Monthly Archives: August 2018

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 29

During his tenure as the Defence Minister, the late George Fernandes presided over Kargil war, oversaw one of the biggest post World War-II movement of troops and scientists working under his ministry conducted the second nuclear test at Pokhran in May 1999. He nudged the forces into modernising for the 21st century.

Fernandes, who passed away today, had two tenures—March 1998 to March 2001 and October 2001 to May 2004—as Defence Minister during the six-year (1998-2004) NDA regime led by BJP’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

At the beginning of his tenure, the nuclear test happened and India ended up with sanctions imposed by the US and faced an angry Japan—both ironically are quite close to India now.

During the Kargil war in 1999, Fernandes refused to accept the theory of intelligence failure and ordered the forces to throw out the Pakistani troops; India attained a moral victory. In New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) rolled out one of biggest compensation packages for soldiers martyred in the war. Then came the biggest change as the MoD okayed addition of more troops in eastern Ladakh—Kargil is part of the Army’s Leh-based 14 Corps that was raised after the war.

In the aftermath of the attack on Parliament in December 2001, Indian forces launched ‘Operation Parakram’, the biggest movement of troops after World War-II (1939-45). The 10-month-long deployment that saw nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan in an eyeball-to-eyeball scenario yielded some important military lessons.

From this was born the concept called ‘cold start’ that envisages the military to be ready to go to war at a short notice. The purchase of 126 MMRCA (medium multi-role combat aircraft) jets initiated during his tenure and so was the Scorpene submarine deal. It was in 1999 that the MoD okayed the artillery modernisation plan and the submarine action plan—both are being fructified now with the induction of new artillery guns and submarines.

Old timers remember that Fernandes had “earned” the sobriquet of a “Soldiers Minister”. Once during his more than 16 visits to Siachen, he ordered that mail be delivered to troops once a week, and not fortnightly.

In 2003 when the media was unkind to him over frequent MiG-21 crashes and dubbed the aircraft as a “flying coffin”, Fernandes undertook a sortie on the backseat of the jet to drive home the point these were safe.

No PC/FVR/18/09                                                   Dated 09 Oct 2018.

To,

            Parliamentary of India,

            Rajya Sabha Secretariat, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Grievances;

            New Delhi, 110001.

PUBLIC COMPLAINT.

ELECTIONS ANNOUNCED IN 5 STATES – NOT LIKELY TO BE FREE & FAIR SINCE FOOLROOF REGISTRATION SYSTEM FOR MILITARY & PARA-MILITARY FORCES AT PLACE OF SERVICE – NOT EVOLVED, WHEN ONLY THOSE LISTED IN ELECTORAL ROLLS HAVE RIGHT TO VOTE.

Sir,

            Ref your No RS.7/1/2006-P&L dated 5 Dec 2006 to Ministry of Personnel & Public Grievances & Pension, Sardar Patel Bhavan, New Delhi & Adjutant General Branch letter No B/25222/AG/PS-2C of 16/17 Nov 2007 & No 34891/EC/MP-8 (I of R)(ADP) of 15 May 2018 with a copy to undersigned.

2. Only those registered in Electoral Rolls have Right to Vote – Section 62 of RP Act 1951. No ERO nominated for Military Stations till date, amounts to breach of Official Duty in connection with preparation of Electoral Rolls – punishable with imprisonment / fine / both, under Section 32 of RP Act 1950 overlooked by ECI/MoD. CEOs of 62XCBs nominated as EROs, illegally directed not to enumerate Soldiers residing in such Cantonments, amounting to breach of Right to Equality to those who protect sovereignty & integrity of India at any cost.

3. Election Nodal Officers nominated instead of EROs for Military Stations, overlooking RP Act / Rules. Ignorance, exploited to facilitate Politicians, hence FIRs against Stone Palters withdrawn by CM J&K, not objected by COAS / GOC-in-C responsible to protect interest of innocent Soldiers. However good the Election Law may be; if badly executed, it is no good. AIR 1971 SC 2123; ruled Right to be Registered at place of Service, cannot be taken away, if residing there – case pertaining to Naga Land but Adjutant  General illegally issued SAO 16/S/72 that AFs entitled to be registered at home town, not objected by MoD/ECI, facilitating Politicians, who started getting better wages.

