FLAG CODE AND DIGNITARIES ALLOWED TO USE THE NATIONAL FLAG

ONLY FOLLOWING PUBLIC AUTHORITIES ARE ALLOWED TO FLY THE NATIONAL FLAG ON THEIR  MOTOR CARS

Pending Cases in J & K High Court

The below data about  Pendency of Court cases was presented by Union Law Minister before the parliament (Lok Sabha)  in reply to a questions by different members  starred and unstarred questions dated 05-Feb-2020

For complete pdf file about court cases, judicial strength in different courts is running into around 40 page plz email :  JKRTIACT@GMAIL.COM 

14 Senior Police Officers of JKP Transferred

People's Woes Continue as Jammu _Kashmir Rail Project Gets Delayed

Udhampur-Baramulla Railway Link: 64% work on last stretch completed

Nearly 64% of the work on the Katra-Banihal stretch has been completed, and by 2022-23 it will connect valley to the rest of the country, reveals an RTI reply.

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), USBRL project, Northern Railway has divulged that out of the total length of 272 kms of the Udhampur-Baramulla railway line, work has been completed and commissioned in 161 kms, which accounts for nearly 60% of the whole project, while the work on remaining 111 kms long Katra-Banihal section is under progress.

View: RTI Reply concerning USBRL Project

 “At present, approx 64% work on Katra-Banihal section has been completed. The revised target for the completion of the USBRL project is in FY 2022-23 and it will be achieved with the cooperation of the local government to resolve local issues and control law and order situations,” Matin Ahmed, CPIO, USBRL, Northern Railway says in reply to an RTI filed by Jammu based RTI activist Raman Sharma.

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had also announced in Rajya Sabha on 17 March 2020 that before August 2022, that is, when India will be celebrating its 75th Independence Day, Banihal to Katra link will be completed, and Kanyakumari will be connected to Baramulla through rail.

The ongoing work on Katra-Banihal stretch is being executed by three agencies, namely Northern Railway (5 kms), Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (53 kms), IRCON International Limited (53 kms).

Further, the RTI reply says, “The section estimated cost of USBRL Project is Rs 27,949 Crores, and the total cumulative expenditure upto February 2020 is Rs 20,717 Crores.”

Raman Sharma remarks, “The wait to ride a train from Jammu to Kashmir and vice versa is getting longer and also accelerating the cost of the project. People have been looking forward to the completion of railway line for years as Jammu-Srinagar National Highway closure due to several reasons and its proneness to accidents causes much displeasure.”

View: USBRL Project Official Website

The Government had announced in principle decision to construct the railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla via Srinagar in 1994. The original year of completion for the project was 2007, but due to geological and logistical issues, the revised date of completion is Financial year 2022-2023, mentions RTI reply.

According to the authorities, this project is, perhaps, the most difficult new railway line project undertaken on Indian subcontinent. The terrain passes through young Himalayas, which are full of geological surprises and numerous problems – one of the reasons for high cost of the project and its delayed completion.

As per the RTI reply, Udhampur-Katra leg (25 kms) was sanctioned in 1995 and commissioned in July 2014, Qazigund-Baramulla leg (118 kms) was sanctioned in 1999 and commissioned in October 2009.

Work on the last and most difficult leg Katra-Qazigund (129 kms), which was sanctioned in 1991, is under progress as Banihal-Qazigund section (18 kms) has been commissioned in June 2013, while the work on the last section Katra-Banihal is ongoing.

About 345 kms long Jammu-Udhampur-Katra-Qazigund-Baramulla Railway Line project, declared as a project of National Importance in March 2002, was planned with a view to provide an alternative and a reliable transportation system to Jammu & Kashmir and its far-flung areas, besides employment generation, provide connectivity, mitigate militancy, and stimulate development. It is claimed to be the biggest project in the construction of a mountain railway since independence.

Government Must Issue Periodic PDS & Relief Distribution Bulletins

Jammu, 06/May/2020: Seeking direction for all government departments engaged in distribution of relief in shape of cash, food grains and other items through Public Distribution System or any subsidized services amidst the Corona Pandemic, RTI Activist Raman Sharma has requested the union and J & K UT government to implement the Suggestion of Central Information Commission dated 13/April/2020 to the government of India through Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT)  wherein the Central Information Commission had asked DoPT  to issue advisory to all Ministries for supplementing the Government measures on COVID-19 related relief and rescue operations employing the pro active disclosure provisions of section-4 of the Right To Information Act 2005 for vide dissemination in media as well as well as on websites of public authorities.

In his appeal, Sharma said it is not necessary that that must be any allegation of corruption or anyone doubting the credibility of any officer or department but issuing such bulletin about relief distribution and availability  of food grains, subsidized LPG cylinders, cash relief , kerosene, medicines, sanitizers, masks at district or sub-divisional level would help the government in weeding out duplication  of beneficiaries and stop hoarding of commodities and black marketing.

He said during the lock down period due to ongoing pandemic though the government of India and J & K UT administration have made several efforts to provide relief to the people and ensuring delivery of services and goods but due to lack of information and communication many people and areas remained unattended while others get duplication in getting relief from different agencies. He said on the pattern of daily nation & and State wise  health bulletins on Corona Pandemic, the different ministries and department  of government of India and J & K UT government should also issue periodic Public Distribution and Relief Bulletins (Daily or weekly) and publish the same on their websites and on other social media platforms similarly at the district and even at Sub-divisional level the concerned officers should pro actively disclose the name and particulars of all beneficiaries of government facilities and also the availability of food grains, kerosene, LPG and other essentials. Arguing for his plea, the activists said such measures would not only weed out the impersonating beneficiaries but it would also save millions of rupees of the government that can be utilized for other purposes.  

