Srinagar, Oct 4: The J&K Commissioner of Food Safety Saturday issued an order that prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that fail to meet safety standards.

The detailed order comes two months after the Food Safety Department discovered and destroyed 1200 kg of substandard packaged meat, the seizure proving to be the tip of an iceberg.

The ‘Prohibitory Order’ states that adequate grounds exist after inspection findings that a “health risk condition” exists across J&K, requiring immediate preventive action in the interest of public health.

It spells out ongoing violations uncovered during recent inspections.

Despite existing regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, widespread violations and overall unacceptable conditions of frozen meat and meat products have been reported by the department.

Over the past two months, large quantities of rotten, decomposed, and unlabeled meat have been seized and destroyed across Kashmir and Jammu divisions.

The ban includes improper labeling, storage temperatures, and shelf-life guidelines.

Section 30 of the FSSAI 2006 empowers the commissioner to prohibit hazardous practices in the interest of public safety.

The department said that the ban has been issued to ensure safer meat options for people of J&K.

With the dint of the order, meat product that is not labeled properly, not stored in the safe and specified temperature conditions, and do not having detailed source and destination information can be confiscated at the entry points into J&K.

The meat packages are also required to have an FSSAI license number and FSSAI logo.

It must also have the mandatory information on the animal that is the source of the meat: goat, chicken, and buffalo.

Frozen meat must be kept at minus 18 degrees Celsius or below to prevent microbial growth, and chilled meat must be stored at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius for short-term handling.

In addition, no meat can be sold beyond 12 months from its freezing date.

Online sellers must ensure that their products have at least 70 percent of their shelf life remaining.

All meat and meat products must have a prominent non-vegetarian sign on the package.

The prohibitory order has been communicated to various departments that form the core of ensuring compliance with food safety.

The department officials said that Police and other officials who check incoming goods and produce at entry points can also check for the violations listed in the prohibitory order and take necessary action.

The food business operators, like restaurants and consumers, have been advised to stay vigilant and check their meat supply before purchase.

“If the meat package lacks any of the information that is mandatory as per FSSAI 2006, it is unfit for consumption. Moreover, the storage and transport conditions of meats must also be inspected regularly by the FBOs,” the officials said.

Srinagar, Oct 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (BOSE) on Saturday announced a 15 percent syllabus relaxation for class 10th, 11th, and 12th students in their upcoming annual regular examinations.

The move comes weeks after the Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo, said that the routine academics in schools was badly hit during the current academic session in the wake of a war-like situation and recent floods in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Education Minister said the recent flood-like situation also disrupted the normal functioning of the schools, which had an impact on the completion of the syllabus.

“We are aware of these factors and have taken feedback from students and parents as well. We will also seek feedback from other stakeholders in this regard and take measures to address the situation in the interest of the students,” she said.

In the wake of this, BOSE announced a 15 percent syllabus relaxation for the class 10th to 12th students in their upcoming annual exams.

Director Academics BOSE in a notification said that the decision was taken consequent upon the recommendations received from Directorate of School Education, Kashmir, (DSEK) and Directorate of School Education, Jammu (DSEJ) besides pleas received from other stakeholders regarding reduction in syllabus due to delayed commencement of academic session this year coupled with the disruptions in the academic calendar due to heat wave, torrential rains, cloudbursts, and floods.

“As approved by the competent authority, it is hereby notified that the prospective eligible students appearing in the class 10th, 11th, and 12th in the ensuing Annual Regular 2025 examination (Oct-Nov session) in Kashmir division and winter zone areas of Jammu division including Ladakh, should attempt 85 percent marks which will correspond to 100 percent marks, availing this 15 percent relaxation in syllabus,” the notification reads.

It reads that the question paper should, however, be set from the entire prescribed syllabus, and the students will have to attempt 85 percent marks from the question papers within the internal choice.

“Each Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) attempted by the student should be marked individually, and the same will be applicable to the grammar portion in language subjects,” the BOSE notification reads.

The BOSE also notified the date sheet for the 10th class annual examination.

As per the date sheet, the exam will commence on November 3 and culminate on November 27.

The timing of the papers has been fixed from 11 am to 2 pm, and around 95,000 students will appear in the class 10th annual exams.

The exams will commence on November 3 for the Mathematics subject, followed by Social Science on November 7, Science on November 11, and English on November 14.

The examination for Urdu and Hindi papers is scheduled on November 17, and vocational subjects on November 21.

“In between, the Computer Science paper will be held on November 19,” it reads.

Exams in Painting, Art, and Drawing subjects are scheduled on November 27.

“In between, subjects with a smaller number of candidates like Home Science will be held on November 23, Music on November 25, and additional and optional subjects including Kashmiri, Dogri, Bhoti, Punjabi, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, and Sanskrit have been scheduled on November 24,” it reads.

