New Delhi: Schools in Delhi will start reopening in a phased manner from next week, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Friday. While the classes from 9 to 12 will begin first, classes from nursery to Class 8 will open from February 14. Sisodia, the Education Minister in Delhi, said the classes will currently run on a hybrid mode — meaning while half the class will attend school physically, the other half will be taught online. “Vaccination is a must in our fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Teachers who still haven’t taken Covid vaccine will not be allowed to take classes for junior students,” he added. However, the classes in universities and colleges will be conducted 100 per cent physically and no classes will run in online mode, Sisodia said. “Students will be allowed to take lessons through physical presence and on online mode as well,” he told reporters. Sisodia said that the vaccination drive for the 15-18 age group will be speeded up. “Students completed their graduation sitting at home during the pandemic affecting their development and quality of education. From next week, all colleges and educational institutes will be allowed to open. No classes will be allowed to run on online mode,” he added. Sisodia said that gyms, spas and swimming pools will also reopen from Monday. And private offices have been allowed to run at 100 per cent capacity. But night curfew will continue although its duration has been reduced by an hour — starting at 11 pm instead of 10 pm. The restaurants will be allowed to open till 11 pm. “They won’t be forced by the police to shut before that,” Sisodia said.

By: Nasir Azam

Srinagar: The Delimitation Commission constituted by the Government of India to redraw J&K’s electoral map on Friday evening shared its second report with five members of parliament (MPs) from the Union Territory.

Sources told KNO that the report defining boundaries of 90 assembly segments of Jammu & Kashmir, was shared with MPs at 7: 00 pm today. “The report has been sent to all MPs from J&K,” they said, adding that entire process of delimitation is likely to be completed in next one month.

According to sources, the delimitation commission has also asked MPs to submit their objections, if any, over the report. “After they will file objections, the commission will seek objections and suggestions from the general public and hold sittings at different places to consider these suggestions, “they said.

On December 20, the panel shared district—wise seat allocation with MPs from Jammu and Kashmir.

In its report, the panel proposed six new seats for Jammu division and one in Kashmir division—(KNO)

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn all posts referred for selection to the public service commission (PSC) and the service selection board (SSB) which were referred for selection before October 31, 2019.

In a letter addressed to PSC and SSB, the general administration department (GAD) has advised the two selection bodies that all posts referred to them before October 31, 2019 for which selections have still not been made, shall stand withdrawn.

“All posts referred to JKPSC/SSB prior to 31.10.2019, for which selections have not been finalized till date, as also the posts in which there are litigations and the cases are pending in Hon’ble court shall be deemed to have been withdrawn with immediate effect”, the administrative council headed by Lt. Governor, Manoj Sinha decided in its meeting.

The GAD has asked the two selection bodies to follow the decision of the administrative council in letter and spirit.

It must be mentioned that selections for all the gazetted government jobs in J&K are made by the PSC while candidates for non-gazetted jobs are made by the SSB.

JAMMU: The Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today directed the Tourism department to focus on tourist comfort, convenience and satisfaction, improved travel guidance and way finding (e.g. signs, maps and websites available in multiple languages), and the potential benefits of integrating art and cultural amenities (e.g. unique artwork/ large billboards/ hoardings at railway station, at Lakhanpur border and cultural displays at destinations for enhancing experience of the tourists to position J&K as a top   global brand.

He said the highest ever tourist arrivals in J&K during the last 4 months is the result of the image makeover the UT has undergone along with the development of tourism infrastructure during the last two years.

While complimenting the department on increased tourist activity in J&K, he asked the department to target tourist arrival of 10 lakh in the Valley next year and an aggregate tourist influx of 2 crore in J&K.

He made these observations while reviewing the Capex of the department in which Administrative Secretary, Tourism Department and other senior officers of the department were present.

The Chief Secretary said that as much as the inherent beauty of the place, it is the overall experience of the places the visitors have during their stay that makes the tourist destinations the go to places for others.

Dr Mehta directed the department to involve the local people in and around the tourist destinations in the effort to improve the ambience of the tourist places while further adding that all tourist places need to be advertised on the aesthetically bright and colourful hoardings/billboards on the national highways and other important roads in the UT, especially on the national Highway, Jammu to Katra, Airports at Srinagar and Jammu, and railway stations.

Highlighting the importance of the Akhnoor town as a tourist place, the Chief Secretary directed the department to develop Akhnoor as a popular weekend getaway for the residents of Jammu city and surrounding places after the flyover on Jammu-Akhnor road is constructed by year end and the travel time to Akhnoor is reduced to 25-30 minutes.

Dr Mehta highlighted the importance of Surinsar as a potentially attractive evening destination for the Jammuites and directed the department to develop the place complete with all recreational activities, improved surroundings and well laid internal roads.

Earlier, Sarmad Hafeez, Administrative Secretary, Tourism department in his presentation informed that during the period from September –December 2021, around 54 lakh tourists have visited J&K, which represents the highest tourist inflow for these months during the last 3 years.

He said that the tourist influx in Kashmir Valley has risen from around 5.65 lakh in 2019 to 6.66 lakh in the year 2021.

Hafeez informed that the tourists have kept visiting J&K in higher numbers despite ongoing Covid pandemic due to extremely good covid containment initiatives taken by the government.

