SRINAGAR: Terming the demonstrations and strikes in favour of certain assumed demands, by some employees, as ‘totally illegal’, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Power Development Department, Tuesday warned the agitating employees of ‘consequences’ as per law in case of violations'. 

Reproducing the Government instructions, J&K Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, and ruling of the Hon'ble Supreme Court for dealing with the issue, the government in a circular detailed out that the Rule 20 (ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 reads that "Demonstrations and strikes: No Government employees shall resort to, or in any way abet any form of strike in connection with any matter pertaining to his service or the service of any other Government employee".

“The (specified) provision of law is not merely declaratory, but will definitely entail consequences in case of violation, as it clearly prohibits demonstrations and strikes by the Government employees,” the circular remarked. 

“Vide SRO-160 dated 14-7-1995, the Jammu And Kashmir Civil Services (Recognition of Service Association) Rules, 1995 have been issued by the General Administration Department, which shall apply to the Service Associations of all regular civil employees of the Government, except; (a) Gazetted Services; (b) Persons in industrial establishments employed mainly in managerial or administrative capacity, and those who being employed in supervisory capacity drawing salary in pay scales above Rs.3200/- per mensem; and (c) Police Personnel,” reads the circular, a copy of which lies with GNS. 

“These rules further provide, i) Service Associations already recognised: A Service Association which has been recognised by the Government before the commencement of these rules and in respect of which the recognition is subsisting at such commencement, shall continue to be so recognized for a period of one year from such commencement or till the date on which the recognition is withdrawn, whichever be earlier; ii) Rule 6(k): Conditions for continuance of recognition of Service Association:- The Service Association shall not do any act or assist in the doing of any act which, if done by a Government servant, would contravene any of the provisions of the Services (Conduct) Rules and iii) Rule 9: Withdrawal of Recognition: If in the opinion of the Government, a Service Association recognised under these rules has failed to comply with any of the conditions set out in rule-5 or rule-6 or rule-7, the Government may, after giving an opportunity to the Service Association to present its case, withdraw the recognition accorded to such Association,” reads the circular.
 
“In terms of O.M No: GAD-ADMOIII/158/2023-09-GAD dated 03.11.2023, all the Administrative Secretaries were requested to circulate the instructions to employees in their respective to desist from
Department(s) all such uncalled for demonstrations and strikes: an act of serious indiscipline and misconduct.”
“Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in case Appeal (Civil) No.5556/2003 titled T.K. Rangarajan vs Government of Tamil Nadu (SC 2003) has held that the employees have fundamental, statutory or moral right to resort to strike as there is no law regarding it, and also, according to various service and conduct rules, they are prohibited to go on a strike,” reads the circular. 

The Hon'ble Apex Court, as per the Circular, further stated: 'a strike is a powerful weapon; it affects the society as a whole, and the government employees cannot go on a strike affecting society. Government employees cannot claim that they can take the Vishal society at ransom by going on strike. Even if there is injustice to some extent, as presumed by such employees, in a democratic welfare State, they have to resort to the machinery provided under different statutory provisions for redressal of their grievances. Strike as a weapon is mostly misused which results in chaos and total maladministration reads the circular.’ 

"The instructions/rules are brought to the notice of all concerned, and if any employee is found indulging in organizing, or taking part in demonstration(s) and/or strike(s) in violation of the rules and instructions mentioned above, strict action as per law shall be taken against such employee(s)," reads the circular further. 

The issuance of the circular has come after employees of Kashmir Power Development Corporation (KPDCL) staged a silent protest in Srinagar recently, demanding the reinstatement of their suspended colleagues. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) suspended fifteen more employees on Saturday and initiated disciplinary proceedings against them.

The Managing Director of KPDCL and its administrative officials issued multiple suspension orders against its employees.

The suspension and disciplinary proceedings were initiated against ten linemen, meter readers, and technicians.

KPDCL, in different suspension orders of its employees, said that disciplinary proceedings under Rule 33 of the JK Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1956, are contemplated against them.

Accordingly, the officials placed all 15 employees under suspension with immediate effect.

The suspended officers, shall remain attached with the respective Executive Engineer till further orders.

