Desist from all uncalled for demonstrations, strikes: J&K Govt to employees

Jammu, Nov 3: J&K government Friday asked its employees to desist from “all uncalled-for demonstrations and strikes” and also directed the departments to take strict disciplinary action against those found involved in such acts in violations of rules.

It described it (demonstrations and strikes) as “an act of serious indiscipline and misconduct.”

In an official communique addressed to all the administrative secretaries, Divisional Commissioners Kashmir and Jammu, all Deputy Commissioners; HoDs and Managing Directors, the government reminded that the provision of law was “not merely declaratory in nature and would definitely entail consequences” in the event of its violation.

The quoted reference was to - Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971.

The provision dealing with “demonstrations and strikes” reads as: “No government employee 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 directive by the General Administration Department was issued in context with those employees, who were “resorting to demonstrations and strikes in favour of certain demands.”

Till this evening, Joint Action Employees Forum – a conglomerate of organisations of teachers, medical, forest, power employees and clerical staff- was observing strike in favour of its demands, including issues related to GP fund cases; gratuity and SRO 43 cases.

Forum, however, late this evening, as per an official spokesperson “decided to suspend its ongoing strike after a productive meeting with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar.”

“Apropos of participation in demonstration(s) or strike(s) and instructions thereof, it has come to fore that some employees are resorting to demonstrations and strikes in favour of certain demands. In this regard, reference to Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 is invited for all concerned,” read GAD communique.

“The provision of law is not merely declaratory in nature and shall definitely entail consequences in the event of any such employee found immersive in such acts,” it added, while reproducing the provision (Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971).

In this context, all administrative secretaries were asked to circulate these instructions to employees in their respective departments to “desist from all such uncalled-for demonstrations and strikes: an act of serious indiscipline and misconduct.”

“The departments are also impressed upon to take strict disciplinary action against any such employee(s) found involved in organizing demonstration(s) and strike(s), in terms of rule mentioned supra,” the communique read.

Meanwhile, an official handout said that “in a significant development, the Joint Action Employees Forum has decided to suspend their (its) ongoing strike after a productive meeting with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar.”

During the meeting, a range of important issues were discussed, and the forum presented their demands.

“The Divisional Commissioner Jammu, in response, patiently listened to all the demands and provided assurance to the Forum members. He assured them that all their genuine demands including issues related to GP fund cases, Gratuity and SRO 43 cases, would be consideration for resolution,” the handout said.

“In light of these assurances, the office bearers of the Joint Action Employees Forum have taken the decision to suspend their strike, marking a potential breakthrough in addressing the issues raised by the Forum,” it added.

Chairman, Jammu Kashmir Teachers Forum, Ganesh Khajuria; president Medical Employees Federation, Sushil Sudan; president State Forest Employees Union, Suresh Sharma; president Clerical Union Anish Sharma; president Power Development Employees Union, Gurmeet Singh; Provincial president Employees Union, Gurmeet Singh and other members were present in the meeting.