LG flags off IFFCO’s Liquid Nano Urea consignment for J&K

Srinagar: Taking a giant leap in the agriculture sector and adopting environment-friendly farming practices across the Union Territory, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday flagged off the first consignment of IFFCO’s Nano Urea (Liquid) from Kalol area of Gujarat, through virtual mode.

“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging the agricultural scientists and farmers, for the last many years, to reduce the use of urea. His vision has made this into a reality, which will bring reforms in the agriculture sector of J&K”, added the Lt Governor.

The Lt Governor also congratulated Dr. U. S. Awasthi, Managing Director, (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Ltd) IFFCO and his entire team members for developing the world’s first Liquid Nano Urea, which will enhance crop yield, protect crops from seasonal damage while maintaining soil quality. The historic initiative aimed at saving the environment and keeping the soil of the agricultural fields fertile.

It was informed that 15,000 bottles of Liquid Nano Urea are leaving Kalol, Gujrat today for the farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. Out of this, 7500 bottles will be distributed to the Jammu division and 7500 to the farmers of Kashmir division. The total consignment of liquid nano-urea will be equivalent to 675 metric tonnes of conventional urea.

Highlighting the immense scope of growth in agriculture sector of the UT and the impact the new initiative will bring in the sector, the Lt Governor observed that with the introduction of Liquid Nano Urea to the farmers of the UT, J&K’s agriculture sector can contribute to Prime Minister’s campaign for self-reliant India. In Jammu and Kashmir, along with the promotion of traditional agriculture, horticulture, emphasis is being laid on value addition farming, so that the farmers get a fair price for their crops. 70 percent population of the UT is dependent on agriculture. This liquid Nano Urea can bring about a new revolution in the farming sector of J&K, said the Lt Governor.

Citing the positives of the use of Liquid Nano Urea, the Lt Governor maintained that it will bring a reformative change in farming practices and benefit the farmers, especially those involved in traditional and high value crops. Now, only half a litre of liquid nano urea will replace one sack of manure. There are many such hill farms in many districts, where farmers have to travel several kilometers to reach their agriculture fields. Instead of carrying a bag of urea, now the farmers have to carry only half a litre bottle of urea, he added.

The excessive use of urea is resulting in making the soil barren across the country. It has not only affected the nitrogen cycle but also harms the environment and people’s health. Initially, many farmers may get benefitted due to its excessive use, but later the same urea destroys the fertility of the fields, the Lt Governor said.

On the financial aspects of the new initiative, the Lt Governor observed that the Liquid Nano Urea will subsequently bring down the cost of farming. Cost of one bottle of this urea is 10% less than that of a 45 kg of urea bag. Since, Nano Urea does not require subsidy, the government will save about Rs 27,000 crore, besides providing a benefit of Rs 28,000 crore to the farmers by reducing their cost on agriculture, he added.

In 2017, the Prime Minister had said that when India celebrates 75th anniversary of Independence in 2022, we should reduce the use of urea by half. I sincerely hope and believe that the way IFFCO is working on the call of the Prime Minister, soon we will be successful in realizing his vision, said the Lt Governor.

On the occasion, the Lt Governor also added that the J&K Government is intended to increase the productivity of Basmati agricultural land.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has taken a policy decision for converting 60,000 hectares of Basmati agricultural land into more productive one, and for this, very good quality seeds are also being made available for farmers at cheaper rates, said the Lt Governor.

In current financial year, we have decided that at least 7.5 lakh farmers would be provided good seeds at a cost of Rs 16 crore. In this entire campaign, farmers are being encouraged to switch over to organic farming, he added.

The UT Government is putting in its best efforts to provide all facilities like harvesting, management and processing to the farmers of Jammu & Kashmir and providing linkages for their products to national and international markets.

Highlighting various initiatives undertaken by the J&K Government to bring reforms in the horticulture sector, the Lt Governor observed that the UT administration has signed an MoU with NAFED through which 5500 hectares of high density Apple, Walnut, Mango, and Litchi would be cultivated in the next five years. For this, an investment of about Rs 1700 crore will be made in the Union Territory. Three cold storage clusters will also be set up at Kathua, North Kashmir and South Kashmir with an investment of Rs 500 crore which will provide more convenience to the farmers.

