Restoration of Trust in Public Life Essential to Protect Democracy
14/10/2026
Jammu, October 14 (KIP)-Expressing deep concern over the eroding faith in governance, Mr. Ashok Sharma, Advocate and Chairman of the Jammu Province Bachao Manch (JPBM), stated today that public trust is depleting daily due to rising corruption and greed among those in power.
In a press statement issued today, Mr. Sharma asserted that instead of progressing, Jammu & Kashmir has taken a significant step backward. He attributed this regression to the systematic weakening and dismantling of key auditing, accountability, and monitoring institutions.
Mr. Sharma highlighted a series of dismantled or weakened bodies that have severely impacted public welfare and institutional oversight in the region, including the J&K Accountability Commission, State Human Rights Commission, Commission of Inquiry Act mechanisms, State Women’s Commission State Information Commission, State Consumer Council, State Environment Council, Electricity Regulatory Commission, State Veterinary Council, J&K Village Sanitation Act frameworks, State Land Board, State Wildlife Council, etc.
He also criticized the transferring of registration powers exclusively to revenue officers, which has further complicated administrative transparency.
"To safeguard our democracy and ensure genuinely good governance, we must urgently restore institutional accountability," Mr. Sharma stated. He strongly urged the Union Government to intervene immediately, take decisive steps to strengthen enforcement regulations, and rebuild public trust. As a concrete measure to redress public grievances, he pleaded for the immediate appointment of a Lokpal to hold government departments and public functionaries accountable.
Concluding his statement, the JPBM Chairman called upon all members, activists, and office-bearers of the Jammu Province Bachao Manch to vigorously launch the organization's public outreach programmes to create mass awareness among the citizens.