Srinagar: Amid surge in the covid-19 cases, the authorities have turned Indoor Stadium, Haj House Bemina, KU hotel building and Community health centers Sanatnagar into Covid-19 centres for emergency in Srinagar in wake of the spike in the number of positive cases.

Confirming it, deputy commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz Asad told GNS that step has been taken to meet any emergency as may arise due to the surging covid-19 tally.

Earlier in the day, the Minority Affairs Ministry decided to give Haj Houses to the respective state governments for utilisation as temporary care centres for COVID-19 patients.

Srinagar: Amid “alarming surge” in COVID-19 infection cases, Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal on Monday ordered that filing as well as hearing of cases in the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir as well as in the District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals shall be conducted through Virtual Mode till May 15.

As per an order, the Chief Justice has directed that the entry of litigants, public and clerks of the Advocates into the Court premises from the very outer gate shall be strictly prohibited in both wings of the High Court.

“For filing of cases, Registrars Judicial of both wings of the High Court shall create a dedicated email address of their respective filing counters and notify the same to the advocates/litigants by making it available on the website of the High Court.”

‘Ordinarily Before Notice’ matters shall be taken up by each Bench unless urgency in respect of any ‘After Notice’ matter is shown to the satisfaction of the Bench concerned, the order reads.

“Physical hearing in respect of any listed matter will be at the discretion of the Bench concerned subject to the satisfaction of the Bench regarding extreme urgency involved in such matter and thereafter such case shall be taken up for physical hearing on the date fixed by the Bench” reads the order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

“On account of virtual hearing, entry of lawyers in the High Court premises is not required unless any advocate is permitted for physical hearing in any extremely urgent matter.”

In order to decongest the sections/offices/Courts, the Chief Justice said the officials shall be permitted to function in batches with 50 percent reduction on rotation basis. The roster in this regard, shall be formulated by the Registrar Judicial of the concerned wing.”

The officials, who as per the roster are not on duty in the office, shall not leave the station and shall remain available on telephone and electronic means of communication at all times.

Regarding District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the Chief Justice ordered that entry of litigants, public and clerks of the Advocates into the Court premises from the very outer gate shall be strictly prohibited. “For filing of cases, the Presiding Officers shall create a dedicated email address of their respective courts and make it available to the advocates/litigants by posting the same on the website of their District Courts concerned or through any appropriate electronic mode.”

The Pr. District & Sessions Judges, the Chief Justice said, shall categories the emergent nature of cases of their respective courts and the courts subordinate to them which shall be taken up for hearing through virtual mode. “Physical hearing in respect of any listed matter will be at the discretion of the Judge concerned subject to the satisfaction of the Judge regarding extreme urgency involved in such matter.”

In order to decongest the sections and offices of the Courts, the Chief Justice ordered that the officials working in the Subordinate Courts shall be permitted to function in batches with 50 percent reduction on rotation basis, he said. “The roster in this regard, shall be formulated by the Presiding Officer of the Court. The officials, who as per the roster are not on duty in the office, shall not leave the station and shall remain available on telephone and electronic means of communication at all times.”

“The staff on duty in courts and the counsel, if any permitted for physical hearing, shall take necessary precautions, ensure physical distancing, wearing of mask and observance of SOPs and guidelines issued by the respective Governments from time to time.” (GNS)

New Delhi: Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Monday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the Armed Forces’ assistance in Covid management in the country along with preparations and operations being undertaken by the Armed Forces to deal with the pandemic.

General Rawat briefed the PM that all medical personnel from Armed forces who have retired or taken pre-mature retirement in the last two years are being recalled to work in Covid facilities within proximity of their present place of residence while other retired medical officers have also been requested to make their services available for consultation through medical emergency help lines.

He also informed PM that all medical officers on staff appointments at Command Headquarter, Corps HQs, Division HQs and similar HQs of Navy and Air Force will be employed at hospitals.

PM Modi was briefed that nursing personnel are being employed in large numbers to complement the doctors at the hospitals and the oxygen cylinders available with armed forces in various establishments will be released for hospitals.

The CDS also said that the Armed Force have been creating medical facilities in large numbers and where possible military medical infrastructure will be made available to civilians.

PM Modi also reviewed the operations being undertaken by IAF to transport oxygen and other essentials in India and abroad.

He also directed that Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Welfare Boards and Officers posted in various headquarters in veterans cells may be instructed to coordinate the services of veterans to extend the reach to maximum extent possible including in remote areas.

‘Only 2-week wait for jab after recovery’
Srinagar, Apr 26: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday said people who have recovered from Covid-19 infection should get the vaccine.
“If you already had the virus and recovered, you still need to get vaccinated,” said DAK President and influenza expert Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement.

