The Jammu & Kashmir authorities issued an order on Friday, prohibiting the Union territory’s employees from engaging in demonstrations and strikes, warning of severe consequences if any employee is found participating in such protests.

The ban encompasses employees who go on strike for various reasons, including delayed salary payments, transfers, and other administrative matters. The order highlights that the UT administration has observed some employees resorting to demonstrations to press for their demands.

One recent instance is the 48-hour strike conducted by the J&K Power Employees and Workers United Front in September. The strike was organised in response to unexpected delays and irregularities in receiving salaries.

Last year, following a series of targeted terrorist attacks on “non-local” government staffers in Kashmir, numerous protests occurred, particularly in Jammu, as employees refused to return to work in the Valley.

In the latest order, the UT administration invoked Rule 20(ii) of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971, which explicitly states that government employees should not engage in or support any form of strike related to their service or the service of fellow employees.

The order calls on all administrative secretaries to circulate these instructions to employees in their respective departments, urging them to refrain from participating in demonstrations and strikes, which are considered acts of “serious indiscipline and misconduct”.

(With inputs from agencies)