Excelsior

Vol No. 47 No. 332 JAMMU, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2011 Huge cash haul from houses 12 Pages
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daily

REGD.NO.JK-71/2009 RNI No. 28547/1992

2.50

PM rules out FDI rollback

Govt committed to eradicate corruption: Sonia

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Calling corruption a plague, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today said the Government was committed to eradicating it and hoped that the opposition will help in passage of anti-graft measures including Lokpal. cial and electoral reforms including State funding of elections and fast tracking of corruption cases. Referring to the issue of corruption, she said, Corruption is indeed a plague of public life.... We are committed to eradicating it. izens. Our actions have more than showed our resolve. The RTI which our Government brought in has placed in the hands of the people, in the hands of you all, a powerful weapon against corruption, she said. The Congress president said the UPA Governments measures like UID scheme or Aadhar will give all citizens the right to identity. But we all know the true empowerment can only come from participation, Gandhi said, Maintaining that the Congress has always been in the forefront in the fight for freedom and safeguarding the rights of the common people, she said, In the last seven years, the Congress-led UPA Government under the leadership of Manmohan Singhji has initiated a number of measures that have brought great relief to the aam aadmi while ensuring them their rights. She said the Youth Congress should make sure that schemes of Government are widely known and it should work as a pressure Group to ensure their proper implementation. Gandhi appreciated the example set by the Youth Congress by barring those convicted of crimes from contesting organisational elections. In a word of advise, she said while they have contested elections against fellow members, once the exercise is over, you are all part of the same team working towards a single com(Contd on page 4 Col 1)

BRTF Col, 2IC held taking graft by CBI

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: The Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) today arrested a Colonel and his Second-in-Command of Border Road Task Force (BRTF) at Udhampur for demanding and accepting ` 23,000 as corruption for releasing ` 14.58 lakh worth payment of a contractor. Raids at the houses of two accused in BRTF Colony at Udhampur had resulted into seizure of a huge cash, official sources said. The arrested BRTF officials have been identified as Col Kunwar Vijay Partap, Commander and J K Singh, Second-in-Commander of 35 BRTF, headquartered at Udhampur. After getting an information from Chatur Beer Singh, Proprietor of M/s Santokh Electrical Works, Srinagar that the two officials were demanding 1.5 per cent commission for releasing his payment, the CBI organized a trap. Both the officials were caught red-handed this afternoon while accepting a gratification of ` 23,000 from Chatur Beer Singh in the presence of respectable witnesses and a Magistrate. The whole operation was supervised by SP CBI Jammu Armaandeep Singh. The amount of gratification was recovered from the possession of accused. Immediately after arresting the accused, two CBI teams simultaneously raided the houses of the Colonel and his Second-in-Command at BRTF Colony, Udhampur and conducted searches, which were going on till late tonight when the reports last came in. A huge cash has so far been recovered'', sources said, adding in addition to cash, some more documents relating to investments have been recovered. Details of the recoveries including cash and documents were awaited. Sources said both the BRTF officials were being subjected to interrogation to ascertain more details from them about their corrupt practices. Both of them would be shifted to Jammu after completion of their on spot interrogation by midnight tonight and locked in CBI police station. They said the contractor had supplied 121 maintenance free batteries to the BRTF at a cost of ` 14.58 lakh. They had held up the payment of the contractor and were asking for 1.5 per cent commission for releasing the payment. The deal was settled for ` 23,000. As soon as the contractor made the payment, the two officials were arrested for accepting the gratification and cash recovered from them. A Regular Case No. 8/2011 dated 29/11/11 under various provisions of anticorruption laws has been registered against the accused by the CBI for further investigations. Sources said the questioning of the two officials could lead to more clues about the commission for making payments of supplies by the BRTF.

Women remove weeds from the polluted waters of Dal lake in Srinagar on Tuesday. (UNI)

Kani walks out of Tihar jail

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: A day after being granted bail by the Delhi High Court in the 2G spectrum scam case, DMK MP Kanimozhi walked out from Tihar Jail this evening. She walked out from Tihar jail at around 1930 hrs, a Tihar jail official said. She had spent more than six months in Tihar jail. A Delhi court today also granted bail to Shahid Usman Balwa, Swan Telecom Promoter, facing trial for his role in 2G spectrum scam case. Yesterday, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Kanimozhi and four others in the 2G case. Justice V K Shali granted bail to Kanimozhi and four other accused - Kalaignar TV chief Sharath Kumar, Cineyug Films Karim Morani, Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd directors Asif Balwa (Contd on page 4 Col 5)

