SRINAGAR: The School Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir has demoted two teachers, Anita Sharma and Raman Chanyal, who secured promotions using fraudulent postgraduate degrees, reverting them back to teaching roles.

An investigation revealed that both teachers had obtained postgraduate degrees in Chemistry from Magadh University in 2003, despite the university not offering such a course at the time. As a result, Anita Sharma, currently serving as the Principal of Higher Secondary School in Sarna, Samba, and Raman Chanyal, Principal of Higher Secondary School in Machhedi, Kathua, have been directed to resume their duties as teachers.

The disciplinary action comes after it was discovered that Sharma and Chanyal had advanced in their careers based on falsified academic credentials. Sharma was promoted to the position of in-charge lecturer in 2004, following which she was posted at Government Higher Secondary School in Mansar. However, her failure to provide original qualification documents led to the suspension of her allowances between 2004 and 2006.

Official reports divulged that the School Education Department issued an order on March 5, instructing the Chief Education Officers of Samba and Kathua districts to reassign Sharma and Chanyal to teaching roles. Both teachers have been directed to report to the office of the Chief Education Officer in their respective districts. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: The minimum temperatures recorded an increase on Tuesday with mercury settling below normal in Jammu and Kashmir barring Gulmarg. 

A meteorological department official here told GNS that Srinagar recorded a low of 4.7°C against 3.0°C on the previous night and it was 1.4°C below normal for the summer capital.

Qazigund, he said, recorded a low of 3.5°C against 2.1°C on the previous night and it was 1.2°C below normal for the gateway town of Kashmir.

Pahalgam, he said, recorded a low of minus 0.6°C against minus 1.8°C on the previous night and it was 2.2°C below normal for the famous tourist resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Kokernag recorded a low of 4.2°C against 3.1°C on the previous night and it was 0.5°C below normal for the place, the officials said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 0.5°C against minus 1.9°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C above normal for the world famous skiing resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

In Kupwara town, he said, the mercury settled at 3.2°C against 1.6°C on the previous night and it was 1.3°C below normal for the north Kashmir area.

Jammu recorded a low of 14.7°C against 12.5°C on the previous night. It was 1.9°C below normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal, he said, recorded a low of 5.4°C (below normal by 1.1°C), Batote 7.3°C (below normal by 1.1°C), Katra 13.0°C (0.8°C below normal) and Bhadarwah 4.6°C (0.8°C below normal). Ladakh’s Leh and Kargil recorded a low of minus 5.0°C and minus 0.5°C respectively. The weather department has forecast mainly weather in J&K for the next 24 hours. (GNS)