Srinagar, Jan 9: The University of Kashmir (KU) on Friday announced winter vacations for its main and satellite campuses from January 10 to February 22 of 2026. Registrar Kashmir University Prof Naseer Iqbal confirmed about the development. "The university shall observe winter vacations from January 10 to February 22, 2026,ā Registrar KU said. Notably, the varsity administration earlier announced vacation for students stating that the winter vacation for faculty will be announced within days. The winter vacations were delayed for the faculty of the University in view of the Convocation scheduled in January, as earlier notified by the varsity administration. The University administration in a notification issued earlier had said the 21st Convocation of the University will be held in the last week of December 2025. However, a KU official said that the dates were not finalised as the varsity could not receive the confirmation about the Chief Guest for the occasion. Meanwhile, Registrar KU said that as and when the varsity will receive the confirmation about the chief guest and the final dates, the event will be held accordingly. "Vacations will not be any hurdle in it," he said.
Srinagar, Jan 9: In a landmark decision, the Ladakh administration has ordered omission of the non-transferable clause in regularisation ofĀ Teacher Grade II and III teachers, bringing relief to hundreds of teachers in the region. The government order, issued on January 8, 2026, comes in wake of a directive from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, which ruled that Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers should be treated on par with General Line Teachers for transfer purposes. The ReT scheme, launched in 2000, aimed to decentralize elementary education management. Although the scheme was closed in 2018, ReT teachers continued to serve under the erstwhile scheme. In 2019, they were regularized as Teacher Grade II and III, with a non-transferable clause except on a mutual transfer basis. The CAT judgment, citing a previous case (Jyoti Gupta & Ors. vs. School Education Department & Ors.), directed the Ladakh administration to treat ReT teachers like General Line Teachers, enabling transfers within districts. The government order has sanctioned the omission of the non-transferable clause, effective immediately, allowing Teacher Grade II and III teachers in Ladakh to avail transfers as per General Line Teacher service conditions. This move is expected to boost teacher morale and address long-standing grievances. Education activists hail the decision as a significant step towards improving the education sector in Ladakh. Notably, the ReT scheme was formally closed in 2018 by the erstwhile State of J&K and all advertisement notices, issued for engagement of ReTs were cancelled, with an enabling provision that the ReT teachers already engaged under the scheme prior to the closure of the Scheme, shall continue to be governed by the erstwhile scheme till their regularization or otherwise; "The enabling provisions of the Rehbar-e-Taleem Scheme, in terms of Govt. Order No. 396 dated 28.04.2000 read with Govt. Order No: 919-Edu of 2018 dated: 16.11.2018 provided that the ReTs engaged under the scheme were to be regularized as āRegularised Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers (RReTs)ā after completion of five years of continuous service," the government order reads. Also, the government order issued in January 2019 and July, 2019, the Government of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir subsequently created the cadre of Teacher Grade-II and Teacher Grade-III for the purpose of streamlining salary and related issues of Graduate and Under Graduate āRegularised Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers (RReTs)ā respectively. "After bifurcations of the erstwhile State of J&K into Union territory of J&K and Union territory of Ladakh, the UT of J&K vide order issued in April 2021 has allocated 1083 supernumerary posts to Ladakh for transition of the RReTs as Grade II & Garde III Teacher," the order reads. In terms of Clause 3 (a) of the Govt. Order issued in 2019, among others, provide that the service conditions of the Regularized ReT Teachers, as Teacher Grade- II and Teacher Grade-III shall beĀ same as prescribed for the General Line Teachers with the exception that they shall not be transferable except on mutual transfer basis on other posts of other ReT Teachers on case-to-case basis and on the merit of each case. "After apportionment of manpower between the two UTs, representations were received in the Department from Teacher Grade -II/III for merger of cadre of Teacher Grade-II and Grade III with General Line Teacher and omission of the non- transferable clauses of government order issued in 2019," the order reads. The administration of UT Ladakh constituted a committee for examining the transfer policy for RReTs (Grade-II/III Teachers) and the Committee submitted its report with recommendations that all service conditions