4. Section 20(7) of RP Act 1950; ‘if in any case a question arises as to where a person is ‘Ordinarily Resident’, at any relevant time, the question shall be determined with reference to all the facts of the case and to such rules as may be made in this behalf by the Centre Govt. in consultation with ECI. RP Act 1950 – the meaning of ‘service qualification’, under Section 20(8) of RP Act 1950 is – being a person who is employed under the Govt. of India, in a post outside India, read in conjunction with sub-sections 20(3) – is deemed to be ‘ordinarily resident’ on any date in the constituency in which, but for his having such ‘service qualification’, he would have been ‘ordinarily resident’ on that date.All Govt. Servants employed in India are deemed to be ‘ordinarily residents’ at their place of posting, without any option of availing the facility of “fictional domicile”, hence wrongly applied to AFs only.

5. Amendment Act 2/56 – Section 20(8)(a)&(b) were added – ‘Service Qualification’ was made applicable / extended to those AFs personnel posted abroad, in the light of Section 20(3).  EC a single service commission, applied ‘Service Qualification’ to Soldiers posted in India, amounting to gross misuse of authority, with the intension of illegally neutralizing ‘apolitical vote bank of AFs’ – not objected by RM / COAS suiting convenience of Politicians. Under the Act/Rules, there is no term called “Service Voter’; coined by MoD, to confuse innocent Soldiers – Chapter X of DSR 1960’.

6. Registration of Electors Rules 1960 – under Rule 7(3) – Statement under Section 20 of RP Act 1950 shall cease to be valid when the person making it ceases to hold declared office or, as the case may be, have a ‘service qualification’.It implies AFs personnel like other Govt. Servants, on posting back to India, cease to have ‘service qualification’ but MoD/ECI continues to apply ‘Service Qualification’ to those posted in India, since no Military Officers is posted to ECI / MoD.

7. Law & Order a State Subject hence, Forces deployed to maintain Law & Order (Naga Land/J&K) supposed to be working for State Govt., hence have a similar right to be registered at their place of service, as applicable to that State Govt. employs upheld under AIR 1971 SC 2123.

8. Amendment Act 33/64 – Home Ministry recommended Postal Ballot for Para Military Forces, based on the premise; it is permitted to AFs – Section 20 (8) (c) was added – being a member of an Armed Police Force of a State, who is serving outside that State or (d) being a person who is employed under the Govt. of India, in a post outside India, ignoring‘Service Qualification’ is demitted on posting back to India under Rule 7(3) Registration of Rules 1960. Amendment Act 33/64 could not have been passed by the Parliament, if ECI had interpreted Registration Rules 1960 correctly. 

9. Amendment Act 47/66 – ECI proposed omitting of words when posted abroad from Section 20 (3), with the mischievous intention of covering-up the corrupt practice of applying‘Service qualification’ to those posted in India since 1952, amounting to lack of professional integrity. 

10. AIR 1971 SC 2123 – Assam Rifles personals & their family members posted at Wokha – Naga Land registered, at place of posting – challenged by the Candidate, who lost elections.  SC ruled ‘the statutory fiction is intended to confer the right to be registered as electors at their home town or village but the fiction cannot take away the right of person possessing service qualification to get registered at a constituency in which they are ordinarily residing though such place happens to be their place of service’.Adjutant General misused authority issued SAO 16/S/72 – AFs can vote only through Postal Ballot, overreaching SC ruling. Military Pension reduced from 70% to 50% compensation for early retirement & Civil Pension increased from 33% to 50% after full service, without fear of electoral loss.

