*Directions issued in CoS meetings fall on deaf ears
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 23: In what could be termed as contemptuous approach towards the repeated directions of the High Court and orders from none else than the head of bureaucracy in the State, only 27 departmental enquiries have been completed during the past one year and the fate of 95 others is still hanging in balance. Due to this, large number of officers facing different charges are still unpunished.
The issue of 147 departmental enquiries figured before the State High Court in the form of Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA), which was based on exclusive news-item published by EXCELSIOR on February 23 last year.
The CMA in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL) titled Sheikh Mohammad Shafi and Another Versus Union of India and Others was taken seriously by the State High Court. Subsequently, numerous directions were issued for expeditious disposal of pending departmental enquiries in order to punish the accused officers and officials. The High Court even scolded the General Administration Department a number of times for not acting on the lackadaisical approach by different departments towards such enquiries.
Though one year has lapsed since the first direction from the State High Court, non-serious approach towards completion of such enquiries continues unabated. This can be gauged from the latest status of such enquiries, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
Out of 147 departmental enquiries, four have been concluded—one each by Planning and Development Department and Special Tribunal and two by the Home Department. Now, no departmental enquiry is pending in these departments.
However, out of remaining 143 departmental enquiries referred to 18 departments by the State Vigilance Organization, 27 cases have been closed during the past one year and clarifications have been sought by the General Administration Department in respect of 21 other enquiries.
Though it is claimed that some progress has been made, the fact is that fate of 95 departmental enquiries is still hanging in balance and when these would reach the logical conclusion remains a million dollar question in view of the non-seriousness of those handling these probes.
Forest, Higher Education, Revenue, Housing and Urban Development and Industries Departments are the major violators of the directions of the State High Court as well as those of Chief Secretary of the State as they have not completed even one departmental enquiry till date.
As per the available record, 11 departmental enquiries are pending in Forest, five in Higher Education, 15 in Revenue, 11 in Housing and Urban Development and two in Industries and Commerce departments. As far as other departments are concerned, 15 departmental enquiries are pending in Public Works, 11 in Rural Development and nine in Public Health Engineering and Irrigation and Flood Control etc.
The non-serious approach is notwithstanding the fact that regular reminders are being issued by the General Administration Department to the concerned departments impressing upon them to submit the response/action taken. “The issue is being regularly monitored in the monthly meeting of Committee of Secretaries held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and the defaulting departments are advised to take the matter seriously”, General Administration Department said in an official document.
“Slow progress in disposing of departmental enquiries by many departments despite High Court and Chief Secretary directions clearly indicates that there is a strong network within these departments to shield the erring officers”, sources said.
Had this not been the reason there was no justification behind prolonging disposal of departmental enquiries, they further said while disclosing that in departments like Finance, Technical Education, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Floriculture and Animal and Sheep Husbandry even two to four departmental enquiries are being prolonged for years together.
The allegations/charges against the officers against whom enquiries are pending pertain to violation of norms while issuing various orders; violation of codal formalities and service rules; drawl of fraudulent bills against non existent works; misuse of official position; embezzlement of funds; demand and acceptance of bribe; preparation of false/ inflated project reports; granting extensions to the contractors, who have not completed the allotted works in time; misappropriation of funds meant for developmental activities and providing financial assistance under various schemes to non-deserving beneficiaries etc.
Follow our WhatsApp channel