Kashmir Reader

Srinagar: The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of a viral video allegedly showing senior IAS officer Kumar Rajeev Ranjan verbally abusing, humiliating and threatening a junior woman officer during an official review meeting. The NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, has written to the Chief Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir, seeking verification of []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the alleged misconduct by an IAS officer with a JKAS officer that was reported in print and electronic media and went viral on social media. As per Government Order, a copy of which lies with, sanction has been accorded to the appointment of []

Srinagar: National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said he felt ashamed after watching a video of an IAS officer misbehaving with a woman officer, calling his conduct unbecoming of a senior administrative official. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah, said the language used by the officer was unacceptable and reflected a []

Leh: The Union Territory administration of Ladakh on Friday notified the creation of Sankoo as a new district, with its headquarters at Sankoo. According to a notification issued by the Revenue Department, the new district has been created under Section 5 of the Jammu and Kashmir Land Revenue Act, 1996, through S.O. 284 dated October []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said he has taken up the conduct of a senior IAS officer with the Chief Secretary and directed that no retaliatory action be taken against the junior JKAS officer involved in the incident. In posts on X, Omar said the conduct of the IAS officer []

Srinagar: The Meteorological Department has predicted generally dry weather across Jammu and Kashmir till October 24, with a brief spell of rain likely at a few places on Friday. An official of MeT said that as per the forecast, October 16 will remain generally dry with brief spell of rain at a few places, while []

Kishtwar: The Special Police Officer (SPO) who had gone missing along with his service rifle in Kishtwar district has been found dead, officials said. The SPO has been identified as Bashir Ahmed, son of Musa Dhar, resident of Wanipora Trigam, presently posted at Pedil post. A top Police officer said that his body was found []

Srinagar: The fire that broke out in two shops on M.A. Road near Hanief Motors in Lal Chowk area of Srinagar on Friday morning has been brought under control. Officials said that fire tenders from Fire Station Headquarters and Gawkadal had been rushed to the spot and the flames have now been doused. In this []

Plans skiing, skating in winter, rafting in summer; tunnel ensures 12-month access Srinagar, Oct 15: Sonamarg is being positioned as a year-round hub for adventure sports, with the Jammu and Kashmir government planning projects for skiing and skating in winter and rafting in summer, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday. The government is also []

Five projects completed at 16.72 crore, foundation stones laid for two at 41.54 crore Ganderbal, Oct 15: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reviewed the overall development scenario in Ganderbal district, inaugurated five completed development projects worth 16.72 crore and laid foundation stones for two new projects worth 41.54 crore, taking the total value of []

New Delhi, Oct 15: Any future terrorist act originating from Pakistan will draw an even stronger response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, asserting a decisive shift in Indias response with Operation Sindoor, Balakot airstrikes and surgical strikes. These strikes symbolised a move from diplomatic condemnation to proactive action aimed at rooting out terrorism []

Calls upon youth to dream big, build drug-free society Srinagar, Oct 15: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha congratulated Jammu and Kashmir Police on the successful completion of Jashn-e-Dal-2026, where nearly 600 young athletes competed in 20 water-sports disciplines. The events included kayaking, canoeing, rowing, sculling and the traditional shikara race. In a message, Sinha said the []

Despite limited powers, bureaucratic obstacles, significant work accomplished Srinagar, Oct 15: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Thursday said that despite limited powers, the complexities of the UT model, bureaucratic hurdles and challenging circumstances, Omar Abdullah government has undertaken significant work across various sectors, including education, healthcare, horticulture, tourism, agriculture over the last two []

Srinagar, Oct 15: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has banned fuel-powered motorboats and jet skis from operating on Dal Lake until further orders and directed the government to frame a comprehensive policy balancing tourism and pollution control. According to an order, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dr Pushpendra Singh Bhati []

Srinagarq,: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has congratulated the Jammu and Kashmir Police for the successful completion of Jashn-e-Dal-2026. In his message on X, the LG commended the efforts of J&K Police for organizing the mega sports festival on the banks of Dal Lake which witnessed enthusiastic participation of youth from across the valley. The LG []

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered the posting of Govind Jaiswal, IAS (AGMUT: 2007) as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department, Jaiswal who was awaiting orders of adjustment in the GAD has been posted as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor. The []

VIJAYAWADA (ANDHRA PRADESH): President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said the country could achieve self-reliance before 2047, expressing confidence in the growing economic empowerment of rural women through SHGs. Addressing the National SARAS Mela, 2026 at Punnami Ghat here, she said the event had traditionally been held in Delhi and was being organised in the southern []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday inaugurated the 70th National School Games 2026 at Srinagar. The event was being organized by the Department of Youth Services and Sports, J&K. Chief Minister arrived at the venue amid tight security, where he was received by officials and presented a guard of honour. He later declared the []

