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| J&K will remain UT until Parliament restores statehood: CM Omar | | Budget Session 2025 | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: The replacement of words “Government of Jammu & Kashmir” with “Government of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir” in the State Goods & Services Tax law sparked protests by the Kashmir based opposition legislators in the Assembly on Tuesday, with Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone staging a walkout from the House.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slammed Sajad Lone for the walkout and added that Jammu & Kashmir would remain a Union Territory until the Parliament restores statehood.
As soon as Omar Abdullah tabled Jammu & Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act 2025 for consideration and passage in the House, Lone stood up and expressed objection to it.
“We are ratifying Union Territory status of J&K through this bill,” Lone claimed. As Lone agitated over the move, the Speaker told him the amendment wouldn’t ratify status and was brought to align J&K’s GST law with Central Goods & Services Tax Act.
“We were not consulted when Article... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| ‘International Cricket Stadium at Bajalta not JK Govt’s project’ | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 25: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today clarified that the proposed International Cricket Stadium at Bajalta in Jammu was not a project initiated by the Jammu and Kashmir government.
“The proposal for the
cricket stadium was initiated by the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) but did not materialize. It was not a project of J&K government,” Chief Minister said while intervening during the Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly.
Earlier, replying to the main question raised by Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Youth Services and Sports, Satish Sharma, said that there was no such proposal by the Youth Services & Sports Department for establishment... | |
| | | | Assembly passes Appropriation Bills, GST Amendment Bill | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 25: The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed two Appropriation Bills, authorizing withdrawal of funds from the Union Territory’s Consolidated Fund for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
The Appropriation Bill for the financial year 2024-25 (L.A. Bill No. 2 of 2025) and the Appropriation Bill for 2025-26 (L.A. Bill No. 3 of 2025) were both introduced by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Finance portfolio. Both the bills were passed by voice vote following their presentation.
Additionally, the Assembly passed the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (L.A. Bill No. 1 of 2025) through a voice vote.... | |
| | | | ‘Govt committed to develop administrative units’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today assured the House that his government remains committed to the development of administrative units created under his previous tenure and will ensure the necessary infrastructure is built over time.
Replying to a supplementary question from MLA G.A. Mir, the Chief Minister stated that the construction of the Mini Secretariat Dooru was initiated in 2018 by JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs. 590 lakh. He informed the House that work has been completed up to the plinth level, and part payments have been made accordingly.
However, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) amounting to Rs. 598.91 lakh was prepared by PWD, but the req... | |
| | | | Assembly witnesses’ uproarious scenes over daily-wagers issue | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 25: The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproarious scenes over protests of daily-wagers with legislators from treasury benches and opposition Bharatiya Janta Party raising slogans against each other.
After the Question Hour concluded Leader of Opposition Sunil Sha rma drew the attention of the government towards strike of daily-wagers over their demands
“The strike of daily wagers has triggered a water crisis, and it is unfortunate that there is no response from the government over it”, he said.
He said he had also raised the issue in the House on Monday but there has been no response from the government over it.
Responding to LoP Sharma, D... | |
| | | | ‘Power tariff in J&K lowest’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that the power tariff in Jammu and Kashmir is lowest in the country and no excessive bills are being raised.
“Domestic consumers are charged Rs 2.30 per unit and that in comparison, the average cost of power supply is around Rs 7 per unit,” Omar told Legislative Assembly while responding to the clubbed question submitted by legislators Dr Narendra Singh Rana, Sajad Gani Lone and Shabir Ahmad Kullay. The Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio of Power Department said that the current tariff for domestic consumers ranges from Rs 2.30 per unit up to Rs 200 per month to Rs 4.35 per unit, which is amongst ... | |
| | | | ‘J&K Land Revenue Act-1996 prevents misuse of agricultural land’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that the provisions for preventing the misuse of agricultural land are provided in the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, Svt. 1996.
The Chief Minister was replying to a question raised by Irfan Hafiz Lone in the Legislative Assembly.
He said that under Section 133- A of this Act, no land used for agricultural purposes shall be used for any non-agricultural purposes except with the permission of District Collector. Further, as per section 133-A of Land Revenue Act, SVT. 1996 agriculture land upto 400 sq meters can be converted for residential purposes.
The Chief Minister said that under Section 133-C, of the ... | |
| | | | 67 faculty positions vacant at GMC Udhampur | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 25: The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Tuesday that 67 out of the total 110 posts for Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors are vacant at GMC Udhampur.
Replying to a question of MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo said that the post of Principal GMC Udhampur is vacant as of now, on account of superannuation of the previous
incumbent. She said that the filling up of the same is under consideration.
“All entry-level posts have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for advertisement and selection of suitable candidates,” Itoo said, adding that va... | |
| | | | Separatism has become history in Kashmir: Amit Shah | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 25: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that separatism has become history in Kashmir.
His statement came a day after a close aide of late separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, and former head of Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Political Movement (DPM), advocate Mohammad Shafi Reshi, publicly distanced himself from separatist politics and reaffirmed his allegiance to the country and the supremacy of the Indian Constitution. Reshi strongly criticized the i... | |
| | | | 2 Hurriyat groups pledge allegiance to India | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: In a significant political development, two constituents of the Hurriyat Conference renounced separatism and pledged allegiance to India.
Two Hurriyat-affiliated organizations—the Jammu Kashmir People’s Movement (JKPM) and the Democratic Political Movement (DPM)—had announced their decision to severe ties with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.
Declaring a complete break from the Hurriyat, JKPM Chairman Shahid Saleem renounced separatism and reaffirmed his allegiance to India and its Constitution.
