Jammu, Apr 11: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday warned that the drug Smugglers' assets will be seized while ringleaders prosecuted, and punishment will be delivered swiftly.
He was speaking while during the flag-off of Padyatra while joining the public representatives, senior officials and thousands of citizens in the walkathon from MA Stadium to Parade Ground, marking the beginning of 100-days intensive campaign under Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyaan.
He launched the historic mass movement for a “Drug-Free Jammu Kashmir” from the venue.
“The administration will confiscate all property, revoke licenses, passports, Aadhaar, and freeze bank accounts of all those involved. This crackdown against drug smugglers will echo through generations,” he said.
He said new SoP has been issued against the drug traffickers.
"Under this SOP, we have taken a crucial decision to revoke passports, driving licenses, Aadhaar numbers, and arms licenses of smugglers involved in drug trafficking. If they are absconding, a Look Out Circular will be issued immediately," he said.
He said that additionally, their movable and immovable properties will be attached under the NDPS Act, bank accounts frozen, and financial investigation will be launched.
The Lieutenant Governor gave a clarion call to make Jammu Kashmir free from the scourge of drugs.
“We have given voice to a resolve that will reach every village, town, city, home, and heartbeat in Union Territory, fulfilling the pledge of a drug-free region.
Next three months are pivotal, with campaign advancing in six clear phases- Awareness intensive drives, youth focused events, community engagement, strict enforcement, rehabilitation and evaluation. We will move forward with the whole of government approach to rid J&K of drug menace,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the eradication of drug addiction is a collective responsibility that rests upon us all.
“We pledge resolutely that the administration will not let any youth, family, or dream fall into the dark abyss of addiction. I firmly believe that drug addiction statistics show mere percentages and case files but behind each lies a vivid story, a family's struggle and agony," he said.
He said that drug-free J&K campaign demands not just sympathy but collective action because it is not an individual plight but a collective crisis, not one family's tragedy but a challenge to us all.
"Together, with unwavering resolve, we will fight and defeat the scourge of drug abuse,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that drug abuse is among J&K's gravest challenges and we stand firm in our commitment to confront drug abuse and emerge victorious.
“Bound by shared purpose, we will rise against drug abuse and claim the victory that awaits us. The three-month long people's movement across J&K will make every person grasp the issue, turning information into responsibility through public participation,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor vowed decisive and uncompromising action against drug smugglers to free the J&K UT from the grip of the drug menace.
“Those who destroy society will face the full and uncompromising weight of the law. Our neighbor is using cross-border smuggling to poison our communities and undermine our nation's future. Every officer carries one obligation: this must stop. The full force of the law is now directed at smugglers. Their networks will be dismantled without delay,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
On 2nd April, we had notified the Jammu and Kashmir Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centres Rules, 2026, ensuring every center is genuine, dedicated to patients affected by addiction, equipped with all required human resources, and under continuous monitoring. Action will be taken against centers operating without support staff or in violation of the rules,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the senior officers for swift action on complaints and strengthening of grassroots intelligence with the help of panchayats, mohalla committees, chowkidars, lambardars and ward surveillance committees to identify and punish every culprit.
“Our strength in Drug-Free J&K Campaign lies in collective action. When departments unite with shared purpose, we prevail.
Since early 2021 we have moved beyond planning to decisive action for Drug-Free J&K. We are successfully implementing initiatives that have reached previously untouched communities, engaged youth in schools, and expanded rehabilitation services. No individual faces this battle alone; the administration stands firmly committed,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor called upon youth, social workers, community leaders, teachers, women and athletes to participate in large numbers since they are the face, force and future of this campaign.
“The next three months will sow seeds of lasting change. Let anti-drug sports tournaments brim with fervor, debates steel youth resolve, quizzes embed awareness. Map drug-affected areas accurately; unity marches, Padyatra inspire neighborhoods; marathons from panchayats to cities declare that J&K will never bow to drugs,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor emphasized that from village chaupals to district headquarters, every event must pulse with mass movement spirit, followed by reviews because feedback will be our compass to refine, strategize and act stronger.
“April 11 is not a ceremonial start but the first step of a transformative march. Let us build a movement so broad, so resolute, and so deeply people-driven that it lays the foundation of a drug-free J&K,” he further said.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor administered the “Anti-Drug Pledge” to the citizens and unveiled the official campaign mascot. Awareness Video, singing and cultural performances by renowned artists echoed the message of a drug-free Jammu Kashmir.
The Padyatra was warmly received by business organizations, civil society members, and various stakeholders along the route.
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.
