge in attacks by the Taliban on the Afghan government and dire international concern over the situation there.

Tirumurti said: “As a neighbour of Afghanistan, the current situation prevailing in the country is of great concern to us.”

“It needs to be ensured that Afghanistan’s neighbours and the region are not threatened by terrorism, separatism and extremism. There needs to be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.

“For enduring peace in Afghanistan, terrorist safe havens and sanctuaries in the region must be dismantled immediately and terrorist supply chains disrupted,” he added.

“It is equally important to ensure that the territory of Afghanistan is not used by terrorist groups to threaten or attack any other country.”

Recalling External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement to the Council in June, he said that a durable peace in Afghanistan requires a genuine “double peace” — “peace within Afghanistan and peace around Afghanistan”.

Tirumurti referred to the Taliban’s killing of Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui who was working for Reuters and said that the UN has reported that civilian casualties and targeted killings have reached record levels.

“There have been targeted attacks on religious and ethnic minorities, girl students, Afghan security forces, Ulemas, women occupying positions of responsibility, journalists, civil rights activists and the youth,” he said. (IANS)

By: Faizan Wani

Srinagar:In a significant development, the administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory on Friday set-up a three-member committee to revisit the Annual Performance Report (APR) guidelines notified by it in 2011.

According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, the committee headed by Principal Secretary Home has been directed to submit its recommendations keeping in consideration the existing guidelines in the J&K and the Government of India pattern on ACR rules.

The panel also comprising Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department and Secretary, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, will submit its report within one month.

In 2011, the GAD unveiled new APR guidelines after NC- Congress cabinet cleared the proposal.

The guidelines define procedure for writing up, custody and maintenance of APRs of all the gazetted officers.

According to the guidelines, the annual report shall be written in respect of every officer under the Government for each financial year. “The initiating officer shall record his comments about, self-assessment of the officer, being reported upon and fill in the appraisal column on his performance for the year under report to the reviewing authority on or before the end of June of the following year,” read the guidelines.

According to the existing APR rules, the reviewing authority shall review and submit the report for the year to the accepting authority by 15th of July of the following year and the report shall be completed as far as possible by the end of July. (KNO)

Jammu: There was still no trace of 19 persons who went missing following a cloudburst at Honzar Dachan in Kishtwar district as rescuers continued the operation on Friday.

Eight women among 19 persons went missing following the cloudburst and subsequent flash floods in the remote village on intervening night of July 27 and 28.

“Police (has) now started the restoration of foot paths, electricity and bridges of the flood hit area of Honzar Dachhan. Simultaneously Police on the other side is busy in rescue operation also,” a police spokesman said in a tweet.

On Monday last, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh had an aerial survey of the village. He also chaired a high-level meeting during which, among others, he stressed the need for intensifying the rescue operation to trace the missing persons.

Authorities have pressed teams of NDRF and SDRF for carrying out the rescue operation.  Several teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with “sophisticated equipment” were earlier involved in the operation along with other rescuers from police, Army and local volunteers, the officials said.

Success has been eluding the search teams after seven bodies were recovered and seventeen persons rescued in injured condition after the calamity on Wednesday last.

The missing persons include Saja Begum (60) wife of Ghulam Mohidin, Khursheed Ahmed (31) son of Mohammad Iqbal, Fida Hussain (26) son of Mohammad Ramzan, Mohammad Sharif  (40) son of Ghulam Rasool, Almina Tasbassum (22) daughter of Mohammad Iqbal, Mata Begum (45) wife of Lala Tantry, Ghulam Mohammad (70) son of Ghulam Rasool, Fazal Hussain (18) son of Rustom Ali Chopan, Tariq Hussain (50) son of Nazir Ahmed, Zarina Begum (40) wife of Tariq Hussain, Mata Begum (45) wife of Ghulam Rasool, Fatima Begum (56) wife of Ghulam Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed (45) son of Rustum Ali, Begum (45) wife of Abdul Rehman, Sharifa Begum (38) wife of Ghulam Mohammad, Shakir Hussain (22) son of Ghulam Ahmed, Ghulam Ahmed (65) son of Abdul Aziz, Zubaida Banoo (25) daughter of Ghulam Ahmed and Khalid son of Haji Gami.

The police have also started a community kitchen since weakened to provide meals to affected people of village Hounzar. The police said to have erected tents to provide the temporary shelter at the site. (GNS)

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 144 new covid-19 cases even as no person succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.

They said 50 of the cases were reported from Jammu Division and 94 from Kashmir Valley, taking the infection tally to 322286 in J&K, they said.

Providing the district-wise details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 33 cases, Baramulla 5, Budgam 8, Pulwama 9, Kupwara 5, Anantnag 7, Bandipora 12, Ganderbal 5, Kulgam 9, Shopian 1, Jammu 15, Udhampur 9, Rajouri 2, Doda 15, Kathua 0, Samba 1, Kishtwar 5, Poonch 1, Ramban 2 and Reasi 0.

While there was no death reported in J&K during the time, so far 4386 people have fallen victim to the pathogen in J&K—2148 in Jammu division and 2238 in Kashmir.

Moreover 98 Covid patients    have recovered, 29 from Jammu Division and 69 from Kashmir, they said. So far, 316496 people have recovered, leaving the number of active cases at 1404—574 in Jammu and 830 in Kashmir.

There was no confirmed case of black fungus reported today. So far 37 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials added.

Besides this, 99.54 percent of population above the age of 45 years has been vaccinated across the Jammu and Kashmir, the officials said.

Among the total 322286 positive cases in J&K, 22932 have been reported as travellers while 299354 as others, they said.

As government informed the people that, the best way to protect themselves from COVID-19 is by maintaining physical distance of at least 2 meter from others, frequently cleaning hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer or washing them with soap and water and following good respiratory etiquette and hygiene.

As a measure for social distancing in public places and workplaces wearing a face cover is compulsory.

The government said early detection of COVID-19 can prevent the spread of disease “so we need to be responsible for the well-being of ourselves and everyone around us,” it said, adding, ““Not disclosing symptoms could put life of individuals and their families at risk. In case of symptoms like fever, cough and difficulty in breathing report early. Do not fear, call COVID-19 helpline numbers and seek medical advice”. (GNS)