Excelsiordaily

REGD. NO. JK-71/18-20RNI No. 28547/65Vol No. 55 No. 59 JAMMU, FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2019 14 Pages `̀ 5.00

Nishikant KhajuriaJAMMU, Feb 28: In a sig-

nificant development, theGovernment of India hasdeclared Jamaat-e-Islami,Jammu and Kashmir as anunlawful organization for aperiod of five years on theground that it was in closetouch with militant outfits andsupporting extremism.

According to a notificationin this regard, issued by theUnion Ministry of HomeAffairs, Jamaat-e-Islami ( JeI)has been indulging in activities,which are prejudicial to internalsecurity, public order and havethe potential of disrupting theunity and integrity of the coun-try.

"The Central Government isof the opinion that JeI is in closetouch with militant outfits and issupporting extremism and mili-tancy in Jammu Kashmir andelsewhere," read the notifica-tion, which was issued after ahigh level meeting on security,chaired by Prime MinisterNarendra Modi, held at NewDelhi, this evening.

Jamaat-e-Islami is believedto be the political outfit ofbanned terrorist organisationHizbul Mujahideen, led bySyed Salahuddin, who hadcrossed over to Pakistan in lateeighties and has been coordi-nating the Kashmir based mil-itant outfits as chief of UnitedJehad Council.

Stating that JeI is involved inanti-national and subversiveactivities in the country intendedto cause disaffection, the CentralGovernment further opined thatif the unlawful acts of the outfitare not curbed and controlledimmediately, it is likely to esca-late its seditious activities,including attempt to carve out anIslamic State out of the territoryof Union of India by destablis-ing the Government establishedby law.

"Jel is supporting claimsfor secession of a part of theIndian territory from theUnion and supporting terror-ist and separatist groups fight-ing for this purpose by

indulging in activities andarticulations intended to dis-rupt the territorial integrityof India," says the notificationadding that if not banned, itwould continue advocatingsecession of the State of J&Kfrom the Union of India whiledisputing the accession.

Fearing that unlawful activi-ties of JeI would escalate seces-sionist movements, support mil-itancy and incite violence,which are prejudicial to theintegrity and security of thecountry, the Government rea-soned that having regard to itsactivities, it was necessary todeclare the JeI to be an unlawfulassociation with immediateeffect.

"In exercise of the powersconferred by sub-section (1) and(3) of section 3 of UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Act,1967 (37 of 1967), the CentralGovernment hereby declares theJamaat-e-Islami, Jammu andKashmir as an 'unlawful associ-

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 28: TheUnion Cabinet today amendeda Clause of contentious Article370, which gives special statusto Jammu and Kashmir, forgiving reservation in promo-tion benefits to ScheduledCastes (SCs) and ScheduledTribes (STs) and approvedState Government proposalsto accord 10 percent reserva-tions to Economically WeakerSections among General cate-gories and three percent reser-vations to the people living onthe International Border (IB)along with the people of Lineof Control (LoC) inGovernment jobs and educa-tional institutions.

The decisions were taken atthe Cabinet meeting chaired byPrime Minister Narendra Modi.

All three Ordinances have to

be promulgated by the Presidentof India as the State was underPresident's rule.

Official sources said theCabinet approved the order forgiving reservation benefits toEconomically Weaker Sectionsand for promotion inGovernment jobs to ScheduledCastes and Scheduled Tribes inJammu and Kashmir.

"It will serve the purposeof application of relevant pro-visions of the Constitution ofIndia, as amended through theConstitution (Seventy SeventhAmendment) Act, 1995 andConstitution (One hundredand third Amendment) Act,2019 for Jammu and Kashmirby issuing the Constitution(Application to Jammu and

Govt imposes ban on Jamaat-e-Islami J&K

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 28: TheState Administrative Council,which met here today underthe chairmanship of GovernorSatya Pal Malik, has accordedits approval for the inclusionof 66 more villages and ham-lets across Jammu andKashmir in the list ofBackward areas, thusenabling their inhabitants toavail the benefits of reserva-tion.

With the inclusion of these66 hamlets, including 24 fromJammu and 42 from Kashmirdivision, the total number of vil-lages in the list of Backwardareas, has now reached to 2763.

The lists of new villageswere submitted to the SocialWelfare Department last year bythe State Commission for

Backward Classes after examin-ing various representations andthen verifying the claimsthrough different official agen-cies, particularly the concerneddistrict administration.

Among the 24 villages ofJammu division, which havebeen accorded RBA status,four are in Jammu district, sixin Samba, seven in Ramban,four in Kathua and one eachin Poonch, Rajouri and Dodadistricts.

From Kashmir division, 14villages in Kupwara, seven inAnantnag, four each inBaramulla and Pulwama, fivein Kulgam, two each inBudgam, Ganderbal andShopian and one each inBandipora and Srinagar havebeen included in the list of RBA.

