07Greater Kashmir SRINAGAR | July 08, 2014, Tuesday

Martyrs Day

Hurriyat (M) calls for shutdown on July 13

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 7: Hurriyat Conference (M) has appealed people to observe com-plete strike on July 13 to commemorate the anniversary of the first martyrs of Kashmir struggle who laid down their lives on July 13, 1931.

In this connection, Hurriyat announced a two day programme. On July 12, a seminar titled “13 July 1931- starting chapter of Kashmir freedom struggle” will be organized at Hurri-yat headquarters Rajbagh here. The seminar will start at 11 A.M during

which Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and other leaders will pay homage to the martyrs.

On July 13, keeping with the tradi-tion, a peaceful rally would be taken out from Jamia Masjid Srinagar after Zuhr prayers which will culminate at Mazar-i-Shohada Naqshband Sahib, a Hurriyat spokesman said.

“Thereafter, collective fateha khwani and a public rally would be convened to pay tributes to the martyrs of 13th July 1931 and all martyrs of Kashimir struggle. On this day, Hurriyat leaders will also assemble at martyrs graveyard

at Sopore, Handwara and Islamabad and pay tributes to the martyrs of July 13, 1931, buried there,” the spokesman said.

He said Hurriyat is firm on its prin-cipled stand and would continue with its ongoing peaceful struggle on both politi-cal and diplomatic fronts.

“July 13, 1931, marks the struggle for freedom started by the people of Jammu and Kashmir for which they have offered their lives and property. Such sacrifices are the precious asset of Kashmiris and the struggle for free-dom would continue till it reaches its logical conclusion,” he said.

Chief Secretary reviews functioning of administrationDirects for availability of essentials in Ramadhan

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 7: Chief Secretary Muhammad Iqbal Khandey Monday chaired the periodic meeting of the Committee of Secretaries and reviewed the progress of vari-ous departmental initiatives.

Chief Secretary received status report from the CA&PD Secretary regarding availabil-ity and distribution of essen-tial commodities across the State with the directions to ensure adequate stock of food grains including sugar in view of the extra demand during Ramadhan and ensuing Eid.

Khandey also received brief from the administrative secre-taries regarding initial review, evaluation and progress of tar-gets achieved by each depart-ment under the Results Frame-work Document (RFD).

While reviewing the prog-

ress of SMS-based monitoring mechanism put in place for ongoing projects in the PWD, PHE, I&FC and PDD, Khandey reiterated the mechanism should receive greater atten-tion and Secretaries should ensure that periodic inspec-tion of works is carried out and status updated regularly.

Chief Secretary directed for completing the metering process of all the government establishments at the earli-est with the directions to all departments to furnish the

progress report in this regard.The Chief Secretary also

reviewed the progress of various other administrative matters pertaining to filling of vacant posts, departmental inquires, recruitment rules, citizen charter, etc.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Plan-ning and Development B R Sharma, Principal Secretary Home Suresh Kumar, Prin-cipal Secretary PDD Arun Kumar Mehta and other Administrative Secretaries.

BJP revokes suspension of MLA Jagdish Raj SapoliaProf Chaman Lal Gupta yet to approach party for re-induction

ARVIND SHARMA

Jammu, July 7: With eyes on upcoming Assembly elections in the State, the Bhar-tiya Janta Party (BJP) today revoked the suspension of its MLA, Jagdish Raj Sapolia, who was among the 7 MLAs suspended by the party for their alleged involvement in cross-voting for the Upper House in 2011.

With the re-induction of Sapolia, MLA from Basholi, 6 out of the seven suspended MLAs have now been taken back in the party fold, leaving behind only Chaman Lal Gupta.

Party insiders, however, informed Greater Kashmir that the high command was in no mood to revoke the suspension of Chaman Lal Gupta, a former union min-ister. “All these re-inducted MLAs had approached the party high command and submitted a written undertaking that they will work unconditionally for the party,” party spokesman Ramesh Arora said, adding, “The process in this regard had been going on for the last more than a year.”

Party sources said that there was no such attempt from Chaman Lal Gupta. “Neither he approached the party nor did he con-demn the cross-voting episode all these years,” they said.

The cross-voting episode had dented the party’s image in Jammu region, its main

bastion in the State. The BJP, which had won 11 seats for the first time in the State, had to face embarrassment as 7 out of its 11 MLAs cross-voted for the ruling coalition candidates, violating the party whip.

BJP had revoked the suspension of 5 of its MLAs prior to the Parliamentary elec-tions following which they also worked for the party during elections.

Party sources, however, informed that it is not necessary that all these MLAs will be repeated in the upcoming elections. “The party will give mandate on the basis of performance and image of a particular member,” an insider said.

