Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 29: While the present three months spell of Governor’s Rule was about to end with formation of PDP-BJP Government for second time shortly, Governor NN Vohra has issued a set of guidelines in the form of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), which had to be followed in the event of fall or resignation of democratically elected Government in future, leading to imposition of Governor’s Rule in the State.
One significant guideline stated that all chairpersons and members of various statutory or non-statutory Boards and Organizations had to resign, the SOP issued by the Governor following approval by the State Administrative Council (SAC), said.
Surprisingly, all eight vice chairpersons of Boards/Corporations, belonging to PDP and BJP, didn’t resign after Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led coalition Government had ceased to exist on January 7 following death of Sayeed. Many eyebrows were raised over their continuation as almost all other appointees of the previous Government had resigned but the Vice Chairpersons of Boards/ Corporations continued on their posts enjoying the status of Ministers of State.
Though demand from several quarters that the Boards/ Corporations vice chairpersons, who were political appointees of the previous Government, should resign, they stuck to their chairs.
However, the SOP released today by the Government has now made it mandatory that whenever the democratically elected Government gives way to the Governor’s rule, the Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons and Members of all statutory and non-statutory Boards/Organizations will have to resign.
Sources pointed out that the SOP was an indirect indictment of all eight Vice Chairpersons of Boards/Corporations, who continued in office for nearly three months even after the Government failed to exist and all other political appointees had resigned.
The SOP also stated that immediately after fall or resignation of the elected Government and imposition of Governor’s rule, there would be appointment of Advisors followed by the constitution of the State Administration Council (SAC).
Presently also, the Governor had adopted the similar practice. He had appointed two Advisors-Parvez Dewan and Khurshid Ahmad Ganaie and constituted the SAC comprising the Advisors and some top bureaucrats.
The SOP stated that to facilitate smooth functioning of the Government, the powers would be delegated at various levels, which means that the powers enjoyed by the Ministers would be delegated to the bureaucrats up to certain rank, which was done by the Governor after he took over the reign of affairs on January 8 after PDP-BJP Government headed by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had ceased to exist.
The SOP ordered that all gazetted/ non-gazetted staff posted in personal sections of Ministers, Ministers of States, Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of Boards/ Corporations and Commission would be recalled immediately after the Government ceased to exist.
Sources said withdrawal of the staff of Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons in the event of fall of the Government along with Ministers was another clear indication that they too would have to resign if the Government, which has appointed them, ceased to exist.
They added that the SOP has also called for resignation of all persons nominated/appointed as Advocate General/Additional Advocate Generals etc. In the present case, all Government appointed Advocates had resigned after the Government failed to exist.
“The notification of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is envisaged to ensure that actionable activities are initiated by the concerned departments, offices and agencies well on time, obviating the scope of any confusion or need to seek decision in regard to such matters,” sources said.
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