Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Oct 12: The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said that Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar constituency and National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah should go to China.
BJP president for JK, Ravinder Raina was commenting over Farooq Abdullah’s statement wherein he had hoped that Article 370 will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of China.
Raina, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that Dr. Farooq is living in fool’s paradise if he believes that Article 370 will be restored again in Jammu and Kashmir. “Article 370 is history now, If Farooq Abduulah thinks Pakistan and China and Turkey will help in restoring Article 370, he is living in fool’s paradise. There will be no one to talk about Article 370 in the future. It has been removed and can never be restored,” he said.
He added that the country is being run by patriots headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. “Article 370 has given birth to terrorism, separatism and Pakistan and in last 30 years, people in lakhs have lost their lives in Jammu and Kashmir, innocent people were killed.”
He stated that some politicians in Jammu and Kashmir live in India, but their hearts beat for Pakistan and China. “If Farooq Abdullah has a soft corner for China, he should go to China,” he said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir was and will remain an integral part of India. He also stated that JK and Ladakh parts currently under the illegal occupation of China Pakistan will be taken back—(KNO)

New Delhi, Oct 12: Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition seeking a direction to ban Halal killing of animals, after noting that the petition is devoid of merits.

“Your petition is mischievous in character,” a bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told the petitioner, Akhand Bharat Morcha (ABM).

“We are dismissing your petition,” the bench said.

The Apex Court said, these are issues which it cannot go into and dismissed the petition.

“The Court cannot determine who can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Those who want to eat halal meat can eat halal meat. Those who want to eat Jhatka meat can eat Jhatka,” justice Kaul remarked, and dismissed the petition filed by Akhand Bharat Morcha.

The petitioner, ABM, had moved the Apex Court seeking a direction to ban Halal killing of animals.

The Supreme Court, however, did not find any merit in the petition and dismissed it.

LG Sinha thanks PM, Defence Minister for 10 new bridges in J&K
Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Oct 12: Union Defence Minister, Sh. Rajnath Singh inaugurated 44 bridges constructed by the Border Road Organisation (BRO) in 7 States/ UTs with International Borders. He dedicated the newly inaugurated bridges made by Border Roads Organization (BRO) to the Nation.
He also laid the foundation stone for Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh.
Out of the 44 bridges, 10 bridges in J&K were inaugurated in the presence of Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Manoj Sinha and Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Space, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
The 10 bridges of J&K inaugurated today were- Isham Bridge, Dahi Bridge, Dandi Bridge, Saniyal Bridge, Baniyari Bridge, AIK Bridge, Kallah Bridge, Madhun Bridge, Babban Bridge and Batha Bridge.
The Lt Governor, J&K, Manoj Sinha expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, Defence Minister, Sh. Rajnath Singh, Border Roads Organization and every individual associated with the construction of these vital bridges in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The day is special for J&K as 10, out of the 44 bridges being inaugurated today are for the UT, said the Lt Governor.
He observed that the newly inaugurated bridges would play a crucial role in strengthening the connectivity to the far flung areas of J&K and enhancing the operational efficiency of our Defence Forces.
The bridges are crucial for the region for rapid development and defence purposes. Not only will connect people from remote parts of J&K to the rest of the nation but will also serve the Defence Forces serving in here.
“I strongly believe that bridges are not only critical component of a country’s infrastructure but they connect people and have power to change the destiny of a society and economy of the region”, he added.
Prime Minister also believes that no nation can progress without giving special attention to infrastructure building. Jammu and Kashmir is treading fast on the road to development, peace and prosperity. Development has reached to remote villages of the UT and these bridges will further help connect many villages, the Lt Governor maintained.
Underlining the significance of newly inaugurated bridges, the Lt Governor observed that the bridge on Bandipora-Gurez road over Dahi Nallah would connect villages which used to remain cut off from even district headquarters for about half an year; the Madhun Bridge in Rajpura would facilitate the villagers as well as defence forces; the Dandi Bridge in Bhaderwah would help encourage more tourist inflow and the bridge over Babban Nallah in Samba would facilitate the locals as well as defence forces during peak monsoons. Similarly, the Batha Bridge over Batha Nallah in Samba would also provide much relief to the villagers as well as the forces during monsoons, he added.
Just as one Oresund Bridge helped boost the economy of Denmark, I firmly believe that these 10 bridges will also prove to be a boon for the UT. I am certain that these bridges will further facilitate journey embarked upon by J&K since August last year, said the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor congratulated the DG BRO for his active efforts in providing these lifelines to villages of J&K.

