New Delhi, Aug 5: The Union Home Ministry on Wednesday appreciated J&K Government for delivering good governance through administrative reforms.
MHA officials said that soon after the new arrangements were made through the Constitution amendment on August 5 last year, the administration of newly created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir laid special impetus on good governance, brought through the various administrative reforms which were pending for long.

Taking a slew of reforms, the J&K government restructured state’s Power Department and it was divided into five autonomous corporations with independent mandates and responsibilities with new impetus on improved services, better consumer responsiveness and stable and predictable revenue mechanism.

The second most important reforms was the ‘land registration process’ which was moved to Executive from Judiciary and under the new set up of Revenue Administration, and for “Land Registration Process’ was shifted to the newly created Department of Registration.

A total of 77 Sub-Registrars have been appointed and nearly 25,000 registrations carried out so far. Over Rs 100 crore have been realized as stamp duty and registration fees. The entire registration process is being digitized and moved online.

Parallely, the process of stamp duty administration is also being fully computerized and e stamping rules have been framed. This represents a major structural change that will simplify and demystify the land revenue administration. This in turn will lead to ease for the consumers and a robust check on fraudulent practices.

Similarly, the urban local bodies were restructured under municipal reforms and the civil works of these Bodies have been entrusted to the Public Works (R&B) Department for faster execution.

Municipal Corporations of Jammu and Srinagar have been strengthened for speedy execution of works. Street light functioning has been transferred to the Municipal Corporations for better upkeep and maintenance.

The Municipal Committees and Councils have been empowered to accord administrative approvals for the projects upto Rs 5 crores and given full powers to enter into contracts for purchase of stores supplies and services into contract.

Likewise, the financial powers of Municipal Committees, Municipal Councils and Director Local Bodies have been substantially revised to give a fillip to the execution of developmental activities.

Accrual Based Double Entry Accounting System (ABDEAS) has been introduced in urban local bodies to bring about transparency and consistency.

Under the new administrative set up, the J&K Right to Information Act 2009 was repealed and Central RTI Act 2005 came into enforcement with all its provisions.

The Jammu & Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 has been replaced and the Anti-Corruption Bureau of J&K brought under the direct supervision of Central Vigilance Commission. These measures will help to introduce a regime of transparency and accountability to control corruption through strict vigil by these agencies.

Similarly, for speedy resolution of service matters of Government employees, 18th Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has been set up for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh on June 8 this year.

The Crime wing of Police Department has been reorganised and restructured to focus on economic offences and cyber crimes.

The same structural reforms have been carried out in Departments of Industries,Tourism,Finance and Technical education while sub departments with overlapping functions have been merged or downsized, people facing activities have been upgraded and strengthened, the officials said.

Srinagar, Aug 5: Police on Wednesday foiled an All Party Meeting called by National Conference (NC) here on the first anniversary of scrapping of Articles 370 and 35 A, besides dividing J&K into two Union Territories (UTs).

All roads leading to NC president Farooq Abdullah’s residence at high security Gupkar Road in Srinagar, which was venue of the meeting, were closed.

Meanwhile, leaders of different political parties, who were invited to take part in the meeting, alleged that they were informed in this morning that they can’t go out of their residences in view of restrictions.

Farooq Abdullah, who is Member of Parliament (MP) from Srinagar and former chief minister, had called the meeting in an apparent move to revive the Gupkar Declaration signed by regional political parties on August 4, 2019. The declaration was signed a day ahead of scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35A, besides bifurcating the state into two Union Territories by NDA government led by BJP.

The road leading to Gupkar residence of Abdullah was closed with barbed wires on one side and security force vehicle on the other side. Security forces were deployed in strength in the area and no one was being allowed to move towards the residence of Farooq Abdullah.

Even the media persons were not allowed to enter the Gupkar road area.

Reacting to the closure of Gupkar road, former chief minister and NC vice- president Omar Abdullah said one year later the authorities are still too afraid to allow mainstream politicians to meet much less carry out any normal political activity. “This fear speaks volumes about the true situation on the ground in Kashmir,” he said.

“Clearly the meeting is not being allowed to go ahead. The BJP gets to announce a 15 day celebration to mark 5th Aug & a handful of us aren’t allowed to meet in my father’s lawn. So much for BJP national leaders wondering why there is no political activity,” Omar wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

“One year on, this is Gupkar road today – police vehicles opposite our gates, concertina wire strung across the road at regular intervals & no vehicles allowed. My father had called a meeting of leaders of MAINSTREAM parties to deliberate on the current situation,” he wrote and also posted pictures of the road.
Senior CPI (M) leader and former MLA from Kulgam M Y Tarigami told UNI that he was informed early in the morning that he can’t go out of his residence as restrictions were imposed.

Faizan Wani

Srinagar, Aug 5 : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Youth wing, Wednesday staged a protest here to mark the first ‘anniversary’ of the abrogation of the special constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir, and its ‘bifurcation’ into two Union Territories on this day in 2019.

