Sumit Sharma
Jammu, Mar 13: In the wake of JAKFED employees coming to in defence of their concerned minister Manohar Lal by terming the 'political Vedanta' against him to tarnish his image, but surprisingly the General Administrative Department (GAD) too has observed silence over the complaint lodged by RTI activist SK Bhalla alleging minister incharge Cooperative (Independent) Manohar Lal for using JAKFED's vehicles illegally resulting into burden on government exchequer. Pertinently in his plea, the applicant Bhalla alleging that the irregularities and misappropriation in his department putting burden on state exchequer, has demanded FIR against the minister incharge after a probe.
Bhalla in a communication to Governor of Jammu and Kashmir NN Vohra dtad July 2012 has raised the issue and in its response Governor J&K passed the same to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his consideration.
Pertinently, the complainant while taking up the case against minister incharge (Cooperatives) had alleged misuse of JAKFED resources by the minister. He alleged the minister kept vehicle Tata Sumo Grandi (1444/02AH) from JAKFED for his personal use and the same was attached with his wife a teacher by profession. "As per log book of the vehicle, it was taken to out of state ( HP, Wagha Border, Punjab) several times costing Rs 3 lakh as fuel expense. Surprisingly the minister swapped this old Sumo with the new vehicle of JAKFED, i.e. Bolero (JK02AR/4628) and the expenses of both the vehicles touched a whooping amount worth lakh from the pocket of JAKFED, the RTI activist had alleged in his complaint.
Chief minister taking cognizance later had forwarded the same to the then Chief Secretary and finally complaint letter landed in General Administrative Department GAD where it is believed to bite the dust as action still is awaited. However, sources in GAD said that the department wrote to minister concerned and sought verification thrice. Meanwhile, sources within JAKFED said that the minister (Manohar Lal) in question, in return , allegedly had shifted all blames upon one of his drivers and even claimed to have lodged a complaint against his driver Rajinder Kumar for forging entries in log book ,thus availed lakhs of rupees in the shape of vehicle's fuel. Ironically despite minister's tall claims about FIR against the driver for forging log book of vehicles, no action has been taken against so called alleged accused (driver) by minister himself .Even after lapse of almost one year, the GAD is sitting over the matter. |
