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| NC, Cong Ministers behind Prof Peer's daredevil act? | | J&K's BOPEE shame | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Nov 21: Though their identity continues to be a well-guarded secret, ex-Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examination (JKBOPEE) Prof. Mushtaq Ahmed Peer is backed by a powerful lobby of National Conference (NC) and Congress Ministers.
Peer is being quizzed about his role in the BOPEE scam. He is likely to be arrested in the next few days. Crime Branch has taken over and is investigating exchange of money in lieu of question papers. Such is the influence wielded by Peer that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alongwith his staff and colleagues was one of the special invitees in the marriage ceremony of Peer' daughter.
Not only was Omar special invitee but he was seen in Hotel Nageen on two occasions during the marriage ceremony. According to eyewitnesses, Omar's coterie was seen exchanging warm hugs with Peer with promises and pledges of taking care of his future plans. Sources said that a senior Congress leader had put government under pressure to appoint Peer as Vice-Chancellor of Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) Awantipore in February 2014.
Backed by two top Congress and NC Ministers, sources maintain that it is this coterie of Omar which gave a long rope to Prof. Mushtaq Ahmed Peer despite complaints of corruption and wrongdoings pouring in CM's secretariat on regular basis. This coterie would dismiss every complaint as propaganda against Peer by vested interest. Even credible newspaper reports were dismissed as blackmail for getting advertisements.
In reply to every query raised by GAD or Chief Secretary's office over the newspaper reports, sources confirm that Peer would write lengthy notes about how he was allegedly being blackmailed by some newspaper owners for getting advertisements. They maintain that Peer would often feed Civil Secretariat with 'fantastic stories' of him having resisted extraordinary political as well as media pressure vis-a-vis selections of candidates in CET and B.Ed.
Peer, who had been facing serious allegations of nepotism and wrongdoing in Kashmir University (KU), was appointed to head prestigious BOPEE by a notification issued by GAD on February 28, 2009 in consonance with Govt order no. GAD (Ser) Gen/190/2008. He was then working as Professor in the Department Of Computer Sciences in the University of Kashmir, where sources maintain that he was facing serious allegations of having purchased computers from his home town, laying of third grade cable for internet services and having facilitated his wife in writing a M.Phil paper of Physics.
According to University sources, Peer never enjoyed a good reputation in the University yet he was chosen to head BOPEE. They added that it was primarily because of two Ministers, one from NC and other from Congress. They further said that these two Ministers got their due from Peer, when their close kith and kin managed seats both in MBBS and in the PG entrance examination. B.Ed connection of Peer is also believed to be fishy and filled with loopholes, said the sources.
Such was Peer's importance in BOPEE that state government found not even one academician from the army available with it to replace him after his two year mandatory tenure was over on March 17, 2011. He was re-appointed as Chairman for a period of one year vide Govt. order no: GAD (Ser) Gen1/190/2008 from the date of expiry of his term i.e. on March 17, 2011.
If the official sources are to be believed, this was the tenure when frequency of complaints against Peer had increased. However, sources add that political backing coupled with 'goody-goody' image which CM had of Peer led to ex-Commissioner/Secretary GAD Sheikh Mushtaq vigorously taking up issue of giving another 3 month extension to Peer. They maintain that Mushtaq issued a notification on March 16, 2012 extending the term of peer for another three months from the date of expiry of his term i.e. 17-03-2012 or till the new chairman is appointed.
Such was the political backing that Peer's successor Prof. R.D. Sharma from Jammu University had to not only wait but work under him for two months as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in BOPEE.
The unique notification issued on June 20, 2012 by GAD Secretary Sheikh Mushtaq did appoint Prof. R.D. Sharma as Chairman of BOPEE but with a condition that he would work as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) alongside the present Chairman Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Peer who was given another extension for a period of two months with effect from date his term expired i.e. June 17, 2012.
It has been reliably learnt that Sheikh Mushtaq, being close to a particular NC leader went out of the way to issue this unique notification, appointing two persons as heads of BOPEE. Though Crime Branch is unlikely to question ex-GAD Secretary or the two Ministers who ensured Peer remains in BOPEE, sources do point out that they should also be asked about going out of the way to favour Peer.
Once Peer's fresh term expired in August 2012, political influence coupled with bureaucratic blessings led to Cabinet decision no. 217/34/2012 dated 6-12-2012 on the basis of which Prof. Mushtaq Ahmad Peer was appointed as 'Consultant' on contract basis for a period of two years for fast tracking of recruitment to non-gazetted categories. This order was issued on December 13, 2012. This is exactly three months after he had demitted the office of Chairman BOPEE.
However, government reversed its decision on November 11, 2013 when Peer was found to have sold BOPEE to thugs and thieves, desirous of seeing their children qualify Common Entrance Test (CET) with flying colours. His appointment was cancelled vide Government Order No. 1551-GAD of 2013. However, nothing is being said or heard about the bureaucrats and politicians who ensured Peer's continuity in the Board Of Professional Entrance Examination. Will the government order a full-fledged inquiry into this BOPEE scam. |
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