KashmirLife

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has granted bail to a Jammu man accused in a 2014 murder case after observing that the prosecution had failed to conclude the trial despite the accused spending nearly twelve years in custody. Justice Rajnesh Oswal passed the order on May 29, 2026, while allowing a []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday enhanced the ceiling for administrative departments to accord technical sanction, raising the limit from Rs 2 crore to Rs 5 crore, according to an official notification issued by the Finance Department. As per Notification S.O 154 issued by the Finance Department (Codes Division) on June 3, 2026, []

SRINAGAR: Police in central Kashmirs Ganderbal district conducted a search operation at Nunner Takia on Thursday, leading to the recovery of a large number of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders stored without valid authorisation or licence, officials said. Acting on specific inputs, a police team carried out the operation at the premises of one Javid []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday said Jammu Kashmir has for centuries represented the spirit of Sarva Dharma Sambhav and remains one of the finest examples of coexistence and communal harmony in the world. Addressing the Rishivar Inter-Faith Conference at SKICC Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said the essence of harmony and mutual respect has []

SRINAGAR: Srinagar MP and senior National Conference leader Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Thursday said that any movement seeking the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs statehood and constitutional guarantees must be rooted in consistency and credibility rather than theatrics or optics. He said the credibility of political leadership was being questioned by the public. The []

SRINAGAR: Traffic Police Rural Kashmir have issued a detailed advisory ahead of a mega rally (Padyatra) scheduled in Ganderbal town on June 5, under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan campaign. According to the advisory, vehicular movement on several key roads in the district will remain suspended from 4 am to 3 pm to ensure the []

SRINAGAR: Search operations entered the fifth consecutive day on Thursday as rescue teams continued efforts to trace the body of a 42-year-old Srinagar man who is feared to have drowned in the Lidder River in Pahalgam while attempting to save his son. Officials identified the missing person as Mohammad Ashraf Mir, son of Ghulam Mohiuddin []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has set aside the abatement of a long-pending civil second appeal after condoning delays in filing applications related to the substitution of legal heirs of a deceased respondent, holding that courts should adopt a liberal approach in matters involving procedural delays to advance substantial justice. Justice []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has refused to quash criminal proceedings against officials of a Gujarat-based milk producers union supplying Amul milk, holding that public health concerns must prevail over commercial interests in cases involving allegedly unsafe food products. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal dismissed a petition filed by representatives of Banaskantha []

SRINAGAR: Police in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on Thursday attached a single-storey residential house belonging to an accused in a narcotics case, acting under Section 68(F) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The property belongs to Mohd Yousuf Hajam, son of Ghulam Mohammad Hajam, a resident of Panchalthan Chatergul, and has been []

SRINAGAR: The Directorate of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Kashmir Division, has ordered the immediate transfer and posting of 171 field officials as part of a major administrative exercise aimed at improving departmental efficiency and streamlining operations. The transfers and postings were ordered through Agriculture Order No. 58/Estt of 2026, issued on June 3, 2026, []

SRINAGAR: Union Minister and Udhampur MP Jitendra Singh will formally declare the establishment of a new Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Jammu on June 5, a major development aimed at strengthening weather forecasting, climate monitoring and disaster preparedness across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Jammu will get a new Regional Meteorological Centre on []

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has laid the foundation stone for Ladakhs first Model Border Village at Chumur, a strategically located settlement along the Indo-China border, under the Government of Indias Vibrant Village Programme (VVP). It was indeed a matter of pride to have laid the foundation stone of Ladakhs first Model Border Village []

SRINAGAR: The Deputy Commissioner of Poonch has directed all government employees in the district to remain available for duty and has restricted the approval of leave ahead of a proposed VIP visit on June 7, 2026, linked to the 100 Days of Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan2026 programme. According to the order, no leave of []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned the inter-district mutual transfer of two teachers in the School Education Department, according to an official order issued by the department. As per Government Order No. 203-JK(Edu) of 2026 dated June 2, Ritu Gotra, Teacher at Higher Secondary School Chak Jaffer in Zone Marh, Jammu district, and []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Cable Car Corporation (JKCCC) on Wednesday said the Gulmarg Gondola will remain closed for tourists till June 8 as maintenance and safety checks continue after last months malfunction that left hundreds of visitors stranded mid-air. In an advisory, the corporation said all tickets booked for visits between May 25 and []

