Flashfloods: Bodies of 8-year-old girl, 20-year-old man recovered

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: The bodies of an eight-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man, who were swept away in flash floods on Monday, were recovered in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, officials said. Massive operations were launched by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police, and locals to trace the minor girl and the man who were washed away in the rising waters of Suran River and Mubarakhpura Nallah in Poonch and Rajouri districts, they said. The body of 20-year-old Atif Shah ...

Group of young men on two-wheelers turned into heroes to save lives

20/08/2025
CHISOTI, Aug 19: Amid the chaos and cries for help when fear gripped every heart in cloudburst-hit Chisoti hamlet of Kishtwar district, a group of ordinary men on two-wheelers turned into extraordinary heroes. Known locally as 'Chisoti Bikers', these young volunteers were among the first responders who rushed to the site hit by the August 14 disaster to save lives. One of them was young Bhim Singh, who was ferrying pilgrims to the Himalayan temple of Mata Machail. By afternoon, his bike was n...

Four Bills, including J&K Reorganisation Amendment Bill, to be tabled in Lok Sabha today

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: The Union Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has requested the Lok Sabha Secretariat to include the introduction of four new bills on its list of government business for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. ‘According to an official document , the bills to be introduced include,’ The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and ?The Promotion a...

High Court designates 25 lawyers as Senior Advocates after five-year gap

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: In a significant development, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has designated 25 advocates as Senior Advocates, marking the first such exercise since December 3, 2020. The decision was taken unanim-ously in a Full Court meeting held on August 19, 2025. The exercise was undertaken in terms of the High Court of J&K and Ladakh (Designation of Senior Advocates) Rules, 2025 with the stated objective of recognizing professional excellence at the Bar while ensuring merit, ...

India, China ties made steady progress; looking forward to meeting President Xi on margins of SCO: PM Modi

20/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday underlined the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the frontier with China and reiterated India’s commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution to the boundary question as he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Modi said stable, predictable and constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and that he was looking forward to meeting ...

Engagement under a temporary scheme does not create any vested right for permanent continuance: DB

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has ruled that engagement under a temporary scheme does not confer any vested right for permanent continuance, while dismissing an appeal filed by two instructors of Government Women's College, Baramulla. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal upheld the order of the Writ Court which had directed the release of legitimately earned wages but declined the prayer for continuation of...

Mere recovery of drugs not proof of financing illicit traffic: HC

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has ruled that mere recovery of contraband from an accused cannot establish the offence of financing illicit traffic under Section 27-A of the NDPS Act, while granting bail to a Samba resident arrested in a narcotics case. Justice Rajesh Sekhri delivered the judgment while hearing three connected petitions arising from FIR No. 99/2024 of Police Station Vijaypur, in which police had intercepted a Swift car and recovered 16.82 gra...

We bear the vital responsibility of shaping India’s next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals: LG

20/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha delivered the inaugural address at 22nd Foundation Day of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University through video conference. Speaking on the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor said Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University today stands as a beacon of knowledge, innovation, inspiration and cultural pride of Jammu & Kashmir, recognized and respected not only at national but global level. "Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University is playing an important role in crea...

We need to uplift Govt schools for imparting quality education: Omar

20/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today emphasized the need to uplift government schools to a standard where parents consider enrolling their children in them as the best choice for their future. The Chief Minister stated this while addressing a day long Educational Stakeholders Meet on NEP 2020- Challenges and Prospects in Jammu and Kashmir, organised by Directorate of School Education Kashmir in collaboration with Bal Raksha Bharat (Save the Children) supported by HCL Founda...

Five cops among 14 booked for criminal breach of trust

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: Crime Branch of Jammu and Kashmir Police has booked 14 people, including five police officials, in six separate cases for alleged criminal breach of trust and frauds here, an official of the department said. An FIR was registered against assistant in-charge (CPPP Jammu) Shalinder Dogra, head constable Mohan Singh and followers Vijay Kumar and Sohan Lal for alleged criminal breach of trust on the communication received from police headquarters, the official said without giving fu...

