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Srinagar: Normal life resumed across Kashmir on the first day of five-day relaxation, the longest called by the separatists since the current unrest began in the Valley.The separatists while announcing the new calendar last Wednesday deviated from the weekly protest calendar and instead issued a new plan for the next two weeks till the end of this month.All shops and business establishments were open since early morning today, while traffic plied normally on roads in the capital city, other major towns and on the inter-district routes.There was heavy rush of shoppers in markets leading to traffic congestion in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk in the capital city.The roadside vends were also set up even as shops and business establishments remained opened, a practice that would continue for the next four days before Friday.“The Valley is fast heading towards normalcy,” said an official here while referring to the normal life activities going on over the past several weeks.The Valley has been witnessing trouble following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.The unrest triggered by the killing paralysed normal life in the Valley for more than five months now. The Valley suffered a severe setback in the vital sectors of economy, tourism and education.While the situation is gradually leading to normalcy, the seat of the state government has shifted to Jammu, winter capital of the state, which began its working from the first week of November. The educational institutions also remained closed during the summer months due to which the normal academic activities were hit hard. Winter vacations for lower classes have already begun. All educational institutions will reopen for the next academic session by early March. (TNS)

Srinagar: Parts of the world famous Dal Lake were again frozen partially as night temperature witnessed further drop in the Kashmir valley, where world famous health resort of Pahalgam and summer capital, Srinagar, recorded coldest night of the winter so far.

Weather woes continued in Ladakh region, where Leh also recorded coldest night after the mercury dropped further and settled at minus 13.2 degree.

However, sun was out again today though the intensity of the heat was very low and cold winds also continued.

A Met department spokesman said here this afternoon that weather will remain dry in the Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. However, there is possibility of isolated rain in the Kashmir valley during the subsequent 72 hours.

Srinagar, where business and other activities remained affected due to strike, mercury witnessed further dip and settled at minus 4.5 degree, 3.5 degree below normal. Similar temperature was also recorded on December 10, 2016.

Parts of the Dal Lake, particularly near banks and interior of the water body, were again frozen early this morning. However, the frozen parts started melting as the day progressed.

The famed water body was frozen completely in 1965 when a jeep was driven on the frozen surface one end to end. Similarly Lake was again frozen in 1987 and authorities had to deploy police personnel on the bank to avoid any accident. However, tourists and locals were walking on the frozen surface and taking photographers while young people were playing cricket and hockey.

Met spokesman said the sky would be mainly clear and the maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 10 degree and minus 4 degree respectively in Srinagar during the next 24 hours.

Water bodies at Pahalgam, a famed health resort about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, were frozen due to further drop in the mercury. Against yesterdays minus 6.2 degree minimum temperature, it was minus 7.3 degree, coldest of the winter so far. Earlier lowest was minus 6.2 recorded yesterday.

Gulmarg, world famous ski resort in north Kashmir however, witnessed a minor surge in the minimum temperature. Against yesterday minus 4.8 degree, it was minus 4.4 degree, half a notch below normal.

Qazigund and Kokernag in south Kashmir recorded minus 2.2 degree and minus 3.3 degree minimum temperature respectively while at Kupwara in north it was minus 4.7 degree, about three degree below normal.

He said Leh recorded coldest night of the season after the mercury witnessed further drop and settled at minus 13.6 degree against yesterdays minus 13.2 degree. The sky would be mainly clear the maximum and minimum temperature would be around 7 degree and minus 13 degree respectively at Leh during the next 24 hours.

Srinagar: The High Court Saturday issued a notification to the Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretary Education to file a compliance report as to why despite the directions 25 percent seats have not been reserved for the students from weaker sections.
The division bench of the HC, apart from Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretary Education, directed the private and missionary schools, to submit the “implementation report” of reserving 25 percent seats for economically poor sections of the societywithin four weeks.
According to KNS, the HC asked the Chief Secretary and Commissioner Secretary Education to explain why the 25 percent seats have not been reserved for the poor class especially in the four missionary schools-Biscoe, Mallinson, Burn Hall and Presentation Convent.
Talking to KNS, Advocate Faisal Qadri said the petition was filed in May 2015 about reserving 25 percent seats for economically poor sections.
“The HC had directed the private schools especially the top four missionary schools in the city, but these schools didn’t do which in turn amounts to contempt of the court orders,” he said.
He said the HC has asked the Chief Secretary to file the Compliance report within four weeks. (KNS)

SRINAGAR:The Supreme Court has said that Jammu and Kashmir has “no vestige of sovereignty outside the constitution of India” and rejected the J&K High Court’s view that the J&K Constitution was equal to the Constitution of India,reported Indian Express.

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Nariman snubbed the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for asserting the state’s “sovereignty” and “sovereign powers”.

“It is clear that the state of Jammu & Kashmir has no vestige of sovereignty outside the Constitution of India and its own Constitution, which is subordinate to the Constitution of India… they (residents of state) are governed first by the Constitution of India and also by the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir,” the bench said, referring to the preamble of the Constitution of J&K, 1957.

The bench called it “disturbing” that various parts of a judgment in appeal by the J&K High Court spoke of the absolute sovereign power of the state. 