GI tagging of regional products is being done to further empower the farmers through effective marketing of their products. The quality of many of our products like Saffron, Walnut, Cherry, Strawberry, Plum, Almond, and Apricot is no less than those produced in other countries. Kashmir’s Saffron was launched in Dubai in December after GI tagging. The world market was dominated by the Iranian Saffron, but now Kashmir’s Saffron is making its mark in the global market, remarked the Lt Governor.

Underscoring the reformative measures taken by the UT Government for the sustainable development of agriculture sector, the Lt Governor observed that the Government is focused on increasing the income of farmers and providing employment to more and more youth in collaboration with the administration and scientists, researchers related to agriculture. To promote agriculture and horticulture in Jammu and Kashmir, this year’s budget has been increased to Rs 2008 crore, which is Rs 695 crore more than the previous year, he added.

Agricultural Universities of Jammu and Kashmir are being roped in for promoting food processing units and agriculture related start-ups. Despite the corona pandemic, scores of agricultural programmes have been organized in the past ten months. With the help of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, we are trying to reach every farmer to ensure the use of innovation and technology in agriculture and allied sectors, said the Lt Governor.

In order to take technology to the fields of farmers, it has been decided that this year, we will provide machinery worth Rs 65 crore to the identified 30,000 farmers, besides providing modern irrigation facilities to 25,000 farmers at a cost of Rs 91 crore.

Further, the state-of-the-art training will also be imparted to around 35,000 farmers to implement new experiments in agriculture with the changing environment for which provision of Rs 26 crore has been kept, he continued.

Speaking on the Skill development and Employment generation opportunities of rural youth, the Lt Governor said that this has been one of the focus areas of the J&K Government, for which special provision has been kept in this year’s budget. We have made a provision of Rs 74 crore to increase the capacity of cold storage as well as provide employment opportunities to our youth, he added.

The Lt Governor also stressed on maintaining FPOs in every district for continuous market linkage for building a strong framework for farmer-industry connect, besides giving a determined push to agricultural entrepreneurship.

The Lt Governor, in the concluding remarks, extended his appreciation towards the entire team of IFFCO and invited them to establish Liquid Nano Urea plant in the UT of J&K.

Meanwhile, Dr. U. S. Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO spoke about the objective behind developing Nano Urea (Liquid). It is indigenously developed after many years of dedicated and sincere research of IFFCO’s Scientists and Engineers through a proprietary technology developed at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol.

IFFCO Nano Urea Liquid has been found effective and efficient for plant nutrition. This increases the production with improved nutritional quality, besides having a positive impact on climate change and sustainable development, he added.

Dileep Sanghani, Vice Chairman IFFCO presented the Vote of Thanks.

Jayesh Radadiya, Minister of Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs, Gujarat & Director IFFCO; Members of Board of Directors, IFFCO; Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Government, Department of Agriculture Production & Farmers’ welfare; Dr. J.P. Sharma, Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST, Jammu; Deepak G Inamdar, IFFCO Kalol Unit Head, and other senior officials attended the flagging off ceremony, in person and through virtual mode.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: A day after recording less than a thousand covid-19 cases after two months, Jammu and Kashmir reported 1184 fresh infections during last 24 hours, even as 11 more people succumbed to the virus during the time, officials said on Tuesday.

They said 421 of the fresh cases from were recorded from Jammu Division and 763 from Kashmir Valley, taking the J&K’s overall case tally to 302651.

Regarding the fatalities, the officials said that five were reported from Jammu Division and six from the Valley, taking the overall toll in J&K to 4101.

Giving district-wise details, they said that Srinagar reported 245 cases, Baramulla 109, Budgam 89, Pulwama 84, Kupwara 60, Anantnag 55, Bandipora 37, Ganderbal 29, Kulgam 42, Shopian 13, Jammu 75, Udhampur 27, Rajouri 40, Doda 74, Kathua 35, Samba 22, Kishtwar 12, Poonch 64, Ramban 37 and Reasi 35.

Moreover, they said, 2880 more COVID-19 patients have recovered, 996 from Jammu Division and 1884 from the Kashmir, leaving the number of active positive cases to 21817 in J&K—8143 in Jammu division and 13674 in the Valley.

A number of fresh cases were confirmed at CD hospital and GMC Anantnag’s diagnostic laboratories, they said.

