Year: 2017

Don’t use ‘Political Influence’ for transfers, Govt warns staff

Editor

Drawing flak for affecting more than 2,100 premature transfers during the last 21 months, the ruling PDP-BJP coalition today warned all government employees to refrain from bringing undue political interference or other outside influence on the superior authorities on the matters pertaining to transfers and postings. The state government has candidly admitted that the transfers and postings of government officials and officers were earlier being affected on the grounds of political interference or outside influence. “It has been observed that some government employees (officers and officials) of different services get…

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Victims of Art 370, 35-A vow to intensify legal battles

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Unperturbed after being dubbed as “anti-nationals” by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, victims of Article 370 and Article 35-A vowed to intensify the ongoing legal battles to get these, what they called, “inhuman” constitutional Acts abolished so as to live a “dignified” life. A group of West Pakistani refugees, comprising Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Valmikies of J&K and some local women married outside J&K, have challenged Article 370 and Article 35-A in different courts as there is a feeling among these groups that they are being deprived…

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Geelani shifted to ICU after chest pain, stable at SKIMS Soura

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Malik, Mirwaiz visit Soura Pak HC Abdul Basit calls over phone to ailing leader; Malik, Mirwaiz visit Soura Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani was Wednesday night admitted to SKIMS, Soura, here for treatment after he complained of severe chest pain. “The ailing leader is now stable and feeling better,” a spokesman of the Hurriyat (G) in a statement today, said, appealing people to pray for his speedy recovery. “Late Wednesday night, Syed Ali Geelani complained of massive chest congestion and pain. He was immediately rushed to SKIMS, Soura,…

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Indus Water Treaty survival appears weak: UN Report

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The 40-year-old Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has been an outstanding example of conflict resolution but scarcity of water in the basin states since the early 1990s has brought the agreement under strain and its survival appears weak, according to a UN report. “The treaty fails to address two issues: the division of shortages in dry years between India and Pakistan, when flows are almost half as compared to wet years, and the cumulative impact of storages on the flows of the River Chenab into Pakistan,” said the…

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Kashmir Valley braces for another spell of Snowfall, Rains

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Kashmir is bracing for another spell of heavy snowfall and rain this weekend, Skymet Weather reported Thursday. The weather portal reported that after a brief respite, famous hill stations of Srinagar, Manali, and Shimla are all set to witness another spell of rain and snowfall on the weekend. It said the fresh Western Disturbance is approaching Western Himalayas, which is presently marked over Afghanistan and adjoining parts of Pakistan. “The system is gradually moving in east direction towards Jammu and Kashmir,” it said. The report said that at present, the…

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Chemists across Jammu went on 72-hour strike in district

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More than 1,000 chemist shops remained closed in the city and district today as the Jammu Chemist Association has called for strike till Saturday. The chemists’ association alleged that the health department of the state government had allowed non-state subjects to open shops inside all the district hospitals and Government Medical College of the Jammu region. “The department has accepted the tenders of a non-state subject, which is against the law. We feel this was purely done in lieu of exchange of favours,” said Naveen Bali, president, Jammu Chemist Association.…

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Mehbooba Mufti reluctant to clarify, BJP looks for way out

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As Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti appears to be reluctant not to publicly retract her statement in which she dubbed all opponents of the Article 370 as “anti-national”, the “humiliated” BJP is looking for a “way out” to face its core constituency in the Jammu region. Fearing that Chief Minister’s speech on the floor of the Legislative Assembly would demoralise the committed cadre of the party, BJP leaders are trying to create an impression among party workers that the intention of Chief Minister was not to humiliate Sangh Parivar. Reliable sources…

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Mayhem over Mehbooba Mufti’s remark on Art 370, House adjourns sine die

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Oppn MLAs uproot mikes, throw chairs; marshal injured in melee Amid high-voltage drama and scenes of vandalism over “expunging” of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s remarks on Article 370, the state Legislative Assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday — six days ahead of schedule. According to the revised notified calendar, the Assembly was to function until February 7, but the Speaker Kavinder Gupta announced adjournment of the House sine die following unprecedented pandemonium, violent protests and damage to furniture by the Opposition, comprising National Conference and Congress legislators. The NC…

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One-way traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway Resumes

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After four days of closure, the highway was restored for one-way traffic from Sunday and vehicles were allowed to move from Jammu to Srinagar One-way traffic will be allowed on the Srinagar- Jammu highway on Monday, a traffic department official said. After four days of closure, the highway was restored for one-way traffic from Sunday and vehicles were allowed to move from Jammu to Srinagar.

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18 Daesh terrorists killed in Turkey’s operations in northern Syria

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Turkish forces have killed 18 Daesh terrorists during operations in northern Syria over the past 24 hours. According to a statement released by the Turkish army on Sunday, some 130 terrorist targets, including hideouts, defense positions, headquarters, weapons and vehicles were also shelled in the operations. Turkish fighter planes also carried out raids against various terrorist-held positions in al-Bab, destroying ammunition depots, checkpoints, tunnels and nine buildings. Earlier in the month, Russia announced that Turkish jets had joined the anti-Daesh operations in Syria’s al-Bab. The statement noted that the US-led…

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