Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Nov 23: Recovery worth over Rs 6.3 crores on account of food grains is pending against 72 Tehsil Supply Officers (TSOs) in 10 districts of Jammu region, but the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), has virtually failed to make recoveries from these officers even after the lapse of three years.
Official sources told the EXCELSIOR that during this period, a few officers have attained superannuation while hardly two others have deposited recovery amount in piece meals in Government Treasuries, while the rest were still to deposit the public money in the Government Treasuries. Sitting Director FCS&CA Jammu, Jitender Singh and his two predecessors have failed to effect recovery during past few years.
Sources further revealed that this recovery is pending since October 2016, when a senior PDP leader was the Minister concerned. None of the Directors since then could effect the recoveries worth crores on account of rate variation/ less remmitance from the then TSOs posted in various tehsils of Jammu province.
Secretary, FCS&CA, PR Pole in a meeting held on August 30, 2019 in his office chambers at Srinagar had directed the Director, Jitender Singh to make these recoveries from the concerned TSOs within three months, but till today, no recoveries except from two officers, could be effected, the sources added.
The only action against these erring officials apparently has been taken by the Directorate is that their promotion cases have been stopped and those a few, who retired, could not get NOC from the Head of the Department of FCS&CA or the concerned District head (Assistant Director) for completion of their pension cases.
According to documents in possession of the EXCELSIOR, in district Jammu alone, recovery worth over Rs 1.83 crores is pending against about a dozen TSOs, which include Rs 26.73 crore from Jammu Rural-I and rest from Jammu Rural-II. Only two TSOs from Jammu have so far deposited the outstanding amount in the Government Treasury.
The officers against whom the recoveries are pending are -Madan Lal, the then TSO Akhnoor, Des Raj, the then TSO Jourian, Manohar Lal, the then TSO Khour, Kuldip Singh, the then TSO Bhalwal, Ramesh Chander, the then TSO Dansal, Bhupinder Singh, the then TSO Marh, Ashwani Kumar, the then TSO RS Pura, N P Singh, the then TSO Suchetgarh, Satpaul Khajuria, the then TSO Miran Sahib, Satpaul Sudan, the then TSO Bishnah and Sahil Sharma, the then TSO Arnia.
Similarly, huge recovery worth over Rs 1.07 crore is pending against 9 Tehsil Supply Officers in district Rajouri. The TSOs in Rajouri who failed to deposit amount in Government Treasuries included- Abdul Majid, the then TSO Rajouri, Roshan Lal, the then TSO Kotranka/ Khawas, Mohd Riaz, the then TSO Nowshera, Mohd Ashraf the then TSO Kalakote, Zamir Ahmed, the then TSO Thannamandi, Bharat Bhushan the then TSO Sunderbani, Mohd Alyas, the then TSO Budhal, Pritpal Singh, the then TSO Darhal and Mohd Aslam the then TSO Manjakote.
In district Kishtwar, recovery worth over Rs 1.09 crore is pending against six TSOs, in district Doda recovery to the tune of Rs 50.70 lakh against 16 TSOs, outstanding worth Rs 73.14 lakh against six TSOs in Reasi district, recovery worth Rs 83.60 lakh against five TSOs in Ramban, Rs 68.50 lakh against six officers in district Kathua, Rs 30.06 lakh against four TSOs in district Samba, Rs 53.83 lakhs against six TSOs in district Udhampur and recovery amount worth Rs 47.25 lakh is pending against five TSOs in district Poonch. Other shortages worth over Rs 53.91 lakh have also been projected in district Reasi against the then TSOs Gulzar Ahmed (Mahore), Mohd Yaqoob ( Mahore), Chander Shekhar and Sandeep Singh Jamwal in the documents of the Department.
The TSOs of the FCS&CA in Jammu division against whom the recoveries are still pending are- Nek Ram, the then TSO Kathua Rural, Rajveer Singh the then TSO Kathua Urban, Tirath Ram, the then TSO Hiranagar, Jatinder Kumar, the then TSO Billawar, Sudesh Kumar, the then TSO Basohli, Navjot Sharma, the then TSO Bani, Madan Gopal, the then TSO Samba/ TSO Ghagwal, TSO Vijaypur, Anchal Raj, the then TSO Ramgarh, Abdul Majid, the then TSO Surankote, Mohd Kabir, the then TSO Balakote, Abdul Khaliq, the then TSO Mendhar, Yaqoob Mir, the then TSO Haveli, Manmohan Lal, the then TSO Mandi, Gian Khajuria, the then TSO Udhampur, Ashwani Kumar the then TSO Ramnagar, Parshotam Kumar, the then TSO Chenani, Kuldeep Singh, the then TSO Majalta, Mulakh Raj, the then TSO Pancheri-Mongri, Jameet Singh, the then TSO Latti- Majori, Ram Pal Sharma, the then TSO Pouni, Mohd Yaqoob the then TSO Arnas/ Mahore, Abdul Majid, the then TSO Chassana, Sandeep Singh-Reasi, Pankaj Thakur, the then TSO Thathri, Uaqat Ali the then TSO Drabshalla/ Thathri, Firdous Ahmed, the then TSO Kishtwar, Firdous Ahmed Kandu, the then TSO Gandoh/ Kishtwar, Abdul Majid, the then TSO Bhalla, Nissar Ahmed, the then TSO Bhaderwah, Gafoor Ahmed, the then TSO Bhalra/ Pul Doda, Parvez Ahmed, the then TSO Doda City, Jagwant Singh, the then TSO Dalie, Bharat Bhushan, the then TSO Marmat, Jugal Kishore, the then TSO Assar, Farooq Ahmed, the then TSO Bhaderwah/ Doda Bridge, Suresh Kumar, TSO Bhatyas/ Gandoah, Sajjad Ahmed, the then TSO Bhagwan, Gulzar Ahmed, the then TSO Gool, Satish Kumar, the then TSO Batote, Abdul Wahid Giri, the then TSO Banihal, Nazir Ahmed Wani, the then TSO Ramban, Nasir Ahmed Khan, the then TSO Ramsu, Saroop Chand, the then TSO Kishtwar/ Dachhan, Tariq Rasool Munshi, the then TSO Chhatroo, Chet Singh, the then TSO Paddar and Ashok Kumar, the then TSO Nagseni/ Dachhan.
Director, FCS&CA Jammu, Jitender Singh, when contacted, said that these recoveries are not new but pending since the period of the then Director GS Chib. He said it was generated during October 2016, due to less remittance of amount by the concerned TSOs despite the fact that the rates of the food grains ( rice/ Atta/ wheat/ sugar etc) had been increased by the Government. The concerned officials issued food items on the old rates, thus causing shortage and creation of outstanding amount against them.
He said the amount to the tune of Rs 4.25 crores was outstanding as conveyed by Finance section of his office. Singh said it was the responsibility of his three predecessors as well but the amount remained pending for long.
The Director further said that some TSOs who could not get promotions due to these recoveries, went to the court and the matter is still pending. He said some TSOs claimed that they were not at fault as they received directions late in this regard and by then they had already disbursed/ issued the monthly food grains quota on the old rates. Singh said he took the initiative to settle the case and took up the matter with Secretary, FCS&CA PR Pole few months ago.
Pole issued instructions to make recovery. He said the Department will effect recoveries from the concerned TSOs shortly. He said those retired among them are unable to get NOC for settlement of their pension cases and moreover, their promotions have also been withheld on account of this recovery pending against them.
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