KS News Desk
Srinagar, March 11: President J&K Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen on Monday strongly criticised the government for claiming ignorance about the controversial fashion show held in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramzan.
He termed the governments stance as highly irresponsible and questioned how Chief Minister Omar Abdullah could be unaware of such an event when he holds the tourism portfolio.
It is a matter of serious concern. How can the Chief Minister claim he was not aware of the event? If he doesnt know what is happening under his watch, what kind of governance is this? How can we expect such a government to safeguard the interests of the people? he asked.
Hakeem Yaseen also raised concerns about the security protocols under which such an event was conducted, given that Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg are being held under tight security.
If security agencies are meticulously screening activities in Gulmarg, how was this fashion show allowed? Who granted the permission? The government owes an explanation to the people, he asserted.
Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs statement in the Assembly, where he claimed the government had no role in organizing the event and that it was held at a private venue, Hakeem Yaseen said such clarifications were insufficient.
He demanded an impartial probe into how the event was approved and who facilitated it.
Merely distancing the government from the controversy is not enough. The administration must reveal who authorized the event and under what pretext it was allowed to proceed, he stated.
He further criticized the government for failing to uphold the sentiments of the people and questioned whether such events were part of a larger agenda to erode Kashmirs cultural and religious identity.
The people of Kashmir will not tolerate such blatant disregard for their beliefs and values. This government has repeatedly shown that it is disconnected from the aspirations and sensitivities of the people, he added.
Hakeem Yaseen urged the administration to take swift action against those responsible for permitting the controversial event.
This is a direct affront to the religious sentiments of the people. The government must take immediate corrective measures and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future, he added.
New Delhi, May 12: A massive protest organised by the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) broke out near the Shastri Bhawan on Tuesday, against the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG this year. The exam was held on May 3, following which allegations of paper leak surfaced, triggering investigations by the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) and central agencies. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced the cancellation of NEET-UG 2026, and said the examination will be re-conducted on dates to be notified separately. In a statement, the NTA said the decision was taken with the approval of the Government of India in the interest of maintaining transparency and preserving trust in the national examination system.
Srinagar, Feb 12: Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 15.48 lakh traffic violation cases in 2025, with authorities collecting more than Rs 34.17 crore as penalty under the Motor Vehicles Act, the Centre informed Parliament on Thursday. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha in response to a question raised by MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal. According to the official data, 15,48,525 challans were issued across the Union Territory in 2025, while the penalty amount recovered stood at Rs 34,17,36,740. The figures further show that in 2024, a total of 15,44,105 violations were registered with a penalty collection of around Rs 43.40 crore, while in 2023, 12,38,584 challans were issued and Rs 34.56 crore was collected. For the current year, till February 8, 2026, Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 1,63,531 traffic violation cases, with revenue collection of about Rs 2.11 crore. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways stated that stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 are aimed at ensuring better compliance and deterrence. It also said that traffic enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of States and Union Territories. The government has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for electronic monitoring and is promoting technology-driven enforcement through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras integrated with the VAHAN database. Awareness campaigns under the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan are also being carried out to improve road safety.
New Delhi, Jan 25: The Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed all universities and dental colleges across the country to strictly ensure a minimum of 80 percent biometric attendance for Post Graduate students before allowing them to appear in examinations. The decision has been taken to curb absenteeism among postgraduate dental students. According to a circular issued by the Dental Council of India-a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the decision has been taken after multiple complaints were received from dental colleges in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh regarding non-attendance of PG students. "The matter was examined by the Grievance Sub-Committee of the DCI in its meeting held on November 24, 2025," the circular reads. It reads that after detailed discussion and deliberation, the committee recommended that all universities and dental colleges must ensure compliance with Regulation 18(a)(i) of the DCI Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017, which mandates at least 80 per cent attendance. "The recommendation of the Grievance Sub-Committee has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Dental Council of India through circulation and has now been formally communicated for information and necessary action," the circular reads. As per the circular, all the universities and dental colleges have been directed to ensure minimum 80 per cent biometric attendance of all PG students before permitting them to appear in examinations. The order, issued by Deputy Secretary Dental Council of India Mukesh Kumar, is expected to be implemented with immediate effect across the country.
