SRINAGAR: In order to get rid of political interference in the transfer of civil and police officials in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP-BJP coalition government and State police have directed employees and policemen to avoid bringing undue influence on authorities and warned of strict action for non-compliance.
“It has been observed that some government employees get recommendations from different political dignitaries in an attempt to bring political or other outside influence upon superior authorities to further their interest in respect of matters pertaining to their service under the government. The recommendations mostly seek transfers and postings of these employees, which cause undue interference in the functioning of the administration and complicate cadre management, besides creating other allied problems in so far as optimum utilisation of human resources is concerned,” read an official order issued by Commissioner Secretary to the government Khurshid Ahmed.
The order directed government employees not to bring or attempt to bring any political or other outside influence to bear upon any superior authority to further his interest in respect of matter pertaining to his/her service under the government.
“It is impressed upon all government employees to avoid bringing undue influence on authorities associated with their cadre management on matters pertaining to transfers and postings and other allied service matters. Non-compliance in this regard shall be viewed seriously and dealt with strictly in accordance with the rules,” added the order.
There have been instances when Cabinet meetings chaired by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti failed to order transfers of police and civil officials due to differences between ministers.
In a separate directive, J&K DGP S P Vaid directed policemen and officers against approaching authorities/dignitaries to seek favours for redressal of their grievances, especially related to transfers,
postings and promotions.
The order said such tendency of exerting extraneous influence is a blatant disregard of the provisions of rule 17 of J&K Government Employees Conduct Rules, 1071 read with Rule 116 (6)(7) of J&K Police Manual.
The DGP further said it has been observed that concerned heads of the units/wings and zones are not adhering to the laid down mechanism for redressing genuine grievances of their subordinate
officers/officials, which results in growing disposition towards extraneous influence in the subordinate formations, which depicts disconsolation.
“These aspects need to be looked into so that policemen do not feel poorly adjusted to demands and stresses of daily living and resort to unwarranted methods to get their transfers ordered,” further reads the order.
It asked all the wing/zonal and unit heads to conduct weekly “orderly rooms” to redress the genuine grievances of policemen.
It requested officers that if any redressal of the grievance of a policeman was beyond their mandate, they should forward the case to the next higher authority for necessary action.