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Revival, restoration of Jammu heritage places on cards

editor October 18, 2023October 18, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU: The District Level Coordination-cum-Implementation Committee met under the direction of Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya to discuss the revitalization, repair, preservation, and upkeep of the district's historical structures. The DC stressed the necessity of maintaining the cultural and historical riches that define the area while arguing for a much-needed refurbishment and renovation for the beloved heritage monuments. In order to construct a comprehensive plan for the planned development of these prestigious areas, which hold a special place in the hearts of the local population and are rich in cultural significance, he gave instructions to Executive Engineers of PWD and Sub Divisional Magistrates.The Deputy Commissioner emphasised the significant emotional and cultural value associated with these locations, emphasising that the district government should give high attention to maintaining them. He put forth creative ideas to improve these treasured landmarks, including the considerate development of the neighbourhood to include welcoming public spaces and the encouragement of sustainable development, all while honouring the inherent architectural essence. The Jhiri Baba Jitto Shrine, Nagrota Kol Kandoli Temple, R.S. Pura Raghunath Mandir, Kameshwar Temple in Akhnoor, and many other locations will be covered throughout this discussion. SE Public Works Department, ACR Piyush Dhotra, Chief Education Officer, Yoginder Katoch, Deputy Director Archives, Archaeology & Museums, and others were present during the meeting. Virtually participating SDMs. [caption id="attachment_4109" align="alignnone" width="300"] Revival, restoration of Jammu heritage places on cards[/caption]

Dr Jitendra : Rs 117 Cr Earned From 2 Weeks Of ‘Swachhata’ Campaign

editor October 17, 2023October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI, Oct 17 : After reviewing the campaign's progress at the end of the first two weeks, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, revealed that the Government had generated an impressive sum of more than Rs 117 crore in the first two weeks of the ongoing Special Swachhata Campaign 3.0, just by disposing of scrap. According to the Minister, this has also led to the elimination of garbage and the creation of 32.54 lakh square feet of usable office space, which has since been cleared and made accessible for use.While evaluating the developments of Week 2 of Special Campaign 3.0 here today, Dr. Jitendra Singh praised the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), being the nodal agency. He was grateful for the advancements made in reducing pending cases and institutionalising Swachata during the campaign, which is being carried out at all national government buildings from October 2–14, 2023.According to Dr. Jitendra Singh, there is widespread participation among Ministries, Departments, and their field/outstation offices. He emphasised once more that the campaign's main objective is to cover offices with public interaction. He asked Ministries and Departments to conduct the Campaign in a saturation-style manner, covering all outlying offices, defence facilities, and PSUs throughout the nation.The Special Campaign 3.0, now in its second week, has seen extensive involvement from offices all throughout the nation and is comprehensive in size and scope. 32.54 lakh square feet of space have been cleared and more than 1.47 lakh sites have been covered. Government offices now have a widespread Swachhata movement thanks to the efforts of thousands of employees and residents.Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State, and Secretaries to the Government of India have studied The Special Campaign 3.0 and are providing leadership and guidance in implementation. On October 12, 2023, Secretary of DARPG Shri V. Srinivas made field visits to Central Government Offices in Mumbai, including the Western Naval Command Headquarters, the Textile Commissioner Officer, the Addl. DGFT Office, the GPO Mumbai, and the CSMT Mumbai Railway Station.Every day, the progress of Special Campaign 3.0 is tracked on a special website (https://scdpm.nic.in/). Under the chairmanship of Secretary DARPG, review meetings are regularly held with nodal officers to assess the campaign's progress. With almost 6,000 tweets from Ministries/Departments, 450 tweets from the DARPG handle, 450 infographics on #SpecialCampaign3.0, and 150 press releases published, the Special Campaign 3.0 has significantly increased its online presence.The following advancements have been made as of the second week of Special Campaign 3.0, which runs from October 2–14, 2023: 1,47,757 Swachhata Campaign sites, 17,92,630 records management files evaluated (physical files and electronic files), 32.54 lakh square feet of space freed, 117.33 crore of revenue earned, etc. Best practises for Special Campaign 3.0's second week included the following: Postal service: murals at the Bengaluru Post Office.Tree House at Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Ministry of CultureDepartment of Land Resources: Health & Wellbeing Lectures, Department of Telecommunications: Independent Public Grievance Dashboard.Dr. Jitendra Singh acknowledged the Special Campaign's role in reducing pendency over time and urged all officials to keep up the momentum to meet 75% of their goals by the conclusion of Week 3. The Special Campaign 3.0 comes to an end on October 31st, 2023, and the Evaluation phase starts the first week of November. [caption id="attachment_4104" align="alignnone" width="300"] Dr Jitendra : Rs 117 Cr Earned From 2 Weeks Of ‘Swachhata’…

