Month: September 2015

Centre paid ‘peanuts’ to flood victims: HC

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Union Finance Ministry asked to submit response by October 6 Observing that the Centre has so far paid “peanuts” as relief to flood-hit people of the state, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court today directed the Union Finance Ministry to file it response by October 6 about the pending amount as far as Rs 44,000-crore relief package sought by the state was concerned. The directions by a Division Bench of Justice NN Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat came after the Union Home Ministry informed the Bench in its…

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Traders’ body flays govt for imposing tax on chopper service to Vaishno Devi

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The Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) today alleged that J&K was being subjected to “tax terrorism” and the government was “harassing” flood-hit traders by levying service tax on chopper service to the Vaishno Devi shrine. “The government has subjected the state to tax terrorism. On the one hand, the Sales Tax Department has started harassing flood-hit Valley traders through undue crackdown on shopkeepers and on the other hand, service tax is being levied on pilgrims,” KTMF president Haji Mohammed Yasin Khan said in a statement. He said these developments…

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Separatists defy HC ban, call for beef consumption on Eid

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The Jammu and Kashmir High Court order banning the sale of beef has irked the separatists and Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani has called for protest and a day-long strike in the Valley against the court’s decision on Friday. Media reports on Thursday quoted Geelani as saying, “The high court’s decision is an interference into the matters of Muslims.” “On Friday, protest will be held across the state against the decision. And on Saturday, complete shutdown will be observed in the Valley,’’ Hurriyat Conference, (G) spokesman said while quoting Geelani. The…

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Ban pvt practice by govt doctors during working hours: J&K panel

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A Committee of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has asked the state government to ensure complete ban on private practice of doctors during “office hours” and closure of all unregistered medical shops and illegal sex determination centres in the state. “A committee of Legislators suggested the Government to ensure the doctors do not do private practice during office or working hours. It also suggested closure of all unregistered medical shops and illegal sex determination centres under the PCPNDT Act,” an official spokesperson said today. The suggestions were made at a…

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CM launches ‘Model School Scheme’ in J&K

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Aiming at providing quality education for all, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday launched the ‘Model School Scheme’ by inaugurating the state’s first government model school in Basohli. “I am happy we are making a new beginning from Basohli and Jammu, from where we will take this movement to other parts of the state,” Sayeed said. “We have launched a new movement for providing quality education to students. Unless we make strides in the education sector, we cannot progress on any other front,” he said. “The education sector received a…

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Youths who uploaded militant photos let off after counselling

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Nearly a dozen students, detained by the police for allegedly uploading pictures and videos of militants on social networking sites, have been handed over to their parents after counselling. The youths, mostly in the age group of 16 to 19 were detained in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district earlier this month after the police registered a case under the Unlawful Activities Act at the Awantipora police station against unknown men for uploading videos and photos of militants on social networking sites. “During investigations, we detained nearly a dozen students who were…

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Govt to develop Srinagar cricket stadium as world-class facility

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State soon to get Rs 200 cr from Union Sports Ministry Minister for Youth Services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari today said the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here would be developed as a world-class sports facility. Ansari also said Rs 200 crore would soon be released by the Union Sports Ministry. The minister was addressing the inaugural function of the Super 16 Iqbal Khumanie (R A) Memorial Invitational T-20 Tournament at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium. The tournament, organised by the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA), will witness 64 teams from Srinagar city…

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Photo of policeman carrying BJP MLA on back goes viral

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A photo of a BJP MLA climbing on the back of his personal security officer (PSO) to cross a rivulet has gone viral on social media in Jammu and Kashmir. Justifying his action, the legislator said that the PSO has been employed by the government to help him. “This is not misuse of the power, the government has employed the PSO to help me, what is wrong if he helped me cross the rivulet,” Krishan Lal told reporters today. In the picture, the legislator from Chhamb Assembly seat, is seen…

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Militants dare security establishment, conduct patrols in Kashmir

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The terrorists took to social media to spread the message of jihad and to persuade the youth to join their movement. These videos surface at a time when Director General-level talks between border security forces of India and Pakistan are being held in Delhi. There have been reports of nearly 300 terrorists belonging to outfits like Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad waiting for opportunities to sneak into India from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). According to sources, a dossier that was prepared by India to be handed over by National Security Adviser…

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J&K High Court bans sale of beef

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Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday imposed ban on sale of beef in the state. A Division Bench of State High Court comprising Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal today banned sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir. The ban came after a  Public Interest Litigation against cow slaughter filed by Advocate Parimoksh Seth. The PIL said that slaughtering or killing of bovine animals were an offence punishable under Section 298-A and possession of such slaughtered animal an act punishable under Section 298-B of the RPC. After hearing senior advocate Seth’s…

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