Srinagar, Jul 04: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has strongly denied allegations that it was sitting over the vigilance clearance file of a government school teacher whose leave application to travel to the United Kingdom allegedly remained pending for months.

The clarification comes after a social media post by a Kashmiri doctor based in Bristol, England, claimed that her mother, a government teacher, was unable to visit her during pregnancy and childbirth because her station/country leave application was not processed in time.

Rejecting the allegations, ACB Director Shakti Pathak said the matter had never reached the bureau.“Matter never came to ACB. Please have it enquired from the Education Department,” Pathak told Greater Kashmir. “We clear such types of files in a maximum of four days.”

The controversy erupted after Dr. Salfiya, a Kashmiri doctor settled in England, alleged on X (formerly Twitter) that her mother had applied for station/country leave in December 2025 for the period from June to August 2026, but the application remained pending despite the commencement of the sanctioned leave period.

She further alleged that an earlier leave application submitted during her pregnancy had also lapsed because the department failed to process it on time.

“Because of this administrative apathy, my mother couldn’t be with me during my pregnancy, my C-section or my postpartum recovery in the UK. This is not just a delayed file, it is a family that has suffered because of bureaucratic negligence,” Dr. Salfiya wrote on X while tagging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, seeking their intervention.

Responding to the issue, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK) Naseer Ahmad Wani said the department follows a prescribed procedure before granting station or country leave.

“Granting permission requires vigilance clearance, following which the approval is accorded by the administrative department,” Wani said.

He acknowledged having seen the social media post and said the department would verify the status of the case.

“I read the tweet, but why didn’t anyone follow the case in the department? I will check the status of the issue today,” the DSEK said.

With the ACB categorically stating that the file was never referred to it for vigilance clearance, the focus is now likely to shift to the School Education Department to ascertain where the application remained pending and what caused the delay.

Srinagar, Jul 04: Srinagar Airport on Saturday announced that it has withdrawn the proposed Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding the full closure of the runway on Mondays and Tuesdays, stating that airport operations will continue on all days with operational/watch hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. However, night-time runway closures for maintenance will continue until October 2026.

“Passengers are advised that there will be no full airfield closure at Srinagar Airport this year,” an official spokesperson said.

“The previously proposed NOTAM regarding the full runway closure on Mondays and Tuesdays has been withdrawn. Airlines will continue to update their schedules in accordance with the prevailing operational timings,” the spokesperson added.

Passengers have been advised to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for authentic updates

Srinagar, Jul 04: A post by a female Kashmiri doctor settled in the Bristol, England has triggered fresh concerns over alleged bureaucratic delays in the School Education Department (SED).

In a post on X, she alleged that her mother, a government teacher, was unable to travel to the UK during her pregnancy because her leave application remained pending for months.

Dr. Salfiya, who identifies herself on X (formerly Twitter) as a doctor settled in England, alleged that her mother had applied for station/country leave in December 2025 for the period from June to August 2026, but the application was yet to be processed despite the commencement of the sanctioned leave period.

She further claimed that an earlier leave application submitted during her pregnancy had also lapsed as the department failed to process it in time.

“Because of this administrative apathy, my mother couldn’t be with me during my pregnancy, my C-section or my postpartum recovery in the UK. This is not just a delayed file, it is a family that has suffered because of bureaucratic negligence,” she wrote on X.

The doctor also tagged Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Education Minister Sakina Itoo, seeking their immediate intervention and demanding accountability from the concerned officials.

Talking to Greater Kashmir with regard to the post on X, Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), Naseer Ahmad Wani, said the department follows a prescribed procedure before granting station or country leave.

“Granting permission requires vigilance clearance, following which the approval is accorded by the administrative department,” Wani told Greater Kashmir.

He, however, acknowledged having seen the social media post and said the matter would be looked into.

“I read the tweet, but why didn’t anyone follow the case in the department? I will check the status of the issue today,” DSEK told Greater Kashmir.

According to the Joint Police Control Room (JPCR), Base Camp Bhagwati Nagar, a total of 4,812 pilgrims departed in a convoy of 259 vehicles. The Baltal axis convoy left at 3:00 am, while the Pahalgam axis convoy departed at 3:24 am.

Official figures showed that 2,041 pilgrims opted for the shorter Baltal route, while 2,771 pilgrims chose the traditional Pahalgam route.

The batch comprised 3,434 male pilgrims, 966 female pilgrims, 11 children, 244 sadhus, and 157 sadhvis.

The convoy included 95 buses, 47 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 116 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and one two-wheeler.

The Yatra is proceeding under a multi-layer security cover provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and other security agencies. Medical teams, ambulances, and escort vehicles have also been deployed to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

By Saturday morning, the Baltal-bound convoy had reached the Lambar Ground langar site in Banihal for a scheduled breakfast halt, while the Pahalgam-bound convoy reached the Chanderkote langar site in Ramban for breakfast. After the halt, the pilgrims will continue their journey to the twin base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan in Anantnag district, from where they will commence the trek to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

Authorities have advised motorists to follow traffic advisories issued during the movement of Yatra convoys to ensure smooth and safe passage on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.