RTI Activist Slams J&K Govt's Circular to Shield Corrupt Officers

"J & K Govt Sides With Corrupt Bureaucrats "

Jammu, June 22, 2024: RTI activist Raman Sharma has strongly criticized a recent circular issued by the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department (JKGAD), stating that the government is siding with corrupt officers and discouraging citizens and the press from reporting their misconduct.

Sharma, a Jammu based RTI Activist condemned the LG administration for issuing Circular No. 14-JK(GAD) of 2024, dated June 20, 2024. The circular directs Administrative Secretaries, Heads of Departments, and Cadre Controlling Authorities of J & K government to pursue prosecution under Section 182 of the IPC against citizens if their complaints are found meritless, and to initiate prosecution under Section 195(1) of the CrPC. Additionally, the order calls for the cancellation of press accreditation, filing complaints with the Press Council of India, and halting government advertisements to the media.

"On the grounds of alleged harassment and mental agony caused to officers by false, frivolous, anonymous, or pseudonymous complaints, the Jammu and Kashmir Administration is shielding its corrupt officers and curtailing the fundamental rights of citizens and the press as guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India," Sharma stated.

RTI Activist  termed the circular a prime example of how the J&K administration sides with corrupt and tainted officers, even using government advertisement funding as a tool to suppress the press in Jammu and Kashmir.

It is pertinent to mention that the circular also calls for providing free legal aid to accused officers and lodging complaints with the Crime Branch against citizens who file such complaints, but no such protection or free legal aid is provided to the victims of corrupt bureaucracy. 

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J & K : Govt Issues Gag Orders to Shield Corrupt Officers ?

 J & K : Govt Issues Gag Orders to Shield Corrupt Officers ?

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Petition Filed in NHRC seeking declaration of Summer Vacations in Schools of Jammu Region

Demanding Summer Vacations in Schools of  Jammu Zone, RTI Activist Files Petition in NHRC

Jammu, 27/May/2024: In light of the severe heat wave currently affecting the summer zones of Jammu and Kashmir, RTI activist Raman Sharma on Monday filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Sharma’s petition dated 27 May 2024 urgently calls for the declaration of summer vacations in schools across the region to safeguard the health and well-being of school-going children. Diary no. 8083/IN/2024 has also been assigned by the NHRC to the Plea of the RTI Activist.

The RTI activist in request to the NHRC  highlighted the distressing impact of the relentless high temperatures on school going . He pointed out that many Schools lack adequate cooling facilities, turning them into oppressive environments that pose significant health risks such as dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes.

In his petition addressed to NHRC Chairman Justice Arun Kumar Mishra, Sharma emphasized the immediate need  for intervention of the Commission to direct  the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Department of School Education to declare Summer Vacations at an earliest. He stressed that declaring summer vacations at the given time is a proactive measure necessary to protect children, parents, and educational staff from the hazardous weather conditions.

"The health and safety of our children should be of paramount importance," Sharma stated. "Immediate action is crucial to prevent further risk of heat-related illnesses and to ensure the overall well-being of the school community."

Sharma, urged the NHRC to recognize the urgency of this situation and to take swift action to address this pressing issue. 

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JK High Court lawyers discuss Parliament Resolution on PoJK.

 

JK High Court lawyers hold talk on Parliament Resolution on PoJK.

   "Three Decades of PoJK Resolution"

 

Jammu, 23/Feb/2024: Research and Advocacy Group ( RAAG), a registered voluntary  organization of legal professionals, academicians, media persons and Scholars today held a discussion among lawyers in the Bar room of the court complex to discuss the Parliamentary Resolution on Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), passed unanimously by the Parliament  on 22 February 1994.  

Advocate Deepak Sharma, Convener of RAAG  in his welcome address expounded the  agenda of the Conference. He informed the participant about the role of  RAAG in  the field of legal and social research activities.

Advocate Rakesh Bhat  read out  the resolution of the Parliament of India passed on 22 Feb 1994 regarding illegal occupation of Pakistan over the territory of Jammu and Kashmir and stance of India on it. He informed the participants that in repeated replies in the parliaments and on several National and International platforms the government of India has reiterated its  firm stand and resolve against this illegal occupation of the Indian territory of POJK by Pakistan.

