November 2022

Srinagar, Nov 18 : The government Friday announced prohibition on any activity or assignment including the private tuitions by teaching faculty of School Education Department.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has leant that the Principal Secretary, School Education Department, Alok Kumar has said, “It has been observed that some members of teaching faculty of School Education Department are undertaking coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours in violation of Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 as well as Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RTE Act, 2009.”

Kumar in a circular said that the Rule-10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 states, “No Government employee, whether on leave or active service, shall except with the previous sanction of the government engage directly or indirectly in any trade or business or undertake any other employment.”

Provided that a government employee may, without such sanction, undertake honorary work of a social or charitable nature of occasional work of a literary, artistic or scientific character except in organizations or associations with which a Government employee is expressly debarred from associating, subject to the condition that his official duties do not thereby suffer, but he shall not undertake or shall discontinue such work, if so, directed by the government.

Kumar said that it has also been provided in the Chapter (IV) Section 28 in the RTE Act. 2009 – Prohibition of private tuition by teachers that ‘No teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity.’

“In spite of these, it has been observed that some members of teaching faculty of School Education Department are undertaking coaching assignments in private institutions and coaching centres even during school hours in violation of Rule 10 of The Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 as well as Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RTE Act, 2009,” reads the circular.

Kumar said that the High Court in one of the cases has also issued directions that reads, “That the department of education (school as well as higher education) is directed to implement Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules in letter and spirit and ensure that no member of its teaching faculty engages in private tuition at private coaching or tuition centres without previous sanction of the government.”

“The Zonal Education Officers at the zonal level and Chief Education Officers at the district level shall be the nodal officers, who will ensure the implementation of Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules and the circular or instructions, if any, issued by the Government to give effect to Rule 10 of the Employees Conduct Rules,” it reads.

According to the School Education Department, the court directions further reads that the government shall do well to create and provide toll free telephone numbers in each District where the complaints against the banned activity of the teaching faculty could be made.

“In supersession of all earlier circulars and instructions issued on matter, it is impressed upon all the teaching faculty of School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir to strictly adhere to the instructions as provided in Rule 10 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 and Chapter (IV) Section 28 of RT Act, 2009 and not to indulge in any private trade or practice or private tuitions,” Kumar ordered.

He further ordered that no teaching faculty shall undertake any activity or assignment including teaching in a private educational institution or coaching centre, unless they obtain prior sanction from the competent authority. “Any violation in this regard shall invite disciplinary action against the delinquent officers or officials as warranted under rules.”

The Principal Secretary further entrusted the responsibility of ensuring that no member of the teaching faculty of the School Education Department violates the circular. The responsibility has been given to Directors of School Education of both Jammu and Kashmir regions, all Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education Officers, Principals of Higher Secondary Schools and Headmasters of all government schools—(KNO)

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 18 : Transporters in Sopore town on Thursday continued their indefinite strike for the third consecutive day against the administration’s move of accommodating “illegal” cabs in General Bus Stand, hitting life in the northern region.

The transporters demand immediate rollback of the decision saying the move will affect them.

Reports reaching the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that hundreds of transporters assembled at the General Bus Stand and held a protest against the administration’s move.

Chairman Sopore transporters association, Sajad Ahmed, said that the protest will continue and all the passenger vehicles will remain off the roads till their demands are not met.

“We have been assured by the deputy commissioner Baramulla that the issue would be resolved within two days but nothing has been done till now,” he said.

Sajad said that the strike has caused them losses amounting to Rs 45-50 lakh but blamed the administration for forcing them to go for strike. According to him, their affiliates in Baramulla, Pattan, Sumbal, Kupwara and other adjacent villages have suffered due to the strike as well.

On the ground, the strike has caused inconvenience to commuters, many of whom were seen walking to reach their destinations.

“I had a medical emergency at home and had to reach Rafiabad. But lack of transport in Sopore forced me to pay Rs 700 to a cab as against Rs 30,” said a commuter, Nasir Ahmed.

A college-goer, who had to reach Baramulla, said that if the administration is so hellbent on their decision, they should give some alternatives to commuters. “How can we reach the college,” he asked.

Similarly, a group of students and office goers said they either reached their destinations very late or in many cases were forced to stay home.

On Monday, a formal order was issued to accommodate “illegal” sumos in general bus stand Sopore.

Additional deputy commissioner Sopore Parveez Sajad told KNO that the order would be implemented. “The order won’t be revoked,” he said—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 18: On Friday, J&K Workers Party President, Mir Junaid met LG J&K Manoj Sinha and expressed deep concern over recent threats issued to journalists working in Kashmir by terror organisations, and the subsequent resignation of five media persons over the threat. He said the space for media freedom and active civil society has been steadily affected due to the terror threats in the region.

While assuring the safety of Journalists, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha said that we assure the safety and support to our brave journalists who have always been on forefront performing their professional duties.

We are keenly looking after the developments and soon the culprits associated with the threats will be behind bars. Our Journalists are brave enough to go through such terror threats and they have time and again proved that pen is mightier than gun.

Mir congratulated LG Manoj Sinha for reaching out to forgotten villages by way of providing electricity to border village Rangwada, 35 kms from Kupwara. Pertinent to mention that after 1947, when India got freedom, the village saw electricity for the first time.

