Srinagar, Sep 7: Jammu and Kashmir government will not allow the “Secretariat Chalo” here called by employees on Thursday to seek payment of 6th Pay Commission arrears and fulfilment of other demands, sources said. However the employees’ representatives said they will go ahead with the proposed “peaceful program come what may.”
After holding another round of talks with employees’ representatives here Chief Secretary Madhav Lal told Greater Kashmir that it was explained to employees Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) members that there are prohibitory orders in force in Srinagar in which gathering of any kind may not be desirable.
An official handout said during the meeting the leaders and office bearers of employees associations were advised against holding the rallies and public demonstration in view of the “prevailing situation and the reconciliatory attitude being pursued by the Government towards resolution of the pending demands particularly revision of roadmap for the payment of arrears.
The JCC which is an amalgam of various employees’ unions has asked the employees numbering over 4.5 lakh to reach Pratap Park here on September 8 wherefrom they are scheduled to march towards the civil secretariat, highest seat of governance in the state, to seek fulfilment of their demands.
JCC is demanding revisit by the government on roadmap for release of arrears due to employees since January 2006, enhancement in retirement age to 60 years from the present 58 and regularisation of all daily wagers. District Magistrate, Srinagar said that section-144 CRPC is in force in the Municipal limits of Srinagar city and no request for holding of any protest demonstrations by employees association has been received by him. “We therefore appeal to the employees to respect the prohibitory orders which are in force,” he said in a handout.
Asked about the government plans to prevent employees from gathering here in the summer capital, another top official, wishing anonymity, said: “Due care will be taken to prevent the situation from going out of control.”
Meanwhile, a team of top government authorities headed by Chief Secretary with Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, BB Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home, BR Sharma, Commissioner Secretary GAD, Muhammad Sayeed Khan and Commissioner Secretary Health today held another round of talks with JCC members. However the deliberations did not yield any results, employees representatives said.
“Our program for tomorrow stands. Let government do whatever it wants,” warned JCC member, Abdul Qayoom Wani.
He said during the meeting the government authorities asked JCC to call off the tomorrow’s program and instead held protests in offices at respective districts.
“We have called for the march to secretariat tomorrow and we will not change it. It will be a peaceful program,” Wani said.
Meanwhile work in government offices was badly affected today for the second consecutive day in response to the pen down strike call given by the JCC.
A JCC member said: “There was total response to the strike call and no work was carried out in any government department office today also.”
He said employees will not give up till their demands are met in concrete terms.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 7 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST