Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 11: After departmental inquiries, Jal Shakti Department has imposed a penalty of Rs 21.85 lakh on Rajinder Kumar Pandita, the then Executive Engineer, PHE Division Awantipora for misuse of his official position and allotment of construction works to the blue eyed contractors without inviting mandatory tender during the period 2013-14.
Even as the Inquiry Officer had recommended a penalty of 15 days salary only for the violation of codal procedures in award of various works, the case was further examined in the department and it was recommended that the recovery equal to 10 percent of the amount of loss caused to the Government exchequer (Rs 218.50 lakh as assessed by the Vigilance Organization) be imposed upon the charged officer.
The Competent Authority (Minister for Jal Shakti Department) accepted the findings and decided to impose a penalty equal to 10 percent of Rs 218.50 lakhs i.e. amount of works executed departmentally on approval mode, which comes out to the tune of Rs 21.85 lakh.
Following the Minister’s nod, Shaleen Kabra, Financial Commissioner, Jal Shakti Department, issued a formal order stating that a penalty of Rs 21.85 lakh shall be recovered from Rajinder Kumar Pandita in terms of Rule -30(v) of J&K Civil Services Rules, 1956 and accordingly, the case is closed at the departmental level.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