“It is necessary to reiterate that Section 3 of the Constitution of Jammu & Kashmir, which was framed by a Constituent Assembly elected on the basis of universal adult franchise, makes a ringing declaration that the State of Jammu & Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India. And this provision is beyond the pale of amendment,” the judges said.

The bench also stated that J&K residents are “first and foremost” Indian citizens. “It is therefore wholly incorrect to describe it as being sovereign in the sense of its residents constituting a separate and distinct class in themselves. The residents of Jammu & Kashmir, we need to remind the High Court, are first and foremost citizens of India… permanent residents of the state of J&K are citizens of India, and that there is no dual citizenship as is contemplated by some other federal Constitutions in other parts of the world,” it said.

The top court pointed out that it was constrained to observe these because in at least three places, the High Court, in its judgment, “has gone out of its way to refer to a sovereignty which does not exist”.

Underlining that the quasi-federal structure of the Constitution of India continues even with respect to J&K, the bench said: “Article 1 of the Constitution of India and Section 3 of the Jammu & Kashmir Constitution make it clear that India shall be a Union of States, and that the State of Jammu & Kashmir is and shall be an integral part of the Union of India.” It said the J&K Constitution has been made to further define the existing relationship of the state with the Union of India as an integral part thereof.

The court said this while deciding a legal question on whether the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002 (SARFAESI Act) will be applicable to J&K or the law was outside the legislative competence of Parliament since its provisions would collide with Section 140 of the Transfer of Property Act of J&K.

SARFAESI Act entitles banks to move a tribunal to take possession of secured assets of the borrower ad sell them outside the court process.

The High Court had said that the state has absolute sovereign power to legislate in respect of laws touching the rights of its permanent residents qua their immovable properties, said the report.

“After the State Bank of India appealed against the High Court order, the J&K government submitted in the Supreme Court that this law encroached upon the property rights of permanent residents of the state and must be read down so that it will not be permissible to sell property belonging to a permanent resident of the state to outsiders. It was also argued that Parliamentary legislation would need concurrence of the J&K government before it could apply to the state under Article 370.”

But the Supreme Court bench shot down these arguments, saying SARFAESI Act deals with recovery of debts due to banks and financial institutions, which is relatable to a subject under the Union List and parliamentary legislation did not require concurrence of the state government since the Centre had power to make law on this subject.

“Entries 45 and 95 of List I clothe Parliament with exclusive power to make laws with respect to banking… the Act as a whole would necessarily operate in the state,” the bench said, adding that the SARFAESI Act had itself made a special provision for sale of properties in J&K.

The bench, however, ruled that any provision of the J&K Transfer of Property Act will have to give way to the central law in case the former is found repugnant.

“It is clear that anything that comes in the way of SARFAESI by way of a Jammu & Kashmir law must necessarily give way to the said law,” it said, adding that its judgement had no effect on Article 35A, which confers on permanent residents of J&K special rights and privileges regarding acquisition of immovable property in the state.

Srinagar: The drop in the overnight temperature in the Valley has strengthened winter’s grip over the region.Srinagar city shivered as the overnight temperature plummeted to – 4.5°C. The minimum temperature turned the night into one of the coldest of the season so far.The state Meteorological Department said the overnight temperature was over four degrees lower than the average minimum temperature for this time of the year. The average minimum temperature for this period is around – 1°C in Srinagar.The Weather Department said the mercury was likely to plunge to – 4-5°C in Srinagar and other parts of the region during the next few nights.The temperature across the Kashmir valley had registered a significant drop overnight with the Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir recording the coldest night in the region. The minimum temperature in Pahalgam was recorded at – 7.3°C, which was also four degrees below the expected, the Meteorological Department said. The overnight temperature in Gulmarg resort of north Kashmir was – 4.4°C.The long winter lasts for at least four months. Residents in the region here are battling frequent and erratic power cuts as the demand and supply ratio increases drastically during winter.The minimum temperature in the sparsely populated Ladakh region recorded a deep plunge as Leh town recorded – 13.6°C, normal temperature there for this time of the year. The minimum temperature in Leh town has dropped to – 25°C during the past winters. — TNS

Srinagar: In yet another attack on Srinagar-Jammu highway, three soldiers were killed and two others injured when militants ambushed an army convoy at Kadlabal Pampore on Srinagar outskirts Saturday afternoon.

The incident happened at 4 p.m. when an army convoy was on way to Srinagar from Jammu. This is the fourth attack of its type since December last year where militants have targeted forces’ convoys on the highway stretch from Bijbehara to Pampore.

Defence Spokesman in Srinagar, Rajesh Kalia, confirmed the killing of three soldiers in the attack. “We have launched a massive search operation in the area,” he said.

Police sources said that two soldiers were also injured in the attack who are being treated at Army’s 92-Base Hospital Srinagar.

Special DGP Law and Order, Dr S P Vaid, said that preliminary inquiry has revealed that a Pakistani militant opened fire on an army bus.

