Srinagar: Srinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Junaid Mattu and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahamd Khan on Monday gave contrasting statements over closure of schools in the Srinagar.
While Mattu said that closure of the schools was the domain of the elected body, Khan opined that closing or keeping open the educational institutions was an administrative matter to be decided only by the government.
Mattu later in a presser said that he may not be an IAS officer but he was not an idiot either.
“Bureaucracy must realize there is an elected body in Srinagar, which can take decision for the betterment of people,” he said.
Mattu referred to Section 285 of the JKMC Act, which mentions, “Special measures in case of out-break of dangerous or epidemic disease (or threatened by an outbreak.”
Mattu remarked that the bureaucracy has its own way of working and it is not often comfortable with decisions of elected bodies.
In his press conference, Mattu further said that the SMC is procuring 1,000 full quarantine body-kits and spraying machines, and has also deployed 200 teams of 5 persons each for special sterilisation at vulnerable places, apart from all public/private hospitals. “Daily sterilisation rosters at hospitals, schools, airport, railway station and places of worship must be maintained,” the Mayor said.
“We request the authorities to let us follow these steps. Schools were closed for many months, if they will stay closed for a week more, what is the big deal in it?” he further added.
“When authorities closed the anganwadi centres and cinema halls in Jammu, how can they allow students to attend morning assemblies in Srinagar,” he asked.
Earlier, Mattu had ordered closure of all educational institutions, public clubs, sports clubs, indoor and open stadiums, coaching centers within Srinagar City Limits till further orders. “The order within SMC limits takes effect from tomorrow,” Mattu had said in a tweet.
However, Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan said that the decision of closing or keeping open the educational institutions was an administrative matter to be decided only by the government. “It was an administrative decision and for it, there has to be a government order,” Khan said.

NAZIMA SIDIQ