of General Line Teachers including the transfer within districts may be extended to Teachers Grade II and Teacher Grade-III "The matter was also examined by the General Administration Department, UT of Ladakh and it was advised that the non-transferrable clauses, as appeared in Government Order No: 20- Edu of 2019 and No: 243-Edu of 2019 dated: 16.07.2019 may be omitted through an administrative instruction in order to permit transfer of the RReT teachers," reads an order issued by Administrative Secretary School Education Department (SED) of Ladakh Bhanu Prabha. The matter was under examination in the Department, some Regularized Rehbar-e-Taaleem Teachers approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu. "In compliance with the directions of the CAT, sanction is hereby accorded to the omission of the non-transferrable clauses and the said clause shall be deemed to have been omitted in respect of Regularized Rehbar-e-Taleem Teacher of Ladakh appointed at Teacher Grade II and Teacher Grade III, after their appointment to the UT of Ladakh and are serving in Ladakh," the order reads.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the UriāBaramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. āThere is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,ā he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. āGrouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,ā DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. āOnce the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,ā he said. Over the past few weeks, the UriāBaramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The BaramullaāUri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the BaramullaāUri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main BaramullaāUri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated KhadniyarāGantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Minister for education, Sakina Itoo on Thursday said that politics in the name of religion was unfortunate and warned against such attempts aimed at dividing people for political gains. She said that such practices have weakened the region over time. Sakina Itoo said that society was increasingly witnessing divisions being created under various pretexts, including religion and professional identities. āSometimes people are divided in the name of religion, sometimes in the name of education, doctors or other issues. This kind of politics is unfortunate,ā she said. She said that political engagement should remain issue-based and constructive. āThere are many areas where politics can be done. We can have standardised criticism, talk about development and discuss education-related issues. But religion should not be brought into politics,ā the education minister said. She expressed concern over the present situation and said such divisions were rarely seen in the past. Referring to the political status of the region, she said Jammu and Kashmir had historically remained united as a State. āJammu and Kashmir has been one state. Today it is a Union Territory, which is unfortunate. We do not have a State, though it should have been one even today,ā she said. She further added that internal divisions had contributed to the erosion of powers once enjoyed by the region. She said repeated attempts to divide people harmed Jammu and Kashmirās unity and status. āBecause we wanted to divide people, we destroyed many of our powers and damaged an old state,ā she said. She called for unity and humanity and urged people to keep religion separate and move forward collectively. She also highlighted the responsibility of the education sector in shaping young minds. āThe education departmentāboth school and higher educationāmust ensure quality education and promote positive thinking among children, not negative thinking,ā Itoo said.
Srinagar, Jan 9: The University of Kashmir (KU) on Friday announced winter vacations for its main and satellite campuses from January 10 to February 22 of 2026. Registrar Kashmir University Prof Naseer Iqbal confirmed about the development. "The university shall observe winter vacations from January 10 to February 22, 2026,ā Registrar KU said. Notably, the varsity administration earlier announced vacation for students stating that the winter vacation for faculty will be announced within days. The winter vacations were delayed for the faculty of the University in view of the Convocation scheduled in January, as earlier notified by the varsity administration. The University administration in a notification issued earlier had said the 21st Convocation of the University will be held in the last week of December 2025. However, a KU official said that the dates were not finalised as the varsity could not receive the confirmation about the Chief Guest for the occasion. Meanwhile, Registrar KU said that as and when the varsity will receive the confirmation about the chief guest and the final dates, the event will be held accordingly. "Vacations will not be any hurdle in it," he said.
