Month: October 2024

The Jammu Kashmir Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has passed a resolution partially denouncing the decisions of August 5, 2019, urging the Central Government to restore statehood to the region. Passed during the Cabinet’s inaugural meeting on Thursday, the resolution calls for the reinstatement of Jammu Kashmir’s statehood, a status that was revoked in August 2019 when the region was split into two Union Territories—Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh—following the abrogation of Article 370. The move highlights ongoing efforts to address governance and autonomy issues in the region. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah plans to deliver the resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, seeking prompt action on restoring statehood. The meeting, attended by Deputy Chief Mini...

Days after its formation, the Jammu Kashmir Government has allocated portfolios to the newly appointed ministers. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary will manage Public Works (R&B), Industries & Commerce, Mining, Labour & Employment, and Skill Development. Javed Ahmed Rana has been assigned the departments of Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs. Satish Sharma will be responsible for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science & Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services & Sports, and ARI & Trainings. Javid Ahmad Dar will oversee Agriculture Production, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election. Sakeena Itoo will handle Health & Medical Education, School Ed...

The Meteorological Department Srinagar on Thursday said the weather is expected to become generally cloudy from 24th October, with light rain in lower areas and light snow over isolated higher reaches, mainly in the evening and night. "The weather forecast for Jammu and Kashmir from 17th to 22nd October 2024 predicts generally dry conditions across the region," the MeT department said, adding that there are no significant weather events expected during this period, with clear and dry weather likely to prevail. "However, on 23rd October, the weather is expected to become generally cloudy with the possibility of light rain in lower areas and light snow over isolated higher reaches, particularly in the evening and night," it said, adding that this change in weather is likely to affect s...

The Jammu Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Mubarak Ahmad Ganie, Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Public Works Department (R&B) Division Sopore, for accepting a bribe of ₹25,000 from a local contractor. The arrest followed a complaint that Ganie had been demanding a 2% commission as a bribe to process the contractor’s bill. According to the complainant, who is overseeing the construction of a Lecture Block (G+2) at the Government Degree College (GDC) Sopore, AEE Ganie demanded a 2% commission on the current bill and previously cleared bills as a condition for processing the payment. Despite the Junior Engineer (JE) having prepared and checked the 8th running bill, Ganie refused to forward it for payment without receiving the bribe. Unwilling to comply, the...

Omar Abdullah, who recently took the oath as the Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, presided over his administration’s first cabinet meeting today. During the meeting, Abdullah, leader of the National Conference (NC), and his team addressed key governance challenges. They discussed administrative priorities, including streamlining processes, improving public services, and ensuring transparency within the bureaucratic system. The cabinet's agenda emphasized crucial areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and job creation. Abdullah’s return to leadership comes after a prolonged period of political instability in the region. He also held preliminary discussions with secretaries and officials at the Civil Secretariat to enhance coordination between the executive and b...

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to consider a petition, seeking a time-bound restoration of statehood to Jammu Kashmir. According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan file the application before three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, requesting it be listed. Sankaranarayanan highlighted the need for a time-bound restoration of statehood in the Article 370 matter and asked for an urgent hearing. The chief justice agreed to consider the request. The application was filed as a miscellaneous application in the case related to Article 370 of the Constitution, where the Supreme Court had upheld the abrogation of Jammu Kashmir's special status. Although the court did not directly rule on the constitutionality of the...

Several CRPF troopers were injured in aa road accident in Pakherpora area of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Thursday morning, officials said. An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that a CRPF vehicle fell down in a gorge near Khaygam crossing in Pakherpora today morning. He said that several troopers were injured in the incident. "They have been evacuated to a nearby hospital for treatment," he said—(KNO)