Says Task Force creation ‘frighteningly draconian’, must be rolled back
Srinagar, Apr 23: Former Legislator and senior leader of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), Mohammad Khurshid Alam has expressed serious concern over the recent government order about the creation of task force to terminate the government employees without any inquiry, terming it as “traumatising” and “humiliating” for government employees in Jammu and Kashmir at large.
Alam, in a statement, issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the government employment is a basic source of livelihood for the majority of the people in the state and issuance of such “Farmaans” will only snatch away such basic facilities from the conflict-torn masses.
Alam added that there are already rules and regulations in place in the Civil Service Rules of Jammu and Kashmir through which the erring officials could be brought to book and in the past also, there have been numerous instances when action against the employees violating the CSR has been taken.
However, Alam said, the decision to create a task force and terminate a government employee without an inquiry looks frighteningly draconian and shocking.
He added that even the people who commit the heinous crimes are given an opportunity to defend themselves and present their case.
“But here, the scenario looks entirely different. The complainant, investigator as well as the executioner is the government. The accused has no say, no representation and no podium to defend him or her own self. Such orders only belittle the institutions of justice and fair play. Such actions would also create new fault lines between the government and the people and will turn the situation worrisome with each passing day,” Alam said.
Alam has demanded the immediate rollback of such order, underlining that there was no need to create a new set of rules when the existing ones are already well drafted, deliberated and demarcated.
He appealed to the Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to revoke the order so that confidence of the employees could be regained afresh and new bonds of trust and harmony could be achieved for Jammu and Kashmir’s overfall prosperity and development.
Alam has also condoled the sad demise of Mouzin of Srinagar’s Historic Jamia Masjid- Jinab Mohammad Yasin Bangi.
Hailing the religious services, the deceased has rendered over decades, Alam termed Yasin sahib a pious man who shall be known for his utmost simplicity and nobility for a long time.
He prayed for the departed soul and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family at this hour of immense grief—(KNO)
