Jammu Kashmir admin is set to introduce building bylaws for rural areas under Halqa Panchayats through the ‘J&K Building Permission (Rural Areas) Procedure, 2025’. Officials claim that the framework, currently being finalised, will regulate all rural construction, including new buildings, extensions, and alterations, by requiring mandatory approvals. The new rules will not apply to urban, municipal, or tourism authority zones. At a high-level meeting chaired by Mohammad Aijaz Asad, Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, officials said the framework derives its authority from Section 12 (2)(iv) of the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 and Rules 155 and 156 of 1996, which empower Halqa Panchayats to regulate construction. Describing the move as “transformational,” ...

The Vande Bharat Express between Katra and Srinagar has received overwhelming public response following its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with full bookings reported for the next ten days, railway official said. Speaking to local news agency JKNS, Station Superintendent at Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Railway Station, Jugal Kishore Sharma said that the newly inaugurated Vande Bharat Express, flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has received an overwhelming response from the public. “There is tremendous excitement among the public. The demand has been so high that there are no seats available for the next 10 days,” Sharma said. Talking about the route, he said, “It’s a new and scenic route, and people are thrilled to travel on it. There is a festive atmosphere amon...

A Tata Mobile vehicle was allegedly set on fire by unidentified persons during the night in Daromdora Keegam area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district. “The vehicle, bearing registration number JK13C-9939, belonged to Bilal Ahmad Dar, son of Riyaz Ahmad Dar, a resident of Daromdora. The vehicle was parked when unknown individuals allegedly torched it under mysterious circumstances, they said,” police said. Police have taken cognisance of the incident, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause and identify those involved. (JKNS)

Samples collected from sick residents of a remote village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu  Kashmir's Rajouri district have tested positive for E. coli, a senior doctor said on Tuesday. Rajouri Chief Medical Officer Manohar Lal Rana said a massive public outreach is underway in the affected Kotli hamlet to make residents aware about water contamination and ways to prevent it. Over 50 people have reported symptoms of gastroenteritis and diarrhea in the past 10 days in the tribal village, which lacks access to tap water and depends solely on natural sources like wells. Sixteen of them were admitted to Government Medical College, Rajouri, with 14 discharged after successful treatment so far. "A total of 11 samples of water consumed by locals were collected, and E. coli presenc...

Bandipora Police on Tuesday evening registered a case after a group of boys were found involved in obscene acts in the main market area, causing nuisance. Acting on credible inputs, a swift police action was taken with the presence of an Executive Magistrate on the spot. In a statement issued here to news agency JKNS reads, after receiving inputs from reliable sources that some obscene acts are taking place and causing nuisance in main market Bandipora. Taking cognizance, police Bandipora reached the spot along with Executive Magistrate and apprehended few boys performing obscene act at the said place. No girl was involved or apprehended in this case, it reads. Case FIR registered under relevant sections of Law in P/S Bandipora. Media personnel are advised to refrain from posting ...

The Jammu Kashmir Police have registered a case against businessman Sandeep Mawa for allegedly obstructing government functionaries in the discharge of their duties and furnishing false information. The case has been filed at Police Station Kothibagh under FIR No 31 of 2025. Officials told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that Sandeep Mawa son of Roshan Lal Mawa has been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 including Section 192 of BNS which pertains to the act of providing false information to a public servant, Section 353(1)(b) of BNS which relates to the use of criminal force or obstruction to deter a public servant from discharging official duties, Section 353(1)(c) of BNS which deals with endangering the life or safety of a public servant or others d...

Minister for Education Sakeena Itoo, on Tuesday, said that the cabinet sub-committee on reservations has drafted its report and the issue will be taken during the next cabinet meeting. "The Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine the issue of reservations has drafted its report within the stipulated timeframe of 6 months. The report will be placed before the Cabinet when it meets," Sakeena Itoo said. Prior to the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Jammu Kashmir had its own distinct legal framework, which the central government claimed did not fully adhere to national reservation norms. However, the most significant change to the region's reservation structure came not immediately after 2019, but through the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, introduced ...