| Ignoring HC directions, officers close to NC attempt to mislead Govt | | Reshuffle in Agriculture Production department | | Akshay Azad
ET Report
Jammu, Aug 28: At a time when Mufti led coalition Government is trying to undo the wrongs committed by previous dispensation in Agriculture Production department, some officers reportedly close to National Conference, have been trying their best to mislead the Government, disregarding the repeated orders of Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
Agriculture officers informed Early Times that in response to contempt SWP number 173/2010 in SWP No. 44/2009 MP No. 1/2015, filed by officers against the failure of department to implement the High Court judgement of 8th April 2010 regarding promotion of 899 officers, Justice Tashi Rabastan in July 2015, had asked given three weeks time to Commissioner Secretary to appear in person and directed the Government to withhold his salary.
According to judgement of 8th April 2010, the Jammu wing of High Court had withheld the Government order number 14-Agri of 2010, dated 29/1/2010, which had kept in abeyance order number 279 of 2008, dated 7 Oct 2008. The court in its judgement of 8/4/2010, had asked Government to kept order number 279 of 2008 in force, according to which 899 employees of various cadres of APD were promoted.
According to order No. 279-Agri of 2008, nearly 900 promotions were effected as per recruitment rules by the then Principal Secretary Sonali Kumar. Despite the fact that order number 279-Agri of 2008 is still in force but some officers holding close allegiance to National Conference and former Agriculture Minister have been trying to misled PDP led Government.
Sources said that amongst the officers in order number 279-Agri of 2008, Santok Raj Galotra is at serial number 36, (Ist in seniority as all others have retired), Ram Lal Bhagat serial number 39, is at second slot while Altaf Ajaz Andrabi (New incharge director Kashmir) at serial number 43, is at third slot. "Out of above three Ram Lal Bhagat is not made joint director, an eligibility required", sources said.
Other officers as per seniority in the list are, Noor-ud-din Wani is at serial number 44, Subash Chander at 46, Omkar Singh Chaudhary (50), Sunil Kumar Kapai (53), Hardev Sharma (54), Anil Kumar Nargotra (55), Arun Kumar Makhnotra (57), Jatinder Sharma (60). Sources said that Jatinder Sharma, who was very junior in the list was earlier promoted as Director during the tenure of former Minister Gulam Hassan Mir, while some other officers, who were trying to misled minister have already lost their case in High Court. "Srinagar wing of High Court has already declared Gulam Hassan Guru, Mubarak Reshi, Vipin Sambyal, Sudesh Koul as ineligible for the post of Chief and equivalent", sources said, but despite directions of HC, some officers have been holding the post of Joint Directors, due to closeness with former Minister.
Earlier Agriculture Minister had deliberately delayed the implementation of order number 279-Agri of 2008, as if the same would be implemented, the transfer industry in the department had been closed.
Pertinently, according to order No. 279-Agri of 2008, nearly 900 promotions were effected as per recruitment rules by the then Principal Secretary Sonali Kumar. Almost 650 promoted officers were from Jammu division while those who were enjoying lucrative posts of their choice, prior to the order, were from Kashmir division, retired officers of APD said.
The retired officers further alleged that when Gulam Hassan Mir took over as Agriculture Minister of state, he in collusion with some ineligible officers, hatched a conspiracy to undo Govt. order number 279-Agri of 2008, and a high level inquiry was also ordered. "The hidden agenda behind enquiry was to prevent newly promoted officers from continuing their duties, which consequently would help the Minister to earn money by continuing with ad-hoc transfers and promotion industry", they further alleged.
The gazetted cadre officers who have been waiting for promotions since last more than two decades further said, finally the Govt. order 279-Agri of 2008 was put into abeyance and status quo ante was enforced vide Govt. order number 14 Agri of 2010 dated 29-10-2010, in deference to interim court order. The officers further said that the former Agriculture Minister, refused to oblige the High Court orders and when the new Agriculture Minister Gulam Nabi Lone has been trying to streamline the department, some officers close to previous coalition have been attempting to scuttle the move. |
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