Advocate Ranjeet Singh Jamwal, former Additional Advocate General, J & K who was the  main speaker of the Conference while throwing light on the background and context of the resolution of the Parliament of India on POJK informed the participants that  after the beginning of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990’s and concerned over Pakistan's role in imparting training to the terrorists in camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the supply of weapons, infiltration of trained militants and foreign mercenaries into J & K, the parliament of India passed the resolution and also resolved that the State of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and shall be an integral part of India.

 

Other participants also expressed their views on the topic and  reiterated the parliamentary resolution  and demanded that Pakistan must vacate the illegal occupation and stop exploitation of the people of POJK who for all practical purposes are the Citizens of India. They said every Indian is committed to uphold the sovereignty,  integrity and Unity of the Nation and there can never be any compromise on the subject.  

Advocate Deepak Sharma in his note of thanks appreciated the lawyers for sharing their views in the program. The participating lawyers include Gaurav Jamwal, Bindusar Abrol, Vikas Pankaj, Dewakar Sharma, Rahul Sadotra, Rakesh Bhat, Naresh Choudhry, Sandeep Singh, Karan Parashar, Pawan Choudhry, Bharat Choudhry, Aaditya Raina and others.

 

Restore Jammu_Poonch Railway Project

 Letter to Editor !

The people of border districts of Rajouri and Poonch have been waiting for decades with a hope that their dream Jammu Poonch Railway Project sees the light of the day, but unfortunately for one reason or the other this prestigious and strategically important Railway project could not take off. Last survey report of Jammu Poonch Rail link was submitted in year 2018 with the government of India and in year 2022 in response to an RTI Application, the railway ministry had informed that the Railway project of 223 KM  has been shelved as it had projected the estimated cost of the project as Rs 22,771 Crore which as per the ministry’s response was  ‘Financially  Unviable’. 

 As the honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be visiting Jammu to inaugurate prestigious projects  on  Tuesday 20^th of this month so through this appeal it is  requested and expected that he would  consider the genuine demand of the over a million people of border districts of Rajouri and Poonch and restore Jammu Poonch Railway Line which can be a game changer for this strategically important region.  

Raman Sharma

Old City, Jammu.

Previous Story about : click link                                               Jammu Poonch Railway Line

Twitter(X):  @raman_RTI

CS holds interaction with RTI Activists

 CS  Asks  for  their  constructive  participation  in Mitigating  Corruption

Jammu, 04/Nov/2023:  Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today holds an interactive session with the Right to Information Act(RTI)/Social activists here in the morning at Banquet Hall, Srinagar and later in the afternoon at Convention Center, Jammu as part of the ongoing Vigilance Awareness Week.

Besides Commissioner Secretary, GAD Sanjeev Cerna, Divisnal Commissioner Jammu senior civil and police functionaries from Divisional & District Administrations were present at both the venues. These included Divisional Commissioner Kashmir/Jammu; Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar/Jammu; SSP Srinagar/Jammu; Commissioner JMC/SMC; several HoDs and other Sectoral Officers of the concerned districts.

The RTI Activists from different parts of the Kashmir and Jammu divisions participated in these interactions and made various suggestions for further enhancing transparency, accountability and speedy  delivery of public services in a corruption free environment.

On the occasion, the Chief Secretary stressed on the RTI activists to extend their constructive  support to the administration in weeding out undesirable elements which misuse processes for private benefits. He asked them to channelise their energies to ensure  percolation of due benefits to the deserving people. He called on them to work with positive  mindset in a collaborative spirit.

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 Almost Rs 200 Cr  Collected  at  Samba & Kathua Toll Posts of National Highway in 4 Years: RTI Reply

Jammu: The data shared by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) reveals that government has earned almost Rs 200 crore during the last 4 years from its Toll  Plazas situated in Thandikhui, district Samba and Lakhanpur district Kathua of Jammu and Kashmir union territory.

While replying the query of a Jammu based RTI activist Raman Sharma about amount collected by the contractor and received by the government at both these toll posts the data shared by NHAI reveals that at both these toll posts the toll tax collected  from vehicles  during the last 4 years  is Rs 198,44,87,066.( One Hundred Ninety Eight Crore, Forty Four Lac, Eighty Seven Thousand and Sixty Six Rupees)

 Lakhanpur toll post that was commenced in year 2020 have collected Rs 1,16, 33,59000            (  One hundred Sixteen crore, thirty three Lacs and fifty nine  thousand rupees ) from period 2020 to 2023. Thandikhui toll post situated in district Samba has collected an amount of Rs 82,11,28,066 (Eighty two crore, eleven lacs, twenty eight thousand and sixty six rupees) during  from year 2019 to 2023.