SRINAGAR: In a touching example of Kashmirs age-old tradition of communal harmony and mutual respect, members of the Muslim community in Pinglena village of south Kashmirs Pulwama district came forward to assist the family of a deceased Kashmiri Pandit elder, reaffirming the bonds of brotherhood that continue to unite people across faiths. Ninety-year-old Shaam Lal []

SRINAGAR: The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) for 2023-24 indicates notable progress in several health and maternal care indicators across Jammu and Kashmir, although certain demographic concerns, including fertility levels and child marriage rates, have shown a marginal rise. Data from the survey reveals that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in the Union Territory []

SRINAGAR: The strategically significant 13.15-kilometre Zojila Tunnel, linking Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh, is set to reach a major milestone on June 9 as Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari is scheduled to trigger the breakthrough blast. Once completed, the tunnel will become the worlds longest single-tube bi-directional road tunnel at an altitude []

SRINAGAR: Taking everyone by surprise, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah along with MLAs from the National Conference and independent legislators supporting the government rushed to Dachigam on Wednesday morning to hold a meeting that lasted more than seven hours to review the performance of the 19-month-old government headed by him. In the invitation letter sent to []

SRINAGAR: An Indian national was killed in a drone strike on Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday, as Iranian drones targeted the facility amid a wider escalation of hostilities in the region, according to officials. Embassy of India in Kuwait expresses its deepest condolences at the tragic demise of an Indian national due to an attack []

SRINAGAR: The ruling National Conference has decided to intensify its campaign for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and will hold a protest in New Delhi on the opening day of Parliaments forthcoming Monsoon Session, senior party leader and minister Javed Rana said on Wednesday. Speaking after a meeting of National Conference legislators []

SRINAGAR: The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government has constituted a committee to examine a proposal seeking a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in the Union Territory, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment Javed Rana said on Wednesday. Speaking after a meeting of National Conference legislators and independent MLAs []

SRINAGAR: A 39-year-old man was injured after being attacked by a black bear in a forest area of Handwara in north Kashmirs Kupwara district on Wednesday, officials said. Officials said Nazir Ahmad Shabangi, son of Lal Din Shabangi and a resident of Malikpora Shilthera, was attacked by a black bear in a nearby forest while []

SRINAGAR: The death toll in the tragic tree-collapse incident in Anantnag rose to two on Wednesday after a woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital, officials said. The couple, residents of the Brariangan area of Shangus in south Kashmirs Anantnag district, sustained critical injuries on Tuesday when a tree uprooted by strong winds fell on []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi is emerging as a strong contender for a potential India call-up as selectors are expected to take a final decision within the next 48 hours on Mohammed Sirajs availability for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. According to The Times of India, Auqib Nabi is being []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmirs School Education Department on Wednesday issued orders delegating Drawing and Disbursing (DDO) powers for four headless educational institutions and offices in the Kashmir division, on a temporary basis until regular arrangements are put in place. According to Government Order No. 201-JK (Edu) of 2026, issued on June 2, []

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmirs Public Works (R and B) Department on Wednesday ordered the placement of 12 In-charge Assistant Engineers (Civil), appointed under the PM Package, as In-charge Assistant Executive Engineers (Civil) with immediate effect. According to Government Order No. 187-PW (R and B) of 2026, issued from the Civil Secretariat, Srinagar/Jammu, []

SRINAGAR: The Lieutenant Governor on Wednesday assigned the additional charge of the Information Technology and Public Grievances Departments to senior IAS officer Saurabh Bhagat, alongside his existing responsibilities. According to Government Order No. 1038-JK(GAD) of 2026 dated June 3, issued by the General Administration Department, Saurabh Bhagat (IAS, AGMUT: 2002), who is presently serving as []

SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has acquitted two persons convicted in the sensational 2013 Kulgam murder case, holding that the prosecution failed to establish an unbroken chain of evidence and that the trial court relied excessively on inadmissible disclosure statements recorded in police custody. A Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjay Dhar []

by Madhura Meenakshi Tanikella Quad ministers unveiled new Indo-Pacific security and infrastructure initiatives, signalling deeper strategic coordination amid growing competition with China. On May 26, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted the 11th Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting in New Delhi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australias Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japans Foreign Minister []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday flagged off a Cyclothon at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC) in Srinagar to mark World Bicycle Day, reiterating the governments focus on promoting fitness, healthy lifestyles and a sports culture among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The event was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports []

SRINAGAR: At least 21 people have been killed and more than 40 others rescued after a major fire broke out at a hotel in Delhis Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, NDTV reported. According to Hindustan Times, a majority of the deceased are believed to be foreign nationals, with officials stating that several victims are from []