Throat-Slit Bodies Of Couple Found Inside Their Home In Rajouri

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU, Oct 17: officials said on Tuesday Throat-slit bodies of a couple were found in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. Mohammad Azam and her wife Gulzar Begum's remains were discovered inside their home in Bagla village, Kandi region, Rajouri district. Soon after receiving the information, a group of law enforcement and security personnel arrived at the scene and took the remains into their custody for medical and legal procedures. Everything "will be unravelled during investigations," the official predicted. He continued, "A case has been registered, and additional investigations are being conducted.Dr. Haseeb Mughal, DIG Rajouri-Poonch Range, stated that the case involved a violent murder and a barbaric conduct. "A police team is on the scene, and inquiries are ongoing. We currently cannot exclude anything, including a possible connection to terrorism. [caption id="attachment_4098" align="alignnone" width="300"] Throat-Slit Bodies Of Couple…

“Day not far when India will be among top 3 economies”: PM Modi

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

MUMBAI: The world is looking to India in the hope that it will lead the efforts for a new world order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, adding that the day when India will be among the top three global economies is not far off. "In this changing world order, the whole world is looking towards India with new aspirations," Prime Minister Modi said on Tuesday when kicking off the three-day Global Maritime India Summit in the nation's capital. While the rest of the globe is experiencing an economic crisis, the Indian economy is becoming stronger. India will soon rank among the top three economic powers in the world, and that day is not far off.The prime minister of the nation emphasised the significance of the marine industry, saying, "History gives witness that whenever India's maritime capabilities has been strong, the country and the globe have tremendously benefited from it. Using this as our guiding concept, we have been working strategically to strengthen this industry for the past nine years. PM Modi continued by saying that the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor will have a huge positive impact on the maritime industry. "Recently, a historic agreement on the creation of an India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor was struck during the G20 Summit. This is a significant measure taken at India's initiative that may revitalise the maritime sector globally in the twenty-first century, according to PM Modi.He also laid the cornerstone for 18 billion rupee projects. He lay the cornerstone for the Tuna Tekra all-weather deep draught terminal, which would be built at Deendayal Port Authority in Gujarat for more than Rs. 4,500 crore. A public-private partnership (PPP) strategy will be used to create the cutting-edge greenfield terminal. The "Amrit Kaal Vision 2047" for the Indian maritime blue economy was also unveiled by him. The summit is the largest maritime event that the nation has ever held. The inaugural Maritime India conference took place in Mumbai in 2016, and the second one took place essentially in 2021. The third summit will take place at the MMRDA Grounds in Mumbai from October 17 to October 19. the future of ports, decarbonization, coastal shipping, inland water transportation, shipbuilding, repair, and recycling, finance, insurance, and arbitration, maritime clusters, innovation & technology, maritime safety & security, and maritime tourism, among other topics, will all be covered during the three-day summit. The meeting will serve as a forum for luring investment into the nation's maritime industry. [caption id="attachment_4092" align="alignnone" width="300"] "Day not far when India will be among top 3 economies": PM Modi[/caption]

