Srinagar, May 20: Srinagar city has turned shabby as the walls of various public and private buildings are defaced with utter disregard to aesthetics or the law prohibiting the same.

In a move to curb this disfigurement, Srinagar Municipal Corporation has issued fresh instructions to everyone warning against defacing the city or illegally using the spaces for advertising.

“Instructions issued to all big brands and commercial entities to be fined heavily for defacing the city with unauthorized advertisement hoardings and wall paintings,” Srinagar Mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu recently posted on his official Twitter account.

In almost every area of the city, walls along the roads and buildings are defaced with graffiti or posters pasted without any authorization.

Majority of them advertising coaching centres, the posters are seen on walls, lampposts, and flyover pillars giving the overall ambience a shabby look.

Besides, several promotional hoardings are erected on electricity poles and roadside walls.

For instance, most of the roadsides around Jawahar Nagar and Parraypora areas are covered in posters.

The walls of Super Specialty Hospital at Shireen Bagh are seen in hideous condition. Graffiti and advertisement are pasted on the whole stretch.

The situation is almost the same in areas like Barbarshah, Nawa Bazar, Karan Nagar, Jehangir Chowk, Residency Road, Press Enclave, Baghat, Barzulla, and Natipora areas of the city.

The Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1985 calls for strict punishment against the person found defacing the government property.

As per it, whosoever defaces any property in public view by writing or marking with ink, chalk, paint or any other material shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.

The law defines the defacement as impairing or interfering with the appearance or beauty, damaging, disfiguring, spoiling or injuring in any other way whatsoever.

Srinagar, May 20: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan on Monday directed Irrigation & Flood Control Department (I&FC) to clear Jhelum embankments from encroachments and take steps to beautify both the banks.

He said while conducted city tour to inspect various developmental works including face lifting, street lights, drainage, beautification and macadamisation.

Divisional Commissioner visited Poloview, pedestrian bridge near GPO, site of KCCI building, TRC, Amar Singh College crossing, Boulevard and other areas. The Div Com inspected various developmental works and stressed on the officials to ensure completion of all projects within the stipulated time. He also instructed officials to maintain the quality of works while executing the projects.

In Poloview and other areas, Div Com called for repairing the defunct street lights and ensure illumination during night for the benefit of commuters. He also reviewed the functioning of drainage system at Poloview and Amar Singh College crossing. He instructed the officials to ensure removal of blockage of drains so that there is no accumulation of water in the areas during rains.

The Div Com also reviewed the macadamisation work undergoing at TRC and repair work of walkways and ramps at Boulevard. He called on officials to work with dedication so that both locals and tourists are benefited. He said that the work needs to be expedited so that the project is completed at the earliest.

The Div Com directed the DC to regularly monitor all the developmental works in the city and send a weekly report to Div Com office.

The Div Com was accompanied by DC Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, CE R&B, CE PDD, Additional commissioner SMC, Dy Director FCS&CA, SE UEED, SP Srinagar, members of  KCCI and other officers.

Srinagar, May 20: Jammu and Kashmir State Judicial Academy (JKSJA) Monday organized an oath ceremony for newly enrolled advocates of Kashmir and Ladakh division at JKSJA here at Mominabad Court Complex.

The oath was administered to 60 advocates by chairman JKSJA, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey. The ceremony was followed by lecture on the “Professional Ethics and Conduct” delivered by Justice Magrey.

Principle District and Sessions Judge, Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, JKSJA, Rajeev Gupta, Joint Registrar Protocol, High court, Farooq Ahmed and other concerned were present on the occasion.

Justice Magrey welcomed the newly enrolled advocates to the profession of law and deliberated on the sanctity of the oath ceremony, professional ethics and conduct for the Advocates.

He stressed upon the newly enrolled Advocates that character is vital in all professions and all walks of life, and particularly in the legal profession, observing honesty by the lawyer is a matter of first importance.

In this profession, Justice Magrey said, dedication, devotion and fair practice will take advocates to the higher levels. He stressed upon the advocates that money should not be made the first priority in this profession.

The most worthy and effective advertisement possible for a young lawyer, is the establishment of a well merited reputation for professional capacity and fidelity to trust, he emphasized.

“In the dealings in and outside the Court Advocates should always bear in mind that every member of the Bar is a trustee of the honour and prestige of the profession, which he is duty bound to uphold in letter and spirit,” he said. “Law is a profession that demands constant learning. New laws are being passed and existing laws are amended, that needs constant updation of knowledge.”

Justice Magrey said that compared to the years gone by, most of new advocates are entering the profession with more education and technological skills. “Some of you have post graduate degrees. Some of you are professionals in your own right in other fields. We hope that these extra competencies and capabilities would assist you in coping with the fast changing legal landscape,” he said.