11. AIR 1984 SC 921 – EC cannot override RP Act / Rules.ECI continues to overlook Rule 7(3) by applying ‘service qualification’ to those posted in India, when it ceases on posting back to India for other services amounting to discrimination not objected by COAS/Adjutant General facilitating Politicians. 

12. Army Order 15/95 (EC letter of 20 Mar 1995) – EC diluted/changed the Supreme Court ruling that – Soldiers & their Family Members staying with them, can vote at place of posting (instead of they have a right to be registered), if they don’t want to avail the facility of Postal Ballot amounting to overreaching the Supreme Court when ECI is executing agency without powers to frame Rules.

13. Army Order 15/95 stipulates, AFs can get themselves registered during house-to-house enumeration never conducted by ECI for Military areas, amounting to derelict performance of election duty not objected by Station Commanders. Intensive revision in Punjab in progress except Military Areas not objected by Commanders / Secy. RSB Punjab to facilitate Politicians.

14. Parliamentary Committee on Grievances – letter of 5 Dec 2006, desired foolproof system of registration for Soldiers be evolved, which requires sensitizing innocent Soldiers about their Constitutional Right to be Registered at their place of posting & the Postal Ballot only when posted abroad, by nominating dedicated EROs – not done amounting to disrespect to the Parliament.

15. On the contrary – EC under Hand Book – 2008 – debarred EROs to enumerate Armed Forces & family members during intensive / summery revision of rolls, amounting to looking Tokyo talking London. The Center Commandants rightly register those posted abroad for Postal Ballot but also illegally register those posted in India for Postal Ballot without logic overlooked by ECI under lame excuse authenticated by another Commissioned Officer.

16. EC under letter dated 28 Dec 2008 desired Chief Electoral Officers of all States to increase numbers for the Postal Ballot when no Gazetted Officer is supposed to influence elections. CEOs of all States blindly followed instructions of the EC – increased numbers for the Postal Ballot for those posted in India, amounts to unduly influencing elections – rigging of elections / discrimination against Soldiers; a separate class of people promoting enmity between Classes in connection with Elections Section 125 of RP Act 1951. ECintentionally didn’t apply election law, in respect of Forces for the last 68 years & there is no hope of justice, till Multi Service ECI is not constituted.

17. CWP 3775/2009 filed at Chandigarh High Court by Brig HS Ghuman, SC, Retd, & others for not enumerating Soldiers at their place of posting in India, when those registered in Naga Land during 1967 elections defended by ECI – AIR 1971 SC 2123 which should have been filed by Secy. Defence / COAS if they had any respect for the Election Law of the Land.

18. CEC of India knows14.5 Lakh Soldiers & their family members posted in India illegally registered for E-postal Ballot overlooked by COAS amounts to indulging in Politics. Need exists to post Military Officers to ECI & State CEOs to protect democratic right of Military Forces.    

19. Elections announced by CEC of India for 5 States (Chhattisgarh, MP, Mizoram, Rajasthan & Talangana) will not be free & fair since Military & Para-military Forces deployed in these States to maintain Law & Order as also to protect sovereignty of India, at any cost, not registered at place of service, overlooking AIR 1971 SC 2123 defended by  ECI. Need exists to constitute Multi Service ECI to protect democratic right of Soldiers.

Brig. HS Ghuman, SC, Retd.

President AIVCG NGO Registered.

Copy to; RM, ECI, COAS, Adjutant General, COR Punjab Regt, RSB Punjab, KSB New Delhi, RSB Punjab. 

New Delhi, January 26

Continuing his style of greeting the crowd after the Republic Day parade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday walked on the Rajpath greeting people amid chants of “Modi, Modi”.

Modi has undertaken similar walks earlier too. He broke his security cover after last year’s Independence Day speech at the Red Fort when he stepped out of his car to meet schoolchildren.

Donning a yellow orange headgear with a red tail and kurta pyjama and Nehru jacket, Modi waved to the crowds enthusiastically as he zig-zagged the Rajpath, closely followed by security personnel and his slow-moving motorcade.

