End ties or face action, Govt warns employees

JAMMU: Almost three weeks after setting up of a monitoring group to curb the terror financing and terror-related activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government on Tuesday issued a stern warning to its employees against any association with unlawful associations in any manner.

Asking the employees who are already affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) to snap their ties immediately, it has also warned them of strict administrative consequences, if any direct or indirect link is found between them and unlawful associations in future.
Both JeI and JKLF were banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs recently, for five years.

Such a warning from State government was anticipated as the Centre has been stressing on eliminating the sympathy for separatists, militants and their outfits among the government employees, which it believed have been providing covert and overt support for terror activities, including terror funding, in Jammu and Kashmir.

On March 29, Centre had set up a multi-disciplinary terror monitoring group (MDTMG) which was tasked with identifying and take action against hardcore sympathisers among government employees, including teachers, who are providing covert or overt support to terror activities.

A day later, Governor Satya Pal Malik had said that sympathizers of terror funding and terrorist organizations were everywhere

“... Unless they are dealt with, terrorism cannot be wiped out," Malik had said and hinted at strong action on employees too.

“I am talking about all those people who are connected with them (terrorists), who are supporting them and who are their sympathisers. It is not only about employees," he had said.

A detailed circular issued today by General Administration Department, however, concreted the intention of government about zero-tolerance to terror and its sympathizers.

The Central Government vide notification Nos. S.O. 1069(E) dated 24th February, 2019 and S.O.l403 (E) dated 22nd March, 2019 had declared 'Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu & Kashmir (JeI) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (Mohd Yasin Malik faction)', respectively, as "unlawful associations" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

This was followed with State Home Department issuing the required notifications to give effect to the notifications of the Central Government and authorized District Magistrates and Police Officers to take necessary action.

Consequent to this, “association or participation, direct or indirect, of any Government employee with the said unlawful associations i.e. JeI or JKLF, shall attract the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971,” the circular reads.

“All government employees should desist from associating, directly or indirectly, with the above unlawful associations in any manner whatsoever…

“And those associated, if any, directly or indirectly, are advised to dissociate themselves forthwith failing which there will be administrative consequences,” it said.

The circular further impressed upon all the Administrative Secretaries, heads of the Departments, Managing Directors and DCs to bring this to the notice of all their employees.

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