Two official letters served by NHAI dated 29/09/2023 to Raman Sharma further reveal that at toll Plaza Lakhanpur,  Highway Mini nest and toilet facility along with ambulance and Paramedical staff has been deployed by NHAI for general public. 

While replying the query regarding the facilities that are required to be provided and are actually provided at    Thandikhui toll plaza, the RTI reply dated 29/09/2023 signed by YPS Jadon, Project Director NHAI PIU-Jammu informs that Ambulance with paramedical staff is deployed by NHAI, there is no mentioning of washroom facilities being provided there at Thandikhui toll Plaza. The Public Information Officer has also dodged the queries of the RTI activist wherein he had sought certified copies of last three inspections reports of inspections that were conducted by officers of NHAI at both these toll plaza, in response to these queries, the PIO stated that Nodal Officer of NHAI frequently visit these toll plazas.

 

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Rectification of ‘ Tarnah Bridge ’ at National Highway Would Take more than 5 Months to Complete : RTI Reply

 Tarnah Bridge May become fully Operational in Feb-2024 

Jammu, 20/Sept/2023: In response to an application under Right to Information Act, the National Highway Authority of India(NHAI) has informed that rectification of  damaged portion of Tarnah bridge at National Highway between Jammu to Lakhanpur would take more than five months to complete.

While replying the Online RTI application of Jammu based RTI Activist, Raman Sharma regarding completion time to be taken for  repair works of damaged Tarnah bridge , Project Director, NHAI –Project Implementation Unit Jammu vide his office letter no PD/JMU/RTI/2023-24/1912 dated 19/09/2023 has stated “ Tarnah Bridge Rectification for damaged portion is likely to be completed by Feb-2024”.  

It has also apprised in the  reply that causeway has been made operational for Light Motor Vehicles(LMV) Traffic.

Regarding the query related to estimated cost for the repair work of the damaged bridge, the reply served by the NHAI reveals that no estimation cost has been prepared by it so far.

NHAI’s reply could not provide a clear information regarding the total percent of repair work that has been completed on this damaged Tarnah bridge in Kathua.        “ Bridge rehabilitation can be commenced only after completion of monsoon period “  the NHAI reply reads.    RTI Activist Sharma had submitted this online RTI application on 21/08/2023 using online RTI portal (rtionline.gov.in) to find out the estimated completion date of repair works and estimated amount to be utilized by NHAI for repair works of Tarnah bridge that was damaged in July 2023 due to heavy flood in river Tarnah after continuous rain. This is a very significant bridge at National Highway between Jammu to Lakhnapur.

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Suspend Collection of Toll till Completion of Jammu-Katra Expressway : RTI Activist

 Jammu, 31/Aug/2023: Seconding the demand of Jammuites regarding  abolition  of  toll plaza and suspension of collection of toll at National Highways between Jammu to Lakhanpur(Kathua) , RTI Activist Raman Sharma has also made a formal request to Nitin Gadkari, the union minister for Road Transport and Highways in this regard.

In his online representation dated 31/08/2023 to the union minister, the RTI activist has submitted that due to long spell of rains and flash floods during this monsoon season, a major link bridge has been damaged in district Kathua.

“This damage of Tarnah bridge in Kathua  has stopped flow of traffic at National Highway and now the people are compelled to take a very long diversion of another road that is maintained by BRO.  This diversion of road is not only wasting precious time of the citizens but also causing an additional burden on them as cost of the additional fuel. Anxiety caused due to long jamming  in these diversion road is another pain to the people”,  the representation further reads.

Sharma also informed that, in his prayer to the minister he has also apprised him about the sufferings of the people due ongoing construction of Delhi_Katra expressway (6 lanning), wherein a major portion   of the national highway has been damaged, many roads, bridges and flyovers have been dismantled and there also the diversion of roads have been made, the journey which in routine takes just 60-70 minutes is now taking 3-4 hours and again it is adding fuel cost of the vehicles.

The union minister has been asked to invoke invoke rule 3 of  National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2008 and exempt collection of toll and remove toll plazas at Sarore( samba district) and Lakhanpur toll ( Kathua District) till the damaged Tarnah bridge is restored and  Delhi_Katra Expressway Project is completed in J & K. 

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