‘98 doctors terminated for absence’
Jammu: As many as ninety-eight doctors in Jammu and Kasmhir were terminated for remaining absent from service without permission in 2016, the state government said on Monday. Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat, in a written reply to a question by BJP MLC Sardar Charanjeet Singh, in Legislative Council said 98 doctors have been terminated from their services last year for remaining absent from their duty without permission. He said 135 doctors were on unauthorised absence from duty, while the number of those who may have gone abroad is not known.The department, after adopting due procedure, had terminated services of 98 doctors in 2016, Bhagat said. Proceedings on similar lines for such absentees have been initiated by issuance of notices as per mandated procedure and all necessary steps shall be taken in due course of time in this regard, the minister said.
Over 50 hectares of forest land encroached
The State Government on Monday said 217 encroachers have grabbed over 50 hectares of forest land at different tourist resorts in the state. Minister of Forests, Environment and Ecology, in a written reply, told the Legislative Assembly that 217 encroachers have grabbed 50.94 hectares of forest land at the tourist resorts. He said 4,589.66 hectares encroached land has been retrieved from the encroachers last year. The department has been geared up to end this menace and the eviction of encroachments is being linked to the performance assessment of the officers concerned, the Minister said. While listing the measures taken to contain deforestation, the Minister told the House that licenses have been granted/renewed only to saw mills that “satisfy” the norms prescribed under J&K Wood Based Registration & Regulation Rules.
Over 200 people were killed in unrests in 2008, 2010 and 2016 in Kashmir, the government told Legislative Assembly on Monday. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, in a written reply, told the House that 76 civilians and two police personnel were killed in “law and order disturbances” in the Valley last year. In 2010, 101 persons were killed and 4,288 others, including security forces, injured, she said. Mehbooba said 46 persons were killed and 1,265 others, including security forces, were injured in 2008. In 2016, as many as 8,587 persons were arrested, out of which 8,473 have been released till January 21, the Chief Minister said. In addition, 522 persons were booked under the J&K Public Safety Act (PSA), and 265 persons among 1,978 booked in the recent unrest were still under detention as on January 21, she said.
