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| Tainted officials get plum posting as Local Bodies department violates Model Code of Conduct | | Bickering between Ramzan, Jora renders Executive Officer idle | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Oct 27: On Saturday when the Election Commission of India (ECI) was busy in announcing schedule for the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, higher ups in the Urban Local Bodies department were giving final shapes to orders that would ensure that 'tainted' officers are given plum postings.
In order to cover up their follies the department higher ups gave back date to one of the orders, but failed to do the same with the respect to the other order issued. It has also come to the fore that bickering between a National Conference Minister and Congress Minister resulted in a situation wherein an Executive Officer has been rendered non-functional.
The department issued order DULB/Esst/PS/294/375 of 2014 dated 24-10-2014 ordering for transfer/posting of some officials. The order was issued in modification of order number DULB/PS/294/373 of 2014 dated 21/10/2014. Although the date of issuance was shown on October 24, but in real sense the order was issued on October 25, the date on which Model Code of Conduct came into effect.
"Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik I/C Executive Officer reinstated vide order number 252-HUD of 2014 dated 21-08-2014 under orders of transfer to Municipal Committee, Watergam is now posted to Municipal Committee, Frisal relieving Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Yaripora of the additional charge. The period of suspension of the officer shall be decided separately," reads the order.
This is despite the fact that Malik as Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Kupwara engaged 30 consolidated workers without any formal order. He also without any authorization whatsoever allotted eight shops of a shopping complex to his own favourites in lieu of money. Malik is said to be the blue-eyed boy of Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mir Saifullah who is the sitting legislator from Kupwara Assembly segment.
In the reinstatement order it was written that Malik should be given charge of a non-sensitive municipal committee so that there is no more embezzlement at his hands in any of the municipal committees or councils. His posting at Municipal Committee, Frisal has not gone well with insiders of the department as they say that strict punishment should be handed over to the said 'corrupt' officer.
According to the same order it has been written that Nazir Ahmad Dar, Revenue Officer, Municipal Council, Anantnag is transferred and shall hold the charge of Municipal Committee, Handwara relieving present incumbent of the charge till further order. Interestingly there is no mention of the officer whom Nazir replaced at Municipal Committee, Handwara and where the said officer has been transferred.
"Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Handwara, Habibullah Darzi was transferred there after getting promotion some months back. He is a favourite of CAPD Minister Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan and was transferred to Handwara only after Chaudhary's insistence, but not without a deal," said sources.
Sources said that as per the deal Local Bodies Minister, Nawang Rigzin Jora wanted his own man to be posted as ARTO Leh, however, the same was declined by CAPD Minister. This did not go well with Jora who immediately ordered for transfer of Nazir to Municipal Committee, Handwara while rendering Habibullah idle.
The CAPD Minister also blocked the transfer of Farooq Ahmad Rather as in-charge secretary Watergam to Handwara forcing Rather to stay put at Watergam. Under order 294/375 of 2014, Rather presently posted at Municipal Committee, Watergam was to be transferred to Municipal Committee, Handwara, but this could not materialize due to the 'interference' of CAPD Minister.
The Urban Local Bodies department issued order DULB/Esst/PS/86-II/378 of 2014 dated 25-10-2014 according to which two other tainted officials were given plum posting. This is despite the fact that the reinstatement order issued in favour of these officials had made it clear that they should be given charge of non-sensitive municipal committees or councils.
According to the order, Imtiyaz Ahmad Dar has been posted as Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Pampore. Municipal Committee, Pampore is one of the important local bodies in Kashmir and Imtiyaz's posting there has already led to disillusionment among the employees of the department.
Sources said that Imtiyaz carried out 50 illegal appointments at Municipal Committee, Chadoora and 35 at Municipal Committee, Kunzer during 2009-2010. As Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Achabal, Imtiyaz regularized services of 15 junior most consolidated workers.
According to this order, Abdul Rashid Shah has been posted as Executive Officer, Municipal Council, Sopore. Municipal Council, Sopore is one of the important local bodies in Kashmir and Rashid's posting there has given an apprehension that the 'tainted' officer would resort to loot and plunder at this local body.
Sources said that during his tenure as Executive Officer, Municipal Committees, Bandipora, Hajin and Sumbal, Rashid made more than 550 illegal appointments. Crime Branch has already registered a case against him and his guilt has been proved beyond doubt.
First Information Reports (FIRs) have already been lodged against tainted officials and they have been convicted for embezzlement. The enquiry carried out by top notch bureaucrats has also proved that the Executive Officers made illegal appointments, resorted to loot and carried out allotments without consent, but still then they were reinstated.
Sources said that Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Hilal Ahmad Parray was forced to sign the two orders as he refused to do the same earlier. Hilal was summoned to Civil Secretariat many times on Saturday to sign and virtually succumbed to the pressure late in the evening. |
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