Among the newly includedRBA villages in Jammu district,

Kangral Sangral, Nara, DokeJagir and Paya-Chak are locatedin Akhnoor tehsil while amongthose in Kathua district, Gortha-Riadandi, Rampore and Sukralaare in Billawar tehsil and Thanain Basohli tehsil.

The villages in Samba dis-trict, which have been includedin the list of RBA, are; Kard,Rayour, Begoon, Nun, Jeed andBupniar-Garh while Marhote inSurankote tehsil, Kakora inRajouri and Lerote inBhaderwah are among the newRBA villages in Poonch, Rajouriand Doda districts, respectively.

Seven villages of Rambandistrict included in the RBAlist, are; Bandera, Thopal,Barthal, Sanasar, Chilla andSana in Batote tehsil besidesSincha in Ramban tehsil.

Mohinder VermaJAMMU, Feb 28: Despite

facing immense difficulties intimely clearing electricity pur-chase bills, the StateGovernment would not be ableto get power generation anddistribution tariff revised forthe third consecutive year asState Electricity RegulatoryCommission (SERC) willbecome completely functionalfrom July this year when sen-ior IAS officer Lokesh DuttJha will join as its Chairmanfollowing his superannuation.

The appointment of LokeshJha as Chairman of the SERCwas cleared by the StateAdministrative Council (SAC)headed by Governor Satya Pal

Malik today but it has been men-tioned in the decision that hewill join after his retirement inJune, which means Commissionwill become fully functionalfrom July. Presently, Jha is Vice-Chairman/Director General ofJ&K Institute of Management,Public Administration and RuralDevelopment.

As far as two Members ofthe Commission are concerned,M R Andrabi, former DirectorGeneral Codes, has alreadyjoined while as ShamsherManhas, a reputed engineer, hasyet not joined for want of certain

clarifications from the StateGovernment.

As per the provisions ofJammu and Kashmir StateElectricity RegulatoryCommission Act, 2000 andRegulations made by theCommission, every year thePower DevelopmentDepartment (PDD) and PowerDevelopment Corporation(PDC) are required to submitpetitions seeking revision ofpower generation and distribu-tion tariff.

However, during the past

Govt won’t be able to revise powertariff for 3rd consecutive year

Rlys cancelSamjhauta Exp

NEW DELHI, Feb 28: Railways has decided to

cancel operations of the Indo-Pak Samjhauta Express on itsside due to drastic decline inoccupancy, especially after thePulwama terror attack, and thesuspension of services fromacross the border, sources said.

No date of resumption ofservices has been fixed so far,they said.

The Railway Board can-celled all operations of theAttari Special Express, Delhi-Attari-Delhi, which togetherwith the Wagah-Lahore link isknown as the Samjhauta orFriendship Express - from thetrain’s next scheduled runwhich is on Sunday, the sourcessaid.

Pakistan has already sus-pended services on its end, offi-cials said here, amidst strain in

3 pc DA approvedExcelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Feb 28: The State

Administrative Council (SAC)today accorded sanction to therelease of an additional install-ment of 3% DearnessAllowance (DA) payable onbasic pay to State Governmentemployees and pensionersw.e.f. 01.01.2019.

The arrears accumulated onaccount of DA hike will be paidin cash after 1st April, 2019 inrespect of all categories ofemployees as well as pension-ers.

In respect of employees ofNPS, employee's share of 10%

Shutdown disrupts life

Excelsior CorrespondentSRINAGAR, Feb 28: The

shutdown against crackdownand NIA raids against sepa-ratists and legal challenge toArticle 35-A disrupted normallife in Kashmir for the secondconsecutive day today.

The call for a two-day shut-down was given by separatistleaders. All the shops, businessestablishments and privateoffices remained closed for thesecond consecutive day.

The normal passenger traf-fic was off the roads and pri-vate vehicles were seen ply-ing only in some up-town

HC dismissesAJL’s appeal

NEW DELHI, Feb 28:The Delhi High Court today

dismissed the plea of AJL, pub-lisher of Congress mouthpieceNational Herald, challengingthe Centre's order to vacate itspremises and said there hasbeen "misuse" of lease condi-tions.

The High Court held that theentire transaction of transfer-ring shares of AssociatedJournals Ltd (AJL) to YoungIndian (YI) company, in whichCongress chief Rahul Gandhiand his mother Sonia Gandhiare majority shareholders, was a"clandestine and surreptitious

SAC delegates powers to DivComs, DCs for transfer of land

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 28: With aview to ensuring timely com-pletion of developmental proj-ects in the State and cut downprocedural delays, the StateAdministrative Council (SAC)which met here today underthe chairmanship of Governor,Satya Pal Malik decided todelegate the powers regardingtransfer of State/departmentalland to the GovernmentDepartments in favour ofDivisional Commissioners andDeputy Commissioners to theextent of 100 kanals and 10kanals respectively. Thiswould speed up developmentprojects.