The CD cases include male (47) from HMT Srg, male (65) from Srinagar, female (30) from GMC Srg, female (17) from Dalipora Pul, female (30) from C B Nath Pul, female (35) from Rohmu Pul, male (25) from RajMahal Pul, female (32) from Nowpora Bala, male (17) from Rajpora Pul, male (45) from Karpira Pakharpora, male (NA) from Lasjan, male (57) from Ratnipora, male (30) from Lelhar, male (35) from Pampore, male (40) from IUST Awantipora, male (45) from Srg, female (50) from Eidgah, female (30) from Palpora, female (38) from Waniyar, male (80) and two females (01, 75) from Noorbagh, female (38) from Rajouri Kadal, male (39) from Qamarwari, two males (17, 19) from Khreshibal, female (35) from Chattabal, male (27) from Qamarwari, female (33) from Batmaloo, male (30) from Noorbagh, male (38) from Alochibagh, male (21) from Natipora, male (25) from Batmaloo, male (22) and female (30) from Bemina, male (33) from Batmaloo, female (51) from Alochibagh, female (27) from Srg, female (32) from Humhama Budgam, female (68) from SMHS Srg, male (65) from Tangdhar Kup, male (08) from Warnow Kup, female (55) from Pattan Baramulla, male (40) from Srg, male (23) from Doodmarg, three males (22, 27, 23) from Tral, male (21) from Nehar, female (26) from Gadpora, female (17) and male (19) from Lariyar, female (37) from Noorpora, two males (13, 45) and two females (55, 25) from Padgampora, two females (13, 50) from Dangerpora Padgampora, female (38) from Khangund Tral, female (30) from Panzoo, male (NA) from CD Hospital, male (19) from Pampore, male (45) from Peerbagh, male (32) from Mujgund, female (33) from Safakadal, male (30) from Bemina, male (28) from Pul, male (52) from Khrew Pul, male (42) from Khankah Safakadal, male (36) from Batmaloo, male (08) from Hawal, male (22) from Bemina, male (28) from Hamdaniya Colony Bemina, female (43) from Srg, female (44) from Bemina, female (50) from Lal Bazar, female (30) from Chadoora, female (46) from Baghi Mehtab, female (38) from Achabal Ang, female (65) from Poonch, female (60) from Bijbhera Ang, male (60) from Lasjan, female (50) from Bemina, female (70) from Baramulla, female (60) from Safakadal, male (70) from Magam Budgam, male (32) from Srg, male (39) from Bemina, male (72) from Batmaloo, eight males (26, 65, 45, 55, 65, 26, 65, 50) and three females (55, 62, 55) from NA, female (65) from Shopian, male (29) from Karan Nagar, male (58) from Hawal, male (40) from Rajouri, male (56) from Kawdara, male (05) from Kulgam, male (23) from Nishat, male (56) and two females (28, 52) from Batapora, female (40) from Tailbal, female (53) from Syedpora Hamch, female (30) from Soura Bohlochipora, male (62) from Gulab Bagh, female (52) from Hazratbal, male (23) from Zakura, male (22) from Batapora, two females (55, 35) from Nigeen, female (42) from Zakura, male (46) and female (32) from Dalgate, male (42) from Elahibagh, two males (22,32) and female (20) from Hyderpora, male (49) from HMT, two males (40, 40) from Rawalpora, female (30) from Nawakadal, female (30) from Batmaloo, male (45) from Panjinara, two males (55, 55) from Bemina, male (17) from Batmaloo, female (18) from Budgam, male (30) from Batmaloo, male (43) from Elahibagh, male (38) from Qamarwari, male (18) from Elahibagh, female (28) from Parimpora, male (60) from PC DIPO, female (26) from Bemina, female (25) from Hawal, two females (20, 16) from Bemina, female (38) from Batmaloo, two males (24, 21) from Tengpora, two males (64, 1M) and female (31) from Rawalpora, female (25) from Pampore, male (33) from Rambagh, female (22) from Parimpora, male (44) and female (42) from Umerabad, female (14) and male (46) from Batmaloo, two males (61, 20) from Bemina, female (20) from Safakadal, three females (27, 26, 28) and male (8M) from Natipora, two females (30, 27) and male (5M) from Bemina, male (35) from Nawakadal, male (33) from Qamarwari, female (42) from HMT, female (11) from Alochibagh, male (60) from Bemina, female (29) from Gopalpora, female (38) from Barabarshah, female (25) from Muniwar, male (13) from Zoonimar, female (24) from Soura, female (40) from Makhdoom Sahib, female (50) from Sikhbagh, two females (35, 45) from Bota Kadal, female (35) from Naseembagh, four males (35, 45, 20, NA) and female (60) from Lalbazar, male (48) from Habak, female (32) from Buchpora, male (24) from Mill Stop, male (55) and two females (50, 12) from Malabagh, female (68) from Saidakadal, male (50) and two females (05, 20) from Eidgah, female (28) from Nowshera, female (45) and male (20) from Lal Bazar, female (28) from Badamwari, female (40) from Alamgiri Bazar, female (48) from Tral, female (62) from Pampore Pul, and female (85) from Kupwara.