An official handout from party State headquarters, while referring to a commu-nication from BJP high command, stated that the decision in this regard has been taken following letter written by the MLA to national president, Rajnath Singh, express-ing his “unconditional” desire to work for the party as per the party’s priorities and directives. Sapolia had requested that his suspension may be revoked and an opportu-nity be given to resume work for the party.

BJP State president and MP, Jugal Kishore Sharma, in his separate communi-cation to Jagdish Raj Sapolia, conveyed the decision of the national president to accede to his request and revoke the suspension.

The BJP had suspended Prof Garu Ram, MLA RS Pura; Bharat Bhushan, MLA Muthi-Domana; Durga Dass, MLA Hira Nagar; Jagdish Raj Sapolia, MLA Basholi; Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA Jammu West; Baldev Raj Sharma, MLA Reasi-Katra; and Lal Chand, MLA Bani.

Bar boycotts HC Reference

Full Court Reference held at HC on Justice Baha-ud-Din Farooqi

Teachers Forum, CEO officials lock horns in Baramulla

ALTAF BABA

Baramulla, July 7: Four days after Teachers Forum Baram-ulla held a protest against offi-cials of Chief Education Office Baramulla accusing them of charging money for reinstating suspended teachers, the cleri-cal staff of the office Monday held a strike alleging that the Teachers Forum is interfering in the administrative matters thereby spoiling the depart-mental work.

The agitating clerical staff later ended the strike after the intervention of the school edu-cation coordination committee. The CEO Baramulla also held a meeting with the staff and the representatives of the forum to sort out the issue.

On June 2, the representa-tives of Teachers Forum Baram-ulla along with some teachers held a strong protest outside CEO Baramulla office against the deputy CEO and a section officer, accusing them of cor-ruption, a charge vehemently denied by the duo.

The Teachers Forum labeled serious charges of corruption against the two and had claimed that the concern officials are charging money for reinstating those teachers who are sus-pended on some charges.

Citing an example, district president Teachers Forum Baramulla had alleged that a teacher of Government High School Sangri was asked to pay Rs 1000 to get reinstated after his suspension.

The officials of the chief education office Baramulla said the Teachers Forum Baramulla is trying to hijack the education department and their interfer-ence is unwarranted.

Commenting on the issue, State president of Teachers Forum, Abdul Qayoom, said there was some miss-communi-cation between the Forum and the some officials of the Educa-tion department Baramulla and ‘we have sorted out the matter.’

‘We were asked to submit speech for approval’GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 7: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association Monday boycot-ted the Reference of the High Court called for paying tributes to former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, Justice Baha-ud-din Farooqi. “It was conveyed to the Bar Presi-dent that he should give speech in writing and in advance, which has to go to Hon’ble Chief Justice for approval and that only after his approval the President would be allowed to read the speech in the Reference. As the demand was unprecedented and it had never happened before, therefore the Bar rejected the same,” spokesman of the Bar said in a statement.

The spokesman said a condolence meet-ing of all the members of the Bar Association was held in High Court wherein tributes were paid to Justice Farooqi.

Addressing the condolence meeting, the spokesman said, Mian Abdul Qayoom, Presi-dent Bar Association, narrated all the events which had led to the elevation and thereafter to the resignation of Justice Mufti Baha-ud-din Farooqi as Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Bar president pointed out that it was because of Farooqi’s in-depth understanding of constitutional law that he had resigned by saying that he cannot be transferred by the Government of India to Sikkim, as the State enjoyed a special status under Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

“After constituting Basic Human Rights (Protection) Committee and becoming its Chairman, Farooqi travelled to every nook and corner of the State to investigate human rights violations committed by the Indian Armed Forces and exposed the Indian State through his documentation,” the Bar presi-dent said.

Advocate Syed Manzoor Ahmad stated that Justice Farooqi was legendary and he contributed a lot towards the Kashmir move-ment. “In 1990, I accompanied Farooqi to some places in Budgam where some killings had taken place and he recorded statements of about 44 witnesses in his own hand and thereafter released a comprehensive report exposing rights violation of Indian Armed forces,” he said.

Addressing the meeting, Advocate Bashir Ahmad Bashir said all those lawyers who joined Bar in 1970s should be grateful to Jus-tice Farooqi as he encouraged them in draft-ing and pleading their cases in the courts. He said that Mufti Baha-ud-din Farooqi had a tremendous grip on administration.

Advocate Zaffar Qureshi said when in 1983 Justice Farooqi was transferred to Sikkim during National Conference rule he resigned and was fully involved in the Kashmir strug-gle and did his best to take this struggle to its logical end.

