Jammu, June 29: Chairman, J&K Public Service Commission, B.R. Sharma, on Monday administered oath of office to the four newly appointed Members.
Two members, Subash Gupta and Sameer Bharti were administered oath at Jammu office, while Syed Iqbal Aga and Showkat Ahmad Zargar were administered oath of office at Srinagar through video conferencing mode.
Nasir Azam
Srinagar, June 29: The Union Public Service Commission has pointed out certain deficiencies in the proposal submitted by the J & K Government for induction of State Police Service officers into prestigious Indian Police Service, sources disclosed.
Authoritative sources told news KNO that during preliminary scrutiny of the proposal, the Commission has found some minor deficiencies/ shortcomings and written to the J&K government to rectify them. “They have found deficiencies like variation in spellings of names of officers on documents, few Annual Performance Reports without attestation and some other minor shortcomings,” they disclosed. According to sources, the J&K government is in the process of rectification of these deficiencies and would communicate the same to UPSC soon.
A source revealed that selection committee meeting to clear the proposal may take place next month. “We are hopeful that meeting would be convened in July,” he said, adding that J&K government is keen to fill the vacancies as soon as possible.
The Selection Committee comprises of representatives from UPSC, MHA and J&K government.
As exclusively reported by Kashmir News Observer, Jammu and Kashmir’s Indian Police Service(IPS) cadre is without a single State Police Service(SPS) officer after Ahfad-ul-Mujataba was appointed as member of Public Service Commission.
The peculiar situation has arisen due to non- filling of vacancies of promotion quota over the past 10 years owing to a host of reasons including litigation and non-fixation of seniority.
As reported earlier J&K Home department has submitted a proposal to UPSC and Ministry of Home Affairs for induction of 28 officers of Jammu & Kashmir Police Service into IPS.The proposal was submitted after MHA determined 28 vacancies for these years- 08 for 2010, three vacancies for 2011, 08 vacancies for 2012 and 09 vacancies for 2013.
The process of filling vacancies in promotion quota came to halt from 2010 due to different issues including seniority dispute and litigation. As per rules, the process of induction into IPS starts from the determination of the vacancies by the Central Government against the promotion quota of any state.
After determination of vacancies, the State Government concerned forwards a proposal to the UPSC containing the details/records of the State Police Service officers in the order of their seniority.
After submission of the proposal, the UPSC convenes a meeting of all the three stake holders- UPSC, Centre and State- which is known as ‘Selection Committee Meeting.
The selection committee scrutinizes the records/ ACRs and other details of SPS officers thoroughly and as per the provisions of Regulation 5(4) of the promotions Regulations—(KNO)
New Delhi, June 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at 4 PM on Tuesday, his office has tweeted. His address will come amid an ongoing stand-off between India and China at Ladakh’s Galwan valley.
New Delhi, Jun 29: The government on Monday banned 59 apps in view of information available that they are engaged in activities prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users.
The apps include TikTok, Shareit, Kwai, UC Browser, Baidu map, Shein, Clash of Kings, DU battery saver, Helo, Likee, YouCam makeup, Mi Community, CM Browers, Virus Cleaner, APUS Browser, ROMWE, Club Factory, Newsdog, Beutry Plus, WeChat and UC News.
Apps like Mi Video Call – Xiaomi, WeSync, ES File Explorer, Viva Video – QU Video Inc, DU Cleaner DU Browser, Hago Play With New Friends, Cam Scanner, We Meet and Sweet Selfie were also banned.
The Ministry of Information Technology, invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 59 apps.
The decision is a targeted move to ensure safety and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace.
Over the last few years, India has emerged as a leading innovator when it comes to technological advancements and a primary market in the digital space.
At the same time, there have been raging concerns on aspects relating to data security and safeguarding the privacy of 130 crore Indians. It has been noted recently that such concerns also pose a threat to sovereignty and security of the country.
The Ministry of Information Technology has received many complaints from various sources including several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
‘The compilation of these data, its mining and profiling by elements hostile to national security and defence of India, which ultimately impinges upon the sovereignty and integrity of India, is a matter of very deep and immediate concern which requires emergency measures,’ according to a Ministry of Electronics & IT statement here.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs has also sent an exhaustive recommendation for blocking these malicious apps. This Ministry has also received many representations raising concerns from citizens regarding security of data and risk to privacy relating to operation of certain apps.
The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) has also received many representations from citizens regarding security of data and breach of privacy impacting upon public order issues.
Likewise, there have been similar bipartisan concerns, flagged by various public representatives, both outside and inside the Parliament of India. There has been a strong chorus in the public space to take strict action against Apps that harm India’s sovereignty as well as the privacy of the citizens.
On the basis of these and upon receiving of recent credible inputs that such Apps pose threat to sovereignty and integrity of India, the Government has decided to disallow the usage of certain Apps, used in both mobile and non-mobile Internet enabled devices, the statement maintained.
