‘Fraudulent’ appointment under SRO 43 remains unchecked
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 25: The credibility of Jammu’s Cooperative Super Bazar has come under a serious cloud as employees earlier indicted for gross misconduct, financial irregularities and misuse of official position have not only been reinstated but also shockingly handed sensitive assignments.
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Adding fuel, an employee who allegedly managed to secure appointment under SRO-43 through ‘fraudulent’ means continues to enjoy patronage and protection from those authorities who are otherwise duty-bound to act against her.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that two employees of the Super Bazar-Amit Verma, Computer Operator Incharge Medical Shop No.7 and Sanjay Kumar, Medical Assistant Incharge Medical Shop No.2 were placed under suspension vide Order No. JCWL/1029-31 dated September 23, 2024 and Order No. JCWL/1337 dated November 11, 2024 respectively.
Amit Verma was suspended after an enquiry nailed him for allowing unauthorized persons, including his own relative, to illegally operate the shop, handle cash and even dispense medicines. He was also found guilty of underreporting sales, stealing cash as captured on CCTV and indulging in stock mismanagement across multiple shops under his charge at different times.
Moreover, it was revealed that though he was originally appointed as a Computer Operator in 2012, he later produced a dubious Medical Assistant diploma from two different institutes in separate States for the same academic session-an impossibility-and then misled the department to seek re-designation as Pharmacist/Medical Assistant, sources said.
Likewise, Sanjay Kumar was suspended after enquiry established that he tampered with CCTV cameras to conceal irregular activities and was caught siphoning money from the shop’s cash safe on multiple occasions. More alarmingly, during the handing over of Shop No.2 at SMGS Hospital, excess stock worth Rs 4.68 lakh was detected, pointing to a deliberate attempt to cause loss to Cooperative Super Bazar while furthering his own interests.
“Despite such findings, both these tainted officials were reinstated by the present General Manager of Super Bazar Jammu vide order dated July 25, 2025, on the plea that under Section 20 of the J&K Cooperative Service Rules no suspension can extend beyond six months. To add insult to injury, their entire suspension period was also treated as “on duty,” effectively rewarding them instead of punishing”, sources further said.
While reinstatement was implemented with undue haste, the crucial provisions of the same order-like constituting a three-member committee to conduct a comprehensive probe into the serious charges against them-were conveniently ignored. The order had also categorically stated that Amit Kumar and Sanjay Kumar should not be given charge of any section involving financial transactions till further directions.
However, in a blatant act of defiance and favouritism, the General Manager vide order dated August 2, 2025 transferred Amit Kumar to Medical Shop No.2, thereby handing him charge of financial and stock-related duties in total violation of earlier order of July 25, 2025.
“All this clearly establishes that blue-eyed employees are being shielded and rewarded despite proven irregularities and illegalities, while the very credibility of Cooperative Super Bazar Jammu is being irreparably eroded”, sources remarked.
Meanwhile, shockingly, an employee who allegedly grabbed appointment under SRO-43 by fraudulent means continues to be shielded and protected by the very authorities who are expected to initiate action against her. Moreover, no reply has been furnished to the RTI application seeking details of this case.
According to the sources, one Vinakshi Sharma managed to secure appointment as Helper in 2013 under SRO-43 by producing a false dependent certificate showing her as “unmarried,” whereas records reveal she had married Mohit Nijhon in 2009-2010 and had a child in 2011, making her ineligible for compassionate appointment.
Despite this, she was appointed and later regularized ahead of seniors including Medical/Computer Assistants of 2012, granted undue increments and even assigned accounting work without requisite qualification or appointment order. “She has been accused of colluding with medical suppliers, allegedly causing financial loss not only to the Cooperative Super Bazar but also to the State Exchequer”, sources said.
When contacted, Registrar Cooperatives Society J&K Mohammad Shafiq Chak said, “neither I have heard about these issues nor any written information has been sent to me”, adding “at present, Board of Administrators is looking after the affairs of the Super Bazar as such they may be aware of the issues”.
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