Srinagar, Nov 18: Jammu and Kashmir high court has directed the authorities to take steps for the eviction of illegal occupants including former ministers and bureaucrats from government accommodations.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation, A division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta directed the authorities to file the details of properties , official accommodations which are under illegal occupation of the erstwhile allottees including ex-ministers, ex-legislators , bureaucrats in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The (authorities) shall take steps for eviction of the illegal occupants in compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court (Lok Prahari v. State of U.P.),” the court said as per GNS, adding, “The compliance report shall be filed (by November 22)”

The court directed that copy of the order shall be served upon the Chief Secretary of the J&K as also the Secretary to Government, Estates Department for compliance.

“The Chief Secretary, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and the Secretary to Government, Estates Department, J&K Government, shall file the action taken reports within the aforesaid period,” the court added. (GNS)

Says sorry for hurting sentiments

New Delhi, Nov 18: Social media giant Twitter has apologised in writing to a key parliamentary panel for wrongly showing Ladakh in China and has promised to correct the error by the month-end, the committee’s chairperson Meenakshi Lekhi said on Wednesday.

Twitter’s deposition has come in form of an affidavit signed by Damien Karien, Chief Privacy Officer of Twitter Inc, for wrong geo-tagging of India’s map, Lekhi told a wire agency.

Last month, the Joint Committee of Parliament on Data Protection Bill had come down heavily on Twitter for showing Ladakh as part of China, saying it amounted to treason and had sought an explanation by the US-based parent of the social media platform in form of an affidavit.

Appearing before the panel, chaired by Lekhi, representatives of Twitter India had “begged apology”, but they were told by the members that it was a criminal offence that questioned the sovereignty of the country and an affidavit must be submitted by Twitter Inc, not by its ”marketing arm” Twitter India.

“Twitter has now given us a written apology on an affidavit for Ladakh being shown in China,” Lekhi said.

“They have apologised for hurting Indian sentiments and have sworn to correct the error by November 30, 2020,” she added.

Twitter had come under heavy criticism and faced a backlash from social media users after its geotagging feature displayed “Jammu & Kashmir, the People’s Republic of China” in a live broadcast from Leh’s Hall of Fame, a war memorial for fallen soldiers in the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The Indian government on October 22 had warned Twitter about its location setting that showed Leh in China, saying any disrespect towards the country’s sovereignty and integrity is totally unacceptable.

In a strongly-worded letter, Ajay Sawhney, Secretary in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), asked Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to respect the country’s sensitivities, sources in the ministry had said.

At that time, Twitter had called it a technical issue that had been swiftly resolved.

In its affidavit submitted before the parliamentary panel, Twitter is believed to have said the issue was “caused due to a software error combined with imperfect data resulting in an incorrect geo-tag”.

“In the last few weeks, we have worked towards resolving the geo-tag issue in a manner wherein Leh as well as other cities in the Union Territory of Ladakh will now accurately show with their respective city name, state and country.

“In addition to this, we are also reviewing the geo-tag for various other cities in Jammu and Kashmir. This work is already in progress and we are targeting November 30, 2020, to complete this exercise,” it added.

Twitter further said it wanted to reiterate that India was a priority market and it was committed to partnering with the Government of India and MeitY to serve the public conversation and communities on the micro-blogging site.

“Our team in India will continue to engage with the Ministry for any follow-up discussions. We would also like to apologise for any sentiments that were hurt because of this error,” it added.

On October 28, Twitter’s India representatives were questioned for more than two hours by the panel members, mainly on Ladakh being shown as part of China on the Twitter app.

“The committee was of the unanimous opinion that Twitter’s explanation on showing Ladakh as part of China was inadequate,” Lekhi had said after the meeting.

