As J&K bars employees from protest, Mehbooba says the order reeks of a “dictatorial mindset”

Srinagar, Nov 4 (FN Bureau) A Day after Jammu and Kashmir administration banned government employees from holding demonstrations and strikes in Favour of their demands, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said the order reeks of a “dictatorial mindset.” “ LG admin’s blanket ban on peaceful protests by government employees reeks of a dictatorial mindset. Stifling voices of reason in a democracy is unacceptable. Threatening them with dire consequences & disciplinary action is outrageous,” Mehbooba posted on X, while sharing the government order banning protests. On Friday, the J & K government warned employees against holding protests agitation, saying such acts will attract disciplinary action.According to the order, the government said it has come to fore that some employees are resorting to demonstrations and strikes in favour of certain demands. The government invoked Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, which states that no government employee shall resort to or in any way abet any form of strike in connection with any matter pertaining to his service or the service of any other government employee.

“The aforesaid provision of law is not merely declaratory in nature and shall definitely entail consequences in the event of any such employee found immersive in such acts,” the order said “Therefore, all Administrative Secretaries are requested to circulate these instructions to employees in their respective Department(s) to desist from all such uncalled for demonstrations and strikes: an act of serious indiscipline and misconduct.” The government warned them of strict action in case any employees were found involved in organizing demonstration and strikes. CPI(M) leader M Yusuf Tarigami, on Friday said said it was yet another assault on the constitutional rights of employees. “The order contravenes the ILO conventions to which India is a party. Government employees only stage demonstrations and rallies when their legitimate and just demands are not fulfilled. The directive is yet another assault on the employees’ and workers’ constitutional rights,” Tarigami said on X.