SRINAGAR: Amid forecast for mainly dry weather, the minimum temperature recorded a rise in Jammu and Kashmir barring Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Kupwara on Wednesday, officials said.
Quoting an official of the meteorological department, GNS reported that Srinagar recorded a low of 3.5°C against 3.3°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the summer capital.
Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 2.4°C against 2.0°C on the previous night and it was 0.2°C above normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.
Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 1.7°C against minus 1.4°C on the previous night and it was 0.3°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Kokernag recorded a low of 4.1°C against 3.9°C on the previous night and it was 2.2°C above normal for the place, the officials said.
Gulmarg recorded a low of minus 1.6°C against minus 0.8°C on the previous night and it was 1.9°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.
In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 0.2°C against 0.4°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C above normal for the north Kashmir area.
Jammu recorded a low of 14.6°C against 12.9°C on the previous night. It was 0.6°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.
Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 4.7°C (above normal by 0.6°C), Batote 7.6°C (above normal by 1.7°C), Katra 11.8°C (0.3°C above normal) and Bhadarwah 4.1°C (1.0°C above normal). The MeT department has forecast dry weather to continue till March 12.
SRINAGAR: Body of a 50-year-old woman was found under mysterious circumstances in Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said.
Quoting an official, news agency GNS reported that the body was found by police in an open field near Ari Bridge at Mendhar area of the district on Wednesday morning.
The deceased was later identified as Shahmim Akhter (50) wife of Mohammad Ashraf of Ari village.
Meanwhile, police shifted the body to Sub District Hospital Mendhar for autopsy. “We have started inquest proceedings,” official said.
SRINAGAR: Two persons died after being hit by an Ambulance vehicle near the newly constructed children’s hospital at Bemina Srinagar during midnight, officials said on Wednesday.
They said that the duo was grievously injured after being hit by the ambulance and were shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Srinagar where doctors declared them brought dead on arrival. They have been identified as Ali Mohammad Dar (56) of Nowpora Baramulla, and Fayaz Ahmad Chopan (40) of Hadipora, Rafiabad Baramulla.
Meanwhile, a senior police officer confirmed the accident as well as causality to the news agency GNS and said that a case has been registered and further investigations are going on. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: The government has asked all administrative departments not to refer the posts under direct recruitment quota, which have remained unfilled for more than two years, to the recruiting agencies.
“The Departments shall obtain the prior concurrence of the Finance Department for revival of such posts before referring them for recruitment, in unavoidable cases,” reads a circular by Finance department.
The Finance department recalled that on July 15, 2021 circular instructions were issued regarding creation, deemed abolition, revival and continuation of posts was issued.
These instructions, among others, provide as under that all posts, except newly created posts kept in abeyance or remaining vacant for a period of more than two years in any Department, Attached Office, Subordinate office, Statutory body, would be considered as ‘deemed abolished’ unless an exemption has been given at the time of sanctioning the post.
A post falling into the category of ‘deemed abolished’, cannot be filled up prior to obtaining its revival, from Finance Department.
Revival of posts would be considered in rare and unavoidable circumstances only, the 2021 circular had said.
Proposals for revival of posts were to be referred to Finance Department on file along with the prescribed checklist issued by the Department.
Separate checklist was to be prepared for each post. “Proposals received without proper checklist would not be considered.” (GNS)
SRINAGAR: On Tuesday, the Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid reported that authorities have prohibited Shab-e-Baraat prayers at the Jamia Masjid in Kashmir. The main mosque of the region had its gates locked, leaving thousands of worshippers unable to pray. The Anjuman stated that officials from the police and administration arrived at Jama Masjid Nowhatta at 5:30 pm and informed them that, as per the orders of DC Srinagar, no Shab-e-Barat prayers would be permitted to take place at Jama Masjid that day. The Hurriyat Conference tweeted about the incident, condemning the disallowance of prayers at Jama Masjid Srinagar
The tweet strongly protests the authorities’ highhandedness, calling it a clear violation and interference with the religious rights of the people. Earlier in the day, the Anjuman announced that Isha prayers would take place at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar at 10:00 pm, followed by night-long prayers. The Anjuman also demanded the release of chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who has remained under house detention since August 5, 2019.
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Tuesday extended his greetings and best wishes to all the women on the eve of International Women’s Day, which is observed every year on 8th March.
In a message the Lt Governor said: International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to women empowerment. This year’s theme Digital: Innovation and technology for gender equality, gives us an occasion to celebrate their invaluable contribution in the making of digital society and an opportunity to eradicate gender gap in digital access and make it safer, inclusive and equitable.
Women have made invaluable contribution to the socio-economic development of J&K UT. It is our collective responsibility to encourage their participation at all levels in economic development and create an ecosystem that ensures security, honor and respect of women in society, said the Lt Governor.
