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| RDD spends 1.50 cr on building commissioned 4 years ago | | Panchayat Bhawan constructed for Rs 1.48 Cr, renovation work costs Rs 1.50 Cr | |  Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: Throwing rule books into bin, a powerful XEn, in Rural Development Department has spent Rs 1.50 cr on the renovation of Panchyat Bhawan, which was commissioned in September 2012 without inviting tenders.
"On an estimate Rs 1.50 cr is to be spent on renovation, so far Rs 50 lacs have been released, while rest amount can be released any time", sources said and added that huge amount is being drained from state exchequer for renovation.
"On 7th ... | |
| | | | Mehbooba sets her own agenda, cares little about Centre's policy | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has decided to reach out the people of the Kashmir with reconciliation in mind which is in line with the party's policy of 'healing touch.'
She has asked the police forces to start differentiating between terrorist and his families.
Political observers believe that she has decided to pick up the threads to also send a message that she holds independent line on Kashmir and is not bound to follow the line of Central government.
The CM while addressing a police passing out parade in Kashmir said, "Now difficult and turbulent phase is over where some hard steps were taken the time has come for the Police to distinguish... | |
| | | | Over 30 tehsils headless, blue-eyed attached in cities | | | |
Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: Over one dozen tehsildars are reportedly enjoying stay in capital city, whereas over 30 peripheral tehsils across the state are headless for the past many months, creating hurdles for gullible masses.
Sources informed Early Times that over 30 tehils headquarters across state are headless for the last many months. Out of these vacant tehsils, maximum are the newly created administrative units and fall in peripheral areas of state, where the officials refuse to visit, sources said.
They informed that instead of streamlining the system, the Revenue department has rehabilitated many blue-eyed tehsildars in Jammu city instead of sending them ... | |
| | | | BJP-PDP coalition to hold Panchayat elections in April 2017 | | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 14: Prior to facing opposition NC-Congress in the Lok Sabha polls, BJP-PDP is set to face the acid test of Panchayat elections across the state either in the last week of March or in the first week of April 2017.
Sources in the state election department told Early Times that they are ready for the elections and it is now for the state government to take a decision. There was talk of using EVM machines but state election department officials said that ballot boxes would be used for the Panchayat elections. They added that they are ready for Panchayat elections since the days of ex-Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed who had during his te... | |
| | | | For Geelani & family, it's time for 'Delhi chalo' | | Aged separatist to spend winter in the national capital | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 14: After keeping Kashmir hostage for around four months with his protest calendar, the Huriyat hawk Syed Ali Geelani is all set to leave for New Delhi to spend winters there.
Reports say the 87-year-old octogenarian is leaving for Delhi soon and that he has decided to spend the entire winter period in the national capital only.
Since 2007, Geelani has been going to Delhi during the winter period every year and stays at the residence of his daughter located at Malvia Nagar.
However, ahead of making the Delhi trip, Geelani while sensing trouble over his rhetorical strike calendars has hinted at breaking the strike chain. In the new protest calendar, th... | |
| | | | 21 years after bomb blast, MA stadium still under 'security siege' | | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 14: In a peculiar case of gradual death of sports in Jammu due to the overdose of security, M A stadium, the hub of entire sporting activity in Jammu region has been held hostage by the security wing of state police for the last 21 years.
Following a bomb blast in the stadium on Jan 26, 1995 during the Republic Day function, the M A Stadium came under the security siege, where it continues to be till today. A guard of policemen has held the stadium and the training of the sportspersons hostage for close to two decades. These policemen open and close the stadium gates at their own whims and fancies, literally hijacking the training of the sportsmen.
The r... | |
| | | | Open Letter To Prime Minister Narendra Modi | | | |
Jammu, Dec 14, 2016
Dear Prime Minister
Disturbing developments which have been unfolding on a daily-basis in the sensitive border State of Jammu & Kashmir after you met PDP president on March 22, 2016 to break the impasse over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir and extended your "unconditional support" to what PDP had been striving to achieve since 1999. This has led to the already abandoned nationalists in the sensitive border State, especially in Jammu and Ladakh, to believe that some insidious influence is at work to defeat the great object the founder of Jan Sangh, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, and other patriots and throw in the lot of t... | |
| | | | Kathua function brings to fore two divided lobbies of BJP leaders | | Lal made it clear he still believes in 'Congress style of politics' | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 14: Martyrs Day function at Kathua two days back brought to fore two diagonally opposed lobbies of BJP led by two leaders, thanks to Forest Minister Lal Singh's style of organizing events which only made it obvious and conspicuous. Lal Singh also made it abundantly clear that he believes in one man show events all to his benefit and advantage and that he still moves with the spirit of Congress culture politics in having allegiance with just one stalwart in the party and ignoring the rest of lot.
