JAMMU, Nov 16: Weather was generally dry in J&K during the last 24 hours as the MeT office said on Wednesday that dry weather with partly cloudy sky is expected during the next 24 hours.
“Dry weather with partly cloudy sky is expected in J&K during the next 24 hours”, an official of the MeT department said.
Srinagar had 2.4, Pahalgam minus 2.4 and Gulmarg minus 3.6 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.
In Ladakh region, Drass town had minus 13.2, Kargil minus 5 and Leh minus 8.6 as the minimum temperature.
Jammu had 11.7, Katra 11.2, Batote 3.5, Banihal 4.4 and Bhaderwah 2.5 as the minimum temperature. (AGENCIES)

Jammu, November :

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Tuesday dismissed former minister Choudhary Lal Singh’s petition against an eviction notice issued to him and directed him to vacate the government residence allotted to him previously within six weeks.

Singh, the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan Party president, was among several politicians who were served notices by the Estates department last month to vacate government accommodations at Jammu’s posh Gandhi Nagar locality.

The former minister had, however, moved the high court against the notice on the pretext that he was covered under ‘Z-category security’.

The case came up for hearing before Justice Sanjeev Kumar Shukla, who dismissed the petition after hearing the arguments from both sides, senior Additional Advocate General Monika Kohli told PTI.

She said the court gave six weeks’ time to the former minister to vacate the bungalow.

In its notice, the Estates department had asked Singh, who has been occupying the bungalow for the past two decades, to vacate the building by November 15.

A two-time MP and three time MLA, Singh switched from the Congress to the BJP in 2014 and was also a minister in the previous PDP-BJP government, which collapsed in June 2018.

Several months before the fall of the government, Singh had resigned from the BJP and floated his DSSP, following an uproar over his participation in a rally in support of the accused in the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January 2018.

Choudhary Lal Singh, however, defended his participation in the rally but claimed he was there to “defuse the situation”.

Later, he launched an agitation to press for a CBI inquiry into the incident.

Besides Singh, the government has also served a notice to PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, asking her to vacate her plush Fairview government bungalow in Srinagar.

Another former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah vacated his official bungalow on Gupkar Road in 2020, even before the administration issued an eviction notice to him.

The change in entitlements for former chief ministers in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories meant that they could not continue to live in the official residences provided to them in the erstwhile state.

Last year, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had directed the government to evict former ministers and legislators who were in “illegal occupation” of government bungalows.

“It is very unfortunate that some former ministers, legislators, retired officers and politicians have illegally and unauthorisedly managed to continue to stay in the residential accommodations provided to them by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, though they are no longer entitled to such accommodation,” the court had said in an order in February last year.

The Estates department, in its status report filed in the court, named 89 former ministers and ex-legislators who continue to occupy government bungalows. Some of the prominent names in the list include J&K BJP chief and former MLA Ravinder Raina and former J&K deputy chief minister Kavinder Gupta.

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Tuesday said that the tribal committee’s role in Jammu and Kashmir’s development was crucial.An official spokesman in a statement issued here said that addressing a Janjatiya Samagam on the launch of week-long festivities on Janjatiya Gaurav Divas, the LG said, “We recognise the critical role and contribution of the tribal community in the development of J&K. They are the prime mover of the progress. Tribal community is our moral compass and taught us the values of co-existence, oneness, harmony and sustainable living.”

The LG shared various initiatives and resolutions taken by the J&K government for the welfare of the tribal community and tribal youth.

“We are making dedicated efforts to harness the potential and channelise the productive energy of tribal youth and women so that the new generation can transform the economic fortunes of their families and contribute to cultural and social vitality,” the LG said.

He said that special emphasis was being laid on beneficiary-oriented schemes and welfare infrastructure with priority to road connectivity, power supply, drinking water, modern tribal villages, self-employment, healthcare, skill development, scholarships and education.

The LG said that livelihood generation for tribals by harnessing the wealth of ‘Van Dhan’ aims to tap into traditional knowledge and skill sets of tribals by adding technology and IT to upgrade the Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Vikas Yojna at each stage and convert tribal wisdom into a viable economic activity.

“We are promoting a culture of excellence in our schools in tribal-populated areas through smart classrooms. These schools will act as a vital source of new knowledge and innovative thinking, and as providers of highly skilled students,” he said.

Enumerating the steps taken to give impetus to the socio-economic development of the tribal community, the LG said that apart from Forest Rights Act, several infrastructures like transit accommodation, boys and girls hostels, Eklavya model residential schools, mini sheep farms, new dairy units, smartcards, trucks for migratory population, Pradhanmantri Aadi Aadarsh Gram Yojna, coaching programmes for NEET and JEE, UPSC, Technology Enabled Education Scheme, and Tribal Research Centre had been created.

“I urge those undertaking Padyatra to return home. Some people with vested interest are spreading rumours on reservation. They are the same people who do not want peace and progress in the region,” he said.

The LG said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was working tirelessly to fulfill the dreams of tribals.

“I urge people not to fall for those instigating people on reservation. The Home Minister has assured Gujjars and other communities’ interests will be protected and there will be no decrease in their quota even by one percent,” he said.

The LG said that after decades of wait, the PM had transformed the dream of social equity and justice into reality.

“It has brought fast and radical change in the lives of tribal communities and paved the path for socio-economic growth,” he said.

Paying tributes to Bhagwan Birsa Munda on his Janm-Jayanti, the LG remembered his immense contribution.

“I am confident the Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah will not only celebrate the rich contribution of the tribal community but instill a sense of pride in the tribal tradition and cultural values,” he said.

The LG said that Janjatiya Gaurav Saptah would act as a fillip to the efforts for preservation of tribal arts and culture in this hyper connected and internet driven world, to encourage upcoming artists and students of tribal literature.

Earlier, he launched a web portal for tribal awards to streamline and bring transparency in the nomination process.

Advisor to Lt Governor Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar extended his wishes and greetings to the tribal community for the Janjatiya Diwas and highlighted the reforms introduced by the government for the empowerment of tribal population of J&K.

He lauded the contribution of tribal communities in the progress of J&K.

Secretary to Government, Tribal Affairs Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary highlighted the landmark initiatives for the welfare of tribal community.

Performances by the artists showcased the tribal culture and heritage of J&K.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar and DC Jammu Avny Lavasa were also present on the occasion.

JAMMU, Nov 15: The grant of reservation to the Pahari community in Jammu and Kashmir will not have any effect on the quota of the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here, he referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement during his visit to Rajouri and Baramulla on the grant of reservation to the Pahari community.
“Some people are trying to mislead the communities for political reasons, but I again reiterate with confidence and responsibility that there will no change in the reservation quota of Gujjars, Bakerwals, Gaddis and Sippis,” Sinha said.
Gujjars and Bakerwals have been holding protests against the Centre’s move to give Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to Paharis. (Agencies)