Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 17: In a new but disturbing trend, the Government employees have been found instigating common masses for protests against the administration on unfounded grounds and even playing role in fanning dissonance by forwarding contents of hatred on social networking sites.
Several incidents of instigating people for protests against Government and misuse of social network sites have come to the notice of the administration.
In one such incident, the Jammu district administration has issued notices to five employees of different Government departments under provisions of Government Employees Conduct Rules, 1971 and action in other cases is likely in next few days.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that on July 3, 2016 one person died during the earth cutting work at Bhalwal in the outskirts of Jammu city and subsequently some vested interests spread canards that JCB machine which led to the death was engaged by the Rural Development Department for carrying out works under NREGA scheme.
After being instigated by vested interests, large number of people blocked National Highway144A for nearly five hours in protest against the Government demanding compensation for the family members of the deceased. Keeping in view the public anger and subsequent law and order problem, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu sought reports from Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) North, Avny Lavasa and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Akhnoor Gurinder Pal Singh.
During detailed inquiry, these officers found direct involvement of five Government employees in instigating the people for protest against the administration that too on unfounded grounds. They also established that JCB was not at all pressed into service by the Rural Development Department as confirmed by the Block Development Officer (BDO) concerned.
Taking serious note of these revelations, the Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh while exercising powers conferred under Schedule 1B of Civil Services Regulations, 1956 has issued notices to all these five Government servants under Rule 20 and Rule 3 of Government Employees Conduct Rules, 1971.
Through the notices these Government servants have been asked as to why they shall not be chargesheeted for imposition of major penalty like dismissal/removal from the services on the ground of misconduct and fomenting trouble.
It is pertinent to mention here that Rule 20 and Rule 3 of Government Employees Conduct Rules, 1971 debar Government servants from carrying out such activities which harm the interests of the Government and create law and order problem.
These five Government servants are Rajinder Singh, son of Sansar Singh, Girdawar of Revenue Department posted in Pargwal, Surinder Singh, son of Sansar Singh, Teacher in Government Middle School Dera Baba Reasi, Pardeep Singh, son of Surinder Singh, an employee of the Power Development Department posted at Narwal, Dushu Sharma, son of Girdhari Lal, an employee of Public Health Engineering Department posted at Tube Well No.1 Bhalwal and Naresh Kumar, son of Swami Sharma, Salesman of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution posted at Paloura.
According to the sources, some recent protests in other parts of Jammu were also the handiwork of some Government servants, whose identity has also been established and action is likely against them within next few days.
Moreover, the administration has received reports that several serving/ retired Government employees have been playing role in fanning disharmony by forwarding the contents of hatred to large number of people on social networking sites, which is fraught with the danger of disturbing law and order situation.
“The administration is seriously pondering over this issue and some directions/action are likely in the coming days so that this new but disturbing trend is checked well before the same creates any disturbance in the society”, sources said.
When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Simrandeep Singh confirmed that notices have been issued to five Government employees for instigating people to hold protest against the Government and create law and order problem.
“I have issued directions to all the SDMs, SDPOs, Tehsildars and SHOs to identify trouble makers in all such dharnas and protests where people gather for vested interest at the cost of convenience of common masses”, he said.
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