Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Apr 12: The officer, who issued travel permission on palm of a commuter, has been exonerated after he apologized for the "unintentional" mistake.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Parvez Sajjad told Early Times that the officer had done the act in 'good faith' and he has apologized for it. "We have exonerated him because he hasn't done it intentionally," ADC Said. Earlier, the officer was served a show cause notice for defying the norms. Ghulam Mohi ud Din, Naib Tehsildar Khiram, according to the notice was deployed for magisterial duty on National Highway for Magisterial Duty at Tulkhun Crossing on National Highway vide order No. DCA/PA/2019, 73 Dated April 6, 2019. "Whereas, it came to the notice that Gh Mohi ud din is issuing passes to the travelers along the National Highway by putting stamps/signatures on their hands, which is against rules and unbecoming of a Magistrate," read the notice.
Keeping in view the above, Additional District Magistrate directed Gh Mohi ud Din to explain his position as to why action under the law may not be taken against him.
"The reply thereof be furnished within one day, failing which it will be presumed that you have nothing to say in your defence," reads the notice issued by Additional District Magistrate Anantnag.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Parvez Sajjad said that the officer replied within the time and apologized for stamping palm of a commuter. An image of the stamped palm had gone viral on social media in Kashmir on Wednesday and had triggered outrage in the Valley.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference Leader, Omar Abdullah wrote: "This is how permission is granted to people in J&K to use their highway. Their hands are being stamped & written on. I don't know what to say! Should we be flippant & mock the attempt at saving paper? I'm just angry at the degrading, inhuman treatment being meted out to people."
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Bureaucrat turned politician, Shah Faesal and other also criticized palm-stamping. |
