The govt has ordered that Heads of Departments (HODs) and Deputy Commissioners (DCs) should suspend employees, who fail to report at duties during the current unrest.
Officials said the divisional administration has asked the DCs to issue notices to the employees, who are not attending their duties after eruption of unrest in the Valley following killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
They said the Secretaries have asked the concerned HODs to identify absent employees for taking action against them. The govt has already stopped salaries of thousands of employees, who have not joined duties during the unrest. The move to deny salaries was criticized by the employees’ organizations and civil society members.
The government in a latest order has asked the DCs to act against absentee employees under the service conduct rules.
“Government has sought stringent action against those employees, who aren’t attending duties. We have been asked to issue notices to the absent employees warning them of suspension,” said a senior government official.
A deputy commissioner of one of the districts in South Kashmir said in compliance to government order, some employees have been suspended.
According to sources, government is particularly keen on ensuring regular presence of staff of education department including teachers in the schools for holding the examinations on time.
The government has stopped salaries of many teachers, who have now been warned of suspension by the concerned chief education officers (CEOs), they said.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Nasir Ahmad Naqash, said appropriate measures have been taken against the employees, who have not attended duties in accordance with government directions.
According to officials, employees were mostly found absent from duties in worst-hit South Kashmir districts of Kulgam, Shopian, Anantnag and Pulwama.
“In other districts of Bandipora, Budgam and Srinagar, over 92 percent attendance has been reported including in the education department,” they said.
A senior official of education department said in Bandipora, over 93 percent attendance has been reported.
“The other 7 percent staff has availed proper leave. In case, an employee fails to report at the duty on a particular day due to restrictions or stone pelting in his or her area, they apply for leave,” he said.
Another government official said the orders about stopping the salaries of absent employees were issued in the first month of unrest, but government had taken a lenient view.
“However, the govtt is now cracking whip on the employees, who have been staying away from duties. Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, had taken a lenient view of the situation and had advised that salaries should be released earlier. But since many have failed to join duties, we have been asked to stop salaries and issue suspension order to the absent employees,” he said.