Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, February 3
Two weeks after putting restrictions on anti-government comments on social media, Bihar police have now warned no government job or contracts would be available for those found participating in agitations against the government, including joining sit in (dharna) and road blockades (jaam).
An order issued by the director general of police, S K Singhal, to all police stations in the state said participating in anti-government agitations would amount to criminal offences and those found involved in such cases would be denied government jobs or contractual placements. Police station officers have been directed not to issue no-objection certificates to such people found involved in such incidents and those chargesheeted by the police.
It is upto the discretion of private or semi-government employers to accept the new government order on police verifications, according to additional DGP Jitendra Kumar.
According to the circular, in the police verification reports, details of the involvement of the selected candidates in anti-government agitations should be mentioned. This would automatically disqualify him or her for a government job or contract.
For getting contracts in government departments, undertakings or local bodies, character verification from police stations has been made a must and those found earlier associated with anti-government agitations would be denied contracts.
DGP issued instructions following orders from the Home department. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while reviewing the performance of the state police had asked to ensure the anti-government elements were disassociated with government jobs and contracts. He had felt several criminal elements have entered into government contract works.
Last month, thousands of teachers and technical staff demonstrated near the state secretariat seeking regularisation of their jobs. Women nurses who are yet to get permanent status had also demonstrated near the residence of the chief minister here.
Character verification from the police has been made compulsory for seeking licences to open petroleum outlets, gas agencies, NGOs and even for seeking bank loans from commercial banks and co-operative institutions.
Police will issue verification certificates after receiving reports from the Prison department directorate records.
Leader of opposition Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav described the fresh order as dictatorial one. He said, “Nitish Kumar is now challenging even Mussolini and Hitler.”
On January 21, the additional director general of police (EOW) and cyber-crimes, Nayyar Hasnain Khan, had issued an order putting ban on anti-government comments in social media and warned any comments against the government, ministers and officers in social media would lead to registration of FIRs and subsequent legal action, Any objectionable news or opinions against the ministers and elected representatives would be punishable under the Cyber laws, the order said.
