Jammu and Kashmir Administration’s decision to cease public entry in the Civil Secretariat in wake of the rising threat of novel Coronavirus has upset the visitors.
In view of detection of three confirmed COVID-19 cases in Jammu and measures put in place by the Health Department to tackle the threat of its local transmission, it was decided on Monday that public entry in Civil Secretariat and all HoD level offices in Jammu Division will remain closed till March 31, as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the administration officials have demanded the installation of a screening camp at the official complex.
”This is an unfortunate decision. The ‘babus’ have prevented themselves from getting infected by ordering ban on public entry at the Civil Secretariat and putting all activities to a halt,” DL Sharma, a local, said outside the secretariat complex, here.
The visitors reached outside the Secretariat, criticising this decision of the government.
Officials and staff arrived at the Secretariat, but the ban of general public visiting to the Secretariat started from morning itself.
As many people have reached outside the Secretariat including some from far-flung areas in connection with their work, who were not aware of the order issued by the government.
The outside visitors waited for hours, so that they might get a chance to go inside.
Mohammad Bashir claimed that he had reached the secretariat at1100 hrs and requested the security personnel at the entrance for permission to enter the secretariat complex as he has some urgent task and have to get the documents submitted.
“It is necessary to take precautions to prevent coronavirus from spreading but does the epidemic spreads only in the secretariat?,” he said if the secretariat of the capital is shut then how and where a common man has to approach for official works and that too in a situation when there is no popular government.
At the same time, some lawyers who had reached the secretariat for some official work were also standing in the queue.
According to him, it is unfortunate for the people who have been left on God’s mercy because there are many, who waiting to reach to the officers for some urgent work.
“Secretariat complex is nowhere closed in India except Jammu,” the lawyers claimed and suggested to the government to install a screening booth at the Civil Secretariat and visitors should be allowed to enter only after proper checking rather than putting the work to a halt, which will not solve the purpose.