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| Reservation row set to escalate, Bahujan Samaj announces Assembly Gherao on March 24 | | Budget Session 2025 | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: The simmering controversy over Jammu and Kashmir’s existing reservation rules is poised to intensify as members of reserved categories, under the banner of Bahujan Samaj, have announced plans to gherao the Legislative Assembly on March 24.
The protest is aimed at countering Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) who have been vocally demanding changes to the current quota system, raising fears among reserved communities that their rights could be undermined.
On Monday, Bahujan Samaj leaders expressed alarm over what they perceive as a concerted effort by the Omar Abdullah-led government to alter the reservation framework under pressure from MLAs, particularly those from the Kashmir Valley.
The group has singled out National Conference (NC) MLA Bashir Ahmed Veeri, accusing him of spearheading an "unconstitutional move" by introducing a private bill in the J&K Assembly.
The proposed legislation seeks to slash reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) from 8% to 4%, Scheduled Tribes (STs) from 10% to 7%, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) fr... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| Startling: Para alleges privacy breach of female employees in biometric attendance system | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Wahid-ur-Rehman Para has made startling revelations regarding potential privacy breaches in the biometric attendance system implemented by the School Education Department in Jammu and Kashmir.
Raising the issue in the Legislative Assembly, Para questioned the government on whether any private agency was operating the Aadhaar-Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS). Expressing serious concerns over data security and privacy, he urged authorities to clarify who has access to sensitive biometric information of teachers.
“The biometric attendance system in the school department raises major privacy concerns, partic... | |
| | | | Plan under implementation to ensure 24×7 power supply in J&K: CM Omar | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said a well-coordinated plan which includes modernisation works in transmission and distribution system is under implementation to ensure 24×7 power supply to the consumers in the Union Territory. Abdullah also said that no major progress has been achieved in the development of a coal block in Odisha. The coal block was allocated to J&K State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) jointly with NTPC in ... | |
| | | | J&K Cements suffered losses in crores from 2013 to 2019: Minister | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 17: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said J&K Cements was shut down due to multiple reasons, including below-par productivity per employee ratio, poor power supply, and production losses.
In response to a question from MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the concerned minister said several factors contributed to the decline of JKCL.
Presently, all three plants have been closed since 2019 due to the following reasons such as insufficient working capital, lack of pr... | |
| | | | Jan welcomes development initiatives announced for Poonch | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Poonch, Aijaz Jan, on Monday welcomed the development initiatives announced for the region.
Jan said that the government is committed to addressing the pressing needs of the people and ensuring holistic development in the region. “We are dedicated to improving infrastructure, enhancing public services, and creating new opportunities for our people. These initiatives mark a step forward in that direction,” he stated... | |
| | | | ‘Rs 1000 pay for school cooks inadequate’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday admitted that the honorarium received by helpers and cooks in government schools for preparing mid-day meals was insufficient and that it is seriously considering the enhancement of wages in this regard.
During the ongoing discussion on grants amid the budget session in legislative assembly, Minister in charge for Education, Sakina Yatoo told the house that the concerns raised by various legislators about Rs one thousand per month being received as wages by the helpers and cooks in government schools was inadequate and insufficient and that the government is actively working on a proposal to enhance their wage... | |
| | | | ‘Only 7 posts vacant at SDH Akhnoor’ | | |  Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 17: The Government on Monday said that of thirty two sanctioned posts for Sub District Hospital Akhnoor, only seven are lying vacant.
Replying to the question of Mohan Lal Bagat, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo said that the department acknowledges the concerns regarding staff positions at Sub-Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Akhnoor and Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in the Akhnoor constituency and would like to provide a detailed ex... | |
| | | | ‘No proposal to declare Jammu old city as heritage city’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: The Government today said that presently there is no proposal regarding declaration of the Old City Jammu as Heritage City.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, while replying on behalf of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah to a question raised by Yudhvir Sethi, said that there is no such proposal under consideration in the department at present. ... | |
| | | | ‘J&K schools facing dearth of teachers’ | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Owing to the non-recruitment since 2019, the government Monday said that the School Education Department Monday was facing a dearth of teaching staff. The government however further said that it was making all efforts to make proper rationalization to streamline the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR).