I extend my gratitude towards the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh for his able administration which shall increase operational efficiency of our Forces, the Lt Governor added.

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, Oct 12: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today reviewed the progress made on the recommendations of the Committee on Business revival in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting was held here at the Civil Secretariat.

The Lt Governor sought a detailed report on a host of Financial and Administrative measures recommended for the revival of business sector along with financial implications and accorded timelines, aimed at helping business and entrepreneurs and steps taken thereon.

Business sector is the backbone of every economy and it is important that the Government machinery must lay a special focus on its revival and for the welfare of the people associated with it, he observed.

The Lt Governor stressed on effective implementation of the recommendations made by the Committee as per the time lines set up by the government to improve the overall business environment of J&K.

Disburse the financial assistance to the beneficiaries at the earliest, the Lt Governor directed the officers.

He directed for holding Workshops for awareness of NPA and GEM on-boarding to be held in 20 districts for 10 days which shall be jointly organized by the Finance Department and J&K Bank.  He also called for extending support to small businesses, weavers, artisans by effecting purchases by Government Departments exclusively.

On promoting Skill Development, the Lt Governor directed the concerned officers to work out the Skill Development Department calendar of events for promoting skill development amongst the rural population and trade specific trainings at grass root level.

He further laid emphasis on Buyer-Seller meets to be organized by the Industries & Commerce Department across the UT, especially export oriented handicrafts, round the year. Buyer-Seller meets shall be organized for encouraging participation of local industries in handicrafts and other allied sectors and for suppliers to cantonments. This will be a regular feature round the year, he added.

The Lt Governor also asked the Industries and Commerce Department to come up with a comprehensive plan to save all potentially viable MSME sick units.

He further directed the concerned officers to seek every option and opportunity for increasing the production of Apple, Walnuts, and Almonds through high density plantation.

The Lt Governor took stock of the progress made on various financial measures recommended by the Committee including Interest subvention of 5% in case of all borrowers excluding borrowers under KCC, ACC, Loan against deposits, Loans under personal segments, NBFCs ; 50 % Waiver of the fixed charges of electricity in respect of the Industries and Commercial Establishments for a period of 1 year from January 2020 to December, 2020; 50 % waiver of the water charges in respect of the Industries and Commercial Establishments for a period of 1 year from January 2020 to December, 2020; Bus Drivers/cleaners/ Sumo Drivers and auto drivers who have moved to construction works shall be registered with the Building and other Construction Workers Board and paid monthly remuneration of Rs 1000 each in DBT mode for a period of six months as per norms; Release of Pending interest subvention under 2014 and 2016 rehabilitation schemes for restructured accounts; 80% subsidy amounting for installation of the bio-digesters in the Houseboat; 50% subsidy or Rs 5.00 lakh whichever is lower shall be provided to the transporters for replacement of old buses; Payment of Rs 1000 per month to Shikara Walas/Workers in the House boats/Tourist Guides/Pithuwalas/Dandiwalas/Sledge Walas/Pony & Camel walas for further 6 months upto December, 2020 etc.