SC asks Law Commission, Law Ministry to examine Appeal Provisions under Telegraph Act; sets aside Punjab and Haryana HC order

20/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 20: In a significant legal development with wide-ranging implications for compensation disputes in infrastructure projects, the Supreme Court of India has referred to the Law Commission of India and the Union Ministry of Law and Justice a crucial question: Should there be a statutory right of appeal against orders passed under Sections 16(3) and 16(4) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. A bench comprising Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice M.M. Sundresh raised this issue while set...

Contractual matters beyond writ jurisdiction unless arbitrariness shown: HC

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: Delivering a strong verdict on a long-running contractual dispute, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed the petition of G. Active Security Service against Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), Katra, upholding the termination of its security contract and the forfeiture of a Rs 5 lakh deposit with the observation that Courts must refrain from interfering in contractual matters unless there is clear arbitrariness or breach of statutory duty. . The ju...

SC dismisses plea alleging discrepancies in 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls

20/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 19: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition alleging discrepancies in the Maharashtra Assembly elections held in November 2024. A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh declined the plea filed by one Chetan Chandrakant Ahire against a Bombay High Court order of June 2025. Ahire sought to declare the election results as void on the allegation that about 75 lakh bogus voters had cast their votes after the closing of the polls at 6 pm. He sought a declarati...

Cash discovery row: Plea in SC seeks review of decision refusing FIR against Justice Varma

20/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 19: A plea filed in the Supreme Court has sought the review of its refusal to direct an FIR against high court judge Yashwant Varma after burnt wads of cash were recovered from his official residence in Delhi. The petition filed by three lawyers and a chartered accountant seeks review of the August 7 verdict, which dismissed their plea after noting the petitioners could not show any representation made to the government or the Police for registration of an FIR. "We have, thus, ...

Police detains elder sister after 14-year-old girl found murdered in Ganderbal

20/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 19: Two days after a 14-year-old girl's body was discovered by locals in Ganderbal district, her elder sister has been detained for the murder, police said. According to police, the girl killed the victim in a fit of rage. The body was found on August 17 in the bushes at the Batsar-Sehpora area, triggering outrage among residents. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ganderbal, Khalil Poswal, said a case was registered and a special investigation team (SIT) was formed after t...

Centre in SC opposes fixing timelines for Prez, guv for assent to bills

20/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 19: The Centre on Tuesday opposed in the Supreme Court imposition of fixed timelines on governors and President for taking decisions on bills passed by state legislatures, saying such constraints were "consciously omitted" by the framers of the Constitution. Challenging the April 8 verdict that fixed timelines for grant of assent to bills, Attorney General R Venkataramani informed a five judge Constitution bench headed by Chief justice B R Gavai that the judgement tied the hands...

Arrest of Jammu Central Univ student leads to unearthing of arm supply nexus

20/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 19: Police on Tuesday unearthed a nexus involving a student of the Jammu Central University with local criminals for selling weapons and arrested a hardcore outlaw with two firearms in Samba district, officials said. The police had achieved a significant breakthrough in a case of illegal trafficking of firearms when they arrested the student, Kaif Ahmed, of Barharia village in Siwan district of Bihar, on July 11, they said. Ahmed was involved in illegal trafficking of firearms and ...

2 more bodies recovered in cloudburst-hit Kishtwar, death toll rises to 63

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: Two more bodies were recovered from the debris in this cloudburst-hit village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, taking the death toll in the natural calamity to 63, officials said, as a large-scale search continued for the fifth day on Monday despite intermittent rains. Donning rain coats, the rescue teams were working at multiple locations, especially the major impact spot near a langar (community kitchen) site, sifting through the rubble using machinery, including eart...

