No curbs on govt staff, essential services providers: Jammu DM

Jammu, Aug 5 (IANS) Jammu District Magistrate Sushma Chauhan here on Monday said the government employees engaged in essential services and in supply of essential commodities had been were allowed hassle-free passage, following imposition of Section 144.Chauhan said it was essential to maintain such services. The Section 144 would not be applicable in case of officials, staff or assistants of PHC, PDD and PWD Department, officers, employees or assistants of Health and Medical Education department posted in PHC/CHCs within Municipal limits and Government Medical College, Jammu. "They could avail hassle-free movement on showing their valid identity cards," she said in her order.It would also not apply to safai karmcharis of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, employees or assistants of Jammu railway station, employees of Indigo, Air Vistara, Go Air, SpiceJet, Air India and other scheduled airlines deployed at the Jammu airport, passengers travelling with a valid air, rail or bus ticket for an onward journey, newspaper distributors, milk distributor and food suppliers.She said official and employees of public or private sector oil companies too can have hassle-free movement on showing valid ID cards. A curfew and communication blackout are in place in Kashmir with the Centre on Monday proposing to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to J&K. Due to communication shutdown, majority of Kashmiris are still unaware of the decision. On Sunday night, there was a massive security lock down in Kashmir. The administration passed orders restricting movement of people while telephone lines, internet and cable TV were also shut.Kashmir's mainstream politicians, including two former Chief Ministers -- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti -- and Sajjad Lone were placed under house arrest.
--IANS aks/pcj