Every student's talent deserves equal respect and opportunity: LG Sinha

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the New School Building of Swami Pranavanand Vidyamandir in Panjgrain, Nagrota. The School is run by Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a renowned socio-cultural and philanthropic organisation. Bharat Sevashram Sangh started pre-primary to Class 8 education here in 2014 under 'Har Ghar Shiksha'. Over half the students are from poor families; they have illuminated countless lives. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Lieuten...

Justice must reach every citizen, not remain confined to courtrooms: CJ Arun Palli

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: In a significant step towards strengthening access to justice and expanding outreach of legal services to the grassroots level, Justice Arun Palli, Chief Justice, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and Patron-in-Chief, J&K Legal Services Authority in the august presence of Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority and other Companion Judges of the High Court at Jammu today flagged off a fleet of Multi Utility Vehicles for District Legal Ser...

West Bengal records historic 91.91% voter turnout, Tamil Nadu sees 84.80%

24/04/2026
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: Polling for the Assembly elections concluded at 6 pm on Thursday, with West Bengal recording a significantly higher voter turnout of 91.91 per cent in Phase I polling compared to Tamil Nadu, which recorded 84.80 per cent turnout, according to the latest data by the Election Commission of India. The high turnout figures underline an active electoral exercise as polling drew to a close amid tight security arrangements across constituencies. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh...

Four overground LeT aides, including woman, arrested in Srinagar

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: Police have arrested four overground workers, including a woman, for allegedly providing logistical support to a recently busted interstate Lashkar-e-Taiba terror module, official sources said on Thursday. They said the arrests were made during the ongoing investigation in the terror module in which two terrorists Abdullah alias Abu Hureira and Khubaib alias Usman Bahi, both residents of Pakistan, along with a local associate Ghulam Mohammad Mir alias Mama, a resident of Dani...

Advanced-stage recruitment can't be scrapped on flimsy grounds: DB

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has held that a recruitment process which has reached an advanced stage cannot be scrapped on weak or purely technical grounds, while dismissing appeals filed by the Union Territory and restoring the selection process for Assistant Engineers (AE) and Junior Engineers (JE) in JAKEDA. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justice Rajnesh Oswal dismissed the Letters Patent Appeals (LPA), upholding the earlier decis...

DB dismisses review plea in recruitment case, says review cannot be appeal in disguise

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a review petition challenging its earlier judgment in a recruitment dispute, holding that the petitioners were seeking a rehearing of the case under the guise of review. A division bench of Justice Sindhu Sharma and Justice Shahzad Azeem rejected the plea filed by Sapna Devi and another against the judgment dated February 17, 2026, which had upheld the Central Administrative Tribunal's decision quashing a selection p...

HC splits verdict in RS Pura murder case, acquits three, upholds life term of one

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has delivered a split verdict in the 2014 R.S. Pura murder case, acquitting three convicts while upholding the conviction and life sentence of one accused, holding that the prosecution failed to prove its case against the co-accused beyond reasonable doubt. A Division Bench of Justice Sanjeev Kumar and Justice Sanjay Parihar passed the judgment in a criminal appeal challenging the trial court's verdict. The case pertains to FIR N...

Liberty can't be curtailed on executive ipse dixit: HC quashes PIT-NDPS detention

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of a Rajouri resident under the PIT-NDPS Act, holding that personal liberty cannot be curtailed in a mechanical or arbitrary manner on vague grounds. Justice Rajesh Sekhri allowed a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of Mohd. Kabir and set aside detention order No. PITNDPS 36 of 2025 dated June 16, 2025, issued by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu. The petition was filed through the deten...

HC quashes one PSA detention, upholds three others

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has delivered a split verdict in a batch of habeas corpus petitions under the Public Safety Act (PSA), quashing one detention while uphold-ing three others. Justice M A Chowdhary passed the orders in separate petitions arising from Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama. The court granted relief to Ghulam Hassan Malla of Kupwara, quashing his detention under Order No. 16-DMK/PSA of 2025 dated May 1, 2025. It held that the detent...

HC dismisses plea with Rs 50,000 costs for suppression of facts

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has dismissed a writ petition challenging execution of a revenue-related order, imposing costs of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for suppres-sing material facts and abusing the process of law. Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal held that the petition filed by Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh and others was "wholly unnecessary and misconceived" as the grievance had already been addressed by the trial court. The petitioners, represented by advocate ...

Trump orders US military to 'shoot and kill' Iranian small boats choking Strait of Hormuz

24/04/2026
DUBAI, Apr 23: President Donald Trump said Thursday he has ordered the US military to “shoot and kill” small Iranian boats that deploy mines to choke traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's post on social media came shortly after the US military seized another tanker associated with the smuggling of Iranian oil, ratchetting up a standoff with Tehran over the strait through which 20 per cent of all crude oil and natural gas traded passes. “I have ordered the United States Navy to shoot a...

