Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Issues Stern Warning to Government Employees
In a significant development from Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has issued a stern warning to government employees regarding their responsibilities toward elected representatives. This warning comes just one day after the administration suspended five Public Works Department engineers for alleged delays in snow clearance operations in the Shopian and Anantnag districts.
Constitutional Authority Must Be Respected
During his visit to Shopian to assess the situation following heavy snowfall in the region, Choudhary emphasized the constitutional position of Members of the Legislative Assembly. "When MLAs seek work from you, you must remember that they hold constitutional positions," he stated firmly. The deputy chief minister, who also holds the PWD portfolio, made it clear that any employee refusing to comply with MLA requests would face consequences.
"Any employee who refuses to listen to MLAs, believing they can get away due to patronage or connections, should learn a lesson from these suspensions," Choudhary added, referring to the punitive action taken against the five engineers.
Background of the Suspensions
The suspended officials include Shopian assistant executive engineer Noor Din, who ironically received an appreciation certificate from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate on January 26 for his role in snow clearance operations. The action was initiated after MLAs from Shopian, Anantnag, and other areas complained that these officials failed to discharge their duties properly.
According to reports, the alleged negligence led to:
- Delayed snow clearance operations
- Disruption of essential services
- Significant road traffic problems
Political Reactions and Broader Implications
The Peoples Democratic Party has criticized the government's decision, with former MLA and PDP's Shopian representative Aijaz Ahmad Mir stating, "Suspended engineers were very much present on duty during the snowfall." This controversy emerges at a sensitive time when the elected government has been expressing concerns about the Union Territory's dual governance system.
Observers note that secretary-level officials currently do not report directly to the government under this system. The suspension of these engineers is therefore being interpreted as an attempt by the UT administration to assert its authority over employees and strengthen the chain of command between elected representatives and bureaucratic functionaries.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in administrative coordination within Jammu & Kashmir's governance structure, particularly regarding emergency response mechanisms during severe weather conditions that frequently affect the region.
