Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir): The Jammu and Kashmir government has made mandatory for all its employees to get vigilance clearance to avail passport. The Administrative Secretary of General Administration Department Manoj Kumar Diwedi on Thursday issued an order asking all the department heads to communicate to the employees about about new direction.
For availing passport, all the residents of Jammu and Kashmir have to obtain clearance from Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police. However, today's orders says that the current system does not contain any mechanism to deny passport to employees under suspension or facing departmental inquiry or prosecution on account of serious charges.
"The guidelines for obtaining passport have been reviewed by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Personnel & Training, GoI in consultation with the Central Vigilance Commission and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and vide Office Memorandum No. F. No. 11012/7/2017-Estt.A-III dated 18th February 2020, elaborate instructions have been issued for obtaining fresh vigilance clearance while considering grant of passport to Government employees," the order of General Administration Department said.
The government said that the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has also brought into the notice of the Government that the present mechanism for issuance of passport to Government employees without obtaining requisite vigilance clearance results in the issuance of passport to those employees against whom vigilance cases are pending.
"Accordingly, it is impressed upon all the Administrative Departments/Heads of Departments to mandatorily obtain the latest vigilance clearance in respect of an employee applying for obtaining passport in terms of Office Memorandum dated 18th February, 2020 issued by DOPT, GOI, strictly," the order further reads.
A former government employee told ETV Bharat that the order was in vogue and earlier they had to get vigilance clearance to obtain passport. "The order may have been issued in view of change of various procedures and nomenclature of departments after abrogation of Article 370. This order is nothing new," he said.
Last month, the administration issued an order which clearly said that those persons who have cases registered in police stations for stone pelting and anti-national activities would be denied passport.
Read: Slain Kashmiri Pandits to have first civilian memorial in Jammu
