Chairs 81st Kashmir University Council meet, calls on academia to identify challenges & prepare plan for implementation of NEP

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Thursday chaired the 81st Kashmir University Council meet, here at Raj Bhavan.

The Lt Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University, sought a detailed report on the activities and various initiatives taken by the University of Kashmir and advised the University authorities to take comprehensive measures for strengthening the academic and research environment in the University.

Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kashmir gave a PowerPoint presentation regarding the initiatives and achievements of the University, highlighting various administrative, academic, financial, and examination related reforms and research breakthroughs made by the University. He apprised the chair about new programs introduced, research and extension activities, collaborations and linkages with universities around the world, recent research collaborations, and MoUs signed.

Achievements of Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations (CIRI) and Centre of Excellence for Glaciological Research were also highlighted during the meeting, besides IT Initiatives, ICT related activities, Innovation and Incubation Facilities, Extension and Outreach programs, and Infrastructure Development and Up gradation.

The Lt Governor called on academia to identify the challenges in the implementation of NEP 2020 and prepare a plan accordingly, thus making the Higher Education sector effective, result-oriented, and more vibrant.

The Lt Governor asked the University Administration to prepare a roadmap to bring in qualitative improvement in the overall functioning of the University, strengthening the research ecosystem, besides upgradation of infrastructural facilities and various academic & research programmes on varied subjects, with special focus on most recent advancements.

The Lt Governor observed that best methods of teaching should be adopted along with the regular capacity building of teaching faculties of the university campuses, incorporating students’ feedback and making qualitative improvement in the assessment of the students’ feedback system for evaluating the performances of individual teachers.

Laying special emphasis on research work and counseling for addressing Drug de-addiction and improving mental health, the Lt Governor called for dedicated academic inputs and devising programs for the same.

On the training of workforce in tourism sector, the Lt Governor called for imparting tourism & hospitality based training & research in the University. He further asked for Inter/Intra UT/State Student-Teacher exchange program for handholding of new Universities, spreading awareness and publicity of startups for increasing the startup culture and creating industry linkage of academia, besides imparting skill-based training to local youth to meet the requirements of skilled workforce.

The Lt Governor stressed optimum utilization of all available ICT technology-based teaching programmes and updating of e-learning and other teaching tools to connect the students and Faculty with the enhanced educational resource platforms.

He called for promoting excellence in teaching, research, and extension activities, strengthening technical education, optimum utilization of University’s resources, and advised for evolving best practices for maintaining transparency in all student-related matters.

He further asked the University authorities to lay special focus on capacity building, job oriented and skill development courses for the students to meet the modern-day requirements.

He congratulated the faculty and students for receiving grants of International Fellowships, Awards, and Scholarships.

Jammu:  Taking a major step towards making Jammu city more vibrant, citizen friendly and congestion free, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Thursday inaugurated the much awaited General Bus stand, Multi-level Car Parking cum Commercial Complex worth Rs 213.08 crore.

Constructed by Jammu Development Authority (JDA), the new facility has built-up area of around 60,064 sqm, having a parking capacity of 80 Buses in bus terminal, 1312 cars, 177 two wheelers and 239 commercial shops, besides dedicated space for restaurants and food courts.

The Lt Governor termed the opening of the facility of General Bus stand cum Multi-level Car Parking as a step towards the comprehensive development of physical, social and basic infrastructure to accommodate the business class as well as meeting essential requirements of quality life for ordinary citizens.

“If I want to define the work that has been going on in the cities of Jammu and Kashmir for the last few months, I would say that Urban Renaissance is happening now”, the Lt Governor remarked.

He extended his gratitude to the officials of Jammu Development Authority (JDA), engineers, artisans and labour force associated with the project. It is a matter of great pride that the diligence and hard work put in for the completion of the mega project has finally become a reality, he added.

More similar parkings will be constructed in Jammu soon. Whether it is the Sewerage Treatment Plant, Rain Water Harvesting Mechanism, it has been taken care of that the scaling up of change and strategy is for long term effect, he added.

