Srinagar, Jun 15: A leading Pulmonologist and Head of Department (HoD), Chest Disease Hospital (CDH), Srinagar Dr Naveed Nazir Shah has now tested negative for COVID-19 and sent to home quarantine as per government guidelines.

Dr Shah, one of the top healthcare workers leading from the front in the fight against COVID-19, had tested positive on June 1 for the virus and sent for quarantine. His sample was taken earlier during the day and report was given in the evening.

He has now tested negative and sent for home quarantine as per official guidelines for people who recover from the disease.

However, his positive test was challenged by some people who termed it an ”excuse” to avoid performing duty against the virus.

The doctor later took to twitter and said, “ But am saddened by some reporting my report has been feigned to avoid duties … I will be the last person to do that … I m in quarantine n working from here … available for all possible deliverable services “.

“ I’m overwhelmed and deeply humbled by the wishes of all my known and unknown well wishers praying for my recovery… tested positive.. followed #protocol and got #admitted … thank you everyone .. remember in prayers”, he said.

The senior doctor in a series of tweets had urged the government to prepare a scientific Standard Operating Procedure ( SOP) for duties and testing of all frontline workers to safeguard all.

“Request to administration for preparing a scientific SOP for duties and testing of all frontline workers to safeguard all ,” the doctor further tweeted.

He said seeing the volume of asymtomatics, periodic testing be made mandatory for all health care workers especially working in covid hospitals in LABS and COVID WARDS…HEALTHCARE ASYMTOMATIC CARRIERS CAN BE DANGEROUS”.

About 5050 have so far tested positive in the Jammu and Kashmir, out of which 2593 are active. However, about 2390 have recovered and discharged while 61 have so far lost their lives to virus.

> Probation period of appointees reduced to 2 years

> Jitendra Singh compliment LG Murmu for prompt response
> Historic decision, no fresh appointments under SRO-202, says Kansal

Srinagar, June 15: In a significant decision, the Administrative Council of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Friday decided that no new appointments in Jammu and Kashmir will be made under SRO-202.

The Administrative Council which met here today approved the recommendations of a high-powered committee headed by Chief Secretary.
In its recommendations, the committee suggested that no new appointments will be made under SRO-202. It also recommended that probation period for all appointees under SRO-202 will be reduced to two years.

Earlier Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Monday called up Union MoS Dr Jitendra Singh and conveyed that SRO 202 provision of five years of probation period for new recruits in government service has been reduced to two years.

SRO 202, was a provision in erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir government for new recruits.

Dr Singh wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter, “LG #JammuAndKashmir Sh Murmu just now called up to convey that as suggested to him, #SRO202 will not be indicated in new recruitment rules and for the existing appointees under SRO202.”

“The probation period has been reduced to two years. Must compliment him for prompt response,” wrote the Union MoS.

Meanwhile Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal, who is also the J&K Government Spokesman tweeted, “Administrative Council chaired by LG G C Murmu takes historic decision. No fresh appointments under SRO202.”

“Probation period of old appointees reduced from 5 to 2 years. Massive step toward employee welfare,” he tweeted.

The development comes almost a week after Dr Singh said that erstwhile SRO 202 scheme, compulsory five years probation for government employees, was incompatible in the newly created Union Territory,

“Dr Jitendra Singh has said that SRO-202 is not compatible with the new scheme of things and is needed to be re-visited following which the administration initiated the process,” sources in the administration here told UNI on Monday.

“District-wise data is being collected and the exercise is almost completed,” sources said and added that number of employees posted under SRO 202, financial implications and other liabilities are being reviewed and under consideration.

Earlier Dr Jitendra Singh was when contacted telephonically said, “we appreciate LG Girish Chandra Murmu regime in J&K for considering to re-visit the issue.”

“There should be no politics on this issue at the cost of youth,” Dr Singh reiterated.

He further said that interviews for jobs, particularly for the lower and Non-Gazetted posts, have been abolished to end malpractices in recruitment.

“It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had first suggested abolition of interviews in recruitment during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of Red Fort,” Dr Singh recalled.

Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued orders for the abolition of interviews from January 1, 2016 but the government in the erstwhile State of J&K did not implement this rule, which has now become applicable and all the future recruitment in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh for these posts will be based purely on the written test merit, while the skill test will only be a qualifying test and not carry any marks.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad

Srinagar, June 15: The macdamization of roads in Jammu and Kashmir has come under the scanner with Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) seeking details from both Roads and Buildings divisions about the works of macadamization allotted, executed in the previous four years.

Official sources revealed to news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that there are allegations there were numerous procedural violations made in the allocation of macdamization works. “The government was informed that several roads have started developing potholes that were executed from 2015 to 2018 and many got damaged within weeks,” sources said.

“After receiving several complaints the government had directed ACB to look into the matter,” a senior official said.

Taking serious note of complaints, now Anti- Corruption Bureau (ACB) has sought reports from chief engineers of Jammu as well as Kashmir division about the status quo of construction works that were executed from 2015 to 2018.

The ACB letter addressed to Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B) Department Jammu in possession of KINS reads, “In connection with the probe, you are requested to provide the information as per enclosed format in respect off works of macdamization allotted/ executed in PW(R&B) department with effect from 01-01- 2015 to 31-12- 2018 of all the divisions under your administrative control.  The complete record (i.e DPR, e-NIT, copy of AAA, technical sanction, allotment order, Bill vouchers, M Books, & work registers and test reports) are required immediately”.

“You are requested to kindly provide the same for the expedition disposal of the case. Matter is most urgent” it reads.

In a similar letter addressed to executive engineer R&B division Baramulla, sopore GDA Magam, Uri, Ganderbal, Handwara, Kupwara, Tanghdar, Bandipora, sumbal the ACB has sought year wise details along with supporting documents like complete tender fil, allotments/ approvals, supplementary agreement, M books, work registers, bills and vochers (Properly indexed) with regard to the macdamization works carried out in respective divisions during the period 01-01-2015 to 31-12-2018.

“The requisite information may please be provided by 15.06-2020 positively through concerned dealing hands well versed with records. Matter most urgent”.

Meanwhile according to another letter addressed to Executive engineer R&B division Chadoora/ construction division 2nd Srinagar Bandipora Kashmir also in possession of KINS, the ACB has said, “Kindly refer subject cited above in this regard, it is requested that to provide the nominal roll along with full particulars including phone No’s of engineers who had remained associated with the execution of the work (list already submitted) to this office within three days positively”.

“More over the assistant executive engineers who have executed the said works be informed to attend this office positively”.

Chief Engineer R&B, Kashmir Sami Aarif confirmed to KINS that the ACB has sought details and accordingly they were preparing a response in it. “Yes we have received the letter from the ACB and we will submit all the details shortly,” he said.

Interestingly the Jammu and Kashmir Contractors’ Coordination Committee (JKCCC) has said that there pending billis mostly in R&B department were not cleared by the government.In Kashmir division, Roads and Buildings Department owes Rs 364 crore under different heads to contractors.

“Contractors are being harassed on one pretext or the other. Government framed engineers committee who submitted report on pending liabilities. Later a team of the Finance Department conducted its own audit and submitted a report to the government. Now the government is saying the Anti-Corruption Bureau will hold its own audit. Contractors are being asked to submit technical sanction and administrative approval documents of works. But the government has never given contractors any administrative approval since 1965. Where will we get the administrative approval,” Chairman J&K Contractors’ Coordination Committee, Ghulam Jeelani Purza said.

Nasir Azam

Srinagar, June 15: The government on Tuesday ordered appointment of RR Swain, an IPS officer of 1991 batch, as new intelligence chief of Jammu & Kashmir.

Swain, who held key positions in the erstwhile state of J&K at the peak of militancy, returned to J&K after spending more than 10-years in the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)

Before proceeding on central deputation, the IPS officer held key positions including district police chief of both Srinagar and Jammu. He also served as Deputy Inspector General of State Vigilance Organization, which is now known as Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has also empaneled him earlier this year to hold ADGP or equivalent post at the Centre. It is worthwhile mention here that news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) had reported few days ago that Swain has returned from Central deputation.

According to an order issued by Home department, RR Swain, awaiting orders of posting in the Home Department, is posted as ADGP (CID), J&K, vice Dr. B. Srinivas.

Dr. B. Srinivas is transferred and posted as Commandant General, HG/CD/SDRF and shall also hold the charge of the post of Director Fire & Emergency Service, J&K, in addition to his own duties, till further orders, relieving V.K Singh of the additional charge of these posts.