The Prime Minister started his walk soon after President Ram Nath Kovind and his South African counterpart and chief guest at the Republic Day parade, Cyril Ramaphosa, left Rajpath.

The crowds appeared pleased to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister from close.

As Modi went close to the seating enclosures, some chanted “Modi, Modi” while others captured the moment on their mobile phones and cameras.

Many came near the makeshift barricades to greet him. IANS

Any structural change produces resistance and so it was with the Supreme Court’s directives for appointing the top-most police officer in the states. Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh has called the apex court’s orders as ‘infringement’ upon the power of the states while the five states in the dock on Wednesday pleaded to be allowed to implement their local laws for the selection and appointment of Directors-General of Police (DGPs). Being custodians of law and order, states seek a free hand in assessing whether a person is suited to handle the special demands of the job. But that is not how the Supreme Court has framed the issue. Its July 3, 2018, order, which the states on Wednesday unsuccessfully sought to modify, is in the spirit of larger public interest and to protect police officials from political interference.

The case virtually folded up when the UPSC Secretary said Supreme Court-mandated panels of three eligible officers each were in the pipeline for 14 states. Of the two newly-minted Congress governments of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the latter has promised to quickly fall in line. Unless the abrasive attitude to the court’s insistence is a self-defensive reaction, states do have latitude in selection: its representative sits on the panel. The requirement of sending names of three officers to UPSC three months before the incumbent DGP retires is also fair. The states are themselves to blame for inviting the apex court’s intervention: in one case, a DGP was appointed an hour before he was to retire.

Changes begin from the top and once regularity sets in the appointment of DGPs, state security commissions need to be formed as per judicial directions. The widespread political indifference to systemic improvements in police forces is reflected in the Modi government’s lack of initiative. The Centre’s promise of ‘SMART police’in 2014 remained a nonstarter while states made little progress in filling vacancies or upgrading the infrastructure. Even after 22 years, there is no movement on separating investigation from law and order, pushing back the goal of a service-oriented police force to a distant future.

Our Correspondent

Kangra, January 13

Sacrifice of martyr Havlidar Zorawar Singh of Rait near Shahpur was remembered and tributes paid to him on the 156th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. On the occasion, Zorawar Singh’s parents were honoured on Saturday at Dronacharya College of Education at Rait.

Locals, intellectuals from Kangra and students attended the function in which parents of the martyr were honoured by the SSP, Kangra, Santosh Patial, the SDM, Shahpur, Jagan Thakur, and PR Agnihotri convenor of local branch of Vivekananda Kendra, Kanaya Kumari, and paid floral tributes to Zorawar Singh (43), who was killed in a fierce gunfight on the frontier of Kupwara district on March 21, 2018.

Subedar Rai Singh (retd), braveheart’s father, said he was blessed to have a son like Zorawar Singh. He said he fought three wars 1962 against China, 1965 against Pakistan and 1971 when Bangladesh was created. He said he was also a witness to the surrender of 97,000 Pakistan soldiers led by Gen Niazi. He said his son was inspired by him had joined the Indian army.

Zorwar Singh served for nine years in Jammu and Kashmir. For his dedicated service, he was given an extension of two years and posted in the 160- TA Battalion. Zorawar leading his platoon in Kupwara forests killed five militants, but only after two days, he was again assigned the job of combing the forest.He received seven bullets below his bullet-proof jacket and before attaining martyrdom shot the last militant dead. People gave standing ovation to the parents of the martyr.

