LoP alleges Jammu teachers denied promotion over place of birth
NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly on Tuesday witnessed Uproarious scenes over alleged Discrimination with Jammu region in transfer of teachers in education department. The trouble brewed when BJP member Shakti Parihar claimed that while transfers in the education department have been affected in Kashmir, “Jammu has been ignored”.
Raising the issue during question hour, Parihar alleged that the Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) were functioning in a biased manner, favouring employees from the Kashmir region while neglecting those from Jammu. The remarks by BJP Doda West MLA triggered protests and counter-reactions across the House, leading to an uproar.
Minister in-charge, Education Department, Sakeena Itoo however refuted the allegations. She said that the government treats both regions equally. “BJP is “habitual of crying discrimination. There is no discrimination. Jammu Kashmir is equal for this government,” she stated, drawing loud reactions from several members.
The minister said there was a blanket ban on recruitment, and posts were not referred to the recruitment agencies. She said, “1500 posts were frozen by them. The education department was on the verge of being defunct. “There has been a blanket ban in the recruitment boards since 2019,” she said. “There are numerous vacancies that remain unfilled, but I thank the Chief Minister for assuring that all vacant posts will be defreezed soon.” “They should tell us where they have brought the education department,” Itoo said, pointing to the BJP.
Later LoP Sunil Sharma said the National Conference government in Jammu Kashmir has discriminated against teachers from Jammu in promotions and transfers.
Sharma said that since the government took office over the past year, officials in the Education Department have given timely promotions and transfers to teachers, masters, lecturers, and principals, but teachers born in Jammu were excluded.
“Tell me, what fault does someone born in Jammu have? Because I was born in Jammu, I will not get promotion or transfer here based on merit,” Sharma said. He questioned why officials treat teachers from Jammu differently. “I rise in merit, but since I was born in Jammu, I will not get a promotion. What crime has a Jammu teacher committed?” he said.
He accused the National Conference of continuing policies that favoured certain groups over others and said the issue raises questions about fairness and transparency in administrative decisions in the Education Department.
