J&K: Govt Official Suspended For ‘Hurting Religious Sentiments’ Over Non-Veg Lunch
Rajouri District Magistrate Vikas Kundal ordered the action against Assistant Commissioner (Panchayat) Abdul Rashid Kohli following a complaint by one of his subordinates, they said.
New Delhi: The Jammu and Kashmir Administration on Thursday suspended a government official in Rajouri for making “objectionable remarks” against a particular religious community, officials said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI. Rajouri District Magistrate Vikas Kundal ordered the action against Assistant Commissioner (Panchayat) Abdul Rashid Kohli following a complaint by one of his subordinates, they said.
"This office has received a complaint that AC Panchayat has made some objectionable remarks about a particular religion," Kundal said in an order issued late on Tuesday, quoted by the news agency.
"Whereas, this conduct of the officer is not only a violation of service conduct rules, but also an issue of hurting religious sentiments of other communities and has the potential of creating Law and Order problems within the district," said the order.
"There, keeping in view of the above facts, Mr Abdul Rashid Kholi AC Panchayat is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect," said the order signed by Kundal.
It is reported that Kohli made the remarks while having lunch at Blue Moon Restaurant with four of his subordinates during office hours, he added. As per a report by the Telegraph, Kohli purportedly told his juniors that Rig Veda allows eating non-vegetarian food when one of them ordered vegetarian food at the restaurant.
As per the report quoting the complaint, the officer allegedly made the objectionable comment after one of his subordinates ordered vegetarian food, the official said.
According to the order, the officer’s conduct was not only a violation of service conduct rules, but also hurt religious sentiments of another community and had the potential of creating a law and order problem in the district.
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The district magistrate said a committee headed by Additional District Development Commissioner Pawan Parihar would probe the matter and submit a report within 15 days.
The Jammu and Kashmir Administration has also asked a committee headed by a senior officer to ascertain facts and submit a report.
A committee headed by Pawan Parihar, ADDC, shall inquire into the matter and report within a period of 15 days, the order said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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