AWARDS

	ASHOK CHAKRA
1. 12974389N L/NK NAZIR AHMAD WANI, SM**, JAK LI, 34 RR (POSTHUMOUS)
PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-35471M GEN BIPIN RAWAT, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM, INF 2. IC-38011W LT GEN PANKAJ KUMAR SRIVASTAVA, AVSM, VSM, ARTY 3. IC-38266W LT GEN SURINDER SINGH, AVSM**, VSM, MECH INF 4. IC-38403K LT GEN SHOKIN CHAUHAN, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (RETD) 5. IC-38643F LT GEN RANBIR SINGH SALARIA, VSM, ARTY 6. IC-38708K LT GEN ASHOK AMBRE, AVSM**, SM, INF 7. IC-38750H LT GEN MANOJ MUKUND NARAVANE, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF 8. IC-38753W LT GEN JASWINDER SINGH SANDHU, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, INF 9. IC-38879W LT GEN ASHWANI KUMAR, AVSM, VSM, AAD 10. IC-39438M LT GEN PATTACHERAVANDA CHENGAPPA THIMMAYA, VSM, MECH INF 11. IC-39445H LT GEN SUDARSHAN SHRIKANT HASABNIS, VSM, ENGRS 12. IC-39590A LT GEN HARISH THUKRAL, SM, INF 13. IC-39607H LT GEN IQROOP SINGH GHUMAN, AVSM, MECH INF 14. IC-39865H LT GEN MICHAEL MATHEWS, VSM**, ENGRS 15. IC-40098F LT GEN DUSHYANT SINGH, AVSM, INF 16. MR-03993P LT GEN BIPIN PURI, VSM, AMC 17. IC-37934P MAJ GEN VIJAY DNAYANDEV CHOWGULE, VSM, INF (RETD) 18. IC-40378P MAJ GEN BOLLINA VENKATA RAO, VSM, ENGRS 19. IC-40792N MAJ GEN DEV ARVIND CHATURVEDI, AVSM, SM, INF
KIRTI CHAKRA
1. SS-46936F MAJ TUSHAR GAUBA, 20 JAT 2. 15496659X SWR VIJAY KUMAR, ARMD, 22 RR (POSTHUMOUS)
UTTAM YUDH SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-39929H LT GEN SARANJEET SINGH, YSM, INF, HQ 16 CORPS 2. IC-40022F LT GEN ANIL KUMAR BHATT, AVSM, SM, VSM, INF, HQ 15 CORPS 3. IC-40235P LT GEN GOPAL R, AVSM, SM, INF, HQ 3 CORPS
ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-38528F LT GEN KAPIL KUMAR AGGARWAL, SM, VSM, EME 2. IC-38694P LT GEN PARAMJIT SINGH, VSM, EME 3. IC-39117P LT GEN BS SAHRAWAT, SM, INF 4. IC-39437K LT GEN SHASHANK TARAKANT UPASANI, SM, VSM, INF 5. IC-39464H LT GEN MH THAKUR, VSM, INF 6. IC-39501W LT GEN ANANT PRASAD SINGH, AAD 7. IC-39874K LT GEN TARANJIT SINGH, VSM**, ARMD 8. IC-39956M LT GEN GURPAL SINGH SANGHA, SM, VSM, INF 9. IC-39996N LT GEN RAJEEV SABHERWAL, VSM, SIGS 10. IC-40007M LT GEN YENDURU VENKATA KRISHNA MOHAN, SM, VSM, INF 11. IC-40025P LT GEN GIRI RAJ SINGH, SM, AOC 12. IC-40299A LT GEN SANJAY VERMA, VSM**, EME 13. IC-40393K LT GEN JAGDEEP KUMAR SHARMA, MECH INF 14. IC-41461Y LT GEN YOGENDRA DIMRI, VSM, ENGRS 15. IC-41465P LT GEN AJAI SINGH, ARMD 16. IC-41471H LT GEN SURENDAR KUMAR PRASHAR, VSM, INF 17. IC-41521H LT GEN HARSHA GUPTA, YSM, VSM, INF 18. MR-04262N LT GEN UMESH KUMAR SHARMA, AMC 19. MR-04434X LT GEN RAJAN SINGH GREWAL, VSM, AMC 20. IC-39864A MAJ GEN