Holding placards which read “repeal unilateral decision and restore statehood” a group of PDP leaders, led by Party Youth General Secretary, Arif Laigaroo held a protest here to seek restoration of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Talking to media, PDP youth leader said that his party will never compromise on what was snatched away by BJP from the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that a political battle would continue till legitimate ‘constitutional’ rights of the erstwhile State are restored in their original form.

He said most of the leaders in PDP were detained ahead of the party’s proposed sit-in protest against center’s move.
Laigaroo said the authorities also sealed the PDP head office at Residency Road while detention of party President, Mehbooba Mufti, under contentious Public Safety Act (PSA) was extended by three months.

“Since PDP headquarters stand sealed by government forces and our leaders detained, we managed to hold a peaceful protest to seek restoration of Article 370 and 35A. We also demand that Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir be reunified,” said Laigaroo. (KNO)

Srinagar, Aug 5: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday celebrated the first anniversary of scrapping of Article 370 and 35 A by hoisting national flag and distributing sweets in the Kashmir.

On this day in 2019 Centre scrapped special status of the Jammu and Kashmir and divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
Meanwhile, a lone BJP local woman leader today hoisted tricolor at Lal Chowk in south Kashmir’s  Anantnag town.

The main function was held at party headquarter at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar, where senior party leaders were present.

The celebration started with hoisting of national flag followed by distribution of sweets. BJP leaders said the celebrations will continue for 15 days.

Senior BJP leader Darakshan Andrabi said BJP is celebrating this day as on this day last year the dream of people of the country about one flag and one constitution was fulfilled. Scrapping of Article 370 will help now for overall development and employment.

When asked about ignoring social distance during the celebrations, she said there were less BJP leaders and more journalists.

The BJP in the Jammu and Kashmir has announced to organization functions and other celebrations on the first anniversary of scrapping of special status of the state.

A lone woman local leader of BJP identified as Rumisa Rafiq appeared at Lal Chowk in the main town of Anantnag today carrying a national flag, when the entire area wore deserted look as no one was visible.

Later, the woman, ignoring threat perception, hoisted the tricolor on the wall of fountain.

Similar celebrations were held in other parts of the Valley.

Iltija Mufti, who is handling the Twitter account of her mother former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti presently detained under Public Safety Act (PSA), reacted sharply to hoisting the national flag.
In a tweet she said, “With restrictions on the overwhelming majority in J&K who want to peacefully protest, police & admin organises curated photo ops of a select few hoisting national flag”.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 5: General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Northern Command (NC) Lt General Y K Joshi on Wednesday briefed Lt Governor of Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir G C Murmu about the overall security situation at the Line of Control (LoC) and hinterland, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said this afternoon.

He said GOC-in-C Northern Command, Lt Gen Joshi today met LG Murmu here at the Raj Bhavan.

The LG and Lt Gen Joshi discussed various important issues pertaining to the prevailing security scenario and the overall security management in Jammu and Kashmir.

Lt Gen Joshi briefed the Lt Governor about the security situation in the forward areas and hinterland of J&K and the successful anti-terrorist operations being conducted by the Army.

The Lt Governor stressed on the high importance for maintaining close and effective synergy between the Army and other Security Forces in combating anti-terrorist activities, besides dealing with any emergent situations in an effective manner for maintaining peace and harmony in J&K.

He commended the role being played by the Army for ensuring a secure environment for the people of J&K and the comprehensive measures being taken by the Security Forces in containing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the UT.

General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lieutenant General, B S Raju was also present on the occasion.

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 5: There will be no At Home function at Raj Bhavan this Independence Day (ID) on August 15 in view of COVID-19 pandemic.

A Raj Bhavan spokesman said on Wednesday afternoon that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘At Home’ function for this year’s ID to be hosted by the Raj Bhavan, Srinagar, as per past practice, stands cancelled.

The decision was taken after assessing the current circumstances of COVID-19 pandemic in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and keeping in view the compliance of all healthcare protocols and SOP’s notified by the Central and the UT Government.

• SIDCO, SICOP to stop work for others
• PWD,PHE, RDD and PDD to be the main construction deptts

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, Aug 5: In a decision with significant structural change in Engineering Wings of various departments and their working, the Administrative Council which met here today under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu, sanctioned the merger/subsuming of in-house engineering wings in various departments/organizations like Tourism, School, Higher and Technical Education, Agriculture Production, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries, Floriculture, Hospitality & Protocol, Estates, DMRRR, Forest, Transport and SKIMS in PW(R&B) Department with effect from 1.12.2020.

The Administrative Council in its decision directed that the user departments whose engineering wings are being subsumed shall, however, retain the power of prioritization and identification of works and their administrative approvals.

Primarily, this decision will bring better quality, faster execution and lower costs in construction projects. The decision is aimed at addressing issues being faced by various existing in-house engineering wings which broadly include shifting of focus of departments from their core objective to construction activities, mushrooming of engineering wings, inconsistency in the estimation processes due to unrevised SoPs, absence of uniform standards & procedures and poor implementation.

