Govt takes cognizance, directs officers to attend public Reps on priority

Breach of protocol to Local Body representatives

Nishikant Khajuria

JAMMU, Oct 7: Taking cognizance of purported breach of protocol of Rural and Urban Local Governments representatives, the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory authority today issued fresh direction to all its officers and officials to appropriately attend these public representatives.
Further, the Government has also enjoined upon all the concerned officers to ensure that these public representatives are invited to all official functions and meetings organized in their jurisdiction, where these representatives are stakeholders.
“They shall also be invited in the event of official visit of any dignitary in their jurisdiction,” read the circular in this regard, issued today by the General Administration Department of J&K Government.
The circular reminded that implementation of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendments pertaining to Rural and Urban Local Governments and the consequent devolution of functions and activities to the elected representatives of public has made it imperative that these representatives are attended appropriately in all Government offices with due protocol.
“However, instances of breach of protocol of these public representatives are continuously being reported,” admits the Government.
It may be recalled that the J&K administration has already issued the Warrant of Precedence, placing DDC Chairpersons at par with Mayors of Srinagar and Jammu cities and ahead of MPs and the Chief Secretary while the DDC Deputy Chairpersons have been put at par with Inspector Generals of Police and Divisional Commissioners.
Similarly, the Chairpersons of the Block Development Council and the Presidents of Municipal Councils and Committees have been put on par with the Deputy Commissioners.
The Government put the DDC Chairpersons two steps ahead of the MPs in the amended Warrant of Precedence in April last after they had demanded a change in the structure of the District Planning Committee (DPC), which is headed by the MPs, with the former as member. The DDC Chairpersons wanted to head the DPC as well.
The revised Warrant of Precedence, placing the status of chiefs of the District Development Councils (DDCs) at par with those of the Mayors of the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations, was issued by the Hospitality and Protocol Department, nearly a month after the newly-elected DDC members had staged a protest over the issue of protocol and monthly honorarium.
As per this Warrant of Precedence, District Magistrates, Officers of the rank of Brigadiers and equivalent, Major Heads of Department, Conservator of Forests, District & Session Judges, Chairpersons, Block Development Councils, Presidents of Municipal Councils and Municipalities have been put under the same protocol.
However, notwithstanding the issuance of this Warrant of Precedence and Government directions to accord due protocol to the newly elected BDC Chairpersons and DDC Members, there have been continuous complains of alleged breach of protocol by officers/officials.
The matter in this regard was also brought into the notice of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who has taken serious note of the complaints and issued necessary directions to the concerned authorities.
“It is accordingly enjoined upon all the concerned officers/official working in various Government departments of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that these representatives be attended on priority in public offices with appropriate regard to their protocol,” read the circular.