The SAC decided that theDivisional Commissioner con-cerned will be authorised todecide the cases relating totransfer of state/departmentalland exceeding 10 kanals andup to 100 kanals (free fromencumbrances) to the StateGovernment department (s) for

public purposes/ developmentalprogrammes, within his territori-al jurisdiction.

Similarly, the DeputyCommissioner concerned shallbe authorized to decide the casesrelating to transfer of State landupto 10 kanals (free fromencumbrances) to the StateGovernment department (s) for

public purposes/developmentalprogrammes, within his territori-al jurisdiction.

Revenue Department shalldecide cases related to transferof State/departmental landexceeding 100 kanals and upto500 kanals (free from encum-brances) to the StateGovernment department (s) forpublic purposes/developmentalprogrammes.

The SAC approved that casesrelating to transfer/ lease of State/departmental land to StateGovernment department(s)exceeding 500 kanals and trans-fer of any quantum of land, trans-fer/ lease of State/ departmentalland, to Government owned cor-

Frustrated by air raids, Pak targetscivilians; uses Howitzer artillery fires

Sanjeev PargalJAMMU, Feb 28: After

suffering heavy losses in airstrikes by India, Pakistanarmy today activated almostall major sectors on the Lineof Control (LoC) in twin bor-der districts of Poonch andRajouri pounding forwardposts of the troops and civilianareas with long range mortars,

105 mm Howitzer guns andheavy fire arms, killing a girland injuring two othersincluding an Army soldier,who had come to his house onleave.

It was virtually a war-likesituation in most parts of theLoC especially Mendhar,Mankote, Balakote, KhariKarmara and Degwar sectors of

Poonch district and Nowsheraand Sunderbani sectors inRajouri district, where mortarshells fired by Pakistan troopslanded deep inside the civilianareas, spreading panic and fearamong the people, who confinedthemselves to houses orbunkers.

This was for the first timethat Pakistan army usedartillery fire with Howitzer105 mm guns to target civilianareas in the past many years.

The Howitzer guns were usedin Nowshera sector of Rajouridistrict and its shells fell inKalal area of Nowshera sectorbut fortunately missed theintended targets and therewere no losses.

According to sources, morethan 70 villages and forwardposts were targeted in Pakistanarmy's shelling and firing in thetwo districts. Pounding of thecivilian areas by the Pakistanarmy continued throughout the

day and in some areas, it wasgoing on till late tonight.

The Indian side retaliatedPakistan shelling and firing veryeffectively at all the places.Northern Command chief LtGen Ranbir Singh also visitedsome of the forward areas on theLoC in Rajouri district andreviewed operational prepared-ness of the troops to meet withany eventuality from thePakistan side.

Such was intensity ofPakistan's shelling that numberof mortar shells landed close toMendhar town, triggering panic.Entire Mendhar bazaar wasclosed immediately after theshells started falling close to thetown. Government officers werealso closed.

Educational institutions upto 10+2 level had already beenclosed within five kilometerradius of the InternationalBorder (IB) and LoC in five dis-tricts including Jammu, Samba,Kathua, Poonch and Rajouri.

Official sources pointed outthat Pakistan army was frustrat-ed after Indian air raids deepinside Pakistan at Balakote in

Haresh SinghJAMMU WEST: People of

Jammu West Assembly con-stituency, who had voted thethen State BJP president, Sat PalSharma with much fanfare andenthusiasm and made him victo-rious with highest margin of51,000 in the State, today feltdejected and very badly let downby their representative as major-ity of the people repented theirchoice, which they had made atthe call of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.

"We voted Sat Sharmabecause he was well educated,and had made tall promises toaddress our issues and above all,was representative of NarendraModi and Amit Shah, on whomwe still have full faith. However,

Sharma notonly failed

to come up to our expectationsdue to his extreme poor perform-ance, he also gave brought badname to Modi and Shah throughhis performance,'' majority ofresidents of Jammu West, whomthe Excelsior spoke to ascertainperformance of their formerAssembly representative, said.

Jammu West and GandhiNagar Assembly constituenciesare largest segments in terms ofelectorates in the State. JammuWest is spread over Janipura

Colony, Old Janipura, HighCourt Road, Patoli Mangotrian,Paloura, Karan Nagar, CanalRoad, Talab Tillo and parts ofJewel Chowk and Gol GujralCamp.

Apart from common prob-lems of electricity, water, roadsand insanitation, people inJammu West Assembly con-stituency have been facing virtu-al crisis in view of traffic messfor which former MLA, Sat PalSharma, who also remainedCabinet Minister for Housingand Urban Development, albeit

for few days, failed to draw anyroadmap with concerned author-ities to overcome the problem.

