Islamabad, Jan 8: A leading international human rights organisation condemned the convictions and severe prison sentences issued in absentia by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Pakistan against a group of Pakistani journalists and political commentators residing abroad. The statement came after Islamabad's ATC on January 2 sentenced YouTuber Adil Raja, former army official Syed Akbar Hussain, and journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Sabir Shakir, Moeed Pirzada, Shaheen Sehbai, and Haider Mehdi to double life imprisonment in cases linked to "digital terrorism". The cases are reportedly based on allegations that the accused used online platforms to incite, facilitate and amplify attacks against state institutions during the May 9, 2023, unrest following the arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Citing credible information, the International Human Rights Foundation (IHRF) stated that those targeted by the Pakistani court were not notified of charges or proceedings, denied access to evidence, and afforded no meaningful opportunity to appear or defend themselves. "Such actions raise grave concerns regarding due process, judicial independence, and compliance with Pakistan's constitutional guarantees and its obligations under international human-rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)," the IHRF stated. Expressing concern, the rights body stated that proceedings against the Pakistani journalists and political commentators, which took place amid wider international alarm over recent constitutional changes in Pakistan, risk undermining democratic governance and fundamental freedoms. The IHRF cited the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, who recently warned that Pakistan's hastily adopted 26th constitutional amendment seriously undermines judicial independence and raises concerns regarding military accountability and the rule of law. Similarly, the International Commission of Jurists has described Pakistan's 26th Constitutional Amendment as "a blow to judicial independence and the rule of law, warning that it increases political influence over judicial appointments and administration". More recently, the IHRF noted that several media reports highlighted further constitutional measures that critics argue curtail the Pakistani Supreme Court's constitutional role while expanding military authority and immunity -- developments that intensify concerns over institutional checks and balances. According to the IHRF, the use of counterterrorism frameworks against journalists and dissenting voices -- particularly those living in exile -- reflects a broader and troubling pattern of judicial harassment and transnational repression. "Legal processes conducted without transparency or basic procedural safeguards cannot be regarded as legitimate adjudication and risk being misused to intimidate critics beyond national borders," it stated. The rights body called on the international community -- including press-freedom organisations and relevant UN mechanisms -- to closely monitor these developments in Pakistan and engage where necessary to protect journalists facing "politically motivated persecution". (IANS)
KS News Desk Baramulla, Jan 06: Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla on Tuesday said that the department will ensure full compliance with all government orders banning unauthorized private coaching by government school teachers. Responding to a question about alleged violations of the government order prohibiting teachers and lecturers from offering private tuitions, CEO Abdul Rashid reiterated that strict adherence to the ban will be enforced. Sources revealed that despite the clear prohibition on government teachers engaging in private tuitions or coaching without prior permission, some faculty members are reportedly conducting early morning classes at private coaching centres located in a well-known complex in the town. It is pertinent to mention that Deputy Commissioner Baramulla has already constituted a committee to regulate and monitor coaching centres operating in the district, with a particular focus on registration, fee structure, and basic facilities. (KNO)
KS News Desk Jammu, Jan 6: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday undertook a comprehensive review of the projects being executed by the Public Works (Roads & Buildings) Department at a high-level meeting held at the PWD Conference Hall, Gandhi Nagar here. On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of R&B projects worth ₹119 crore through virtual mode and also e-inaugurated R&B projects worth ₹33 crore. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, PWD (R&B) Anil Kumar Singh, Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment Sheetal Nanda, Engineer-in-Chief, PWD, senior engineers, executive engineers, and representatives of BEACON, SAMPARK, NHAI and NHIDCL, besides other concerned officers. All Deputy Commissioners and field officers participated through video conferencing. During the meeting, the Chief Minister reviewed major road and bridge projects being executed by different agencies including BEACON, SAMPARK, NHAI, NHIDCL and PWD (R&B) across Jammu and Kashmir. A detailed presentation was made on rapid restoration of road connectivity, permanent restoration works, and revival of long-pending bridges, particularly in vulnerable and strategically important areas. Expressing concern over delays, Omar Abdullah sought clear timelines for each project and took stock of the status of Right of Way (RoW) issues and forest clearances. He instructed the concerned departments to expedite forest clearances in a coordinated manner, stressing that procedural delays should not become an excuse for missing deadlines. The Chief Minister expressed displeasure over missing of timelines in several projects, directing the executing agencies to identify bottlenecks and address them immediately. He emphasized that slow pace of work defeats the purpose of infrastructure development and causes avoidable inconvenience to the public. Emphasizing that special attention be given to public interest, Omar Abdullah directed agencies, particularly NHAI and NHIDCL, to ensure proper maintenance of existing roads where tunnel and major highway works are underway. He further directed all executing agencies to take up the issue of forest clearances with the concerned Forest Department on a regular basis wherever new projects or works are proposed to be started, strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA). The Chief Minister stressed that early and continuous engagement with the Forest Department is essential to avoid delays at later stages of project execution. The meeting also reviewed major achievements under Capital Expenditure (Capex) and the performance of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for the year 2025–26. The Chief Minister stressed optimal utilization of funds and urged departments to ensure outcome-based planning and execution. Expressing concern over the growing traffic congestion in urban centres, the Chief Minister instructed the department to prepare well-thought-out and technically sound Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for flyovers and road projects in the twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu. Highlighting the importance of durability and climate resilience, the Chief Minister directed that all road projects must mandatorily include proper drainage systems. “Without adequate drainage, rainwater damages roads and shortens their life. Drainage must be an integral part of every road project, not an afterthought,” he instructed. The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating that infrastructure development remains a key priority of the government, and directed all executing agencies to work in close coordination, maintain high quality standards, and ensure that projects translate into real and visible improvement in connectivity and public convenience. Earlier, the Chief Minister inaugurated the renovated Conference Hall and allied facilities at the PWD Guest House, Gandhi Nagar. On the occasion, he also distributed appreciation letters among the engineers.
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, 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, 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.
