Major drive against corrupt
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 28: In a major drive against corrupt officers/officials, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today sacked eight employees, four of them Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officers and a Block Medical Officer (BMO) for their tainted record.
This is for the first time that five Gazetted officers including four JKAS officers have been sacked in one go for corrupt practices which indicated Government’s zero tolerance policy towards corruption.
The Government officers/ officials whose services have been terminated are Ravinder Kumar Bhat, JKAS, Mission Director RUSA J&K, Mohammad Qasim Wani, JKAS, Regional Director Survey and Land Records Srinagar, Noor Alam, JKAS, Deputy Secretary ARI & Training Department, Mohd Mujib-ur-Rehman Ghassi, JKAS, presently under suspension, Dr Fayaz Ahmad Banday, the then BMO Beerwah, presently under suspension, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, Junior Assistant currently posted as Incharge Supervisor, Chatha Store Jammu, FCS&CA Department, Rakesh Kumar Pargal, Junior Assistant, also under suspension, FCS&CA Department and Parshotam Kumar, Storekeeper, then posted as Pancheri Udhampur, now working as Supervisor RC Flour Mills Udhampur in FCS&CA Department.
They have been sacked under Article 226 (2) of the Jammu Kashmir Civil Service Regulations.
The Rules say Government in the public interest may retire an employee after completion of 22 years of qualifying service or attaining 48 years of age. All eight officers/officials have been dismissed from services on charges of corruption and misconduct.
According to sources, Ravinder Kumar Bhat, Mission Director, RUSA indulged in corruption during his posting in different departments. The then Vigilance Department, now, Anti Corruption Bureau had registered a corruption case against him in 2015.
“As the then Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Budgam, Bhat was involved in irregular transfer of State land under Roshni Scheme and arbitrarily fixed the price of land lower than the prevailing market rate of the area and also incorrect application of rates, unauthorized change of classification of land from residential to agriculture etc. The officer while acting in league with the beneficiaries inflicted huge monetary loss to the Government. Sanction for prosecution was accorded against the officer in October 2019,” sources said.
It is learnt that the officer was also involved in another corruption case when he was posted as a Director of Rural Development Department. He allegedly made huge procurement without following tender process. A joint surprise check by ACB had revealed his malpractices.
“The officer is also involved in cases related to embezzlement/ misappropriation which inter-alia casts doubt on the functioning of the officer and his abilities with regard to dealing of financial responsibilities,” sources further added.
Another Officer dismissed on charges of corruption and misconduct is Mohammad Qasim Wani, JKAS, Regional Director, Survey and Land Records, Srinagar.
Sources said Wani as District Programme Officer, ICDS, Kupwara had procured substandard material on highly exorbitant rates for ICDS project. An FIR under prevention of corruption act was filed against Wani. Sanction for prosecution was accorded by the Government in 2020 and a charge sheet has been filed against him by ACB before the trial court.
“Wani had purchased huge properties in the name of his wife. He has made fortune misusing official position, clearly indicating his doubtful integrity,” sources said.
Noor Alam, Deputy Secretary, ARI & Training Department has also been dismissed after scrutiny of corruption cases of the tainted employee. During his posting in different departments, Alam amassed huge wealth, misusing his official position. ACB had registered a case against Alam in 2019 to investigate his illegal assets and subsequently attached his four properties- a house in Jammu, a plot measuring 10 marlas in Jammu, a plot of land measuring 3 kanals in Jammu and another plot measuring 10 marlas in Jammu.
Apart from these assets, he had raised various other properties in the name of his wife and other family members and also owns several vehicles including commercial vehicles.
Another official, Mohd Mujib Ur Rehman Ghassi, JKAS, who has been dismissed is currently under suspension. Ghassi during his tenure in Cooperative department had facilitated a loan amount of Rs. 223 crore in favour of a non-existent Cooperative society.
Sources said the Government has also expedited the identification of more officials facing corruption charges and wrongdoings.
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