J&K HC issues notices to Transport deptt officials on contempt plea on re-registration of vehicles

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has issued in-person notices to Commissioner/Secretary Transport department, Transport Commissioner and in-charge RTO Kashmir on a contempt petition over a fresh circular issued on June 10 this year on re-registration of the vehicles with outside numbers and levying token tax on them in the union territory. The notices […]

Not participating in singing of National Anthem without preventing its singing is no offence: J&K High Court

Srinagar: Failure to participate in an assembly engaged in singing of the Indian National Anthem without preventing its singing or disturbing the assembly is not an offence under law, J&K High Court observed today. The court made these observations after quashing an FIR against Dr Tawseef Ahmad Bhat, a former lecturer in Government Degree College […]

HC issues notice to CS in contempt petition filed by Sheep dev board employees

Srinagar: The High Court on Thursday issued notice in a contempt petition against the J&K Chief Secretary Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta alleging him of violating court orders that directed release of salary and pensionary benefits to the employees of the erstwhile Sheep and Sheep Products Development Board. The decision to disband the Board had been […]

12 years down the line, J&K yet to submit DPRs for establishment of model schools

Rupees 43 crores allocated for the purpose but not a single school established so far

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is still in the process of preparing detailed project reports (DPRs) for establishing model schools sanctioned with an aid of more than rupees 43 crores under a centrally sponsored scheme in 2008. In many far off areas of the former state the authorities have put on sign boards in schools and […]

Govt’s and its agencies’ decisions even in matters of contract can’t be arbitrary: J&K HC

Quashes JKMSCL’s order cancelling contract, blacklisting city-based firm

Srinagar: “The decision-making process of the government or its agencies in contractual matters has to be reasonable and conforming to the requirements of fundamental rights”, the J&K High Court has said. Passing its judgment in a case filed by a city based firm whose contract had been cancelled by the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited […]

HC asks govt to take steps for anti-COVID vaccination of specially-abled persons in J&K

Srinagar: The J&K High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, and the J&K Union Territory administration for not vaccinating persons with disabilities against the Covid-19 virus. The notice was issued in a petition by Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, representing the specially-abled persons. It sought a […]

J&K HC sets aside ED order asking not to issue revenue extracts of properties not attached under money laundering law

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Tuesday observed that the designated officers of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Government of India, cannot ask the Union Territory’s revenue officers not to issue revenue extracts of properties not attached under the money laundering law. The court was hearing a writ petition by the Trison Farms and […]

J&K’s neglected health sector finally getting some financial traction

Experts suggest it needs MORE; pitch for developing Kashmir as medical tourism destination

Srinagar: Ignored for decades, Kashmir’s health sector is for the first time seeing a rise in the developmental outlay and shall receive 3.66 percent of the estimated capital expenditure of the current budget for the territory. The unprecedented loss and disruptions caused by the pandemic has forced the government to pump in Rs 1,455 core […]

History of stagnant fiscal resource allocation fails J&K’s health sector

“Conflict has become a shield hiding behind it the administrative incompetence”

Srinagar: “Conflict is development in reverse.” And Kashmir is a living example proving this World Bank assertion! Take health sector, for instance. The public expenditure on health is far less than the spending on internal security. The centrally-administered territory spends nearly Rs 27 crores a day on maintaining “peace” (internal security) while as its daily […]