Sources said even though Forest Minister Lal Singh who has been organizing this Day every year, managed it this year by keeping Union Minister and son of the soil Dr... | |
| | | | Suspended official accuses former GM of fraud | | Fraudulent promotion in Govt Press Srinagar | | | Saqib Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Dec 14: An official who has been suspended over illegal promotion of an employee in Government Press Srinagar has blamed the former General Manager for the fraud.
Sikandar Khan, section officer who has been suspended for the fraud has written to the incumbent General Manager and has blamed his predecessor over this act.
In this letter, the official said that in reference to charge sheet No GPS/Estt/345-49/2016 dated 29/10/2016 he was working as in-charge establishment when the DPC of 2012 was convened and the work of clerk was to prepare agenda note of DPC and to circulate the said amongst constituent DPC members. He said the minutes of the DP... | |
| | | | Stagnation reaches alarming level in JK police | | Govt's priority is KPS, not sacrifices of lower rung | | | K Koushal
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: If a police constable, the force's fighting arm and the real foundation of police service, has to wait for more than 20 years for first promotion, it indicates the level of stagnation in J&K police.
According to sources, the anomaly persists through the Non-Gazetted Officer (NGO) ranks, and even the high attrition rate has failed to change things. Even gazette police officers of Kashmir Police Service (KPS) officers have some genuine grievances with seniority, promotional aspects and pay scale vis-à-vis their counterparts in civil administration.
Sources said in police department, frustration among the rank and files is at a peak which can... | |
| | | | No free education for girls in Kishtwar' | | | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Dec 14: Tall claims of the state government that Education sector is its priority have fallen flat in this frontier district as the officials have made a mockery of a system by throwing the rules and regulations into dustbin.
Despite government ordering free education for the girls up to 12th standard, the schools in Kishtwar district continue to charge the admission and other fee from the students.
As per the details available with "Early Times" The Jammu and Kashmir government recently passed an order No. 450-edu/2016 dated 21-11-2016 which was hailed by one and all as the order was related to waiving and making free education for gir... | |
| | | | Old toilets shown new in papers for fund release | | 'Corruption pollutes sanitation campaign' | | |
Arun Singh
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: The failure of the State government for not approving a specific design for the construction of toilets under sanitation campaign in the State, the Rural Development Department in league with the local representatives has indulged in corrupt practices by showing the existing and the old toilets as newly constructed ones in papers.
Sources told Early Times that despite the fact that it has been more than two years the sanitation campaign started by the center government under the "Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" to make India open defecation free country but the executing agencies are consistently hell bent to derail this ambitious project by n... | |
| | | | 2 years on, Govt fails to appoint BSOs | | Swatchh Bharat Mission | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: Swatchh Bharat Mission (SBM) may be a success in Urban areas, but in rural areas of J&K , this programme is confined to construction of lavatory blocks. The State Government has failed to appoint Block Sanitation Officers (BSOs) which were to be appointed at each block level by the Rural Development Department (RDD).
Details available with Early Times reveal that under Swatchh Bharat Mission (Grameen) all the State Governments have been advised to post a Government officer as a full time Block Sanitation Officer in each block of district . Till that is not made operational, the State governments may specifically officially assign SBM activities to... | |
| | | | Due to party ministers' pressure BJP leaders not opposing decision | | Compensation to Burhan's family: | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: State Government has taken a very controversial decision by announcing compensation for eliminated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani's older brother, who was killed by the security forces in the month of April this year. By announcing this compensation the State Government has vindicated separatists' allegation that Burhan Wani's brother was killed in enacted encounter but silence of BJP-the champion of nation cause in J&K, on this issue has raised many eye-brows. None of the BJP minister or leader has uttered even a single word against this decision of the state government. Credible sources in the corridors of power said that after KPS controver... | |
| | | | Govt schools san sanitation, drinking water facilities in Udhampur | | |  Early Times Report
Darsoo/Udhampur, Dec 14 : In clear violation of the guidelines from the Government of India, more than Seven schools in the Darsoo area of Udhampur District of are without any sanitation and drinking water facilities. The State Government has ignored strict instructions from the Government of India (GoI) to provide adequate facilities of clean drinking water and toilet facilities to students within school premises. It needs to be mentioned here that The Supreme Co... | |
| | | | Land mafia enjoys privilege, hundreds kanals of land encroached in connivance with influentials | | | | Sushil Dutta
Early Times Report
Rajouri , Dec 14: Hundreds of Kanals of state land around Rajouri town have been allegedly encroached by some influential people and political activists of different political parties.
