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| J&K's retiring IAS babus seek re-engagement, advice govt against increasing retirement age of local officers | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Nov 27: Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country where so-called 'honest, bright and intelligent' local officers after induction into IAS opine against increasing retirement age of other employees while pleading for their re-engagement as influential members of some board or commission after retirement.
These bright honest officers eagerly wait for their re-engagement either as members of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) or as heads of various other prestigious fact-finding missions and inquiry committees. From political clout to personal relationships, these 'bright officers' use all influential corridors of powers to get to the hot seat. Once appointed, they become 'messiah' of their colleagues and decide fate of young bright candidates 'on their own terms and conditions'.
These influential officers prepare reports and advice government against increasing the retirement age of other government employees while stressing on the need for switching over to the stipendiary made of employment for non-gazetted recruits. But when their retirement day approaches, they not only seek re-employment but get re-engaged, again on an important position. No one seeks answers from them.
They refuse to work without being paid a hefty amount alongwith other facilities which include palatial government accommodation, costly furniture and luxurious cars. Estates department recently accommodated member of a particular commission in a costly hired private house in one of the posh localities of Jammu city. Despite being told that estates department makes all purchases from SICOP, the said member refused to accept the furniture both for his home and office.
He wanted the department to purchase furniture from a particular company. The same member has demanded a luxurious car from the government. Another retired state government official who had the reputation of being most upright when he was in service was accommodated by one of his 'honest bureaucrat friends' as Chairman of a particular commission. The said IAS officer had proposed name of this honest official for another important position while keeping the minister of that particular department in dark about the eligibility criteria for both the posts.
Of the officers who are retiring by the end of next year, names of four officers are being discussed in almost every corner of the civil secretariat. A word has been spread, citing reliable sources, that of these officers, three are likely to become members of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). These include Commissioner/Secretary Power Basharat Dhar, Chairman of State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) Lal Chand, Commissioner/Secretary Health and Medical Education Ghulam Ahmed Peer and IG (Armed) Jammu Ravinder Kotwal.
Of these officers, two are known for their contacts at the highest level especially in the political parties and also for keeping every dispensation in good humor. They are known for not annoying even a primary membership card holder of any political party. Be it PDP, Congress or National Conference, they have held prize postings. One of these four officers is a 'via Bathinda' KAS, now IAS.
Ask anyone and they would give you a shocking explanation 'Whatever route he may have taken to reach here, he is a bright officer. They would further say 'He would be brightest of all PSC members if he is appointed." It is heard often across the country that honest and bright IAS, IPS and IFS officers prefer a clam post-retirement life. And it is government who runs after them, when they desire to cleanse a system of rot.
They are chased everywhere and then, convinced to take the responsibility being offered to them. Their appointment comes as surprise for one and all. Once appointed, they work with utmost integrity and honesty. And if they find going tough or government intruding into their independent space, they resign instantaneously.
Late Justice (Retd.) R.P.Sethi was Chairman of State Accountability Commission (SAC) and when government began interfering in his work, he resigned after just six months. And within those six months, SAC seemed not only functional but delivering at a pace at which commoners expect legal system to work. However, after Sethi demitted the office, SAC lost its texture and is now only an anti-graft body.
In complete contrast to this, names of prospective candidates for becoming members of not only PSC but any other commission become public. They are discussed and debated in all the important corridors of civil secretariat. Prospective candidates are also lobbying for post-retirement engagements. State Information Department is specifically advised to keep the officers in limelight and if any news item pertaining to these officers appears anywhere in the media, a praise filled rebuttal is issued to clear the same.
It needs to be reiterated that when Early Times published a news item about controversial Date of Birth (DOB) issue of a particular IAS officer, information department sent a rosy clarification, using choicest of words in praise of the said officer. Ask even a lay man in information department and they would tell you that it was done with intent to save the officer from being kept out of the race for PSC membership. How one should read this aspirational nature of J&K's 'bright and efficient'babus.
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