VIKRAM DEV DOGRA, ARMD 21. IC-39909P MAJ GEN PARAMJIT SINGH SANDHU, VSM, MECH INF(RETD) 22. IC-40133Y MAJ GEN SANJAY CHRISTOPHER MESTON, SM, VSM, INF(RETD) 23. IC-40982A MAJ GEN GURDARSHAN SINGH AUL, ARTY 24. IC-41154F MAJ GEN ALOK RAJ, INF 25. IC-41464M MAJ GEN TEJPAL SINGH RAWAT, VSM**, ENGRS 26. IC-41858L MAJ GEN CODANDA POOVAIAH CARIAPPA, SM, VSM, INF 27. IC-41912N MAJ GEN TARUN KUMAR CHAWLA, ARTY 28. IC-42491H MAJ GEN CHANDI PRASAD SANGRA, YSM, INF 29. IC-42753N MAJ GEN CHANNIRA BANSI PONNAPPA, VSM, INF 30. IC-42833L MAJ GEN GAJINDER SINGH, INF 31. IC-43021K MAJ GEN GULAB SINGH RAWAT, YSM, SM, INF 32. IC-43756N BRIG SANJEEV LANGEH, SM, JAK RIF
SHAURYA CHAKRA
1. IC-66057P LT COL VIKRANT PRASHER, 10 PARA (SF) 2. IC-70006Y MAJ AMIT KUMAR DIMRI, GARH RIF, 14 RR 3. IC-73080L MAJ IMLIAKUM KEITZAR, 4/4 GR 4. IC-76258F MAJ ROHIT LINGWAL, 9 PARA (SF) 5. IC-76425M CAPT ABHAY SHARMA, SM, 1 PARA (SF) 6. IC-80045L CAPT ABHINAV KUMAR CHOUDHARY, SIGS, 21 RR 7. 16014704X L/NK AYYUB ALI, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 8. 14945605A SEP AJAY KUMAR, MECH INF, 42 RR(POSTHUMOUS) 9. 16121676N SPR MAHESH HN, ENGRS, 44 RR
BAR TO YUDH SEVA MEDAL
IC-42794X MAJ GEN MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR, YSM, VSM, INF
YUDH SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-42475L MAJ GEN SAVNEET SINGH, SM, VSM, INF, HQ 3 INF DIV 2. IC-46723N BRIG HARBIR SINGH, SM, SIKH LI, HQ 12 SECT RR 3. IC-49911A BRIG PRASANNA KISHORE MISHRA, SM, 13 JAK LI 4. IC-49939A BRIG VIKRAM SINGH SEKHON, JAK RIF, HQ 10 INF BDE 5. IC-50034K BRIG VINOD KUMAR NAMBIAR, SM, PARA, HQ 161 INF BDE 6. IC-50306Y BRIG ARVIND CHAUHAN, 1 GR, HQ 28 INF BDE 7. IC-60800H COL NEERAJ PANDEY, ASSAM, 42 RR 8. IC-61359X COL DHARMENDRA SINGH NEGI, RAJPUT, 44 RR 9. IC-64976L COL H SABARINATH, 2/4 GR
BAR TO SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
1. IC-55461K COL DHANANJAY M BHOSALE, SM, VSM, ARMY AVN, 203 AAS (UH) 2. IC-63403P LT COL BHEEMAIAH PS, SM, 10 PARA (SF) 3. IC-68016K MAJ JITENDRA SINGH MEHTA, SM, ARTY, 13 RR 4. IC-73258W MAJ MALAY BAIDYA, SM, KUMAON, 13 RR 5. IC-76546N MAJ DAVINDER PAL SINGH, SM, MAHAR, 1 RR 6. IC-77058X MAJ GIRISH SHARMA, SM, EME, 9 RR
SENA MEDAL (GALLANTRY)
1. IC-60900N LT COL RAVINDRA KUMAR, ARMY AVN, 203 AAS (UH) 2. IC-63941H LT COL SANJEEV KUMAR SINGH, RAJPUT, 44 RR 3. IC-64585A LT COL AJAY SINGH KUSHWAH, JAK RIF, 3 RR 4. IC-66239H LT COL BHARTENDU RAWAT, 20 JAT 5. IC-66258N LT COL JAIPAL SINGH, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 6. IC-69119P MAJ ABHISHEK PHOGAT, ENGRS, 12 SEC RR 7. IC-70559P MAJ NIRAJ KUMAR, 4 GR, 15 RR 8. IC-71589Y MAJ GAJENDER DAGAR, 10 PARA (SF) 9. IC-71608Y MAJ HARPRIT SINGH, PUNJAB, 22 