Aqib Ahmad

Srinagar, July 21 : Jammu and Kashmir High Court has granted Union and J&K Government Besides JKB, the lead bank in the J&K, time till August 11 for filing response to a Public Interest Litigation, challenging charging of interest on loan during the period of moratorium.

The PIL filed by local businessmen Sheikh Feroz Ahmad Sidiq— President, Restaurant and Cafe Association, Kashmir, and Mohammad Muzamil Bacha –President, Industrial Revival and Development Forum, Kashmir) also seeking directions for waiving of interest charged by the banks on the term loans during the period when moratorium was granted by the banks on account of special rehabilitation and revival package for the persons affected by natural calamity-floods in the erstwhile State; rehabilitation package to borrowers hit by the disturbances that occurred in 2016 and 2019.

The time was granted by a division bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Sanjay Dhar to central Finance and Home Ministry besides the J&K government, the Reserve Bank of India and the J&K Bank Ltd.

The petitioners through senior advocate Jahangir Iqbal Ganai along with advocate Sheikh Umar Farooq pleaded that the relief sought for in the instant petition is for the benefit of the persons who have suffered on account of natural calamity, disturbances of 2016 and 2019 and of the present COVID-19 pandemic. “They are not been in a position to strictly comply with the conditions of the term loan agreements,” the petitioners said, according to GNS correspondent.

The sought directions  to declare the notification dated 27.03.2020, Circular No.40-619 dated January 3, 2020, circular No.62-528 dated December 15, 2016 and circular bearing No.55-398 dated October 24, 2014,  as “ultra vires the Constitution of India to the extent same directs charging of interest of loan amounts during the period of moratorium.”

They have also sought directions to the authorities to waive of the interest component on the loan amounts for the period of moratorium was declared.

“In the petition, it is contended that the same is being filed for the benefit of persons belonging to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, who have availed loan facilities from different banks, but, on account of the prevailing lockdown announced by the Government in view of outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, are not in a position to pay the due instalments, including the interest charged on the loan amounts,” the court had observed. (GNS)

Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar, July 20: The deadly Coronavirus on Monday claimed ten more lives in Kashmir division of the J&K UT, taking the total number of people who died of the pandemic to 256. All ten deaths were reported from Kashmir.

Officials told KNO that six patients who died include a 65-year-old woman from Pulwama, a 45-year-old man from Nehama Pulwama, a 65-year-old man from Patosa Rafiabad Baramulla, a 69 year old man from Tankipora Srinagar, a 72 year old male from Zonimar Srinagar, a 67-year old male from Zakoora Srinagar, a male patient from from Habbakadal Srinagar, 73 year old man from Kupwara, a woman from Shadipora Kupwara and a man from Anantnag.

An official from SMHS told KNO that a 65-year-old woman from Pulwama who was admitted on 10 July and was suffering from bilateral Pneumonia, died at SMHS last night.

He said that a 60-year old male from Tankipora Srinagar who was admitted on 14 July with community acquired pneumonia died at SMHS on Monday.

He further added that a 72 year old man from Zonimar Srinagar, who was admitted on 19 July died at SMHS on Monday and was tested positive after his death.

He said that a patient from Zakoora who was admitted on 16 July and was suffering from Puneumonia and other ailments died on Monday afternoon.

A male patient from Habbakadal who was admitted on 14 July died at SMHS on Monday evening, he said adding that patient was suffering from hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease and bilateral pneumonia.

An official from SKIMS Soura said that a 45-year-old man from Nehama Pulwama, who was admitted on 12 July, died at SKIMS on Monday. He said that a 65-year-old man from Rafiabad Baramulla, who was admitted on 17 July also died on Monday morning.  Both the patients were suffering from Pneumonia and other ailments, he said.

An Official from Kupwara told KNO that a 73-year-old man from Nagri Malipora Kupwara who died on Friday was tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday.

