KS News Desk
Jammu, Mar 19: Legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the mysterious deaths in Budhal, Rajouri.
The government informed the House that various toxins were detected in samples collected from the area.
During the Question Hour, MLA Budhal Javed Iqbal Choudhary raised the demand for a CBI inquiry into the unexplained fatalities in his constituency.
Different toxins have been found in the samples. It seems they were poisoned with a truckload of toxins, Choudhary claimed.
He alleged that these deaths are part of a larger conspiracy aimed at destabilizing peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
These deaths shouldnt be viewed in isolation from the incidents in Kulgam and Kathua. It appears to be an attempt to destabilize peace, he added.
He urged the government for a thorough investigation to uncover the cause of these deaths.
MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram supported the demand for a CBI probe.
CPI(M) MLA Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami also voiced concern over the issue.
The invisible hands behind these deaths must be unmasked. It is ironic that the cause of these deaths remains unknown. What happened there today could happen anywhere tomorrow," he said in the House.
Responding to the demands, Minister in-charge of Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo informed the House that the government has done what it could do.
"We have done what we could. The Home Department is not under our control," she informed the House.
She informed the House that an investigation by the Home Department is ongoing.
Further steps will be taken once the investigation is completed, she said.
The minister in-charge said the deaths were not caused by any disease.
In a written reply, the minister informed the House that clinical reports, laboratory investigations, and environmental samples indicated that the incidents were not due to a communicable disease of bacterial or viral origin.
According to the PGIMER Chandigarh report, traces of aluminum and cadmium were found.
The CFSL Chandigarh report detected chlorfenapyr in the viscera samples of all 17 deceased. (KNO)
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.
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.
Jammu, March 10: J&K Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Tuesday chaired a meeting to review the status of vacancies and the progress of recruitments being undertaken through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) across various departments of the Union Territory. The meeting was attended by the concerned Administrative Secretaries, Chairperson JKSSB, Secretary JKPSC and other concerned representatives from different departments. While reviewing the progress, the Chief Secretary stressed the need for expeditious filling of all critical vacancies to strengthen governance and improve public service delivery. He called upon all Administrative Secretaries to hold regular follow-up meetings with their departments and recruitment agencies to ensure that pending issues are resolved and vacancies are filled at the earliest. He emphasized that timelines fixed for ongoing recruitment drives must be strictly adhered to, and directed that all posts received by the recruiting agencies should be advertised without delay. The Chief Secretary further advised the recruiting agencies to prepare and publish examination calendars simultaneously, enabling aspirants to have clarity regarding the schedule of examinations and adequate time to prepare. During the review, the Chief Secretary also took note of several bottlenecks affecting certain recruitments in JKPSC and JKSSB. He examined each issue in detail and directed the concerned departments to issue necessary clarifications and resolve procedural hurdles immediately so that the recruitment process is not delayed. Observing that prolonged recruitment cycles often create uncertainty for job aspirants, the Chief Secretary underscored the importance of conducting recruitment within a defined timeframe. He noted that a predictable recruitment cycle would allow applicants to plan their careers better and reduce anxiety among candidates. During the meeting, the Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department (GAD), M.Raju presented a comprehensive overview of vacant posts across government departments. The data revealed that a total of 40,661 posts are currently vacant in different departments, including 3,808 Gazetted, 24,507 Non-Gazetted, and 12,351 Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) posts. Among major departments, Health & Medical Education accounts for a significant share of vacancies with 2,497 Gazetted, 8,088 Non-Gazetted and 2,712 MTS posts, while other departments with substantial vacancies include Agriculture Production, Power Development, Finance, Revenue, Forest, Public Works (R&B) and Youth Services & Sports. While reviewing the recruitment being undertaken by the JKSSB for Non-Gazetted and MTS posts the Chairperson SSB, Vikas Kundal revealed that since 2019 the Board has received 46,744 posts, out of which 9,260 were withdrawn, leaving 37,484 posts for recruitment. The Board has already completed selections for 32,956 posts, including 27,449 selections pertaining to this period. He further added that at present, 10,035 posts remain under different stages of recruitment with JKSSB. These include 2,532 posts yet to be advertised, 4,768 posts at the examination stage, 1,258 at the selection stage, and 1,477 posts under live advertisements awaiting completion of the recruitment process. Meanwhile the Secretary, JKPSC, Bashir Ahmad Dar apprised the meeting about the status of posts referred to the JKPSC for recruitment. He divulged that at present, 1,745 Gazetted posts are under process with the Commission out of these, against 1,573 posts selection schedule has already been drawn, while 172 posts are yet to be scheduled due to certain procedural issues. He also gave out that a recruitment timeline has been worked out by the Commission for filling these posts. As per the schedule, 630 selections are targeted for completion by March 2026, 476 during April–May 2026, 158 during June–July 2026, and 309 during August–September 2026. Additionally department-wise analysis shows that the highest number of posts with JKPSC pertains to Health & Medical Education (872 posts) followed by School Education (470 posts), General Administration (170 posts) and Higher Education (129 posts), among others. The meeting was informed that all departments have shared the latest status of advertised posts, vacant positions and posts proposed to be referred to recruiting agencies. It was resolved that all clear vacancies without legal or procedural issues will be referred to the respective recruiting agencies at the earliest for timely recruitment.
