Vishal Bharti
Jammu, Nov 12: In nearly a decade, more than 20 persons were “politically appointed” in the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council– one of the highest institutions of sports in the Union Territory, sources said.
Reliable sources in the office of the J&K Sports Council here told UNI that from 2010 to 2019, total 21 posts were filled up “politically” by former politicians and bureaucrats including the chief minister, sports ministers and secretaries.
“Out of these total 21 appointments made by former politicians/bureaucrats, few have been terminated but still some are into jobs,” sources said adding that the present dispensation must find out whether they were alleged “backdoor appointments” or regularised in the Standing Committee under Constitutional provision.
Pertinently, many deserving qualified and eligible technically professionals are struggling hard to get employed in the department.
As per documents accessed by the UNI from office of the J&K Sports Council, in 2010, three appointments were made by the former minister filling up one post of the editor (Graduate with sports participation at lower level), photographer (10+2, photojournalist experience) and one instructor (graduate and certificate course in sports coaching).
In the year 2011, three appointments were made by the former Secretary and Former Minister. One groundsman: electrician (ninth pass), lady attendant (matriculate and medalist) and groundsman (12th pass) were engaged in the department.
However, in the year 2014, three appointments were made on contract based, comprising two coaches out of which, one was BP.Ed, one B.Com but both did diploma in sports coaching and one instructor with M.Com and certificate course in sports coaching.
In the year 2016, two appointments were made, one of Project Coordinator (M.Tech IT) and Project Coordinator (Master In Journalism) by the then Minister.
In the year 2017, five appointments were made by the former minister and the secretary to fill up the posts of Physiotherapist (Master in Physiotherapy), dietician (MBBS and PG diploma in Dieticis and Nutrition ), (Assistant Information Technology Officer (M.Tech Electronic and Communications Engineering), In-charge DCC Leh (B A, Certificate Course in Sports Coaching and outstanding performance in national/international championships) and an instructor (B A and Lower Level Participation In Football).
In 2018, four appointments were made including three of junior coaches (Matric, B.Com, Twelfth Pass) and one Technical Advisor was appointed, who was in B A First Year at the time of appointments with Pay scale 9300-34800-5200 GP.
“To be appointed as Junior Coach, the minimal qualification required is professional qualification (Diploma in sports coaching) as mandatory but at the time of these appointments, none of them was professionally qualified and were under graduates barring one,” sources said thus demanding that the government must probe the official record to ascertain the ground realities of these “politically motivated” appointments.
Meanwhile in the year 2019, the then Governor also appointed one Deputy Manager, who has attained superannuation.
“Most of the appointments have been made in relaxation of recruitment rules of the Sports Council and have duly been approved by the politicians in power as President, Vice President and the Secretary respectively,” sources added.
They said that some of the appointments were made against the posts which were not available at that point of time, but later on these posts have been created through the Standing Committee of J&K Sports Council.
“Some of the sanction posts even for distinguished sports persons were made in relaxation of the Recruitment Rules like of Managers and there is no such post of Technical Advisor borne on the establishment of the Council,” sources said and added that their salaries are being drawn against available substantive and resultant posts and on regular establishment budget.
“Some of these appointees have been disengaged but many are still continuing in the Council factually even not qualified for respective posts,” sources said and added that the government must appoint or nominate “fact checking” committee and the official record must be scrutinized.
“After J&K was created Union Territory and the department automatically came under the ambit of Union Sports Ministry, the deserving should at least get their rights,” sources said.
“However, besides such appointments, embezzlement of funds alleged by many players, undue benefits to blue-eyed employees, fraud in seniority list and other malpractices were highlighted time and again but the administration has not yet enquired these allegations,” they said and appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor to intervene and being President of the Sports Council by default—should act.”Pertinently, UNI previously had also raised the concern of promotion policy, shortage of coaches and alleged fraud in seniority lists in the J&K Sports Council. (UNI)

