The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which shares power with the PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday targeted the Mehbooba Mufti government over transfers, alleging that "norms" are not being followed and officers of Kashmir Valley are given postings of their preference.
The BJP's criticism of the state government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti once again brings to the fore the rift between the coalition partners over various issues ever since the formation of the government in 2015.
J&K BJP spokesperson Prof Virender Gupta alleged that persons having political patronage get the prize posting at their choicest places.
"Officers belonging to Jammu region, particularly of the minority (Hindu) community, suffer the most, because of the arbitrary policy pursued by the highest authority in the government," Gupta said in a statement here.
The officers of Kashmir Valley are given posting at their preferred positions in districts, 3-4 times during their service, without giving any consideration to their involvement in corruption cases pending against them, he alleged.
Gupta said transfers of the officers of higher ranks, without taking the Cabinet into confidence, "spoils the mutual faith and trust among the two political partners of the government and tells upon the harmonious relationship and the coordination between them."
The BJP leader was reacting to a media report which said that the transfer policy framed in 2010 by a government order was being frequently flouted.
The media report said that between January 1 and September 29, 346 transfers have been executed, involving 41 IAS and 305 KAS officers.
"It is surprising that while making those transfers, the general norm of seeking the approval of the Cabinet is not followed. These transfers were in addition to 45 transfers of the officers made with the approval of the state cabinet," Gupta said.
A "strong resentment" is brewing among the majority of IAS, IPS and KAS officers because of the present transfer policy of the government, he said.
The BJP leader said the government should adhere to the norms and the established procedures for effecting the transfers to "restore the shattered trust and faith" of the employees and ensure justice to the officers belonging to the Jammu region.
The BJP and the PDP have since forming the government together have disagreed on several key issues. Recently, the two parties differed over the abolition of Article 35 A.
Last month, Gupta had said that the time has come for the people of the state to say goodbye to Article 370 and also to Article 35 A.
Article 370 grants special status to J&K, while Article 35 A, added to the Indian Constitution through a presidential order, empowers the J&K legislature to define the state's "permanent residents" and their special rights and privileges.
(With PTI inputs)