He said that another male patient who was tested positive and was undergoing treatment at JVC died on Monday. An official from Anantnag said that a man from Anantnag who was undergoing treatment at SKIMS died at SKIMS on Monday evening

With ten more fresh deaths, the death toll due to deadly Coronavirus has mounted to 256 in J&K including 236 from Kashmir division and 20 from Jammu division.

Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar, July 20: Jammu and Kashmir reported biggest single day spike in COVID-19 infections on Monday with 751 additions including 51 CRPF personnel, 16 from ACB headquarters here besides ten pregnant women.

Among them fresh cases 240 were reported from Jammu and 511 from Kashmir which also include three BSF personnel and as many policemen and seven minors including one year-old baby.

Giving the district-wise breakup of the cases, officials told GNS, Srinagar reported 171, Baramulla 40, Shopian 62, Anantnag 11, Kupwara 3, Pulwama 111, Budgam 94, Bandipora 9, Ganderbal 10, Jammu 12,

Kathua 13, Rajouri 23, Udhampur 33, Ramban 90, Samba 2, Doda 32, Poonch 1, Kishtwar 22 and Reasi 12.

Meanwhile, 463 more COVID-19 patients have recovered and discharged from various hospitals. They include 64 from Jammu Division and 399 from Kashmir. With them, 8274 have recovered including 1800 in Jammu and 6474 in Kashmir.

A large number of cases were confirmed at SKIMS diagnostic lab and among them Annatnag ones include female (20) from Pushu Market, two males (26, 30) from Fatehpora, female (38) from Razalpora, male (65) from Gulshanabad, male (65) from Bijbehara, male (35) and female (32) from Bonard Shangus, two males (23, 14) from Lehendajan, male (50) from Kadipora Anantnag, male (65) from Anantnag.

The Bandipora cases include female (29) from Naaz Colony, two males (32, 29) from Bsf Camp Madder Bandipora, two males (55, 28) from Wangipora, male (30) from Shadipora Bandipora, male (51) from Sumbal.

The Budgam cases Include female (42) from Charari Sharief, female (27) from Gomboora, two males (28, 25) from 2 RR Aripanthan, male (24) from Khanda, male (26) from Dangerpora Chattergam, female (27) from Khosabagh BK Pora, male (40) from Buchroo, female (25) from Chattergam, female (45) from Gath Narbal, male (48) from BK Pora, female (47) from Dadompora, two females (18, 40) from Main Budgam, male (24) from Handjum, male (33) from Hajibagh Soibugh, male (39) from Gotapora Budgam, male (41) from Budgam, male (36) from Stc, Bsf Budgam, male (28) from 182 Crpf Budgam, female (24) from Magam Budgam.

The Srinagar cases include male (50) from Bemina, two males (43, 70) and female (63) from Rawalpora, two females (65, 26) from Bemina, two males (50, 80) from Noorbagh, female (56) from Chatabal, male (34) from crpf Headquarters, female (60) from Dargah, male (35) from SKIMS, male (35) from Gilli Kadal, male (51) from Rajbagh, female (54) from Bemina, male (26) from Tangmarg, female (53) from Nawakadal, male (42) from Baghat, male (50) from Lalbazar, male (43) from 1011 Bsf Humhama Srg, male (60) from Buchpora, female (52) from Hawal, male (55) from Nishat, male (55) from Soura, male (49) from Batamaloo, male (35) from Motiyar Rainawari, female (28) from Khandai Mohla, female (25) from Khanki Mohla, male (65) from Kralpora Baghe Mehtab, male (66) from Eidgah, female (30) from Nishat, female (19) from Illahibagh, male (55) from Bagh Mehtab, male (60) from Eidgah, female (33) from Hawal, male (31) from Ahmed Nagar, female (60) from Lalbazar, male (65) from Bemina, male (50) from Khanbal, male (72) from Zoonimar, male (57) from Rainawari, male (62) from Qamarwari, male (62) from HMT, male (62) from Chatabal, two males (18, 65) from Elahibagh, Buchpora, male (50) from Karan Nagar, male (82) from Lalbazar, male (33) from Lathpora, male (58) from Rajbagh, male (60) from Lalbazar, female (50) from Sonwar, female (70) and male (22) from Soura, female (70) from Gojwari Srinagar.

