Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 4: It appears that without the application of mind, the state government has deputed nearly three dozen bureaucrats, who have been holding several vital posts in district Jammu for annual Amarnath pilgrimage, leaving the public fuming as work in these offices have come to a halt due to absence of officers from their offices.
Sources informed Early Times that nearly three dozen officers of KAS and IAS cadre have been deputed for monitoring of Amarnath pilgrimage, without providing any other alternative to do the work in their respective offices, evoking resentment among public, who has been visiting the offices for various works, but returned empty handed.
Officers of the level of Sub-divisional magistrate, additional deputy commissioners besides many other officers, who have been holding vital positions in Revenue department have been deputed for monitoring works in Amarnath pilgrimage.
"The officer is absent from July 1 to July 15 and other employees are asking to come after July 15. Hundreds of people have been coming there for various works but have been returning empty handed", a visitor said, adding that the work in these offices have virtually come to a halt.
"On one hand government has implemented Public Service Guarantee Act, according to which it is mandatory for officers to disburse the information and provide several certificates, Ration-card, Permanent Resident Certificate, various other certificates in a stipulated time but without providing an alternative, it is impossible to provide the certificates", one officer pleading anonymity said, adding that even the officers holding the posts of magistrate level, have also to listen the cases in their courts, but due to posting these cases were also delayed.
An employee posted in an office said, "Actually our officer has to be present in the Amarnath base camp from 8 AM to 2 PM and office remain vacant. Whenever the public visit the office, we have been telling them to come after July 15, as the duty of our officer will be completed and he will be again present in the office for works".
Another officer said that the works given to KAS/IAS officers could be easily done by employees of Tourism department or Shrine Board employees and there was no requirement of such large number of officers there.
An office deputed in DDC office Jammu said that on rotation basis some officers have been deputed in Amarnath pilgrimage, who remained there from 8 AM to 2 PM. "The officers have to do the office work after 2 PM, due to which public has been suffering badly", he said.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu, PawanKotwal said that officers of Tourism department, Amarnath Shrine Board and several officers of district administration Jammu have been deputed for smooth conduct of Amarnath pilgrimage. |
