news details |
|
|
| CM's drive against corrupt IAS, IFS officers stagnates; all enjoying prize postings | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Aug 13: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's drive against several corrupt Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers of Jammu and Kashmir cadre has seemingly stagnated with almost all of them enjoying prize postings.
Barring few who were penalized and thrown out of service during Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's tenure, all have managed to either get re-instated or escaped the noose owing to their high profile contacts in Omar's political and administrative set-up. The high profile state vigilance organization (SVO) which has on its rolls officers of known integrity is busy nailing down officers of clerical cadre. Sharks are roaming in open.
Omar's administration on routine basis claims of tightening noose around the corrupt but on ground, transfers are being sold and appointments manipulated. Corrupt officers especially those who are IAS and IFS manage postings even in the ministries which are headed by so-called honest and efficient ministers. Official records bear testimony to the fact that 664 corruption cases have been registered by State Vigilance Organization (SVO) and Crime Branch against public servants including several IAS and IFS officers.
Of these, around seven which includes both retired and serving IFS officers are facing corruption charges. Ironically, all these IFS officers are facing serious corruption and have several cases of misappropriation pending against them but Omar is either unaware or knowingly silent. Further, action is awaited against three politicians, including current agriculture minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and former Speaker Abdul Ahad Vakil. They are facing charges in two decade-old cases.
An FIR was registered by Vigilance Organization Jammu (VOJ) against Mir, who was then minister for law and parliamentary affairs in Ghulam Mohammad Shah-led government. The two leaders were accused of misutilisation of funds on account of legal aid and making illegal appointments during their respective tenures as Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs.
While some of the IAS officers in the list of accused are facing trial, sanction is yet to be granted against the former director Health Services, Kashmir, Muzaffar Ahmad, in an 11-year-old case relating to purchase of medicines at exorbitant prices. Ahmad continued as director, Health Services, during the tenure of four different chief ministers. Ten cases have also been registered against former district education officer, Poonch, M Y Kohli, over a period of three year in 1990s.
Former Director Social Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Boda, faces charges in court on account of FIR No 05/200 for misappropriation of government money to the tune of Rs 14,13,715. Some of the officers against whom cases are under investigation before SVC include Mir Naseem Ahmad, then Chief Town Planner Kashmir, Hamid Ahmad, Abdul Aziz Kashmiri, then Xen PHE Sub Division Bandipora, Abdul Hamid Shawl, then Xen PDD Bijbehara, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, then Xen PWD/R&B Khanabal, Zaffar Ahmad Faktoo, then AEE PHE Handwara, Mohammad Muzafar Iqbal, then Deputy Director Social Welfare and Mohammad Yosuf Bhat, then Deputy Director Social Welfare.
Cases against three IAS officers have been recommended by the VO to Centre for sanction. The officers are in the Indian Administrative Service and sanction to their prosecution can be given by the Central Government only. Centre has reportedly asked the state law department whether a case is made out under the prevention of corruption act against them. State is yet to reply and if sources are to be believed, silence is owing to high profile connections of these officers.
Vigilance request for prosecution of Baseer Ahmed Khan, then Deputy Commissioner Baramullah and three other Revenue officials, who are accused of illegal transaction of state land by misusing their official position and provisions of Roshni Act, is also awaiting the nod of Law department since December 28, 2010.
A senior police officer against whom the Vigilance Organization has registered a case of purchasing Coolant Faster on highly exorbitant rates and thus incurring a loss to the government exchequer, is escaping prosecution as Home Department is sitting over formal request for the same since September 2008.
Bashir Ahmed Wani, then ACD Kupwara, Ajaz Ahmed, Managing Director State Forest Corporation, Abdul Ghani Hajam, General Mananger North SFC, Mohd Maqbool Dar, then Manager SIDCO, Udyog Bhawan Jammu and Ghulam Mohd Mir, then Incharge FCI Depot Kupwara are among the other officers who are escaping prosecution despite registration of Vigilance cases against them.
According to official data, 153 cases have been referred by the State Vigilance Organisation to the government for accord of sanction to the prosecution of various officers and officials since January 2008. Out of 153 cases, the government and competent authorities have accorded sanction to the prosecution of 135 cases, majority of which have been registered against Patwaris, Junior Engineers, Linemen, Clerks and other junior officials.
In five cases, the competent authority declined sanction for the prosecution on different reasons while in 13 cases, the proposals for prosecution sanction is under consideration of the government. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