The Administrative Council further directed constitution of a Committee of concerned Administrative Secretaries along with domain experts to work out modalities for merger/ repatriation/deputation of staff from the subsumed wings to PWD, Jal Shakti or PDD as the case may be. The Committee is required to submit its recommendation by 15.09.2020.

The Administrative Council also decided to constitute a Committee under the chairmanship of Administrative Secretary, Public Works to suggest restructuring of PWD (R&B) with additional units/wings/ verticals to cater to the needs of regional units and specialized wings. The Committee shall also examine the possibility of delineating the boundaries of the engineering divisions which will be co-terminus with the boundaries of districts.

Taking note of inconsistency in the existing norms/procedures/SOPs governing the aspect of accord of administrative approvals, estimation, tendering, work allotment and procurement of material, the Administrative Council has asked for constitution of a Committee under the chairmanship of Administrative Secretary, Planning, to suggest reforms in the existing norms/procedures/SOPs and submit a draft SOP by 30.09.2020.

Further, the Administrative Council also decided that the mandate of specialized wings of SIDCO and SICOP shall be clearly delineated and these wings shall restrict their activities to their mandate.

Taking cognizance of HRM issues of engineering wings having been adversely impacted by issues of ad-hoc promotions, non-finalization of seniorities and outdated recruitment rules affecting career progression, the Administrative Council decided to constitute a Committee to revisit all HRM related issues concerning engineering departments. The Committee shall submit its report along with its recommendations by 15.10.2020.

Kendriya Vidyalaya to come up at Kreeri

Precious Kashmir News

Srinagar, August 05: The Administrative Council (AC), which met here under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor, G C Murmu, accorded sanction to the creation of three posts of Secretary to the Government in the Super Time Scale of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service.

The creation of these posts will be helpful in assigning charges of some departments to the officers belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service which will help in effective public delivery of services and further strengthen the resolve of Government in providing effective and efficient administration.

Kendriya Vidyalaya to come up at Kreeri

The Administrative Council (AC) also approved allotment and transfer of land measuring 50 kanals to the School Education Department at village Hail Jageer, Tehsil Kreeri in District Baramulla for construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV).
Once operational, the school will cater to the educational needs of the children of far flung areas of district Baramulla and adjacent areas by providing quality education as envisaged under the constitutional right of education.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, Aug 5:  The government has so far not ordered any probe into alleged illegal appointments in various state owned corporations.

Sources told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service that though the LG GC Murmu led administration had taken strong note of the allegations that over the years scores of employees were appointed illegally in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir owned corporations, but has so far not succeeded to dig out the truth in this regard.

It has been alleged that maximum beneficiaries were political workers who were adjusted in different corporations without considering fallout on the financial health of the corporations.

Sources said that the government over the years has failed to probe these appointments and book the culprits.

“There are allegations that many backdoor appointees in some corporations were first appointed as consolidated and later placed in the grade pay within the shortest possible time by setting all rules and regulations aside,” sources maintained.

“Though in the past many house committees were constituted in Jammu and Kashmir to look into the illegal and backdoor appointments made in the state government departments, public undertakings and corporations, but these committees never succeeded to probe the matter,” sources maintained.

Sources alleged that some corporations had appointed illegally over hundred blue eyed persons. There was no accountability as to how these appointments were made and thereafter given two to three grade promotions.

It is also a known fact that some of the corporations are heavily dependent on the government for paying salaries to the staff and carrying out their day to day activities.

Commissioner Secretary Industries and commerce could not be contacted for the comments, however one of the officials of industries department said that ACB was probing the alleged illegal appointments in some of the corporations.” The ACB had sought the details of employees of some corporations. I think they are investigating the matter,” the official said, whishing anonymity.

It is to mention here that the government, in order to check the menace of illegal, backdoor appointment and re-employment had issued an order, wherein all government departments, PSUs and other organization were debarred from making temporary arrangements and the blanket ban was imposed on making illegal appointments and re-employment.

Precious Kashmir News
Baramulla, Aug 5: Sub-Judge Baramulla Pravin Pandoh today rejected a bail plea of man namely Hilal Ahmad Hajam a resident of Mangam Wagoora accused of treating people with fake MBBS and MD degrees thereby involved in practice of quacking.

The Sub-Judge, who is also the Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Baramulla, observed that the discretion of bail cannot be exercised in favour of the accused especially when the investigation is in its initial stage.

It is pertinent to mention here that an information was received by Police Station Kreeri that the accused alleges himself to be a doctor and gives treatment to the people besides the report filed by Police Station Kreeri revealed that the accused is neither a doctor nor possesses any degree but has created false documents to prove himself a doctor.

On the basis of the information an FIR No.77/2020 under section 419, 420, 468 was filed and the accused was arrested on July 24, 2020.