Death toll mounts to 1560, case tally at 100968
Nadeem Nadu
Srinagar, Nov 12: A 103-year-old woman became Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest COVID-19 victim as she was among nine persons who died due to the pestilence, while 617 more people tested positive for the virus in the Union Territory on Thursday, officials said.
They said the casualties due to COVID-19 in J&K have risen to 1560, while 100968 have tested positive for the virus till date across the UT.
Officials said that the six deaths were reported from Kashmir and three others were reported in Jammu.
The 103- year old woman who died due to COVID-19 hailed from Zazbugh Budgam and died at SKIMS Soura last night, five days after she was admitted to the tertiary care hospital, they said. Besides her, the other victims from Valley included two residents of Baramulla while one each belonged to Srinagar, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts respectively, they said.
Among others the victims include a 56-year-old man from Machil Kupwara who died at SMHS hospital, a week after he was admitted there.
The victim from Srinagar was an 80-year-old man from Lal Bazar Srinagar and died at Skims Soura , 12 days after he was admitted there.
A 70-year-old man from Boniyar Uri died six days after he was admitted with bilateral community acquired pneumonia while victim from Ganderbal was a 75-year-old woman from Sonamarg Ganderbal who died three days after admitted to the hospital.
Three deaths were reported from Jammu division and include two from the winter capital of the J&K and one from KJishtwar district. With these deaths, the fatality count in J&K has reached 1560.

J&K reports 617 fresh cases

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir reported 617 new COVID-19 infections including 39 travelers and eight troopers in last 24 hours, taking the overall tally to 100968, officials said on Thursday.
Two hundred twenty six cases were reported from Jammu Division and 391 from Kashmir.
Giving the district wise details, the officials said that Srinagar reported 153 cases, Baramulla 62, Budgam 43, Pulwama 18, Kupwara 22, Anantnag 34, Bandipora 29, Ganderbal 22, Kulgam 6, Shopian 2,
Jammu 93, Rajouri 9, Udhampur 35, Doda 15, Kathua 16, Poonch 8, Samba 8, Kishtwar 22, Ramban 13 and Reasi 7.
A number of these cases were confirmed at SKIMS and CD hospital’s diagnostic labouratories, they said.
The Budgam cases include female (40) from Drang Khag, male (29) from Mirgund, male (42) from Kralpora, female (45) from Daram Bagh Kralpora, female (05) from Iqbal Colony Rawalpora Bandipora.
The Ganderbal cases include female (70) from Kangan, male (26) from Duderhama, male (59) from JK Bank Duderhama, female (42) from Gundrehman, female (30) from Yangoora, female (25) from Kurhama, female (47) from Yangoora, female (48) and male (50) from Nagbal, female (70) from Safapora, female (70) from Kangan Ganderbal.
The Srinagar cases include female (38) from Police Housing Colony Bemina, female (52) and two males (38, 52) from Chanapora, female (80) from Jawahar Nagar, two females (35, 36) from Soura, male (40) from Nowshera, male (34) from Lal Bazar, male (34) from Burzahama, male (40) from Kanitar, female (85) from Soura, male (23) from Fatehkadal, male (36) from Chanapora, female (24) from Nowhatta, male (29) from Chanapora, male (28) from Skims Soura, two females (35, 72) from Nowshera, female (32) from Soura, two males (48, 55) from Rainawari, male (25) from HMT, female (70) from Buchpora, male (55) from Sector B, Srinagar, male (66) from Lal Bazar, female (65) from Nawakadal, female (55) from Nishat Srinagar.
The Baramulla cases include female (18) from Uri, male (NA) from Baramulla.
The Kupwara cases include female (22) from Palpora, male (59) from Reshi Gund Kupwara.
The Bandipora cases include male (66) from Gundpora Bandipora.
The Poonch cases include male (40) from Surankote, male (65) from Surunhoti Poonch.
The CRPF cases include male (35) from 43 Bn Crpf DPL Budgam.
The BSF cases include male (29) and female (64) from Ch BSF Humhama Srinagar.
The CD cases include female (36) from Srinagar, male (58) and two females (59, 82) from Gogjibagh, five males (38, 28, 27, 36, 27) from BB Cantt Srg, male (19) and female (25) from Kanitar, male (48) from Buchpora, male (58) from Nishat, female (75) from Zaldagar, male (47) from Alamgiri Bazar, nine males (72, 70, 48, 80, 50, 71, 75, 69, 70) and female (47) from NA, male (22) from Srinagar, female (NA) from Rawalpora Srg, female (15) from Zainakote Srg, male (50) from Tulsi Bagh Srg, male (40) from Kangan, male (20) from Nowgam, male (65) from Solina, male (36) from Natipora, male (71) from NA, male (36) from Eidgah Srg, male (NA) from Dalgate, male (NA) from Srinagar, male (70) from Pulwama, male (18) from Basant Bagh Srg, female (34) from Zakura Srg, female (22) from Pampore, female (23) from Nehama, two females (26, 50) from Alamgiri Bazar, female (77) from Peerbagh, male (37) from Brein Nishat, male (25) from Chattabal.
Meanwhile, 511 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and were discharged from various hospitals—236 from Jammu Division and 275 from Kashmir. (GNS)

