Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Dec 18: Addressing major grievance of the Ministers of State especially those of BJP, who had raised it publicly, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today conferred several powers to them, which would be in addition to the powers given to them by their senior colleagues (the Cabinet Ministers).
An official order to this effect was issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on the directions of the Chief Minister.
There are total of six Ministers of State in 25 members Council of Ministry headed by Mufti Sayeed. Three each belonged to the two coalition partners-PDP and BJP. Nineteen others are Cabinet Ministers.
“The transfer and posting proposals of the Gazetted officers, which require approval of the Administrative Department, shall be placed before the Minister-in-Charge through the Minister of State,” the Government order issued today said.
It said all proposals in respect of Public Private Partnership (PPP) and other projects related to development initiatives, shall also be placed before the Minister Incharge through the Minister of States. Further, it added, all files requiring approval of the Minister-in-Charge shall be routed through the Minister of State and the files should be disposed of within one week.
“The Ministers of State will approve the transfers of non-gazetted staff, which require approval of the Administrative Department, as per the transfer policy,” the Government order reads. It said the Ministers of State will accord administrative approval to the works beyond the competence of HoDs up to Rs 3 crores. They will also approve blacklisting of contractors and suppliers as per the norms laid down under Rule 18.1 of Jammu and Kashmir Financial Code.
The Ministers of State have been empowered to sanction advance drawl up to Rs 15 lakh with the concurrence of FA and CAO, medical treatment outside the State in respect of the non-gazetted staff under J&K Medical Attendance-cum-Allowance Rules, charge allowance in favour of the officers/officials, officiating on the higher posts, deputation of non-gazetted staff in connection with official work outside the State but within the country and deputation of non-gazetted staff to attend the technical conferences.
The Ministers of State will also enjoy powers to refer non-gazetted and gazette vacancies to the Selection Committees/ SSB/ PSC, sanction Festival Advance in favour of the staff, approve constitution of the Survey Committees for surplus and un-serviceable stores in the departments subordinate to them, sanction under Rule 18.18 of J&K Financial Code, the writing off of irrecoverable value of stores and livestock lost when there is no fraud or negligence.
The Ministers of State will also sanction condemnation of old vehicles and recommend purchase of new ones in replacement, thereof, subject to budgetary allocation, table the Report of difference committees, wherever constituted, before the State Legislature and order with-holding of increments in case of non-gazetted employees under their administrative control.
They have also been empowered to sanction local purchase of stationery articles from the contingent grant of the Department, expenditure in connection with the ceremonial functions, such as laying of foundation stone or opening of a public building etc, House Building Advance in case of non-gazetted employees subject to conditions as laid down in the J&K Financial Code and sanction honorarium in favour of non-gazetted employees with the concurrence of the Finance Department.
The Government order said that the Ministers of State will enjoy these powers independently. These powers will be in addition to the powers given to them by their Cabinet Ministers.
It may be mentioned here that the Ministers of State of the BJP during their meeting with the Chief Minister recently had complained that they have been deprived of the powers to them by their Cabinet Ministers. The Chief Minister had assured to redress their grievances.
Of six Ministers of State, three each belong to BJP and PDP.
They included Pawan Gupta (Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology), Priya Sethi, Minister of State for Education, Information and Culture and Sunil Sharma, Minister of State for PWD and Revenue, all from BJP.
Abdul Majid Padder (Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Animal Husbandry and Forests), Mohammad Ashraf Mir (Minister of State for Industries and Commerce, Power, Housing and Urban Development Department) and Asiea Naqash (Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Department), all from PDP.
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