'I have complete faith in our Youthās potential, their resolve to shape a developed India' Jammu, Jan 7: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Wednesday, virtually, flagged off a 53-member Youth Contingent from UT of Jammu Kashmir for New Delhi to participate in the 29th National Youth Festival-Viksit Bharat Young Leadersā Dialogue-2026. To commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda on 12th January, the National Youth Festival (NYF) dedicated to youth empowerment and unity for the youth is organised annually. In the year 2025, the National Youth Festival was restructured as Viksit Bharat Young Leadersā Dialogue to align with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.Ā The contingent selected for the Viksit Bharat Challenge Track and Cultural/Innovation Track will represent J&K at the prestigious national event at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 10th to 12th January 2026. Interacting with the participating youth through virtual mode, the Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes for the prestigious event. He congratulated the participants for emerging from local competitions to reach the national stage, noting that their journey reflects the immense potential inherent in the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. āYouth is not a matter about age. It is the mindset. It is about courage, curiosity, and the power to bring about change. I have complete faith in our Youthās potential and their resolve to shape a developed India,ā the Lieutenant Governor said. Invoking Swami Vivekanandaās iconic clarion call, āArise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached,ā the Lieutenant Governor urged the youth to make their dreams the sole purpose of their lives and to consider every challenge on the way as a lesson in discipline and patience. He emphasized that true leadership is defined not by personal achievements, but by the ability to create opportunities for others. āYour greatest responsibility is towards society and the nation. True progress is about creating opportunities for others to move forward. Develop future capabilities, focus on character building and embrace lifelong learning. Be bold, be fearless, think beyond boundaries. Your courage, discipline, clarity, and determination, combined with the experience will be your guide in this journey toward Viksit Bharat,ā the Lieutenant Governor told the Youth. Commissioner Secretary to Government Youth Services and Sports Yasha Mudgal, Director General Youth Services and Sports Anuradha Gupta, senior officials, participating youth and officials accompanying the Contingent were present.
Srinagar, Jan 9: In a landmark decision, the Ladakh administration has ordered omission of the non-transferable clause in regularisation ofĀ Teacher Grade II and III teachers, bringing relief to hundreds of teachers in the region. The government order, issued on January 8, 2026, comes in wake of a directive from the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, which ruled that Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) teachers should be treated on par with General Line Teachers for transfer purposes. The ReT scheme, launched in 2000, aimed to decentralize elementary education management. Although the scheme was closed in 2018, ReT teachers continued to serve under the erstwhile scheme. In 2019, they were regularized as Teacher Grade II and III, with a non-transferable clause except on a mutual transfer basis. The CAT judgment, citing a previous case (Jyoti Gupta & Ors. vs. School Education Department & Ors.), directed the Ladakh administration to treat ReT teachers like General Line Teachers, enabling transfers within districts. The government order has sanctioned the omission of the non-transferable clause, effective immediately, allowing Teacher Grade II and III teachers in Ladakh to avail transfers as per General Line Teacher service conditions. This move is expected to boost teacher morale and address long-standing grievances. Education activists hail the decision as a significant step towards improving the education sector in Ladakh. Notably, the ReT scheme was formally closed in 2018 by the erstwhile State of J&K and all advertisement notices, issued for engagement of ReTs were cancelled, with an enabling provision that the ReT teachers already engaged under the scheme prior to the closure of the Scheme, shall continue to be governed by the erstwhile scheme till their regularization or otherwise; "The enabling provisions of the Rehbar-e-Taleem Scheme, in terms of Govt. Order No. 396 dated 28.04.2000 read with Govt. Order No: 919-Edu of 2018 dated: 16.11.2018 provided that the ReTs engaged under the scheme were to be regularized as āRegularised Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers (RReTs)ā after completion of five years of continuous service," the government order reads. Also, the government order issued in January 2019 and July, 2019, the Government of the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir subsequently created the cadre of Teacher Grade-II and Teacher Grade-III for the purpose of streamlining salary and related issues of Graduate and Under Graduate āRegularised Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers (RReTs)ā respectively. "After bifurcations of the erstwhile State of J&K into Union territory of J&K and Union territory of Ladakh, the UT of J&K vide order issued in April 2021 has allocated 1083 supernumerary posts to Ladakh for transition of the RReTs as Grade II & Garde III Teacher," the order reads. In terms of Clause 3 (a) of the Govt. Order issued in 2019, among others, provide that the service conditions of the Regularized ReT Teachers, as Teacher Grade- II and Teacher Grade-III