Srinagar, Jan 8: Contractual faculty members working in government degree colleges of Jammu and Kashmir Higher Education Department (HED) have expressed strong resentment over what they term as a glaring disparity in salaries, demanding revision of their pay in line with University Grants Commission (UGC) norms and regularisation of their services. The faculty, many of whom hold PhDs and are qualified through NET, SET and JRF, said they have been denied UGC-recommended pay scales despite discharging academic responsibilities equivalent to their regular counterparts. “Hundreds of highly qualified scholars have been pushed into silent suffering. For years, we have been assured that our pay revision is under consideration, but nothing has materialised so far,” said Dr Ishfaq Gowhar, a contractual faculty member. Earlier, Director Colleges J&K had acknowledged the legitimacy of the faculty’s demand, stating that while the issue was genuine, its implementation involved significant financial implications due to the large number of contractual appointments. “We are aware that they deserve salary enhancement, but the number of contractual faculty is huge and it has financial implications,” he earlier said. Dr Gowhar pointed out that contractual lecturers, who form the backbone of the higher education system, continue to work on a fixed monthly honorarium of Rs 28,000, which has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. “The irony is that a Class IV employee with a Class 10 qualification draws a salary exceeding Rs 50,000, while doctorate-holding teachers engaged in teaching, mentoring and academic research are paid a fraction of that,” he said. He added that institutions such as SKUAST-K, University of Kashmir and Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have implemented revised UGC pay scales, but the Higher Education Department has failed to extend similar treatment to its contractual faculty. Dr Gowhar said the demand for “equal work, equal pay” gets prominently featured in election campaigns, raising hopes among contractual teachers. “Promises were made and slogans echoed during elections, but once the process ended, our voices were reduced to silence. Even meeting officials now feels impossible,” he said. He said contractual faculty were not seeking privileges but dignity, fairness and recognition for their service. The faculty appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Education Minister to intervene and take concrete steps towards addressing their long-pending demands. “This issue is not merely about salaries. It is about survival, justice and dignity in the classrooms of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Srinagar, March 6: Around 17 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2025, the result for which was declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The commission recommended a total of 958 candidates for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various central services. Anuj Agnihotri, an MBBS graduate, has topped the civil services examination 2025, while Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull have got the second and third ranks respectively. According to the official list released by the UPSC the 17 candidates from J&K who have figured in the final merit list include Suvan Sharma (Rank 148), Sugandha Gupta (207), Towseef Ganie (Rank 254), Ritika (Rank 456), Sooyash Shivam (Rank 572), Muneeb Parrah (Rank 581), Ghulam Din (Rank 683), Dwarka Gaadhi (Rank 721), Akash (Rank 747), Koh E Safa (Rank 763), Yasaar (Rank 811), Abhishek (Rank 820), Pankaj (Rank 856), Mohammad Ajaz (Rank 869), Azhar (Rank 886), Sarfraz (Rank 936), and Irfan (Rank 957). The results were declared after conducting the written examination in August 2025 followed by the personality tests (interviews) conducted between December 2025 and February 2026. As per the result notification issue by the UPSC, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment against 1087 vacancies reported by the government for the examination cycle. These include 180 vacancies in the IAS, 55 in the IFS, 150 in the IPS, 507 in Central Services Group A and 195 in Group B services. Of the total recommended candidates, 317 are from the general category, 104 from the economically weaker sections, 306 from other backward classes, 158 from scheduled castes and 73 from scheduled tribes. A consolidated reserve list of 258 candidates has also been published in accordance with the rules. The claims of recommended candidates regarding reservation categories will be subject to verification by the concerned authorities. The UPSC has stated that the candidature of 348 recommended candidates has been kept provisional, while the result of the two candidates has been kept withheld. The CSE is conducted annually in three stages- preliminary, Mains and interview by the UPSC to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The civil services (preliminary) examination 2025 was conducted on May 25 of 2025. A total of 937876 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,76,793 actually appeared in the test. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (Main) examination which was held in August, 2025. Of these, 2736 candidates had qualified for the personality test (interview) of the examination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the candidates who qualified the UPSC exam. "Congratulations to all those who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2025. Their dedication, perseverance and hard work have led to this significant milestone. Wishing them the very best as they embark on a journey of serving the nation and fulfilling the aspirations of the people," PM Modi wrote on his official X handle. "To those who may not have secured the desired outcome in the Civil Services Examination, I understand that such moments can be difficult. However, this is only one step in a larger journey. Many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through which you can contribute to our nation. My best wishes for the road ahead," his post on X reads. UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar announced the declaration of the result and congratulated the candidates who qualified the exam. "Congrats to all successful candidates as you begin a career of service to the nation. For those who did not make it-the learning from this journey will guide you in the paths ahead," UPSC Chairman wrote in a post on X. Among the 17 candidates from J&K who qualified UPSC exam inlcude a visually impaired candidate Irfan Ahmad Lone, a resident of Manzpora in the Naidkhai area of Bandipora.
