July 2021 | Page 4 of 7

What the Constitution says about the dismissal of govt employees in Kashmir

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Editor

The charges against the sacked staffers range from propagating and promoting the secessionist ideology of Jamat-e-Islami, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, and their sponsors in Pakistan, to informing militants about the movement of security forces. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has dismissed 11 Jammu and Kashmir government employees for alleged terror links under provisions of Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution. The employees include two sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin. Constitutional provisionArticle 311 of the Constitution deals with ‘Dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Union or…

13 July 1931 Martyr’s Day: A historical perspective, When 22 were martyred to complete Zohar Azaan

July 14, 2021July 14, 2021 Editor

The Kashmir Martyrs’ Day is observed on July 13, every year to commemorate the sacrifice of the 21 Kashmiris, who were killed outside the Srinagar Central Jail by the troops of Dogra Maharaja in 1931 during a revolt. There is a background to this painful event, which continues to be memorialized. Kashmiris have been oppressed since 1846 when the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir was created and despite having an over 95pc Muslim population, the state was sold by the British East India Company to Hindu Maharaja Gulab Singh…

13 July 1931 Martyr’s Day; Roads leading to venue sealed, Unionists forced to hold closed-door function

July 14, 2021July 14, 2021 Editor

As the authorities in Kashmir sealed off the martyrs’ graveyard in the old city area to prevent people and political parties from assembling to commemorate the killing of 22 people by Dogra forces on this day in 1931, political parties observed the day at their offices. The National Conference leaders including Dr. Farooq Abdullah paid tributes to the martyrs at the party office. “We pay our humble tributes to the Martyrs of July 13, 1931. Their sacrifices will always be remembered. We observe this day to reiterate our commitment to…

Won’t contest Polls until both constitutions are applied: Mehbooba Mufti

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 Editor

Replying to a question on contesting elections and becoming a chief minister, she said the PDP has several capable people and not just Mehbooba Mufti alone. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti said on Monday that she will not contest elections until both the constitutions of India and the former state are made applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.“Personally, it (abrogation of articles 370 and 35-A) is very emotional for me. I contested the first election taking oath under the constitutions of India and state. I took both flags in…

COVID Negative report, Vaccine mandatory for tourists visiting district Anantnag

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 Editor

The district administration of Anantnag in south Kashmir said the visitors to public parks and tourist spots will be permitted only upon producing vaccination certificates and COVID-negative reports to combat the spread of the virus. Authorities in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir have made a COVID-19 negative report and vaccine certificate mandatory for visitors to tourist places, including the famous resort of Pahalgam, in the district to prevent the resurgence of coronavirus, officials said on Sunday. The district administration of Anantnag in south Kashmir, which is home to…

The only motive behind the Article 370 move seems to loot J&K: Mehbooba Mufti

July 13, 2021July 13, 2021 Editor

The former chief minister also said there is no policy to restore UT’s economy with rising unemployment and inflation. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti hit out at the Central government on Monday over the economy of the Union territory and the recent dismissal of government employees. She said abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution that granted special status to the erstwhile state seemed to have been carried out to rob Jammu & Kashmir of its resources. “It seems the only…

Rains bring relief from scorching heat in J&K, Cloudburst triggers flash flood in Ganderbal

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Editor

After reeling from days of scorching heat, moderate to heavy rains last night brought some relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. News agency GNS quoted Director Meteorological Department, Sonam Lotus, saying that rains occurred on expected lines and more were in store for both Kashmir and Jammu regions. “As expected very heavy shower occurred at many places of plains of Jammu whereas moderate shower (has been) reported at many places of Kashmir and hilly area of Jammu,” he said, adding, “Today, the weather will remain overcast…

Dismissal of govt staffers ‘Criminal’: Mehbooba Mufti

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Editor

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday questioned the dismissal of 11 government staffers from service on charges of support to terror outfits. Mufti termed the development as “criminal” and “a punishment to the people of Kashmir”. She said the government continued to disempower locals. “The Government of India continues disempowering people of Jammu and Kashmir in the garb of pseudo nationalism by trampling upon the Constitution that ought to be upheld. The abrupt dismissal of 11 government employees on flimsy grounds is criminal. All policy…

Abandoning Darbar Move; Why? Why Not?

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Editor

Haroon Reshi Taking important decisions regarding Jammu and Kashmir in a hurried manner has become a new norm since New Delhi bifurcated the state into two Union Territories (UTs) and revoked its internal autonomy on August 5, 2019. Since then a range of political and administrative decisions was taken by just issuing circulars or statements either from Home Ministry in Delhi or Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) office in J&K. On June 20, LG Manoj Sinha, in a public address announced the ending of Jammu & Kashmir’s 149-year-old ritual of ‘Darbar Move’…

Suicide: A nightmarish trend

July 10, 2021July 10, 2021 Editor

Kulgam youth commits suicide, Budgam boy ends his life, Kupwara boy kills himself, 16 year old consumes poison, 35 year old hangs himself, boy jumps into river and ends his life. 18 year old boy from Baramulla ends his life. Woman commits suicide by jumping into Jhelum. These are the headlines flooding every news channel and social media. Shahid Shabeer Malik Apart from COVID-19, a new epidemic in the form of suicide has erupted in Kashmir. From the past few weeks, there has been a sudden rise in the number of…