The CRPF cases include male (38) from 79 Bn Crpf Sonwar Snr Srg, male (39) from Hq/144 Bn Crpf Nehru Park Snr Srg, twenty nine males (35, 50, 30, 28, 43, 32, 39, 54, 32, 32, 28, 29, 27, 45, 32, 29, 57, 35, 51, 32, 42, 38, 47, 31, 25, 54, 37, 24, 30) from 185 Bn Crpf Lethpura Pulwama, eight males (54, 49, 50, 45, 35, 51, 40, 41) from Gc Crpf Ram Bhag Snr, eight males (35, 28, 29, 35, 41, 38, 37, 35) from 23 Bn Crpf Karan Nagar Snr Srg.

The Ganderbal cases include male (42) from Saloora, female (25) from Wussan Manigam, female (40) from Chattergul Kangan, two males (28, 32) and female (45) from Wakura, male (54) from Illahibagh, female (28) from Bakura Akusteng, male (33) from Waskura, male (40) from Chanduna Ganderbal, female (NA) from Kangan.

The Pulwama cases include female (39) from Aakhram, male (35) from Kakapora Pulwama.

The Shopian cases include male (24) from Shopian.

The Baramulla cases include female (48) from Tangmarg, male (55) from Pattan, male (40) from Noorbagh Baramulla.

The Kupwara cases include male (38) from Drugmulla Kupwara, male (55) from Lolab Kupwara.

The Kulgam cases include female (65) from Yaripora Kulgam and one female (60) from NA.

The CD cases include female (65) from Chandgam, female (27) from Naina, female (30) from Panzgam, male (33) from Panzgam, male (36) from Panzgam, male (26, 36) and female (08) from BB CANT SRINAGAR, male (45) from Dangerpora Sopore, female (20) from BUdden Rafiabad, female (30) from Behrampora Baramulla, three males (45, 41, 35) from DPL Baramulla, male (65) from Bemina, female (44) from Habbakadal, male (16) from Rajbagh, female (38) from Hyderpora, male (75) from Balgarden, male (28) from Batamaloo, female (27) from Nigeen, male (54) from Alochi Bagh, female (23) from Alochi Bagh, female (28) from Batamaloo, male (39) from Nowgam, five males (07, 03, 02, 03, 39) and female (32) from Rawalpora, female (25) from Kralpora, female (43) from Kawdara, two females (67, 45) and male (50) from Koolipora, male (40) from Nowpora, male (48) from Mir Mohalla Malarattha, male (NA) from Bandipora, male (45) from Hazratbal, male (28) from from Kothi Bagh, male (31) from Kothi Bagh, male (17) from Chattabal, male (56) from Rawalpora, male (33) from Sheikpora, male (19) from Shalimar, male (33) from Rajbagh, male (40) from Kothi Bagh, male (38) from Shalimar, male (55) from HMT, male (57) from from TRC, male (59) from Indra Nagar, male (41) from Habadakal, N/A (43) from Naid Kadal, male (60) from Saderbal, male (31) from Soura Srg, male (41) from Karanagar Srg, male (31) from Rawalpora Srg, male (30) from Lolab Kupwara, male (40) from Karfali Mohalla, female (55, 33, 15, 24, 04) from Karfali Mohalla, female (46) from Rawalpora, male (35) from Panthachowk, male (55) from Rainawari, male (32) from Soura Srg,male (28) from Zakura, two females (28, 25) from Hyderpora Srg, sixteen males (47, 44, 42, 42, 30, 34, 34, 41, 40, 32, 42, 49, 45, 35, 31, 45) from ACB HQ Peer bagh, female (55) from Lal Bazaar Mughal Road Mohalla Hamza Lane, male (16) from Kawdara, female (37) from Khanyar, male (50) from lal Bazaar Umar Colony, female (58) from Sona Masjid Karfali Mohalla, female (35) from Sona Masjid Karfali Mohalla, female (05) from Sona Masjid Karfali Mohalla, female (12 months old) from Sona Masjid Karfali Mohalla, male (37) from khankha Moulla, male (30) from Kawdara, male (17) from Kawdara, female (25) from Noorbagh, male (18) from Bana Mohalla Fateh Kadal, female (39) from Bana Mohalla Fateh Kadal, male (35) from Mahraj Gung Sgr, four females (18, 28, 13, 52) from Nigeenbagh Sopore, two females (25, 23) from Reban Sopore, male (48) from Hanfiya Colony, male (25) from Khanpora Baramulla, male (25) from Nowpora Sopore, male (43) from Model Town Sopore, male (20) from Botingoo Sopore, two males (24, 54) from Nigeenbagh Sopore, male (70) from Srinagar, male (27) from Waniloo Tangmarg, male (20) from Chakoora, male (47) from Reem Sidco Lassipora, male (98) from Tamlihal, male (23) Male from Chakoora, male (61) from Natipora, male (34) from Tulbagh, Pampore, female (44) from Murran Pulwama, female (28) from Achan Pulwama, three males (39, 40, 40) from DPL Pulwama, male (34) from Tumlahal Pulwama, female (35) from Tral E Payeen, two males (68, 61) from Buchpora Srg, male (72) and female (36) from Hyderpora, male (30) from Baghat Srg, male (NA) from Baramulla, male (52) from Nishat, male (70) from Zakura, male (32) from Bemina Srg, male (47) from Cheshmashahi Srg, male (56) from Batpora, male (40) Langate, male (26) from SBI Kupwara, female (35) from Shanpora Hazratbal, male (50) from NA, male (40) from Khanyar. (GNS)