RR 10. IC-72390K MAJ PRAVIN KUMAR, 12 PARA (SF) 11. IC-72542A MAJ AMIT SAH, GARH RIF, 14 RR 12. IC-72587A MAJ PARITOSH SINGH KANWAL, 9 GR, 37 AR 13. IC-72672H MAJ JADHAV DHIRAJ BHARAT, ENGRS, 44 RR 14. IC-72817H MAJ SANDEEP KURUP, 4 MADRAS 15. IC-74824X MAJ KRISHNA DUTT TIWARI, ARTY, 28 RR 16. IC-75030Y MAJ RANANJAY SINGH CHAUHAN, RAJ RIF, 9 RR 17. IC-75558W MAJ RITESH SANGWAN, GARH RIF, 14 RR 18. IC-76020F MAJ ROHIT SHUKLA, SC, INF, 44 RR 19. IC-76114Y MAJ SAMEER SINGH, ARTY, 41 RR 20. IC-76180F MAJ NITISH TYAGI, 12 PARA (SF) 21. IC-76292F MAJ VIKAS SEHRAWAT, ARMD, 14 RR 22. IC-76379H MAJ SHAKTI SINGH, MECH INF, 42 RR 23. IC-76615Y MAJ SANJEEV RANTA, GUARDS, 21 RR 24. IC-76633F MAJ VIKAS KUMAR, PUNJAB, 22 RR 25. IC-76672A MAJ GAURAV SINGH RAWAT, PARA, 31 RR 26. IC-76799H MAJ VARUN GAUR, ARMD, 22 RR 27. IC-77054F MAJ DILIP UNNI, EME, 1 RR 28. IC-77179Y MAJ SHER SINGH RANAWAT, 17 JAK LI 29. IC-77594A MAJ HARMEEK SINGH BAINS, ENGRS, 55 RR 30. IC-77782F MAJ SHAKTI NANDAN TRIPATHY, 2 NAGA 31. SS-44769X MAJ VINISH NAIR, MECH INF, 42 RR 32. SS-45438H MAJ MANISH KUMAR SINGH, ENGRS, 53 RR 33. SS-46336Y MAJ RAVI KUMAR, BIHAR, 47 RR 34. IC-77509M CAPT AMAN KUMAR, SIGS, 42 RR 35. IC-78483P CAPT ANIL KUMAR, SIGS, 34 RR 36. IC-78870K CAPT MD SAHWAJ ALAM, ASSAM, 42 RR 37. IC-82127M CAPT AKHIL RADHAKRISHNAN, EME, 6 GARH RIF 38. SS-45276H CAPT PARVINDER DAGAR, MECH INF, 42 RR 39. SS-48558M CAPT DIGVIJAY SINGH, 5 GARH RIF 40. IC-81713H LT RAMESH CHANDER PANDEY, 3 PARA (SF) 41. JC-310104N SUB BIKRANT TETE, ENGRS, 44 RR 42. JC-480832A SUB RAVINDER KUMAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 43. JC-480975A SUB RAM NIWAS GURJAR, RAJPUT, 44 RR 44. JC-594270N SUB MOHD YAQOOB KHAN, JAK LI, 41 RR 45. JC-612928N SUB SUNIL KUMAR, 4/4 GR 46. JC-414144F NB SUB RAJENDRA PRASAD, 1 PARA (SF) 47. JC-414383W NB SUB RAJPAL DHAYAL, 10 PARA (SF) 48. JC-414394H NB SUB GIRISH CHANDRA, 12 PARA (SF) 49. JC-441392F NB SUB HAREESH KUMAR PK, 4 MADRAS 50. 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1. IC-41228L MAJ GEN ATANU KUMAR PATTANAIK, SM, ARTY 2. IC-41668Y MAJ GEN ASHIM KOHLI, SM, ARTY 3. IC-42542L MAJ GEN MANOJ KUMAR MAGO, YSM, SM, MECH INF 4. IC-50313P BRIG MOHIT TRIVEDI, SM, GRENADIERS 5. IC-60971P COL MANISH MEHROTRA, SM, 20 PUNJAB
SENA MEDAL (DISTINGUISHED)
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MENTION-IN-DESPATCHES
OPERATION RAKSHAK 1. IC-76277M MAJ GAURAV SINDHU, JAK RIF, 3 RR 2. 5249263F HAV TEK BAHADUR RANA, 3 GR, 32 RR 3. 2611773K NK SENAPATHI RAJANA, 4 MADRAS 4. 3999226K NK RAJINDER KUMAR, DOGRA, 20 RR 5. 4373457F NK ALEMTOSHI AO, ASSAM, 42 RR 6. 13627163P NK BALWANT SINGH, 3 PARA (SF) 7. 5050403L RFN PIPAL BAHADUR PUN, 4 GR, 15 RR

