Srinagar, June 24 : Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) senior leader and former minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir on Wednesday demanded immediate repatriation of J&K employees who continue to be posted in Ladakh Union Territory despite submitting their options for postings to the general administration department within stipulated time period.
In a statement issued here, Mir observed that hundreds of employees working in various departments like higher education, school education, heath, PDD, finance, planning, home, PWD, PHE and National Health Mission who belong to both divisions of J&K are suffering immensely because of challenging socio-environmental conditions in Ladakh.
“Unfortunately, the J&K administration seems to have forgotten about the plight of its employees working in hostile conditions of Ladakh UT even after seeking their choices for places of postings in J&K,” Mir remarked. He appealed to the union home minister to intervene into the matter and order immediate shifting of these hapless employees from Union territory of Ladakh to their respective divisions in J&K.
The JKA leader averred that most of the employees as per rules have already completed their mandatory period in Leh and Kargil in Ladakh UT. “A significant number of employees who are from Kashmir and Jammu divisions were posted in Ladakh before August5, 2019 and have completed around four years of their tenure at their present places of postings. Most of these employees had opted J&K after GAD issued a circular seeking their choices for postings. But till date these employees are not being shifted to J&K which has created a lot of problems for their families,” Mir opined.
He said Ladakh being known for its harsh winters and high altitude areas has caused severe health problems to the J&K employees who find it very difficult to get acclimatized to its socio-climatic conditions. “JKAP appeals to LG G.C Murmu to take up this matter with home ministry on priority basis and ensure the necessary directions are issued in this regard,” Mir pleaded.
The JKAP leader said that many assistant professors who were deputed by the University of Kashmir to its Satellite Campus in Leh are also affected badly by the lackadaisical approach of the higher education department. “Many employees from J&K including teachers, lecturers and professors have developed serious health issues due to extreme climatic conditions, social isolation and inhospitable conditions in Ladakh. These employees should be repatriated to their parent departments on an urgent basis as warranted under their service rules,” he demanded.
Mir said even the service rules framed in 1989 categorically and unambiguously provided that for employees initially appointed in Ladakh, on completion of their mandatory tenure they shall be posted in their home districts or divisions accordingly.
“Since the bifurcation of J&K into two union territories the J&K employees working in Ladakh have been vehemently pleading for repatriation to their native places. Their pleas seem to be falling on deaf ears. Due to the delay in their transfer to J&K, not only these employees themselves but their families particularly their parents and children here are facing immense miseries,” Mir observed. (GNS)
