Govt extends time for completion of inquiry in KVIB Appointments

The government on Friday extended the time for completion of inquiry into alleged unfair appointments made in the Khadi Village & Industries Board (KVIB) earlier this year. According to an order issued by the GAD, the time of inquiry has been extended by one month. A three-member committee headed by R K Goyal, principal secretary Home department, is conducting inquiry into the selection process which was marred by allegations of blatant nepotism and favoritism. The appointments had created a massive controversy last month, with netizens and political quarters questioning the…

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PM Narendra Modi likely to visit Leh on May 19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Leh on May 19 to address a public gathering to mark conclusion of the birth centenary celebrations of 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, the architect of modern Ladakh. The Prime Minister will address the gathering at Polo Ground, Leh. Minister for Cooperatives and Ladakh Affairs Chering Dorjay said the programme of the Prime Minister’s visit had almost been finalised. “The public function will be jointly organised by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, and Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) to mark the…

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Don’t allow vested elements to disturb peace: Mehbooba Mufti

Hailing the people of Jammu for upholding the values of brotherhood and amity despite severe provocations, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday appealed to the people to carry forward this tradition of social inclusion and not let any vested elements cause any wedge between communities. Interacting with the members of the civil society here in the evening, the Chief Minister praised the people of the Jammu region for upholding harmony and brotherhood despite severe provocations and defeating the evil designs of miscreants who are out to divide the people. She…

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Jammu sizzles at 40°C, hotter days ahead

Temp likely to touch 43°C by May 1; power cuts haunt locals The weather in Jammu is getting hotter by the day with the maximum temperature touching 40°C on Friday. As per the weather advisory issued by the agromet division of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (SKUAST-Jammu), the temperature could cross 43°C on May 1, if the dry conditions persist. SKUAST, Jammu, agrometerology division in charge Mahender Singh said, “This is the expected pattern during the period as the entire northern region is experiencing dry and hot…

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Hoteliers from across Kashmir pledge to counter negative publicity

The J&K Hoteliers’ Club held its quarterly extraordinary general meeting here at Vivanta by Taj, where the members passed a resolution to ‘safeguard Kashmir tourism from negative publicity’. “The club passed the resolution to put all its efforts to stop negative publicity by the national media at all forums. It decided to call upon the national print and electronic media heads to safeguard Kashmir tourism from negative publicity,” a statement issued by the club here on Friday said. It said the members of the club, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Kargil…

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After Cow, now Donkey issued hall ticket to write exam in J&K

Two years after a cow was issued an admit card to write an examination in Jammu and Kashmir, a hall ticket has apparently been issued to a donkey to appear for a recruitment test for naib tehsildars. A prankster seems to have got an “admit card” issued by Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board in the name of ‘Kachur Khar’ (brown donkey) to write the paper scheduled for Sunday. A photograph of the “admit card” is being widely circulated on Twitter and Facebook. The admit card has the animal’s photograph…

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Two Kashmiri students arrested from Punjab for hacking 500 websites

Delhi Police on Friday arrested two Kashmiri students from Punjab who were involved in hacking over 500 Indian websites, including those of the government, police said. The accused have been identified as Shahid Malla, a CSE student at Aryan Group of College in Punjab’s Rajpura and Adil Hussain Teli, a BCA final year student at St Soldiers Management and Technical Institute in Jalandhar. They are natives of Baramulla and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir. “Following a tip-off, Shahid Malla and Adil Hussain Teli were arrested on Friday when a…

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Will transfer Kathua gangrape case at slightest hint of unfair trial: Supreme Court

Supreme Court said the Kathua gangrape and murder trial should be fair not only for the accused but also for the victim’s family. It has also ruled out a CBI probe. The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it might move the case of an eight-year-old girl’s gang rape and murder out of Jammu’s Kathua in case it concludes that a fair trial of the suspects is not possible there. “Fair trial is the consideration and we are concerned with the interest of the victim and accused. If we find…

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Take up procurement of machinery for deweeding in Cabinet: HC to Govt

The High Court has directed the government to re-submit the proposal for procurement of machinery for de-weeding Dal lake here to the state cabinet. “Memorandum of submission approved by the competent authority and already placed before the cabinet shall be re-submitted by the competent authority so that appropriate decision in-keeping with the requirements is taken,” a bench of Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir and Ali Muhammad Magrey said. Hearing a Public Interest Litigation on conservation of Dal lake, the court held that keeping in view the timeline for procurement and utilization…

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BJP reluctant to rein in Lal Singh, stop his anti-govt rallies

Even as the outspoken party legislator Choudhary Lal Singh has stepped up attacks on Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the ruling BJP appears to be not in mood to “rein in” its former forest minister. Although some ministers have been mounting pressure on the party to stop Lal Singh from directly attacking the CM, the leadership is convinced that he has, so far, not indulged in any anti-party activity or indiscipline which warrants action.“There is no reason, so far, to take action against Lal Singh, who is the party’s prominent leader,”…

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