SRINAGAR: The government on Wednesday clarified that Dachigam National Park remains open to visitors under routine procedures, rejecting claims that public entry had been restricted in view of a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with National Conference ministers and MLAs inside the park. The clarification came amid reports suggesting that public []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has constituted a high-level committee to revisit the rate of Additional Performance Security (APS) imposed on contractors selected after quoting abnormally low bid (ALB) prices, in a move aimed at reviewing the effectiveness of existing procurement safeguards. According to Government Order No. 202 of 2026 dated June 2, issued []

SRINAGAR: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has made vigilance clearance a mandatory prerequisite for the release of pensionary and retirement benefits to Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers belonging to the AGMUT cadre. Under the new directive, pension and other post-retirement dues of retiring officers will not be processed until []

SRINAGAR: A woman lost her life after being struck by lightning during adverse weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district on Tuesday evening. My sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Pinki Devi from Khuddhar Doda, who tragically passed away due to a lightning strike. The Deputy Commissioner of Doda has been directed to []

After five years of protests, detentions and failed talks, the desert territory of Ladakh wrestled a historic governance deal from New Delhi, leaving Jammu and Kashmirs entrenched political class facing hard questions on the streets, reports Mir Rameez Raja It began, unusually, with a public contradiction. Days after LG Vinai Kumar Saxena posted on X []

SRINAGAR: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Wednesday launched extensive searches at eight locations across six districts of the Valley in connection with a decade-old case involving Pakistan-sponsored terrorist outfits, sleeper cell networks and radicalisation activities, officials said. An official said that the searches are being conducted in connection with FIR No. 02/2015 of Police []

by Dr Farooq A. Lone A reflective essay on retirement dreams, changing times, and finding meaningful relevance in a transformed world. Retirement from Government Services often arrives with a quiet illusion that time will finally belong to us, and with it, the freedom to pursue all the dreams postponed by duty, profession, and responsibility. Yet []

SRINAGAR: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Jammu Bench, has dismissed a batch of petitions filed by hundreds of overage aspirants seeking relaxation in the upper age limit for recruitment to 669 posts of Sub-Inspectors in the Jammu and Kashmir Police. The petitions challenged Advertisement Notification No. 02 of 2024 issued by the Jammu and Kashmir []

SRINAGAR: India on Tuesday strongly rejected references to Jammu and Kashmir in a joint statement issued by Pakistan and the European Union, reiterating that the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of the country. Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India categorically []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has recorded a modest increase in its Total Fertility Rate (TFR), with the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6, 2023-24) showing the figure rising from 1.4 children per woman in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 1.8 children per woman. Despite the increase, health experts say the fertility rate remains significantly below the replacement []

SRINAGAR: Authorities on Tuesday said that Government Degree Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir have recorded an increase of more than seven percent in student enrolment in the first round of admissions compared to previous year. The government also said that it was expecting a 20 percent increase in student enrolment by the completion of the []

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has introduced a major change in its tendering system by making online cash deposits mandatory for Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs) and tender fees in all works departments across the Union Territory. The new mechanism replaces the existing practice of submitting EMDs through Bank Guarantees (BGs), Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs), []

SRINAGAR: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday announced that he would join a proposed protest at Delhis Jantar Mantar on June 6 if no action is taken by June 5 on demands raised by the Cockroach Janta Party, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. IF NOT US, WHO? IF NOT NOW, WHEN ! []

SRINAGAR: The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has issued an advisory for intending pilgrims, asking them to keep their passports ready ahead of the official announcement for Haj-2027 (1448 Hijri). According to a circular issued by the HCoI under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Kingdom of []

SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting with National Conference MLAs and MPs, along with five Independent MLAs supporting his government on Wednesday. Sources said that all NC MLAs, four MPs, and the five independent MLAs have been invited to the meeting, which will be chaired by Chief Minister Omar []

SRINAGAR: Two cloudbursts struck Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district on Tuesday, triggering flash floods and blocking roads in several areas, officials said, adding that no loss of life or property damage has been reported so far. The cloudbursts occurred in the Gahan area of Sarthal and at Machhipal, prompting the district administration to launch restoration []

SRINAGAR: Describing the National Conferences June 3 meeting as a floor test, Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Tuesday said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs paranoia over losing power has reduced governance to loyalty parades. Sharma said that Omar Abdullah is fearful of losing power and is compelling his MLAs to participate in weekly []