| Around dozen engineers ‘sneaked’ into RDD through backdoor 31 years ago, reveals RTI | | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 23: Around one dozen backdoor appointees, who allegedly managed to get themselves appointed in the Agriculture Production and Rural Development Department (AP&RDD), now Rural Development and Panchyati Raj (RD&PR) Department, 31-years ago have got their seniority fixed and are manning the top posts Rural Engineering Wing (REW).
Sources told Early Times vide cabinet decision No. 367 dt. 22-09-1998 there was a complete ban for the appointment, induction and permanent transfer in RD&PR.
They said, information sought by a whistleblower under RTI Act about temporary appointment of these engineers, in the Directorate of RDD Kashmir brought shocking facts to fore.
Sources said that vide letter no. RDK/Estt/RTI/5//RTI/011/5390-97 dated 04-06-2012 certified copies provided by the PIO Directorate of Rural Development Department Kashmir, no. E-Gnl/Adhoc /11243-53 dt.04-09-1989 issued by the then Director RDD Kashmir were addressed to ACD, Baramulla /Kupwara under RTI Act.
The Director RDD Kashmir—the PIO—said that engineers in questions were not appointed as Junior Engineers (JEs) on Adhoc basis by his Directorate before 04-09-1989.
A senior officer familiar with their alleged backdoor appointments said that the information was also sought from the General Administration Department (GAD).
“GAD in RTI reply provided a copy of Cabinet decision No. 203 dt. 05-09-1989 under J&K RTI Act, wherein in view of Cabinet decision No. 203 dt. 05-9-1989, the then Chief Minister J&K State, Dr. Farooq Abdullah was only competent authority to issue appointment orders, but he did not issue any appointment order”, the sources claimed.
“One of among 12 backdoor appointee engineers, in an affidavit in the J&K High Court, Jammu in 2012 had submitted that he was appointed as JE against the post sanctioned by the PW(R&B) vide Govt. order No. PW-972 of 1987 dated 29-10-1987”, the sources said, adding that “These people were appointed on basis of vacancies created by PWD i.e. how and when they were absorbed in AP&RDD.” |
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