Bilal Rehmani
Bandipora, May 5(KNS): A resident of Kilshay village in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district has alleged that he was left without a job despite serving in the Education Department for nearly 13 years after his family donated land for construction of a government school.
Zahoor Ahmad Lone said his father, Abdul Samad Lone, had donated one kanal of land to the Education Department in 1988 for establishment of a primary school in the area.
According to Zahoor, the department later constructed the school building on the land and appointed his father as a non-teaching employee in return.
After serving for several years, Abdul Samad recommended his son for the post, following which Zahoor said he was formally appointed and worked in the department from 1996 to 2009.
He claimed that he received regular salary during the period and still possesses salary slips and related documents as proof of his service.
Zahoor alleged that despite repeated assurances from officials at the Zonal Education Office regarding the security of his employment, his case later took an uncertain turn.
He said he had also approached the Directorate of School Education and submitted documents related to his appointment, for which he received an official acknowledgment receipt.
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“Later, I was told that no such file exists. I do not understand how my records disappeared when I worked for years and was paid regularly,” he said.
According to Zahoor, in 2009 he was asked to submit documents for biometric verification, which he did, but was subsequently told only to “look after the land”, effectively ending his service.
He said he has neither received salary nor any fresh appointment order since then.
“The land cannot be cultivated or used for construction as the school structure still exists there,” he said.
Locals said the school building was later shifted to another location after shelling damaged the structure in 2004.
Zahoor alleged that another person was subsequently engaged at the relocated school while his own status remained unresolved.
He has appealed to the administration, including Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the deputy commissioner of Bandipora and the Education Department to intervene in the matter.
“Our land was taken for the school, I worked for years and my appointment order exists. I want to know why my services were discontinued without explanation,” he said.(KNS)