FDI standoff cripples Parliament

NEW DELHI, Nov 29: A hardening standoff over the Government inviting 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail in the country crippled Parliament for the third successive day today, casting a shadow over the remainder of the winter session. The Opposition was joined by UPA allies Trinamool Congress and DMK and BSP and SP in demanding a rollback of the Cabinet decision, shortly after an all-party meeting of the Government with floor leaders failed to resolve the impasse over the issue. The House of the People and the Council of States were adjourned for the first time till noon before proceedings were called off for the day, washing out business for the sixth consecutive day of the winter session of Parliament since it commenced on November 22. Amid noisy scenes, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day today within four minutes after it re-assembled at 1200 hours following an earlier adjournment. (Contd on page 4 Col 1)

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi at a National level Elected Office Bearers Convention in New Delhi on Tuesday. (UNI) She said together with the Lokpal bill, the Government is working on a variety of legislations which will systematically fight corruption. I hope that the opposition will support us in passing these important measures, Gandhi said addressing a Youth Congress convention here. During her over 10-minute address, her first public appearance after her return from abroad where she underwent treatment for an undisclosed ailment, Gandhi made no reference to the raging controversy over FDI in retail. She said, The political system needs administrative, judiShe said the UPA Government is all set to introduce the Right to Food Bill in the current session of Parliament. It is our Government that has brought in the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, the Right to Information, the Forest Rights Act and the Right to Education. The right to food bill is to be introduced in the current session of Parliament, Gandhi said referring to a variety of legislations brought by the UPA Government. Gandhi asserted that the Government has taken a number of measures to empower the cit-

Diversion of direct quota stayed

Nephew impersonated as Raj Daluja in court

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: State Times proprietor Raj Daluja had produced his nephew, Sahil Gupta (sister's son) in the court of law in place of him in a case challaned against him under Section 353 RPC for beating up a Government official of Tehsildar Jammu, who had gone to his office at Ambphalla to serve a summon. The case FIR No. 182/03 under Section 353 RPC was registered against Raj Daluja. The case was registered on the complaint of a Government official, Vijay Kumar, who had gone to serve summon to Raj Daluja in the office of State Times at Ambphalla. Daluja had beaten-up Vijay Kumar and threw him out of the office. An official document revealed that Daluja was informed through a police constable that the case under Section 353 RPC was to be challaned against him in the Court for which his presence was required. However, the constable reported back saying one person in the office of State Times told him that Daluja was not present in the office. Later, the then Incharge Police Post went to the office of State Times and sought presence of Raj Daluja in the court of law. However, when the challan was produced in the court, Raj Daluja produced his nephew Sahil Gupta son of Rakesh Gupta R/o Krishna Nagar in the court. Sahil Gupta revealed his identity as Raj Daluja. Daluja's drama was exposed. The Court came to know from its source that the person produced as accused in case FIR No.182/03 under Section 353 RPC of police station Pacca Danga was not Raj Daluja but Sahil Gupta, who had impersonated himself as Daluja. Police had later registered a case at Janipura police station against Sahil Gupta under Sections 420, 467 and 468 RPC for impersonating as Raj Daluja. The court had ordered an inquiry in the case of impersonation, which was conducted by the then SSP Jammu. The then SSP, in his report, had confirmed that Sahil Gupta had impersonated as Raj Daluja in the court. According to police sources, Sahil had been made to impersonate as Raj Daluja by the latter himself as the State Times Editor wanted to avoid humiliation for himself for appearing in the court for a case registered against him by the police for beating-up a Government official on duty, who had come only to serve a summon at the behest of his seniors. In his order, the Court of Special Municipal Magistrate Jammu had described the case of impersonation as very serious'' The impersonation abetted by Raj Daluja had forced the then SSP Jammu to give a written commitment to the Special Municipal Magistrate, Jammu (Contd on page 4 Col 5)

6500 adhoc employees set to be regularised

*Empowered Comm clears cases
By Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 29: In a major decision, the Government has decided that all 6500 adhoc/contractual/consolidated employees working in different Departments, who have completed their seven years of services would be regularized in next couple of months, most likely by the end of January next year. Official sources told the Excelsior that nearly 5000 employees, who had been engaged on adhoc/contractual basis in different Government Departments and had completed seven years of services have been regularized in the Government services by a high level Empowered Committee, set up by the Government by an Act of the Legislature. As far as remaining 1500 employees, who were also eligible for regularization, the Empowered Committee had written to their concerned departments seeking some clarifications. As soon as reply to the queries are received, these 1500 employees would also be regularised, sources said. The Empowered Committee, has been meeting periodically, after receiving the cases from different departments. It had almost completed its task by