SC refuses to give marriage equality right to LGBTQIA community

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: A majority of the five-judge Supreme Court Constitution bench has declared that there is no unqualified right to marriage for LGBTQIA+ couples and that only legislation can grant civil unions legal status. On May 11 of this year, the decision that had been reserved by the bench that included Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli, and PS Narasimha was given. However, the court ruled that the verdict will not restrict the ability of queer people to form relationships. The Special Marriage Act (SMA) challenge on the grounds of under-classification is not supported, according to the supreme court.These seats were shared by Justices Ravindra Bhat, Narasimha, and Hima Kohli, but not by Chief Justice Chandrachud or Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul. The bench made it clear that there were four judgements in the case at the beginning of the judgement. CJI Chandrachud, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Justice Ravindra Bhat, and Justice Narasimha each presided over one, with the last being handled by CJI Chandrachud. According to his ruling, the CJI gave the Union and State governments the mandate to make sure there is no discrimination against the LGBTQ community. It should be made sure that the queer community has equal access to goods and services, according to the CJI. Sensitising the public about LGBT rights is necessary. To stop harassment, the federal and state governments must establish a hotline for the queer community. For gay couples, the government must establish safe houses. Additionally, the government must make sure that intersex youngsters are not made to undergo procedures. It should be made sure that no one is forced to receive hormone therapy, according to the CJI. The gay community shall not be subjected to harassment by being called into a police station merely to answer questions about their sexual orientation. Queer people shouldn't be made to return to their birth families by the police. Before filing a formal complaint (FIR) against a homosexual couple for their relationship, the police should do some preliminary inquiries. According to the CJI, this Court has the authority to consider the case.India has long been aware of the existence of the LGBTQ community. It is neither elite nor urban. Marriage is dynamic. Due to institutional constraints, the Supreme Court is not permitted to invalidate the Special Marriage Act or add new provisions to it. Discrimination occurs when the State refuses to acknowledge the slew of rights that result from an LGBT relationship. There must be any limitations on the right to union based on sexual orientation. According to current legislation, including personal laws, heterosexual relationships including transgender people are legal. In his ruling, the CJI stated that unmarried couples, including LGBT couples, are permitted to jointly adopt children.The right of the LGBT community to form unions must not be subject to discrimination by the Union Government, State Governments, or Union Territories. The CJI ordered the Union Government to form a committee to determine the privileges and rights of those who belong to homosexual unions. The Committee will think about allowing gay couples to apply for joint bank accounts, privileges derived from pensions and gratuities, etc. The Committee will also think about including gay couples as family in ration cards. The Union Government will review the committee report. Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul stated in his concurring opinion that while marriage is not the end, legalising same-sex relationships is a step towards marriage equality. Justice Kaul urged us to maintain autonomy because it does not violate the rights of others. On a number of points in the ruling, Justices Ravindra Bhat and Narasimha dissented from the Chief Justice of India. The right to marry cannot be viewed as a fundamental right without any restrictions, according to Justice Bhat. Even while we concur that there is a right to relationships, we are clear that this right is covered by Article 21. It involves the freedom to select a partner and engage in physical intimacy with them, as well as the freedom to enjoy privacy and autonomy. These rights should be exercised freely and unhindered by the rest of society, and the state is required to defend them when they are in danger.…

Same-sex marriage: CJI says it is for Parliament to effect changes in law, equality demands that queer persons not discriminated against

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

NEW DELHI:The Special Marriage Act should be changed by Parliament, not the court, according to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, who delivered his ruling on Tuesday on 21 petitions seeking legal recognition for same-sex unions. Justice Chandrachud stated at the opening that there were four judgements in the case, including those of himself, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, S Ravindra Bhat, and P S Narasimha. A fifth judge, Justice Hima Kohli, is included on the five-judge panel. The CJI, who is in charge of the constitution bench, instructed the federal government, the states, and the Union Territories (UTs) to make sure that the LGBT population is not subjected to discrimination, stating that queer is a long-known natural phenomena that is neither urban nor elitist. In regards to the CJI's decision to provide certain rights to queer couples, Justice Kaul said he concurs. He added that legal recognition of non-heterosexual unions is a step towards marriage equality and that "non-heterosexual and heterosexual unions must be seen as both sides of the same coin." During the reading of his verdict, Justice Bhat stated that he shares some of the CJI's opinions and holds others of his own. The Chief Justice of India stated in his decision on the crucial issue that Parliament must consider whether a change in the Special Marriage Act's administration is necessary. The court cannot create laws. It can only interpret it and make it happen, he continued. According to Justice Chandrachud, the court has taken note of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's declaration that the government will convene a committee to deliberate on the privileges and rights of those who are members of LGBT unions. He ordered the Centre, states, and UTs to take actions to educate the public about gay rights and make sure that intersex children are not allowed to have sex-change procedures at a young age when they cannot fully understand the consequences as he read out the operative portion of his decision. Before filing a police report (FIR) against a gay couple for their relationship, the CJI instructed the police to make some preliminary inquiries. He claimed that homosexuality or queerness is not a phenomenon unique to urban areas or the wealthy.According to Justice Chandrachud, it would be erasing to think of gay people as just living in metropolitan areas. Queerness can exist regardless of caste or status. To say that marriage is a "static and unchanging institution" would be false, he claimed. According to Justice Chandrachud, the right to life and liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution begins with the freedom to select one's life mate. The CJI stated that refusing to accept such an association would constitute discrimination and that the right to join into a union involves the freedom to select a partner and its recognition. All people, including queers, have the freedom to assess the morality of their own lives, he said. According to the CJI, this court has acknowledged that equality mandates that LGBT people not be subjected to discrimination. According to him, it would be discriminatory against gay couples if the law made the assumption that only heterosexual couples could make excellent parents. The verdict is currently being announced. After a lengthy, 10-day hearing, the bench deferred its decision on the pleas on May 11. The Centre had stated to the Supreme Court during the arguments that any constitutional ruling it reached on the petitions seeking approval of same-sex unions might not be the "correct course of action" since the court would not be able to predict, envision, understand, and cope with any consequences. On April 18, the supreme court began hearing arguments in the case. The bench made it clear during the arguments that it will not consider personal laws governing marriages when deciding the petitions for judicial recognition of same-sex unions and that the Special Marriage Act's definition of a man and a woman is not "an absolute based on genitals." Some petitioners had requested the supreme court to utilise its full authority, "prestige, and moral authority" to pressure society into recognising such a union so that LGBTQIA++ people might live "dignified" lives like heterosexuals. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, pansexual, two-spirit, asexual, and ally persons are collectively referred to as LGBTQIA++.The Centre informed the court on May 3 that it would form a committee under the direction of the cabinet secretary to look into administrative measures that may be done to meet the "genuine humane concerns" of same-sex couples without addressing the question of legalising their union. On April 27, the court requested information from the Centre regarding whether same-sex couples can receive social welfare advantages such as opening joint bank accounts and designating a life partner in provident fund, gratuity, and pension plans without worrying about whether their marriage would be recognised by the law. [caption id="attachment_4086" align="alignnone" width="300"] Same-sex marriage:…

