SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called a meeting of the joint legislative party of National Conference (NC) legislators and alliance partners on Friday, following the transfer of 48 J&K Administrative Service (JKAS) officers by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Sources said the Chief Minister is unhappy with the transfers, which were ordered while he was celebrating Eid. According to sources, Sinha did not consult the Chief Minister before issuing the transfer orders.
NC insiders said the Omar-led government views these transfers as interference in administrative matters and an attempt by the LG to exert control over the bureaucracy. They pointed out that while the LG has the authority to transfer Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, the transfer of JKAS officers falls under the purview of the elected government in the Union Territory.
In response, Omar has convened a meeting with NC legislators and alliance partners at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary in Srinagar at 11 am on Friday.
The Congress, an alliance partner of NC, criticised the LG’s decision. Senior Congress leader and Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader in the J&K Assembly, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, said the elected government had already proposed business rules and sent them to New Delhi for approval.
“The transfers of JKAS officers have sent the wrong message that everything is not well within the administration in J&K. The LG should have been more patient as he knew that the proposal for business rules is under consideration,” Mir said.