The GMC Anantnag cases include female (37) from SK Colony, male (70) from Cheeni Chowk, male (34) from Anchidora, male (42) from Heavan Colony, male (29) from Shirpora, female (32) from Krangsoo, male (30) and female (60) from Damhall, male (38) from Sarnal Bala, male (39) from Mir Danter, male (36) from Achabal, male (40) from Waghama, two females (23, 26) from Nai Basti, female (35) from Khanabal, female (25) from Ashajipora, female (38) from Hazratbal, male (65) and female (63) from Ruh Ang, male (25) from Kheribal, male (26) from Mir Bazar, male (23) from Manigam, two females (12, 40) from Achabal, female (36) from Wachi Shopian, male (50) from Poniwah, male (27) from Verinag, two females (60, 16) and male (28) from Kokergund, male (45) from Shalipora, female (50) from Khandipora, male (30) from H S Pora, female (36) from Arreh, male (45) from Kadder, female (35) from Kanjikullah, male (40) from Daderkoot, male (65) from Behibarah, male (38) from Katapora, male (15) from Tantraypora, female (50) from Budroo, female (50) from Tengjan, female (50) from H S Bugh, female (60) from Shirpora, male (21) from Nawathoo Ang, male (24) from Akhran Kulgam, male (27) from Kokernag Ang, male (60) from Iqbalabad Ang, female (70) from Banihal Ramban, female (60) from Achabal Ang, female (35) from Nirpora Ang, female (20) from Nowgam Ang, female (68) from Yaripora Kulgam, male (80) from Verinag Ang, female (56) from Dassend, female (40) from Frisal, female (51) from Shirpora, female (55) from Hanger, male (40) from Gaziabad, female (40) from Parigam, female (25) from Shopian, male (65) from Budroo, female (48) from Frisal, female (17) from Tantraypora, male (65) from Dessand, female (33) from Budroo, male (52) from Narpura and female (58) from Soaf.

Meanwhile, one new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) has been reported today, bringing the cumulative cases to 17 in J&K. (GNS)

New Delhi: India reported 86,498 Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the lowest fall of daily cases in 66 days, according to an official statement.

The tally is also less than one lakh Covid infections after 63 days.

The country’s recovery rate improved to 94.29 per cent while recoveries outnumbered the daily cases for the 26th day in a row.

In the past day, the country saw 2,115 deaths–a low since April 22–taking the total fatalities to 351,309.

Confirmed infections in India rose to 28,996,949, the lowest since April 2, the statement said.

Now the tally leads with Tamil Nadu with 19,448 cases reported in the past 24 hours, followed by Karnataka with 11,958 and Maharashtra with 10,219.

Kerala reported 9,313 fresh cases, Odisha has 6,118 cases and Andhra Pradesh houses 4,872 cases.

Delhi has 231 new cases and West Bengal reported 5,887 Covid-19 cases, the statement said. (UNI)

Srinagar: A lab technician at Mini Maternity Centre (MMC), Hospital, Noorbagh Srinagar Shabir Ahmad has been conducting hundreds of Covid-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic and it has become part and parcel of his duty during the past one year.

“I live at Rainawari Srinagar and I have to travel around the city day in and day out to carry out Covid tests,” he says.

He has witnessed the peak of first wave and now the second wave and has witnessed both the surge and fall of the Covid positive cases. Today he is confident that Covid-19 cases are on decline in Kashmir.

He says that administrative decisions taken at the right time particularly the lockdown imposed in the J&K has brought the rate of positive cases down to a comfortable level. Last month while testing, many people used to come as positive but now the trend is on decline which is a good sign.

“Today itself his centre has conducted 80 tests so far and only two persons came as positive while others were negative”, he said with a sigh of relief. Ahmad further hoped that in coming days there will be more decline registered in the positive cases.