The meeting was attended  by Sh. Kewal Kumar Sharma, Advisor to the Lt Governor; Sh. BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Sh.  Arun Kumar Mehta, Financial Commissioner, Finance Department; Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Principal Secretary to the Government, School Education Department and Department of Skill Development; Sh. Navin Kumar Choudhary, Principal Secretary to the Government, Animal And Sheep Husbandry Department; Sh. Nitishwar Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor; Sh. Manoj Kumar Dwivedi,  Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, Industries and Commerce Department; Sh. Saurabh Bhagat, Commissioner/Secretary to the Government , Labour & Employment Department; Sh. Sarmad Hafeez, Secretary to the Government, Youth Services and Sports,  Tourism and Culture Departments and other senior officers.

Power Deptt set to issue curtailment schedule for winter
Raouf Dar
Srinagar Oct 12: With the onset of winter, the Power Department is set to issue a power curtailment schedule as the demand for electricity goes up.
For the last two weeks, people have been complaining of abrupt power cuts.
An official of the Power Department said they are framing a power curtailment schedule for the winter. “Once it is finalized, it will be issued,” the official told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
The official said they provide on an average 1300 MWs of electricity to consumers in Kashmir.
“During winters the demand reaches 1800 MWs. The Power Department has also failed to put in place required infrastructure for receiving additional electricity from the central grids,” the official said.
Another senior official said that if the consumers make judicious use of electricity, there is no need for long power curtailment in the coming months.
“We have seen that power thefts and use of heaters and boilers by the consumers cause the overloading. People should use electricity judiciously so there will be less curtailment,” the official said.
The Centre has been allotting additional 700 MWs of power to Jammu and Kashmir in view of higher demand in winters. But there has been no improvement in Union Territory as authorities have failed to augment the existing infrastructure to receive additional electricity from the central grids.
“Additional allocation of power will overcome power crises only when required infrastructure is in place. How will we handle additional power when there is no infrastructure available? There will be improvement in power supply only when new girds are commissioned,” the official said.
Meanwhile, people from various areas complain of abrupt power cuts. “We are facing power cuts for the last few weeks. Power goes off at any time during the day,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Beerwah Budgam.
People of main town Baramulla also complain of power cuts.

Jammu, Oct 12: Second Additional District Judge Virender Singh Bhou on Monday in a contempt petition, held Jammu and Kashmir Excise Commissioner Rajesh Kumar Shavan guilty for contempt of Court.

The judge after hearing the advocate observed that defence set up by the contemnor is thus rejected as being frivolous in the ultimate analysis, and the direction therein and as such, he is held guilty of disobedience by non compliance of the court order and meaning to undermine the very authority of a court of law, in terms of order 39 Rule 2-A CPC.

This Court is left with no other option except to subject the contemnor/defiant to suffer civil imprisonment and accordingly, it is, ordered that the contemnor is guilty of acting in disobedience of the court order for which he shall suffer civil imprisonment.

The Court however, directed the contemnor to surrender himself before the Court on October 14, failing which he shall render himself liable to be arrested by warrants of arrest for his attendance and appearance before the Court for follow up order to commit him to civil imprisonment.

Riyaz Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 12: The School education department has miserably failed to construct 87 per cent out of 762 sanctioned libraries in Jammu and Kashmir in the last one decade.
According to government documents, since the academic year 2009-10 to 2019-20, the government has sanctioned at least 762 libraries for the schools of Jammu and Kashmir. However, official figures reveal that the construction was yet to begin in 664 libraries while only 73 structures were completed and 25 were still under construction.
The figures reveal that in the academic year 2009-10, a total of 37 libraries were approved for the government schools of Jammu and Kashmir, however, the School Education Department has completed construction of only 21 while five are still under construction and work in 11 libraries have not been started yet.
Similarly, eight libraries were sanctioned in 2010-11 out of which construction in seven structures has been completed while the work on one library is yet to be started.
Likewise, in the academic year 2011-12, at least 104 libraries were approved. However, the construction of 55 libraries has not been started, 42 have been completed and seven are under construction.
In the academic year 2016-17, the government had sanctioned construction for 144 libraries out of which construction in 128 libraries is yet to be started while only three have been completed and 13 are still under construction.
Official figures further reveal that during the academic year 2019-20, a total of 469 libraries were approved by the government and ironically construction for no library was started till date—(KNO)

Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Oct 12: The Jammu & Kashmir High Court has directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe whether the Roshini Rules,2007 were published without the assent of the legislature.
In its judgement, a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rajesh Bindal has directed the CBI to probe whether the Rules were enacted without approval of the legislature.
“The CBI shall specifically inquire into the matter of publication of the Roshini Rules, 2007 without the assent of the legislature. If this is found true, the CBI shall identify the persons responsible who have illegally and dishonestly published the same and proceed in the matter for their criminal liability,” reads the judgement.
The double bench has observed that it seems that no approval of these Rules was sought from the legislature.
“It appears that the Revenue department made J&K State Land (Vesting of Ownership to the Occupants) Rules, 2017 in purported exercise of power under section 18 of the Roshini Act which came to be published in the official gazette as SRO 64 dated 5th May, 2007 . It seems that no approval of these Rules was sought from the legislature and they were unauthorizedly published in government gazette,” reads the judgement—(KNO)

LG, others express condolences

Jammu, Oct 12: Congress leader and former minister Mohammad Sharief Niaz passed away on Monday. He was 75.

Party sources said that Niaz breathed his last after a brief illness in Jammu and his last rites will be performed at his native village.

Born on April 24, 1944 in village Changa of Bhalessa in Doda district, Niaz was first time elected as MLA in 1987.

Being a legal luminary, he was entrusted the responsibility of being the Law Minister of the JK State (now UT) in 1989.

He joined the Congress party in 1976, worked as a trade union leader.

He was nominated District President of the Congress Committee, Doda, in 1979. He unsuccessfully contested the 1983 Assembly elections on a Congress ticket from Inderwal constituency, but was finally elected in 1987.

From 1992 to 1996, he remained a member of USERS consultative committee in the Northern Railway, and was elected to the assembly in 2002.

He was inducted as Minister for Power in Mufti-led Congress-PDP coalition.

In 2007, Niaz was elected as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) for Doda.

Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha conveyed his condolences on the demise of Niaz.

In a message, the Lt Governor has prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul and forbearance to the bereaved family in this hour of grief.

Congress leaders, Ghulam Nabi Azad, G M Saroori, Ravinder Sharma, Vikar Rasool Wani, Abdul Majid Wani, Ashok Kumar, Sham Lal Bhagat, Naresh Kumar Gupta, Aslam Goni, Raj Kumar Badyal and others have condoled the demise of veteran leader.

Precious Kashmir News

Jammu, Oct 12:  The 175th Meeting of the Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (SSB) was Monday held here under the Chairmanship of Board Chairman, Khalid Jahangir to deliberate on  certain withheld recommendations and approval of selection lists.

During the meeting various agenda items which included release of withheld recommendations of District Cadre, Divisional Cadre Jammu, Divisional Cadre Kashmir, State Cadre and PM Package (Migrants) and for which deficiencies were completed by the candidates were taken up for consideration.

In addition, the meeting also deliberated upon the cases of overlapping or dual degrees. After threadbare deliberations and discussion, the Board decided to release recommendations in favour of 36 candidates. It was also decided to re-examine / defer 13 cases, while candidature of 15 candidates was rejected due to non possession of the requisite qualification / eligibility.

The Board also approved a few selection lists which include that of the post of Senior Laboratory Technician, Divisional Cadre, Jammu. Further, 06 court cases were also discussed in the meeting following which appropriate decisions were taken for their proper disposal.

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Shafiq Chak, Pritam Lal Atri , Members of the Board; Musheer Ahmad Mirza Controller of Examination and Sachin Jamwal, Secretary of the Board at Central Office Jammu.