Jammu-Srinagar blocked in Ramban due to incessant rains, schools closed

editor October 17, 2023Leave a comment

RAMBAN: An official said on Tuesday that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in the Ramban area was closed by nonstop rain. On her social media page, Deputy Commissioner of Ramban Mussarat Zia requested that people avoid going today on NH-44 because it has been closed off by nonstop rain. "NH-44 is closed at Cafeteria Morh, close to Ramban, as a result of heavy rainfall. It is urged that people check TCUs for updates and stay home today, according to Deputy Commissioner Ramban's X post. Additionally, he stated that all public and private schools in Ramban up to the Higher Secondary level will be closed today due to the ongoing rain.All public and private schools in District Ramban up to the high school level will be closed today due to the ongoing rain since yesterday. Exams, if any, must be held on the day that has been announced, he added. On October 17, the India Meteorological Department expects scattered areas of heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir with a chance of lightning and thunderstorms. [caption id="attachment_4083" align="alignnone" width="300"] Jmu-Sri blocked in Ramban due to incessant rains, schools closed[/caption]

224-mtr viaduct completed in Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar NH : Gadkari

editor October 16, 2023October 16, 2023Leave a comment

JAMMU: Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, announced on Monday that the building of a 224-meter (2-lane) viaduct at Sher-e-Bibi has been completed successfully, improving connectivity throughout the area and facilitating travel through difficult terrain. A post on X said, We have successfully finished building a 224-meter (2-lane) viaduct at Sherebibi in Jammu and Kashmir, at an estimated cost of 12 crores. This infrastructure is located along the Ramban to Banihal portion of NH-44. "This 224-meter segment, as a part of the broader project, not only reduces the travel distance by 125 metres, thus mitigating steep gradients, but also avoids the need for a steep cutting with a hill slope angle exceeding 80 degrees."Additionally, it substantially eases traffic flow by avoiding the treacherous hills in the Sherebibi Area. It's crucial to remember that this project contributes to the region's economic development and improves connections everywhere. We continue to be consistent in our commitment to providing Jammu & Kashmir with world-class highway infrastructure, guided by the inspirational leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. [caption id="attachment_4050" align="alignnone" width="300"] 224-mtr viaduct completed in Ramban on Jammu-Srinagar NH : Gadkari[/caption]