Anna puts Govt on notice, warns another fast

*Par Panel for exclusion of judiciary from Lokpal
RALEGAN SIDDHI/NEW DELHI, Nov 29: Putting the Government on notice on Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare today threatened to go on an indefinite fast in Delhi from December 27 while terming that the draft report by Parliamentary Standing Committee as a betrayal of countrymen. Hazare said he did want the Government to make a fool of us on the issue. Hazare also announced that he will sit on a one-day fast in Delhis Jantar Mantar on December 11. In a bid pressurise Congress, the activist also sought to corner the ruling party saying he will tour the five poll- bound states and tell electorate how the Government was betraying them on the Lokpal Bill. The 74-year-old activist said his indefinite fast will be at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi from December 27 if a strong bill was not passed during the winter session of Parliament. If it happens, it will be his third indefinite fast this year on the Lokpal issue. The Government has assured us that there will be a strong Lokpal bill. We were given an assurance by the Parliament. Now the Standing Committee report is out. When I saw the report, I realised that they have again betrayed the countrymen. Government has committed deceit, he said. What is strong about this Lokpal Bill? How is it powerful? he told reporters here. Hazare also sought to attack Dr Manmohan Singh saying that despite the Prime Minister giving it in writing, the Standing Committee did not adhere to the assurances of Parliament. Hazare wondered why NGOs and media were brought under the ambit of Lokpal. On one hand, you are including media and NGOs but on the other hand, you do not want the Prime Minister and MPs. This is not fair, he said. Prominent Team Anna members Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi also joined the chorus against the draft report, questioning the exclusion of judiciary from the ambit of the ombudsman while opposing inclusion of NGOs and media in it. Why is the Prime Minister (Contd on page 4 Col 3)

Permanent restoration works to be covered under SPA/STF

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PC clears flood protection projects, 2 major schemes of Leh Master Plan

By Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 29: Planning Commission of India today cleared flood protection projects and two major schemes of Leh Master Plan, funding for which would start from the beginning of the next financial year. However, the permanent restoration works would be covered under the Special Plan Assistance and Special Task Force over a period of time. Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that after having threadbare discussion on the funds constraints of the State Government for permanent restoration of the damaged infrastructure and meet other postcalamity developmental needs of the Ladakh region with the top brass of the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Union Finance Ministry and Kashmir Affairs Department of the Union Home Ministry, the Planning Commission find out a via-media to help the region. As far as flood protection works are concerned, the Planning Commission cleared projects for training of four more major nullahs of the Leh district namely Saboo, Phyang, Nimoo and Ney Basgo, sources said, adding these projects have already been cleared by the Central Water Commission and presently lying with the Union Ministry of Water Resources. It is pertinent to mention here that Planning Commission has already given investment clearance to the flood protection and training works on Igoo Nullah at an estimated cost of ` 35.83 crore at 2010-11 price level. About the funding pattern of these projects, sources said, 90 per cent cost of the projects would be borne by the Union Ministry of Water Resources and 10 per cent funds would have to be arranged by the State