Mir said that under LG administration, UT of J&K is witnessing a new era of development for which LG Manoj Sinha will be remembered. The village was covered under Deen Dhayal scheme and the residents of the village expressed joy.

And appreciated the LG led administration for providing the electricity in the village.

Mir, while discussing the issue of electricity, water, and road connectivity during the winter and the snowfall, he requested LG for directing administration to facilitate people during this winter. LG Manoj Sinha assured that administration is on toes with men and machinery on stand by. We will assure electricity, road connectivity and water during this water. I will be personally monitoring the situation to facilitate people during the harsh winters.

Srinagar, Nov 18 : Putting speculations and rumours to rest, National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah on Friday said that he has not stepped down from the post and that he will continue to hold the office.

Talking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Dr Farooq said he continues to hold the post of president as he has not resigned yet. “I am still the party chief till elections and till someone else is ready to the responsibilities of this post,” he added.

Earlier, reports have been doing rounds that Dr Farooq Abdullah has resigned from the post of president citing several reasons including health issue as one.

Meanwhile, NC chief spokesperson, Tanvir Sadiq also cleared the air and told KNO that Dr Farooq continues to be the party president.

“Some people have spread speculations about his resignation which is not true. He continues to be party chief till election notification is issued for the post,” he added—(KNO)

Srinagar, Nov 15: Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Conference Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday said the dacoits of 1987 are responsible for filling graveyards in Kashmir.

Addressing a delegate session of Peoples Conference here, Lone said those who rigged 1987 assembly polls in J&K are responsible for bloodshed and violence in Kashmir.

“The dacoits of 1987 are the main culprits. They are responsible for filling graveyards in Kashmir. Our hundreds of workers were jailed and booked under PSA in 1987,”Lone said, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)

Lone, who was administered oath of office as PC president, said those who sent youngsters to Kathua and Hira Nagar jails cannot represent Kashmiris.

“Farooq Abdullah made his son Omar Abdullah Chief Minister but sent another Kashmiri Yasin Malik to jail in 1987 for being associated with Muslim United Front. Farooq Abdullah registered nine FIRs against Yasin Malik and sent him to jail. He is still in jail,”he said.

Lone said those who question National Conference are being labelled as agents of New Delhi.

“When my father, Jamaat-e-Islamia and Muslim United Front questioned them, they were dubbed as agents of New Delhi. Those who were labelled as agents of New Delhi remained in jails for rest of their lives ,” he said.

“9 FIRs registered against Yasin Malik for supporting MUF”

Lone said that leadership in the present “challenging times means rising up to the occasion and rescuing the Kashmiris.”

The function was attended by PC workers from different areas of Kashmir—(KNO)

In a tragic incident, at least eight persons including four women are feared dead after a vehicle they were travelling in fell into a Nallah near Rachal area of Marwah in Kishtwar district on Wednesday.

An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a passenger vehicle fell into a Nallah near Rachal area this evening.

He said that in the incident, at least eight persons including four women are feared dead even as a rescue operation has been launched.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Kishtwar Dr Devansh Yadav told KNO that 5-8 persons are feared dead, while exact details were being collected.

He added that teams of police, army and health department were present on the spot for rescue operation—(KNO)

Today CCIK President along with Office Bearers held a press conference regrading the PDD order of recent power curtailment schedule. The CCIK requested the honourable LG and Chief Engineer PDD to roll back the press order of power curtailment in winters immediately. President CCIK said that the tourism, education, and health sectors will be the most negatively impacted by the power curtailment schedule. CCIK said that traders, industrialists and hoteliers are unable to run their businesses on gen sets as business is very slow at present and the fuel costs have reached sky high. Also to promote winter tourism electricity plays a key role. CCIK stated that since the government has scheduled exams for March, the education sector will be the most severely impacted by the power outage.

CCIK also said that it’s very important to bring into the kind notice of honourable LG that people need more health care as respiratory diseases become prominent during winters especially for children and elderly people who are dependent on oxygen concentrators and other medical gadgets which cannot function without electricity.

CCIK requested that the power curtailment schedule should be minimised to 2 hrs for metered areas and maximum to 3 hrs for non metered areas so that people can spend the harsh winter comfortably.

Waris Fayaz

Sopore, Nov 16 : Transporters including registered Sumo unions in Sopore town of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday went on an indefinite strike against administration’s move of accommodating “illegal” sumos in general bus stand.

The transporters demand immediate rollback of the decision, stating the move will affect them.

Reports reaching to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that transporters assembled at general bus stand, to hold protest against administration’s move.

Chairman graduate mini bus owners, Sajad Ahmed said said that it was unanimously decided in the meeting that all the transport vehicles will remain off the roads from today, till their are met.

The transporters demanded that the order be revoked immediately in the interest of transporters and public at large.

On Monday, a formal order was issued after a review meeting to streamline traffic in the town, to accommodate “illegal” sumos in general bus stand Sopore.

Meanwhile, additional deputy commissioner Sopore, Parveez Sajad told KNO that the order would be implemented and won’t be revoked—(KNO)