Recent transfers in civil administration by Jammu & Kashmir Government show that bureaucrats are placed on key positions purely for the conveniences of the local leaders of the party in power at the centre irrespective of their past performances, professional integrity and political neutrality. In the fastly changing political scenario in Jammu & Kashmir bureaucrats satisfying the political ego of the local leaders of the party in power at the centre and their collaborators in Jammu & Kashmir Government find themselves at key positions and enjoy longer stays at plum posts. Though acquaintance of the bureaucrats with the local environment used to be the uncompromising qualification for posting of any bureaucrat as deputy commissioner of a particular district during the previous popular governments of erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state but now non local bureaucrats not acquainted with the local environment have been offered the positions of deputy commissioners in most of the valley districts. The posting of non local bureaucrats as deputy commissioners has virtually taken away the right of the accessibility of the people to the highest executive offices in the valley districts and consequently crisis of public alienation is deepening with every passing day even after the elections of district development council (DDCs). Taking pride in the conduct of district development council (DDC) elections and terming the constitution of district development councils the beginning of a new chapter of democracy by Lt Governor is not enough but consultation with the newly elected representatives of district development councils (DDCs) over key decisions of the government particularly the transfers of the deputy commissioners and heads of the key departments in absence of a popular government is must for the purposes of the political accountability in the government.
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Keeping in view the fact that elected representatives are more concerned about the development of their concerned areas than the officers implementing the government decisions both in Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu divisions, the involvement of parliament members and members of the district development councils (DDCs) in the decision making process including the transfers and postings of officers on key positions has to be a priority for overcoming the intensifying crisis of people’s alienation and public accountability at the grass roots till the restoration of popular rule in Jammu & Kashmir.
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Since the parliament members and the newly elected members of the district development councils (DDCs) are the only directly elected representatives of the people in the absence of a popular government, their involvement in the decision making process including the transfers and postings of officers on sensitive positions like deputy commissioners has to be ensured for institutionalising democracy in the absence of a popular rule in Jammu & Kashmir. Keeping in view the fact that elected representatives are more concerned about the development of their concerned areas than the officers implementing the government decisions both in Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu divisions, the involvement of parliament members and members of the district development councils (DDCs) in the decision making process including the transfers and postings of officers on key positions has to be a priority for overcoming the intensifying crisis of people’s alienation and public accountability at the grass roots till the restoration of popular rule in Jammu & Kashmir.