New Delhi, July 20: Health screening started at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here on Monday for human testing of Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine ‘Covaxin’ of Bharat Biotech, a leading biotechnology company.

Dr Sanjay Rai of the Department of Community Medicine, who is spearheading the human trials of Covaxin at AIIMS, told UNI that health screening of selected candidates was been done today. Several types of medical tests have been done for the candidates involved in human trials to find out that they are not Corona infected nor are they suffering from diseases like blood pressure, diabetes among others.

After the medical report, they will be given their first dose of Covaxin on the following Thursday or Friday. Only healthy people will be included in this test. This test will not be done on pregnant women.

He also stated that so far more than 1,800 people have volunteered by registering for the human clinical trial of indigenously-developed vaccine.

AIIMS Delhi is among the 12 institutes selected by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) for conducting phase I and II human trials of Covaxin.

Dr Rai said a total of 1,125 persons will be given a dose of the vaccine in both stages of human trials. In the first phase, 375 persons are to be given a dose of Covaxin, of which AIIMS Delhi is conducting tests on 100 persons.

As to how many people will be tested in AIIMS Delhi in the second phase is yet to be decided but in the second phase also AIIMS itself will have the largest sample size.

Bharat Biotech, the vaccine manufacturer, started human trials of Covaxin on July 15. Human trials have started in Rohtak PGI in Haryana and AIIMS Patna. AIIMS New Delhi is to test it on 100 people during the first phase to see if this vaccine is safe or not and how much dosage will be effective and how many doses the patient needs.

The first phase is to be conducted on candidates between the ages of 18 and 55. The second phase will test three formulations of Covaxin and is to be conducted on a large-scale, covering 750 candidates. There will be candidates between the ages of 12 and 65 years.

Covaxin is being developed in collaboration with Bharat Biotech, Indian Institute of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The Drug Controller General of India has given its approval for human testing.

New Delhi, July 20: India’s Coronavirus tally surged to 11,18,043 after recording a single-day jump of 40,425 fresh cases in the past 24 hrs, Union Health Ministry said in its daily update.

