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| Hospitality & Protocol Deptt denies info on backdoor appointments, GAD reveals it under RTI | | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 8: In a bid to conceal information under Right to Information Act (RTI) about the alleged backdoor appointments made between 1996 to 2002 in Hospitality & Protocol Department (H&P Deptt), the department provided information which was contradictory to the one provided by General Administration Department (GAD). The misleading information provided by the directorate of H&P may land the concerned PIO in trouble as the information seeker has already filed first appeal and is now mulling to seek intervention of State Information Commission (SIC).
Details available with Early Times reveal that from 1996 onwards several backdoor appointments were allegedly made in department of Hospitality & Protocol (H&P). Sources say that some gazetted and non gazetted officers were also appointed, some of whom are now posted at very senior level in the grade of Additional Secretary / Special Secretary to Govt. These officials got inducted into KAS several years back.
With an aim of getting exact details of such appointees an information seeker filed an application under JK RTI Act 2009 in the office of Chief Secretary (CS) J&K. The CS office forwarded the application to Hospitality and Protocol Department and General Administration Department (GAD).
Vide RTI reply No: DDH&P / Estt/ 677-79 Dated 11.03.2019 the Assistant Director Hospitality & Protocol (H&P) Department who is also the designated Public Information Officer (PIO) in the said directorate said that no employees were appointed between 1996 and 2002. When copies of appointment orders were sought , the PIO was reluctant to provide the same. When the RTI applicant sought details of appointments made without recommendation of JK PSC or SSRB , the PIO in his reply said " Not Applicable"
Simultaneously RTI applicant got response from General Administration Department (GAD) after a few days and the PIO concerned provided a bunch of details that included names of several officers who were appointed between 1996 to 2002 , including officers from J&K Combined Civil Services (KAS) batches 1999 and 2002. In addition to this one person from Udhampur was appointed as Assistant Director vide Govt order No: 137 GAD of 2002 Dated 22.01.2002 and the GAD provided this detail also.
"If GAD could provide details of some appointees and their order copies also why was H&P Department reluctant to divulge the same information under RTI ? This is a matter of serious concern that needs a thorough probe. It is clear that H&P is hiding some names who were appointed through backdoor means several years back. I will take up this issue with Governor and Chief Secretary" said RTI applicant.
"Some details are yet to be provided by GAD especially those appointed in Gazetted cadre by Hospitality & Protocol Department. Some of these officers have managed to get inducted into KAS also while as they neither passed KAS exam in 1999 nor in 2001 . I have filed first appeal and will seek intervention of State Information Commission (SIC) or even High Court to extract the truth " RTI applicant added. |
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