Pahalgam terror attack deep scar on collective conscience of J&K: Farooq

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Thursday called last year's Pahalgam terror attack a deep scar on the collective conscience of the region. "The Baisaran terror attack remains a deep scar on the collective conscience of the region, with its human and economic consequences still resonating across Kashmir," Abdullah said in a statement here. The first anniversary of the terror attack in the Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam on April 22, which left 25 tourists a...

CAT directs Kashmir University to decide faculty plea, flags delay in handling representations

24/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 23: The Central Administrative Tribunal has directed the University of Kashmir to decide a representation filed by five faculty members seeking regularisation and release of salary, while expressing concern over delays in disposal of such grievances. A bench comprising Member (A) Prasant Kumar and Member (J) M S Latif issued notice on the plea filed by Ajaz-ul-Hamid Wani and others, who have sought directions for declaring their services permanent and release of pending salary at...

HC cracks whip on laxity in district judiciary, mandates strict adherence to office timings

24/04/2026
JAMMU, Apr 23: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has directed all officers and officials of the district judiciary in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh to strictly adhere to prescribed office timings, warning of serious action in case of violations. In a circular issued by Registrar General M K Sharma, the court noted instances of non-compliance with existing instructions, observing that some officers and staff were functioning in a casual manner and not adhering to fixed offi...

Respect all views except Whatsapp University: SC in Sabarimala case

24/04/2026
NEW DELHI, Apr 23: The Supreme Court on Thursday said it respects the views of all eminent authors and thinkers, but it cannot accept information from 'WhatsApp University'. The observation by a nine-judge Constitution bench came while hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths. The bench was composed of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justic...

We don’t disturb anyone, but don’t spare those who attack us: Rajnath on Op Sindoor

20/04/2026
Radhapuram (Tamil Nadu), Apr 19: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said India does not disturb anyone but does not spare those who attack it, remarks made in reference to Operation Sindoor. His comments came days ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 tourists in an incident that sparked national outrage. "Operation Sindoor-remember, we do not disturb anyone, but we do not spare anyone if they disturb us. Wait, your ambiti...

Soldier found hanging in camp, investigation underway

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A soldier posted in an army dog unit was found dead inside a military camp here on Sunday, officials said. The soldier was found hanging with a rope from the ceiling of his room in the family quarters area of the camp at Nagrota in the early hours of the day, they said. The body of the deceased was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) hospital for medico-legal formalities. Preliminary reports suggest it to be a case of suicide but the exact cause of death will be ascerta...

Two US nationals detained at Srinagar airport after satellite phone found in luggage

20/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 19: Two US nationals were detained at the Srinagar Interna-tional Airport on Sunday after a satellite phone was recovered from their luggage during routine screening, officials said. The two have been detained for questioning, the officials said. Further details are awaited.

Pahalgam Terror Attack Anniversary: Security tightened across tourist spots in Kashmir

20/04/2026
SRINAGAR, Apr 19: Security has been beefed up at tourist spots across Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were shot dead by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists on April 22 last year, officials said here. All security agencies have been asked to remain alert for any possible subversive activities on the eve of the Pahalgam terror attack anniversary, especially around tourist spots, they said. Preparatory meetings to devise a foolproof security plan we...

Opposition ‘played with fire’, conspired to derail women’s reservation bill: Hardeep Puri

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Sunday alleged that opposition parties led by Congress "hatched a conspiracy" to derail the Women's Reservation Bill, warning they have "played with fire" and will face serious consequences. Addressing a press co-nference alongside Rajya Sabha MP and former National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma here, Puri said even at the last minute, the government made efforts to accommodate the opposition's concerns to ensure passage...

Modi makes unscheduled stop at Jhargram, savours street food ‘jhalmuri’

20/04/2026
Kolkata, Apr 19: Making an unscheduled stop during his campaign tour in West Bengal on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi savoured 'jhalmuri', a popular Bengali street food made of puffed rice, green chilies and other spices at Jhargram. Bystanders and the vendor were surprised when the PM's convoy suddenly stopped before his modest shop in Jhargram and none but Modi walked up to the stall asking the price of 'jhalmuri'. "Bhai, apkajhalmurikhelao, kitna?Accha se bana do jhalmuri (treat me wi...

For Modi, Women’s Reservation a matter of faith, not mere legislation: Dr Jitendra

20/04/2026
SHIMLA, Apr 19: "For Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women's reservation is a matter of faith and commitment, not mere legislation," said Union Mini-ster Dr. Jitendra Singh, underscoring that over the past decade, wo-mencentric governance has been at the heart of policy-making-from flagship welfare sche-mes to the rise of nearly 40% women-led StartUps-reflecting a consistent effort to position women as key drivers of India's development. The Minister launched a scathing attack on the Congress an...