The death toll due to the infection rose to 27,497 as 681 fatalities were reported since Sunday.

The number of recovered COVID-19 patients continue to exceed active cases in India by 3,09,627.

Despite surging fresh coronavirus cases, India’s COVID-19 case fatality rate is progressively falling and is currently at 2.49 per cent, which is one of the lowest in the world, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday.

7,00,086 people having recovered COVID-19 so far in India with 22,664 patients declared cured over the past 24 hrs.

Meanwhile, a total of 1,40,47,908 samples have been tested for COVID as per the Indian Council of Medical Research till Sunday.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Ethics Committee on Saturday gave its approval for conducting the human clinical trial of the indigenously developed Covid-19 vaccine candidate Covaxin. The hospital will start enrolling healthy individuals from today onwards.

London: An experimental COVID-19 vaccine, being developed by the University of Oxford, was safe and produced an immune response in early-stage clinical trials in healthy volunteers, data showed on Monday.

The vaccine, called AZD1222 and being developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and scientists at Britain’s University of Oxford, did not prompt any serious side effects and elicited antibody and T-cell immune responses, according to trial results published in The Lancet medical journal.

“We hope this means the immune system will remember the virus, so that our vaccine will protect people for an extended period,” study lead author Andrew Pollard of the University of Oxford said.

“However, we need more research before we can confirm the vaccine effectively protects against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, and for how long any protection lasts,” he said.

AstraZeneca’s is among the leading vaccine candidates against a pandemic that has claimed more than 600,000 lives, alongside others in mid and late-stage trials.

These include shots being developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech, another from state-owned Chinese firm Sinopharm, and one from the U.S. biotech firm Moderna.

AstraZeneca has signed agreements with governments around the world to supply the vaccine should it prove effective and gain regulatory approval. The company has said it will not seek to profit from the vaccine during the pandemic.

Researchers said the vaccine caused minor side effects more frequently than a control group, but some of these could be reduced by taking paracetamol, with no serious adverse events from the vaccine. (Agencies)

Precious Kashmir News
Srinagar, July 20: Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu on Monday authorized all Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir to take strict measures within their jurisdiction and impose penalties to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

An order issued by Health & Medical Education Department, stated that in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 (3 of 1897), the LG of the Union Territory of J&K hereby authorizes all the DCs of the UT of J&K to take following measures within their jurisdiction and impose such penalties to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

It states, persons not wearing a mask in public place will be penalized Rs 500 while persons violating the home quarantine instructions will be fined Rs 2000. Similarly order states person spitting at public places will be fined Rs 500, while persons violating social distancing norms by owner of shops/commercial places will have to pay Rs 2000 as penalty.

It also added that for violating the social distance norms by vehicle owners of busses, cars and auto rickshaws/two wheelers will be fined Rs 300, Rs 200 and Rs 500 respectively.

“Non-payment of penalty by the violator will attract proceedings under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (45 of 1860)”, order reads.

Owais Gul

Srinagar, July 20: The re- imposition of restrictions in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir has failed to curb dreadful surge of COVID-19 cases, raising questions about the strategy adopted by the authorities in the district.

Shockingly, the COVID- 19 cases which were supposed to decrease post the imposition of fresh lockdown on July 13 have worryingly gone up. As per the details available with KNO 456 persons tested positive for the virus in the week before the lockdown. After imposition of the lockdown, 1206 cases have been witnessed in the district in the past seven days.

With 1206 fresh cases, Srinagar continues to remain on the top of the Coronavirus cases list among all the districts of the Union Territory.

On Monday, when the lockdown was re-imposed, a total of 101 cases were reported from Srinagar district. However, the cases started witnessing a surge from Tuesday as 127 persons were tested positive. On Wednesday, the cases witnessed further spike as 153 tested positive while on Thursday, a total of 259 persons tested positive in the district.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the district recorded 152, 124 and 290 cases respectively, thus taking the total number of cases in the week to 1,206.