Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Apr 16: A bunch of influential Agriculture Engineers continue to occupy the posts meant for Agriculture officers for the last many years, in total violation of service rules, pushing the later to the wall.
Sources in the department informed Early Times that as per Government order number 335 Agri of 2012 dated 12/12/2012, issued by APD, some posts of Agriculture Engineers were sanctioned for Director Agriculture Jammu.
The posts include a post at Agriculture Engineer Workshop Talab Tillo Jammu, three posts of Assistant Soil Conservation Officers Engineer one each at Poonch, Kathua and Command Area Development Jammu, three posts of Assistant Engineer one each at Seed Processing Plant Jammu, Agriculture Engineering Workshop Udhampur and SM Farm Chinoore, two posts of SMS Farm Machinery II one each at workshop Doda and workshop Rajouri, and four posts of SMS Farm Machinery III one each at Agriculture Workshop Jammu Agriculture Workshop Udhampur, SM Farm Chinore and CAD Jammu.
In violation of the service rules, six Agriculture Engineers have occupied the posts, which are meant for Agriculture officers. These Agriculture Engineers include Firdous Ahmad Tak, who is posted as ASCO RRD-CAD-Jammu, while Shabir Ahmed Mir Engineer is also posted as ASCO-CAD-Supwal. "In CAD Jammu, there is only one post for Agriculture Engineers but two Agriculture Engineers have been posted, and have occupied one post of Agriculture Officers", sources said, adding that Firdous Ahmad Tak has longest stay of atleast 8 years in CAD Jammu.
Moreover Engineer AH Salaria has been posted as ASCO-I&P Jammu, which is again a post for Agriculture officers while Sham Kumar Gupta is posted as ASCO Akhnoor, which is again meant for Agriculture Officers.
Similarly Shashi Kant Sharma ASCO-Rajoui is also occupying the post meant for Agriculture officers while Illyas Gathu is posted as ASCO-Doda, which is also a post meant for Agriculture officers.
"The Agriculture officers of the level of district cadre have been compelled to hold the junior level posts, meant for sub-division level officers, while their own posts have been occupied by Agriculture engineers with the active connivance of the higher officials", they alleged, adding that a high level enquiry headed by a sitting judge, must be ordered to expose the mess.
They appealed Governor administration as well as Advisor to Governor to do justice with the aggrieved officers without any further delay.
Director Agriculture Jammu PK Rathore said that the postings of gazetted cadre officers were managed by the administrative department wand Secretary would be right person to reply.
Secretary to Government Agriculture Production department Manzoor Ahmad Lone didn't pick up his phone for comments. |