Jammu, Jan 18: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Transport, Youth Services & Sports, Information Technology, ARI & Trainings, Satish Sharma Sunday said that the remarkable achievements of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are a powerful testament to what can be accomplished through fair opportunities, modern infrastructure and unwavering government support. Addressing the gathering during the SRIJAN initiative conference, the Minister stated that the success of young athletes clearly demonstrates that with the right ecosystem in place, the UT youth are capable of overcoming every challenge and competing confidently at national and international platforms. Highlighting the core focus areas of the SRIJAN programme, Satish Sharma said "the initiative is playing a transformative role in strengthening the sports landscape of the Union Territory by expanding grassroots sports infrastructure across Jammu, Kashmir and other regions. This is being done by ensuring transparent, merit-based selections free from any bias; integrating sports with education and skill development; promoting greater participation of girls and enhancing inclusivity and establishing sports as a dignified and sustainable career option with viable livelihood opportunities, he said0. He reaffirmed the government’s firm commitment and said that sustained efforts were underway to create international-standard sports facilities, including modern cricket stadiums in Jammu and Srinagar. He also highlighted the strengthening of Khelo India Centres, promotion of traditional sports such as Dangal and enhanced collaboration with the Union Ministry to transform Jammu & Kashmir into a national sports hub. “As Sports Minister, I assure our athletes that the government stands firmly with them. Our focus is not only on infrastructure creation but also on nurturing talent, discipline and confidence among the youth,” he said. The Minister lauded the determination, resilience and dedication of young sportspersons, describing them as the living legacy of the SRIJAN mission. He urged them to continue training with passion, remain disciplined and dream fearlessly, assuring them of full institutional support at every step of their journey. Satish Sharma expressed hope that the conference would serve as the foundation of a new era where every talented child, from the mountains of Kashmir to the plains of Jammu, is provided an equal opportunity to shine on the global stage. He concluded by reiterating the government’s resolve to make sports a powerful vehicle for youth empowerment, social inclusion and regional pride in Jammu and Kashmir. Director General, Youth Services and Sports, Anuradha Gupta and prominent persons from different fields and states along with senior officers of the Youth Services and Sports Department, were also present on the occasion.
Baramulla, May 19: The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum of Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla on Tuesday organised a peaceful candlelight protest in support of employees facing long-pending service issues and stagnation in promotions. The protest was held in a disciplined manner, with employees gathering to express solidarity with staff members working across various medical colleges. The participants said that despite rendering years of dedicated service, many employees have not received promotions for the past seven years, leading to growing frustration and mental stress among the workforce. Speaking during the protest, an employee said the prolonged stagnation and lack of career progression had severely affected the morale of workers. He said the employees have continued to perform their duties sincerely despite uncertainty surrounding their professional growth. The employee further said that the six-day strike earlier launched by the employees was suspended following assurances given by Javid Hassan Baig. He said the employees respect the assurance of the MLA and hope that their genuine demands will be addressed in a positive and time-bound manner. The Non-Gazetted Employees Forum reiterated that its movement remains peaceful and democratic and appealed to the administration and concerned authorities to resolve the long-pending issues of employees at the earliest.
