Early Times Report
Jammu, June 18: A 'blue eyed' officer who was initially posted as Block Development Officer (BDO) in Jammu has completed around 12 years posting mostly in Jammu, including two years in Samba district, and has reached to the post of Assistant Commissioner Development (ACD) under political and bureaucratic patronage.
According to sources, Aijaz Qaiser, presently ACD Jammu, was appointed as KAS officer in 2007 and posted as BDO in Jammu district and got postings in Bari Brahamana, Kote Bhalwal, Satwari, and during all these postings he faced repeated charges of corruption.
"Several complaints were made against him, but no action was taken against him, emboldening him further misuse his position. Instead of taking action against him, RDD/GAD promoted him as District Panchayat Officer (DPO) in Samba," said sources.
"Thereafter, he remained posted as ACD Samba in the same department and in same district. After one year, on 17-11-2018, he was re-posted as ACD Jammu, again in the same department", sources said, adding that the officer was given several promotions.
Despite poor performance and routinely indulging in corrupt practices in RDD, he was not posted outside the department. It depicts his influence in the political circles and in the administration, said sources.
They said his colleagues, who started their career with him, were posted in other departments after getting KAS cadre and were promoted along with him, but his department was not changed.
"Despite complaint against officials posted in the RDD in Samba and despite matter of huge embezzlement brought into the notice of higher authority from time to time, no action was taken against the influential ACD Samba", sources said, adding that Qaiser was posted as BDO Bari Brahamana, DPO Samba and then ACD Samba in violation of the rules.
"During his posting in district Samba as a BDO/DPO/ACD, he had embezzled huge money released under MGNREGA, CDF, MPLAD, CD, and PYT, 13th FCA, 14th FCA, BADP. The approved rate of M-30 grade 60 mm thick interlocking paver tiles is Rs 10 per tile. But ACD Samba in collusion with BDO purchased multi crores M-15 grade substandard/under specification interlocking tiles @ Rs 19 to 20 per tile. The SICOP and JAKFED are material supplying agencies; they cannot fix the rate of cement and tar steel for RDD", sources said.
They added that the approved rate of cement is Rs 390 per bag but ACD/then ACD Samba in collusion with BDOs purchased multi lakh bags of cement @ Rs 460 per bag. The NCCF was banned by the government of J&K in 2004 but ACD/then ACD Samba in collusion with BDOs purchased tar steel on double rate than local market rates on fake and fraudulent bills of NCCF.
"The cost of M.S tree guards is less than 600 per tree guard but by ACD/then ACD Samba purchased substandard, rusted tree guards @ 1399 per tree and embezzled multi crores development funds without planting plants. Most of the tree guards are still dumped in Panchayat Ghar building/BDOs store. The RDD deals with civil engineering works and electrical engineers are not posted in RDD but ACD Samba purchased electric transformers to earn commission", sources said, adding that a water purifier machine was purchased from own outlet which is useless for villagers due to absence of electricity in far flung areas. |
