Jammu, Nov 23: The state cabinet meeting here tomorrow, for the first time after move offices shifted to the winter capital is expected to discuss the controversy surrounding partial revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
Informed sources in the government revealed that the chief minister Omar Abdullah will chair the crucial cabinet meeting here tomorrow morning. Though AFSPA has not been included in the agenda circulated among the cabinet ministers this evening, sources said the controversy revolving around the issue is likely to be discussed.
Pertinently, Omar had on October 21 at a police function near Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar announced that AFSPA would be removed from some parts of the state “within days.” However, following stiff resistance by the Army and opposition by the state Congress to his proposed move, the Chief Minister had, later said a decision on the issue would be taken in November after the Civil Secretariat and other move offices reopen in Jammu.
“The Chief Minister is expected to brief his cabinet colleagues about the move to revoke the Act from some parts of the state”, sources said adding, “The meeting will also be informed about the recent developments over the issue especially in view of a series of meetings held by the chief minister with Prime Minister, Home Minister, Finance Minister, Defence Minister and Army Chief in New Delhi on November 13/14”.
The cabinet would also be briefed by Omar about the deliberations that took place on the revocation of AFSPA at the Unified Headquarters meeting held here on November 9.
The cabinet meeting was earlier scheduled to be held last week but was postponed at the last movement.

9 KAS OFFICERS TO GET SELECTION GRADE
The state cabinet is also expected to approve promotion of at least nine KAS officers besides taking some important administrative decisions.
Sources said the cabinet is likely to approve Selection Grade for at least nine Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officers, who are presently serving as Additional Secretaries with various government departments.
Promotion of Director Fisheries P Angchuck as Director General Fisheries (Common Pool Post) is also on the agenda.
It was reliably learnt that the cabinet may also order posting of Naveen Choudhary, who recently returned after serving with International Monitory Fund (IMF) on deputation. The post of Commissioner Secretary PHE is also falling vacant after the retirement of present incumbent Mehboob Iqbal, who is reaching superannuation by the end of this month, sources said adding, that the post may also be filled up.
The cabinet will be deliberating on the proposed amendment suggested by the state law department for National Food Guarantee Bill. The proposed amendments, if approved, will be forwarded to the central ministry for its incorporation in the main bill.
Sources further revealed that the meeting is also likely to approve the compensation rates for the land being acquired for the establishment of Central University in Ganderbal district of Kashmir. As per the proposal the government intends to pay Rs 1.20 per kanal compensation to the agriculture land, while for the non-agriculture land Rs 60,000 per kanal rate has been suggested.
The government may also approve one of the tender received for Rs 11 crore e-governance project in the state. Sources said that various firms have applied for the project and now the cabinet has to take a final decision.
The meeting is also likely to increase compensation amount for accidental cases in Power Development Department. “Rs 1 lakh was being paid as compensation for electrocution and now the government intends to increase it to Rs 3 lakh”, sources said.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 IST