Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday announced a relaxation in the rules governing compassionate appointments, stating that families of government employees who died “natural deaths” will now be considered for jobs, a move that comes amid a continuing drive to streamline the recruitment process in the Union Territory.
LG Sinha said 438 people have already been issued appointment letters under the new dispensation. He noted that the administration was cognisant of the distress caused by job losses during the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.
“As you all know, for a long time, due to the pandemic and the lockdown, a large number of people have lost their jobs. You have all heard about their pain,” the Lt Governor said.
He said all Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police have been instructed to send approval letters to the General Administration Department (GAD) at the earliest, while stressing that each case was being processed only after a thorough investigation.
“Because if it is given to a wrong person, then it will be discussed more,” LG Sinha said.
In a significant policy relaxation, the Lt Governor said that even families of government employees who died naturally—who were earlier not covered under the existing norms—would now be issued approval letters.
“There are some cases where people who were in government jobs died naturally. But even they are not given a letter of approval. Now, by giving them relaxation, such people are also being given a letter of approval,” he said.
When asked about the recent film Durandar, which has drawn criticism and demands for a ban, LG Sinha dismissed the need for any such action, saying there was no reason to criticise the movie.
“I feel that there is no need to criticise it. What I have said, I have said it with a lot of energy,” he added without elaborating.
The Lt Governor further stated that elements linked to the government system were being removed, while security forces, including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), were operating under “a lot of pressure” in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the terror ecosystem in the region.
(KNS)