Advocate Mufti Mehraj-ud-din said Mufti

Baha-ud-din Farooqi was an institution in himself. “It is true that Farooqi was ditched by National Conference, but it is not only he alone, but his forefathers as well who suffered at the hands of Sikhs and others on account of their honesty and integrity.”

He said that in the hour of crisis Farooqi stood by his people and highlighted the human rights violations which took place in the State from 1990 onwards. He said that by doing so, he identified himself with the people of Kashmir.

Advocate G N Shaheen said Farooqi was a legal luminary and best exponent of law. He said that he came in contact with Mufti Baha-ud-din Farooqi in 1990 when he con-stituted Basic Human Rights (Protection) Committee.

He said that Justice Farooqi, Advocate G N Hagroo and H N Wanchoo were involved in documenting human rights violations. “When Farooqi was assigned the task of preparation of Hurriyat Constitution, he showed utmost tolerance in accommodating the view point of all the participants. With Justice Farooqi, we should also remember Justice Rizvi, who has played an important role in the freedom struggle of Kashmir,” he said.

Advocate R A Jan said credit to Justice Farooqi who encouraged youngsters, mostly Muslims, to appear in the High Court. “After 1990, Farooqi came forward and started documentation of human rights violations which were taking place in the State and thereby contributed a lot to the freedom struggle,” he said.

Advocate Altaf Haqani said, “Farooqi was sharp, intelligent and a capable judge. When he was transferred to Allahabad, he had eve-ning tuitions to learn Hindi as pleadings in the court were in Hindi. In the death of Mufti Baha-ud-din Farooqi we have lost a great human being and a legal luminary,” he said.

Advocate Nazir Ahmad Ronga said, “When Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called a meet-ing of all the pro-freedom parties against the catch and kill policy of Government of India and it was decided that All Parties Hurriyat Conference should be brought into existence, then the question of framing of Constitution was assigned to Mufti Baha-ud-din Farooqi.”

“Farooqi, by conducting public inquiries against mass killings, exposed Indian oppres-sive and suppressive measures on the people of Kashmir. As he has remained a Chief Jus-tice of J&K High Court, therefore his report was treated reliable and authentic by all the concerned and India was forced to go on the back foot,” he said.

The members offered fateha collectively for the departed soul and pledged to work hard for taking the ongoing struggle to its logical end. There was no work in the courts as the lawyers abstained from work to show their respect for the departed soul.

GK NEWS NETWORK

Srinagar, July 7: To con-dole the sad demise of Justice Mufti Baha-ud-Din Farooqi, former Chief Justice of Jammu and Kashmir, a full court reference was held at Srinagar wing of the High Court here Monday.

Speaking at the con-dolence meeting, Justice Virender Singh said the sad demise of Chief Justice Mufti Baha-ud-Din Farooqi has once again reminded us that life is transitory and death is the ultimate truth. “How-ever, good deeds and actions of a good person are cher-ished and remembered for all times to come. He was by all reckoning an outstanding and illustrious personality,” Justice Singh added.

“This all is reflected from the life sketch of this great soul, born on April 04, 1924 who did his Masters Degree in Arts and then Law at Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh and was the topper in Mathematics. After accom-plishing his studies, he start-ed practice at District Court Anantnag. He was enrolled as Pleader on November 15, 1946, joined Judicial Ser-vice as Munsiff on October 12, 1950. Subsequently was elevated as High Court Addi-tional Judge on August 27, 1971 and thereafter perma-nent Judge on March 6, 1972. He was appointed as Acting Chief Justice on February 23, 1980 to August 23, 1983 and relinquished the Office of the Chief Justice on August 29, 1983,” he said.

“An eminent jurist and judge with sharp intellect and profound knowledge of law, the judgements of late Chief Justice are known for preciseness, clarity and incisiveness. He has deliv-ered a large number of land-mark judgements which find place of prominence in Law Journals, besides has left an indelible imprint on the legal landscape of the country. He is well known for his administrative skills also and has carved out a place for himself in the his-tory of State in line with able administrators and emi-nent judges and was a great human being too. The sad demise has created a great vacuum in legal field which is difficult to be filled up. It is an irreparable loss to the legal fraternity in particu-lar and society as a whole in general. His memories will linger on in our minds for all times to come.”

On behalf of the Chief Jus-

tice and other Judges, Justice Virender Singh expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolence with the mem-bers of bereaved family and prayed for eternal peace to

the departed soul and endur-ance for the bereaved family to bear the loss.

Among others, the Judges on the Bench of High Court, former Judges, Advocate

General, Law Officers, Assis-tant Solicitor General, Judi-cial Officers of Subordinate Courts Srinagar, besides Court Officers attended the condolence meeting.

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