Twitter was also asked about its banning policy, while some members also raised questions about Twitter’s transparency policy and its actions during elections, especially vis-a-vis their policies in other countries.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 18: Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has directed that sub rule (5) of rule 5 of Jammu and Kashmir Appointment to Class IV (Special Recruitment) Rules, 2020 issued vide notification S O 184 dated 4th of June 2020, shall be substituted by the sub rule namely “ Candidates will be required to indicate their order of preference for allotment against all UT, Divisional and District Cadre vacancies at the time of application or as and when considered appropriate by the Board”.
According to a notification issued here today in this regard, the sub rule has been substituted under the direction of LG in exercise of powers conferred by proviso to Article 309 of the Constitution read with section 15 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 18: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday filed chargesheet against former Deputy General Managers and other officials of Jammu And Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC) in fake appointment case.

A spokesperson of ACB said ACB produced charge sheet against Mohammad Maqbool Shah, Manzoor Ahmad Matoo, Abdul Majid Khan, the then Deputy General Managers, and other officials of JKPCC, including Nissar Ahmad, the then Administrative Officer and Mohammad Amin Dar the then Establishment Clerk in fake appointment of Mohammad Shafi Shah, the then Assistant Manager, JKPCC.

“The ACB produced Charge-Sheet in case No FIR 07/2011 u/s 5(1) (d) r/w 5(2) Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act Svt 2006 & Sections 420,467,468,471 & 120-B RPC of P/S VOK Now ACB in the Anti Corruption Court Anantnag against,” he said.

He said the instant case was registered on the basis of outcome of the verification conducted by ACB into the allegations that Mohammad Shafi Shah had forged his academic and technical qualification certificates and got employment in JKPCC in the year 1987 and also got promoted, thereafter as Assistant Manager in June 2000.

“The accused managed eight increments against a fake High Court order,” he said.

“Verification revealed that he had forged the matriculation certificate shown to have been issued by J&K State Board of the School Education under Serial No. 3947 bearing Roll No. 3310, Session April 1984, showing his date of Birth as 08-12-1964 and used the same for obtaining employment in JKPCC,” he said.

Moreover, he said the accused had also forged his BSc Certificate, which was fake and had not been issued by the VC, University of Kashmir.

He has forged Diploma certificate in Civil Engineering shown issued under Serial No. 000947, bearing Roll No. 23101 by Vice Chancellor, Himachal Pradesh, Takniki Shiksha Board, Dharamshala (HP), which too was fake. Further, the accused had forged a Degree Certificate AMIE in Civil Engineering from the institution of Engineering (India), Gokhle Road, Kolkata.

“Accordingly case FIR No. 07/2011 U/S 5(1)d r/w 5(2) PC Act 2006 and section 420,467,468,471,120-B RPC was registered in Vigilance Organization, Kashmir (Now ACB) and investigation taken up,” he said.

He said the Investigation of the case was concluded as proved against the aforementioned accused public servants for launching prosecution and the chargesheet of the case was produced in the court of Law.

“Next date of hearing has been fixed on December 28, 2020,” the spokesperson added.

Srinagar, Nov 18: Traffic was on Wednesday resumed on the highway which connects Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley after remaining suspended for four days due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.

Meanwhile, the 270-km-long Srinagar-Jammu highway and 86-km-long historic Mughal road, linking Shopian in south Kashmir with Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region are through for traffic on Wednesday, a traffic police official told UNI.

He said traffic on 270-km-long Srinagar-Leh highway was suspended on Saturday after snowfall at Sonamarg, Zojila pass, Meenmarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia. However, the road was put through upto Sonmarg on Sunday after snow was cleared by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) by putting into service sophisticated machine and men.

Snow clearance operation continued despite sub zero temperature and finally road was put through after major improvement in weather, he said adding on Wednesday vehicles, including empty trucks and oil tankers, which were stopped due to snowfall, were allowed to leave for Kashmir from Meenamarg, Drass and Kargil in Ladakh region today. No vehicle will be allowed from this side of the Zojila pass. He said the authorities have decided to keep the road open till December end to allow storage of essentials in different parts of Ladakh region, which remained closed during winter due to heavy snowfall.

He said Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) carrying passengers were allowed from Jammu to Srinagar on Wednesday. However, the vehicles had to cross Nagrota Jammu between 0500 hrs to 1100 hrs and at Jakheni Udhampur between 0600 hrs to 1200 hrs, he said, adding that no vehicle will be allowed after the deadline. The commuters are advised to follow Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the government to prevent spread of COVID-19, he said.

He said Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) shall be allowed from Zig Qazigund towards Jammu after tail of Kashmir bound vehicles will cross Jawahar tunnel. However, Traffic Control Unit (TCU) Ramban will coordinate for release of empty oil tankers and vehicles loaded with perishable items in the opposite convey.

Security force convoy are advised to ply from Srinagar to Jammu , he said.

About the historic Mughal road, which is considered alternative to Srinagar-Jammu national highway, he said vehicles carrying fresh fruit will be allowed to ply from Herpora Shopian between 1100 hrs to 1600 hrs to other side of the Pir Ki Gali.

No passenger vehicle or pedestrian will be allowed on the road, he added.

HC directs Govt to file objections, case listed on Nov 23

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Nov 18:  Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to administration of the Union Territory on a petition challenging delimitation of territorial constituencies of district development council Kupwara.

A single judge bench of Justice Puneet Gupta today issued notice to the administration and directed it to file objections.

The case has been listed for hearing on November 23.

The petitioners through their counsel, Advocate Umer Mir, have submitted before the court that the government has not followed the Rules under Panchayat Raj Act for purpose of delimitation and nomenclature of constituencies.

The petitioners have submitted that the government has to follow the Rule 108-A of the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Act for the purpose of delimiting the constituencies for DDC elections.

“The name of the DDC constituency has to be assigned on the name of a Block having the largest population in that constituency. But when the blocks itself have been divided in different constituencies, in the other way areas of one block have been included in more than one proposed DDC constituencies due to which the population of the block has got divided and it becomes impossible to count or take into consideration the population of a block as largest population for the purpose of nomenclature of the DDC constituency. Therefore, the respondents have frustrated the Rule 108-A by adopting their own method and mechanism. As such the proposed delimitation notification needs to be quashed,” reads the petition.

The petitioner has also submitted that the names have been assigned to the DDC constituencies randomly without following the rules governing the subject which has caused great prejudice to the rights of the petitioners—(KNO)

Body exhumed; CT scan, X-ray, autopsy done
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 18: Authorities Wednesday exhumed body of a Srinagar lady who died this month a day before her wedding.
The would-be-husband of 29 year old Shahnaza Sultan of Sultan Mohallah area of Saidakadal Srinagar outskirts had alleged that Shahnaza died without exhibiting any complications and he has strong reason to believe that she was ‘murdered’.
Official sources said the exhumation was carried out in the presence of Executive Magistrate 1st Class and Station House Office Police Station Nageen. The body was taken to Government Medical College, where doctors conducted a CT scan and an X-ray, and an autopsy was done.
“The Pathologists took samples that were sent to Forensic Science Laboratory,” they said.
The deceased lady was set to get married with one Nasir Hussain Kawa of Kawpora, Trigam village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
The complainant Nasir Hussain has claimed that her would-be wife was healthy and he was in touch with her. He has alleged that Shahnaza has been murdered.
Earlier, taking cognizance of the complaint, Additional District Magistrate Srinagar Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi had ordered the exhumation and post mortem of the body. (KNT)

JAMMU: Air Marshal VR Chaudhari, Air Officer Commanding-inChief, Western Air Command on Wednesday visited the frontline air base here.

On arrival at the base, the AOC-in-C was received by Air Commodore Ajay Singh Pathania, Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station Jammu.

The AOC apprised the Air Marshal of the operational readiness of the base and its ability to undertake the assigned operational tasks under their command.

The AOC-in-C also met and interacted with air warriors of the station and its lodger units during the course of his visit.

He lauded the focused efforts put in by the station in maintaining proficiency in all roles envisaged and urged them to continue performing their duty with due diligence.