Srinagar, Feb 03: The J&K Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla and its Associated Hospital were facing a serious manpower shortage across teaching, clinical and support staff. The minister in-charge in a reply said that large scale vacancies were unfilled in faculty, gazetted and non gazetted category as well. The government figures produced in the Assembly revealed that out of the total sanctioned faculty strength at GMC Baramulla stands at 272 posts only 209 faculty members are in place while 63 posts are unfilled till date. The shortage is acute in senior teaching positions as out of 23 sanctioned posts of Professors, only eight are filled while 15 have been rendered vacant. "Against the sanctioned strength of 33 posts, GMC Baramulla has eight posts vacant while 20 out of 65 positions of Assistant Professors are lying vacant as well," the government figures revealed. Also, six posts of Junior Residents and five posts of Senior Residents are lying vacant as well. The official figures also revealed that GMC Baramulla has a shortfall of manpower in non-gazetted staff, particularly in technical, nursing and support categories as well. The details were produced in the House in response to a query raised by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir. As per the government figures, against a sanctioned strength of 260 non gazetted posts 211 posts are filled through permanent and contractual arrangements while 49 posts are vacant. Technical Assistant and Technician posts show a gap of 4 vacancies out of 37 sanctioned positions, while key support roles such as workshop workers remain completely vacant with all 6 posts unfilled. Several specialised healthcare support services are also understaffed at GMC Baramulla as posts of Psychiatric Social Worker, Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases Health Visitor, Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician besides Rehabilitation Worker are lying vacant. Against sanctioned strength of 21 posts of Senior Nurses none has been filled till date while four posts of Nursing Supervisor are vacant as well. Out of 59 sanctioned gazetted posts, only 25 are in position, leaving 34 posts vacant. Key specialties remain understaffed as well. There are no Senior Consultants in Medicine, Surgery or Ophthalmology at GMC Baramulla. Consultant posts in Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Orthopaedics, ENT, Radiology and Gynaecology also show vacancies, while Medical Officers face a shortfall of 16 posts out of sanctioned 29 posts. The non gazetted staff situation is equally concerning as against 100 sanctioned posts, only 44 are filled, leaving 56 vacancies. Nursing services are under strain with 21 vacancies in Junior Grade Nurses and 4 vacancies among Senior Nurses. Laboratory, pharmacy, dental, X Ray, theatre and technical sections also report multiple vacant posts, affecting routine and emergency services.
Srinagar, Jan 10: Over 72% of children under the age of five are suffering from anaemia in Jammu and Kashmir, one of the highest rates in the country. Experts warn that this alarming trend poses serious risks to the growth, immunity, and development of the region’s youngest population. As per the 'Children in India 2025' report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, 72.7 per cent of children, including 73.9% male and 71.4% females, are anaemic in J&K which includes 73.5 per cent in rural areas and 70.1 per cent in urban areas. Doctors termed it a serious public health concern. "When a child is anaemic, their blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin needed to carry oxygen throughout the body," the doctors said. "This leads to fatigue, weakened immunity, delayed growth, impaired brain development, lowered learning ability, and increased risk of infections," they said. Dr Shabeena Shah, a child specialist, said the most common cause of anaemia worldwide and in India is nutritional deficiency, especially iron deficiency. "Young children have high iron needs for rapid growth, but many diets do not supply enough iron or other vital nutrients like folate and vitamin B12," she said. "Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) is the predominant form responsible for a large share of anaemia cases in toddlers and young children." According to the doctor, a diet too reliant on staple grains without enough iron-rich foods (like leafy greens, lentils, eggs, meat, fortified cereals) worsens this deficiency. She said the children whose mothers are anaemic themselves are more likely to be anaemic. Low maternal iron stores during pregnancy limit the amount of iron the baby receives before birth and through early infancy, Dr Shah added. Dr Showkat Hussain, another doctor, said that after six months of age, breast milk alone is not enough to meet a baby’s iron requirements. He said that if complementary foods aren’t introduced properly or are low in iron, the risk of anaemia increases. He added that parasitic infections like hookworm and other gastrointestinal infections can cause blood loss and reduce nutrient absorption, contributing significantly to anaemia. Dr Hussain added that inclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides optimal nutrition and helps build immunity. "Breast milk contains iron that is easily absorbed by infants, helping protect against anaemia in early infancy. However, after 6 months, iron stores from birth get depleted, and complementary foods need to be introduced. If the complementary diet lacks iron-rich foods, anaemia risk rises," he added. Doctors said that inadequate complementary feeding, such as giving mostly watery cereals or liquid foods without iron enrichment, can worsen anaemia. They added that eating fried or junk foods does not directly cause anaemia, but it contributes indirectly by displacing nutritious foods in a child’s diet, providing empty calories with little iron, vitamins, or minerals. Doctors called for introducing iron-rich complementary foods after six months, such as meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, pair iron foods with vitamin C-rich foods (like citrus fruits, tomatoes) to improve iron absorption and avoid overreliance on packaged snacks and fried foods. They said the government programmes, such as Anaemia Mukt Bharat and Mission Poshan 2.0, provide iron and folic acid supplements for children and mothers. The weekly iron supplementation and fortified foods can substantially reduce anaemia prevalence, the doctors said, adding that routine deworming and immunisation help reduce anaemia caused by parasites and infections. (KNO
