Statement Distorted, Byte on Rehbar-e-Khel, Judiciary Was Context-Specific: Spokesperson
Jammu, Feb 27 (JKNS): The office of Minister Satish Sharma on Saturday issued a firm clarification asserting that a video byte of Satish Sharma has been misinterpreted and circulated without proper context, resulting in misleading narratives.
According to an official spokesperson, as per news agency JKNS, the Minister’s office said, it has come to the notice of the Government that the byte in question has been viewed and circulated out of context, leading to misinterpretation of the Minister’s remarks. The statement was made in response to a specific media query concerning the regularisation of Rehbar-e-Khel appointees, an issue presently under active consideration of the Government.
The Minister’s response, the spokesperson clarified, was limited to explaining the current status of the matter and the ongoing process of examination at the appropriate level. The remarks were not intended to convey any definitive position beyond acknowledging that the issue is under review in accordance with established procedures.
The spokesperson further reiterated that the Government remains committed to addressing the concerns of Rehbar-e-Khel appointees in a fair, transparent and consultative manner. Any suggestion or interpretation to the contrary is unfounded and does not reflect the intent or context of the Minister’s statement.
He also requested all stakeholders and media representatives to consider the full context of the Minister’s response and refrain from drawing conclusions based on partial or selective excerpts.
Addressing related interpretations, the spokesperson noted that certain observations of the Minister regarding broader systemic issues have also been presented out of context, leading to avoidable misunderstandings. The Minister, who himself is a law graduate, holds the highest regard and respect for the judiciary, its esteemed institutions, and the dedicated professionals who uphold the rule of law. The judiciary remains a cornerstone of the democratic framework, and the Minister deeply acknowledges its sanctity, independence and expertise in the dispensation of justice, he maintained.
“The remarks in question were intended solely to highlight the significant burden of pending cases affecting the judicial system — a widely acknowledged challenge that impacts the timely delivery of justice across the country. These observations were in no way meant to question or undermine the integrity, authority or competence of the judiciary as an institution”, he added.
The spokesman further clarified that any suggestion to the contrary is a misinterpretation of the Minister’s intent, which was focused on advocating systemic measures to ease case backlogs and strengthen institutional efficiency for the benefit of all stakeholders, including both the bar and the bench. (JKNS)
