By: Afaq Bhat
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration has been acting tough against the government employees who refuse to ignore the orders.
On Saturday, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz Asad, placed six patwaris under suspension for dereliction of duties. These Revenue officials had not joined their new places of postings following which action was initiated against them.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “After J&K’s transition into a Union Territory the noose has been tightened around the government employees. They have been made accountable. During the past two years there have been many instances about the government taking stern action against its employees for dereliction of duties. Since the day the government has amended the service rules employees have been on the tenterhooks.”
It’s in place to mention here that last year the Jammu and Kashmir administration asked administrative secretaries to initiate a process to identify employees who are “ineffective in work or not fit to continue” after completion of 22 years of service or have attained 48 years of age.
In October 2020, the Jammu and Kashmir government had amended Article 226(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations for a provision to retire at any time any government employee after he has completed 22 years of service or attained 48 years of age.
“After the service rules have been amended the heads of departments have been monitoring the performances of employees closely. This has led to employees taking their jobs more seriously now. The attendance and punctuality have improved. The work culture in the offices has changed,” said an observer.
A source said that action against the patwaris is a message to one and all that indiscipline won’t be tolerated. “The patwaris not joining their new places of posting had caused inconvenience to people. Officials, who deal directly with the public need to remain more careful as they cannot take the common masses for granted. The work culture has to change for governance to become more effective,” he added.
An official who wished not to be named said, “Earlier government employees used to think that no one can snatch their job till they attain the age of superannuation, but after the service rules have been amended that notion has been dispelled. The employees know very well that they are being monitored and they cannot afford anyone complaining against them. No one wants to end up in trouble by committing any mistake.”
