Govt revokes order two days before Geelani’s deadline

Srinagar: Two days before the end of a deadline set by Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the government on Thursday withdrew orders according sanction to the issuance of Dogra Certificate in favour of “all such residents of Jammu division.”   Geelani had threatened to launch a “peaceful struggle” if the government didn’t revoke the controversial order by April 30. “In view of the amendment circulated by MHA, relaxation in physical standards of Height and chest measurements has been extended to all the residents of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Now, therefore the government orders bearing Nos Rev (LB) 69 of 2011 and Rev (LB) 82 of 2011 stand superseded,” said government order No. Rev (LB) 101 of 2011, issued by Commissioner Secretary to Government, Revenue department.  The Ministry of Home Affair’s Government of India, after re-examining in physical standards of Height and chest, admissible to men belonging to hilly areas and tribal people, amended the scheme of recruitment in central paramilitary forces and Assam Rifles in suppression to their U.O issued vide Ministry of Home Affairs U.O No. 1-450236/2008-Pers-2 dated 11-01-2001, the been communicated to 1-45023/6/2008-Pers-2, THE incorporations of the amendment agencies vide U.O No.1-45023/6/2008-Pers-2 dated 2-04-2011.    On 25 March last Revenue Department had issued the first order—No: Rev (LB) 69 of 2011, according sanction to the issuance of Dogra Certificate in favour of “all such residents of Jammu division who are otherwise eligible for grant of Permanent Resident Certificate (Procedure) Act and the rules made there-under.”“The concerned Tehsildar (Territorial) shall be competent to issue such certificate to the eligible desirous persons irrespective of his/her ethnicity, religion, cultural background and mother-tongue,” the order read.The first order triggered off a controversy following which the department ‘amplified’ the order on 7 April, stating therein, “In amplification of the Government Order No: Rev (LB) 69 of 2011 Dated 25-03-2011, it is hereby clarified that the said certificate shall be issued to the candidates who are desirous of seeking employment and otherwise eligible for such employment in central paramilitary forces, wherever relaxation in height and chest measurements is permissible under the recruitment rules and (wherever) such a certificate is pre-requisite,” read the ‘amplified’ order No. Rev (LB) 82 of 2011. “It is also clarified that the above certificate issued by concerned Tehsildar (Territorial) shall specifically state the purpose ‘valid only for employment in central paramilitary forces’ and the following paragraphs shall form an integral part of such a certificate,” the second order read, also underlining the certificate was being issued to the candidate for the purpose of seeking employment in central paramilitary forces, wherever relaxation in height and chest measurement was permissible and where such a certificate was a pre-requisite. “This certificate shall not be valid for any other purpose other than above notified recruitment purposes, and shall not form the basis of seeking any other benefit whatsoever,” it had added. However, the ‘amplified’ order failed to break the ice as far the controversy surrounding it was concerned.