According to the order, Deepak Kumar, ADGP, Railways, J&K, has been transferred and posted as MD, Police Housing Corporation He has also been directed to hold the charge of the post of ADGP, Railways.

‘We feel suffocated, aren’t able to attend last rites of our parents, our children are denied admission in schools, husbands are jobless, 2010 policy was a trap’

Abid Bashir

Srinagar, June 15: Scores of brides from Muzzafarabad  Monday staged  here and urged the Government of India to repatriate them back along with their husbands and children or to give them citizenship rights so that they can live with dignity.

In 1990, hundreds of youth went across the LoC for arms training but changed their mind there and ended up in various jobs both private and government. Majority of the Kashmiri youth who deserted their families and went across LoC didn’t pick up arms and soon after getting jobs, they married women in other Kashmir, majority of whom belonged to Muzaffarabad.

In 2010, the then Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah announced surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy for the youth willing to return from other side of LoC along with their families and children. Taking advantage of the policy, some 450 youth along with their wives and children returned to their homes.

However, all the youth who came back under the policy remained under the radar of security agencies, while their wives and children faced immense issues especially citizenship rights. Ten years on, these ill-fated women continue to protest to seek the citizenship rights for them and their children stating that “Government of India should repatriate them or else given them citizenship rights so that they can live with dignity.”

Today, they staged a protest at press colony Srinagar to press again for their demands. “My father passed away and I could see him for the one last time. I have no travel documents, my passports has expired a long back. We aren’t even given the citizenship rights, tell us where would we go,” Mishbah, who originally hails from Muzaffarabad told KNO.
Another woman protestor, who identified herself as Safiya, a resident of Muzafarabad said that she married a Kashmiri man and came to Valley along with her three children. “Today situation has reached a point where I feel suffocated to an extent that at times I want to go for self-immolation,” she said. “My sister got married in Muzaffarabad and I wasn’t able to participate in her marriage. Earlier, my relatives died there and I couldn’t even visit them and see them for the last time.”

Toiba, another woman, is married to a Kashmiri man in Baramulla district. “First, we find it very difficult to gel with the Kashmiri families (in-laws) as we can’t speak Kashmiri language. Somehow, we managed to settle down but then our husbands were denied jobs both in private and government sectors and our children were denied admissions in schools on the pretext that they were born in other side of LoC and had birth certificates from Pakistan administration.”

She termed the 2010 surrender-cum rehabilitation policy a trap. “We didn’t get even a single benefit mentioned in the policy. Majority of women are suffering from depression and many have tried to commit suicide,” she said, adding that the policy had promised incentives to their husbands but to date, not a single penny has been provided by the government.

The protesting women made a fervent appeal to the Prime Minister Narendera Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan to issue them the travel permit so that they can return to Muzafarabad. “We don’t feel safe here and we don’t want to live in the hell anymore. We urge PM Modi and PM Khan to get us out of this living hell as soon as possible,” they said, adding that “If this isn’t possible, we should be given citizenship rights at least and travel permits so that we could visit our parents in Muzaffrabad at least once a month or twice in six months.”

Many protesting women also complained that some of them have been divorced by their husbands and are now living in rented accommodations. “We are homeless at present and somehow we are managing our room rent. We will keep on protesting till we are sent back,” they said—(KNO)

Tasaduq Hussain

Srinagar, June 15: The authorities in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir have decided to re-open Mughal Road from Tuesday for ferrying fresh fruit only while as it has barred the movement of other vehicles completely and asked the concerned officials to ensure all the necessary measures are followed in letter and spirit.

According to an official communication the authorities have decided to allow the movement of vehicles transporting fresh fruits from the Valley to other parts of the county.

It states that the vehicles carrying fresh fruits like, cherry, peach, plum and apricot to other states will be allowed to move from Tuesday and directed all the concerned officials to ensure all the safety measures and precautions are followed.

The rules furnished by authorities include in the official communique states  that no passenger vehicle will be allowed, deputy commissioner  and CMO Shopian have been directed to establish a health check-up centre while SSP  traffic will have to establish a  check checkpoint at Dobjan/ Peer Ki Gali.

