Restore July 31, December 5 Holidays, Shift Jailed Youth Back to J&K: PDP MLA Waheed Parra

Jammu, Mar 5: Member legislative Assembly Waheed Parra on Tuesday demanded the restoration of public holidays on July 31 and December 5 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking in the J&K Assembly Waheed as per news agency JKNS urged the government to transfer Kashmiri youth, currently imprisoned in jails outside the Union Territory, to local prisons.

“The holidays on July 31 and December 5 should be restored. Also, Kashmiri youth detained outside J&K must be shifted back to local jails so that their families don’t suffer,” Parra said, as per news agency JKNS.

Citing his own experience of facing two UAPA cases, he highlighted the hardships endured by detainees and their families due to incarceration outside J&K. His demand was backed by People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, who sought support from a National Conference MLA on the issue. (JKNS)

Amarnath 2025 to commence from July 03

Srinagar, Mar 05 JKNS:- The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has officially announced that the Amarnath Yatra for 2025 will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 19.

This annual pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave, located in the Kashmir Himalayas, attracts thousands of devotees who come to pay homage to Lord Shiva.

An official told news agency JKNS that registration for the Yatra is mandatory for all pilgrims and is conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.

” Each applicant must submit a duly filled application form along with a Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC) issued by authorized medical institutions. The registration fee is ₹150 per person.” He said.

“Specific dates for the commencement of the registration process will be announced by the SASB in due course.” He said.

For pilgrims seeking a quicker journey, helicopter services are available from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panjtarni, which is a short distance from the Holy Cave,he said.

He added that details regarding helicopter bookings, including dates and procedures, will be updated on the official SASB website.—(JKNS)

32474 posts vacant in departments: J&K Govt

Only 3727 posts referred to SSB, PSC in last 4 month; Rs 14 crore collected as fee from aspirants

Jammu, Mar 04: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Tuesday informed the Legislative Assembly that a staggering 32,474 posts are lying vacant across different departments in Jammu & Kashmir.

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In a written response to a question of MLA Handwara, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who happens to be Minister in-charge, General Administration Department, said that 32474 posts are vacant in different departments as on January 31, 2025.

Of these, 2,503 are gazetted posts, 19,214 are non-gazetted posts, and 10,757 are multi-tasking staff positions, the CM said.

The highest number of posts are vacant in the Health Department, with 7,851 vacancies.

It is followed by the Health & Medical Education department and Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department with 3759 and 2589 vacancies, respectively.

According to the reply, there are 2517 vacancies in the Industries & Commerce Department and 2420 in Housing & Urban Development Department.

In the past four months, the Government informed that 3727 vacancies have been referred to Public Service Commission and Services Selection Board since October 16, 2024, the day when Omar Abdullah-led government took oath.

Of these, 738 are gazetted posts, 1754 non-gazetted posts and 1235 multi-tasking slots.

The Government also revealed that it has no proposal to make job application forms free for job aspirants.

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“Presently, no such proposal is under consideration in the Government,” it said.

In the past four months, the government revealed that it has collected Rs 14. 17 crore examination fee from students appearing in recruiting tests conducted by SSB and PSC.

In its election manifesto for last year’s assembly polls, the National Conference had promised to make job application forms free for all the examinations.

“The job application will be made free for all the examinations,” the party had promised in its manifesto—(KNO)

Weather Forecast for next 5-6 days

Sunny and dry weather is expected across the Jammu and Kashmir for next 5-6 days.

The day temperature will rise significantly from tomorrow onwards.

A fresh Western disturbance is expected from 10 March evening.

Regards: Kashmir Weather Forecast

This & That Kashmir Debate Sparks Uproar in Assembly, Omar Abdullah Says ‘China, Not Pakistan, Behind Development in PoK

Jammu, Mar 4, KNT: A political storm erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after a National Conference legislator claimed that facilities in areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir near the Keran sector in Kupwara were better than those on the Indian side. The remarks triggered a strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which demanded that they be expunged from the Assembly records.

The NC MLA from Trehgam Saifullah Mir made the statement while raising supplementary questions during the question hour. Objecting strongly, BJP legislator RS Pathania stood up and called for the remarks to be struck off the records, arguing that they presented a misleading comparison and undermined India’s infrastructure efforts in border regions.

As tempers flared between BJP and NC legislators, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah intervened, offering his perspective on the development seen in PoK. He acknowledged that infrastructure appeared more advanced on the other side of the Line of Control (LoC) but attributed it to Chinese investment rather than efforts by Pakistan.

“We must acknowledge that while development in our border areas has been limited, there has been a deliberate attempt to showcase progress in PoK. However, this so-called development is not Pakistan’s doing—it is China that has played a role in it,” Omar Abdullah stated.

He further asserted that, unlike PoK, India had not sought foreign assistance for infrastructure projects in its border regions. Dismissing the perception of prosperity across the LoC, the Chief Minister remarked, “They dressed people in coats to create the illusion of development. But in reality, the pockets of those coats are empty.” [KNT]