It was further informed that while 224 works under UT Capex have been completed so far, out of 122 works under PMDP, 94 works have been completed and the remaining 28 works will be completed as per the set timelines.

Giving details of the various tourism activities initiated by the department, Hafeez informed that the snow scooters have been introduced in Sonmarg and ice skating rink has been made fully functional in Gulmarg.

He further said that city/ heritage tour campaigns have been launched in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar in collaboration with SRTC and JKTDC.

While directing that all 582 works targeted for completion during the current fiscal year should be completed by the end of the current financial year, the Chief Secretary asked the department to put all unutilized assets to use by 31st March, 2022.

Saying that tourism has great capacity to create large scale employment of diverse kind from the most specialized to the unskilled, Dr Mehta asked the department to look for complementarities/synergies with other departments to generate economic activity/create productive jobs in the sector.

He directed the department to synergise with Mission Youth for purchase of snow scooters/ATVs under the Scheme to the willing youth in Sonmarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam and other such like tourist areas to create self employment opportunities for them.

Dr Mehta asked the department to ensure that river cruise in Jehlum river is started by March end this year while further adding that the amphitheatre at Bagh-i-Bahu garden should be put to use by roping in local music groups, theatre groups, local artists etc. or by organizing activities like talent hunt programmes, singing competitions etc. for creating suitable recreational avenues for the interested people.

Dr Mehta asked the department to explore the introduction of laser and sound shows at all the important tourist places, besides facilitating launch of water sports and other sports/adventure related activities on commercial basis in J&K.

The Chief Secretary directed the department to ensure that TRC and cafeteria at Verinag are made to put to use by the department by 15th March 2022.

New Delhi:  Just hours ahead of a Supreme Court hearing on Friday on a plea seeking postponement of the NEET PG exam, the Centre deferred the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-PostGraduate 2022 by six-to-eight weeks. The test was scheduled for March 12. Fresh dates will be announced soon. MBBS students have moved a plea in the top court seeking postponement of the exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for admission to postgraduate medical courses. The plea is listed to be heard before the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant later in the day. The directions to postpone the test came from Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya citing clash in test date and final round of counselling for NEET PG 2021 qualifiers, according to an order issued from the office of Directorate General of Health Services. Many of the interns would not be able to participate in PG counselling 2022 expected to take place in May and June this year, the order gave as reasons for the deferral.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said the government will soon introduce chip based e-passports, and the process for inviting tenders for the chips is on. Replying to supplementary questions in the Lok Sabha, the Minister said: “Entire world is now moving to chip based passports. We have already started the process… We have issued letters of intent to get the chips. “Once we award the contract, which will take some time, within six months we will be able to issue passports with chips,” he said, adding this would be done “within this financial year”. Congress member Shashi Tharoor warned that the chips can be skimmed and data stolen from the passport. Jaishankar said the government was aware of the concern and it will ensure that the chips were safe. “We are very aware of the danger. We will ensure that the chips are such that unless you hand it over, the data will not be transferred. Unless we are sure of the safety we will not go ahead,” he said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in the Union Budget that E-passports will be launched in India in 2022-23.

DHSK seeks report from CMOs, JLNM Medical Superintendent 

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir governments audit Committee has detected 2,274 illegal appointments made in the health department in the year 2020. The officials in the health department, however, said that it was an old issue which is subjudice already.

Deputy Director Health Services  Kashmir division has directed all chief medical officer’s of Kashmir division and Medical Superintendent JLNM hospital to send all details to Directorate immediately.

“Regarding the subject and reference cited above, it is impressed upon you to ensure that the requisite information, complete in all respects in respect of 2274 illegal appointees as reported by the Audit and Inspection Department along with all other illegal appointments especially reported from Block Beerwah, District Budgam, and Districts Bandipora and Ganderbal as per the devised format is furnished to this Directorate by 04.02.2022 at 2.00 PM positively through the concerned dealing assistants both in hard as well as soft copy,” reads an order issued by deputy director health to all chief medical officers and medical superintendent JLNM hospital.

The details which have been sought include name of the illegal appointee, designation, name of the appointing authority along with designation, year of appointment, whether person working presently or not, cause of illegality and remarks.

“The Administrative Department has taken serious note regarding non submission of requisite information despite lapse of more than 02 years and accordingly vide communication No.HD-Legal/59/2021-02 Dated:-02.02.2022, this office has been instructed to submit the information immediately,”  the order adds.

“Non compliance of instructions shall be viewed seriously and disciplinary action as warranted under rules shall be initiated against the defaulters/officers on their own risk and responsibility.” Order adds further. Talking to KNO, deputy director Health Dr Bashir Ahmed Chalko said that it is actually an older issue which is being misquoted by some sections of the media. “This is a 12-year-old issue and the matter is subjudice. We will fire our report before the court,” he said, adding that “no new fake appointment has come to fore in the department.”—(KNO)

By: Bhat Imran

Srinagar: The School Education Department has said that annual regular results of 10th and 12th standard would be declared in the coming days.

One of the top officials at the School Education Department told KNO, “The annual regular results of 10th and 12th standard would be declared in a few days.”

The official however also said that they have not decided any particular date in this regard.

“We have almost finished all the process and are all set to declare the results. However, as of now, we have not decided the date for declaring the results,” the official said.

Earlier, the Jammu and Board of School Education (BOSE) had said that it would declare annual regular results of 10th and 12th standard in the month of February.