shall beĀ same as prescribed for the General Line Teachers with the exception that they shall not be transferable except on mutual transfer basis on other posts of other ReT Teachers on case-to-case basis and on the merit of each case. "After apportionment of manpower between the two UTs, representations were received in the Department from Teacher Grade -II/III for merger of cadre of Teacher Grade-II and Grade III with General Line Teacher and omission of the non- transferable clauses of government order issued in 2019," the order reads. The administration of UT Ladakh constituted a committee for examining the transfer policy for RReTs (Grade-II/III Teachers) and the Committee submitted its report with recommendations that all service conditions of General Line Teachers including the transfer within districts may be extended to Teachers Grade II and Teacher Grade-III "The matter was also examined by the General Administration Department, UT of Ladakh and it was advised that the non-transferrable clauses, as appeared in Government Order No: 20- Edu of 2019 and No: 243-Edu of 2019 dated: 16.07.2019 may be omitted through an administrative instruction in order to permit transfer of the RReT teachers," reads an order issued by Administrative Secretary School Education Department (SED) of Ladakh Bhanu Prabha. The matter was under examination in the Department, some Regularized Rehbar-e-Taaleem Teachers approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Jammu. "In compliance with the directions of the CAT, sanction is hereby accorded to the omission of the non-transferrable clauses and the said clause shall be deemed to have been omitted in respect of Regularized Rehbar-e-Taleem Teacher of Ladakh appointed at Teacher Grade II and Teacher Grade III, after their appointment to the UT of Ladakh and are serving in Ladakh," the order reads.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the UriāBaramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. āThere is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,ā he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. āGrouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,ā DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. āOnce the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,ā he said. Over the past few weeks, the UriāBaramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The BaramullaāUri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the BaramullaāUri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main BaramullaāUri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated KhadniyarāGantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Minister for education, Sakina Itoo on Thursday said that politics in the name of religion was unfortunate and warned against such attempts aimed at dividing people for political gains. She said that such practices have weakened the region over time. Sakina Itoo said that society was increasingly witnessing divisions being created under various pretexts, including religion and professional identities. āSometimes people are divided in the name of religion, sometimes in the name of education, doctors or other issues. This kind of politics is unfortunate,ā she said. She said that political engagement should remain issue-based and constructive. āThere are many areas where politics can be done. We can have standardised criticism, talk about development and discuss education-related issues. But religion should not be brought into politics,ā the education minister said. She expressed concern over the present situation and said such divisions were rarely seen in the past. Referring to the political status of the region, she said Jammu and Kashmir had historically remained united as a State. āJammu and Kashmir has been one state. Today it is a Union Territory, which is unfortunate. We do not have a State, though it should have been one even today,ā she said. She further added that internal divisions had contributed to the erosion of powers once enjoyed by the region. She said repeated attempts to divide people harmed Jammu and Kashmirās unity and status. āBecause we wanted to divide people, we destroyed many of our powers and damaged an old state,ā she said. She called for unity and humanity and urged people to keep religion separate and move forward collectively. She also highlighted the responsibility of the education sector in shaping young minds. āThe education departmentāboth school and higher educationāmust ensure quality education and promote positive thinking among children, not negative thinking,ā Itoo said.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Medical experts have underlined the decisive role of diet and nutrition in determining fertility outcomes for both men and women amid rising infertility concerns among couples in Kashmir. Doctors say food habits directly influence hormonal balance, reproductive health, and the quality of sperm and eggs. According to health experts, changing lifestyles marked by increased consumption of processed foods, sedentary routines and widespread nutritional deficiencies are increasingly contributing to fertility-related problemsāoften remaining unnoticed until couples seek medical intervention. Dr Shaheena Khan, gynaecologist at the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), said nutrition is among the most crucial yet neglected pillars of reproductive health. āDiet has a direct impact on fertility as it affects hormonal balance, ovulation, sperm production and the overall health of reproductive organs in both men and women,ā she said. She highlighted the strong connection between body weight and fertility, explaining that both obesity and being underweight can disrupt normal reproductive functions. āExcess body fat can cause hormonal imbalances and irregular ovulation, while being underweight may suppress ovulation altogether. Maintaining a healthy weight through balanced nutrition is essential for conception,ā she noted. Dr Shaheena further said diets rich in fruits and vegetables provide vital antioxidantsāsuch as vitamins C and E, zinc and seleniumāwhich help reduce oxidative stress, a major factor damaging sperm and egg cells. āIron is particularly important for women as it supports ovulation and lowers the risk of ovulatory infertility, while vitamin D plays a key role in reproductive hormone production. Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly being linked with infertility in both men and women,ā she added. Echoing similar views, gynaecologist Dr Javid Reshie said fertility is shaped not only by medical conditions but also by everyday lifestyle and dietary choices. āExcessive intake of alcohol and caffeine can negatively affect fertility, while trans fats found in processed and fast foods impair insulin sensitivity and ovulation,ā he said. Dr Reshie expressed concern over declining sperm quality among men, calling it an emerging public health issue. āA diet rich in antioxidants, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and healthy fats can significantly improve sperm count, motility and morphology. Men should avoid processed meats, sugary foods and excessive soy intake, as these can adversely affect testosterone levels,ā he said. For women, particularly those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), dietary choices play a crucial role. āA low-glycaemic-index diet helps regulate insulin levels and improves ovulation in women with PCOS, thereby increasing their chances of conception,ā he added. Both doctors stressed that fertility should be viewed as a shared responsibility between partners. They also emphasised the importance of preconception nutrition, even before couples plan pregnancy. āIncreasing infertility cases are not always linked to major diseases. In many instances, simple dietary corrections and healthy lifestyle changes can help restore reproductive balance,ā they said. The doctors advised adopting a nutrient-rich diet comprising fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, dairy, nuts, seeds and healthy fats, while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks and trans fats. āFor long-term reproductive well-being and infertility prevention, people must prioritise healthy eating habits, regular physical activity and timely medical consultation. Fertility begins with nutrition,ā they said. Doctors further pointed out that infertility is not solely a womanās issue, noting that up to 50 per cent of infertility cases involve male factors. āA balanced diet helps protect reproductive cells, maintain hormonal balance and improve overall fertility potential in both sexes,ā they added.
Baramulla, Jan 9: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla on Thursday said that the situation caused by the landslides on Ur-Baramulla was temporary and would be resolved once the excavation process of the road is completed. The statement comes amid the concerns over recurring landslides on the UriāBaramulla road due to ongoing road widening project being executed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Talking to Kashmir Square, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla Minga Sherpa said that such issues are common during the construction of hill roads and should not be viewed as an unusual development. āThere is no major issue. Whenever a hill road is constructed or widened, such problems are recurrent,ā he said. He further said that the slopes usually take time to stabilise after excavation. "The excavation process affects the natural stability of the hillside and it generally takes one to two years for slopes to fully stabilise," he said. Minga Sherpa said several slope stabilisation measures are already in place to minimise risks. āGrouting has been done and protective walling has also been constructed at several points,ā DC Baramulla told Kashmir Square. He further said that around 200 metres of excavation work is still pending on the stretch and the remaining cutting work is expected to be completed within a month. āOnce the excavation is finished, the BRO and concerned agencies will carry out full-fledged slope stabilisation measures. After that, such incidents will not occur again,ā he said. Over the past few weeks, the UriāBaramulla road, a vital link connecting the border town of Uri with Baramulla district witnessed intermittent traffic disruptions due to landslides triggered by excavation work, raising safety concerns among commuters. The BaramullaāUri National Highway remained closed on Thursday after another landslide struck the stretch - the third such incident reported in the last 20 days, causing severe inconvenience to commuters. A fresh landslide hit the highway on Thursday afternoon, forcing authorities to immediately halt traffic movement on the route as a precautionary measure. It was the third such incident in just 20 days on the BaramullaāUri National Highway, following two earlier slides that also triggered full traffic halts and diversions through alternate routes. Only emergency vehicles were allowed to pass, while all routine traffic was stopped to avoid any untoward incident. An official said the road clearance operations were launched soon after the incident, with personnel and machinery mobilised to remove debris and stabilise the affected area. "The highway was made motorable again from the evening hours," he said. The closure of the main BaramullaāUri National Highway compelled authorities to divert vehicles through the dilapidated KhadniyarāGantamulla road.