Jammu is such a beautiful city that you will be fascinated at its sight. It has also emerged as a large commercial hub in the last few years and economic activity has increased further. Therefore, there was a need to develop the existing road facilities and parking facilities, said the Lt Governor.

“I am working on two main objectives – Sustainable Development and making Jammu city Self-Reliant. And I want to tell all the citizens of Jammu with great responsibility that I will leave no stone unturned in improving transparency, accountability and service delivery to you”, added the Lt Governor.

Recalling his meeting with the officials of Smart City Ahmedabad Development Limited on Jammu Smart City Project, the Lt Governor said that to develop Jammu as Smart City, Smart Urban Mobility and Efficient Traffic Management infrastructure is also being kept as one of the major components of the project.

The Lt Governor observed that with the excellent Multi Level Parking, the facilities are being extended to more areas covering most of the city. On the same lines, the facility is being built in Panjtirthi which will be completed by March next year.

In the coming days, we are also going to do an IT-based Smart Parking System in Jammu city. With this, around 33 major routes in the city will be developed to facilitate vehicular parking so that traffic jams do not occur, traffic goes smoothly and there is ease of movement for all, the Lt Governor maintained. Due care will also be taken about the movement of pedestrians and bicycles, he added.

The Lt Governor observed that committed efforts are being made to rejuvenate and develop the areas from Mubarak Mandi to Tawi RiverFront, besides other areas like Moti Bazar Road and Raghunath Bazar, Apsara Road, Gole Market, Canal Road, Trikuta Nagar, Dogra Chowk, KC Chowk etc. We have not only made plans, but have started working on them. The entire Jammu city will be rejuvenated, he added.

On the grand festival of India’s 75th Independence Day, state-of-the-art conservation and restoration process of Mubarak Mandi in Jammu and Shergarhi in Kashmir would be completed, the Lt Governor maintained.

Soon, the Metro Rail will also run here. We also reviewed the Tawi River Front Project which was pending for many years, and have given necessary instructions to execute it at the earliest. The team of senior officers has visited Ahmedabad to get first-hand information on the Sabarmati River Front, on whose lines it would be developed. We are also roping in the experts of Ecologically Sustainable Development, so that work on the ground can be completed at a rapid pace. Surveys are being done for the beautification of the major markets of Jammu, the Lt Governor observed.

For the first time in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, a very large and elaborate Industrial Scheme has come up. Along with ambitious investment and economic development, the work on development of energy and green areas, urban planning, biodiversity, air quality, water management and waste management in Jammu City has been expedited.

Therefore, along with development, a feeling of mutual love and sense of belongingness also needs to be developed. There should be a strong feeling that this is my city, he added.

Jammu is being identified as the ‘City of Temples’. It is the identity of the city, said the Lt Governor and called for active citizens’ participation to keep this identity alive.

“If anyone asks me about the city of Jammu, I will say, the “City of Bliss, or the Eternally Spiritual City on Earth”, the Lt Governor concluded.

Srinagar:  The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) Wednesday emerged victorious in District Development Council (DDC) elections for chairperson in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Muhammad Yousuf Gorsi, who won maiden DDC polls on National Conference (NC) ticket on Pahalgam seat, was elected as chairman while Advocate Javaid of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was elected as vice-chairman.

PAGD candidates were backed by Congress party’s DDC members as well.

Gorsi and Adv Javaid Sheikh got 11 votes each.

Among 14 seats in Anantnag, six were won by NC, three each by Congress and independents and two by PDP.

With this, PAGD has bagged three chairpersons’ posts, while Apni Party has secured two in Kashmir. One each DDC chairperson was elected from CPI(M) and Peoples Conference (PC) while an Independent candidate was also elected as chairperson in DDC Budgam, where the National Conference (NC) one of the constituent of PAGD had nine members.

The PAGD on Wednesday won chairperson and vice chairperson posts of DDCs in Ganderbal and Pulwama districts. NC candidate Nuzhat Ishfaq was elected chairperson after getting nine votes while Bilal Ahmad Sheikh of PDP vice chairperson after polling eight votes in DDC Ganderbal election held Wednesday.