“Duty has been tough, my mother belongs to the vulnerable group and I prefer to stay alone when I go home after performing my duty of conducting the Covid-19 tests. At the same time I am thankful to the doctors at MMC who have supported and backed me in doing my job, he said”. “It is my job and will continue in doing so. We need to go out there and conduct testing as it is one of the ways to keep everyone safe. I will continue to perform my duties in future as well,” he said with a sense of commitment.

By: Faizan Wani

Srinagar: The divisional administration Kashmir has directed Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) to keep a vigil on misinformation and fake news about COVID-19 vaccination.

Documents revealed that Divisional Commissioner P.K. Pole has directed Director Health Services Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners and Chief Medical Officers of Kashmir region to counter misinformation about COVID-19 vaccination.

“The divisional commissioner Kashmir directed all districts to keep vigil on false information and fake news against vaccination campaign on social media, print media as well as electronic media. And such type of rumours/ misinformation must be timely rebutted at appropriate forum,” reads minutes of the meeting held on June 01 by divisional commissioner to review issues related to COVID1-19 in the region. (KNO)

Hamirpur (HP): The National Human Rights Commissioner has issued an advisory to protect the rights of children in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been issued keeping in mind the continuing impact of the pandemic on children and the apprehensions of experts about the third wave of the pandemic.

This is the fifth advisory in the advisory 2.0 series that the Commission has issued in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Deputy Commissioner, Debasweta Banik today.

She informed that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued the advisory to the Secretaries of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of Food and Distribution, Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories.

In the letter, it has been asked to implement its recommendations mentioned in the advisory and has sought action taken report on it within four weeks. The reports of various authorities are required to include specific measures taken to protect the rights of children in view of the circumstances arising out of the pandemic. The advisory has focused on four key areas of health, education, child care institutions and orphans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its recommendations, the Commission has recommended strengthening of Pediatric COVID Hospitals and protocols, leading all hospitals to display contact information of CHILDLINE (1098), Local Child Welfare Committee (CWC), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), local police, etc. instructions have been given.

The Commission has said that the Ministries and Departments at the Central and State-level should also immediately and prominently set up a page related to COVID on their websites.

District magistrates have to take steps to financially support families who have lost one of the parents by linking them to existing social security plans and policies within 4-6 weeks of the parent’s death. This should include steps to expedite the benefits announced by the Prime Minister under the ‘PM-Cares for Children’ scheme, the Deputy Commissioner added.

She said that in order to disseminate information about the toll-free telephone counseling service available at 1800-121-2830 for psychological support to children during the COVID pandemic, the Commission has issued an official notification regarding various categories of children tested for COVID-19. Special steps should be taken to maintain separate data on the website and strengthen Pediatric COVID care facilities. Issues such as universalization of digital facilities for access to online education for all children and allocation of adequate budget specifically for this purpose have also been covered in the advisory.

Similarly, the prevention of problems like child labor, child marriage, or trafficking and drop out due to pandemic, provision of all necessary facilities in child care institutions, digitization of proceedings of Child Welfare Committees and Juvenile Justice Boards as well as all institutions and institutions related to children. NHRC has also issued guidelines on important subjects like vaccination of officers and employees of the state.

“The Commission has said that for children who have lost their parents during the COVID pandemic, the Nodal Department for Children in coordination with the State Government should work to strengthen sponsorship and foster care” says the Deputy Commissioner. (UNI)

Srinagar: The twin capitals capital of Jammu and Kashmir sweltered under the hottest day of the season on Tuesday as mercury touched 34.3 degrees Celsius in Srinagar and 41.6 degrees Celsius respectively.

This was also highest June temperature after 3 June 2018 in Srinagar when 35.0 degrees Celsius temperature was recorded, a meteorological department official said.

“By mistake, 33.4 degree Celsius is shown to be the highest maximum temperature on 5 June 2018 in the data available on the department’s website but after checking from the records available with the department the highest maximum temperature of 35.0 Degrees Celsius was recorded on 3 June 2018,” he said, adding, “today was the hottest day in three years.” Today’s day temperature in Srinagar was above normal by 6.4 Degrees Celsius, the official said.

Barring 3 June 2018, the today’s temperature was highest in more than 12 years during the month of June.

As per the data available on meteorological department, Srinagar has recorded hottest June day ever on 29th day of the month in 1978 when mercury touched 37.8 Degrees Celsius.

The heat wave also prevailed in Jammu, the winter capital of J&K, as it recorded maximum of 41.6 degrees Celsius, around 2 degrees above normal, the official said.

