Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 30: Administration has failed to take action against four erring officials of Municipal Committee Anantnag despite the passing of almost two months since Urban Local Bodies Kashmir submitted an enquiry report to the Government in misappropriation and irregularities in financial transactions.
The enquiry report pertaining to the charges of misappropriation, irregularities in financial transaction, gross negligence, and misconduct was submitted after gap of over a year and a half since four Executive Officers of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir (ULBK) were suspended and attached with the direction office in July 2019.
“We have prepared the report with great hard work as several efforts were made to dilute the charges in order to save those behind irregularities. But, the file is pending with the GAD for last two months, and they have taken no action, so far,” an official privy to the case said.
Following a complaint against the Executive officer, Municipal Council Anantnag, the Housing and Urban Development department issued suspension order vide no: 153-HUD of 2019 dated 04/07/2019 against four officers including Sarfaraz Ahmad Bhat, I/C Executive Officer, MC Ganderbal (formerly I/C Executive Officer MC Anantnag), Shabir Ahmad Wani, I/C Chief Executive Officer, MC Pahalgam (formerly I/C Chief Executive Officer MC Anantnag), Syed Nayeem Rizvi, EO Municipal Committee Bandipora (formerly Executive Officer MC Anantnag) and Gh Mohi-ud-Din Malik, Executive Officer MC Anantnag.
“On the basis of preliminary enquiry report submitted by committee constituted vide order no: DULB/Estt/84-11/588 OF 2019 issued by the DULBK and pending further inquiry into the alleged charges of misappropriation, irregularities in financial transaction, gross negligence, and misconduct, the officers are placed under suspension with immediate effect,” the order stated.
After a month, the H&UDD referred the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Srinagar, vide no: HUD/LSG/ULBK/298/2018 dated 5/7/2019, for detailed investigations in all the four cases listed in the communication. However, three months after sending the case to ACB, the H&UDD issued another order vide no: 221-HUD of 2019 dated 25/10/2019, adding the sanction is accorded to the appointment of Riyaz Ahmad Wani, Director ULBK, as an inquiry officer to conduct an enquiry into the matter. “Shifting from one investigating agency to another delayed the matter,” an official said.
Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Dheeraj Gupta, told Excelsior that they have submitted the report to the Government. “We have submitted the report to the Government and action will be taken soon,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
