Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 22: The creation of new Administrative Units in the State has again been delayed as the Cabinet Sub-Committee constituted to examine the modalities for the implementation of the Mushtaq Ganie Committee Report is seeking fourth extension from the Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tomorrow afternoon at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. The Cabinet will also accord sanction to the promotion of two IAS officers to the Higher Administrative Grade with immediate effect.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that exercise for creation of new Administrative Units in the State, which was started afresh in January 2010 with the appointment of Mushtaq Ahmed Ganaie as new head of the committee, is unlikely to end in near future as the Cabinet Sub-Committee, is seeking extension after extension to accomplish the task assigned to it.
During the past nearly three months, the Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was constituted to examine the modalities for giving practical shape to the recommendations for new administrative units, has been given three extensions and now a proposal is being placed before the Cabinet for fourth extension to accomplish the task, sources said. “Keeping in view the prevailing extension culture in the State people are apprehensive as to whether the Administrative Units will ever be created”, they added.
It is pertinent to mention here that besides recommending the rationalization/re-organization of various existing administrative units, the Mushtaq Ahmed Ganaie Committee in its report submitted to the Government in July 2011 has recommended fresh creation of 23 Sub-Divisions, 57 Tehsils, 63 CD blocks, 79 Niabats and 733 Patwar Halqas. The mandate of the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister and comprising of Ministers for Urban Development, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Agriculture Production, Higher Education, Planning and Development and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, was to examine the modalities for the implementation of report and to take on board any fresh demand on this account within a period of one month.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee, which was constituted on July 24, 2013, was given first extension by one month beyond August 24, 2013 on September 19, 2013 on the ground that suggestions and demands were invited for the creation of new administrative units. The second extension of two weeks beyond September 24 was given on September 28 on the ground that large number of suggestions were received and their examination would take time. Thereafter, the Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman approved the proposal of extension in the period of submission of report up to October 25.
“Now, fourth extension is being sought on the pretext of closing of offices due to Annual Darbar Move”, sources said, adding “as per the proposal of the General Administration Department the latest extension in the period for submission of report is being sought till November 30”.
Sources informed that Cabinet will also accord sanction to the promotion of two IAS officers of 1989 batch to the Higher Administrative Grade. These officers are Atal Dulloo and Umang Narulla.
As per the guidelines issued by the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India, a member of IAS becomes eligible for being considered for promotion to the Higher Administrative Grade on completion of 25 years of service on January 1 of the relevant year. The IAS officers of 1989 batch can ordinarily be considered for promotion from January 1, 2014.
However, keeping in view the past practice of promoting the officers to this grade before actually completing the 25 years service, availability of vacancies and requirement of the officers at Higher Administrative Grade level, the Screening Committee headed by Chief Secretary in its meeting held on October 10, 2013 felt it appropriate to consider promotion of these two officers with immediate effect.
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