“Those who have contracted the disease should get inoculated 2 weeks after their recovery,” he said.

“Earlier, individuals who tested positive for the virus required to wait for 3 months between recovery and vaccination. However, that has now changed. Under the new guidelines, Covid-19 patients only need to wait for 2 weeks to get the shot,” Dr Nisar said.

He said people who recover from Covid-19 are getting infected with the virus again. “We were under the impression that if a person gets infected with the virus, he/she will develop antibodies and will not get the disease again,” DAK President said.

“But, many people who recover from Covid-19 do not develop antibodies,” he said adding “even those who mount adequate antibody response, their antibodies fade within a few months and they become susceptible again. Some have a second bout of Covid-19 as soon as one month after their first infection and some people have been hospitalized and even died,” Dr Hassan said.

“And, the new variants put the recovered patients at risk of reinfections,” he said.

“People who have recovered from Covid could get infected with a mutated strain of the novel coronavirus. Natural immunity from the infection is simply far too unreliable in the face of such a devastating virus,” Dr Nisar said.

He said vaccine generate much stronger and more consistent immunity than the natural infection. “There is evidence that vaccine induced immunity lasts much longer than immunity built by contracting the virus. Vaccines have been found to be effective against the variants too,” he added.

“A new study showed that vaccination after infection produced six times more antibodies than a vaccine by itself. That means administering vaccine to recovered persons will further strengthen their immune response and make them well protected,” said Dr Hassan.

Srinagar:  As many as 633 people were fined while 17 others were arrested for violating COVID-19 guidelines during the last 24 hours in Kashmir, which has witnessed an unabated rise in the number of Coronavirus cases.

A police official said that in its continuous efforts to sensitise the masses about controlling the highly contagious Coronavirus, the J&K Police has been organizing several public awareness drives, interaction programmes, distribution of masks, public announcements and distribution of pamphlets across Kashmir.

“Now, keeping in view the recent daily surge in the number of cases in Kashmir Valley, police in its efforts to implement COVID-19 guidelines strictly have arrested 17 persons in the last 24 hours, lodged six FIRs and also realized fine to the tune of Rs 98,850 from 633 people for violating the guidelines/rules,” he said.

He said Budgam Police on Monday held a review meeting with the imams and religious leaders regarding adherence to the COVID-19 containment measures to be followed in Masajid. “The meeting was chaired by SSP Budgam Shri Tahir Saleem-JKPS and DySP Hqrs Budgam in which imams of Budgam Town, Humhama and Soibugh area participated,” he added.

The official said that community members are once again requested to cooperate with the Police in containing the spread of Coronavirus by following the SOPs/guidelines/protocols for the safety of the people. “The special drive shall remain continue throughout all the districts of Kashmir Valley to strengthen the safety measures,” he added.

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: The Jammu and government on Monday said that they are ready to face every challenge related to Covid-19 pandemic and the situation is very much under control.

Advisor R R Bhatnagar while talking exclusively to new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that there is sufficient capacity in the system and the situation is being monitored very seriously.

On only 23 hospital with capacity of only 1705 beds and few ventilators have been notified as dedicated Covid-19 hospitals, Bhatnagar said that besides level 3 hospitals, there are level 2 and level 1 hospitals where Covid-19 patients are treated and several Covid positive persons are under home isolation.

He said amid the spike in Covid-19 cases Covid care centres are being made operational besides enhancing facilities at the hospitals.

On asking about the strategy of the government, if cases increase, he said that there is a capacity in the system and everything whether it is oxygen, beds, medicines or ventilators are in sufficient quantity.

“We have a plan to enhance health facilities further across J&K,” he said, adding that we are expanding facilities periodically, and we are prepared for any challenge.

Pertinently, the Covid-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing steep surge and reporting around 2000 positive cases on daily basis.

Notably, the Financial Commissioner health, a few days back in a press conference said that situation is very challenging but we are ready to face it.

BY: Gul Owais

Srinagar: Over two lakh candidates who appeared in the recently conducted OMR based objective type written examination for the Class-IV posts have not indicated their order of preference due to which the results have got delayed, J&K Service Selection Board (JKSSB) has said.

An official document, a copy of which lies with ‘Precious Kashmir’ reads that only 1.21 lakh candidates have indicated their order of preference for various District, Divisional, UT cadre posts of Class-IV advertised vide Advertisement Notification No. 01 of 2020 Dated 26.06.2020.

The candidates have been asked to fill their preferences till May 02, 2021, officials said.

