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| Army Engineer drops bombshell, says RTI Act 'not applicable in J&K' | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, May 9: A senior officer of Military Engineering Services (MES), Air Force 1 Wing Srinagar, who is of the rank of Garrison Engineer, has told an aggrieved ex-contractual employee that Right to Information Act is not applicable to J&K.
The officer has returned the original RTI application and postal order of Rs 10 attached with the application as RTI fees. Sources say that MES is trying to play hide and seek as there is a big scam involved if the information comes into public domain.
Details available with Early Times reveals that Raashid Ashraf of Rather Mohalla, Kralpora, Chadoora had filed an application under RTI via speed post which was addressed to Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) CWE 1 Wing Air-force. Raashid says that he was hired by an MES contractor at AF I wing and has been working at Air Force station Srinagar from last 7 years as DG set Operator. Along with him one more person Riyaz Ahmad Rather was also hired who worked as Fitter Mechanic.
"As Government of India started disbursing payments online from 2017, one Mr Prasad, Assistant Garrison Engineer (AGE) and Contractor M/S Jaipal Associates told us and few other contractual employees that half of the monthly salary be returned every month. Most of the employees agreed to it under pressure, but Riyaz and I did not agree as it was unjust and uncalled for. We were shown the door and thus our livelihood was snatched," said Raashid while talking to Early Times.
After being aggrieved they sought help from activists of J&K RTI Movement in Srinagar who asked Raashid to file application under RTI Act. But the response was negative as the Garrison Engineer (GE) categorically said RTI Act 2005 is not applicable to J&K.
"Irony is that GE has given this thing in writing and this will create a serious problem for him as Raashid is now approaching Central Information Commission (CIC) with a compliant against the GE Air Force 1 wing of MES Srinagar. We will also bring this matter into notice of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) or CBI soon," said Syed Nasarullah, legal expert and Trustee of J&K RTI Movement.
"We went to JE Mr Ansari for help as he had appointed new DG Set operators who are unqualified and having no technical qualification (IT etc). He was so rude with us and said 'I am PM, will do anything'," said Raashid.
Pertinently, the MES had issued a tender notice for Manning and operation of DG sets installation for stand by power supply and Manning and operation of MES complaint cell at OMG, SMS and 90B power house at 1wing Air Force Station Srinagar.
"In the notification of the MES the qualification for eligible candidates was 10th pass with ITI diploma with four year experience. But during the time of interview one Junior Engineer Mr Ansari selected the unqualified and undeserved staff and on the other hand we being qualified were shunted out. The reason was we spoke truth and exposed the corrupt practices of JE Ansari. We wanted justice and invoked our right under RTI law. We wanted copies of the ITI diplomas of all the candidates, but the officers are playing hide and seek as they know most of the staff hired are not at all qualified, but we will not cow down and will take this issue to logical conclusion," Raashid added.
The former contractual employees are also complaining that their EPF is yet to be paid by the department. The aggrieved have appealed Chief Engineer MES Air Force Udhampur to intervene. Reliable sources in MES have told Early Times that there are many scams which are yet to be exposed within the MES/Air Force works wing. Tenders are invited for unnecessary works and the same are not executed at all. There is a huge nexus between local contractors and MES Engineers in Srinagar especially in AF 1 Wing Srinagar. |
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