Roads from New Plot toJanipura Colony, Jewel Chowkto Canal Road and further up toTalab Tillo and parts of BCRoad, have become major issuein Jammu West Assembly seg-ment for which the people felt,their representative did nothingdespite being MLA of the rulingparty, followed by the CabinetMinister.

They were of the view thattheir representative was expect-ed to approve Fly Overs orwidening of road in congestedroads to rid them of traffic jamsbut he didn't for the reasons bestknown to him.

Ashok Kumar Gupta, presi-

After highest margin victory, Sat leavesJammu West people dejected

Ex-MLAs’ Report Card Constituency: Jammu West

Sat Pal Sharma (BJP)http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ex-mlas-report-card/

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NEW DELHI, Feb 28:

The Army, Navy and theAir Force today said they arein a heightened state of readi-ness and fully prepared to dealwith any provocation byIslamabad, notwithstandingPakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan's announcementof releasing the captured IAFpilot as a "gesture of peace".

In a first joint media briefingafter Pakistani fighter jets target-ed Indian military installations,the three forces said Pakistanhas escalated the tension by tar-geting these installations in anaerial raid on Wednesday andIndia was ready for a befittingreply to any eventualities.

"The Pakistan Air Force air-craft attempting to target mili-

Pilot’s familyserving India forgenerationsCHENNAI/MUMBAI, Feb 28:

The father of Indian pilotAbhinandan Varthaman, cap-tured by Pakistan after an aircombat, today said he wasproud of his son's bravery andthanked the people for theirsupport and good wishes.

In a statement,Abhinandan's father SVarthaman, who was an AirMarshall, referred to a purport-ed video of his son after his cap-ture, and said he spoke like a"true soldier" despite being incaptivity and that he was pray-ing he would not get tortured inthe neighbouring country and

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*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com

Jha appointed Chairman but SERC to become functional from July

PDD facing difficulties to clearelectricity purchase bills

PM chairs securityreview meet

NEW DELHI, Feb 28: Prime Minister Narendra

Modi today chaired a high-level meeting on securityamid the heightened tensionswith Pakistan and after ImranKhan announced the releaseof an Indian Air Force pilotcaptured by his country.

Officials sources said themeeting was attended bychiefs of the three Services,National Security AdvisorAjit Doval, Finance Minister

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Girl killed, jawan on leave among 2 injured

An injured civilian being evacuated from the firing site inMendhar sector on Thursday. -Excelsior/Rahi Kapoor

HC quashesappointment

of GMC PrincipalExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Feb 28: TheHigh Court today quashed theappointment of PrincipalGovernment Medical CollegeSrinagar, Dr Samia Rashid anddirected the Government to takea decision for appointment ofPrincipal within four weeks.

The Division Bench ofJustice Ali Mohammad Magreyand Justice Sanjeev Kumarwhile setting aside the WritCourt judgment whereby theappointment of Dr SamiaRashid as Principal GMCSrinagar was held right and rea-sonable directed theGovernment to take appropriatedecision for appointment ofsuitable person on the postwithin four weeks time.

Since the Court has held theCabinet Decision as well as theappointment of Dr SamiaRashid as Principal GMCSrinagar bad in the eyes of lawand accordingly quashed both."For the foregoing reasons, weare constrained to intervene inthe matter and therefore holdthe Cabinet decision and conse-quential Government order,impugned in the writ petition,bad in the eye of law and notsustainable", the DB decided.

The appointment of Dr

10 new degree colleges approved

Comdr visitsforward areas

on LoC

Pic on page 9

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Guv reviewssecurity

Excelsior CorrespondentJAMMU, Feb 28: In the

SAC meeting today,Governor, Satya Pal Malikwas briefed about the securi-ty situation across the Stateby Advisor Vijay Kumar inwake of the developments oflast few days.

The Governor wasbriefed about the overall lawand order and obtainingsecurity scenario during thelast few days and the meas-

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Defence forces declare they are on heightened state of readiness

Pak to release IAF pilot today

Maj Gen Surinder Singh Mahal, Rear Admiral D S Gujraland Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor displaying the wreckage ofF16 of Pakistan Air Force, which was shot down in Indian terri-tory, during press briefing at South Block lawn in New Delhi onThursday. (UNI) (Contd on page 4 Col 4)

24 hamlets from Jammu division included in list

66 more villages get RBA status

‘JeI in close touch with militants, supporting extremism’

Declared 'unlawful association' for 5 years

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Injustice with IB people undone: Dr Jitendra

Centre extends reservation to EWS, IBresidents & in promotion to SCs, STs

*Watch video on www.excelsiornews.com