The Peoples Conference (PC) secured the post of chairperson in District DDC, Kupwara.

Independent candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan was elected as the chairperson while NC candidate Nazir Ahmad Jahara bagged the Vice Chairperson’s post in DDC Budgam on Monday. However, the NC had nine members in the DDC who later staged a dharna demanding repoll alleging that they were not allowed to vote.

On February 6, Communist Party of India (M) candidate was unanimously elected as the chairman of the District Development Council (DDC) Kulgam in south Kashmir.

Apni Party (AP) candidates were elected chairpersons of DDC Srinagar and Shopian defeating nearest rivals of PAGD, an alliance of half a dozen political parties, including NC and PDP on February 6. (Additional inputs from UNI/KNO)

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Thursday reported two more deaths related to Covid-19 taking toll of deaths in J&K to 1,947 while as 65 fresh cases of Covid-19 were reported in the UT taking the tally of total positive cases to 125,117.

Officials said among 65 new cases, 50 belong to Kashmir division while as 15 are from Jammu division, adding that the total number of positive cases in Kashmir division have reached to 73,422 including 71,697 recoveries and 1,225 deaths while as total number of positive cases in Jammu division have reached to 51,695 including 50,845 recoveries and 722 deaths.

The officials said that the total number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 628 including 500 from Kashmir division and 128 from Jammu division.

With 40 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached to 122,542 which is 97.93 percent of the total cases.

“Cases tested positive in J&K include 20 from Srinagar, 06 from Baramulla, 04 from Budgam, 06 from Pulwama,   01 from Kupwara, 05 from Anantnag, 01 from Bandipora, 05 from Ganderbal, 01 from Kulgam and 01 from Shopian in Kashmir division while as 05 from Jammu division include 09 from Jammu, 06 from Udhampur, 00 from Rajouri, 01 from Doda, 00 from Kathua, 00 from Samba, 00 from Kishtwar, 00 from Poonch, 00 from Ramban and 00 from Reasi,” officials said.

In last twenty four hours two person from Kashmir division who were tested positive for Covid-19 have died.

As per the daily information bulletin 1,198,119 persons in Jammu and Kashmir are under observation while 33,797 persons have been kept under home quarantine besides that 628 persons are in isolation.

According to the bulletin, 1,056,368 persons have completed surveillance period and 105,379 persons are under home surveillance besides that so far results of 4,776,402 samples are available.

Out of 4,776,402 the number of samples tested negative stands at 4,651,285 while as 125,117 have tested positive, among them 628 persons are active, 122,542 persons have recovered and 1,947 persons have died.

Moscow:  The Lancet has published a special commission report that tracked the drawbacks of former US President Donald Trump’s response to COVID-19, having found that tens of thousands of lives could have been saved by better preparedness and a response aligned with best practices of other developed nations.

The Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era was formed in 2017 to track the former US president’s public health-related policies.

“The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on the USA, with more than 26 million diagnosed cases and over 450 000 deaths as of early February, 2021, about 40% of which could have been averted had the US death rate mirrored the weighted average of the other G7 nations,” the commission said in a report.

Among the reasons that commission said were behind the poor preparedness and response were Trump’s “disdain for science and cuts to global health programmes and public health agencies.”

According to the commission, during his presidency, Trump “politicised and repudiated science, leaving the USA unprepared and exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The report pointed to the drop in spending on public health from 3.21 percent to 2.45 percent between 2002 and 2019 in the United States.

With regard to the three years within this period that coincided with Trump’s presidency, the report pointed out the 2017 hiring freeze at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the 2018 transfer of the Strategic National Stockpile of drugs and medical supplies from the CDC to the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Trump’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic — compounded by his efforts to dismantle the USA’s already weakened public health infrastructure and the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) coverage expansions — has caused tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths,” the report read.

