Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 28: In the much publicized case of illegal promotions, engagements and appointments in the Economics and Statistics Organization, the State Government has issued directions for the recovery of financial loss caused to the exchequer by the former Director S A Qureshi against whom Enquiry Officer has established all the charges.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that after going through the report of Enquiry Officer (Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, Atal Dulloo), the Principal Secretary Planning and Development Department, B R Sharma day before the closure of Darbar at Jammu issued directions to the Director, Economics and Statistics Department, B R Lachotra to work out the financial loss caused by the former Director S A Qureshi to the State exchequer by making illegal promotions, engagements and appointments.
“The Director Economics and Statistics will work out the loss within a period of two weeks following which the same will be communicated to the Planning and Development Department for initiation of recovery proceedings”, sources said.
In response to a question, they said, “it would be only after getting information about the exact financial loss caused by the former Director that the Planning and Development Department will decide whether to make recovery from the gratuity/pension or estate of the accused officer”, adding “the action taken by the Government in this case would surely act as deterrent and will give a loud and clear message to such officers in the State administration that whosoever indulging or will indulge in illegalities would not be spared at any cost”.
It is pertinent to mention here after the EXCELSIOR exposed illegal appointments, promotions and engagements in the Economics and Statistics Department the Government got preliminary enquiry conducted through the then Special Secretary in the Planning and Development Department, G R Bhagat and while taking further necessary action as per the recommendations of Mr Bhagat the Government appointed Commissioner Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department, Atal Dullo as Enquiry Officer to enquire into the charges against S A Qureshi. The then Additional Secretary, General Administration Department, Simrandeep Singh (presently Deputy Commissioner, Leh) was Presenting Officer during the enquiry.
The former Director S A Qureshi at fag end of his service promoted 77 Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants, engaged 14 casual labourers and appointed two persons as Class-IV employees by abusing his official position.
According to the findings of the Enquiry Officer, the charge regarding promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants has been proved beyond any doubt against S A Qureshi due to the fact that SRO 3 of 2005 lays down the procedure for promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Statistical Assistants and provides passing of departmental training and examination after having completed three years of service.
“The promotions were affected of the persons, who were still on probation. Thus, it clearly indicates that S A Qureshi had violated the rules governing the appointment/promotion of Junior Statistical Assistants as Statistical Assistants”, the report said, adding “a pubic servant is expected to adhere to the rules and regulations but in the instant case despite the fact that the issue was pending before the Administrative Department seeking relaxation of rules in making stop gap arrangement of Junior Statistical Assistants as Incharge Statistical Assistants, S A Qureshi without waiting for the decision from the Government issued the promotion orders in favour of 77 JSAs”.
Stating that charge of engaging 14 casual labourers in sheer misuse of official position has also been established against former Director Economic and Statistics, the report said, “being watchdog of the Economics and Statistics Organization the officer was not expected to make such violations and engage casual labourers without any authority and authorization”, adding “no doubt all the engaged persons have been dis-engaged, it is a fact that the salaries/wages drawn by these persons in absence of authorization/competence of the ex-Director is clear loss to the State exchequer”.
The report said, “the third charge regarding appointment of two Class IV employees by the officer is also proved beyond any doubt as the appointments were made despite the fact that the advertisement of the posts were already made by the department. This is also misuse of power and violation of Government Order No.735-GAD of 2008 read with Government Order No.731-GAD of 2010 whereby District and Divisional Level Committees have been constituted by the Government for recruitment to the Class IV posts”.
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