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| On anonymous verbal complaint, ex-DSEJ attached former CEO Poonch | | Court exonerates the officer; letter written by him to DC about discrepancies in works in Govt schools prompted action against him | | Early Times Report
Jammu, July 19: Instead of initiating departmental enquiry or getting the complaint probed by any investigating agency, former Director School Education Jammu (DSEJ) had directly attached former Chief Education Officer (CEO) Poonch on an anonymous verbal grievance and had registered an FIR in Vigilance Organization against him.
According to the details available with Early Times after a lapse of nearly three years, on the closure report of Vigilance Organization, the Additional Session Judge Rajouri found the former CEO innocent.
“A letter written by the former CEO Poonch to the then Deputy Commissioner Poonch about huge variation in the official records of construction works executed in various government schools and physical availability of these works in schools was supposed to be the main reason behind the quick action by the former Director,” a source claimed.
According to the documents in possession of Early Times, Arif Iqbal had joined as CEO Poonch on 12/6/2017. After only two months and twenty days of his work as CEO Poonch, Arif Iqbal was attached by the then Director School Education on 31/08/2017.
Interestingly, the then Director had attached him on an anonymous verbal complaint over some transfer orders issued by him as the CEO. Instead of initiating any preliminary enquiry or a departmental action, the DSEJ forwarded an application vide office letter number DSEJ/Gaz/28390-92 dated 31/8/2017 to Vigilance Organization Jammu to register an FIR against Arif Iqbal. It was alleged by DSEJ that his office had received many complaints that CEO Poonch had effected transfers of teachers for pecuniary benefits and had a nexus with his subordinates.
After around three years, the Vigilance Organization submitted its closure report in which it has found the case not proved. On the closure report of VOJ, the Court of Additional Session Judge Rajouri, has observed in its order that on the complaint of DSEJ against Arif Iqbal, the Vigilance conducted a thorough investigation and could not find any corrupt practices or accepting of any illegal gratification in the transfer of teachers by CEO as alleged.
“The IO recorded statement of teachers as well as the then Director School Education Jammu, on whose application complaint was registered. The Director had stated that number of deputations including the School Education Department met him and leveled allegations of malpractices but no written complaint or any formal complaint was lodged with him”, it reads.
It further read: “The Director has not named or pinpointed anybody to be part of the deputation or nexus. The IO of VOJ also recorded the statements of teachers, who were transferred by the said CEO, however could not find any element of illegal gratification paid/received by said CEO. The IO has also placed on record the bank statements etc of CEO as well as his subordinate staff on record and could not found any substantial transaction….”.
In the concluding paragraph the Court observed, “After going through the record of entire Ikhitami, it is evident that no case has been made out, therefore the Ikhititami in hand is accepted and consigned to records after due compilation”.
There was no written complaint or even those who verbally complaint to DSEJ against former CEO Poonch had their identities revealed before the Director but everything appeared to be ghost story on which the CEO was forced to suffer mental agony, mental torture, defamation and got a blot on his over 30 years career in Education department.
The letter written by the CEO to Deputy Commissioner Poonch against huge variations in the official records of construction pointed out was that a total of Rs. 26.81 lakhs were approved for “Construction of Protection Wall across the Nalla near HSS Lathoong” but despite release of over Rs. 26 lakhs, the work was not executed. “After on spot visit it was found that no work stands executed at HSS Lathoong for the last 5 to 6 years except a wall having size of 45 feet long and 13 feet in height constructed through a Self Help Group by PWD Division. The construction work of the above said wall has not been executed as per the availability of funds to the tune of Rs. 26.81 Laks. The quality of work was not good”, a report forwarded by Assistant Director Planning in CEO Poonch office had pointed in its letter of June 2017.
Raising questions over these works was supposed to be reason behind immediate attachment and FIR against the CEO. |
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