Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar Oct 24: Fear has gripped government employees after Jammu and Kashmir administration amended services rules to allow the administration to retire government employees at any time after completing 22 years of service or attaining the age of 48 years.
At the same time several political parties while opposing the move have termed it a “draconian”.
On Thursday, J&K government announced that it has amended civil service rules to allow the administration to retire government employees at any time after completing 22 years of service or attaining the age of 48 years.
The employees can be retired after being given three months notice or three months of pay and allowance in lieu of the notice.
The step has not gone well within government employees and politicians in Kashmir.
Employees Joint Act Committee (EJAC) president Fayaz Ahmad Shabnam said they are holding deliberations with employees associations on this issue. “Once we reach some consensus we will announce a future course of action. We will put our viewpoint before government, people and employees,” he told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Chairman JKTA, Shah Fayaz said that employees of Jammu and Kashmir Government proved their worth in every challenge and served in all conditions with dedication whether it’s elections in odd situations, floods or earthquakes, covid19. “They without discrimination of any departmental aspect served the society in all odds and ends.”
“Now to weed out inefficient, incompetent, corrupt officials is highly a welcome step, as it streamlines system and justice is delivered, but to make amendments which show disparity as in center there is same rule but qualifying service is 30 years and age limit is 55 but we got 22 years and 48 age limit, this is sheer injustice,” he said.
Shah said, “In past there is record of incompetent, inefficient , corrupt officials but no one showed them backdoor, for this there should be a proper procedure as employees get promotions etc on the basis of APR ( annual performance report), there is proper system already in place. We are not against any policy which helps and benefits smooth functioning of governance but irony is that already rules and procedure to act against any corrupt, inefficient officials are in place.”
CPI-M leader MY Tarigami said the order was ‘draconian’ and would cause uncertainty among the government employees. “The notification/SRO aims to keep the employees under pressure which is bound to cause insecurity among them. It would serve as a tool to the government and bureaucrats to suppress their subordinates. A sword of uncertainty has been kept on the heads of employees which can also be exploited by their superiors,” he said.
While terming the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to acquires powers to retire employees at 48 years of age or after completing 22 years of service as an anti-employee and assault on the rights of lakhs of government employees, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (J&KPCC) Vice-President and former MLC G N Monga demanded the its immediate roll back of this arbitrary decision.
In a statement issued to news agency KINS he said by such order a lot of uncertainty has been created among the employees which ultimately will affect their performance. “A sword of uncertainty has been kept on the heads of employees which can also be exploited by their superiors,” Monga said.
The Congress leader said that when there were already provisions in service rules to retire non-performing employees prematurely, what was the need to take such a decision. “Already lot of arbitrary decisions have been taken by the BJP government at the Center regarding Jammu and Kashmir and now the latest decision will demoralize the government employees,” he said.
Demanding the immediate roll back of this order, Monga said, “This process has not been given a thought before passing. It should be revoked immediately.” (KINS)