“The J&K Services Selection Board has conducted OMR based objective type written examination for the Class IV post held in three batches on 27th, 28th February 2021 and 01st March 2021. Subsequently, vide Notice No. SSB/COE/PAA2021/2986-94 dated: 25.03.2021, SSB/COE/PAA/2021/3187-95 dated: 29.03.2021, and No. SSB/COE/PAA/2021/3394-3401 dated: 08.04.2021, candidates who participated in the aforesaid written test were advised to indicate their order of preference for allotment against District/ Divisional/UT cadre vacancies,” the official document reads.

“However, so far only 1.21 lakh candidates have indicated their order of preference out of 3.28 lakh candidates who participated in the aforesaid written examination due to which the result declaration process has been delayed,” it said.

“Now, therefore, it is notified for the information of all such candidates who are yet to indicate their order of preference for allotment against District/ Divisional/UT cadre vacancies to fll the online preference through the link provided on the official website of the Board i.e., www.jikssb.nic.in by or before 02.05.2021 without fail,” the official document said.

It is further notified that this shall be the last and final opportunity and no further extension shall be granted. The Candidate(s) who fails to indicate preference fully or partially, will be deemed to have agreed to any allocation of Cadre(s) in respect of such candidate(s), as shall be made by the Board, it added.

Meanwhile, the candidates said that they have received the SMS from J&KSSB wherein it has asked them to fill the preferences at an earliest. “Candidates who appeared in exam for Class IV posts are advised to fill preferences for allocation of Cadres/Depts through the link available on JK SSB Website,” the message reads.

Online classes to commence from May 3

Ganderbal: Owing to the surge in Covid-19 cases in the valley and scare it has caused, the Central University of Kashmir (CUK) has postponed all the examinations which were scheduled from Tuesday, 27th of April, 2021.

The decision was taken in a meeting, chaired by the Vice Chancellor, CUK, Prof. Mehraj ud Din Mir. All the Deans of Schools and senior functionaries of the University attended the meeting. It was further decided that the dates for the postponed examinations would be notified when the Covid-19 situation improves and offline exams are possible.

The meeting also decided to start Online Classes, for the next semesters, from 3rd of May, 2021. This was done to save time and ensure the new semesters are not delayed. The ITSS section was directed to make suitable arrangements for facilitating the online teaching and learning and also maintaining a proper record of the online lectures delivered. The Deans and the Heads were asked to prepare a proper academic calendar for the next semester, including the dates for the Continuous Internal Assessment and tentative dates for the end term exams.

Appreciates company for CSR work in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Pandurang K Pole today in presence of Executive Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Gurjeet Singh Kambo flagged off two ambulances at TRC, Srinagar.

NHIDCL handed over the ambulances equipped with basic life saving support to Divisional Administration under MoRT&H as a CSR initiative.

The ambulances were flagged off to operate in Anantnag and Baramulla districts while as a similar facility was extended to District Ganderbal in January- 2021.

On the occasion, Div Com said that NHIDCL helps to ensure medical comforts to the residents of Kashmir valley during the trying times of the current COVID-19 situation and subsequent times.

He hailed NHIDCL for providing ambulances and said it shall greatly help in improving the health care facilities in these districts.

Among others, Director Tourism, GN Itoo, JD Tourism, SP Headquarter, DD Tourism were also present on the occasion.

Srinagar: One-way traffic was on Monday resumed on 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, which connects the Union Territory of Ladakh with Kashmir valley, after remaining suspended for about four months following accumulation of several feet of snow.

Even though all type of vehicular movement has been permitted on the national highway, only small trucks, carrying essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables, were on Monday allowed to ply from Kashmir to Ladakh. “On Monday only small vehicles, laden with essential commodities, were allowed from Sonamarg to Ladakh,” a police officer told UNI.

He said on Tuesday only one-way traffic from Sonamarg to Ladakh will continue on the highway. “Health checkup centres have been established at Ganderbal and Kargil so that travelers will be tested for COVID-19 before allowing them to move forward,” official sources said.

They said that vehicles preferably should be 4X4 and anti-skid chains be installed on the tyres before allowing them to ply on the highway. “Vehicles should not be overloaded and should carry load as per permissible tonnage while the drivers should be experienced and familiar with the hilly road,” they said.

The traffic on the 434-km-long national highway was suspended on January 1 due to accumulation of several feet of snow. However, they said Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is responsible for the maintenance of the highway, pressed into service sophisticated machines and cleared the highway for one-way traffic.

Srinagar-Leh National Highway was reopened on February 28 only to be closed after few hours following fresh snowfall and snow avalanches.

Later, the snow clearance operation was once again started by BRO at Zojila pass and finally traffic was allowed on the highway today. Located at a height of 11,575 feet, Zojila is a strategic pass that is a vital link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh and is critical for the operational preparedness of the armed forces.