2 Punjab men get 10-year imprisonment in Udhampur drug case

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A court in Udhampur has sentenced two inter-state drug peddlers from Punjab to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each in a 2020 NDPS Act case, police said on Sunday. The convicts, Jaspreet Singh & Sandeep Singh, both residents of Ludhiana, were also fined Rs 1 lakh each. In default of payment, they will undergo an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment, the police said. They were apprehended on September 9, 2020, after being found in possession of 175 kg of poppy straw i...

Infant drowns, mother and aunt rescued after slipping into Chenab river in Kishtwar

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: A four-month-old infant drow-ned, while his mother and aunt were rescued after they slipped into the Chenab river in Kishtwar district on Sunday, officials said. The trio was attempting to cross the river using makeshift wooden logs in Mughal Maidan area when they lost balance and were swept away by the current, the officials said. Locals rushed to the spot and managed to rescue the two women, after strenuous efforts, while the boy drowned and his body was later retrieved downs...

18 injured as tempo overturns in Rajouri

20/04/2026
Jammu, Apr 19: At least 18 persons were injured when a passenger vehicle skidded off the road and overturned in a field in Rajouri on Sunday, officials said. Four of the injured were stated to be in critical condition, they said. The accident occurred after the driver of the tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a sharp curve at Tralla near crusher Morh on the Darhal-Rajouri road, they added. They said the vehicle veered off and turned turtle in an adjacent field. Locals rushed to t...

SC issues pan-India directions for road safety, says expressways should not become corridor of peril

20/04/2026
New Delhi, Apr 19: Observing that expressways must not become corridors of peril due to administrative lethargy or infrastructural gaps, the Supreme Court has issued a slew of pan-India guidelines for enhancing road safety, including a ban on parking of heavy vehicles on such roads. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and AS Chandurkar pointed out that national highways constitute two percent of India's total road length but account for nearly 30 percent of all road fatalities. A bench of Justi...

Women’s Reservation: Cong, DMK ‘betrayed’ women, BJP will ensure justice: Amit Shah

20/04/2026
ERODE (Tamil Nadu), Apr 19: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday lashed out at the Congress & DMK for voting against the Women's Reservation amendment bill in the LokSabha, accusing them of "betraying" women from getting the quota in Parliament and state Assemblies. However, the Prime Minister NarendraModi government would not allow the "conspiracy" to succeed and ensure justice for the women of the country, he said. Addressing a roadshow here in support of his party's Modakurichi candidate...

LeT’s ‘Khargosh’ found in Saudi Arabia, used fake passport

20/04/2026
Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 19: Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Umer Harris, alias 'Khargosh' (rabbit), is believed to be in Saudi Arabia after managing to escape the country using a forged passport issued in the name of Sajjad, claiming to be a resident of Rajasthan, officials said on Sunday. The Srinagar Police, which is spearheading the investigation into the inter-state LeT terror module, has shared details with central intelligence agencies, raising concerns about systemic loopholes that allo...

Trump says US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for talks with Iran

20/04/2026
Washington, Apr 19: President Donald Trump said US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday for another round of talks with Iran, raising hopes of extending a fragile ceasefire set to expire by Wednesday even as Washington and Tehran remain in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran did not immediately confirm the talks but its chief negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed BagherQalibaf, said in an interview aired on state television late Saturday that "there will be no retreat in the fi...

‘Our relationship with India is very strong’: Representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader in India on shooting incident in Hormuz

20/04/2026
Hyderabad, Apr 19: Dr Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, on Sunday emphasised the strength of India-Iran relations following the shooting incident involving two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while calling for peace in the region. "Our relationship with India is very strong... India has benefited from the good relationship between Iran and India in getting their oil and tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister of I...

Census 2027: J&K, Ladakh conclude 4-day training for master trainers

20/04/2026
Srinagar, Apr 19: The Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on Saturday concluded a four-day training progra-mme for master trainers for the Census 2027. A training programme for master trainers for Census 2027 was organised by the Directorate of Census Operations, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at the Institute of Management, Public Administration and Rural Development (IMPARD), here. Director of Census Operations and Chief Principal Census Officer, J&K and Ladakh, Amit...

VP Radhakrishnan discusses further deepening of bilateral ties with Sri Lankan President Dissanayake

20/04/2026
Colombo, Apr 19: Vice President C P Radhakrishnan met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake here on Sunday and held productive discussions on further deepening the multifaceted bilateral ties, housing projects and fishermen issues between the two South Asian neighbours. Radhakrishnan, who arrived here earlier in the day on a two-day visit, also discussed with Dissanayake the ongoing Indian project implementation in Sri Lanka with emphasis on the USD 450 million Cyclone Ditwah aid offer...