New Delhi, Jun 29: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued new guidelines for Unlock 2.0 on late Monday evening, directing the schools, colleges, Metro and cinema halls to remain closed till July 31.
‘After extensive consultation with the States and UTs, it has been decided that schools, colleges and coaching institutions will remain closed till July 31, 2020,’ the new guidelines said.
According to the new norms, the Cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums, assembly halls and similar places, social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious functions and other large congregations will remain closed till July 31.
International air travel has been permitted in a limited manner under the Vande Bharat mission. Further opening up will take place in a calibrated manner, whereas domestic flights and passenger trains have already been allowed in a limited manner. Their operations will be further expanded, also in a phased manner.
Night curfew timings are being further relaxed and curfew shall be in force from 2200 hrs to 0500 hrs. Further, relaxations in night curfew have been given for seamless operation of industrial units in multiple shifts, movement of persons and goods on National and State Highways, loading and unloading of cargo and movement of persons to their destinations after disembarking from buses, trains and airplanes.
Shops, depending upon their area, can have more than five persons at a time. However, they have to maintain adequate physical distance.
Training institutions of the Central and State Governments will be allowed to function with effect from July 15, 2020. The Standard operating Procedure (SOP) in this regard will be issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, added the new norms.
Death toll spikes to 16,475
New Delhi, Jun 29: After witnessing a sharp spike of 19,459 cases in the past 24 hrs, India’s Covid-19 tally has neared 5.5 lakh-mark, Union Health Ministry said on Monday.
The total number of confirmed cases across the country now stands at 5,48,318 with 16,475 patients losing their battle to the pandemic after 380 deaths were recorded since Sunday.
Meanwhile, as many as 3,21,723 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far. The recovery rate that is improving day by day against the active cases now stands at 58.67 per cent.
At present, there are 2,10,120 active cases pan India that are 1,11,603 less than the total recoveries.
According to the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), 82,98,362 samples have been tested all over country for the virus till Sunday.
New Delhi, Jun 29: New guidelines for Unlock 2.0 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday evening, stressed on the strict enforcement of lockdown norms in all containment Zones across the country.
‘The Lockdown shall continue to be implemented strictly in Containment Zones till July 31, 2020. Containment Zones are required to be carefully demarcated by the State, UT Governments, with a view to contain the spread of COVID-19, after taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW).
‘Within the containment zones, strict perimeter control shall be maintained and only essential activities allowed,’ the new guidelines said.
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, June 29: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir P K Pole Monday said that the administration in Kashmir is busy in thorough consultations with the stakeholders and experts to frame Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for resuming public transport and re-opening tourist places in Kashmir.
“We are working on the SoPs and hectic deliberations are on with the stakeholders and the officials from the administration about resuming public transport in Kashmir and re-opening of the tourist places in the Valley,” Pole told KINS.
He said that the final conclusion is yet to be arrived at but once the SoPs are finalized, “announcement will be made.”
Similarly, the Divisional Commissioner said that discussions are on the re-opening of tourist places across Kashmir. “Final decision will be taken soon,” he said.
Transporters have been seeking resumption of commercial transportation while other sectors have been opened up following easing of the lockdown over covid-19. The government has recently accepted their demand for a fare hike but they have been pushing for the resumption. The public transport has remained off the road since March 15 in the wake of lockdown announced over the Covid-19 pandemic. It is true that staying indoors during the global pandemic was meant to save a huge number of lives including the most vulnerable. But such confinement always threatened the livelihood of many vulnerable and one worst sector has been the transporters without any doubt.
Recently, the government held various sessions as regards teaching the drivers and conductors about the precautions, safeguards and SOPs to be followed in view of the pandemic. As and when they are allowed to resume the business, the transporters must be ready to understand and live up with the reality that it cannot be business as usual. The government by not rushing to the resumption despite growing demands has done a better thing as a proper ramping up of the transport system is needed. It is true that answers to questions like can COVID-19 spread through public transport systems are difficult to reply but the possibility of the spread in this regard cannot be ruled out entirely. Public confidence is also needed to be restored as fears of crowd infections still loom large. In absence of the transport, the commuters prefer travelling in private modes like two-wheelers and auto rickshaws even as sumo services have been restored on some limited routes. The government, it seems is aware that about the problem of contact-tracing if somebody contracts the disease while there may be many asymptomatic people among the travelers.
There is also need to consider and address hand contact with common surfaces that are well-known to cause significant COVID-19 spread. There should be guidelines and proper awareness to address all the related issues. If an infected including asymptomatic person deposits viral particles on vulnerable surfaces, and another person grabs the same spot even briefly, the viral particles could be picked up by their hand. The second person could later deposit the particles on his/her face. People should be made aware about it and the precautions that are required to be taken. Actions are needed from both authorities and the public to keep the public transport systems safe.
Precious Kashmir was registered in 2014. Today Precious Kashmir can well and truly take pride in the legacy of its work, and in its contribution towards the building of a free and fair Press in J&K state.
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