Let us resolve to redouble efforts for equitable digital future and their active participation in nation building, he added—(KNO)
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference on Tuesday held a provincial meeting at its party headquarters in Srinagar.
The meeting was organized by the Provincial Committee headed by Provincial President Mohammad Khurshid Alam and attended by senior leadership, members of the youth wing, women’s wing, and student wing of the party. In the course of the meeting, the leaders deliberated on a host of issues concerning the people of J&K and subsequently adopted a resolution.
The PC leaders stressed that the need of the hour is for the party workers to fan out across J&K to reach out and interact with the people at every level.
“It is at this time of need, when the people of J&K are feeling isolated and alienated, that political forces must extensively reach out to the people to fill the void”, the leaders emphasized during the meeting, as per a statement issued to the news agency GNS.
The leaders once again appealed to the J&K administration to stop needling the people of J&K on every issue and let them live in peace.
“Not a day goes by when there is not some new sinister experiment by this administration. The people of J&K have gone through a lot of turmoil. It is perhaps the only place in India that does not have a popular government”, the leadership noted.
PC leaders also expressed their grave apprehensions about the shortlisting of recruitment company Aptech by the SSRB. They implored the administration to stop playing with the future of the youth of J&K and spare them from any further experimentation.
“If APTECH is blacklisted by seven states, how can the J & K administration have the audacity to hire the same company? Even any transparent selection in the future will be tarnished because of a tarnished recruitment agency”, the statement added. (GNS)
SRINAGAR: It was the return of the last two centuries on stage when a group of artists staged Chakdar Pather in Tagore Hall. Pather is basically a fold theatre that usually as satire and comedy as part of the process.
The play opened with a band of four people welcoming the guests to Shehnai, Surnayi, Nagar, and Dhol beats. The music was energetic to light up the stage. A group of dancers join in and entertain the audience more through the funny movements than the ‘dance’ itself.
In the next scene, two men Boud Maskhar (senior joker) and Loukut Maskhar (junior joker) started attacking technology, the digital world, and the zee generation. They hint at doing the play Chakdar Pather, which starts in the next scene.
The play was based in Kashmir’s nineteenth and twentieth centuries when most of the land was the ruler’s property and distributed to his family, friends and the bourgeoisie.
The stage was set up in a paddy field with the peasants working. The hard work of peasants was beautifully expressed in a song sung live by Sajad Maqbool Mir. The play exhibited the struggle of peasants to cultivate crops and the meagre income it generated for them.
Kashmiri artists staged a Chakdar Pather, a theatre play based on Kashmir’s feudal days, at Tagore Hall on March 4, 2023. KL Image: Bilal Bahadur
It showed how some peasants were on the verge of suicide because of paying taxes to Chakdars (land contractors). They had to toil throughout the season, but it did not generate enough money to run a family. Their families would often sleep without meals and some of them lost their lives to hunger.
The play shows a Kardar – Ram Chandar and his accountant – Somnath calculating the land given to Kaashtkars and the taxes they paid in the past year. If someone did not pay, they would take back the land and give it to someone else who would pay better. They would visit the village once in a while to check on the peasants and collect taxes. They were shown beating those who failed to pay the whole amount and praising those who paid them. Kardar was so affectionate towards Chakdari that he considered it over God and his own life.
Then, Kardar’s used to be the bridge between the peasants and the land contractors appointed by the despotic rulers.
The whole play presented a serious issue with a tinge of comedy through dialogues and actions, which kept the audience hooked. There was not any gap left to feel the other way about it. Sajad Maqbool Mir played the rabab in the background, which also helped the audience to stay hooked to the stage.
As the peasants suffer, the play goes on to show, they plan to complain to their leader about it and they do so. The leader gives them all the support needed and encourages them to speak against it. They plan a strike. Soon, all of them visit the Kardar. The leader demands a one-fourth share of the income generated through the crops as the peasants work hard. Kardar, who seems to be afraid of the leader, agrees to their demand.
The play was written by Reshi Rasheed, and its design and direction were done by Ramzan. The character of Boud Maskhar is played by Mehraj ud Din Bhat, Loukut Maskhar by Aashiq Hussain Sheikh, Jamal by Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, Ramzan by Nisar Ahmad Bhat, Rajab Ganaie by Javed Ahmad Shah, Leader by Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat, Ram Chandar by Ghulam Rasool Lone (Founding Member of the theatre group), Somnath by Master Abdul Samad Mir and other Actors (peasants) by Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, Mohammad Ramzan Lone, Abdul Majeed Dar. The singer in the play is Sajad Maqbool Mir.
