GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KATHUA
NOTICE
Whereas, an advertisement notice was issued from this office vide endorsement no: DDCK/Adm/2025-26/3667-75, Dated: 16-03-2026 for filling up of various posts under Mission YUVA, with the last date for submission of application forms fixed as 24-03-2026;
Whereas, in response to the aforementioned advertisement, a total of 79 applications were received; Whereas, the system had auto calculated the marks of the candidates on the basis of applications filled by them and it was found that out of all eligible 79 candidates, 50 were found qualified (Minimum Points required 40) as per the guidelines of Mission YUVA…………………………..
Locals carrying out a candle march at Bahu Fort area in Jammu on Tuesday.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: Public outrage continued to mount over the mysterious death of a young doctor from Jammu in Doda, as hundreds of people carried out a candle march at Bahu Fort area here today, seeking CBI probe into the case.
Dr Prabhjot Chalotra, a resident of Bahu Fort, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Gandoh area of Doda district on Apr 20. His body was handed over to the family the next day.
The family has since alleged foul play and questioned the circumstances leading to his death.
The march, organised by the bereaved family, started from the doctor’s residence and passed through Bawe Wali Mata Temple before concluding at Saryara Sabha.
Protesters carrying candles raised slogans seeking justice, while a large number of residents joined the demonstration.
Senior BJP leader Rajeev Charak also joined the protest and demanded a CBI inquiry, saying the truth must come out.
He described the deceased as the sole support of his ageing parents and siblings.
Family members rejected claims of accidental death and alleged several inconsistencies in the case, including missing evidence and formatted mobile phones.
They demanded a transparent and time-bound investigation and vowed to continue the agitation till justice is delivered.
CUJ students with HR professionals during session on “Get Noticed & Get Hired”.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: The Central University of Jammu organized an engaging and informative session for MBA students titled “Get Noticed and Get Hired.” The session aimed to equip students with practical insights into industry expectations and enhance their employability skills.
The session featured distinguished HR professionals from leading organizations, including Varun Baskotra (Head, Berg Technologies), Silvi Gupta (HR, Viaens), and Kannika Bangroo (HR, Talla Jewellers).
The speakers shared valuable perspectives on their respective organizations, current hiring expectations, and the evolving skill sets required to succeed in today’s competitive job market.
The event was honoured by the presence of the Dean of Management, Neelika Arora, along with faculty members.
During the session, the speakers emphasized the importance of aligning academic learning with industry requirements and highlighted strategies for students to effectively position themselves for career opportunities. The interactive discussions provided students with clarity on how to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical workplace demands.
On this occasion, the Training and Placement Cell reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening industry linkages by fostering meaningful collaborations, enhancing student–industry interaction, and creating greater opportunities for internships and placements.
NC Labour Union leaders, Nar Singh, Deep Mehra and Karan Singh with protesting workers of pencil factory at Paloura, Jammu.
*NC Labour Union assures support
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: The sit-in protest by workers of Hindustan Pencils Factory, Paloura, entered 15th consecutive day today against the illegal closure of the factory.
More than 150 workers are continuously staging protest demonstration and dharna in front of the factory gate of M/s Hindustan Pencils Private Ltd (Natraj Pencils) Jammu for illegal closure of factory without complying to the Labour laws.
They pointed out that labourers/workers who were working in the factory from the last over 20-25 years have been ignored and denied statutory dues. Neither any permission has been obtained by the management nor was any intimation in this regard given to the workers.
The workers Union alleged that management with a planned conspiracy and just to get rid of the regular employment to the contractual employment, have done all this and also alleged that any talks/negotiations were not conducted with the workers those who were working in the factory from the last 30- 35 years, just to get rid of the workers on the name of closure, alleged the workers.
Meanwhile, Nar Singh (State Central Labour Union president, National Conference) along with Deep Mehra (provincial secretary, Labour Wing) and Karan Singh (senior vice president, Labour Wing) visited the dharna site at Paloura.
Addressing the workers, Nar Singh assured them that their genuine demands for resettlement and job security would be taken up with the concerned authorities. He further stated that the matter would be brought to the notice of the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary to ensure timely relief and restoration of livelihood for the affected workers.
Nar Singh emphasized the importance of safeguarding the interests of the workers and assured full support from the Union in resolving the issue at the earliest.