Srinagar, Oct 11: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Sunday welcomed former chairman of Municipal Corporation (MC) Ganderbal Hilal Ahmad Tantray into the party fold. The joining was attended by senior party functionaries, marking a fresh addition to the party’s organisational presence in the district. The induction took place in the presence of State Secretary (Org) Sheikh Imran, State Secretary Abbas Wani, State Spokesperson Muneeb Quraishi and Tasaduq Yasin, Political Secretary to the party president. Tantray was accompanied by several prominent political associates, including former Sarpanch Manzoor Ahmad Mir, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, Abdul Rashid Shah, Ajaz Ahmad Rather, Ajaz Ahmad Lone, Sajad Ahmad Rather, Tariq Ahmad Mir, Javid Iqbal Mir, Basharat Nazir, Nazir Ahmad Lone, Mohd Sultan Khanday and Mushtaq Ahmad Dar. Welcoming Tantray and his associates, Lone described their induction as a reflection of the party’s expanding grassroots appeal, asserting that the growing participation of leaders with established public connections underscored JKPC's increasing acceptance among the people. “The growing acceptance of our party among the masses is evident in the way leaders with a proven grassroots presence are choosing to join us. Hilal Ahmad Tantray and his colleagues bring valuable experience and a strong connect with the people, qualities that will further consolidate the party’s organisational strength and deepen its engagement with the public,” Lone said. Reaffirming the party’s commitment to inclusive politics, Lone assured the new entrants of due recognition, respect and meaningful participation in the party’s political and organisational affairs. He emphasised that PC would continue to champion the aspirations of the people and provide a platform for their concerns and expectations. Expressing gratitude to the party leadership, Tantray thanked Lone and the senior functionaries for the warm reception and the confidence reposed in him and his associates. “I thank President Sajad Lone and the entire party leadership for the warmth, trust and confidence extended to us. We are committed to working wholeheartedly towards strengthening the party and serving the people of Ganderbal with dedication,” he said.
