DIC Kupwara locked down as Information Officer suspended

KUPWARA — District Election Officer Kupwara Ansul Garg Tuesday placed acting District Information Officer (DIO) Kupwara under suspension for violating the Election Commission of India Guidelines. The officials from DIC Kupwara, however, locked down the office, demanding the revocation of the order at the earliest.

The employees of District Information Centre locked down the office following the suspension order of DIO who according to them was appointed by Director Information J&K against the vacancy.

As per the DDC Kupwara, the additional charge was given to Kashif Altaf on 27-02-2019, who is serving in the Handloom Department as Assistant Director in view of forthcoming elections.

The employees of DIC assembled within the vicinity of its office and raised slogans in favour of their suspended Information Officer, demanding revocation of suspension order at the earliest.

The protesting employees claimed that few days back, Director Information has issued an order for Bashir Ahmad Sofi to take over as DIO Kupwara to look after the office against the available vacancy.

Meanwhile, the Information Department Union also called for lockdown across the valley including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh following the suspension orders of Bashir Ahmad, Assistant Information Officer who was serving as Tehsil Information Officer Handwara.

As per the orders issued by the District Election Officer Ansul Garg, Bashir Ahmad Sofi assumed the charge of DIO Kupwara on 16-03-2019 unauthorizedly without intimation to District Information Officer Kupwara or this office in clear violation of rules laid down in this regard.

The order further reads, “Whereas the unauthorized assumption of charge of District Information Officer and assurance of relieving orders for officials of that officer by Bashir Ahmad and without due permission from this office.”

“Therefore in view of the above, Bashir Ahmad Sofi Assistant Information Officer, TIO, Handwara is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached with Dy. District Election Officer Kupwara and Additional Deputy Commissioner Kupwara has been appointed as enquiry officer to submit the detailed report within two weeks,” reads the order.

However, Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Ansul Garg said that only ECI can revoke the suspension orders.