Ishfaq-ul-Hassan
SRINAGAR—Shock and outrage have gripped Jammu and Kashmir after Criminal Investigation Department (CID) asked field officials not to issue clearance in passport verification, government jobs, and any other government schemes to people found involved in “law and order, stone pelting, and other crimes prejudicial to the security of the state”.
In a circular issued on Saturday, the CID Special Branch Kashmir (SBK) has directed all units to deny security clearance to those involved in stone-pelting and “other crimes prejudicial to the security of the state”.
According to the order, all digital evidence and police records will be taken into consideration. “All the field units of CID-SB Kashmir are hereby directed to ensure during verification related to passport, service, and any other verification related to government services/schemes, the subject’s involvement in law and order, stone-pelting cases, and other crimes prejudicial to the security of the state be specifically looked into and same must be corroborated from local police station records. Also, digital evidence like CCTV footage, photographs, videos and audio clips, quadcopter images available in the records of police, security forces, and security agencies be also referred to. Any subject found involved in any such cases must be denied the security clearance,” said a circular issued by SSP CID, SBK.
The issue has sparked outrage in Kashmir with political leaders questioning the motive behind such directives.
“An `adverse police report’ cannot be a substitute for being found guilty in a court of law. A year and a half ago J&K police were able to create an ‘adverse police report’ to justify my detention under the Public Safety Act that would never have stood up to the legal challenge. They did the same with scores of others, many of whom had these police reports tossed out by the courts. An executive order cannot replace a court of law. Guilt or innocence must be proven in court & not based on vague unproven police reports,” tweeted former chief minister Omar Abdullah.
People’s Democratic Party President Mehbooba Mufti said innocent Kashmiris arrested under anti-terror laws rot in jails for years.
“For them, the trial becomes the punishment. But GOI doesn’t want an inquiry against a cop caught red-handed with militants. Is it because he colluded with the system to orchestrate certain dodgy incidents? Kashmiris are considered guilty until proven innocent. Whether for a government job or even a passport they are subjected to the worst kind of scrutiny. But when a policeman is known to have facilitated militants he is let off the hook. The double standards & dirty games are obvious,” she said.
Earlier, Mehbooba, a three-time MP and former chief minister, was denied passport after CID issued adverse police report.
Earlier, an amendment by the Union Territory administration in the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Verification of Character and Antecedents) Instructions, 1997 mandated a satisfactory CID report in order to land a government job.
Sources it will be compulsory to disclose whether any family member or close relative is associated with any political party or organization, or has participated in any political activity or has had links with a foreign mission or organization, or any prescribed/ prohibited/ banned organisation such as the Jamaat-e-Islami.
According to fresh amendment, in the case of in-service employees requiring re-verification from the CID, details of one’s postings and promotions since the date of appointment would have to be furnished besides details of jobs of one’s parents, spouse, children, and step-children, parents-in-law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.
