Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, July 5: As several departments are under scanner for wrongdoings, the government has put restrictions on recruitment in public sector undertakings and autonomous bodies.
There are several departments which are under the scanner. The government recently constituted several fact-finding committees to look into irregularities in appointments in JK Sports Council, appointments in Skill Development, in awarding dredging contracts and macadamization contracts, and in lack of progress in implementation of SWAN Project.
"To enquire into all illegal/irregular appointments, if any, in JK Sports Council and the Youth Services and Sports Department from 2010-2018 and identify those responsible for irregularities, if any. The Committee will be chaired by the Principal Secretary (Home) and will also include Secretary, Youth, Services & Sports," a government spokesperson has said.
In a recent development, the government directed the public sector undertakings including JK Bank, JK Youth Sports Council, Jammu University, Kashmir University, JK Khadi Village Board and JK Cements not to make any appointments without the approval from the Finance department.
"No new posts shall be created by the PSUs, autonomous bodies, without the prior concurrence of Finance department. No recruitment shall be made by public sector undertakings, autonomous bodies, societies, without following a transparent and due process including advertisements inviting applications from eligible candidates irrespective of class of the posts," the order reads.
The JK Khadi Village Board was in news last year when on February 25, the then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti ordered a high-level enquiry into the procedural inadequacies in the selection process of the KVIB.
Mehbooba had ordered the probe following severe criticism over the appointment of her own cousin Aroot Madni (37), son of senior PDP leader Sartaj Madni as an executive officer in the board. The selection process was conducted by a private recruitment agency instead of the J&K Service Selection and Recruitment Board (JKSRB). Mehbooba's cousin to accept the employment offer from the board following the controversy generated by his appointment.
Similarly, the JK Bank has been in news recently. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a case into alleged large-scale irregularities in matters related to loans, finances and appointments in JK Bank. The ACB sleuths also raided JK Bank offices looking into allegations of fraudulent appointments over the years. Parvez Ahmad Nengroo was removed as its chairman.
The ACB has also registered a case against Deputy Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, J&K Bank and government officials for "illegal appropriation of subsidy with inflated project cost for establishment of CA storage at Lassipora, Pulwama". Similarly, there are also allegations of illegal appointments in JK Cements.
The ACB has directed the government departments to bring accountability and transparency in execution of developmental works. The ACB has written to the government that it has received complaints regarding embezzlement of funds in various departments through release of funds repeatedly against already restored works. The anti-corruption watchdog has directed the departments to ensure transparency in developmental works. |