Dhol is played by Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Shehnai was played by Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, Surnayi is played by Abdul Khaliq Bhat, and Nagaar was played by Ghulam Mohammad Bhat. The dancer is Bilal Ahmad Bhat. Costumes were provided by Abdul Samad Mir, Light Direction by Aashiq Hussain Najar, Lights Operations by Tariq Ahmad Hajini, and Sound by Aijaz Ahmad. The stage was set up by Trilok Singh Bali, Mohammad Amin, and Suhail.
SRINAGAR: Vice-Chancellor University of Kashmir Prof Nilofer Khan on Tuesday flagged off a rally organised on the eve of International Women’s Day, celebrated across the world on March 8.
The rally, which was attended by faculty, research scholars and students, was organised by Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of the University as part of its day-long awareness-cum-sensitisation programme on ‘Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace’.
Congratulating the ICC for organising regular sensitisation programmes involving students and civil society, Prof Nilofer said such programmes reinforce our institutional commitment to create a congenial work atmosphere in the campus and also reiterate the message of ‘zero tolerance policy’ for sexual harassment at workplace.
The Vice-Chancellor said both men and women have to come forward and join hands to achieve gender equality and make the society a better place to live in.
“Our University recently held a Civil20 Working Group Meeting on Gender Equality as part of India’s G20 Presidency. The meeting evolved a number of resolutions which are being submitted to the G20 platform for consideration. This shows that academic institutions can play a great role in spreading the message of gender equality,” she said.
Dean Research KU Prof Irshad A Nawchoo, Presiding Officer ICC Prof Aneesa Shafi, Director EMRC and Media Advisor Dr Salima Jan, Joint Registrar Asmat Kawoosa and other senior academics, officers and ICC members were present on the occasion.
The rally, led by Prof Aneesa Shafi, later passed through the main campus roads and culminated at Gandhi Bhawan, where academics and experts joined deliberations on Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace.
Prof Aneesa Shafi delivered the welcome address and introduced the theme of the programme after which three technical sessions were held.
In the first technical session, Ms Sleet Shah, SDPO Cyber Crime, spoke about ‘Sexual Harassment and Role of Police’, while Dr Heena Basharat, Assistant Professor, School of Law KU shared her experiences gained through an empirical study on the subject. In the second technical session, Dr Anil Kumar, Assistant Professor (Sociology), Department of Law at Central University of Kashmir talked about PoSH Act from 2013 to 2023 and Dr Salima Jan dwelt on PoSH Act and role of media. In the third technical session, Dr Himabindu M, Coordinator Department of Politics and Governance spoke about the ‘Impact and Intention: Outcomes of PoSH Act 2013’ while Dr Saima Farhad, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work KU, spoke on ‘PoSH Act and UGC Regulations’. Dr Mir Junaid Alam, Assistant Professor, School of Law KU talked about ‘Information Technology and Harassment Against Women’. The technical sessions were chaired by Dr Aliya Ahmad, Head, MERC KU and Prof Tabassum Firdous, Director CCAS KU.
SRINAGAR: The Anantnag Patwar Association continued their sit-in protest for the seventh consecutive day at Achabal, to seek an early redressal of their demands.
The Patwar Association said they have been demanding a hike in pay scales for patwaris, departmental promotion of patwaris and girdawars, and a ban on direct recruitment of Tehsildars.
They said that construction of patwar khanas, creation of patwar halqas and girdawar circles, timely conduct of DPCs, and an increase in their allowances are also in their agenda.
“We are sitting here under the banner of All Jammu and Kashmir Patwari Association for the seventh consecutive day, to let the government know about our demands. We graduate patwaris have a grade pay issue which the government should consider.” they said.
“Education and finance departments , teachers , account officers in the finance department have a handsome grade pay. Similarly, we graduate Patwaris demand a genuine increase in our grade pay.”
The other issue is that girdawar circle and pathwar Halqa are the same since the time of Maharaja Hari Singh and we demanding for their delimitation,” they added.
“We would also like to draw the keen interest of the administration towards the direct recruitment of Naib Tehsildars and demand a 75:25 quota, like the one in vogue in the Union territory of Ladakh and 75%, Girdawars and departmental Patwaris should be promoted to Naib Tehsildar”, the protesting paatwaris further said.
Meanwhile CPI (M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami also urged the government to redress genuine demands of striking patwaris. “The strike of patwaris has paralysed the working in revenue department”, Tarigami said.
“The administration has been giving assurances and making promises that their genuine grievances would be redressed, but nothing seems to be happening on ground, forcing them to go on protest. The demands include increase in the grade pay of graduate patwaris, timely departmental promotion of patwaris,girdawaris, rent for Patwar Khanas (Private accommodation), construction of new Patwar Khanas, creation of new patwar halqas and Girdawar circles are all genuine demands, which must be fulfilled without any further delay”, Tarigami said in a statement.
He urged that the Government must talk to the representatives of the Association and take effective steps to settle their genuine demands. (GNS)