2 indigenous specialist mobility vehicles aid rescue efforts

19/08/2025
CHISOTI, Aug 18: Two specialist mobility vehicles (SMVs) by Chandigarh-based JSW Defence have been deployed in the ongoing rescue and relief operation in this cloudburst-hit village of Kishtwar district, drawing attention for their ability to manoeuvre through treacherous terrain. With 'Army duty' stickers pasted on them, the SMVs which are also known as all terrain off-road vehicles were brought by the company to assist the Army, which along with other agencies, is engaged in the rescue and r...

10 senior IAS, IPS officers deployed to oversee rescue work

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: The Lieutenant Governoror administration on Monday deployed 10 senior IAS and IPS officers to supervise relief and rescue operations in the cloudburst-hit Chisoti village of Kishtwar district that left 62 people dead. On August 14, flash floods triggered by the cloudburst 14 in Chisoti — the last motorable village en route to the Machail Mata temple — also left at least 116 people injured. Eighty-two people — 81 pilgrims and one CISF personnel — are reported missing. "In order...

Russian President Putin dials PM Modi; briefs him on Alaska summit

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed to President Vladimir Putin India's consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict when the Russian leader apprised him on the summit talks he held with US President Donald Trump. Trump and Putin met in Alaska for nearly three hours on Friday but the much-anticipated summit ended without a ceasefire deal. Following the phone conversation with Putin, Modi said India has consistently called for a peaceful ...

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins 2-day India visit

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi began his two-day visit to India on Monday to hold border talks with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. Wang’s visit comes days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned trip to China to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). He was received at the Delhi airport by Gourangalal Das, the Joint Secretary of the East Asia division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The Chinese foreign min...

Govt sacks Irrigation dept employee over narcotics case

19/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has dismissed an employee of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department from service after his alleged involvement in a narcotics case. According to an order issued by the Jal Shakti Department, Farooq Ahmad Najar, a resident of Lurgam Tral Pulwama and serving as Orderly-cum-Chowkidar in Irrigation Division Tral, was arrested in November 2024 in case registered at Police Station Kakapora under sections 8/21/29 of the NDPS Act, following recov...

Schools to remain shut in Jammu division till Tuesday due to heavy rains

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 17: All education institutes in the Jammu division would remain closed on Tuesday in view of inclement weather, the local administration said on Monday. This has been done in view of the weather department's warning of heavy rains in 10 districts of the region. Heavy rains lashed several districts, triggering flash floods and landslides, causing damage to several houses and roads, although there were no casualties in the region on Monday. Schools remained shut due to the inclem...

SC agrees to hear pleas on police reforms

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear pleas over police reforms and the ad-hoc appointment of state police chiefs despite the 2006 judgement barring such appointments. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria would also consider an application of petitioner and former DGP Prakash Singh seeking to put a system in place in which a panel comprising chief minister, the leader of opposition and the chief justice of the high co...

HC cautions against lapses in Defence Personnel Trial Procedures

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a strong caution to all judicial officers across the Union Territories, directing them to strictly adhere to newly notified guidelines governing the trial and disposal of cases involving defence and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel. The directive was conveyed through a circular issued by Registrar Vigilance Rajeev Gupta under the orders of the Chief Justice. The circular pointed out that certain courts had b...

Indian on Moon will herald Viksit Bharat in 2040: Dr Jitendra

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: An Indian astronaut will herald ‘Viksit Bharat’ by landing on the moon in 2040, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday as the Lok Sabha took up the discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla’s space sojourn. Initiating a discussion on ‘India’s first astronaut aboard the International Space Station — Critical role of the space programme for Viksit Bharat by 2047’, Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook space sector reforms after assuming office in 2014. Singh...

Govt is trying to provide all possible help: LG Gupta on cloudburst in Kathua, Kishtwar

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: After cloudbursts hit Kathua and Kishtwar, Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta said that at least seven people have died in Kathua, and the number of deaths in Kishtwar is still rising. Gupta added that the government is doing everything possible to support the families of the victims. He said the Union Home Minister has directed officials to ensure there are no shortcomings in relief efforts. Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Kavinder Gupta said, "... Seven people have died in...

