Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (J&KSA) has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking review and revocation of the denial of government jobs to family members of militants and stone pelters.
The Union Home Minister had recently announced that “there will be no jobs to family members of militants or close relatives of stone pelters in Jammu and Kashmir”.
The JKSA has expressed its concern regarding the recent announcement by the Union Minister about the denial of government jobs to family members of militants or close relatives of stone pelters.
“We believe that this decision, instead of alleviating the prevailing issues, will exacerbate the problem”, the JKSA said in the letter and added, “at this crucial juncture, what is paramount is rehabilitation and fostering unity, rather than discord and estrangement”.
“We humbly submit that holding the families responsible for the actions of individuals engaged in unlawful activities is unjustifiable”, the letter further said.
Punishing innocent family members for the crimes of their kin is not only ethically questionable but also counterproductive to the goal of fostering harmony and inclusivity. Such a policy will keep Kashmiris away from opportunities that are crucial for their personal and professional growth, the letter reads.
“We emphasize the importance of upholding fundamental principles of criminal jurisprudence, which dictate that no individual should be punished for the offenses committed by another. While we acknowledge the need for stringent measures against those directly involved in unlawful activities, it is imperative to ensure that the repercussions do not unfairly extend to innocent relatives, such as siblings, who lead law-abiding lives”, the letter further reads.
JKSA said imposing such a blanket ban on their career prospects would create unnecessary impediments and hinder their positive transformation into contributing members of society.
“We need to encourage and support their transition into the mainstream rather than punish them for their past mistakes”, they said and added “this policy risks pushing them back into a cycle of alienation and resentment”.
JKSA has urged the Union Minister to reconsider the decision to collectively penalize innocent family members of militants and stone pelters, as this will only serve to further alienate the youth of Kashmir.
Moreover, we advocate for the recognition and appreciation of positive transformation, especially in cases where individuals have forsaken past mistakes and are now contributing positively to society. At this critical juncture, we need rehabilitation, not discord, the letter reads.
