Greater common good

Governor’s administration has intensified its crusadeagainst corruption in Jammu and Kashmir. It seems that the state government hasgot clear cut instructions from the Centre to nail the corrupt elements andencourage the youth to come forward.

Recently the Governor’s administration sacked the Chairmanof Jammu and Kashmir Bank on the alleged corruption charges. The governmentacting tough against a “big man” seems to have sent a message to one and allthat no one is above the law.

   

Most people in the state have welcomed the move of theGovernor’s administration to tighten its noose around the corrupt elements. Butthe administration should bear in mind that the ongoing crusade against thecorruption should not be selective. It should not remain confined to Kashmironly.

The corruption in Jammu and Kashmir has always been atalking point in the state. When the PDP-BJP regime came into power in J&Kin 2015 the then Chief Minister, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, had announced that thecorrupt elements would be dealt with sternly. A few government employees wereeven shown the door but the people who were terminated approached the court andgot their jobs back as the cases prepared by the state government were notwater tight.

Recently the Governor’s administration sacked all the publicprosecutors and the additional advocate generals appointed by the erstwhilePDP-BJP regime. According to the media reports the government is also planningto terminate the services of the standing counsels, whose number is inhundreds. It seems that the previous government had turned the law departmentinto recruitment agency as most of the standing counsels were appointed on therecommendations of the politicians. By sacking the lawyers the incumbentadministration has tried to drive home a point that all the selections infuture would be based on merit and not the recommendations of thepoliticians.     

The former J&K Bank Chairman has been caught on thewrong foot as he has been accused of making backdoor appointments and going outof way to accommodate the elites. There is a possibility that the formerChairman of the Bank would have gone out of way on the instructions of thepoliticians, who had appointed him. Action against the former chairman is okaybut the government should probe at whose behest the Bank chairman carried outthe acts of which he is being accused of. They too should be punished forintimidating the Chairman.

One hopes that the Governor Satya Pal Malik carries forwardhis drive against the corrupt elements and directs the investigating agenciesto expose all those who have ruined the state for their vested interests.

Besides corruption the Governor’s administration needs tofocus on the governance issues, which touch the skin of a common man. ThePresident’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir is all set to be extended so it’s theGovernor who would continue to be the de facto head of the state. Everyone hasappreciated the steps he has taken to expose the misdeeds of the past regimesbut he needs to look around him and see what’s happening. He needs to dispelthe notion that only Kashmiris are at the receiving end. Governor’sjurisdiction extends to Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The corrupt elements in allthe three regions should be treated at par with each other. No attempt shouldbe made to shield anyone irrespective of him belonging to any region.

The whistle blowers need to be protected and encouraged.It’s the duty of the administration to protect the people who raise their voiceagainst the corruption. There have been many instances in the past where thewhistle blowers have had to face the wrath of the influential people, involvedin wrong doings.

At present the Governor’s administration has got all thepowers and there is no political interference from any side. The Centre isruling the state directly and at this point of time it can set many thingsright. One hopes that the people at the helm do justice with all the regionsand ensure that they set up an example so that their successors could followtheir footsteps and don’t make any attempt to hide behind the turmoil, whichKashmir has been witnessing for the past three decades. People of Kashmir arewatching the developments keenly and are hoping that justice will be done witheveryone.

(The writer is a Former Journalist and member of JK YouthAlliance)

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