Srinagar, Sept 22: Observing that nobody should be condemned unheard, the J&K High Court has set aside its single bench judgment by virtue of which termination of a tailor at DDK Srinagar was upheld.

A division of Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Sanjay Dhar allowed the petition by one Showkat Ahmad Mir of Baramulla, observing that principles of natural justice are paramount and ought to have been followed by the officials.

“Although various contentions were raised by the learned senior counsel (A. H. Naik) for seeking quashing of the impugned orders, yet the primary and the most important one is whether there had been violation of principles of natural justice on the part of the department in the process of termination of the petitioner without giving him any opportunity of being heard,” the division bench said.

The petitioner Showkat Ahmad Mir was appointed as Tailor on 1 February 2012, under OBC category from the direct recruitment quota. However on 10 September 2013, his services were terminated. Subsequently, Mir had challenged the termination before the court’s single bench but his plea was dismissed after five years on 14 August 2018.

He had later challenged the judgment before the court’s division bench, contending that he was not given opportunity of being heard nor any enquiry conducted in the matter. As such, he said that his termination was arbitrary, unconstitutional and illegal.

“Justice is not only law and its administration, but is, in most cases, above law and is done to safeguard an individual from whatever he/ she seeks protection,” the division bench said as per Global News Service, adding, “Our Country aims at the goal of achieving a welfare State where everyone is/ has to be, as far as possible, looked after. The principles of natural justice are imbibed from the Constitution itself. These are of paramount importance and nobody can be condemned unheard.”

The court observed that the single Bench did not deal with the issue directly as to whether the officials were within their rights to terminate Mir’s services in view of alleged misconduct “but it proceeded on the premise that the appellant (Mir) has committed a fraud, of which nobody talks about, therefore, principles of natural justice are not required to be followed.”

“We are of the considered view that the respondents (officials) ought to have followed the principles of natural justice and afforded an opportunity of hearing to the appellant before issuing the order of termination,” the court said as per GNS and set aside the single bench’s judgment. Resultantly, the court directed the officials to reinstate Mir in service within one month and give him all consequential benefits including pay, allowances etcetera within one month. (GNS)

UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations faces a “crisis of confidence” without comprehensive reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, asserting that the world needs a reformed multilateralism that reflects today’s realities, gives voice to all stakeholders, addresses contemporary challenges and focuses on human welfare.
Prime Minister Modi’s call for reformed multilateralism assumes special significance as it comes on the eve of India taking a seat at the powerful UN Security Council as an elected non-permanent member for a two year term beginning January 1, 2021.
“We cannot fight today’s challenges with outdated structures. Without comprehensive reforms, the UN faces a crisis of confidence,” Modi said on Monday in his video address to the High-Level meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the United Nations.
As the UN marks 75 years of its existence, the 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a forward-looking political declaration that gave a clarion call for strengthening mechanism to combat terrorism, reformed multilateralism, inclusive development and better preparedness to deal with challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ex-ministers, political leaders, public delegations call on Sinha

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Sept 22:  Continuing his public outreach programme at Jammu, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday met former Ministers, ex- Legislators, political leaders, and public delegations here at Raj Bhavan and took stock of their concerning issues and grievances.

Delegation of BJP leaders led by Sh Ravinder Raina comprising of former Minister,  Devinder Kumar Manyal and former MLC,  Vibodh Gupta discussed the Covid-19 situation in the UT.

They projected issues related to strengthening of health infrastructure, provision of 24×7 health facilities in the district hospitals, shortage of oxygen cylinders and medical staff, early operation of oxygen plant at GMC Jammu and expediting recruitment of paramedical staff in district hospitals.

Issues like the review of reopening of schools and other education institutes due to apprehensions expressed by the parents, fixation of rates to prevent overpricing of minor minerals, pending payments of MGNREGA from 2017-18, pending social welfare pensions, compensation for left out beneficiaries under relief package for PoJK refugees settled outside J&K, unified survey for BPL beneficiaries, welfare of NYCs, Rehbar-e-Khel recruits and regularisation of Daily Wagers and Ad Hoc lecturers and enhancement of the honorarium of VDCs and their strengthening were also raised during the interaction.

Former Minister Sunil Sharma met the Lt Governor and expressed gratitude for the much-needed airstrip at Kishtwar District.

Former Minister, Bali Bhagat and Senior Journalist Daya Sagar also raised issues related to clarification on rules and eligibility for Domicile Certificate,  reorganisation of district administrative units, payment of Rs 5.5 lakh for left out PaK refugees, engagement of vacant positions in Medical Colleges and new Medical Colleges for Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, and Anantnag. The former Minister also demanded dedicated health facilities for Covid-19 patients.

He also thanked the Lt Governor for recently announced Economic Package for Revival of Businesses.

A delegation of Sikh Youth of Jammu & Kashmir led by Varinder Singh Sonu presented a memorandum for the inclusion of Punjabi as one of the official languages of J&K under the Official Language Bill 2020.