Pension is a Right, not a Bounty: Tribunal imposes 10000/- costs on J&K PDD

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Srinagar Bench, has castigated the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) for withholding gratuity dues of a retired officer for over a decade, while reiterating that pension is a vested right and not a matter of generosity on the part of the State. The case pertained to Ghulam Nabi Shah, 72, a retired Section Officer from Budgam, who superannuated in January 2012. Despite obtaining a "No Dues Certificate" in June 2012, hi...

Courts shouldn’t rush to invalidate elections: SC

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: The Supreme Court has said courts should not rush to invalidate elections by adopting a "highly pedantic" approach just because a returned candidate didn't disclose certain information about assets, unless it influences the poll's outcome. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, therefore, dismissed an appeal against an October 2024 order of the Telangana High Court which rejected an election petition related to the 2023 legislative assembly polls in Telangana. ...

VDG member thrashed by cops in Doda; Constable suspended, DySP under inquiry

19/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 18: A Village Defence Group member was roughed up by police at an outpost in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, prompting authorities to suspend a constable and order an inquiry into the conduct of a deputy superintendent of police on Monday. The VDG member, Balbeer Singh, had fired two rounds in the air after detecting suspicious movement in his village Pernote in Premnagar area of the district, a day before Independence Day. The next day, he was summoned to the police outpost in ...

CJI Gavai calls on President Murmu

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai called on President Droupadi Murmu on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. The President's office shared pictures of the meeting in a post on X. "Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Chief Justice of India, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," it said.

RSS chief bats for greater role for women in decision-making processes, transformation of society

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday underscored the significance of participation of women in work and decision-making processes, saying half of the population cannot be left out if society has to be transformed. Addressing a book launch event here, Bhagwat asserted that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh itself follows the idea and takes decisions on various issues in coordination and consultation with the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, which was set up in 1936 for women to function as ...

Shubhanshu Shukla meets PM Modi, gifts tricolour that travelled to space

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla who became the first Indian astronaut to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). Shukla, who was part of the Axiom-4 commercial mission to the ISS from June 25-July 15, met the prime minister at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. Modi welcomed Shukla, who was wearing an ISRO astronaut's jacket, with a warm hug and walked with him with his arm on the astronaut's shoulder. Shukla gifted the prime...

Kashmir University removes HoD after Enquiry Panel findings

19/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 18: Kashmir University has removed an Associate Professor from the headship of his department following the recommendations of an enquiry committee constituted to probe some complaints. According to an order issued by the Joint Registrar (Teaching Wing) on August 14, Dr. Manzoor Ahmad Mir, Associate Professor, Department of Bioresources, has been relieved from the charge of Head of the Department “with immediate effect.” The order further stated that Dr. Riyaz ul Rehman, Assista...

Delhi HC reserves order on Er Rashid’s plea against Rs 4 lakh costs to attend Parliament

19/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 18: The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by jailed Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid, who has challenged the imposition of nearly ?4 lakh as costs for being allowed to attend Parliament while in custody. A division bench of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani reserved its order after hearing arguments from both sides. The costs were levied by a trial court earlier this year while granting Rashid custody parole, reported Liv...

Massive cloudburst in Kishtwar kills at least 46; 167 rescued so far

15/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 14: A massive cloudburst led to flashfloods in a remote mountain village in Kishtwar district on Thursday, killing at least 46 people, including two CISF personnel, and trapping many more. As night fell over Chositi village, rescuers worked frantically and pulled out 167 people from under mounds of rubble. Of these, 38 are in a serious condition, officials said. The death toll went up steadily as the day progressed and there were fears it could rise further. Disaster struck Cho...

Blood-stained bodies, mud-wrapped injured with broken limbs reveal the impact

15/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 14: The shocking scenes of physical and psychological trauma unfolded on a massive scale as search and rescue operations were underway, digging out mud-buried bodies and rescuing the injured trapped in slush and rocks after flash floods triggered by a cloudburst devastated Chositi village in Kishtwar district on Thursday. A massive cloudburst struck this remote mountain village, killing at least 46 people, including two CISF personnel, officials said. The death toll could go up as ...