The Education Minister, Sakina Itoo in a response to the concerned respondent in legislative assembly said, “Yes, it is a fact that there is shortage of teachers in t... | |
| | | | ‘Probe deaths of 2 brothers’ | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Members of the PDP and the NC on Monday raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly the issue of the deaths of two brothers, who were among three people missing since last month and demanded a high-level probe.
Showkat Ahmad Bajad, his brother Riyaz Ahmad Bajad, and Mukhtar Ahmad went missing on February 13 while on their way to attend a function at the house of a relative in Ashmuji. However, the trio — who were working as labourers — never reached their destination.
Showkat Ahmad Bajad’s body was retrieved from Vaishov nullah in Kulgam district on Sunday while that of his brother was recovered from the same spot a few days ago.
As the assembly proceedi... | |
| | | | CJ administers oath to 3 Judges as permanent judges | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Tashi Rabstan administered the Oath of office to Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal, Justice Rajesh Sekhri and Justice Mohd. Yousuf Wani, Additional Judges, as Judges of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, today on 17th March, 2025 at 10:00 A.M in the Chief Justice’s Court Room at Jammu.
The oath taking ceremony was physically attended at Jammu by Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Justice Sindhu Sharma, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar, Justice Puneet Gupta and Justice Mohd. Akram Chowdhary & virtually from Srinagar by Justice Atul Sreedharan, Justice Rajnesh Oswal, Justice Javed Iqbal Wan... | |
| | | | MHA updates list of 67 banned terror groups | | | | New Delhi, Mar 17:
Agencies
An updated list of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) names a group of 67 terrorist organisations and unlawful associations facing a ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their role in terrorist activities against India, threatening the country’s security.
The list released by the Ministry of Home Affairs names 45 organizations that are officially categorized as terrorist organizations under Section 35 of the UAPA and are included in the First Schedule of the Act. The remaining 22 groups are classified as unlawful associations under Section 3(1) of the UAPA.
Many of these organizations have been involved in militancy, separatism, and viol... | |
| | | | J&Ks private colleges not eligible for central grants: MoS Education | | |  New Delhi, Mar 17:
Agencies
The Union government has clarified that private self-financing colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are not eligible for financial assistance under central government schemes.
The information was revealed in Lok Sabha in response to a question by Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh, with Minister of State for Education, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar, providing the details.
The minister stated that the University Grants Commission (UGC) does not provide financial aid to private... | |
| | | | Elderly man shoots self | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: A 71-year-old man allegedly shot himself with a 12-bore gun in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Monday, officials said
Abdul Karim, a resident of Tanda village, went to a nearby forest and was later found dead by villagers with a gunshot injury, they said.
A 12-bore gun was found near the body, they added.
Preliminary inquiry suggested that Karim shot himself but the motive behind his taking such an extreme step was not immediately known, the officials said. ... | |
| | | | IED defused in Kulgam | | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Mar 17: Security forces on Monday averted a tragedy with the timely detection of an improvised explosive device (IED) in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said.
A patrol party noticed a suspicious object on the Shopian-Anantnag road at Qaimoh in Kulgam district which turned out to be an IED, they said.
A bomb disposal squad was rushed to the spot which defused the IED on the spot without causing any damage, the officials said. ... | |
| | | | Searches launched in Rajouri | | | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 17: Security forces on Monday launched a search operation after an ex-serviceman reported movement of two suspected individuals in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district, officials said
The retired soldier noticed the suspected persons, who were dressed in black, moving towards a hilltop while he was collecting fodder for his goats from a forest adjoining Gandeh village in the Sunderbani sector, they said.
A joint party of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a cordon-and-search operation after getting the information. They were later joined by army personnel.
The operation was continuing in the for... | |
| | | | Lookout notice against 6 | | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 17: The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s crime branch on Monday issued a lookout notice against six online fraudsters, including two women, for allegedly duping an ex-serviceman here of more than Rs 17.50 lakhs on the pretext of doubling his money, an official said. The case was registered at the Jammu Crime Branch’s Special Crime Wing (SCW) police station in 2022 following a complaint by the victim, the official said.
He said the lookout notice was issued by SCW’s Jammu Zonal headquarters against Rajni Sharma (33), wife of Vishnu Sharma from Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh); Rekha (44), wife of Krishan Kumar from Gurgoan (Haryana); Sanjay Heela (39) from North 24 Pargana... | |
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