While interacting with the members of the delegations, the Lt Governor observed that various initiatives have been taken by UT Government and many more are underway aiming at the holistic development of J&K.

“The results of the strenuous efforts of UT Government are already visible on the ground as J&K is witnessing a new era of rapid and equitable development,” he remarked.

The Lt Governor also assured the delegations to review their genuine issues for early redressal and urged the former Ministers, former Legislators, and political leaders to continue their sustained efforts towards the welfare of the people at all fronts.

Umaisar Gull Ganie
Kulgam, Sept 22: Aijaz Ahmed Ahanger, has a melodious voice despite the fact he is blind by birth. He lives in a small but picturesque village of Manzgam in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
He plays the musical equipment Sarangi (small violin) like any other trained expert and sings like a true, trained and committed singer, mesmerizing hundreds of people in his village and around with his sweet and soothing voice.
In his native village Manzgam and a few adjoining villages, Aijaz is favourite of many people who invite him to sing traditional sufi songs in marriage parties and also on the occasions of annual anniversaries of revered sufi saints. He is an inspiration for many blind people who have quit begging on streets in Southern districts and have choosen their own way of earning a living like Aijaz.
“I was a kid when I lost my mother. Before that, I had lost my father too,” recalls Aijaz, while speaking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), holding Sarangi, his lone equipment, in his hands. “I am blind by birth. I belonged to a poor family and never got a chance to see a good doctor. Blindness became my destiny.”
Aijaz says he was lucky enough to find a good music teacher and a spiritual guide well within his native village. “His name was Gul Muhammad Shah and he trained me for 15 long years. He is no more now but he trained me like a true guide and a teacher,” he says.
Over the years, Aijaz has compiled 45 songs majority of traditional sufi songs praising nature, prophet and sufi saints. “With the help of my friend, all 45 songs are ready in written form but I have no resources to get the same published in the form of a book. I sing same songs in marriage parties and other occasions especially during the annual anniversaries of Kashmir’s revered sufi saints,” he says. Aijaz says he preferred not to loose hope and instead work hard with whatever talent he had. “This is hundred times better than begging on the roads. Though this is full of challenges like at times I have to walk miles to reach the venue for singing. Sometimes, hosts send vehicles for me and for them I pray always,” he says.
Aijaz has changed lives of many people in his village who were born blind or with other physical disabilities. “I earn very less but I am contended. At marriage functions, people pay me Rs 500 or so with their own choice. I don’t force anyone,” he told KNO. “I saved money to buy Sarangi and today this is my companion.”
The 30-year-old hasn’t been able to marry due to financial constraints. He, however, is a trained artist, a singer with a melodious voice and dreams of setting up a musical school to train other people who have physical disabilities or are like him. “My appeal to the J&K government is to provide me a little financial assistance so that I can set up my own musical school. I want people to learn from me before I die. School would primarily be for those having various issues like the one I have but that’s not the binding, others too can come and learn from me,” he says. (KNO)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Sept 22: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, KK Sharma, Tuesday said requisite steps are underway for capacity building of teachers through various schemes and programs so that the quality of imparting education in tune with the modern methods and techniques is done making the learning process holistic and innovative for students.
The Advisor was speaking at a review meeting convened to discuss the status of Integrated Multidisciplinary Professional Advancement Course for Teachers (IMPACT). It is a training programme devised by NCERT for training of Grade II and III teachers through a course designed to address the gaps in teaching /pedagogical skills of these teachers who have teaching experience of many years.
Principal Secretary School Education, Dr Asgar Samoon, Chairperson SCERT, Veena Pandita, Director Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta, Former Chairman National Institute of Open schools (NIOS), CB Sharma, Director Samagra Shiksha, Arun Manhas, Joint Director Education Kashmir, Abid Ahmed, Chief Education Officers of all districts participated in the meeting which was convened through virtual mode.
The Advisor directed the officers to work out a calendar by which all the teachers can be properly trained and their skills are further enhanced. He said that by doing so we would be making them aware about the new trends in imparting education besides also adding to their academic qualifications.
While referring to measures for making the training more holistic, the Advisor asked for making it multi-disciplinary one so that teachers can be proficient in other subjects as well.
The meeting was told that IMPACT would also raise the competencies of these teachers to address the needs of diverse students in their classrooms, promote professional development, teaching skills, master new knowledge, develop new proficiency, which in turn will help improve students’ learning, ensure the effective and successful classroom transactions through capacity building and empowerment programme besides improving the learning outcomes of our students.
The one month IMPACT training course has been designed to be conducted in three phases Face to Face mode (for five days), Field work (Twenty one days) and Reflection and Assessment (three days).
The Advisor was told that six Districts including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Samba, Doda, Pulwama and Reasi have completed their Phase 1 (face to face). So far, 19498 teachers of 95 Zones have completed the first phase of online training. Besides, 21 day field work and third phase (Reflection & Assessment) is going simultaneously in 14 districts of Jammu & Kashmir, he was told further.