It says a recovery van at Peer Ki Gali and upper alignment of Mughal road for removal of stranded vehicles, operational weighing bridge at Shopian and  4×4 or machinery sound and vehicles should not be overloaded but the load permissible should be carried.

Driver with experience of hilly road should be allowed while he should only be a conductor with him besides that it has also furnished the timing for vehicles from 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM only, says the official communique.

It has directed Superintendent of police to obtain road clearance certificate from chief engineer, Mughal road Kashmir on daily bases before allowing any vehicle to ply.

New Delhi, June 15: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday appealed to the political parties in Delhi to keep aside the differences, rising above politics and put up a combined fight against the pandemic and work for the benefit of the people here.

Chairing a meeting of all political parties on the COVID-19 situation in the national capital, Shah told leaders that we all have to stand united under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this fight against the pandemic, and the unity amongst different parties for this cause will instill confidence in the public and will also help bring the situation in the capital back to normal.

“I appeal workers of all political parties to ensure that decisions taken by the Central Government in the interest of the residents of Delhi are implemented in earnest at the ground level,” Shah said.

Shah stressed on stepping up the testing capacity in the national capital, and added that the testing needs to be increased and improved with the use of new techniques.

He also informed the leaders from different parties who attended the meeting about the key decisions taken during a meeting convened by him on Sunday, and appealed to all political parties to ensure that decisions are implemented in earnest at the ground level.

Shah also asked the parties to mobilise their workers to help implement the decisions taken by the Central Government for the welfare of the people of Delhi.

Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Sanjay Singh, Delhi Congress Chief Chaudhary Anil Kumar, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, and representatives of the Bahujan Samaj Party’s Delhi Unit attended the meeting and gave their suggestions and proposals.

All the party representatives assured full support to the Central government, Delhi government and the civic agencies.

Later, Home Minister also paid a visit to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital in the city which is one of the important COVID hospitals in the national capital.

Shah met the hospital staff, interacted with the doctors taking review of the arrangements made at the hospitals in view of the COVID situation and treatment of the COVID patients that is being undertaken at the institution.

India summons Pak’s Charge d’affaires

New Delhi, June 15: India on Monday summoned Pakistan’s Charge d’affaires Syed Hyder Shah and issued a demarche on the reported arrest of two Indian High Commission officials in Islamabad, sources said.

In the demarche, it was specifically made clear to the Pakistani charge de affaires that there should be no interrogation or harassment of the Indian officials.

“The responsibility for the safety and security of the concerned diplomatic personnel lay squarely with the Pakistani authorities,” it added.

It also asked to return the two officials along with the official car to the High Commission immediately.

The Indian staffers, identified as a CISF security official and a driver, were arrested today, as per Pakistani media reports.

The incident comes days after two Pakistani officials at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi were accused of espionage and deported.

The two officials, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, were caught by Delhi Police while they were obtaining sensitive documents.

The two expelled Pakistani officials worked with the visa section of the high commission in the national capital.

India had also expelled the driver of the expelled Pakistani operatives, Abid Hussain and Muhammad Tahir, as he was also involved in the spy ring.

Ever since India expelled the Pakistan operatives, Islamabad has registered strong protest and even summoned the Indian envoy to express dissatisfaction.

Recently, an Indian diplomat was also harassed in Pakistan by men associated with ISI.

The ISI men waited outside Indian Charge d’Affaires Gaurav Ahluwalia’s residence and then followed his cars, trying to intimidate him.

Aqib Ahmad

Srinagar, June 15: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by PDP leader and former minister Nayeem Akhtar, seeking quashing of a defamation case filed against him and the party colleague Nizamuddin Bhat in 2010 by then government for accusing the Chief Minister of the time, Omar Abdullah, of receiving kickbacks in allotting Rattle Power project.

The defamation case was filed by the government through then the Public Prosecutor Abdul Aziz Teli before Principal District and Sessions Judge Srinagar, seeking action against the PDP leaders under Sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (Punishment for defamation) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) for levelling “false and baseless” accusations, at a presser on 25 August 2010, against Omar that he received kickbacks to the tune of Rs 500 crore in the allotment of Rattle power project. The PDP leaders have been also accused to have made a defamatory allegation regarding exorbitant expenditure incurred on the construction of official residence of the Chief Minister and pilferage of certain priceless antiques from the State Toshakhana.