Srinagar, Jan 8: At least 1257 two-wheeler riders across Jammu and Kashmir have been identified for repeated violations of helmet norms, with over 1000 cases reported from the Kashmir division alone. The figures emerged during a data-driven traffic compliance review, highlighting a growing trend of habitual non-compliance with road safety regulations despite sustained enforcement and awareness campaigns. As per the official data revealed by Regional Transport Office (RTO) Kashmir, Srinagar district has topped the list with 1051 repeat offenders, making it the worst-performing region in terms of helmet compliance. Other districts recorded significantly lower numbers, including Budgam (52), Baramulla (19), Samba (19) and Pulwama (17). Smaller figures were also reported from Anantnag, Kupwara, Ganderbal and Bandipora. The RTO Kashmir on Thursday issued a public notice directing all two-wheeler owners in the Valley to clear pending challans within seven days, failing which strict legal action will be initiated under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The measures include suspension of registration certificates and driving licences, besides seizure of vehicles. āIt has come to the notice of the undersigned that several two-wheeler vehicles registered in districts under the Kashmir division are being plied on public roads in violation of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, particularly riders and pillion riders not wearing helmets,ā the notice reads. The data further reveals that many riders in Srinagar have been booked between five and eight times for the same offence, pointing to habitual violations. Officials said the trend reflects a serious disregard for road safety norms, especially in urban areas. āThis is not merely occasional non-compliance but a pattern of repeated violations, particularly in city limits,ā an official said. The RTO has warned that failure to clear outstanding challans within the stipulated timeframe will result in immediate enforcement action without any further notice. (KNO)
KS News Desk Baramulla, Jan 6:Ā Drug abuse has emerged as the biggest challenge in Jammu and Kashmir after terrorism, Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir Range (NKR), Maqsood Ul Zamaan said on Tuesday, asserting that police are taking sustained and strong action to curb the menace. Talking to reporters here, the DIG said police in North Kashmir have made significant progress against drug trafficking, with large quantities of narcotic substances recovered and several people arrested in recent months. He said many of the accused involved in drug-related offences have also been detained under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT NDPS) Act. āThe J&K Police cannot fight this battle alone. Public cooperation is crucial. Without the support of common people, achieving the desired success against drugs is not possible,ā Maqsood Ul Zamaan said. The DIG said police have also begun attaching and seizing properties of drug traffickers as part of efforts to dismantle the entire network and cut off financial links. Responding to a question on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs), Ul Zamaan said such tools are often misused to conceal illegal activities and that their misuse is being closely monitored as it could pose a threat to national security. On infiltration attempts in North Kashmir, the DIG said the region being a border area remains sensitive, but security agencies have put robust arrangements in place. āThe situation is under constant surveillance, and security forces are fully alert,ā he said. Zamaan reiterated that police would continue to intensify operations against drug trafficking while simultaneously seeking cooperation from the public to address the problem effectively.Ā (KNS)
Addresses teachers convention at Udhampur, hails then CM Dr. Farooq Abdullahās decision of introducing ReT scheme KS News Desk Udhampur, Jan 5:Ā Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo Monday addressed the One Day Convention of Teachers here, underscoring the pivotal role of teachers in shaping a progressive and enlightened society. Director School Education Jammu Naseem Javaid Choudhary, ACR Udhampur, Joint Director School Education Udhampur/Reasi, DSWO Udhampur, CMO Udhampur, CEO Udhampur, other senior officers of Education department and large number of teachers were also present on the occasion. Speaking to a large gathering of educators, the education minister lauded teachers as the true architects of building progressive society, stating that their contribution goes far beyond classrooms and textbooks. āTeachers play a decisive role in nurturing responsible citizens and strengthening moral and intellectual fabric of