| Principal Secy ULB acts tough, goes after black sheep in HUD | | Orders probe into illegal appointments, tightens noose around EOs | | Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 24: As a sequel to its ongoing actions against backdoor and illegal appointments in many Municipal Committees (MCs), the government today ordered inquiry into illegal and unauthorised appointments in the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Kashmir.
Vice-Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Srinagar has been made, inquiry officer, and he would submit his report by the end of July.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Dr Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Vice-Chairman, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority, Srinagar as enquiry officer to look into the appointments made in the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir by way of illegal relaxation of norms of age/qualification etc” reads, a copy of the order issued by Principal Secretary to Government J&K Housing and Urban Development Department, Dheeraj Gupta.
“Riyaz Ahmad Shah, Joint Commissioner (Adm), Srinagar Municipal Corporation shall be the presenting officer in the case. The inquiry officer shall submit its report by 30.07.2021 positively”, the order further reads.
Prior to this order, the Principal Secretary had suspended many Executive Officers of MCs in Kashmir in 2019. “He (Gupta) tightened noose around the three executive officers of municipalities of Tangmarg, Sopore, Hajin and former chairman MC Hajin for illegal appointments in municipalities and executive officer Pampore for selling Kachaarie land in Pampore along with revenue officials in 2019”, they said, adding that “Urban and Local Bodies had become a den of bunglings and illegal appointments but Dheeraj Gupta has cut the corrupt elements in the department to size by initiating probes in many cases.
An insider said that the Principal Secretary should also identify similar cases in the Jammu division. “In Jammu several officials, engaged through backdoor channels in other departments, have been calling shots in the HUD for decades. Their entry into government service does not hold the water.
Even, they can be terminated from services, simply going through their service books”, sources said, adding that recently a case was highlighted by the media, in which a person appointed as Research Assistant in Science and Technology on consolidated basis, has reached the post of Executive Engineer in HUD.
“Not only his engagement was illegal, but despite being a consolidated worker in Science and Technology Department, he was illegally promoted twice in one year, and later sent on deputation to HUD, where he managed his permanent absorption”, they said, adding that ACB should also take cognizance of this matter. |
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