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Nov 29: In two writ petitions challenging the diversion of direct recruitment quota of Higher Judiciary (Sessions Judges), Justice Hasnain Masoodi of State High Court today kept the diversion in abeyance till further orders. The petitioners, who are a practicing lawyers and aspirants for the posts of District Judges, submitted that the posts advertised vide Notice No.501 dated August 1, 2011, were required to be filled up by direct recruitment from Advocates in terms of J&K Higher Judicial Service Rules, 2009. They questioned the validity of Rule 5(1)(c) proviso whereby posts reserved for the direct recruitment may be filled up by promotion in case suitable candidates are not available on holding competitive examination for such recruitment and are not so available even when the posts are re-advertised and second competitive examination held. The petitioners also challenged Rule 8(ii) whereby only candidates in General Category who obtain 60 per cent or more marks clearing cases of 5000 and in Reserved Category, who secure 50 per cent or more marks adhoc/contractual/consolidated in the written examination are to be called for viva-voce test in employees for regularization. (Contd on page 4 Col 5) The cases have been sent to the concerned Departments for issuing orders of the absorption of Excelsior Correspondent employees in the Government SRINAGAR, Nov 29: Former Supreme Court Judge, Justice H jobs. S Bedi today assumed the charge of Commission of Inquiry. Sources said the Empowered The office of the Commission has been established at Hari Committee, which was headed Niwas here. by Commissioner/Secretary, The 65-year-old Justice Bedi has been entrusted the task of Finance, Sudhanshu Pandey, had enquiring into the causes and circumstances leading to the death of detected some discrepancies in National Conference worker, Syed Mohammad Yusuf Shah, son of the case of 1500 employees, Sayed Ghulam Ahmed of Loktipora, Bijbehara in Anantnag diswhose cases had been recomtrict, in the custody of Crime Branch on September 29, 2011. mended for regularization. The The Commission will perform all the functions necessary for Committee reported back the holding the enquiry or incidental thereto and submit its report to cases to the concerned the Government within a period of six weeks. The Commission Departments seeking clarificawill fix the responsibility for the lapses, if any, committed by any tions. person in discharge of his duties under the law. It hoped that cases of 1500 employees would also be approved once the clarifications NEW DELHI, Nov 29: are received about them from Petrol in India is costlier than in its neighbouring countries and their parent Departments. After being constituted, the in the US, primarily because of high taxes. Petrol in Delhi today costs Rs 66.42 per litre as against ` 44.88 Empowered Committee headed by Mr Pandey and com- a litre price in the US, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural prising top officials of differ- Gas R P N Singh told Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. Even after the November 16 reduction of ` 2.22 per litre in ent other Departments, had called record of all adhoc/con- rates, petrol at ` 66.42 a litre in Delhi is costlier than ` 48.64 a litre tractual/consolidated employ- in Pakistan. Whereas in Sri Lanka it is ` 61.38 per litre, ` 52.42 a litre in ees from the Government Departments, who were enti- Bangladesh and ` 65.26 per litre in landlocked Nepal. Incidentally, tled for regularization under Nepal does not have a refinery and imports all its requirement from the Government guidelines India. However, petrol in Europe is costlier than in India. In the UK, framed after a bill to this effect was approved by the it is priced at ` 104.60 per litre. Singh said of the ` 66.42 per litre price of petrol in Delhi (Contd on page 4 Col 5) includes ` 26.59 a litre because of taxes (both Central excise and local sales tax or VAT). (Contd on page 4 Col 5)

Justice Bedi assumes charge

Petrol in India costlier than US

Missing SDM found dead

CHANDIGARH, Nov 29: The body of missing Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Anandpur Sahab was found in the Bhakra canal near Kotli power house today, prompting opposition Congress to demand a CBI probe into his mysterious death. Karanveer Singh Mann had gone missing under mysterious circumstances after he parked his official vehicle near Bhakra Canal yesterday evening. Police said some passersby informed about the body, and when it was fished out from the canal near Kotli power house, 25 km from the divisional headquarters of Ropar, it was identified as that of the SDM. They said Mann, a senior Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officer who had joined the post of SDM at Anandpur Sahab recently, might have committed suicide by jumping into the Bhakra Canal. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal condoled the untimely and tragic demise of Mann and described him as an able administrator, who always performed his assignments efficiently. Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Rajinder Kaur Bhattal demanded a CBI probe into the incident to bring the reality behind his death to the fore. (Contd on page 4 Col 5)

INSIDE
* Scramble at planning desk * Enhancing honorarium ...Page 6 DyCM reviews various development projects ...Page 3 Chamber gives Jammu bandh call for December 1 ...Page 3 World can take strength from Tagores message: Patil ...Page 5 Govt planning to launch national mission on biomass: Abdullah ...Page 5 India beat West Indies, take lead by 1-0 ...Page 10

WEATHER
JAMMU Partially cloudy. Haze/mist at few places. TEMPERATURE Max: 23.7 Degree C Min: 10.7 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY Highest: 91.0 per cent Lowest: 33.0 per cent Sunset on Wednesday: 5.25 p.m. Sunrise on Thursday: 7.14 a.m. KASHMIR Mainly clear sky. TEMPERATURE Max: 14.2 Degree C Min: -1.9 Degree C RELATIVE HUMIDITY Highest: 96.0 per cent Lowest: 55.0 per cent

Government. Sources disclosed that Planning Commission has also technically cleared two major schemes of the Leh Master Plan and the same would be covered under the National Urban Renewable Mission (NURM). The funds for these schemes relating to water supply and solid waste management would be released from next financial year, they added. As far as permanent restoration works are concerned, the Planning Commission, while mentioning that there was no separate budget line entry in the (Contd on page 4 Col 5)