HC Miffed Over Tardy Action on Unhygienic Meat Sale in J&K: Public Health, Accountability & The Fight for Safe Food

HC Miffed Over Tardy Action on Unhygienic Meat Sale in J&K: Public Health, Accountability & The Fight for Safe Food

Judicial Rebuke: A Wake-Up Call from the Bench By: Javid Amin | 10 September 2025 The Jammu and Kashmir High Court recently came down heavily on the administration for failing to act against the rampant sale of unhygienic meat and poultry across the Union Territory. The court described official responses as “cosmetic”, highlighting that reports filed by departments lacked both substance and seriousness. The Bench minced no words when it observed: “There may be officers who will do nothing, but you as amicus file your response in writing and also…

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340 Kg of Unlabeled Meat Seized at Srinagar Airport: Inside Kashmir’s Risky Food Trade

340 Kg of Unlabeled Meat Seized at Srinagar Airport: Inside Kashmir’s Risky Food Trade

A Risky Trade in Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 07 September 2025 On September 7, 2025, enforcement officials at Srinagar Airport made a startling discovery—340 kilograms of unlabeled meat stashed in the cargo section, ready for distribution in the Valley. The consignment had no labels, no manufacturer details, no billing, and no traceability. It wasn’t rotten. It wasn’t smuggled across borders. Yet it was illegal, unsafe, and unaccounted for. The seizure wasn’t just about meat—it exposed a shadow food supply chain in Kashmir, where traders gamble with law and public…

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Stray Dog Menace in Srinagar: A Public Health Emergency, Governance Failure & Moral Dilemma

Stray Dog Menace in Srinagar: A Public Health Emergency, Governance Failure & Moral Dilemma

Stray Dog Menace in Srinagar: A Growing Crisis of Public Health, Safety & Compassion By: Javid Amin | 19 Aug 2025 Srinagar’s Stray Dog Dilemma Early mornings in Srinagar are beautiful—mist rolling off the Dal Lake, shopkeepers raising shutters in Lal Chowk, children rushing to schools with their backpacks, and the aroma of freshly baked kulchas drifting from bakeries. Yet, there’s another sight that has now become inseparable from the city’s daily life: packs of stray dogs wandering the streets, loitering near garbage dumps, chasing bikers, or sleeping on pavements.…

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Supreme Court Orders Stray Dog Removal in Delhi-NCR, Calls for Similar Action in Jammu & Kashmir

Supreme Court Orders Stray Dog Removal in Delhi-NCR, Calls for Similar Action in Jammu & Kashmir

Supreme Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs from Delhi Streets; Urges Action in Jammu & Kashmir By: Javid Amin | 11 Aug 2025 In a significant shift in India’s animal control policy, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the removal of all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR within eight weeks, citing alarming public safety risks. The decision marks a departure from the long-standing Animal Birth Control (ABC) program’s sterilize-and-release method, replacing it with a capture-and-shelter approach. The Court’s Directives: A Tough New Framework The two-judge bench, comprising…

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Heatwave Crisis in J&K: Officials Advise Precautionary Measures

Beat the Heat: Srinagar Administration Warns of Heat-Related Illnesses

Srinagar District Magistrate Issues Advisory Amid Heatwave Conditions Srinagar, May 21, 2025 : As temperatures continue to rise sharply across Jammu & Kashmir, the District Magistrate Srinagar has issued a public advisory to safeguard residents from the prevailing heatwave conditions. The advisory, released by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), urges people to take precautionary measures to prevent heat-related illnesses and ensure public safety. Key Recommendations for Residents The advisory outlines essential steps to help residents cope with the extreme heat: Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water, lemon juice, and buttermilk…

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Kashmir’s Growing Drug Crisis: A Deep Dive Into the Valley’s Hidden Epidemic

Kashmir's Growing Drug Crisis: A Deep Dive Into the Valley's Hidden Epidemic

The Shadow Pandemic: Understanding Kashmir’s Drug Crisis By Javid Amin | May 12, 2025 Eighty-two kilometers from Srinagar, nestled among the majestic Himalayan foothills, 23-year-old Javaid (name changed) sits in a small rehabilitation center. His sunken eyes and trembling hands tell a story that has become increasingly common across the Kashmir Valley. Three years ago, he was a promising engineering student. Today, he’s fighting a desperate battle against heroin addiction. “It started with charas (cannabis),” he recalls, his voice barely audible. “Then pills, and finally, heroin. Before I knew it,…

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Public Outrage and Substance Abuse Crisis Drive Liquor Ban Movement in Kashmir

Public Outrage and Substance Abuse Crisis Drive Liquor Ban Movement in Kashmir

Three Bills and a Public Campaign: Why the Valley is Seeing Growing Calls for a Liquor Ban Srinagar 01 March 2025: Ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s Budget Session starting on March 3, calls for a liquor ban have been growing stronger in the Union Territory. This movement is driven by concerns over rising drug addiction and social media posts showing apparently drunk tourists, which have added to the public’s worries. However, the debate is complex, as the region also benefits from rising revenues from excise and tourism. Bills…

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Strengthening Rural Healthcare: Omar Abdullah’s Key Focus at Medicon-25

Strengthening Rural Healthcare: Omar Abdullah's Key Focus at Medicon-25

Chief minister Omar Abdullah, on Friday, strongly emphasised upon strengthening healthcare sector in the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The CM said that to ensure healthcare in rural areas, young doctors have to contribute their bit because they have lesser responsibilities compared to senior doctors. Chief minister Omar Abdullah, on Friday, strongly emphasised upon strengthening healthcare sector in the rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing “Medicon-25”, a medical conference held here, Omar said, “We have to try and ensure that our doctors simply don’t practice in cities. I know…

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Shiv Sena Demands Ban on Liquor Sale in J&K

Shiv Sena Demands Ban on Liquor Sale in J&K

Shiv Sena seeks ban on liquor sale in J&K The Jammu and Kashmir unit of Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday held a protest demonstration and demanded complete ban on the sale of liquor in the Union Territory. The protest comes in wake of MLAs from three political parties submitting private members’ Bills for enforcing alcohol ban across J&K ahead of the Assembly session scheduled from March 3. Led by party’s UT chief Manish Sahni, demonstrators held placards against liquor sale and demanded immediate ban due to presence of many holy…

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J&K’s Fertility Rate Falls Below Replacement Level: What’s Next?

J&K's Fertility Rate Falls Below Replacement Level: What's Next?

Low Fertility Rate in Jammu and Kashmir: A Cause for Concern By: Javid Amin Srinagar, February 8, 2025 – The fertility rate in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has been steadily declining over the years, raising concerns about the region’s demographic future. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in J&K is 1.4, significantly lower than the national average of 2.0 and well below the replacement level of 2.1. This trend suggests that the region’s population is shrinking rather than maintaining a stable growth rate,…

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