Notices served by various Deptts
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 11: The UT Government has initiated action against the package, non package and reserved category employees posted in Kashmir who have left the Valley since May 12 this year following selective killings by militants.
As per sources, various Government departments including State Taxes, Finance, Education, Social Welfare, PWD etc have sought explanation from these employees for their un-authorised absence and failure to comply with the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir’s order issued last month making it mandatory for all Government employees of Kashmir valley to switch over to biometric attendance in their respective offices.
Citing the Divisional Commissioner office’s letter, the State Taxes Officer, Anantnag Circle 2nd J&K has sought an explanation from all Sub Inspectors (SIs) of the Department appointed under PM package for their prolonged absence.
The letter issued to these SIs by the STO Anantnag, read “Whereas you have remained unauthorisedly absent from duty and your whereabouts are not known by this office since you joined this office after completion of your training”.
The letter further reads: “Whereas you have neither informed telephonically nor submitted any leave application regarding your absence from duty”.
The other contents of the letter are “Whereas as per Divisional Commissioner Kashmir’s Circular vide No DIVCOM/Dev/27/2022/11272-340 dated 8-10-2022 all the employees were directed to switch to the biometric attendance, but you have failed to register yourself till date”. “Whereas as directed by Additional Commissioner, State Taxes (Administration & Enforcement) Kashmir Division, , Srinagar vide letter No G C /INF/PMP / ADM/2357-59/ACSTK dated 25-10-2022, you are hereby directed to resume your duties and explain your position within one week positively, failing which action as warranted under rules shall be initiated against you”.
However, when contacted by this Correspondent, the STO Anantnag refused to talk on the pretext that this being an official matter he can’t speak to media on phone.
Other departments have also issued such letters to package, non package and reserved category employees serving in Kashmir valley for their unauthorized absence. However, these employees while taking serious exception to stand taken by the authorities show their inability to join their services in Kashmir especially in far-flung areas of the Valley following the selective killings for over last one year.
Some of the representatives of these employees who are on protest here in front of Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner’s Office as well as their counterparts in Valley alleged that instead of taking measures for their security, the authorities are applying harsh methods to harass them.
The protesting employees accused the authorities of not taking concrete steps of providing accommodation to the package as well as other non package employees since 2008 when the package was announced. They said after the minority employees became direct target of militants over last one year, it is totally impracticable for the package and non package employees to live in rented accommodations in insecure, secluded and far-flung areas. They reiterated their demand of relocation till situation becomes conducive in Kashmir.
The issue was also taken up with Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole by Dr Nirmal Singh Committee which recently visited Valley to ascertain the situation there and look into the problems of these employees working there.
The Committee has also stressed the authorities to take a lenient view and deal the issue on humanitarian basis in view of the continuous attacks on members of minority community in different parts of the Valley.
The Committee, according to sources, has decided to meet the Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha and take up the issue with him and apprise him of the security concern of these employees. “Our main concern is that Government should ensure fool-proof security to these employees in Kashmir and it should take the matter very seriously instead of dealing it casually”, said Hira Lal Bhat a BJP leader and member of the Committee.
He said in case need be, the Committee will even approach Union Home Minister, Amit Shah and seek his intervention in the matter. He said minorities are already terrorised after facing militants attacks in 1989 and 90 that led to their mass exodus and subsequent massacres of Sangrampora, Wandhama, Nadimarg, Telwani and Chattisingpora. These massacres still haunt the community and the recent secretarian killings have again terrorized them. The Government is duty bound to ensure fool proof security of all minorities in Valley, he added.
Another Committee member and BJP Kashmir Displaced District president, Chand Ji Bhat took up the issue of 29 package engineers who were recently transferred to Jal Shakti Department from R&B by the Government and posted in far-flung areas. He said the concern shown by these engineers was that they have been posted in another Department which is totally familiar new to them and they are neither familiar with the staff as well as the area where they have been posted. This way they have been exposed to grave risk in view of the selective killings. He said though the issue was taken up with the concerned authorities but they have not revoked the order with the result these hapless engineers are also unable to join their duties.
He said likewise the Government continued to keep the package employees posted supernumerary even after their promotion to Gazetted cadre. He said the Gazetted posts fall in State cadre and they are entitled to transfer anywhere in the State or UT. But this discriminatory clause was still added with package employees for unknown reasons.
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