Encroachers have also grabbed land around district hospital, District Institute of Education and Training (DIET), government girl's higher secondary school and other government institutions.
Sources said that some of the encroachers have constructed shopping complexes and other business establishments by demolishing the decades old government buildings in connivance with Thannamandi Muncipal Coprporation and politicians involved in it .
It has also come to the notice of ... | |
| | | | Brushing aside RTI: RTI activist awaiting response over MGNREGA for last 3 yrs | | | | M S Nazki
Early Times Report
Poonch, Dec 14::It may sound strange but it is true that an information seeker RTI activist seeking works carried out under MGNREGA in the Mendhar Town is awaiting response for the last three years but the authorities have failed to provide the same, sources said here today. According to reports a social worker and RTI activist Imtiaz Ahmed Khan son of said Mohd Kahn of Harni had sought the details of MGNREGA works carried out in the district in 2013 including work plan , labourers, job card details, distribution of Govt material in Panchayats , besides total construction cost of works and so on. "And In this context he (activist) had submitted the applicat... | |
| | | | Gullible students exploited by Education mafia | | | | Early Times Report
Udhampur, Dec 14: In number of subsequent orders, notifications & SRO's Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir is failed to curve down the menace of all those private schools functioning illegally without providing healthy infrastructure to the students studying in these private schools.
As per details there are 2753 private schools functioning in Jammu province. Out of these 2753 schools, 1067 schools are functioning at Primary level, 868 at middle level, 556 at high & 262 at Higher Secondary level.
More than 75% of Private schools are granted recognition up to primary & middle standard. It is unfortunate for all those students who seek admission unknowingly about the recognition... | |
| | | | Govt orders reshuffles in middle rung civil administration | | 53 KAS officers transferred | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: The Government today ordered transfer and postings of 53 KAS officers. Arvind Kotwal, Deputy Comrnissioner, Commercial Taxes (Appeals)-11, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Additional Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department.
Manisha Sarin, Joint Director, Handicrafts, Jammu, is transferred and posted as Joint Director, Information, Jammu, vice Tilak Raj Sharrna.
Mohammad Rafi, Additional Secretary to the Government, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, under orders of transfer as Regional Director, Survey and Land Records (ex-officio Settlement Officer), Baramulla-Kupwara [Kamraz], shall continue as Addition... | |
| | | | Adoption, marriage, conversion do not make one eligible for reservation: HC | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14 : High court judge Janak Raj Kotwal today held that a candidate by adoption or marriage or conversion does not become eligible to the benefit of reservation. The court directive came in a petition filed by one Munir Ahmed who had challenged the appointment of one Ruhi, wife of Sikander Mehmood for the post of medical officer (ayurvedic) under ST category. The petitioner's counsel submitted that the appointee applied for her selection under ST category on the basis of a ST category certificate which she had obtained by sheer misrepresentation of facts and in connivance with the revenue officials. Ruhi, in fact, belongs to open merit category but in 2010 sh... | |
| | | | Life imprisonment for murdering brother | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14 : Principal Sessions Judge, Kathua, Vinod Chatterji Koul today awarded life impriosnment to a man for murdering his brother. Convict Mohammad Ishaq was also fined Rs 20,000. He had killed his brother Basharat Ali. Ishaq's wife, who had left him, had been living with Ali along with their children. This developed enemity between them and became the reason for Ali's murder. "It is clear that charge for offences under sections 302 of RPC and 30 of Arms Act stands established against the accused. He is, accordingly, convicted," the judge said and added, "Unless the crime perpetrated by an accused can safely be placed in the category of rarest of rare cases, th... | |
| | | | Efforts for Hangul protection face another setback | | Lobbying again hinders shifting of Sheep farm from Dachigam | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 14: The endangered Hangul or royal stag is at the verge of extinction as the government is yet again "dilly-dallying" the shifting of Sheep Breeding Farm from the eco-fragile Dachigam National Park here.
