*Principals, Dy Directors, PS to Minister among blue-eyed
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 1: Notwithstanding the oft-repeated statements from different quarters of the Government about going tough against corruption and corrupt public servants, nearly 100 officers and officials of nine important departments have been holding the prime positions including the sensitive ones despite facing departmental enquiries on the recommendations of the GAD Vigilance Wing.
On one side, the erring officers and officials are being allowed to enjoy the prime postings and on the other side, the Government is not ready to get these departmental enquiries concluded in a time bound manner thereby making it clear that it has soft corner towards the ‘tainted’ public servants. Many of the officers, who were facing departmental enquiries, have even retired from the services but probes are still on without any result.
Among these officers and officials are Principals of Degree Colleges, Principal of Dental College, Chief Executive Officer of Development Authority, Block Development Officers, Deputy Directors and Assistant General Managers. Most shockingly, one of the officials of the Rural Development Department, who was too facing the departmental enquiry, is presently posted in the Personal Section of the Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation.
According to the official record available with EXCELSIOR, seven officials of the Higher Education Department, who were facing allegations of issuing tenders to some favourites and against whom regular departmental enquiry was recommended, are enjoying the prime positions.
These officials are Sat Pal Sharma, the then Principal Government Degree College Doda and presently Principal Government Degree College R S Pura, Z A Hashmi, Principal Government Degree College Doda, Dr Veerji posted at GGM Sciene College, J I Trumboo posted at GDC Doda, Dr Aijaz Ahmad posted at GDC Doda, Sarita Parihar posted at GDC Boys Udhampur and Zaffar Hussain posted at GDC Doda.
As far as disposal of departmental enquiry is concerned, the Higher Education Department has conveyed that the whole record of the department was gutted in fire incident, which broke out on July 11, 2013 in Civil Secretariat, Srinagar. “Now the documents received from the GAD Vigilance Wing have been forwarded to the concerned quarters to seek action taken reports”, the Higher Education Department said in a latest communication to the General Administration Department.
Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, the then Principal Government Degree College Kupwara, against whom department enquiry was recommended for committing large scale bungling in purchase of furniture and other items for the college in the year 2008-09, superannuated from the service but action taken report in this case is still pending.
The other officials involved in this case are Nissar Hussain Shah (presently posted at GDC Bemina), Syed Rehmat Shah (presently posted at GDC Boys Baramulla), Zaffar Khan (presently posted in GDC Boys Baramulla), Shafiq Maqbool (presently posted at GDC Boys Sopore), Shabir Ahmed Rafai (presently posted as AE SICOP) and Shahid Sharief Dar (presently posted as JE SICOP).
According to the record, Arshad Noor, Junior Assistant in the Rural Development Department, who along with 16 other officials of the department was facing departmental enquiry for preparation of fake job cards and distribution of money among themselves and BDO, is presently posted in the personal section of the Minister of State for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation. Majority of the other erring officials in this case are posted in Gool area.
Dr Reyaz Farooq against whom regular departmental enquiry was recommended for making illegal appointments for the posts of Registrar/Demonstrator/Tutors in Indira Gandhi Dental College Jammu is presently Incharge Principal Dental College Srinagar.
H R Bhagat, the then Joint Director of Planning and Development Department, who was facing the charges of unauthorized release of BADP funds, is presently posted as Joint Director Central in the Directorate of Economics and Statistics.
Khurshid Ahmad Sanai, the then Deputy Director CAPD South Anantnag, who was facing the charges of misappropriation of kerosene oil, is presently holding the post of Chief Executive Officer, Kookernag Development Authority. Similarly, Nissar Ahmad Zargar, the then Assistant Director CAPD Baramulla, who was involved in embezzlement of salary, rent, commission of CB shop dealers, is presently holding the post of Deputy Director, CAPD South Anantnag.
According to the record, Mohd Rashid, the then Block Development Officer, Surankote Poonch, who was involved in misappropriation of Government funds meant for construction of school building during the financial year 2005-06, is presently posted as Joint Registrar Cooperative (Headquarters), Jammu.
Two more employees of Rural Development Department namely Mohammad Yousaf Bhat, the then MPW and Abdul Rashid Malik, who were facing charges of extending illegal benefits to relatives against extraneous consideration, are presently posted at sensitive places. Bhat is presently posted in Block Sopore and Malik in Block Wagoora.
Similarly, Bashir Ahmad Andrabi, the then BDO Uri, who was facing charges of providing financial assistance under IAY scheme in favour of non-deserving beneficiaries, is presently posted as BDO Dachnipur, which according to the Rural Development Department is a sensitive posting.
According to the record, Nirmal Kumari, who was facing the charges of drawl of Government money on fictitious bills on account of Mid-Day Meals and scholarship of Gujjar and Bakerwal students during her posting in the Zonal Education Officer Rajouri, is presently posted as Incharge HoD DIET Rajouri.
Mukesh Damral, Senior Manager (Cements), JAKFED Jammu, who was facing charges of misappropriation of JAKFED imprest money is presently holding the post of Assistant General Manager, Key Material JAKFED, which according to the department is a sensitive posting.