Mohammad Sarfaraz
Early Times Report
srinagar, Nov 9: The department of Urban Local Bodies has failed to stop unauthorized up-gradations in municipal councils and committees across the Kashmir Valley, causing huge loss to the state exchequer.
At least three circulars were issued by the department concerned, but the executive officers failed to implement them in letter and spirit, as they were themselves involved in up-gradation in their respective MCs, sources told Early Times.
"Though the circulars are passed from the department concerned, but when need arises for their implementation that becomes hurdle," sources said.
They said that recently the department of ULB issued yet another circular, and if that will be implemented in letter and spirit, a huge amount could be recovered that was granted and sanctioned through illegal promotions.
The fresh circular was issued on 06/11/2018 by the Director ULB. It read: "Despite repeated circular instructions issued by this directorate vide no's: DULB/Estt/1828/14906-14955 dated 23-01-2016 followed by circular no: DULB/Estt/1828/8868-8921 dated 10-04-2017, it has been observed that no action has been initiated by any municipal committee regarding the matter."
It said it has been time and again observed and reflected in the audit inspection reports of Deputy Director local funds audit and pension Srinagar and Accountant General in his audit inspection reports.
Further, the administrative department has also taken a serious view of these observation and conveyed directions to rectify all such errors and make necessary recoveries in respect of each employee in whose favour illogical/unauthorized promotions/up-gradations have been granted, the circular reads.
It said that all the Chief Executive Officers/Executive Officers of Municipal Councils/Committees are directed to review all such cases and make necessary recoveries under intimation to this office.
Sources cited an example, saying that a grade of Rs 6500 was to be promoted through DPC, but that was not the case, and there are some people who were either promoted illegally by administrators and many are getting pensions where they were retired from their services.
"There are hundreds of illegal promotions in the department concerned, and let the cases be thoroughly re-investigated so that everything will come to fore. Otherwise making tall claims of transparency and accountability in the departments falls flat," sources added. |
