M S Nazki

Jammu, Nov 24: A day after a vehicle rolled down into river Chenab in Ramban district, the police on Tuesday said that two persons onboard it have been killed and efforts are ongoing to retrieve their bodies.

The vehicle plunged into the fast flowing water body last night near Mehar area along the Jammu-Srinagar highway and only one of its wheels was visible. Soon a rescue operation was launched.

SSP Ramban Haseeb-Ul-Rahman who is overseeing the rescue operation, told GNS that efforts are underway to pull out the vehicle and retrieve the bodies. Official sources said that the water body is in spate amid inclement weather. They said the vehicle has been tied with the help of rope with a tree and operation to pull it out will be resumed on Wednesday.

Asked if the bodies were visible in the vehicle or have been washed away, they said “nothing can be said with surety”. Both of them are said to be locals from the Ramban district.

Srinagar, Nov 24: Jammu and Kashmir high court on Tuesday dismissed an application, seeking a stay on the notification for election of Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

Two persons from National Conference—Nuzrat Ara and Ali Mohammad Tantray, claiming to be contesting for Councilor in the by-elections of the Municipal Corporation, had filed the petition to challenge notification issued by the Secretary Srinagar Municipal Corporation Srinagar for the Mayor’s election scheduled on Wednesday (August 25).

“Looked from any angle, the contentions raised on behalf of the petitioners to stay the operation of the impugned Notification and consequently the process for holding the election of Mayor cannot prima facie sustain in the eyes of law,” a bench of Justice Puneet Gupta said and dismissed the plea being without merit, as per an order, a copy of which lies with GNS.

Among others, the petitioners had contended that the notification was in violation of the Municipal Corporation Act and the Rules as well as in violation of the Model Code of Conduct as the elections are being held for Urban Local Bodies including Municipal Corporations.

They also said that the election for Mayor was uncalled for when the by-elections for the Corporation are to be held in the month of December.

The authorities on the other hand said that there was no clause in the Model Code of Conduct, issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir, which bars the Municipal Corporation to hold the election for the post of Mayor during the ongoing process of by-elections of Municipal Bodies.

The counsels appearing on behalf of the officials referred to certain events and dates preceding the present notification, under challenge, in order to bring home their contention that the election of Mayor cannot be delayed, the court said.

“The Court need not go into those events as the same are not germane for disposal of the present application,” the order said, adding, “The Court should not ordinarily come in the way of holding of the election of the institutions like Local Bodies.”

Srinagar, Nov 24: Jammu and Kashmir High Court has sought personal appearance via video conferencing of top officials of various departments for failure to submit action taken report regarding prohibition on polythene in ecologically fragile J&K.
“In terms of orders dated 23rd of October, 2020 and 10th of November,2020, we have passed certain directions to the respondents-authorities to file the action taken reports in the matter. As per the report of the Registry, no such report has been filed by any respondents,” a bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Puneet Gupta said in an order as per GNS correspondent.

“In view of the above, the Secretaries to Government, the Secretaries to Government, Jammu & Kashmir Housing & Urban Development Department; Tourism Department; Environment and Forest Department; Floriculture Department; Chief Executive Officers Pahalgam Development Authority, Gulmarg Development Authority, Sonamarg Development Authority and Patnitop Development Authority shall remain present through Video Conferencing,” the court said and posted the matter, a public interest litigation, for further consideration on December 1.

On October 23 and November 10, the High Court had asked the authorities to notifying the public regarding the prohibitions and fines for carrying such material in ecologically fragile J&K and Ladakh.

“A direction is issued to the Home Department, J&K State Pollution Control Board, Tourism Department, Floriculture Department, Environment and Forest Department and Housing and Urban Development Department to prepare proper publicity material which shall be posted in the electronic / print media as well as displayed on signages at all prominent places in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh ..notifying the public regarding the prohibitions and disclosing the liabilities which shall flow to the vehicle/owners for carrying such prohibited material including the financial liabilities/fines,” the court had said.

The court had passed the order while hearing an application seeks release of a vehicle (Truck) carrying prohibited material including polythene.

“Inasmuch as Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh is an ecologically fragile area especially the tourism spots and the prohibition on polythene required to be strictly enforced, it is essential that the respondents give due publicity of the prohibition and apprise all vehicle owners and the public at large about the legal position,” the court had said.

Meanwhile, the court directed Senior Superintendent of Police Kathua to remain personally present through Video Conferencing regarding the related matter. (GNS)

It’s pool of opportunities to tap sports potential to make J&K centre of excellence: LG Sinha

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Nov 24: The J&K Sports Council today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Suresh Raina Cricket Academy to develop budding cricketers of J&K to National & International level with comprehensive training programme at a  professional level.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha and International Cricketer, Suresh Raina here at Civil Secretariat.

The Lt Governor observed that the initiative will provide an opportunity to budding cricketers to hone their skills and to showcase their talent in various levels of national & international competitive tournaments.

