*New policy remains dream, frequent transfers routine
Budget Announcements vs Reality
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU: Hopes generated by the announcements of the Chief Minister about minimizing the scourge of corruption in Jammu and Kashmir were dashed by none else than those who otherwise were supposed to honor the declarations by translating them into reality. With this, an impression has gone loud to the common masses that much needed fight against corruption and corrupt elements continued to remain confined to the statements even during the regime of present dispensation so far.
Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, while winding up discussion on the grants of the General Administration and other departments under his charge, in the Legislative Assembly during last Budget Session had made several important announcements, which generated ray of hope among the people about getting rid of the menace of corruption up to a large extent if not completely.
The people also started assuming that the day is not far off when more Government departments will become accountable for providing timely services. Above all, the Government employees were the most enthusiastic section as they were given impression that none of them would be prematurely transferred under the new initiatives to be spelt out in the new Transfer Policy very shortly.
These announcements were pertaining to strengthening the anti-corruption mechanism, making State Vigilance Commission and State Accountability Commission effective regulatory tool of probity and strengthening Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) for making official machinery accountable for timely services to the common masses.
But the fight against corruption remained confined to only issuance of one list of deadwoods, which otherwise has received criticism and it is alleged that no proper yardstick was adopted while identifying such officers. However, whether the process to identify more deadwoods is on, remains mystery even for those who are very close to the corridors of the power.
The fate of strengthening anti-corruption mechanism and fighting the menace with iron hands can be gauged from the hanging fate of 147 departmental enquiries. What to talk of ensuring completion of such probes by ensuring effective monitoring at its level, the General Administration Department has even failed to ensure strict compliance to the repeated directions of the High Court from other departments. And the outcome of this is that all the officers and officials facing these enquiries have remained unpunished and are even enjoying the key postings.
The helplessness being expressed by the General Administration Department before the High Court in status reports on pending 147 departmental enquiries, clearly indicates that Govern-ment’s anti-corruption mechanism is only a paper tiger. The State Vigilance Organization, which is feeling handicapped in the absence of sufficient manpower, is also the testimony of failure of the Government to strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism.
Similar is the fate of announcement with regard to making SVC and SAC effective regulatory tools of probity as the Accountability Commission is crying for sufficient powers to take cognizance of complaints against the public functionaries and without such powers, people are not coming forward to make use of this platform.
Without making any direct reference about ‘transfer industry’ in the State, the Chief Minister had announced that his Government would come up with new Transfer Policy so that sword of premature transfer doesn’t remain hanging over the heads of the employees. But, this announcement has also fallen flat as what to talk of coming up with new Transfer Policy, the GAD is making mockery of even the existing policy.
Leave aside the transfers of KAS officers, the GAD is effecting transfers of Administrative Secretaries without completion of their tenure specified in the policy which is presently in vogue in the State. The General Administration Department, which should act as beacon light for other departments and ensure that they stick to the rules and regulations, is itself flouting the rules by making premature transfers.
It is pertinent to mention here that at present the transfers and postings are governed by Transfer Policy, which was issued vide Order No.861-GAD of 2010 dated July 28, 2010. There was no need of making lofty slogans about framing new Transfer Policy when the Transfer Policy of 2010 was very elaborative and was only required to be implemented in letter and spirit.
Another lofty announcement made by the Chief Minister was with regard to strengthening of Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) under which the Government departments are required to provide identified services to the applicants within a specified timeframe failing which the erring Government functionaries are liable to pay fine.
Nine months have elapsed since the announcement made on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, no step has been initiated either to strengthen this unique piece of legislation or to bring more services under its purview.
At least the department under the charge of the Chief Minister should not have made mockery of the announcements made on the floor of the House and there should have been regular follow-up on implementing the announcements to maintain the importance of the office of the Chief Minister.
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