Srinagar: Ladakhs traditional Pashmina, handwoven textiles and indigenous handicrafts are being showcased at Lakme Fashion Week in New Delhi, with designers from the region set to present their collections on October 18. In a statement, a spokesperson said a dedicated stall featuring Pashmina shawls, traditional textiles, intricate embroidery and other indigenous handicrafts has been set []

Srinagar: Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast generally cloudy weather with light to moderate rain and light snow over higher reaches at many places of Jammu and Kashmir today. An official of MeT said that as per forecast, there is possibility of thunder, gusty winds and hailstorm at isolated places today. On 16th October, weather is []

Kathua: A 58-year-old scooty rider was killed after being hit by a vehicle at Sallan on the DayalachakChallan road in Kathua district on Thursday, officials said. An official said that the accident occurred when a vehicle hit the scooty bearing registration number JK08M-4588 near Dayalachak on the DayalachakChallan road. He said a police team soon []

Poonch: The Mughal Road, which was temporarily closed following the seasons first snowfall, has been reopened for vehicular movement after clearance of snow, officials said. SO Traffic Mughal Road, Mahroof Choudhary told GNS that snow clearance operation was completed and the road has been made motorable. He said traffic has been restored on the route, []

SRINAGAR: Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FS&CA), Information Technology (IT), Youth Services & Sports, and Science & Technology, Satish Sharma, on Wednesday held a series of meetings with senior officers to review key issues concerning the Transport, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, and Information Technology departments. He also met a deputation []

Will take tourism beyond traditional destinations, create livelihood opportunities across J&K Srinagar, Oct 14: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday termed the Jammu & Kashmir Homestay Policy, 2026, a major step towards promoting sustainable tourism, strengthening local entrepreneurship and creating new livelihood opportunities across Jammu and Kashmir. Following the approval of the Council of Ministers, []

Outlines four pillars for Himalayan sustainability Says climate challenges becoming more serious Srinagar, Oct 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in his message to the valedictory session of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit on Wednesday underscored the critical importance of protecting the Himalayan ecosystem and called for a comprehensive, science-based and people-centric approach to sustainable []

Srinagar, Oct 14: Several areas in the higher reaches of Kashmir were draped in white on Wednesday morning after an active western disturbance brought fresh overnight snowfall, according to officials. The plains were lashed by overnight rains, the officials said. The meteorological department has forecast a wet spell over the next 24 hours, they said. []

Congratulates GMC Srinagar on Advancing Internal Medicine Conference Srinagar, Oct 14: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday congratulated Government Medical College, Srinagar for organising a conference on Advancing Internal Medicine: From Evidence to Excellence in Clinical Practice. In his message, the Lieutenant Governor underscored the critical role of internal medicine in delivering holistic and patient-centric []

Calls for collective efforts to strengthen education sector in J&K Emphasises coordination between govt & private institutions Srinagar, Oct 14: Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo today chaired a meeting with Civil Society Members as well as representatives of Private Schools Association and Parents Association, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders []

10 am3:30 pm in Srinagar; 10:30 am4 pm outside Srinagar, Oct 14: The School Education Department on Wednesday ordered change in school timing for all government and private schools from October-15. The Director of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) ordered that the schools falling in the Srinagar municipal limits shall function from 10am to 3:30 Pm. []

UT to get new airport terminal, strategic road, hydropower projects New Delhi, Oct 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate to the nation five major development projects worth around 3,350 crore in Ladakh on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at around 12:30 PM via video conferencing. He will also address the gathering on the []

Accused allegedly manipulated date-of-birth records to secure service benefits Srinagar, Oct 14: The Special Crime Wing (SCW) of Crime Branch Kashmir has filed a chargesheet against three public servants over alleged manipulation of an employees date-of-birth records to secure service benefits. The chargesheet in FIR No. 02/2022 was presented before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Srinagar. []

One of the most significant aspects of the Courts observations is the distinction between issuing a revenue extract and altering the entries contained in the record. A Fard reproduces information available in the relevant revenue recordits issuance does not, by itself, confer ownership, validate an otherwise defective transaction or change the recorded rights of any []

Today, when I look around, I cannot help feeling that something fundamental has changed. In many mosques, worshippers remain absent during the sermon only to arrive in large numbers just before the prayer begins. Some appear to calculate their arrival according to the expected time of Salah rather than the beginning of the Khutbah. There []

Srinagar: Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Wednesday ordered change in school timings in the Kashmir Division with effect from October 15, 2026. As per Order, the new timing for schools falling within Municipal limits of Srinagar has been fixed from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm. For schools falling outside Municipal limits of Srinagar []