LG Sinha vows fitting response to terror, hails security forces

15/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: On the eve of the 79th Independence Day, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lauded the armed forces, Central Armed Police Forces, and J&K Police for their role in maintaining peace and vowed a "fitting response" to any act of terror, pledging to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism in the Union Territory. In a message on Independence Day eve, the Lieutenant Governor greeted the people of J&K. "..This is a day we salute our tricolor and feel pride in...

Op Sindoor will go down in history as example of humanity’s fight against terrorism: Prez Murmu

15/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 14: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday in her address to the nation on the eve of the country's 79th Independence Day praised the armed forces for their relentless efforts in guarding the nation during Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation for the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack. Labelling the gruesome killing of innocent civilians in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam as "cowardly and inhuman", President Murmu said that India's response in the form of Operation Sindoo...

HC rules MSE Procurement policy not mandatory for composite SIT Tenders

15/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: In a significant judgment with wide-ranging implications for public procurement practices, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has ruled that the Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) is not mandatorily applicable to composite tenders involving Supply, Installation, and Testing (SIT). The ruling came while dismissing a writ petition filed by several Srinagar-based enterprises challenging the exclusion of MSE-specific procur...

HC denies bail to accused in terror-related case involving Al-Badr Outfit

15/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has dismissed the bail application of Ghulam Nabi Rather, a resident of Kachloo, Handwara, District Kupwara, who is facing trial in a terror-related case under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Arms Act. The Division Bench comprising Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Shahzad Azeem upheld the trial court's decision, citing the serious nature of the charges and the prima facie evidence conne...

J&K has made its rightful place in Indian sporting landscape: LG Sinha

14/08/2025
ANANTNAG, Aug 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today attended the Trophy unveiling ceremony of Bijbehara Premier League (BPL) at Anantnag. The Lieutenant Governor interacted with the players and officials and congratulated the organisers of the Bijbehara Premier League. "Bijbehara Premier League is widely considered as the most prestigious cricket tournament in J&K UT which also serves as a platform to showcase talent and earn their place at national and international level," the Lieut...

Stray dogs: Judiciary’s responsibility to have courage to remind people of truths: SC

14/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: In its order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court has said the judiciary bears the sole responsibility to "possess the courage and strength" to remind people of truths that they may not prefer to hear. In its August 11 order, which was uploaded on the apex court's website on Wednesday, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to start picking up stray dogs from all localities "at the earliest" and relocate the animals to do...

Army foils infiltration bid in Uri; soldier martyred

14/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: A soldier was killed in an exchange of fire as the Army on Wednesday foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector, officials said. They said troops foiled the infiltration bid in Churunda area of Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir. However, during the exchange of fire, an Army soldier was killed, the officials said. The operation is going on and further details are awaited, the officials added.

HC dismisses writ petition against SMC's Regularisation of Minor Building Deviation, Upholds Tribunal Order

14/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: In a significant development, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Srinagar has dismissed a writ petition challenging the regularisation of a minor building deviation by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), affirming the legality of the order passed by the J&K Special Tribunal, Srinagar. The judgment is being seen as a reaffirmation of the principles governing administrative decisions, the scope of judicial review, and the doctrine of locus standi in urban ...

FIRST TIME: Court allows outstation accused to appear virtually under High Court's Video Conferencing rules

14/08/2025
RAJOURI, Aug 13: In a landmark move towards digital transformation in the justice delivery system, the Court of the Special Mobile Magistrate in Rajouri has, for the first time, permitted an accused to appear through virtual mode, invoking the Video Conferencing (Nyaya Shruti) Rules, 2025 notified by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Presided over by Mr. Rayaz Ahmed, the court passed the significant order on August 12, 2025, allowing the accused, Kajal Sahani, to attend proceed...