The commission further criticized Trump for an excess reliance on market forces to supply COVID-19 products, such as rejecting WHO testing kits while waiting for US tests to be produced, which it said created bottlenecks slowing down the national response.

While criticizing these and other policies of Trump, the commission stressed that many of them were inherited from previous administrations, dating some 40 years back.(Sputnik)

New Delhi: India on Thursday recorded 12,923 new cases of COVID-19 during the past 24 hours, pushing the country caseload to 1,08,71,294, while the death toll soared to 1,55,360 with 108 more fatalities.

According to the Union Health Ministry, the active cases rose by 1051 to stand at 1,42,562. It is now 1.31 per cent of the total caseload. Two States – Kerala and Maharashtra- account for over 70 per cent of the total Active Cases of the country.

The past 24 hours saw 11,764 people recovering from the deadly virus, taking the total recovery count to 1,05,73,372, which is 97.26 per cent of the case tally. The fatality rate stood at 1.43 per cent. Kerala has reported the maximum number of single day recoveries with 5,745 newly recovered cases. 2,421 people recovered in Maharashtra in the past 24 hours followed by 495 in Gujarat.

According to Health Ministry, 17 States/UTs have not reported any death in the last 24 hours.

As per the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR), 6,99,185 samples were tested on Tuesday, taking the total number of tests carried out by the body till date to 20,40,23,840.

Stresses on ensuring prompt public grievances redressal, swift land transfers for dev projects

Srinagar, Feb 11: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole Thursday chaired a meeting of officers to review the functioning of the Revenue department in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts.

The meeting, among others was attended by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal, Director Land Records, ADC Srinagar, Assistant Commissioner Central, ACR Srinagar, SDM Srinagar, Tehsildars and other concerned Revenue Officers.

DC Budgam, Shahbaz Mirza, ADC Ganderbal, concerned ACRs, SDMs, Tehsildars and other also attended the meeting through videoconferencing.

During the meeting, the concerned DCs presented the status of functioning of Revenue offices, accommodations, vacancies, status of Kaahcharai, state land, progress on Mutations, Jamabandis, issuance of domicile, status of Lumbardars and Chowkidars, land transfer cases, land acquisitions, reimbursement of payments, funds, migrant complaint disposal, relief, status of court cases, digitization, developmental projects and other related cases through power point presentation.

Emphasizing on speedy redressal to public grievances and weekly hearing of court cases, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure timely disposal of all pending cases.

Div Com directed concerned to ensure retrieval of all encroached Kaahcharai and state land besides, asked concerned to maintain village wise records of encroached and retrieved land.

He instructed concerned to impose heavy fines as per the law and start criminal proceedings against all offenders.

Directions were given that lumberdars are appointed through election process only and their personal files are maintained in the concerned Tehsil office.

The Div Com directed concerned to ensure speedy reimbursement of compensation to all landowners and speedy attestation and mutation.

He emphasized on rapid settlement of land related issues hampering execution of developmental projects.

Calling for preservation of water bodies, the Div Com instructed concerned to ensure the demarcation of all water bodies is conducted on war footing, besides one new water body is created in each village.

Instructions on submitting Annual Property Returns 2021 by February-15 were also given during the meeting.

Srinagar: The weather remained pleasant for the second successive day on Thursday as bright sunshine greeted people in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir valley, where the mercury during the night remained below freezing point.

Barring Srinagar and tourist resort of Kukernag, the night temperature dipped slightly across the valley.

A Met department spokesperson said the weather will remain dry during the next two day, which could result in further dip in the night temperature though the mercury during the day is expected to improve in Kashmir valley.

World famous ski resort of Gulmarg, which is covered under several feet of snow, witnessed pleasant weather as bright sunshine greeted tourists, including adventure lovers. But, the mercury during the night at Gulmarg, which is known for its ski slopes and quality of snow, dipped marginally and settled at minus 4.2 degree, which is 2 degree below normal. “Tourists, particularly adventure lovers, are out on ski slopes, enjoying different snow related activities on a sunny day,” a hotelier from Gulmarg told UNI over the phone.

