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| JKNPP moves High Court, demands permanent secretariat for Jammu | | No Logic Behind Durbar Move -- I I | | Neha
JAMMU, Nov 8: The JKNPP president, Balwant Singh Mankotia, the petitioner, has advanced in his Public Interest Litigation (PIL) several arguments on the basis of which he wishes the Jammu & Kashmir High Court to pass an order discontinuing the nearly 140-year-old practice of Durbar move between Jammu and Kashmir. A reference to some of them would be in order.
Firstly, it was for the "convenience" of the people of Kashmir Valley,Ladakh, Gilgit and Baltistan that Maharaja Ranbir Singh started in 1872 the practice of Durbar move from Jammu, his capital, to Srinagar and vice-versa. This decision of the Dogra Maharaja was in the interest of people of the two provinces and it had been calculated to make his secretariat easily accessible to the people. Jammu city was the capital of the state.
Secondly, it was because of "certain political interests" or "lack of political will" that the practice of shifting Durbar from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa was not discontinued. The continuation of the practice of Durbar move was much "against the will of the people" of Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of abandoning the practice, full-fledged civil secretariats were set up both in Srinagar and Jammu.
Thirdly, in 1872, there were only "five truck-loads" of secretariat records involved in the Durbar move, but today "hundreds of tons" of materials and records have to be shifted from Jammu to Sringar and vice-versa twice a year. It has become a very costly affair. It causes a loss to the exchequer to the tune of more than Rs 300 crores annually.
Fourthly, this practice of Durbar move in the 21st centaury has only resulted in "discrimination with the peoples of both the provinces". When in 1872 Maharaja Ranbir Singh took the initiative, his intentions were noble. He took the decision in the larger public interest. But things today have totally transformed. This practice today is "causing agony to the people of the Valley of Kashmir as well as people of Jammu Province". The population of nearly six millions in Kashmir Valley and Ladakh has to wait for six long months for the Durbar to reopen in Srinagar. It is obvious that the people suffer enormously in the absence of the secretariat. The bulk of the population is poor and it cannot afford to go to Jammu to get their work done. Similar is the story of the people of Jammu province. They too wait for six long months for the secretariat to reopen in Jammu.
Fifthly, the practice of Durbar move has created many problems. One of them is housing problem. The government has to provide accommodation to the move employees both at Srinagar and Jammu. Those who cannot be accommodated in government quarters are put up in rented accommodation at the cost of the public exchequer. This is undesirable.
Sixthly, the practice of moving Durbar from Jammu to Srinagar and back involves transfer of the official files and records "under proper security". It is a costly as well as risky affair. A convoy of buses is also required to transport employees from one place to another. Each employee is paid a lump sum amount, called the move allowance, each time the offices shift from Jammu to Srinagar and back.
Seventhly, the practice of Durbar move has been playing havoc with the people inhabiting the far flung areas. The people of Kashmir Valley remain cut off from the civil secretariat for more than six months in winter. 90 per cent of the people living in areas like Leh, Kargil, Kupwara, to mention only a few places, cannot even dream of traveling to Jammu to meet the concerned government officials to get their most urgent work done. You cannot treat the people like this in this modern world. This is nothing but an attack on the right to civilized life. The plight of the people living in areas like Poonch, Bani, Basohli, Bhadrwah, Kishtwar, Doda, Banihal, Marwah, Dachhan and other remote and inaccessible areas in Jammu province is equally miserable. They have no means of communication. During summer, they remain totally cut off from the headquarters of the government and all important and crucial government departments.
Eighthly, during the Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad regime, the state government constructed two huge civil secretariat buildings, one each at Jammu and Srinagar. That means if the age-old practice is discontinued, there would be no need of constructing new civil secretariat either in Srinagar or in Jammu. And, hence, it would be only desirable if the practice of Durbar move is discontinued in the larger interest of the people. Once it is done, the state government would save Rs 300 crore per annum, which could be used for the promotion of educational facilities and other public utility schemes. Besides, it will save the families of the move employees from agony and fatigue. (To be continued) |
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