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak, January 23

A team of Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) today visited Dera Baba Nanak to work out the modalities for constructing the integrated check post (ICP) on the Indian side of the Kartarpur corridor and decided to acquire 50 acres for it.

The LPAI team, comprising its chairman Anil Kumar Bamba and special secretary BR Sharma, held three-hour deliberations with Gurdaspur Deputy Commissioner Vipul Ujwal, Dera Baba Nanak Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ashok Sharma, Batala SSP Opinderjit Singh Ghuman and officials of the BSF, Customs, Immigration, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the PWD.

The SDM, the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA), has issued a notification to acquire 24 hectares to construct the 4.25-km stretch from Dera Baba Nanak to the zero line.

“The decks have now been cleared for the ICP construction. It will have state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate travel of pilgrims. The LPAI will take over 50 acres,” DC Ujwal said. An official said residential quarters for employees of the ICP will also be constructed.

Cabinet Minister and Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “A 200-foot-wide and four-laned road is proposed to be laid across 24 hectares. Since the Pakistani government has completed 35 per cent work, the Centre should also release funds for construction works.”

An official said the amount of compensation to be given to farmers in lieu of land acquisition was yet to be worked out. “However, the average rate of land sold in the past three years will be taken into consideration. A 100 per cent solatium, an amount given in compensation for inconvenience, will be added to the average rate,” said the official.

Targeting the state government, a BJP leader said, “The LPAI team visit indicates that the NDA government is committed to completing the project before the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev (November this year).”

Integrated check post: A single-window facility 

Integrated check posts (ICPs) have been established at all major entry points on the country’s land borders. These house regulatory agencies such as immigration, customs and border security in a single complex which serves as a single-window facility as is prevalent at airports and seaports.

New Delhi, January 24

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash from the Army for his alleged role in the Sukna land scam, holding that punishment was disproportionate to one minor charge being proved against him.

Setting aside the dismissal of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash and its upholding by the Armed Forces Tribunal, the Bench of Justice AK Sikri, Justices S Abdul Nazeer and MR Shah directed that he be paid all the retrial and pension benefits from the date of retirement.

The court gave the Army three months to clear all dues of Lt Gen Avadesh Prakash. Setting aside the AFT’s decision, Justice Sikri described as its order “contradictory”, saying as on the one hand the tribunal upheld the decision of dismissal, but at the same time awarded the grant of pension from the date of its order. Holding that dismissal of Avadesh Prakash on the basis of his found guilty of a minor charge was “disproportionate”, Justice Sikri said it could not be used to erase the unblemished record of his 39-year service. — IANS