After witnessing an improvement of over a degree in the night temperature, people woke up to a sunny Thursday morning in Srinagar. Against minus 1.6 degree recorded on Wednesday, the night temperature in the city improved and settled at minus 0.4 degree, which is slightly below normal. However, weather remained pleasant throughout the day due to sunshine in the city, where people were seen basking in the sun in parks, balconies and open fields. The maximum temperature recorded on Wednesday in the city was 5 degree above normal.

“The skies will mainly clear to generally cloudy during the next 24 hours in Srinagar, where the maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 14 degree and minus 1 degree, respectively,” he added.

The night temperature at world famous tourist resort of Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, dipped marginally and settled at 4.1 degree, which is about a degree above normal. The weather at the health resort also turned pleasant during the day due to sunshine.

The mercury at Qazigund, gateway to the valley, Kupwara in north Kashmir and tourist resort of Kukernag settled at minus 4.1 degree, minus 2 degree and minus 1.5 degree, respectively.

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Thursday quashed an order by Administrative Tribunal by virtue of which it had rejected plea by Tehsildar Bari Brahmana, a KAS officer, who was placed under suspension by Deputy Commissioner Samba in 2019.

“We are of the view that the learned Tribunal has clearly erred in holding that the (Deputy Commissioner, Samba), had the requisite jurisdiction to place the petitioner (Qaiser Mehmood), a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service, under suspension, that too without approval of the competent authority in the Government,” a bench of Justices Ali Mohammad Magrey and Puneet Gupta said.

They said the order dated 3rd of February, 2021, as passed by the learned Tribunal, is set aside.

They held that it is the appointing authority or any authority to which it is subordinate or any other authority empowered by the Government that has got the powers to place an employee under suspension where an inquiry into his conduct is contemplated or is pending or a complaint against him/ her of any criminal offence is under investigation or trial.

“In the instant case, risking repetition, it must be noted that the Deputy Commissioner, admittedly, is not the appointing authority of the petitioner. He is not a higher authority nor has any authorization been placed on record to show that the Government has authorized him to place the petitioner under suspension,” the court said, adding, “The judgment relied upon by the learned Tribunal, while passing the impugned order dated 3rd of February, 2021, being distinguishable in facts, is not applicable to the facts and circumstances of the case on hand.”

In his plea, Qaiser Mehmood had submitted that during his posting as Tehsildar, Bari Brahmana since 18th of February, 2019, a civil dispute was going on with respect to land comprised in Khasra No.1786/579 of Village Birpur, Samba, in the Court of Munsiff (JMIC), Samba between Bhanu Pratap Singh and Ravinder Kumar.  In terms of order dated 6th of February, 2020, Qaiser says that he was appointed as Local Commissioner for demarcation of the land of the parties as per revenue record and submit a report before the Court concerned. He claimed to have conducted the demarcation as per revenue record on 5th of August, 2020 and submitted the report on 20th of August, 2020 in the Court of learned Munsiff, Samba, reporting therein that Ravinder Kumar was in possession of land measuring 13 Kanals and 01 Marla and that Bhanu Pratap Singh was not in possession of any land at all.

“Immediately thereafter (the deputy commissioner) issued an order dated 16th of January, 2021, thereby placing (me) under suspension pending inquiry.”

Qaiser had pleaded before the court in the petition that since order dated 16th of January, 2021 was issued by the deputy commissioner without any jurisdiction, the same was, accordingly, challenged by him before the Tribunal. However the Tribunal on 3 February 2021 rejected his prayer for grant of interim relief qua staying the order of the suspension against him. (GNS)

New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police  Dilbag Singh, has been empanelled by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet to hold the post of “DG/DG Equivalent” at the Central government.

The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved empanelment of 29 IPS officers for holding posts at the Centre at ‘DG/DG Eq.’ level.

JK Cadre IPS-1987 batch Dilbag Singh’s name figures at serial no. 4 in the empanelled list, as per an order.