Bashir Assad
SRINAGAR, June 6: In a glaring example of adhocism at various levels of civil and police administration by the political establishment for petty partisan interests, over 100 odd officers are holding the additional charge of different posts in various departments during the past several years. On the other hand, several administrative departments are without administrative heads (Secretaries) thereby indicating that administration was functioning on the 'crutches'.
According to the official sources, adhocism and stop-gap arrangement in the civil administration is on all time high which has adversely impacted the day-to-day functioning of the Government departments. Sources in the Civil Secretariat said that the functioning of various departments has come to a grinding halt as many senior IAS and KAS officers retired during last two or three months and the Government, even after the Model Code of Conduct was lifted after the Lok Sabha elections, the state Government has failed to effect transfers and posting for efficient delivery system.
He said that around 23 departments at various levels are being managed on adhoc arrangements, the situation is worst in Labour and Employment and Rural Development Departments, ARI & Trainings, Education, Planning and Development, J&K Housing Board, where more than 30 officers respectively have been holding the additional charge of different posts.
Some of the officers in these departments have been handling the additional affairs since last two to three years but those at the helm of affairs never found it appropriate to put a full stop on the adhoc arrangements practice.
Sources said that the irony is that some officers of Secretary and Commissioner Secretary level have been holding additional charge of several departments at a time while many other officers of same ranks are without portfolios. At the lower level, the situation is even worst.
In key departments like Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, Finance Department, Planning and Development Department, Sheep and Animal Husbandry Departments, School Education Department, Forest Department, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments, Transport, Science and Technology, Information, Tourism, Rural Development and Public Works Department, the stop-gap arrangement has become a routine now.
As for the PSUs and Corporations, the adhocism is ruling the roost. According to some watchers, the corporations have been transformed into rehabilitation centers where retired blue eyed persons are not only rehabilitated by bestowed with prize and plum postings. In some corporations the junior departmental officers have been holding the charge of Managing Directors thereby marring the functioning of these organizations. |
