DOZENS OF SENIOR J&K OFFICERS IN SELF-QUARANTINE

The administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is reeling under the impact of recent Covid-19 positive cases in the higher-ups of the administration. This has affected functioning of the government, both in Jammu and Srinagar. Common people have been accusing the administration of being inaccessible, despite their grievances.

The government is responding to these allegations by claiming that dozens of senior officers and their staff are in selfquarantine, as one senior IAS officer tested positive.

With Covid positive cases showing a steep rise, people are blaming the administration for allowing families of officers, both in police and administration, to have a life at home and allowing them to mingle with people. Many residents of Srinagar have said that the present rise in the Covid cases is due to violation of rules set by the same administration for flattening the pandemic curve. Earlier, two family members of advisor to Lt. Governor tested positive and forced the administration to send dozens of officials who were in contact with the advisor into self quarantine. In the past one week, the J&K administration has been criticised by political parties and civil society members for the spread of Covid-19 and breaking rules of standard operating procedures (SOPS) set up by them for common people and flouted for their families and friends. “The Covid-19 case was the result of not following SOPS by a senior police officer at Srinagar airport. People of Srinagar are bearing the brunt of his violation, while the government is silent about the action taken against the police officer,” said a local doctor at a Covid hospital of Srinagar.