New Delhi, Jan 25: The Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed all universities and dental colleges across the country to strictly ensure a minimum of 80 percent biometric attendance for Post Graduate students before allowing them to appear in examinations. The decision has been taken to curb absenteeism among postgraduate dental students. According to a circular issued by the Dental Council of India-a statutory body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the decision has been taken after multiple complaints were received from dental colleges in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh regarding non-attendance of PG students. "The matter was examined by the Grievance Sub-Committee of the DCI in its meeting held on November 24, 2025," the circular reads. It reads that after detailed discussion and deliberation, the committee recommended that all universities and dental colleges must ensure compliance with Regulation 18(a)(i) of the DCI Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017, which mandates at least 80 per cent attendance. "The recommendation of the Grievance Sub-Committee has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Dental Council of India through circulation and has now been formally communicated for information and necessary action," the circular reads. As per the circular, all the universities and dental colleges have been directed to ensure minimum 80 per cent biometric attendance of all PG students before permitting them to appear in examinations. The order, issued by Deputy Secretary Dental Council of India Mukesh Kumar, is expected to be implemented with immediate effect across the country.
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.
Srinagar, March 6: Around 17 candidates from Jammu and Kashmir have qualified the Civil Services Examination (CSE)-2025, the result for which was declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. The commission recommended a total of 958 candidates for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and various central services. Anuj Agnihotri, an MBBS graduate, has topped the civil services examination 2025, while Rajeshwari Suve M and Akansh Dhull have got the second and third ranks respectively. According to the official list released by the UPSC the 17 candidates from J&K who have figured in the final merit list include Suvan Sharma (Rank 148), Sugandha Gupta (207), Towseef Ganie (Rank 254), Ritika (Rank 456), Sooyash Shivam (Rank 572), Muneeb Parrah (Rank 581), Ghulam Din (Rank 683), Dwarka Gaadhi (Rank 721), Akash (Rank 747), Koh E Safa (Rank 763), Yasaar (Rank 811), Abhishek (Rank 820), Pankaj (Rank 856), Mohammad Ajaz (Rank 869), Azhar (Rank 886), Sarfraz (Rank 936), and Irfan (Rank 957). The results were declared after conducting the written examination in August 2025 followed by the personality tests (interviews) conducted between December 2025 and February 2026. As per the result notification issue by the UPSC, a total of 958 candidates have been recommended for appointment against 1087 vacancies reported by the government for the examination cycle. These include 180 vacancies in the IAS, 55 in the IFS, 150 in the IPS, 507 in Central Services Group A and 195 in Group B services. Of the total recommended candidates, 317 are from the general category, 104 from the economically weaker sections, 306 from other backward classes, 158 from scheduled castes and 73 from scheduled tribes. A consolidated reserve list of 258 candidates has also been published in accordance with the rules. The claims of recommended candidates regarding reservation categories will be subject to verification by the concerned authorities. The UPSC has stated that the candidature of 348 recommended candidates has been kept provisional, while the result of the two candidates has been kept withheld. The CSE is conducted annually in three stages- preliminary, Mains and interview by the UPSC to select officers of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) among others. The civil services (preliminary) examination 2025 was conducted on May 25 of 2025. A total of 937876 candidates applied for this examination, out of which 5,76,793 actually appeared in the test. A total of 14,161 candidates qualified for appearance in the written (Main) examination which was held in August, 2025. Of these, 2736 candidates had qualified for the personality test (interview) of the examination. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the candidates who qualified the UPSC exam. "Congratulations to all those who have successfully cleared the Civil Services Examination, 2025. Their dedication, perseverance and hard work have led to this significant milestone. Wishing them the very best as they embark on a journey of serving the nation and fulfilling the aspirations of the people," PM Modi wrote on his official X handle. "To those who may not have secured the desired outcome in the Civil Services Examination, I understand that such moments can be difficult. However, this is only one step in a larger journey. Many opportunities lie ahead, both in future examinations and in the many avenues through which you can contribute to our nation. My best wishes for the road ahead," his post on X reads. UPSC chairman Ajay Kumar announced the declaration of the result and congratulated the candidates who qualified the exam. "Congrats to all successful candidates as you begin a career of service to the nation. For those who did not make it-the learning from this journey will guide you in the paths ahead," UPSC Chairman wrote in a post on X. Among the 17 candidates from J&K who qualified UPSC exam inlcude a visually impaired candidate Irfan Ahmad Lone, a resident of Manzpora in the Naidkhai area of Bandipora.
