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]

Sakeena Itoo Accuses Political Parties of Misleading People on Article 370

Srinagar,Mar 4 (KNS): Minister of Education Sakeena Itoo has questioned the shifting political narratives around Article 370, highlighting the need for clarity on the difference between “special status” and the constitutional provision itself.

Speaking on the issue, Itoo remarked, The question is about the special status of 370.

When we talk about the National Conference, when the party was not in power, they said that 370 would not remain.

But when the National Conference came to power, this was changed to special status. Now, let the world know what is the difference between the special status of 370 and 370 itself.

She also accused certain political groups of misleading the people, stating that the National Conference’s stance on Article 370 changed over time.

Highlighting the resolutions passed in the assembly, she noted that some forces were unhappy with the decisions taken.

The NCR has said that they will try to pass the resolution that we have passed in the assembly, whether it is the resolution of the state or Article 370. These people are not happy with it.

They want to follow their own ways,” she said.

Holding political entities responsible for instability in Jammu and Kashmir, Itoo asserted, “If there is any responsibility for the destruction in J&K, these are the people.

Please check the records She further questioned past actions in the assembly, asking, What were the people saying in the last assembly.

What were the losses and damages we have caused? Is there any responsibility for that? I am not even free to say.” (KNS)

No Creation/Upgradation of Health Centers Planned: J&K Govt

For Every 3500 Souls, J&K Has a Health Institution

Srinagar, Mar 04 (KNO): The Jammu & Kashmir Government informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday that J&K has a health institution for every 3,500 souls, compared to the national average of 6,000 souls.

In a written reply to an unstarred question by MLA Reyaz Ahmed Khan, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Minister in-charge of Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Masood Itto, informed the House that according to a report published by the Union Ministry of Health & Medical Education, J&K has a health institution for every 3,500 souls, significantly better than the national average of 6,000 souls.

The Minister also informed the House that there are currently 554 New Type Primary Health Centers (NTPHCs) in Jammu and Kashmir. She added that 523 out of these 554 NTPHCs have been converted into Health & Wellness Centers under a flagship scheme launched by the Government of India.

The Minister stated that no future creation or upgradation of health centers is planned at the moment.

However, this might be reconsidered once the austerity measures imposed by the Finance Department are withdrawn, and any critical gaps as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are assessed—(KNO)