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| As political impasse continues, legality of Continuance of Vice Chairmen under scanner | | Advisory Boards huge burden on state exchequer | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 14: The political impasse restricting formation of new government in the state is proving to be financial loss for legislators but the situation is favourable for Vice Chairmen of various Boards and Advisory Boards who continue to enjoy status and salaries of cabinet ministers or Ministers of State. Notwithstanding imposition of Governor's rule for now, the legality of continuance of these Vice Chairmen appointed by previous NC-Congress coalition government has come under scanner in public and administrative quarters for exorbitant expenditure state chequer is facing in lieu of their fat perks and amenities besides salaries almost at par with the ministers.
Highly placed sources in the administration said there was no moral right nor legality in continuance of these Vice Chairman particularly in the wake of the fact that Chief minister Omar Abdullah who happened to be the Chairman of all these Boards has already resigned. Normally they should have resigned prior to his resignation as the coalition partners NC and Congress which appointed them over the last six years is no more at the helm, sources said adding that none of the Vice Chairmen who all happen to be politicians having allegiance to either National Conference or Congress have come forth with resignations. On the contrary, sources said , they are upbeat over present stalemate as it would allow them 'status quo' position, though not legally. Pertinently, there are around 10 Boards including six Advisory Boards which were set up by the erstwhile government more as a matter of 'political expediency' in order to fit in the lot who were left after cabinet allotments by both the parties.
Interestingly, the NC -Congress government was slammed by the State Accountability Commission two years back while slapping notices questioning legality of ranks and status enjoyed by people at the helm of these Advisory Boards besides raising questions over appointment of two Advisors to Chief Minister Devinder Rana and Mubarak Gul who enjoyed similar amenities and facilities against these posts. Even as the government had then claimed that these posts were created and filled up by in exercise of its administrative or executive discretion, the SAC asserted that executive power was vested with Governor only.
SAC notices were also slapped to the then two Advisors---Mubarak Gul, Devinder Singh Rana, Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari ( the then Vice-Chairman Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People), Ch Bashir Ahmad Naz (Vice Chairman Advisory Board for Development of Gujjars and Bakerwals), Rachpal Singh (Chairman Advisory Board for Development of Kissans), Kuldeep Raj Verma (Vice Chairman Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of Other Backward Classes), Swarn Lata (Vice Chairperson Advisory Board for Development of Scheduled Castes) and Shamima Firdous (Chairperson, State Commission for Women). Significantly, the SAC had acted upon swiftly and issued notices on the basis of a complaint mainly against Khem Lata Wakhloo Chairperson J&K Social Welfare Board in which the principal allegation was that she is enjoying the salary, perks and other amenities admissible to a Minister of State without being legally entitled to. Later, appointment of Chairman of all the Advisory Boards and Advisors to the Chief Minister also came under the ambit of the complaint which created political furore in the state. As the state exhecquer continues to face huge burden on account of their salaries and other benefits including the protocol enjoyed by the ministers, the administration is now waiting a nod from the Governor NN Vohra to nullify these appointments forthwith, sources added.
What makes continuance of these Boards all the more irrelevant is also with respect to their functioning and the purpose for which they were set up. They have failed to give any report to the government so far even as it is desired to submit such reports annually so that the work or role they have rendered to the communities could come to public knowledge. While the legality of some Advisory boards was questioned by the SAC, the government came up with one more such Advisory Board in its fag end. Jammu and Kashmir government has set up State Education Advisory Board to achieve universalisation of elementary Education and to provide for better organisation and development of school education in the state. It was Tara Chand who in capacity of Minister in Charge School Education proposed this Education Advisory Board upon which GAD acted swiftly in issuing a formal order with as many as 11 members on board. Interestingly, the concerned minister came up with the justification that setting up of the Advisory panel was necessitated for the purpose of achieving goal of universalization of elementary education and to provide for better development of school education in the state. Ironically, both the goals remained in controversies and the goals in question far from having been achieved in the state. |
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