Start Online RTI Facility at JK Bank

No More Curtains !

Jammu, 02/May/2020: Requesting the Jammu and Kashmir Bank management to start online RTI facility for the citizens,  activist Raman Sharma have sent two pages representation to Rajesh Kumar Chibber chairman and Managing Director of the bank (via-email). 

In his appeal to the Chairman of the bank regarding implementation of online facility for receiving application under Right to Information Act, Sharma stated that Jammu & Kashmir bank is one of the premier state owned institution & the people  have  hope from the incumbent chairman that the bank would set new trademarks of transparency & accountability. 

RK Chibber, Chairman and MD, JK Bank

In his letter, Sharma has also submitted “I would also like to take this opportunity to bring it to your kind notice that, along with         other fellow residents of J & K,  I was amongst a few people who had             submitted RTI applications with the J & K bank back in year 2010-11 but unfortunately that time our plea was rejected by the then people at the helm of affairs in the bank for the reasons best known to them anyhow but now the residents of   J & K & especially youth believe there can be no more curtains &       the    J & K bank shall be torch bearer of transparency under your able leadership”.  

Pleading his request for online RTI facility, his letter further  reads, that  online RTI mechanism  would also ease out the     burden of the designated Public Information officers of          the bank to physically photocopy & then transfer the RTI applications to different officers & units           of the banks and It would be of immense help to the citizenry & J & K Bank would         be the first government owned institution in Jammu            & Kashmir Union     Territory to     start this online RTI facility for citizens.

His letter also informed the bank chairman that the      Government of India’s ministry of DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training)   was already running  facility of online RTI application for citizens of India over half decade now. It is pertinent to mention here that for quite a long time the JK Bank leadership expressed its reluctance in coming under the ambit of Right to Information Act and had fought a long legal battle in court of law with the information seekers/citizens.

Postpone All Government Tenders of "Non-Essential" Items: RTI Activist

Postpone All Government Tenders of  Non-Essential Items: RTI Activist

Jammu, 30/Apr/2020: Seeking a complete ban on all government  tenders for non-essential items, services and constructions during lock down period, RTI Activist Raman Sharma have requested the Jammu and Kashmir union territory government and Finance Commissioner, department of finance to issue a formal order in this regard.

Sharma in his plea said inviting  government tenders for non-essential items and services during lock down period is in violation of article(s) 14, 15 & 16 of the constitution of India that calls for equal opportunity in matters of public employment and justice.

He said during lock down period due to ongoing  global pandemic there are restrictions on the movement of people and it is not feasible for all potential contenders to participate in the tendering process,  therefore it is in the best interest of justice that all government tenders that fall out of the purview of ‘essential Items & Services’ must be kept in abeyance and all those tenders already invited and finalized by different departments during lock down period must be cancelled without any delay so that after lock down, fresh tenders are issued ensuring larger transparency and fair play.

Raman further informed that he has also sent  formal request via email(s) to J & K Raj Bhavan and Finance Department  in this regard so that no officer or department taking advantage of the present situation of lock down favors any one and deprived other deserving ones in the tendering process.

Activist Suggests Invoking Section 24 of DM Act to Ensure Services of Private Hospitals

Jammu, 21/Apr/2020: Making a fervent appeal to the J & K Union Territory administration led by Lieutenant Governor  GC Murmu to take cognizance of plight of non-Covid patients also and ensure their treatment in government as well as private hospitals.

RTI activists Raman Sharma has appealed the J & K government to invoke section 24 of the Disaster Management Act 2005 to ensure that reluctant private medical practitioners, hospitals and nursing homes do not deprive the citizens of required medical aid amidst the corona pandemic.

Sharma said that unfortunately amidst the pandemic outbreak many private medical practitioners, hospitals and nursing homes have stopped treating even the non-COVID patients whereas these same private hospitals and doctors were providing services to these patients for years and decades.

In his appeal the activist  said when the entire government medical health institutions are engaged in dealing with the patient suffering from Corono virus almost many private medical practitioners have stopped working.  He appealed the J & K government to invoke section 24 of the disaster management act to continue their services.  

It is pertinent to mention here that section 24 of the DM Act 2005 defines  Powers and functions of State Executive Committee in the event of threatening disaster and  allows the State/UT government to utilize the services and facilities of any government as well as any individual or any private entity for the purpose of making  these available  resources for the use in  emergency response, rescue and relief and procure exclusive or preferential use of amenities from any authority or person as and when required.  

Transparency is Subdued in Times of Lock down & COVID: RTI Activist

Ensure Transparency in COVID Relief Distribution & Procurements: RTI Activist

Jammu, 17/April/2020: Expressing serious concern over the casualty of Transparency and Accountability in the times of Corona Pandemic and lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, RTI activist Raman Sharma has urged the Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu to direct both the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir Divisions to ensure transparency in distribution of relief material and procurement of different items by all departments and government agencies.

Sharma also appealed the Deputy Commissioners of all the districts to suo moto disclose the detail of all the relief material distributed to local and migrant workers and other bonafide residents of J & K,  expenditure incurred on availing different services and detail of products and purchases  on their respective websites to ensure fair distribution of relief material and accountability.

Citing the example of Indian Red Cross Society, he said  this organization is also distributing  ration and relief material but no one knows the method of their selection of beneficiaries, no criteria is fixed. Similarly no detail of relief & ration  distribution to workers   is published on the website of J & K Labour department though they also have their own dedicated website. It is pertinent to mention here that due to lock down people are not able to file RTI applications with government departments therefore the best way is to publish all the details through electronic mode.