Members of Private Schools Association during a press conference in Srinagar on Tuesday. — Excelsior/Shakeel
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 28: The Private Schools Association (PSA) today raised key policy concerns affecting the private education sector in J&K and called for urgent Government intervention to address long-pending issues.
Addressing a press conference here, the association urged the J&K Government to take immediate steps to streamline school registration and renewal processes, resolve pending cases related to permanent affiliation (PNIC), and introduce a single-window clearance system for obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
Members of the association also called for priority-based resolution of land-related issues affecting private institutions.
Among other demands, the association sought an extension of school registration validity from five to ten years and a practical policy framework regarding the ban and replacement of school transport vans to safeguard the interests of students and parents.
The association emphasized the need for formal recognition of private schools as “knowledge partners” in the education sector, asserting their role in delivering high-quality education and promoting holistic development among students.
“Our priority is to ensure that every child receives quality education in a safe and nurturing environment. It is equally important that the role of private schools is acknowledged and supported through constructive policy engagement,” PSA members said.
The press conference was attended by senior leadership of the association, including founding president Dr G.N. Var, president Bilal Ahmad Bhat, senior vice president and spokesperson Manzoor Ahmad, and general secretary M.S. Wani, among others.
District representatives from across Kashmir were also present.
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Apr 28: A notorious criminal has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Mendhar area of Poonch and lodged in District Jail Rajouri.
According to Police, the detained individual, Mohd Yousaf, son of Hakim Din, resident of Salwah, Tehsil Mendhar, has a long history of involvement in criminal activities. Several FIRs have been registered against him at Police Station Mendhar, including: FIR No. 129/2018 U/S 353/382 RPC; FIR No. 24/2019 U/S 341/323/147/336/ 382 RPC; FIR No. 217/2024 U/S 109/ 191(2)/ 191(3)/115(2)/307 BNS & 4/25 Arms Act FIR No. 38/2026 U/S 126(2)/ 115(2)/ 191(2)/ 307/ 351(2) BNS.
Despite repeated legal action, the individual continued to engage in unlawful and anti-social activities, disturbing peace and public order in Mendhar and adjoining areas.
Considering his persistent involvement in criminal acts and the potential threat posed to public safety, a dossier was prepared and submitted to the competent authority. Upon due consideration, detention under PSA was approved.
Accordingly, the individual has been detained under PSA and lodged in District Jail Rajouri.
Executive Director, NHPC Regional Office, Jammu, Ram Swaroop along with others posing for a photograph after giving two school buses to BBSBET.
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: Under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Executive Director, NHPC Regional Office, Jammu, Ram Swaroop here today handed over two school buses to Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Educational Trust (BBSBET), Jammu.
The buses were handed over to Charanjit Singh Khalsa, Trust chairman during a ceremony organised at NHPC Regional Office, Narwal in Jammu.
Speaking on this occasion, Ram Swaroop stated that the buses will help students in border and remote areas.
“NHPC fulfils its social responsibilities with utmost diligence and is undertaking numerous CSR-related initiatives in this region,” he maintained.
Charanjit Singh Khalsa thanked NHPC for providing school buses and stated that these buses will help the students in border and remote areas where transportation facilities are limited.
Those who were present on the occasion were Guru Dutt, GM (F), Satnam Singh GM (C), R.P Maurya, GM (HR), Ravinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Daljit Singh and others.
Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Apr 28: Continuing its campaign under “Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyaan”, Udhampur Police today attached movable property of a drug peddler and demolished an illegally constructed house of another narco smuggler.
According to Police, property worth Rs 9 lakhs, belonging to accused Ajay Singh, son of Om Parkash, resident of Kail, Tehsil Majalta, District Udhampur, has been attached under Section 68-F of the NDPS Act.
The attachment has been made in connection with FIR No. 30/2026 U/S 8/21/22 NDPS Act of Police Station Majalta. During the course of investigation, it came to fore that the accused had acquired the said property from the proceeds of illicit narcotics trade.
The attached properties include a Celerio ZXI car, bearing registration number JK14K-0657, one Infinix mobile phone, and Rs 68,000 lying in a bank account of the accused.
Accordingly, the said properties have been attached/seized under the provisions of Section 68-F of the NDPS Act for further legal proceedings.
In another decisive action against drug peddlers, Udhampur Police in coordination with the District Administration demolished an illegally constructed house belonging to Rafiq, son of Bansi of Jojrian Talab, Udhampur.
The immovable property i.e. one house situated at Khasra number 501 (State Land) had earlier been attached/seized under Section 68(F) of the NDPS Act in connection with FIR No. 429/2025 U/S 8/21/22 NDPS Act of PS Udhampur.
During investigation it was found that the accused had encroached upon State land and constructed the house illegally, which was demolished today as per legal procedure.
WASHINGTON, Apr 28: Please fasten your seat belt, make sure your tray table is in an upright and locked position, and prepare for delivery.
A passenger on a Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta gave birth to a healthy 5-1/2 pound (2.5 kg) girl just before the Boeing 737 landed at Portland International Airport in Oregon on Friday night.
Two paramedics who happened to be on the flight assisted, borrowing blankets from other passengers and using a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord.
Baby Brielle Renee Blair came in about two weeks ahead of schedule; the plane, about 20 minutes.
Her mom, Ashley Blair, who is from Tennessee, was flying to Oregon to be with her own mother for the birth, but didn’t quite make it. She went into labour about half an hour from Portland.
One of the paramedics, Tina Fritz, told The Associated Press on Monday that she and the other paramedic, Kaarin Powell, were returning home after vacationing in the Dominican Republic. They had been helping a nurse attend to the medical needs of another passenger at the back of the plane when a flight attendant asked them to check on Blair.
They found Blair was indeed in labour and contractions were getting close. It was a full flight with 153 passengers on board – soon to be 154 – so they began moving the passengers next to Blair back to their seats to make room for the delivery.
They asked flight attendants for blankets and an obstetrical kit, a sterile set of medical tools used in emergency childbirth. Fritz said they had to improvise when neither was available.
They got blankets from other passengers and a shoestring from a flight attendant to tie off the umbilical cord. Powell tore out one of her own shoes laces to use as a tourniquet to start an IV.
Then, Fritz recalled, the mother yelled: “OK, it’s time. I got to push.”
As she was doing so, flight attendants told Fritz and Powell they needed to sit, because the plane was about to touch down.
“We’re like, No! No!'” she said.
Blair gave three “super, really good pushes, and the baby came out really quickly,” Fritz said. “It was nice.”
Powell cut the umbilical cord and sat down while holding the baby. Fritz sat down next to her, and the wheels hit the runway.
“Baby pinked up right away,” Fritz said. “She was gorgeous. Mom was a rock star.”
After the plane began taxiing to the jetway, they handed the baby to Blair, and everyone celebrated by taking photos.
A responding crew from Portland Airport Fire & Rescue “found the mother and baby healthy, and the new family was transported to a local hospital for observation,” Port of Portland spokesperson Molly Prescott said in an email to The Associated Press.
In a statement, Delta said a doctor and two nurses assisted flight attendants, but Fritz said there was no doctor and the only nurse stayed with the first ailing passenger. Delta didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking clarification.
“We extend our sincere thanks to the crew and medical volunteers on board who stepped in to provide care to a customer on board prior to landing in Portland. The health and safety of our customers is always our top priority, and we wish the new family all the best,” Delta said in the statement.
Blair didn’t return messages from the AP. Fritz, who has been keeping in touch with Blair since the birth, said she’s been a little overwhelmed by all the attention.
“I feel like we’re friends now forever,” Fritz said. (AP)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: Strengthening its academic and diagnostic infrastructure, Government Medical College (GMC) Rajouri has roped in senior experts from GMC Jammu under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
As part of the initiative, Dr Vishal Tandon, Professor of Pharmacology, will lead efforts to streamline academic, research and NMC-related work in coordination with the Rajouri team.
Dr Harleen Kaur, Professor of Microbiology, has been entrusted with upgrading clinical laboratory services, with a focus on establishing an advanced microbiology laboratory.
The collaboration is aimed at improving institutional standards and enhancing patient care through focused academic and laboratory development at GMC Rajouri.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal GMC Jammu Dr Ashutosh Gupta said being the oldest GMC, they will offer all types of assistance asked in all the fields to GMC Rajouri.
Dr A S Bhatia, Principal GMC Rajouri, said that the vast experience and expertise of these senior faculty members will help develop and strengthen healthcare infrastructure, besides promoting research activities.
