Congress Slams J-K LG Over Mass Transfer of 48 JKAS Officers

Jammu, Apr 3: The Congress on Thursday criticised Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s decision to order transfer of middle and lower-rung officers in the Union Territory, saying the latter should have awaited the approval of business rules before announcing his decision.

In a move seen by many as an attempt to take full control of the bureaucracy, the lieutenant governor (LG) ordered the transfer of 48 middle and lower-rung Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officers, including 14 additional deputy commissioners and 26 sub-divisional magistrates.

The order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on Tuesday came at a time when the National Conference-led government was waiting for a nod from the Union home ministry for the business rules it framed about a month ago and sent to the LG for approval to facilitate smooth governance without confusion.

J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has convened a joint meeting of the coalition legislators in Srinagar on Friday where the issue is likely to be discussed.

“The chief minister has called for a joint legislative party meeting of coalition partners in Srinagar at 11 am tomorrow. The issue of transfers is likely to be discussed although the agenda for the meeting has not been conveyed so far.

“It would have been advisable for the LG to wait a while as the business rules are pending approval. The LG should have been more patient,” Gulam Ahmed Mir, national general secretary of the Congress, said.

Mir, who also serves as the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) in the J-K Assembly, said the government has already proposed the business rules and forwarded them to New Delhi for approval.

“Taking such a step was not advisable,” the Congress leader said.

According to the current business rules, Mir said, “transfer of local JKAS officers falls under the chief minister’s domain”.

“The previous rules stipulated that local JKAS officers will be handled by the chief minister, while senior officers (IAS) will be transferred by the LG,” Mir said.

Mir also said the LG’s action, knowing that the business rules proposal is pending approval in Delhi, sent a wrong message about the state of affairs within the J-K administration.

“It has sent a wrong message that everything is not well (within the administration). The LG knew it well that the proposal for business rules is under consideration, yet he took this step,” Mir said. (Agencies)

JKSSB Releases Revised Score-Sheet for Steno Typist Written Test

The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has released the revised result and score-sheet for the Written Test conducted for the post of Steno Typist. The update comes following the review of the results from the Computer-Based Type Test (Skill Test), Short-Hand Test, and the OMR-based Written Test.

Examination Details

According to the official notification, the written examination for the post of Steno Typist, advertised under Advertisement Notification No. 02 of 2021, was conducted on 31st December 2024 (Shift-II). Candidates were required to meet specific typing speed and shorthand transcription criteria of 25 WPM and 65 WPM, respectively.

Detailed Notification Here

Evaluation Criteria

JKSSB has outlined the methodology used to compile the final score-sheet:

1. Type Test: 20 Marks
   • Candidate’s type test score was calculated using the formula:
     (Net Speed / Maximum Net Speed) × 20
   • The maximum speed achieved in the examination was 87 WPM.
2. Short-Hand and Transcription Test: 20 Marks
   • The score was computed as follows:
     Maximum Marks – (Errors Committed × Qualifying Penalty Marks) / Error Admissible
   • Maximum marks available: 20
   • Qualifying Penalty Marks: 40% of 20 = 8 Marks
   • Error Admissible: 5% of total words (325) = 16 words
3. Written Test (OMR): 60 Marks
   • The final answer key for the OMR-based written test was notified on 17th March 2025.

Revision and Updates

A representation was received from a candidate regarding an anomaly in the skill test result. After review, JKSSB found the representation valid and corrected the results accordingly. The revised results were notified via official notification No. JKSSB-COEOEXAM(UT)/56/2023-03 (7245277) dated 19th March 2025, which replaced the previously issued Annexure “B.”

Candidates who appeared for the Steno Typist examination are advised to check their revised results through the official JKSSB website (www.jkssb.nic.in). Any further clarifications or updates will be communicated via official notifications.

Weather Update

There is a possibility of a thundershower in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir towards late afternoon/evening tomorrow.

So, farmers can avoid spraying their Orchards until tomorrow.

Weather is expected to go dry again from Friday onwards.

Another Western Disturbance is expected to affect the Union Territory from April 08 onwards.

Forecast Insights: Kashmir Weather

J&K to Implement Three New Criminal Laws from April: MoS Home

Srinagar, Apr 2 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir will implement three new criminal laws in April, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai announced in the Lok Sabha. These laws—Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA)—will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively.

A Steering Committee led by the Chief Secretary and an Empowered Committee headed by the Director General of Police have been formed to oversee the transition. Training sessions for police personnel and judicial officers are being conducted at multiple levels, and the laws have been translated into Urdu, Dogri, and Kashmiri.

The government is conducting joint awareness programs in all 282 administrative blocks twice a month.

Additionally, digital tools like e-Sakshya for evidence recording, e-summons, and SMS/email notifications have been activated under the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network System (CCTNS).

Training efforts are extensive, with 975 Gazetted Officers, 60,890 police personnel, and 254 Judicial Officers already trained. Jammu and Kashmir Police are also using the iGoT Karmayogi platform, where over 50,984 personnel have completed 1,21,000 courses on the new laws.

Regular review meetings are being held at different administrative levels to monitor the implementation process, ensuring a smooth transition to the new legal framework. (KNS)