Srinagar, Nov 11: Over 1,400 assistant professors in Jammu and Kashmir’s Higher Education Department (HED) continue to await their first career placement to a higher grade—a promotion due to them nearly five years ago.

The faculty members, recruited in 2016-17 to strengthen teaching standards in degree colleges, say the delay has stalled their career progression and caused severe financial hardship.

In 2016-17, HED recruited 1,600 assistant professors across degree colleges in the Union Territory. According to established norms, PhD-qualified assistant professors are eligible for their first placement—from Grade Pay 6,000 to 7,000—within four years of appointment, depending on their joining dates.

For the 2016-17 batch, this advancement was due between 2020 and 2021. However, only around 200 faculty members have been granted the placement so far, leaving over 1,400 still waiting.

“Despite the passage of several years and thousands of written representations and reminders submitted to the department, the file remains pending with HED,” the aggrieved professors said.

The delay has created a cascading effect on faculty careers. The next placement—from Grade Pay 7,000 to 8,000, which many professors are now eligible for, cannot be processed until the first one is formally approved.

“The delay by HED in placement of eligible faculty members from Grade Pay 7,000 to 8,000, and the indifferent attitude of officers in the department, has left these professors ineligible for the second placement,” the faculty members said.

They accused HED officers of halting their career progression through administrative apathy, causing severe professional and financial stagnation.

“It is really disheartening and demotivating for us. The placement, which was due to us years ago—despite continuous appeals, letters, and meetings—there has been no concrete action from the authorities to resolve the issue,” they said.

“We have waited for more than four years for what was rightfully due to us in 2020. Our next placement is already overdue, yet our first one has not been approved. We feel completely ignored,” an aggrieved faculty member told Greater Kashmir.

The assistant professors have urged HED to immediately intervene and finalise the long-pending placement cases, ensuring fair and timely career progression for all affected faculty members.

When contacted, Director Colleges J&K Prof. Sheikh Aijaz Bashir said the files for career advancement have been submitted to the administrative department.

“The technical committee has approved the files and submitted them to the HED. We have also opened an online facility for submission of the files, if anyone is left out yet,” Prof Bashir told Greater Kashmir.

Srinagar, Nov 11: Northern Army commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma on Tuesday reviewed the anti-infiltration grid and operational preparedness of the forces along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir.

“Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, #ArmyCdrNC, visited North Kashmir to review the anti-infiltration grid and assess the operational readiness of formations along the Line of Control,” Army’s Northern Command said in a post on X.

The army said that while reviewing the forward areas, Lt Gen Sharma was briefed on a state-of-the-art surveillance system and next-generation technology fortifying border security.

The army commander lauded the troops for exceptional professionalism, operational excellence and combat readiness to confront emerging threats, reaffirming the army’s unwavering resolve to defend the nation’s frontiers.

Srinagar, Nov 11: Jammu and Police on Tuesday said that acting swiftly on credible information, Police in Pulwama apprehended an individual who was allegedly impersonating a police officer and extorting money from the public.

In a handout to GNS, the police said that the accused, identified as Altaf Ahmad Dar son of Assadullah Dar resident of Marval Kakpora, had been posing as a police officer of SOG Srinagar, threatening locals and demanding money from them.

A case under FIR No. 74/2025 under Sections 319/351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered, and the accused has been taken into custody. During the investigation, several individuals have come forward stating that they were intimidated by the impersonator. Their statements have been recorded, and further investigation is underway to identify any other victims.

J&K Police reiterates its commitment to safeguarding the public from such fraudulent activities and urges citizens to immediately report any suspicious or unlawful behaviour to the nearest police station, reads the statement.

Srinagar, Nov 11: Voting continued steadily across Jammu & Kashmir’s Nagrota and Budgam constituencies on Tuesday morning, with both seats registering significant turnout figures by 3p.m., according to official data.

As per official data, Nagrota Assembly Constituency (AC-77) registered an approximate voter turnout of 65.14% by 3 p.m., reflecting an active response from the electorate in the early hours of polling.

In Budgam Assembly Constituency (AC-27), the turnout stood at 42.64% around the same time, with officials expecting the numbers to rise as the day progresses.

Polling officials said that despite cold conditions in several areas, voters continued to arrive at booths in steady numbers, with security forces ensuring smooth and peaceful voting across both constituencies.

A total of 17 candidates are testing their fate here, including National Conference’s Aga Syed Mehmood, Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate Aga Syed Muntazir, BJP’s Aga Syed Mohsin and others. (KNC)