“Three soldiers were killed in the attack. Road Opening Parties (ROP) of CRPF and police didn’t retaliate as the place remains crowded and there is always a fear of a civilian casualty,” he said. Asked whether any specific measure would be taken to prevent further attacks on the highway, Vaid said: “Of course there will be a joint review to take some measures. Search operation is going on in the area.”

Talking to reporters at the site of the incident, IGP CRPF Zulfikar Hassan said, “Militants managed to flee from the spot taking advantage of the huge traffic movement on the high way.”

Army and police have launched a massive search operation which remained on till late evening.

The incident caused traffic disruption on the highway for nearly an hour. Traffic was later restored.

Police sources said an alert was already sounded while frisking was going on at various places on the highway.

Initial reports suggested that two motor cycle borne militants carried out the attack, but IGP CRPF said: “We can’t say anything on that as we are collecting evidences.”

Pertinently, militants this year chose Srinagar-Jammu highway to target forces. Today’s attack was fourth this year.

On June 25, in deadliest attack on forces in recent years, at least eight paramilitary CRPF personnel were killed and 22 others wounded when militants rained bullets on a bus carrying the personnel at Pampore.

A look at the attacks suggests that Pampore, Bijbehara and Sangam are the most dangerous points as militants prefer these locations to target forces. On December 9 last year, police and paramilitary had laid a naka near EDI and a vehicle was asked to stop which refused, with forces opening fire. In the brief shootout, two militants were killed.

In the same month, on December 24, militants targeted police officer Irshad Ahmed at Bijbehara, leaving him seriously injured along with his two guards. Just after over a month’s lull, on February 22 this year, heavily armed militants attacked CRPF convoy near EDI and then entered the building triggering 48-hour long encounter that left three militants and three special army commandos and two army captains dead.

After a gap of three months, on June 3, militants ambushed BSF convoy at Bijbehara on Srinagar-Jammu highway that left three BSF men dead and seven others injured.

JAMMU: Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir,  has said that the “basic reason” for her to be Chief Minister with BJP’s support is to achieve reconciliation so that the Kashmir issue is resolved amicably.

“The day I feel that I have failed in this purpose, I will not take even a second to give up. I will instead leave politics and prefer to stay at home.’’ Mehbooba Mufti said in an interview to the Indian Express

Mehbooba said “I am myself convinced that we need to do something about it (the deaths). It won’t be put under carpet…”

Asked why she hadn’t moved on the key elements of the PDP agenda,Mehbooba said ” We stand for each and every word that is in our Agenda for Alliance. But there is also time factor, which is important. Can you talk about revocation of AFSPA at this point of time. That is why I am saying that whatever happened during the last five six months hasn’t helped. It has rather had a very adverse effect on everything including the government because we would have been at somewhere else at this time”.

Asked on  Azadi movement after Burhan Wani’s killing, Mehooba said that she wasn’t denying that there is an issue which needs to be resolved and said “you need to create a conducive atmosphere and there wasn’t enough time given to me so that we could create a conducive atmosphere.’’

Mufti added that she was surprised by the course of events after Wani was killed and said “that boys would attend his funeral but “to such an extent, I had never thought. It was such a feeling that I can’t even express because I had never imagined that there is going to be a day when I am going to be at the helm of affairs and something like this can happen. It was a shock. I had never comprehended in my life that something like this is going to happen. I don’t have words.’’

“At times your mind goes blank.. you are doing everything, you are imposing curfew, you are seeing to it that people don’t come out. You are talking to security guys all the time, telling them please observe restraint. You are constantly telling them, please don’t do this, please don’t do that. And again something happens and people get injured and killed. It was helplessness at that point of time” Mufti said 

Jammu: The prevailing dry spell in Jammu and Kashmir is likely to end very soon as weather department has predicted scattered light rains across the state in next 24 hours.   

According to Indian Meteorology Department (IMD), light winter rains are expected over the hilly and mountainous terrains of Jammu as well as Kashmir.

The department further informed that the temperature of plain areas will further go down with fresh snow fall on higher reaches. “This spell (rain) is expected to be short but it will be followed by another good rainy spell after an interval of four-five days,” said Dr. Mahender Singh, noted weather scientist and head of Agro-meteorology department of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology- Jammu (SKUAST-J).

As per the ensuing weather phenomenon, parts of Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Udhampur, Ramban and higher reaches of Kathua district will receive scattered light to moderate showers during this period, while parts of Jammu, Samba and Reasi may also receive some light rains.

Meanwhile, Jammu city witnessed this season’s coldest night with minimum temperature dropping to 6.5 degrees Celsius. The Leh city in Ladakh region recorded minus 13.2 degrees Celsius, also the lowest temperature of this season.

“Kargil town recorded minimum temperature at minus 9.4 degrees Celsius,” It added. 

In Jammu region, Katra town recorded 8 degree Celsius, Batote 5.9 degrees Celsius, Banihal 1, and Bhaderwah recorded 1.2 degrees Celsius as the minimum temperature.

 The maximum temperature of Jammu settled at 18.4 degrees Celsius, while Banihal recorded 16.5 degrees Celsius, Batote-14.7 degrees Celsius, Katra -17.0 degrees Celsius and Bhaderwah- 13.8 degrees Celsius.