Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir has reported 2,12,968 dog-bite cases between 2022 and 2025, reflecting the persistent challenge of stray dog attacks across districts.
Data revealed during the ongoing Assembly states that sterilization and vaccination drives have been intensified across the Union Territory.
From June 2023 to September 2025, a total of 48,998 stray dogs were sterilized and vaccinated.
Of these, 27,237 dogs were covered under the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), 13,730 under the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), 7,870 under Urban Local Bodies Jammu (ULBJ) and 161 under Urban Local Bodies Kashmir (ULBK).
Officials said the department is continuing sterilization and awareness campaigns to manage the stray dog population and reduce bite incidents.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue Department has reported a total of 1560 vacancies across key positions, including Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Girdawar and Patwari, govt data reveals.
In a reply to a question raised by legislator Farooq Ahmad Shah, the Minister Incharge, said 21 posts of Tehsildar, 113 of Naib Tehsildar, 163 of Girdawar and 203 of Patwari are currently vacant.
The department stated that several steps are being taken to fill the posts. “Direct recruitment vacancies have been referred to the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) and Public Service Commission (PSC) for processing. It added that 142 Patwari posts have already been filled based on JKSSB recommendations,” the reply reads.
For promotions, the Departmental Promotion Committees are regularly convened at the Union Territory, Divisional, and District levels to promote eligible officials, the ministers reply noted.
In another written reply to a question posed by Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone, the Minister in-charge of the General Administration Department (GAD) informed the House that Rs 31,75,32,400 has been collected as application fees by the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board.
The Minister stated that no proposal is currently under consideration to abolish job test fees.
“The application fee charged by recruiting agencies is meant to cover administrative and operational expenses incurred in conducting examinations. These include costs related to advertisement, processing of applications, printing of examination materials, deployment of manpower, infrastructure, and technological arrangements required to ensure transparency and efficiency in the recruitment process,” the Minister said.
He added that the fee structure remains reasonable and is on par with that charged by various government recruiting agencies across the country.
In a post on X, formerly twitter, Peoples Conference President Sajad Gani Lone slammed the government for breaking its promises.
“In its election manifesto, JKNC promised to waive off application fees for recruitment agencies like SSRB, JKPSC, and other institutions in J&K. I asked a question to find out whether that election promise had been fulfilled,” Lone said.
He added that the Minister in-charge of GAD – who also happens to be the MLA from Ganderbal and the Chief Minister- informed the House that Rs 31 crore had been collected in fees since the government came to power in October last year.
“This Rs 31 crore reflects one of the many broken promises and a trail of lies and deceit,” Lone said. “Please, for once, can they admit that they lied – and apologise? (KNO)