J&K govt enhances marriage assistance for poor girls to Rs 75,000

Srinagar, Apr 03 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government enhanced financial assistance under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS) for poor girls from Rs 50,000 to 75,000 for the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card holder families.

According to an order, a copy of which lies with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) assistance for Priority Household (PHH) ration card holders remains unchanged at Rs 50,000. New scheme will be effective from April 1, 2025.

The order also states that the financial aid will be directly transferred to the beneficiary’s bank account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) before the marriage.

The scheme applies only to eligible AAY and PHH ration card holders, ensuring that economically weaker sections receive support for marriage expenses—(KNO)

Amit Shah to visit J&K for 3 days on April 6

Srinagar, Apr 03: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from April 6, sources said on Thursday.

Sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Shah will visit Jammu and Kashmir from April 6 to 8.

They said that during his visit, he is likely to tour border areas and hold a security review meeting.

“The meeting will be attended by senior officials of the police, Army and other security agencies,” sources said.

They disclosed that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah would also meet Shah to discuss some issues of the Union Territory—(KNO)

CM Omar Calls Emergency Meeting With JKNC Legislative Party, Its Allies Tomorrow

Srinagar, Apr 03 (KB): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reportedly called for an emergency meeting of JKNC legislative party, and its allies tomorrow.

The meeting, scheduled at 11 AM, is being held in the backdrop of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent order effecting transfers and postings of forty eight JKAS officers.

The meeting, as learnt by news agency Kashmir Bulletin, is expected to thoroughly deliberate on the issue and discuss on developments which the (Omar led) government feels will be effecting it’s hold on administrative matters in times to follow. (KB)

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)