JAMMU :State’s highest anti-graft body State Accountability Commission (SAC) today initiated an inquiry and issued notice to the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand the then Minister for Urban and Local Bodies and directed him to file his statement of defence within six weeks for making alleged illegal appointments in the department.
“While holding regular inquiry against the Deputy CM, SAC observed that no prosecutor has been provided by the Government and asked Advocate General to assist the commission in the prosecution of this case,” sources told reporters.
They said the significant direction has been issued in a complaint filed by one Saquib Mushtaq against Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand-who presently is in-charge State Education Department.
Sources said the State Accountability Commission comprising Justices YP Nargotra (Retd) Chairperson and Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain (Retd) observed that various allegations of corruption and misuse of official position, favouritism and nepotism have been levelled against the Deputy CM.
“SAC also observed that the allegations against the respondent is that he was holding the charge of Urban and Local Bodies and that in the said department large scale fake and illegal appointment have been made in utter violation of constitutional scheme of the Government Order Number 1423 of GAD dated October 14, 2009,” they added.
The complainant further alleged that the appointments were made at the instance of Deputy CM who, being a public functionary has misused his position and by means of corruption, favouritism and nepotism has appointed scores of people in public employment.
Sources said the respondent (Mr Tara Chand) in his reply had denied the allegations regarding appointments and said that as then Minister for Urban and Local Bodies Department, the case regarding illegal appointments came to his notice and he constituted two separate enquiries for Kashmir and Jammu Provinces.
SAC also observed that order of some of the appointments made in Bandipora showed that these have been made at the instance of the respondent.
“There may be other appointments also which have been made without knowledge of the Minister for which he has initiated an inquiry against the Director concerned, as alleged by him, but directing any such inquiry cannot absolve the respondent from the allegations regarding illegal appointments, as the orders of appointment made by the competent authority clearly show that these appointments have been made on Minister’s instruction,” SAC said.
SAC, however, directed holding of regular inquiry and issued notice to Mr Tara Chand, who may file his statement of defence within six weeks. (UNI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel