Asstt Comm (Panchayat) Rajouri suspended for hurting religious sentiments; panel led by Addl DDC Rajouri to hold inquiry

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: An Assistant Commissioner (Panchayat) posted in Rajouri district has been suspended on Wednesday for making objectionable remarks against a particular religion.
As per details, taking action over a complaint submitted by one of the subordinates of Assistant Commissioner (AC), the District Magistrate Rajouri, Vikas Kundal has ordered the action against Assistant Commissioner (Panchayat) Abdul Rashid Kohli (JKAS). “This office has received a complaint that AC Panchayat has made some objectionable remarks about a particular religion,” Kundal said in an order.

JKAS officer’s these remarks can create law & order problem

According to order issued by District Magistrate, the officer’s conduct was not only a violation of service conduct rules, but also hurt religious sentiments of another community and had the potential of creating a law and order problem in the district. The District Magistrate further ordered that a committee led by Additional District Development Commissioner Pawan Parihar would probe the matter and submit detailed report within 15 days.
As per complaint submitted to the District Magistrate by Sanjeet Sharma (Secretary Panchayat) that Abdul Rashid Kohli made objectionable remarks over a particular religion, while having lunch at Hotel Blue Start Muradpur, Rajouri along with four more subordinates Zaheer Malik (Secretary Panchyat), Utish Ashok (Secretary Panchyat) and Tahir Mirza (MIS operartor) during office hours.
Sanjeet further said that the Abdul Rashid Kohli allegedly made objectionable remarks when he ordered vegetarian food while all others ordered non-vegetarian food.
As per complainant, “Abdul Rashid asked me to go thorough religious scriptures, after which I would change my religion. The objectionable comments on my religious sanctity shocked me which was unbearable and unacceptable at any cost. Being my senior, I objected where I can but can’t stop him.” The complaint further alleged that on raising objection over the remarks of the officers, the delinquent officer even threatened him of thrashing from the post. The other colleagues were mute spectators, Sanjeet added in his complaint.
Questioning whether the services of an employee is ruled by laws of a particular religion or Constitution of India, the complainant, in his complaint, even offered to resign from the job in place of surrendering against such unethical and radical forces, acting in the system and sought necessary legal action against officer for his misconduct and irresponsible remarks against a particular religion, which can destroy the secular fabric in the area.