Complimenting the ace cricketer, the Lt Governor said that Suresh Raina would be a dream mentor for young talents from J&K who are working hard to get into the big leagues will be immensely benefitted by this collaboration. With experienced International Cricketers like Suresh Raina, who is an inspiration for millions of aspiring cricketers, mentoring the youth of J&K, I am hopeful we will soon have many players competing to get into the National team, he added.

It was informed that the J&K Sports Council shall make available supporting infrastructure for usage by Suresh Raina Cricket Academy to impart coaching to the youth of J&K to promote excellence in sports. The MoU provides for daily upkeep & maintenance of sports facilities and the equipment by Suresh Raina Cricket Academy to be allowed for usage by J&K Sports Council. The MoU shall run for a period of one year and shall be renewable on mutual understanding.

BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor;  Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary to the Government, Youth Services and Sports, Tourism and Culture Departments and  Naseem Javid Chowdhary, Secretary, J&K Sports Council were present on the occasion.

‘Bilateral agreement to be signed with Saudi in Dec’
Abid Bashir
Srinagar, Nov 24: Asserting that the rates to perform Hajj-2021 will increase in view of guidelines (social distancing) to curtail the spread of COVID-19 during the pilgrimage, Union Minister for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the bilateral agreement between India and Saudi Arabia will likely happen in December.
The bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia in December will clarify how many seats will be allotted to India for Hajj 2021. As many as 2 lakh people from India had performed Hajj in 2019.
He said over 3,000 women, who had applied for Hajj 2020 without mahram, will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage in 2021. “Hajj-2021 will be held in different circumstance due to COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Naqvi told UNI in an exclusive interview.
“Hajj will be held in Saudi Arabia… so we have to follow the guidelines issued by the Saudi government. According to the guidelines, only two to three people will stay in a room where seven to eight people used to live. The bus which used to ferry 45 people, will now accommodate only 20 people… there are many other things which will be different in Hajj 2021,” he said.
So, he said under these circumstances the rates will automatically increase.
“The bilateral agreement with Saudi government is expected to happen in December. We will see how much quota India will get,” he added.
The agreement for Hajj 2020 between India and Saudi Arabia was signed on December 1, 2019, marking a milestone in the relationship between the two countries as India became the first country in the world where Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, will happen entirely through a digital process. However, the Hajj 2020 was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
Naqvi said the number of embarkation points in India have been reduced from 22 to 10. “The embarkation point in Srinagar has been retained keeping in view the number of pilgrims who perform Hajj from here,” he said.
Answering a question about the age limit of pilgrims who will be undertaking Hajj-2021, he said the guidelines, including other health protocol, have been set up by Saudi Arabia. “The Saudi government has imposed age limit of 65 for Umrah,” he said.
He said there are other health protocols which need to be followed, adding the pilgrims will have to undergo COVID-19 test 72 hours before undertaking the journey.
However, the Union Minister hoped for the vaccine to be available for use before the Hajj 2021 so that the process will be the same. “Hopefully if by that time COVID-19 vaccine will be out in the markets then everything will be fine,” he said.
He said about 3000 women, who had applied for Hajj-2020 without mahram, will be undertaking the pilgrimage with fresh applicants. But, he said the only condition is that they should be below 65 years of age.

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Nov 24:  Taking strong cognizance of some unscrupulous elements who are using deceitful methods to mislead the gullible candidates regarding recruitments, Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has cautioned the candidates/aspirants against such crooked people.

The Board has taken serious notice of this process of exploiting the innocent youth saying that these vested interest are trying to dupe gullible candidates by using various deceptive means including making false promises of securing jobs either through influence or use of unfair means or by spreading motivated and mischievous information for ulterior considerations. It has advised the candidates not to fall prey to the designs of such unscrupulous elements.

The Board, in a hand out issued in this regard, explained that there is a transparent and institutionalized mechanism in place in J&K Services Selection Board for making recruitments, purely on the basis of merit, and information/notices regarding the same are being uploaded on the official website from time-to-time.

The candidates who are being approached by such unscrupulous elements in any matter pertaining to recruitments of JKSSB are advised to immediately report about such persons to Board on 0191-2473448 or through email on [email protected].

The JKSSB will appreciate if specific information about such unscrupulous elements along with evidence is forwarded enabling us to take appropriate legal action. The identity of such candidates who will report about the unscrupulous elements shall be kept confidential. The candidates can also send information about the unscrupulous elements through WhatsApp to Members SSB including Mohammad Shafiq Chak at 9419186538, Pritam Lal Atri at 9419255423, Ashiq Hussain Lily at 8491888748 and Harvinder Kour at 9419106500 besides Secretary SSB, Sachin Jamwal at 7889939638.

Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 24: The BSF Tuesday handed over the body of a Pakistani national who was killed near International Border in Samba district on November 23 after holding a flag meeting with Pakistani rangers.
BSF officials said a flag meeting was conducted between Pakistani rangers and BSF men near BP number 64 in Samba district in connection with the handing over of the body of a Pakistani national killed near the IB on November 23.
“From the BSF side, 11 BSF officials participated in the meeting while 15 Pakistani rangers also took part in the meet. During flag meeting BSF troops asked Pakistani rangers to identify the slain and to provide documents in support,” they said
They said that after receipt of documents pertaining to identification of slain Pakistani national, the body was handed over to Pakistani rangers on proper receipt of documents and with full honour. The BSF officials identified the slain as Abdul Hamid S/o Rajdeen R/o Chaman Khurd, Shakargarh ,Pakistan. “Meeting ended in a cordial atmosphere,” the officials said—(KNO)

Agencies
New Delhi, Nov 24: The Govt of India (GoI) has blocked blocked 43 mobile apps from accessing by users in India, under section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The action taken based on inputs regarding these apps for engaging in activities prejudicial to India’s sovereignty, integrity, defence, security & public order. The order was issued based on comprehensive reports received from Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Center, Ministry of Home Affairs.
The government had banned 59 apps on June 29, 2020, and on September 2 it had banned 118 more apps. Previously apps like TikTok, Bigo Live, PUBG Mobile, which were all very popular in India, were banned. Those apps were also banned under section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The apps banned include AliSuppliers Mobile App; Alibaba Workbench; AliExpress – Smarter Shopping, Better Living; Alipay Cashier; Lalamove India – Delivery App; Drive with Lalamove India; Snack Video; CamCard – Business Card Reader; CamCard – BCR (Western); Soul- Follow the soul to find you; Chinese Social – Free Online Dating Video App & Chat; Date in Asia – Dating & Chat For Asian Singles; We Date-Dating App; Free dating app- Singol, start your date!; Adore App; TrulyChinese – Chinese Dating App; TrulyAsian – Asian Dating App; ChinaLove: dating app for Chinese singles; DateMyAge: Chat, Meet, Date Mature Singles Online; AsianDate: find Asian singles; FlirtWish: chat with singles; Guys Only Dating: Gay Chat; Tubit: Live Streams; We Work China; First Love Live- super hot live beauties live online; Rela – Lesbian Social Network; Cashier Wallet; MangoTV; MGTV- HunanTV official TV APP; WeTV – TV version;
WeTV – Cdrama, Kdrama&More; WeTV Lite; Lucky Live- Live Video Streaming App; Taobao Live; DingTalk; Identity V; Isoland 2: Ashes of Time; BoxStar (Early Access); Heroes Evolved; Happy Fish; Jellipop Match- Decorate your dream island！; Munchkin Match: magic home building and Conquista Online II.

Stresses on e-learning, online mode of education due to COVID-19
Precious Kashmir News
Jammu, Nov 24: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, chaired a meeting to review the performance of School Education Department (SED) in different sectors at Civil Secretariat here Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Secretary SED, Bishwajit Kumar Singh; Chairperson BOSE, Veena Pandita; Director Samagra Shiksha, Arun Kumar Manhas; Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta and other concerned officials of the department.
Speaking on the occasion, Bhatnagar stressed upon the officials to built the required infrastructure besides ensuring constructive efforts to decrease dropout rate in schools.
The Advisor impressed upon the officers to focus on increasing the literacy rate in Educationally Backward Blocks by bringing in alternate modes of education in these places. He asked the officials to built requisite infrastructure and facilities in these areas so that children are attracted towards schools.
He directed the officials to complete the process of providing functional tap water connections to all the schools of J&K within the fixed deadline besides toilets and other facilities should also be constructed in all the schools.
Laying impetus on e-learning and online mode of education due to COVID-19, Advisor Bhatnagar impressed upon the officers to make best efforts with optimum use of technological interventions to ensure that education of students do not suffer during the global pandemic. He directed them to focus on providing online classes to students besides asking them to ensure community classes are being conducted in remote areas lacking telecommunication services with due adherence to SOPs of COVID-19.
Secretary while giving detailed presentation on performance of the department, informed the Advisor that the online classes are being scheduled properly besides other material is being regularly made available to the students for their unrestricted teaching-learning process.

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, Nov 24: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Tuesday said it will conduct online classes for Super-50 in this academic session.

An official at DSEK said the move was aimed to prevent the aspiring students from catching the COVID-19 infection.

“Keeping in view the COVID-19 situation, this year we will conduct online classes for Super-50 and to begin with it, the department will invite the applications in the first week of December,” the official said.

The officials also said that the department will invite the applications in the first week of December 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that the Super-50 coaching classes are free for the students who have qualified the Secondary School examination.

The free coaching for the programmes includes IIT, JEE, NEET, JKCET and other allied examinations.

According to the reports, DSEK in the 2019 had received 3825 applications out of which 3062 appeared in the screening test. KNO)