Bureaucratic wars

Bureaucratic wars

It would do a world of good if the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government were to show a little more sensitivity towards the practical concerns of ordinary people in the state. The case of the unpaid rents is one more example of the daily irritants people suffer while the government is totally preoccupied elsewhere. Small irritants mount and become larger discontents.

The rent matter which is causing unhappiness in the Valley has parallels all over the country with ordinary people waging unending battles with an indifferent and callous bureaucracy. Over 600 people are caught in the middle of a quarrel between the Defence Ministry and the J&K government over who pays the rent for properties occupied by the security forces. As bureaucratic wars go this is one of the silliest. While letters and arguments fly between the offices of Farooq Abdullah and George Fernandes, people whose properties have been taken over are being put to hardship.

On the whole, people probably recognise the necessity of billeting troops in their houses or surrendering property at strategic places for the use of the army. As anti-insurgency operations have been intensified more and more private property has had to be given up to the paramilitary forces and the army. There is no quarrel with that. Nor does there seem to be a dispute about the quantum of rent. What is unacceptable is that these 600 people are having to pay the price of irreconcilable differences between two government agencies.

Their petitions ignored and patience exhausted, frustrated property owners have finally gone to court to claim rent or compensation for houses, shops, orchards and land occupied by the army and Rashtriya Rifles since 1993. Going by past experience, the Central and state bureaucracies concerned will probably contest the case in court, wasting public money and, what is worse, losing more goodwill in J&K.

It is obvious one or other government has to pay and the matter should be settled between them instead of being disputed in court. Rather than signing official notes to each other, Fernandes and Abdullah should demand an explanation from their officials. They might find if they insist on a quick solution that one will be found. If these two worthies are not up to the job of taking on their bureaucracies, perhaps Ram Jethmalani can intervene. Part of the Union Law Minister's plan to reform the justice system involves an end to precisely this kind of senseless litigation which clogs the courts.

In a state like J&K where people live under many restraints because of militant action and counter-insurgency operations, the authorities are expected to take extra care not to impose more burdens on them. An unfeeling bureaucracy makes life harder than it need be. Unfortunately the J&K administration has the reputation for being one of the most unresponsive in the country and despite talk of an overhaul and reform, not much change has occurred. Until it does many avoidable hardships will be inflicted on a long-suffering people.