Baramulla, July 5: The Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) on Sunday organized a workers' convention in the Zaingar Dooru area of Sopore in Baramulla district, marking what party leaders described as the return of political activity to the area after more than three decades. Hundreds of party workers and local residents attended the convention. The convention was presided over by SBSP Jammu and Kashmir State President Vivek Bali. He was accompanied by Political Advisor Dilawar Singh, North Kashmir In-charge Wajahat Raina, District President Kupwara Firdous Ahmad Wani, District Youth President Srinagar Bilal Ahmad, District Vice President Kulgam Bashir Ahmed Shah, District President Kulgam Shayaq Ahmad Raina, North Kashmir Co-In-charge Bashir Ahmed Najar, District Secretary Bashir Ahmed Mir, and Provisional District President Mohd Ramzan Ganie, among other party leaders. Addressing the gathering, Vivek Bali criticized the local elected representatives and the present National Conference (NC) government, alleging that the people of the area had been neglected for the past 70 years. He said the SBSP is committed to addressing the genuine concerns of the people and ensuring that their long-pending issues receive due attention. During the convention, local residents highlighted several pressing issues, including poor road connectivity, inadequate drinking water facilities, lack of quality healthcare services, and other developmental concerns. Responding to their grievances, Bali assured the gathering that all issues raised would be taken up with the concerned departments and higher authorities for their early redressal. Talking to the media on the sidelines of the convention, Vivek Bali said it was encouraging to witness political activity in Zaingar Dooru after a gap of more than 30 years. However, he expressed concern that despite the passage of time, the area continues to suffer from a lack of basic infrastructure and essential public services. He alleged that successive National Conference governments had failed to fulfil their promises, leaving the region underdeveloped. Bali claimed that people are now extending their support to the SBSP because they believe the party is genuinely committed to public welfare and development. Replying to a question regarding the recent book controversy, Bali termed it unfortunate and objected to the use of the names of spiritual personalities in a controversial manner. He demanded strict action against those responsible and called for accountability. Bali reiterated that the Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party remains dedicated to the welfare of the people of Zaingar Dooru and pledged that the party would continue to work for the resolution of all their genuine grievances at the earliest.
'What stops BJP or RSS from doing the same?'; Holds CM Omar accountable for this constitutional impropriety Srinagar, June 6: J&K Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Saturday launched a stinging attack on former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over her chairing of a review meeting at AIIMS, calling it an "unconstitutional trespass" and demanding that she publicly admit it was an error of judgement. Lone warned that Mehbooba Mufti's act, carried out without holding any elected office, has set a dangerous precedent that could open the floodgates for other non-elected individuals to assume similar institutional authority in Jammu & Kashmir. "The chairing of the review meeting at AIIMS by a non-MLA was an unconstitutional trespass and will remain an unconstitutional trespass," Lone said. Directing his remarks pointedly at Mehbooba Mufti, Lone posed a direct question: if she can chair a review meeting of a central institution today without being an MLA, what stops an RSS or BJP non-MLA functionary from doing the same — especially when they can point to 28 MLAs against the PDP's four? "What stops Dr. Farooq Abdullah Sahib, Azad Sahib, or Nirmal Singh Sahib from chairing similar meetings? The list can go on and on," Lone said, underscoring that no such political entitlement exists anywhere else in India. He further questioned whether the elected political space in J&K was "destined to be a fish market," warning that by not admitting her error, Mehbooba Mufti had effectively opened the door for "all sorts of unelected and most likely politically undesirable species, especially in Kashmir, to chair similar meetings." Lone also turned his guns on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, holding him partly responsible for the situation. He argued that the CM's pattern of setting his ministers against opposition MLAs and eroding their authority had created the conditions for this constitutional impropriety to occur in the first place. "Had the CM not set his ministers against the opposition MLAs and eroded their authority, this event of constitutional impropriety may not have taken place," Lone said, demanding that the Chief Minister clarify these issues once and for all. Lone also pre-empted any argument that Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda's involvement or approval lent legitimacy to Mehbooba's chairing of the meeting. "Nadda Sahib is the honourable Health Minister of India. But he does not have the power to redesign constitutional roles," Lone said flatly, adding that whether Mehbooba called Nadda or not "hardly changes anything." PC President had earlier described the move as one "packed with audacity" and warned it amounted to "nothing short of a constitutional crisis." He had then questioned whether J&K was witnessing the rise of a third power centre, operating in the shadows of the elected government, and warned: "It is Mehbooba Ji today. It could be somebody else tomorrow." Lone made clear that he remains open to Mehbooba Mufti walking back the act by acknowledging it as a mistake. But if she does not, he warned, she would be leaving the door permanently open with consequences that could prove far more damaging to J&K's already fragile constitutional order than the AIIMS meeting itself. "It is imperative that she admits it was an error of judgement," he said.