Even as the government had recently started the process for the much-needed shifting of the sheep farm, the process was left midway. Sources said lobby in Kashmir is trying to sabotage the process for "personal interests."
Experts who have studied the problem told Early Times that a particular lobby has started giving a wrong notion that there was no harm in keeping the farm as it is.
"The perception is being given that sheep and wildlife can coexist a... | |
| | | | SPO aspirants of Kupwara await engagement order | | | | Shiv Dev Thakur
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14: Hundreds of Special Police Officers (SPOs) aspirants in Kupwara district of north Kashmir are awaiting their adjustment orders from the past around two months.
A circular for engagement of SPOs in Kupwara was issued under the PHQ advertisement No. GB/M-32/2016/46737-800 vide dated 6-08-2016. The physical tests were held from October 13- 23. The aspirants who cleared the physical tests are awaiting helplessly for the final merit lists to come, but there has been no communication from the administration.
Official sources told Early Times that a higher official of the district administration has issued the merit list arbitrarily withou... | |
| | | | Primary healthcare in rural Kashmir 'ailing', patients suffer | | | | Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 14: Despite government's repeated claims to strengthen health sector in the state, majority of the primary health centres in rural areas of Kashmir Valley are in a terrible condition.
Most of the PHCs in rural areas lack staff, equipment, beds, labs and even doctors too.
"The urban-rural divide seems stark with most PHCs in urban areas being in better shape than those in rural areas," a source in the Health Department told Early Times.
He said that due to inadequate basic health facilities, scores of precious lives are lost every year in rural areas. "The victims are mostly the pregnant women who remain miserably unattended during th... | |
| | | | Shortage of funds hits dev projects in Kashmir | | | | Muhammad Mukaram
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 14: Various developmental projects have been halted in Kashmir due to non-availability of funds. On June 25, Mohammad Ashraf Sheikh had registered a complaint in Chief Minister's Grievance Cell under complaint no: 61478 against the R&B Department over delay in work on a bridge which is under construction since 2011-2012.
A copy of complaint in possession with Early Times reads, "A bridge which connects Badesgam A with Badesgam B in South Kashmir's Anantnag district is under construction for last more than five years. But till date it is not seeing the light of completion although the side piers are completed."
At least more than 500... | |
| | | | HC restrains state from closing any govt school | | News item on closure of school for parking lot treated as PIL | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 14 : Treating a news item published in a newspaper here on the closure of a government school for the purpose of a parking lot, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur today restrained the state from closing any government school which are functioning as on date.
And, if any school was to be closed for any valid reason, permission from this court be obtained, the bench directed.
The bench observed that imparting education either by the state or by private persons could not be for profiteering. Right to education to the children upto age of 14 years is guaranteed as a fundamental right under Articl... | |
| | | | Influential hoteliers violate HC directives | | In Pahalgam, PDA facilitates transportation of construction material | | |
Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Dec 14: With PDA authorities facilitating the transpiration of construction material, the influential and blue-eyed hoteliers have yet again resumed illegal construction works in South Kashmir's picturesque Pahalgam where High Court has imposed a blanket ban over the constructions.
Reports said that taking undue advantage of this cold season, violators in league with the officials of Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) have resumed the process of dumping construction material at Pahalgam. They said that PDA officials always remain active of these illegal activities but instead of taking action they 'facilitate' the transportation of const... | |
| | | | Top Pakistani militant killed in Sopore | | 1 militant dies in army ambush in Anantnag | | 
Mohammad Sarfaraz/Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
BARAMULLA/Anantnag, Dec 14: A top commander of Lashkar-e-Toiba was today killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore area of north Kashmir, while as telephonic services were snapped for a day in Baramulla district.
A senior police official said that on a tip of about the presence of militants in Bomai village of Sopore, the whole area was sealed off by the security forces.
A joint team of army, SOG and police cordoned off th... | |
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