• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.

Kashmir JAEOs Demand Equal Promotion Dates with Jammu Division

Published on May 4, 2025

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Junior Agriculture Extension Officers (JAEOs) from the Kashmir Division have raised concerns over unequal treatment in their promotion timelines compared to their counterparts in the Jammu Division. Despite being promoted earlier, the Kashmir-based officers claim they were not granted the retrospective benefits provided to officers in Jammu, resulting in a significant disparity in seniority and service-related advantages.

As per RNA, the officers have formally submitted a representation to the Director of Agriculture Production & Farmers Welfare Department, Kashmir. They highlighted that under SRO-442 dated 23rd October 2017, they were entitled to promotion under a 75:25 quota system. Although the promotion process for the Kashmir Division was delayed, it eventually moved forward in 2019, promoting 147 officers—50 with effect from March 1, 2019, and 97 from October 24, 2019.

These promotions were finalized through three separate departmental orders issued on November 5, 2019. However, two years later, JAEOs from the Jammu Division were promoted via an order in June 2021, with their promotions backdated to March 1, 2019.

“This has led to a situation where officers promoted later have been granted seniority over us, which feels unfair and disheartening,” said one affected officer from Kashmir. “We have fulfilled our duties sincerely and expect equal treatment.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Federation of Agriculture Technocrats (SIKFAT)—a joint body of JAEOs and Agriculture Extension Assistants—has appealed to the concerned authorities to correct what they term a “discriminatory discrepancy” by extending the same retrospective benefit to the 97 JAEOs from Kashmir.

The aggrieved officers expressed optimism that the department will soon submit a revised proposal to address the issue, ensuring justice and fairness in administrative decisions. (RNA)

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  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.