Save LG's Grievance Cell from becoming tool of harassment, blackmail

The Lieutenant Governor's Grievance Cell in Jammu and Kashmir took off with much fanfare and hopes to serve as a public platform to address the legitimate concerns and grievances of the common people.

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Unfortunately, however, what was intended as a bridge between the people and the administration is increasingly becoming a platform for harassment, blackmail, and character assassination. The cell is being grossly misused by unscrupulous individuals, who weaponize it to settle personal scores and vendettas. At times, the intent is malicious to bruise reputations. Innocent and law-abiding citizens are being subjected to undue harassment through fictitious, false, and malicious complaints - often lodged using fake or anonymous identities.

The core issue lies in the Cell's alarming lack of due diligence. Complaints are frequently forwarded to authorities and departments for action without verifying the identity of the complainant or the authenticity of the grievance. There exists no mechanism to cross-check the antecedents of those filing complaints, creating fertile ground for exploitation. This not only contravenes the principles of natural justice but also turns the very purpose of the grievance redressal mechanism on its head. As if it was not enough, the problem gets further compounded by the digital nature of the complaint mechanism like emails etc.