DB upholds CAT order, quashes posting as Director Family Welfare

14/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 13: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has upheld the Central Administrative Tribu-nal's (CAT) decision to set aside the Govern-ment order assigning Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Rather additional charge as Director, Family Welfare, MCH & Immunization, J&K, ruling that the posting was in violation of cadre eligibility rules. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar dismissed in limine Dr Rather's writ petition, observing that he belongs to the J&K Medical (G...

SC to hear on Aug 14 plea for restoring Jammu & Kashmir statehood

14/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: The Supreme Court would on Thursday hear a plea for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. A bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran is likely to hear the matter, according to the causelist. On December 11, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the revocation of Article 370, even as it ordered that assembly elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir by September 2024 and its statehood be restored "at the earliest". Last year, a p...

Security stepped up at man venue of Independence Day function

14/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: A tight security blanket has been thrown around Bakshi Stadium, the main venue of Independence Day function in Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure incident-free celebrations in the valley. A full dress rehearsal of the parade was held here on Wednesday at the Bakshi Stadium where Divisional Commissioner V K Bhiduri took the salute at the march past. "We have made multi-tier security arrangements for the Independence Day celebrations. High rise spotters have been deployed to maintai...

Operation Sindoor provided opportunity for successful use of technology: Dr Jitendra

14/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 13: Union minister Jitendra Singh gave credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for the use of technology in the defence sector and safeguarding the country, and said Operation Sindoor provided an opportunity to put this technology into use successfully. Drawing a contrast between the time when Modi himself risked his life to go to Srinagar’s Lal Chowk to hoist the national flag and today, Singh said every hand in the valley now holds the tricolour. Replying to a reporte...

Woman, toddler son among 4 killed in 2 separate accidents

14/08/2025
JAMMU, Aug 13: Four persons, including two students and a woman and her two-year-old son, were killed in two separate road accidents in Samba and Rajouri districts, officials said on Wednesday. Sunny Kumar (19) from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and Joginder Kumar (19) from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, both Class-12 students, were killed on the spot after a school bus hit their motorcycle near Sarore Adda in Samba at 2.40 pm on Wednesday, the officials said. The driver of the school bus abandoned the ...

Arms & ammunition recovered in Kupwara

14/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: Ahead of Independence Day, security forces recovered large quantities of war-like stores from Kupwara district. Army said a joint search operation was launched with J&K Police in general area Alachizab in Gulgam forest, Kupwara which resulted in recovery of a pistol, explosives, ammunition and grenades. "Based on specific input, a joint search operation was launched by #IndianArmy & @JmuKmrPolice in general area Alachizab in Gulgam Forest, Kupwara which resulted in recovery...

LG Gupta charts roadmap for self-reliant, green Ladakh

14/08/2025
LEH, Aug 13: Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta has laid out an ambitious roadmap to make the Union Territory self-reliant and environmentally sustainable, with a strong focus on expanding polycarbonate greenhouses under the award-winning Ladakh Greenhouse Project. This flagship initiative, which earned the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (Innovation State category) in April 2022, is aimed at ensuring round-the-year local vegetable production, especially during La...

Authorities issue notice to Amazon, Bengal-based firm over ‘fake Kashmiri silk carpets’

14/08/2025
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: Authorities on Wednesday issued a notice to a West Bengal-based private company and online shopping giant Amazon for allegedly misbranding fake carpets as "authentic Kashmiri handmade silk carpet". "NOTICES issued 2 @jewelcarpet & @amazonIN for misbranding #KashmirCrafts," Director, Department handicraft and handloom Mussarat Zia said in a post on X. Attaching a screenshot of the misbranded carpet to his post, Zia said, "They must b crazy offering 50% rebates on cheap FAKES ...

India, Singapore agree to expand cooperation in key areas

14/08/2025
NEW DELHI, Aug 13: Ahead of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's planned trip to New Delhi next month, India and Singapore on Wednesday broadly finalised around 10 agreements to boost ties in areas such as advanced technology, connectivity, skilling and digitalisation. At the third India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR) here, the two sides are also understood to have deliberated on an ambitious proposal to lay an undersea cable to carry solar energy from India to Singapore that wi...