Jammu, Srinagar: Taking cue from an editorial of Kashmir Horizon tilted ” increasing grievances at J&K Secretariats” published on May 29 the Jammu & Kashmir Government on Wednesday directed all administrative secretaries to fix time slots preferably 2.30 to 3.30 P.M on daily basis for meeting general public/representatives for public hearing either in their offices or on notified telephone nos or through online video conferencing facility. It may be mentioned here that Kashmir Horizon had in it’s editorial on May 29 this drawn the attention of government towards some flaws in the public grievance system particularly the suspension of visiting hours for the general public at the twin civil secretariat at Srinagar and Jammu, several directorates in both Kashmir and Jammu and offices of the Deputy Commissioners at the district headquarters across Jammu & Kashmir.
An order issued from the General Administration Department (GAD) reads “All Administrative Secretaries shall be available for attending public grievances on daily basis (except on days of tour) between 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in person or on notified telephone numbers or on video conferencing facility for redressal of public grievances”. The order further reads ” it is impressed upon all Administrative Secretaries to fix time slots (preferably 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.) on daily basis for meeting general public/delegation(s)/representative(s) for hearing public grievances either in their offices or on notified telephone numbers or through online video conferencing facility”, adding that “the scheduled telephone numbers lweb links shall be widely publicized for information of general public”.
The concluding pare of the order reads “Accordingly, it is impressed upon all Administrative Secretaries to fix time slots (preferably 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.) on daily basis for meeting general public/delegation(s)/representative(s) for hearing public grievances either in their offices or on notified telephone numbers or through online video conferencing facility. The schedulesltelephone numberslweb links shall be widely publicized for information of general public”.