‘Air, surface traffic likely to get affected’

Srinagar, Nov 12: Isolated to heavy rain and snow warning has been issued for two days from November 14 in the Jammu and Kashmir, where air and surface traffic could get affected.
A Met department spokesman said on Thursday that Western Disturbance (WD), originating in Arabian sea has entered the region from Afghanistan and Pakistan which could result in wet weather from Friday. However, the WD will be more active from November 13 for two days which could result in rain and snow. This system could impact air and surface traffic in the region.
Due to cloudy sky during the night, the minimum temperature witnessed further surge in the region, where people in Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh continue to shiver due to below freeing minimum temperature. However, cloudy sky coupled with icy cold winds resulted in cold during the day in the valley, including summer capital, Srinagar on Thursday.
Met spokesman said Leh in Ladakh recorded minimum temperature of minus 7.1 degree, lowest in the region followed by border town of Kargil minus 2.8 degree, Kupwara minus 18 degree, world famous health resort of Pahalgam minus 1.6 degree and Qazigund, gateway of Kashmir on Srinagar-Jammu highway minus 0.2 degree.
However, famed ski resort of Gulmarg recorded one degree minimum temperature, he said.
Srinagar, the capital city, the minimum temperature witnessed surge and settled at 0.1 degree which was about a notch more than yesterday when it was minus 0.8 degree. However, it was still below normal.
He said minimum temperature will witnessed further surge on Friday when it will be 2 degree while the maximum temperature could be 15 degree due to cloudy sky during the next 24 hours in Srinagar.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Nov 12: Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh on Thursday reviewed the security arrangement and preparedness for upcoming District Development, Block Development Councils and Panchayat polls in an officers meeting held at Police Control Room here, a police spokesman said in a statement.
IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, DIG Central Kashmir Amit Kumar, SSP Budgm Nagpure Amod Ashok attended the meeting at PCR while IGP Jammu, Range DIsG of District SSsP of Jammu Zone attended the meeting through video conferencing.
The DGP while reviewing the arrangements for upcoming polls sought reports about the security arrangements put in place by police and paramilitary force in their respective areas of responsibilities. He emphasized the critical importance of maintaining a sustained close watch on the ground situation and the real-time coordination and synergy between different security forces for successful conduct of these polls.
The DGP stressed upon the officers to put all the necessary security measures in place to ensure the conduct of DDC, BDC and Panchayat elections in free, fair and peaceful manner. He emphasized upon the officers that the deployments should be made as per requirements at all sensitive places. He said the personnel on the ground should be briefed regularly and the synergy at the grass-root level has to be at best for achieving better results. He gave directions for night patrolling in hypersensitive and border areas to avert any subversive design. He also emphasized the need to keep a close watch on the subversive elements.
The District SSsP of Jammu Zone apprised the DGP about the security arrangements put in place in their respective jurisdictions for a smooth and peaceful conduct of upcoming polls.