Srinagar, Nov 21: Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipora Friday designated G N Itoo as Director of Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis.

Deputy Registrar (Establishment) in an order further said the Dr Itoo shall also look after the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagement with the corporate sector for various initiatives of the University.

“In the interest of the administration, Dr Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Professor of Practice, School of Business Studies, is designated to function as Director, Centre for Good Governance and Policy Analysis, in addition to his own duties,” reads the order.

It also said, “He shall further be associated with the B.Voc. Programme in Hospitality and Tourism Management.”—(KNO)

Ganderbal, Nov 21: In line with ongoing efforts to strengthen security and maintain a safe and accountable environment within healthcare institutions, Police in Ganderbal carried out surprise checking of lockers belonging to doctors and staff members at various hospitals across the district, officials said.

A police spokesperson said in a statement that the inspection drives were conducted by police teams in coordination with hospital administrations to ensure transparency and proper adherence to security protocols. The aim of the exercise was to prevent any misuse of hospital premises, curb illegal activities, and reinforce institutional discipline.

During the checking, all lockers and staff storage spaces were thoroughly inspected. Police also sensitized the medical and paramedical staff about the importance of maintaining security, reporting suspicious activity, and ensuring hospital spaces are not misused in any manner, he added.

Police reaffirmed that such checking drives will continue in the future as part of its commitment to safeguarding public institutions and ensuring a secure environment for patients, attendants, and healthcare professionals.

J&K Police has urged all hospital staff to cooperate with such measures and maintain compliance with security guidelines for the larger safety of the community.

Srinagar, Nov 21: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari criticised KPDCL’s (Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited) proposal to impose an additional 20% surcharge on power tariffs during peak hours, calling it a “grave injustice to the people,” who, he said, are already struggling to survive an economic crisis.

The AP president said that the move came at a time when most of the businesses in Kashmir are down in losses especially the tourism and the horticulture sectors on which larger chunk of the people depends on.

He urged the government to consider people’s economic hardships before even thinking of enforcing such a harsh measure. ” I urge the authorities: show some mercy to people who are already burdened and suffering” he said.

He said that in these difficult times, increasing electricity charges for mornings and evenings—when families rely on power the most in freezing cold—cannot be justified.

In a post on X, Altaf Bukhari wrote, “KPDCL’s proposal to impose a 20% surcharge on power tariffs during peak hours is a grave injustice to people who are already struggling to survive an economic crisis.”

“Most of our population depends on tourism and horticulture—sectors that have suffered massive losses this year. Other businesses are also in decline. In such times, increasing electricity charges for mornings and evenings—when families rely on power the most in freezing cold—cannot be justified.” He added.

He further wrote that, “The government has a moral duty to consider people’s economic hardships before even thinking of enforcing such a harsh measure.”

“With harsh winter days approaching, I urge the authorities: show some mercy to people who are already burdened and suffering.” He concluded the post

Shopian, Nov 21: The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Zainapora Shopian has issued a public notice restricting the use of mikes, megaphones and loudspeakers by vendors selling fruits and other consumables from moving vehicles across the subdivision.

As per an official order, an overabundance of plaints and representations have been received by this office, from the general public, as well as a quantity of exemplifications have also been emphasized during the conduct of Block Devas, held at Zainapora, on 19/11/2025, under the aegis of the District Magistrate, Shopian, regarding occasioning of nuisance in Sub-Division-Zainapora, by way of causing of noise and other pollutions, in Sub-Division Zainapora, attributable to vending of fruits and other consumables, by the vendors, in the vehicles, containing mikes/megaphones, on the while plying/driving streets/lanes/paths/tracks/ways/trails etc, as well as alongside roads and thoroughfares, rendering them disposed to congestions and susceptible to accidents, in Sub-Division Zainapora, in the manner, as not approved by the Government.

The order reads, thereby, causing noise and other pollutions as well as inconvenience to the general public; and, as such, the conduct of such trade and occupation and keeping of such goods or merchandise is injurious to the health and physical comfort of the community; and that, in consequence to such trade and occupation, it should be prohibited and such goods or merchandise should be removed as mandated by the laws of the land.

In view of the above, and in exercise of powers vested in me, under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, it is hereby ordered, pro bono publico, that no such noise and other pollutions, by vending of fruits and other consumables, by the vendors, in the vehicles, containing mikes/megaphones, while plying/driving on the streets/lanes/paths/tracks/ways/trails etc, as well as alongside roads and thoroughfares, in Sub-Division Zainapora, which occasion as inconvenience to the general public, shall be caused or purported to be caused, henceforward; and no such vendor shall be allowed to vend their items/substances, in such manner, in Sub-Division-Zainapora, henceforth, in order to curb all such pollutions and effluences and to steer clear of congestions and accidents on the roads and thoroughfares, it reads.

For any sort of delinquency/insubordination of the above directions, express or implied, by anyone, whosoever, the offenders shall be penalized, strictly as per law for the time being in force, reads the order. (KNC)