| 'Favourite' officers continue to head J&K Handicrafts, J&K Cements | | | Mir Farhat
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 19: Inflicting a major blow to the small scale industries sector in the state, the previous National Conference-Congress regime had last year appointed heads for three corporations simply on 'nepotism', even though the selected ones were not eligible for the positions.
The then Minister for Commerce and Industries, Sajad Kitchloo, had given posts of managing directors of three public sector units to his three 'favourite' officials when they were not technically qualified for them.
As per the official documents, Ishtiyaq Hussain Drabu was appointed in-charge Managing Director of Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation Limited. Rakesh Sharma was appointed as in-charge Managing Director Jammu & Kashmir Cements Limited, while as Jasvinder Singh was appointed as Managing Director State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO).
Drabu, who was Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Jammu & Kashmir Handicrafts (S&E) Corporation, was appointed under order No. 48, dated March 5, 2014. Sharma, who was General Manager Small Scale Industries Corporation (SICOP), was posted as Managing Director Jammu & Kashmir Cements Limited as per order No. 27, dated March 2, 2014 and Singh, who worked as General Manager SIDCO was appointed as the Managing Director of the Corporation under order No. 125, dated June 2, 2014.
Though these officials were made heads on adhoc basis in their own pay and grade scale, yet the minister concerned has not taken the GAD on board. The orders stated that these officials would be reverted to their previous positions after eligible and suitable officials were found.
Sources in the government said that officers mismanaged the affairs of the corporations so much so that there was a sudden decline in turnover and revenue generation. The sources also said that the minister concerned bypassed many senior officers and appointed these three persons.
Sources said under Sharma, Jammu & Kashmir Cements witnessed a steep downfall by 60 percent in its annual output, Drabu went on a spree of construction work in Kolkatta, Delhi and Bangalore, that he was not officially authorized as it was the domain of Projects Construction Corporation, while Singh, hand in glove with land mafia disposed off prime land of industrial estates.
Further, the sources said, on October 11, 2014, MDs jointly sent a request to Kitchloo directly, bypassing even the administrative secretary and GAD, to release the grade meant for managing directors, despite they were temporarily posted.
"Ironically, the minister approved the grades to these officials from the date they were placed as in-charge managing directors. The approval of grade is done by cabinet only, but the grade was released with the approval of Competent Authority, Chairman SIDCO (Minister of State, Industries and Commerce) in case of Singh," said sources.
As soon as Governor's rule was imposed in the state Singh was reverted to his parent position. However, the other two remained untouched and still hold the posts. No action has been taken against these officials and the minister even as they ruined the small scale industries. |
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