Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, President, Dogra Sadar Sabha, J&K called upon the Chief Secretary, Shri Arun Kumar Mehta, to highlight various issues of public importance. This was disclosed by Shri Charak in a press conference held at Dogra Sadar Sabha Bhawan here today.
Elaborating upon the issues discussed, he said that these included concerns regarding the recent amendment orders which apparently amounted to a roll back of its earlier orders by the UT Government, doing away with the fifteen decades old and obsolete practice of biannual Darbar Move that was ended after years of deliberations and wide condemnation even by the late PM Shri Rajiv Gandhi, former Sadar e Riyasat and Union Minister Dr. Karan Singh, former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah and a number of preceding Governors of Jammu and Kashmir besides observation by double bench of the Hon’ble High Court headed by Chief Justice that “the practice was opposed to public interest and deprived either region completely of access to Govt. machinery for six months at a time”. Shri Charak welcomed the assurance given by the Chief Secretary that the practice of Durbar Move was not being restored, but only about 30 percent of the officers and their staff, who were essentially required to assist the Hon’ble lieutenant Governor and the Chief Secretary to facilitate smooth working of the secretariat at Jammu, had been asked to come to Jammu. Shri Charak impressed upon the Chief Secretary to find out a way out to completely abolish this practice as it was not in public interest.
Shri Charak also brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary, the slow pace of restoration work of Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex despite assurances that the work would be completed as per the approved comprehensive restoration plan in time for the celebrations of 75 years of India’s Independence. He also stressed to formally rescind the illegal and unethical move to establish hotel within the protected Heritage Complex. The Chief Secretary was urged to personally look into the matter with all the required seriousness.
The Chief Secretary was appraised that the archives are an intrinsic part of Dogra heritage and have been the soul of the complex for centuries and any move to shift the Archives from the Mubarak Mandi Complex will be suicidal as are also the need of scholars of history and culture, as well as cultural tourists, from across the world. Large scale shifting of the precious but fragile centuries old record will make it prone to damage & loosing of rare and historic documents/manuscripts.
Shri Charak conveyed grave concern over the press reports that the already inadequate staff in Directorate of Archives, Archeology and Museums, J&K was being further reduced by transferring a large portion of the posts in the department to the Union Territory of Ladakh without any real need to do so. It was brought to the notice of the Chief Secretary that against about 55-60 monuments, a number of museums and a huge record dating back to over 300 years, including the iconic protected monuments like the Mubarak Mandi Palaces Complex, Jammu were being looked after by the Department in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas there are only 2 or 3 protected monuments, and hardly any record under the care of the Department in the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Shri Charak revealed that it was given to understand by the Chief Secretary during the meeting that the proposal to bifurcate the staff between the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh was recommended by a Committee of senior officers and the relocation of Human Resource in the two UT’s was based on the same.
To this, Shri Charak expressed that perhaps the Committee had not gone into the ground realities and the actual need base requirements of the two Union Territories. Therefore the matter required to be reviewed immediately so that preservation of protected monuments and precious heritage does not fall into neglect. Immediate steps were also demanded from the government for proper preservation of the priceless paintings and other artifacts of the Dogra Art Museum, and the rare Archival records that were temporarily kept in the erstwhile Army Headquarters building till the time, the earmarked buildings in the complex are restored for their proper and permanent display as per International norms. It was regretted by Shri Charak that even proper matting was not provided on the floors where archival records were lying in dust and under polluted conditions. Even the ceiling of the halls was found leaking there by putting the record to great risk of preservation.
Shri Charak desired personal instructions to concerned authorities by the Chief Secretary to expedite the conservation of heritage buildings, and house the archives by following scientific norms within Mubarak Mandi. It was also demanded that the Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex be opened to the public, during fixed hours on all days, to enable citizens and tourists to savor the grandeur of the historic complex and witness the steps being taken to restore it to its pristine glory. It was further demanded that the works be carried out in a transparent manner under the close supervision of the experts of the Archeological Survey of India as mandated in the 8th meeting of the Governing Body of the Society, This will ensure that the conservation norms are adhered to, and no aspect of the precious heritage is lost during the restoration work.
Th. Gulchain Singh Charak regretted that there appeared a calculated attempt by some elements in the government machinery to belittle the history, heritage and culture of the Dogras as also evident from stringent restrictions on movement of people along the main road that passes along the front gates of the Civil Secretariat, Jammu. The restrictions have physically divided the Old Jammu City into two parts creating avoidable hurdles and discouraging access of local residents, students and tourists/visitors coming to Jammu, to various institutions of historical, educational, religious and social importance in this locality, such as Gandhi Bhawan, Zanana Park (Perhaps the only one that exists in the Country), Dogra Hall, Ranbireshwar Temple, Ranbir Higher Secondary School, Government College for Women, Parade Road and Ranbir Library. This barrier also obstructs the movement of mourners who barefooted, carry their deceased near and dear ones in a procession, for cremation at the Jogi Gate. The restrictions at secretariat gates compel them to take other longer routes adding to their misery.
It was also highlighted that the awkward parking of security vehicles in the Ranvireshvar Temple Chowk continues to eclipse the aesthetic depiction of the history of establishment of Jammu City by Raja Jambu Lochan, which has been artistically created and showcased at Ranvireshwar Temple Chowk.
Shri Charak urged upon the administration to work out an alternative foolproof security arrangement for the civil secretariat by utilising the large compound within the civil secretariat complex only so that the road is thrown open to the public and they heave a sigh of relief.
A strong appeal was made by Shri Charak to the Chief Secretary to resolve all the projected issues soon, taking into account the sentiments of the people as well as logic. Shri Charak warned that delay in resolution of the issues will neither be in the interest of the people nor the culture and heritage for which we are struggling to protect and preserve.
Col. Karan Singh Jamwal, Prem Sagar Gupta, Brig. M.S. Jamwal, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Amanat Ali Shah, S. Kulbir Singh and Chander Mohan Sharma were also present during the press conference.,
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