SRINAGAR: Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Pulwama on Saturday put under suspension Naib-tehsildar Tral and ordered for furnishing of an enquiry report into his conduct within a month. 

"As recommended by Addl. Deputy Commissioner Tral and pending enquiry into his conduct, Sh. Altaf Ahmad Naib Tehsildar Tral is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached with the office of Deputy Commissioner Pulwama", reads an order in this regard, a copy of which lies with GNS. 

"Sh. Ab Rashid Naib Tehsildar Lurgam shall look after the charge of Nayabat Tral in addition to his own duties till further orders", the order reads.

"It is futher ordered that the Addl. Deputy Commissioner Awantipora shall conduct the enquiry in the instant matter and furnish the enquiry report  within a period of one month", the order reads further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Internet Services have been restored in twin Poonch and Rajouri districts, officials said on Friday.

They told GNS that the services have been restored after a deadly ambush by militants left at least three soldiers dead and several others injured, some seven days before. 

"The authorities had called for discontinuation of mobile internet services as a precautionary measure", the officials said. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have suspended mobile internet in parts of Pulwama district amid apprehensions that the services may be "misused" by anti-national elements.

The mobile internet data has been suspended in the Wampora and Hunipora area of Pulwama district for 72 hours with effect from 7 pm on November 5 to 8th on the direction of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.

“The step was taken as there were possibility of mobile data services may be misused by anti- national elements, miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order,” they said.

The order by the ADGP was issued in exercise of powers conferred under sub-rule (1) of Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.

Officials said the order for suspension of the mobile internet in parts of Pulwama was confirmed by the J&K Home department.

Last week, a labourer from Uttar Pradesh, Mukesh Kumar was shot dead by militants in Pulwama district in the first targeted killing in the Valley this year. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Traffic on SSG and Mughal road have been suspended due to inclement weather.

An official told news agency Kashmir Scroll that traffic has been suspended on both roads keeping in view safety of passengers.

He said that once weather will permit, traffic on both roads will resume soon.(KS)

SRINAGAR: Government on Tuesday suspended three employees including a former Medical Superintendent on charges of embezzlement of Hospital Development Funds in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Besides, a contractual employee has also been attached.

Secretary to Government of Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Department Bhupinder Kumar has issued an order a copy of which lies with the news agency Kashmir News Trust which reads that pending enquiry into the conduct relating to the embezzlement of Hospital Development funds in District Hospital, Kulgam, Dr. Afsana Banoo, the then Medical Superintendent, District Hospital, Kulgam, Mr. Mohammad Ashraf, the then Senior Assistant, District Hospital, Kulgam and Mr. Mohammad Shafi, Senior Assistant, District Hospital, Kulgam have been suspended with immediate effect.

“It is further ordered that during the period of suspension, they shall remain attached to the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir and they shall submit their bio-metric attendance to the Health and Medical Education Department on monthly basis.”

Besides, Mr. Mudasir DEIC Manager (on a contractual basis), District Hospital, Kulgam is, hereby, attached in the office of the Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K with immediate effect. [KNT]

SRINAGAR: A special drive was carried out in Jammu Province wherein surprise inspections of Drug Sale Establishments were carried out under the supervision of Concerned Empowered Authorities.  The drive was targeted to ensure that  the  drugs consisting of habit forming ingredients  are strictly sold to the needy patients as per  mandate of law  and pharmacies operate strictly in consonance with the mandate of law and in the best interest of patient care.    

Statutory Drug samples of nearly Two Hundred formulations of various categories were lifted randomly for determination of strength and purity. These samples were referred to Drug Testing Laboratories locate within the U.T of J&K  for framing of  legal opinion to ascertain their quality parameters and to ensure that quality medicines are being sold to the end users.

Operations of Twelve   Retail Sale Establishments ( Four in Jammu, Three  in  Samba District, Two   in Poonch District , One each  in Kathua &  Ramban, were disallowed u/s 22 (d) of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 on spot.   The reasons for suspension ranged from Non maintenance of Sales records, Impersonation, Improper storage conditions etc.

