Akshay Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 3: A major recruitment scandal of former Forest minister, Mian Altaf's times has surfaced in the State Forest Corporation (SFC) wherein 38 permanent employees were engaged on Minister's orders, without following codal formalities.
It is reliably learnt that the appointments were made following the launch of a project by Union Ministry of Textiles for establishment of "Raw Material Bank (RMB) and a Common Facility Center (CFC) at State Corporation Saw Mill Division Srinagar for providing raw material and technical knowledge to the artisans of "Khatam Band" manufacturers but if sources are to be believed, same facility was never created but the project money was siphoned off by Minister while huge money was collected by making illegal appointments.
In response to an RTI application filed by RTI activist and social worker, Dr. Rehmatullah Khora, the SFC furnished the recommendation letters sent by Minister to SFC Managing Director for making appointments, while in the list furnished, the same are shown as permanent employees.
Surprisingly, three from Nepal, one from Bihar also secured jobs in SFC on the directions of the then Forest Minister Mian Altaf. Those appointed on instructions of Mian Altaf and in pay grade 4440-7440 (grade pay 1300) were Nawaz Ahmed son of Mian Faiz of Kangan, Ashwani Paradhan from Jammu, Kuldeep Kapoor of Durga Nagar Jammu, Fayaz Ahmed Kalas son of Abdul Rashid of Thena Kangan, Parvaiz Ahmed Mir son of Gulam Mohammad Mir of Chunna Kangan, Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh son of Mohammad Yousuf Sheikh of Chuna Kangan, Intikhab Ahmad Lala son of Gh. Mohammad Lala of Chanapora, Mohamamd Rafiq Dar son of Abdul Rashid Dar of Gool, Zaffar Iqbal War son of Habib-ullah War of Manigam Ganderbal, Mian Shahnawaz son of Mian Faiz of Katchnambal Kangan, Riyaz Ahmed Sheikh son of Gulah Nabi Sheikh of Dalgate, Amir Mehraj son of Mehraj-ud-din Rather of Rajouri Kadal, Farooq Ahmed Changa son of Ghulam Mohammad Changa of Manigam Baramulla, Abdul Ahad Bhat son of Lal Din Bhat, Gowhar Jan son of Ghulam Mohiuddin of Natipora Sriangar, are appointed as Grading Assistant after 2010.
Moreover, Ruksana Bano daughter of Ajaz Ahmad Bhat of Sopora, Suman wife of Kuldeep Kapoor of Durga Nagar Jammu, Surinder Sawhney son of Romesh Sawhney of Afghan Mohammad Jammu, Sartaz Manzoor son of Manzoor Ahmad Sheikh of Kursoo Rajbagh, were appointed as Computer operator cum typist.
Showkat Ahmad Parray son of Gulam Mohammad Parray of Qazigund, Hilal Ahmad Mir son of Ali Mohammad Mir, Irshad Ahmed Khan son of Mohammad Shafi Khan of Pulwama, Abul Rashid Wani son of Abdul Ahad Wani of Brenwar Chadoora were appointed as daily wagers besides Subhanji Khar son of late Balji Khar of Janipra, Mahjabeen daughter of Abdul Majid Mir of Zaldagar Sriangar were reengaged as daily wagers.
Moreover, Man Bahadur son of Mukhu Bahadur, Tul Bahadur, Toa Bahadur son of Kash Bahadur all residents of Nepal and Mohammad Nazim son of Suman Ali resident of Mudwapatti were appointed as casual workers in Guest House Gladni, Guest House Sunjwan, Head Office Gladni and Fair Price Division respectively.
Dr. Rehmatullah said that though "Khatam Band" manufacturing is a traditional wood craft being carried by some families and Union government with a view to keep heritage craft alive, had offered and sanctioned project to facilitate artisans by way of providing raw matrial and establish a common facility center.
"Chairman of SFC, who happened to be the then Forest Minister Mian Altaf and Managing Director SFC Abdul Qayoom Khan, the then Divisional Manager GA Mir, hatched a conspiracy to make appointments of their blue-eyed, throwing guidelines of Union Ministry of Textiles into dustbin", he said.
He further said that after going through the documents it has been conspired that a simple application was submitted before Minister Mian Altaf, who marked the same to MD SFC with directions "MD SFC please engage".
"With a view to give some sort of credence , MD SFC market the applications to Divisional Manager Saw Mill for work experience test, the appointees were initially engaged on contractual basis and then adjusted against regular posts", he said, adding that within six months these employees were also transferred to various divisions ofSFC, including some to Jammu.. |