Ganderbal: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying the country needs a transparent, vibrant and impartial Election Commission to safeguard democracy. Reacting to protests against the Election Commission, Choudhary, while speaking to reporters during his visit to Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple in []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Tarique Rahmans decision to skip the BRICS summit in India was immature and damaged Bangladeshs national interest, former premier Sheikh Hasina has said, warning that foreign policy driven by personal reactions or short-term political calculations is inherently counterproductive. In an exclusive interview with PTI, Hasina said Bangladeshs participation at the summit []

Bandipora: A pregnant woman from Gurez in north Kashmirs Bandipora district died after being shifted to District Hospital Bandipora on Wednesday, while her baby was stillborn, with the family alleging that snowfall and movement restrictions delayed her referral to the hospital. The deceased, identified as Haseen Bagem, wife of Showket Hameed Lone and a resident []

PUNE: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, has defeated rival panels backed by the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) and a rebel candidate in the election to the Someshwar Cooperative Sugar Factory in Pune district. The poll was the first major contest in the cooperative sector since the death []

Unacceptable attempt by BJP: CM Omar Forcible state intrusion: MMU Yet another interference: Mehbooba Hands off our mosques: Sajad Lone Order should be taken back: Tanvir Sadiq Srinagar, Oct 13: Under fire from across Jammu and Kashmirs political and religious spectrum, J-K Waqf Board Chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday mounted a hasty defence of a []

Scholars free to decide topics: Dr Andrabi Srinagar, Oct 13: Amid a growing row over proposed common themes for Friday sermons, Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board chairperson Dr Syed Darakhshan Andrabi on Tuesday asserted that no order had been issued making uniform sermons mandatory, saying religious scholars were free to decide what to preach and []

Directs coordinated transport, security, accommodation arrangements Winter Secretariat to function in Srinagar Srinagar, Oct 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the Darbar Move Session 202627 at a high-level meeting, directing all concerned departments to ensure a smooth, secure and well-coordinated transition of offices from Srinagar to Jammu, along with adequate facilities []

Reviews security preparedness Srinagar, Oct 13: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday chaired a hybrid operational review meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir to assess the Union Territorys security situation and review police preparedness. Senior officers briefed the DGP on recent security developments, measures to maintain peace, intelligence-gathering efforts and []

Proud moment for SKIMS, GMC Sgr: Dr Tasleem Arif Srinagar, Oct 14: Dr. Tasleem Arif, a dermatologist hailing from Soura, Srinagar, has been named among the top two percent of scientists of the world, data compiled by Stanford University, for the 3rd consecutive year (2024-2026). Reflecting on the achievement, Dr. Arif said with characteristic humility []

Over 190 lab-confirmed cases require hospitalisation at GMC Bhaderwah/Jammu, Oct 13: Dengue cases continue to rise in Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district, with over 190 laboratory-confirmed cases requiring hospitalisation reported at Government Medical College Doda. The surge in cases prompted authorities to seek assistance from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National []

Srinagar, Oct 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday met several delegations and individuals at the Civil Secretariat here and discussed issues relating to film promotion, industrial infrastructure, regional development, education and youth empowerment. Onir, filmmaker associated with Anticlock Films, Mumbai, called on the Chief Minister and discussed matters concerning the promotion and development of []

New Delhi, Oct 13: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea challenging the validity of a provision of a 2023 law that grants immunity to the chief election commissioner and election commissioners in respect of certain acts undertaken in the discharge of their official duties. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant []

New Delhi, Oct 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday called for stronger regional cooperation among BIMSTEC countries to combat terrorism, disrupt terrorist financing and organised crime, and ensure that terrorist networks do not find a haven in the region. Addressing the first home ministers meeting of BIMSTEC countries here, Shah said the trust []

Shafali Verma claims womens honour after Asia Cup, Asian Games heroics Gills 223 off 133 balls quickest double-century ever powers award win DUBAI: India captain Shubman Gill was on Tuesday named ICC mens Player of the Month for a record fifth time following his outstanding performance in the ODI series against the West []

Says 7,000-8,000 youths gained employment through Aroma Mission SRINAGAR: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the birthplace of the Purple Revolution, with nearly 7,000 to 8,000 youths finding employment and livelihood opportunities through the Aroma Mission. Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit []

Hails Ease of Doing Business Act as long-awaited reform SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Small Scale Industrial Association (KSSIA), Baghi Ali Mardan Khan, has strongly contested the apprehensions expressed by the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC) over the recently enacted Jammu and Kashmir Ease of Doing Business Act, 2026, describing them as premature and likely to create []