“I am a loyal citizen of India, and both my organization and I owe complete allegiance to the Constitution of India,” he stated in a handout issued to sel... | |
| | | | Operation Sanyal : Searches continue on 3rd day | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 25: Operation Sanyal, initiated on Sunday following reports from locals about the presence of four to five terrorists in the Hiranagar region of the Kathua district, entered into third day on Tuesday.
The operation saw an escalation with the addition of more troops and elite commandos. To neutralize the threat, the army has mobilized the National Security Guard (NSG) and Para Commandos, while security agencies have intercepted satellite phone signals in the vic... | |
| | | | DGP Prabhat leads operation | | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 25: DGP J&K Police, Nalin Prabhat, has been leading from the front during the combing operation in the Sanyal village of Kathua.
According to reports, Pakistani terrorists are believed to be holed up there with the security forces making recovery of some magazines and other items left behind by the fleeing terrorists.
The ongoing operation against hiding terrorists entered its third day on Tuesday.
Intensive search operation continued to hunt down the terrori... | |
| | | | In 3 years, J&K records over 1,800 drug smuggling cases | | | | New Delhi, Mar 25:
Agencies
The Government of India on Tuesday informed the Parliament that Jammu & Kashmir recorded over 1,800 cases of drug smuggling between 2022 and 2024, with cannabis being the most commonly trafficked substance.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in response to a question told Lok Sabha that Jammu & Kashmir registered 592 cases of cannabis smuggling in 2022, which increased to 641 in 2023 before slightly declining to 617 in 2024.
The reply stated that 765, 865 and 813 alleged drug peddlers were arrested in the years 2022, 23 and 24 respectively in J&K.
Meanwhile, in Ladakh, two cases of cannabis smuggling were reported in 2022, while no new case... | |
| | | | ‘7.81 lakh sim cards, 3K skype IDs, 83K WhatsApp accounts blocked’ | | | | New Delhi, Mar 25:
Agencies
The law enforcement agencies have blocked over 7.81 lakh SIM cards linked to digital frauds till February 28 this year, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar, replying to a written query, said a total of 2,08,469 IMEIs reported by police authorities have been blocked by the Government of India. The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique number assigned to every phone. In addition, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, has proactively identified and blocked more than 3,962 Skype IDs and 83,668 WhatsApp accounts used for ... | |
| | | | Don’t indulge in pvt practice during office hours: Govt to doctors | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department has issued a strict directive prohibiting doctors from engaging in private practice during official working hours, citing its adverse impact on patient care and hospital functioning.
A circular issued in this context by Secretary to the Government Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, instructs all Principals of Medical Colleges, Medical Superintendents, and Chief Medical Officers to ensure compliance.... | |
| | | | MeT predicts 3-day wet spell | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: Jammu and Kashmir is set to experience isolated light rain and thunderstorms over the next three days.
According to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar, over the next 24 hours there is a possibility of light rain or Snow in higher reaches at scattered places mainly over North & Central Kashmir.
The outlook for the subsequent two days indicates scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rain, accompanied by gusty winds reaching 40-50 kmph.
The MeT said that a spell of light to moderate rain and snow is expected in Jammu and Kashmir, mainly in north and central Kashmir, between March 26 afternoon and March 27 late afternoon.
The weather is expe... | |
| | | | Revenue official’s residence raided | | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 25: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted a raid at the residence of a patwari in Ajas area of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday.
sources said that the raid was carried out at the house of Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who is involved in case FIR No. 93/2023 registered at Police Station
Hajin.
The case pertains to alleged fraud and misuse of official position under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 409, and 120B. The ACB is investigating financial irregularities and forgery charges against the patwari, the official said adding, further investigations are underway. ... | |
| | | | ‘New IT Bill in Monsoon session’ | | | | New Delhi, Mar 25:
Agencies
The new Income Tax Bill will be taken up for discussion in the Monsoon session of Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday.
Replying to the discussions on the Finance Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the new income tax bill, which was introduced in the House on February 13, is currently being vetted by the Select Committee.
The Select Committee has been mandated to submit its report by the first day of the next session of Parliament.
“…we will take it (new income tax bill) up in the monsoon session,” Sitharaman said.
The monsoon session of Parliament is usually convene in July and runs through August.
The simplified Inc... | |
| | | | LS passes Finance Bill 2025 | | | | New Delhi, Mar 25:
Agencies
The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed the Finance Bill 2025, along with 35 government amendments, including one that abolishes a 6 per cent digital tax on online advertisements.
With the passage of the Finance Bill 2025, the Lok Sabha completed its part of the Budgetary approval process. The Upper House, Rajya Sabha, will now consider the Bill.
After the Rajya Sabha approves the Bill, the Budget process for 2025-26 will be complete.
The Union Budget 2025-26 envisages a total expenditure of Rs 50.65 lakh crore, an increase of 7.4 per cent over the current fiscal.
The total capital expenditure proposed for the next fiscal is Rs 11.22 lakh crore and an effective ... | |
| | | | Avalanches recurring phenomenon | | | | New Delhi, Mar 25:
Agencies
Avalanches are a recurring natural phenomenon in high-altitude areas such as Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh and the government is aware of the significant risks they pose to human lives and property, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.
Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said automated weather stations and doppler radars have been installed in vulnerable regions to improve forecasting capabilities.
He said that the Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE) has installed 72 snow meteorological observatories and 45 automated weather stations (AWS) are operational, 100 (AWS) are under testing and 20... | |
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