Moreover, Stocks of  Drugs worth Rs 3,86,100 that were found to be contravening the provisions of the D&C Act  have also been confiscated from the supply chain  by the Regulatory Officers  of the organization  under section 23  of the  Drugs & Cosmetics Act.

During the said drive, the stocks of drugs worth Rs 27,465 was seized on Form – 16  from an unlicensed shop being run at Lower Kud  the custody /permission of which was obtained from the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Udhampur. Investigation in the matter has been initiated and Notice under section 18 ( a) served upon the accused  for further legal action in the matter.

Meanwhile, the Licensing Authority cancelled the license of a Wholesale firm at Rajouri that was found indulging in unethical trade practices. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Authorities have suspended a government employee in Pulwama found drawing salary from two departments.

As per news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), an official of the FCSCA Department said that they received a complaint from ACB as well as from other quarters against a Fair Price shop dealer in Sail Awantipora named Javid Ahmad Bhat.

It was alleged that Bhat was working in Srinagar Municipal Corporation since 2002 and was simultaneously working in FCSCA Department Pulwama as Fair Price Shop dealer till 2017 before managing to transfer the license in the name of his daughter Asiya Javid.

He said that Assistant Director FCSCA Pulwama in order to confirm the contents of the complaint took up the issue with the Commissioner SMC Srinagar and Manager JK Bank Branch Balgarden.

"While perusing the service records of the above person, it came to fore that Javid Ahmad Bhat son of Mohammad Shaban Bhat of Chersoo Awantipora has changed his name to Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh son of Bashir Ahmad Sheikh of Narwara Safa Kadal Eidgah Srinagar. The

a photograph attached with his service book at SMC Office has authenticated that Javid Ahmad Bhat and Reyaz Ahmad Sheikh are one person," he said .

He said that Bhat has caused loss to state exchequer by withdrawing commission from FCSCA Department and monthly salary from SMC Kashmir.

"He cannot hold two offices at one time and is liable for criminal prosecution," the official added. He said that the first FPS license Sail Awantipora in the name of Asiya Javid was placed under suspension and her monthly quota was diverted to the nearest sale centre.

He said that a show cause notice was also served to the accused to prove his point but his answer wasn't satisfactory and the department has ordered for cancellation of the licence.

He added that the department has written to SSP crime as well to recover the amount he has withdrawn illegally.

He said that the licence has been cancelled as it was issued by fraudulent means. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: Jmu-Sgr highway blocked after landslides; No pilgrims allowed to move Kashmir from Jammu's base camp; Qazigund-Banihal railway operation suspended after water logging: Officials*

Umaisar Gull Ganie

Srinagar, July 08 (KNO): The annual Amarnath Yatra on Saturday faced another disruption  due to  bad weather conditions that triggered multiple landslides on 270 km-long Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Ramban district, officials said.

An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that fresh batch of pilgrims were not allowed to leave from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for Holy cave due to weather advisory and heavy rains in Kashmir valley. “The Yatra remain suspended on twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam in valley for second consecutive day ”, he said.

He said overnight rains  triggered fresh landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at Panthyal, Mehar and other places in Ramban district blocking Srinagar- Jammu  highway. 

Meanwhile, the train services from Qazigund to Banihal railway track have  been suspended after water logging at Railway station Hiller Anantnag. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: : Chief Education Officer (CEO) Pulwama has ordered suspension of two government teachers for teaching at a private coaching centre. 

As per order issued by Chief Education Officer, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Observer (KNO), "Pursuant to regular online/offline complaints and as reported by the designated monitoring teams, two teaching personals were found involved in private coaching at SCI Pulwama on May-18 contrary to the service rules and repeated directions from the department to desist from the practice."

"As such pending enquiry, they are placed under suspension with immediate effect. However, they shall report the institutions shown against each for further duties." It reads. 

As per order, one of the teacher who is posted at HS Singhoo Narbal has been directed to report at GUPS Shadimarg while another suspended teacher posted in GHS Rajpora has been directed to report at HS Doodimargh Lurgam. 

"The suspendees are deemed to have been relieved of their duties to report to their new place by today positively." It reads. (KNO)