Srinagar, Oct 16: Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi on Friday strongly condemned the abusive outburst of senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan against JKAS officer Beenish Wani during a Mission YUVA review meeting, demanding an impartial inquiry and strict action against the officer if the allegations are established. Inam Un Nabi said abusive language, threats of dismissal and misuse of official authority by a senior officer cannot be brushed aside as a routine workplace dispute. He said public office carries responsibility and accountability, not a licence to humiliate subordinates or intimidate colleagues. “No officer, irrespective of rank or influence, is above accountability. If the allegations against Rajeev Ranjan are substantiated, appropriate action must follow. Administrative hierarchy cannot become a shield for misconduct and the dignity of a junior woman officer cannot be compromised,” Inam said. Inam also lambasted Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for allowing a serious issue involving abuse of authority and humiliation of a woman officer to become entangled in a debate over the powers of the Chief Minister and the Lieutenant Governor. “Beenish Wani needs justice, not sympathy or political statements. Instead of discussing the limitations of the Union Territory setup, the Chief Minister should directly approach the Lieutenant Governor and seek an impartial inquiry. The issue demands decisive leadership, not political deflection,” he said. Calling for an independent and transparent inquiry, Inam demanded that Beenish Wani be protected against any retaliation and that the competent authority take appropriate action based on the findings. He said the government must establish that seniority and bureaucratic influence cannot shield anyone from accountability.
Jammu, Oct 14: A group of Gen-Z protesters staged an anti-BJP demonstration at Bahu Plaza here on Wednesday in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), condemning the police crackdown on its leaders and supporters following protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi. The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-led Centre and asserted that police action and restrictions on demonstrations would not deter them from exercising their constitutional right to peaceful protest. Questioning the authorities over electoral data and voter-related issues, protester Agrya Singh Chauhan challenged the Centre to justify the restrictions imposed on demonstrations. She also questioned the promotion of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) accused of harassing a woman journalist in Delhi. “What kind of authority are you trying to demonstrate? What kind of power are you displaying?” Chauhan asked. Referring to the denial of permission to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, she said the venue had long served as a platform for people to raise their voices against injustice, question those in power and demand accountability. The protest comes amid a change in the designated venues for demonstrations in the national capital. Delhi Police on Monday officially denotified Jantar Mantar as a designated protest site and designated Ramlila Ground, Burari Ground and CBD Ground in east Delhi as alternative venues. Chauhan said the denial of permission to protest at Jantar Mantar would not silence the demonstrators, asserting that they would continue their agitation across the country. “Delhi Police denied us permission to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar, but it cannot stop us from raising our voices. If we are not allowed to protest at Jantar Mantar, we will turn every part of the country into Jantar Mantar—from Kashmir to Jammu and beyond,” she said. “You can deny us a venue, but you cannot take away our constitutional right to protest. No matter how many people you detain or how many jails you fill, we will continue our fight and make our voices heard,” she added. Emphasising the right to peaceful dissent, Chauhan said the protesters would continue to seek answers from the authorities until their concerns were addressed and justice delivered. “No amount of police action can weaken our resolve. If our questions are not answered, we will continue to raise them. Our protest will continue until our concerns are heard and justice is delivered,” she said. Another protester, Anmol Ori, accused the police of mistreating women demonstrators in Delhi, alleging that the action was intended to discourage women from participating in the protests. “Women are a very important part of this protest, and that is precisely why this is happening,” Ori said, alleging that the police were attempting to intimidate the demonstrators. Drawing a parallel with the political fallout following the 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case in Delhi, Ori warned that the alleged police action could have political consequences. “One government fell in 2014 after the Nirbhaya case; another will fall now because of what the police have done,” he said.
Leh/Jammu, Oct 12: Ladakh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rahul Sharma on Monday urged eligible residents of Leh and Kargil to verify their names in the draft electoral rolls and submit claims and objections by October 15. Sharma chaired a meeting with representatives of recognised political parties in Leh to review the ongoing revision of electoral rolls for the municipal committees of Leh and Kargil, officials said. The CEO briefed the representatives on eligibility criteria, disqualification provisions and procedures for inclusion of names, correction of particulars and filing of objections. He stressed the importance of accurate and inclusive electoral rolls to ensure that all eligible citizens can participate in the democratic process. The draft municipal electoral rolls have been published and are available for public inspection. Sharma urged eligible residents to check their electoral details and submit the prescribed forms for enrolment or correction, or file objections wherever necessary, before the October 15 deadline. He also called upon political party representatives to spread awareness about the revision exercise, particularly among eligible residents whose names may be missing from the draft rolls, and encourage them to complete the required formalities within the stipulated timeframe. Prescribed forms were distributed during the meeting to familiarise the representatives with the procedures for inclusion, correction and filing of objections. Representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Indian National Congress (INC) attended the meeting, along with Joint Chief Electoral Officer Sonam Chosjor. There are 193 Panchayats in Ladakh, including 95 in Leh and 98 in Kargil. The last Panchayat and Municipal elections in Ladakh were held in 2018 when it was part of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. Both the bodies have completed their term. (PTI)