The trial court took cognizance of the complaint on 29 September 2010 and issued process besides bailable warrant in the amount of Rs.20,000 each for securing presence of the PDP leader, according to GNS.

Feeling aggrieved of the proceedings, Akhtar moved the high court, seeks quashment on the “edifice” of case and grounds taken in petition by the Public Prosecutor. He had prayed the high court to quash the proceedings in exercise of extraordinary and inherent power 561-A CrPC (equivalent to Section 482 of the Central CrPC), to prevent abuse of the process of court and to otherwise secure the ends of justice.

Senior lawyer Jahangir Iqbal Ganai, representing Nayeem Akhtar, submitted that the complaint has led to “serious abuse of process of court” as allegations if taken at their face value and accepted in their entirety, do not prima facie constitute any offence or make out a case against his client. “Whatever the petitioner (Akhtar) averred, was asserted in good faith which squarely falls under Eighth Exception of Section 499,” he had argued, according to Global News Service.

Senior Assistant solicitor General B A Dar on the other handed stated that complainant (public prosecutor) has made out a “triable case” and “at this juncture veracity of evidence cannot be gone into.”

“To prove good faith for protection of interest of a person making it, it is he, who makes or contends good faith has to prove and this is a premature stage to consider the material placed by complainant,” he said, adding, “One of the accused, Nizam ud din Bhat against whom process has also been issued, has not challenged the order nor has he joined petitioner (which also calls for the dismissal of the present petition)”.

After hearing both the sides, a bench of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul dismissed Akhtar’s plea being “bereft of any merit.”  The court asked the parties to appear before the Trial Court on July 20.

Srinagar, June 15:  Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon today said government is committed to facilitate private investors to invest in education sector through Education Investment Policy-2020 (EIP-2020).

He was speaking at a meeting convened to discuss implementation of EIP-2020 with several private stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Talat Parvez Rohella; Directors of School Education Jammu/Kashmir and Chairperson J&K Board of School Education, Veena Pandita via video conferencing.

Mission Director, Skill Development Department, besides several private stakeholders also attended the meeting.

Threadbare discussions were held while seeking inputs from the investors to establish private colleges and universities and to explore opportunities to attract private investors for the same.

The meeting also discussed various suggestions from the prospective investors and it was informed that in this regard an empowered ‘Single Window Clearance Body’ would be made operational soon for granting time bound approvals and clearances for setting up of new private schools/ residential schools / colleges/technical education institutes/ universities etc.

Principal Secretary said that universities have a great role to play in skill development and the need of the hour is to work in tandem with the industrial demand.

While welcoming investment in education sector, Mr. Samoon said that the government is committed and wants to create conducive atmosphere for creation of state-of-art educational ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir by fostering the spirit of creativity and nurturing a culture of scientific temper and critical thinking.

Maintaining that there is scope for the establishment of private universities in J&K, Dr Samoon said there is a need to attract the investors for the establishment of these private universities.

On the occasion, the private investors also gave their inputs and suggested several measures to raise the educational standards in J&K while maintaining that they are ready to invest in the education sector through the EIP-2020.

During the meeting, the investors informed that they are planning to target local students who seek admissions in colleges and universities outside J&K besides attracting students from across India and abroad as well.

Meanwhile, Dr Samoon chaired another meeting to review the functioning of drinking water supply and other utilities in the government schools across J&K.

Commissioner Secretary PHE, Ajeet Kumar Sahu; Directors of School Education Kashmir/Jammu Mohammad Younis Malik, Anuradha Gupta and Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Jammu, Sanjeev Chadha participated in the meeting via video conferencing.

The meeting was also attended by the officers of Jal Shakti Department Kashmir.

Principal Secretary stressed upon the officials to provide better hygienic facilities in all the government schools so that the student ratio can be increased.

Dr Samoon further impressed upon the officials to provide drinking water and toilet facilities in dry zone areas of Jammu region which may face scarcity of water during the peak summer season. He also asked the officers to expedite all the PHE related works in the schools and fix the targets of completion of work in due time.

Director School Education Jammu informed the meeting that all the schools which have been provided drinking water facilities have been linked with U-Dise code for verification purpose.

Director School Education Kashmir informed the meeting that in Kashmir valley the drinking water facilities and other utility services have been completed in 1286 schools till date.