Meanwhile, Qazigund, the gate town of Kashmir, recorded 33.4 degrees Celsius, Pahalgam 29.4 degrees Celsius while Kokernag witnessed 32.0 degrees Celsius, the official said.

The border town Kupwara recorded maximum temperature of 34.0 degrees Celsius. World famous skiing and tourist resort Gulmarg in north Kashmir was the coldest place in Valley, recording 25.0 maximum of Degrees Celsius, the official added.

The weather office has forecast mainly dry and hot weather in J&K for now. (GNS)

Anantnag: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, Justice Pankaj Mithal, accompanied by Registrar General, Jawad Ahmad, today visited Anantnag and took stock of functioning of District Court and other subordinate courts here.

Justice Mithal held a detailed meeting with Judicial, Civil and Police officers and reviewed the infrastructural and administrative set up and functioning of courts in the district. He was apprised about the cases being litigated besides the issues related to adjudication process in the district.

Chief Justice directed the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Naseer Ahmad Dar, to establish a Vidhik Seva Kendra (Legal Service Centre) at the District Headquarter observing the centre will give timely relief to the litigant public/lawyers and other stakeholders for filing of their cases by e-mode while being at their respective places without approaching the courts physically. He also exhorted for following all directions and orders issued by High Court regarding resolution of cases in Covid times.

Deputy Commissioner, Dr. Piyush Singla, informed the Chief Justice that out of 56 kanal of state land identified for the proposed District Court Complex at Sarnal, 40 kanal has been allotted and the allotment for the rest is under process.

While directing the concerned officers and executing agencies to expedite the process of allotment and construction work on the complex, Justice Mithal said that the development of Judicial Infrastructure and provision of all requisite facilities to Courts in J&K is being pursued as a matter of priority.

Later, Chief Justice held an interactive session with the members of District Bar Association who thanked him for visiting the district. President of the Bar, Fayaz Ahmad Saudagar, raised few demands which among others included development of infrastructure in subordinate courts, provision of Chambers to lawyers and establishment of matrimonial courts.

Justice Mithal passed on spot directions for redressal of certain issues and assured all their genuine demands would be fulfilled in a time bound manner.

He also called for greater coordination among judiciary, civil and police authorities for ensuring the justice delivery becomes smooth and hassle free.

Among others SSP, Imtiyaz Hussain, ADC, Ghulam Hassan, SP Headquarters, Nikhil Borkar, ACR, Syed Yasir and other judicial, civil and police officers were present on the occasion.

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh on Tuesday announced recruitment rules for the newly established Union Territory, reserving the jobs exclusively for the locals.

“No person shall be qualified for appointment to the Service unless the person is a Resident of Union territory of Ladakh,” reads the clause 11 of the Union territory of Ladakh Employment (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules, 2021 issued by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh in exercise of the powers conferred by S.O 282(E) dated 21.01.2020.

Service have been defined to mean “service as constituted under these Rules.” The Rules, defined under section (j) means the Union territory of Ladakh Employment (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules.

However, this rule shall not apply to persons allotted service in Union territory of Ladakh under the provisions of section 89(2) of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, or such Rules as may be prescribed by the Administration, it said.

Appointment to the Service shall be made by direct recruitment; or by promotion provided that the terms and manner of appointment by absorption shall be as notified by the Administration by a general or special order. It is further provided that the competent authority to appoint a person to the Service by absorption shall be the Administration.

However, on the date of commencement of these Rules, persons who have already been appointed substantively to a post in the cadre of J&K Employment (Subordinate) Service and finally allotted for service in the Ladakh in accordance with the provisions of section 89(2) of the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019, shall be deemed to have been appointed to the Service at the initial constitution.

It is also provided that a person appointed by a competent authority substantively to a post in the cadre of J&K Employment (Subordinate) Service on the recommendations of a Board after the appointed day shall also be deemed to have been appointed to the Service at the initial constitution and the services rendered by him prior to the commencement of these Rules shall count for the purposes of rules regulating his conditions of service.

Regarding eligibility, the age limit and other qualifications for direct recruitment shall be as prescribed by the Administration. “A person already in Government service would be required to apply through proper channel for direct recruitment against a vacant post in the Service, if he possesses the educational and other qualifications prescribed for recruitment to such posts,” read the rules.

Regarding interpretation, the notification says that if any question arises relating to the interpretation of these Rules, the matter shall be referred to the Administrative Department whose decision thereon shall be final and binding. (GNS)