Sat Feb 08 03:16:17 UTC 2025: ## J&K Government Orders Officials to Prioritize Elected Representatives
**Srinagar, February 8, 2025** – The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government issued an order on Friday mandating cooperation and protocol from government officials towards elected representatives. The order, reportedly issued in response to inadequate support from officials, emphasizes the crucial role of MLAs in grassroots governance and directs officials to prioritize issues raised by them.
The directive instructs officials to give priority to elected representatives in public offices, adhere to established protocol, and promptly process their communications and grievances. It further mandates the invitation of MLAs to official functions and meetings within their jurisdictions.
This action follows reports of officials failing to attend meetings chaired by elected legislators or include them in official gatherings. The government aims to ensure that elected representatives’ insights inform policymaking and implementation, citing the benefits of local MLA involvement in government schemes. This was highlighted by J&K Cabinet Minister Javed Ahmed Rana during a visit to Budgam, where he directed officials to consult local MLAs during the preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
However, the order has drawn criticism. National Conference leader Shafqat Watali stated that such a directive shouldn’t be necessary in a robust democracy, viewing it as indicative of a deliberately perpetuated flawed governance system in J&K. He questioned the officials’ apparent disregard for their accountability to the elected government and its representatives.
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