Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 23: The selection list of Special Police Officers (SPOs) of district Kathua has been caught in a blame-game between Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office Kathua as well as Home department, forcing the aspirants to run from pillar to post but all in vain.
After several abortive as well as successful attempts to meet concerned officials including DC office Kathua, Senior Superintendent of Police Office Kathua (SSP), office of Principal Secretary Home, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, the aspirants on Monday landed in police lockup after police foiled their protest at Kathua.
Over four dozen SPO aspirants from district Kathua informed Early Times that on Monday they were forced to reach Kalibari Chowk Kathua as no one was listening their repeated demand of publishing the selection list. An aspirant said that they were only protesting but police caught three of the protesters and put them in lockup along with other criminals. "After spending over one hour in the lockup, when SHO reached the office, he direct the lower run staff to get the aspirants out of lockup", the aspirants said, alleging that some of the police personnel have been threatening to spoil the character of the aspirants, if they would again stage protest.
"We are forced to come on roads and for the last over two years, we have been running from pillar to post for the list. The posts were advertised in year 2016 and physical test and height measurement was done in the year 2017 but despite publication of selection lists of all other districts, the list of Kathua is still pending", the aspirants said, adding that when they called on Deputy Commissioner Kathua, he showed a letter forwarded by former DC Rohit Khajuria seeking clarification from Home department to take further action on the list, which had some overwriting.
"We then approached the Home department, the officers claimed that it was the prerogative of DC to issue the list or cancel it and not of the Home department", an aspirant said, adding that but in the blame-game, they have been suffering a lot as there was also very shortfall of jobs.
DC Kathua O P Bhagat said that former DC had sought clarification from Home department on the list prepared by DC office, which had some over-writing. "The Home department had not sent the clarification due to which a final decision was not taken so far", he said.
On being questioned whether some decision would be taken, DC said that he has already taken up the matter with the Home department, which would likely to send the clarification shortly, after which a decision would be taken.
Principal Secretary to Home department Shaleen Kabra said that he was out of the UT but if the issue would be pending in his office, it would be replied within two days. |