BOSE has asked the invigilatory staff to be completely professional while discharging their duties to safeguard the purity and integrity of exams and requested the School Education Department (SED) to extend cordial support in the smooth and fair conduct of the examination.

Baramulla, Oct 4: The School Education Department (SED) has tightened its noose against the teaching and non-teaching employees of the department over ‘misuse’ of social media.

In this regard, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Baramulla has issued a circular stating that the Secretary SED during a meeting convened on October 3 of 2025, intimated that various instances of misuse of Social Media platforms by teaching and non-teaching staff.

“The employees are suggesting or interfering in the policy matters of the department, which has been brought in the notice of the Secretary SED,” the circular reads.

It reads that the activities are purely in violation of circular instructions issued by the government vide Circular No. 09-JK  (GAD) of 2023 dated March 24 of 2023.

“An elaborate set of guidelines regarding use of social media by the government employees have been notified for strict adherence and compliance vide Government Order No.1646-JK(GAD) of 2017 dated December 26 of 2017,” it reads.

It reads that during the meeting, Secretary SED directed all the CEOs bring into the notice of the Administration any such violation without fail in order to fix the responsibility and act under government instructions.

The circular issued by CEO Baramulla states that the government order governing the situations envisages punishments like Censure, Fine not exceeding one month’s pay, withholding of increments and for promotion, reduction to a lower post or a lower time scale and a lower stage in time-scale.

“The punishment includes recovery from pay of the whole or part of any pecuniary loss caused to government by negligence or breach of orders,” the circular reads.

It reads that action like premature retirement on proportionate pension or removal from the services of the state which does not qualify from future employment can be taken against the employees over misuse of social media.

“The employee can face dismissal from the service which ordinarily disqualifies from future employment,” it reads.

The CEO in its circular has clarified that the guidelines are not intended to dissuade employees from using social media for positive and constructive purposes.

“It is accordingly enjoined upon all the employees of SED, district Baramulla to strictly adhere to the guidelines and legal principles and refrain from indulging in unwarranted debates or discussions and sharing or commenting, posting inappropriate posts or content on social media platforms in order to avoid unfavourable circumstances,” the circular reads.

Srinagar, Oct 04: The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, today chaired a meeting to address ongoing network coverage problems in shadow areas across various districts, including Srinagar, Kupwara, Shopian, and Anantnag.

The meeting highlighted the need to improve mobile connectivity in these areas, with a focus on the timely erection of telecom towers.

He instructed BSNL to submit a phase-wise report detailing all existing telecom tower sites & stages of work and urged to initiate the construction of towers at locations where land has already been transferred to the telecom company.

Regarding revenue & land transfer issues, District administrations were directed to resolve any revenue-related issues to facilitate the land transfer process for the timely completion of tower installation in shadow areas.

He emphasised on eliminating duplicate entries from the combined list of proposed tower sites to avoid redundant efforts and to streamline the process.

To address concerns regarding the erection of a tower near the Dachigam Wildlife Park, Div Com directed officials to find an alternative location for the tower at Mulnar to avoid potential conflicts with the park’s conservation efforts.

He instructed BSNL officers to adopt a proactive approach to pursue the cases with district administrations and other concerned officers.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Shopian; Additional Commissioner Kashmir; Additional Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Kupwara & Anantnag; Assistant Commissioner Central, DGM BSNL, OSD to Div Com and other officers.

Srinagar, Oct 04: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Saturday arrested four drug peddlers in north Kashmir’s Sopore and Kupwara, and recovered contraband substance from their possession.

An official said that a police party during naka checking at Sangri Top intercepted three persons, travelling on motorcycle bearing registration number PB07BB-7763. During search, significant quantity of contraband substance was recovered from their possession. They have been identified as Maqsood Ahmad Lone son of Ab. Ahad Lone resident of Rampora; Riyaz Ahmad Dangroo son of Sonaullah Dangroo resident of Yamran Bomai; and Syed Ahmad Khan son of Gulzar Ahmad Khan resident of Diver Lolab A/P Sangri Top Watlab. They have been arrested and shifted to police station where they remain in custody. Motorcycle used in the commission of crime has also been seized.

Accordingly, case vide FIR No. 213/2025 under relevant sections of law been registered at Police Station Sopore, and investigation is underway to trace their backward and forward linkages, official added.

Moreover  Kupwara police apprehended a drug peddler during naka checking at Greerhachi, Kupwara.

An official said that during naka checking at about 2030 hours, the naka party under the supervision of PSI Awarangzab, apprehended a suspicious person who was coming from Lolab towards Kupwara. On noticing the naka party, the individual attempted to flee from the spot but was tactfully apprehended.

On preliminary verification, the person was identified as Behran Ahmad Tass, son of Abdul Majeed Tass, resident of Kelaroos age about 27 years. During his personal search, charas-like substance was recovered from his possession.

In this regard, FIR No. 319/2025 under sections 8/20 NDPS Act has been registered at Police Station Kupwara and investigation has been taken up.