Fresh snowfall in parts of Kashmir, Ladakh, rain in plains

editor October 16, 2023Leave a comment

Srinagar, Oct 16: On Monday, fresh snowfall in some areas of the Kashmir Valley and the Ladakh Union Territory as rain pounded the plains and temperatures plummeted. On Monday, sporadic light to moderate rain or snow is expected in J&K, according to the Meteorological Centre Srinagar. According to the MET office, the weather in J&K is currently cloudy with sporadic rain and snowfall over higher reaches at various locations.It stated that on October 17, sporadic light precipitation or snowfall over higher reaches was likely. The MeT office predicted that starting on October 18 the weather would likely start to improve overall. The MeT office further stated that Jammu and Kashmir may experience a considerable dip in temperature. Snow fell over Gurez in Bandipora, north Kashmir, and Peer Ki Gali on the Shopian-Poonch road on Monday. As a precaution due to the recent snowfall, vehicular traffic on Bandipora-Gurez Road was shut down.Along with Leh, Kargil, and Sanku in the Ladakh Union Territory, Drass, the second-coldest place on Earth after Siberia, experienced the first snowfall of the season on Monday. Leh and Kargil areas may get light to moderate snow showers through tomorrow. Additionally, the MeT office advised farmers to delay crop harvesting until October 17. The Met office said that the bad weather could momentarily hamper travel, particularly in susceptible areas like Zojila, Mughal Road, Sinthan Top, Sadnatop, etc. Independent weather forecaster Faizan Arif stated that most districts of Jammu & Kashmir might anticipate moderate rain and snow showers on Monday and Tuesday afternoon. A few number of upper reaches may experience significant snowfall.The ski resort of Gulmarg (85%), the tourist destination of Sonamarg (85%), and Pahalgam (55%) also have snowfall prospects. He claimed that most locations in the Kashmir Valley, particularly today, could experience daytime temperatures below 14 °C, and that the Jammu region could also experience a considerable drop in daytime temperatures. Along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, there is a chance of landslides or shooting stones, he added. On Monday, Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, reported a minimum temperature of 8.2°C, up from 8.6°C the previous day.According to the MeT office, the low temperature at the north Kashmiri ski resort of Gulmarg was 2.2°C, down from 2.8°C the day before. The temperature in Pahalgam, a well-known tourist resort in south Kashmir, dropped to 3.8°C from 4.5°C the night before. [caption id="attachment_4047" align="alignnone" width="300"] Fresh snowfall in parts of Kashmir, Ladakh, rain in plains[/caption]

Release Hostages, Allow Humanitarian Aid In Gaza: Un Chief

editor October 16, 2023Leave a comment

UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16: Antonio Guterres, the head of the UN, has asked Israel to permit quick and unhindered access to humanitarian aid for Gaza Strip residents and has urged Hamas to free all hostages promptly and unconditionally. There is a complete siege on the 2.3 million-person, by Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. In response to continuous clashes with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Israel has shut off all supplies of food, water, and gasoline.Israel will establish a "complete siege" on the region, according to Defence Minister Yoav Gallant's statement on Monday."As Secretary-General of the United Nations, it is my responsibility to make two strong humanitarian appeals at this dramatic moment, as we are on the brink of the abyss in the Middle East," Guterres said in a statement on Sunday. The UN Secretary-General pleaded with Hamas to swiftly and unconditionally free all hostages. For the benefit of the population in Gaza, Guterres emphasised that Israel must be given quick and unhindered access to humanitarian personnel and supplies."These two goals are both legitimate in and of themselves. They must be put into action because doing so is morally correct; they should not be used as negotiating chips.Gaza is running out of water, electricity, and other necessities, the UN chief sounded a stark warning. He pointed out that the UN has stores of food, water, non-food products, medical supplies, and gasoline in Egypt, Jordan, the West Bank, and Israel that can be sent in a matter of hours. "To ensure delivery, our selfless staff on the ground, along with NGO partners, need to be able to bring these supplies into and throughout Gaza safely, without impediment to deliver to those in need," Guterres said.Since the most recent battle between Israel and Hamas broke out following the militant group's attack on various locations within Israel on October 7 and Israel's subsequent declaration of war, the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations have been working around the clock to preposition aid. On Sunday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that Israel has continued to attack Gaza heavily from the air, sea, and land for nearly unbroken periods of time. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, there have been 455 Palestinian dead and 856 wounded in Gaza over the last 24 hours.Following Israel's demand that Palestinians in Gaza move to the southern half of the strip, OCHA reported that by Saturday afternoon, almost 600,000 IDPs were being accommodated in Gaza's central and southern regions alone, under increasingly precarious conditions.It was noted that this number has greatly increased since that time. The emergency shelters authorised by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) are home to about 300,000 people; the remainder are housed in public spaces and with host families. On Sunday, the OCHA reported that the city of Sderot in southern Israel had nearly completely been evacuated. Smaller Israeli settlements around Gaza have already been completely evacuated in recent days, and it's also been reported that many Ashqelon City inhabitants have also fled.According to the UN agency, 2,670 Palestinians have died and 9,600 have been injured since hostilities began. The number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza over the eight days Israeli warfare has now eclipsed the 2,251 deaths that occurred during the almost seven-week-long 2014 escalation. The Palestinian Civil Defence estimates that there may be more than 1,000 persons missing and presumed trapped under the rubble. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, as of October 15, 47 families, or roughly 500 persons, had died. (Agencies) [caption id="attachment_4038" align="alignnone" width="300"] Release Hostages, Allow Humanitarian Aid In Gaza: Un Chief[/caption]

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