societyā, she said. The education minister called upon teachers to adapt to evolving educational challenges and adopt innovative teaching methods to meet the aspirations of the younger generation. She stressed that continuous professional development and value-based education are essential to keep pace with changing times. She lauded the teachers for their contribution to education sector and said that under the visionary leadership of then Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the revolutionary step of introducing Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme was initiated which changed the dynamics of school education sector in J&K. Ā She added that due to ReT scheme, students of far-flung areas, who couldnāt afford to move to cities for educational purposes, received education in their respective areas. She highlighted that the teachers need to be acknowledged for their contribution to the society, adding that the large number of IAS, IPS and JKAS officers have studied from government schools for which their teachers need to acknowledged. She emphasised the need to reform and strengthen the teacherāstudent relationship saying the mutual respect, trust and understanding must form the foundation of all educational institutions. She highlighted that some positive reforms need to be initiated for improving student-teacher relationship in educational institutions. She reiterated the governmentās commitment to improving the education sector and assured that sustained efforts are being made by the Omar Abdullah led government to upgrade infrastructure, enhance teaching standards and promote holistic learning across educational institutions of J&K. Addressing the gathering, Director School Education Jammu said the government has worked tirelessly from last one year for the development of education sector, particularly the change of Academic session, timely updation of seniority lists, conduct of DPCs and other related issues have been solved and some are under active consideration of the government. He highlighted that various reformative steps for the betterment of education sector are under process of the government, which will significantly improve the educational standards across Jammu and Kashmir. On the occasion, various teachers spoke and lauded the efforts of Government, especially education minister for various path breaking initiatives in education sector. They expressed gratitude to Minister for various decisions like change in academic session, regularisation of CPWs, posting of Principals and other teachers in various schools which was long pending issue, availability of textbooks in schools, timely updation of seniority lists as well as regular conduct of DPCs at all levels. On the occasion, the teachers also put forth some demands before the minister like provision of leave salary to teachers at the time of retirement, restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), withdrawal of teachers from non teaching assignments in other departments like Census, Surveys and others as well as timely disbursement of dues for Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme. On the sidelines of the Convention, the education minister distributed sewing machines among women beneficiaries of Social Welfare department. Ā She also distributed bicycles among school children for their outstanding performance in various National sports championships and academic activities.
'Results likely to get delayed in absence of Chairman' Jammu, Jan 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (JKBOSE) on Wednesday said the result of the class 10th examinations will be declared soon after the appointment of the Chairman of the Board. The statement comes amid the uncertainty about the declaration of the results by JKBOSE. In an official handout issued here, JKBOSE has advised students not to pay heed to fake links and websites announcing declaration of class 10 results. "Result of class 10th will be declared within few days soon after the appointment of new Chairman," the statement reads. The JKBOSE has stated that the results of annual examination of class 10 of Kashmir valley and winter zone areas of Jammu Division are almost ready. "But its approval by Result Declaration Committee headed by BOSE Chairman is a pre- requisite before its declaration. In absence of the Chairman the results are likely to get a little delayed," it reads. The JKBOSE officials have advised the students to wait for the formal declaration on the official website of the Board- www.jkbose.nic.in. "Students should not get misled by scamesters and fake narratives circulated by some mischievous elements, whose sole aim is to create confusion in the innocent student community," the statement reads.
