Samba patwaris protest, demand pending salaries

Samba, June 30

Patwaris (revenue officials) today held a three-day dharna and staged a protest outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner here in support of their long-pending demands.

The patwaris under the banner of the All Jammu and Kashmir Patwar Association (AJKPA) have gone on a three-day strike.

Hundreds of patwaris from various tehsils of Samba district assembled outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner and raised slogans against the state government for its alleged failure to resolve their long-pending issues.

They were demanding release of pending salaries, maintenance of service books, enhancement of field allowance and construction of patwar khanas.

“We are working without salaries for the last 13 months. The higher authorities did not release our salaries due to which there is a great resentment amongst the patwaris and girdawars,” said Amjad Khan, district president of the association.

“The service books of patwaris, girdhawars and naib tehsildars are not properly maintained. We are also not provided with official furniture and stationary items which forces us to spend from our own pockets. We demand patwar khanas and enhancement of field allowances and others,” he said. “We urge the government to look into the matter seriously and redress our demands at an earliest,” he added. — OC