No action on complaints forwarded by Raj Bhawan
*Fresh committee framed due to inaction by earlier panel
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 15: Incredible it may sound but it is a fact that Government has failed to dig out facts about fraudulent appointments made in the Technical Education Department and Autonomous Bodies/ Corporations under its administrative control during the past more than one and half year even after framing of committee of bureaucrats.
The dilly-dallying approach on the part of the administration in this regard is notwithstanding the fact that complaints about fraudulent appointments in the Technical Education Department (now Skill Development Department) and its wings were received by none else than the Raj Bhawan.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that in early 2019 a number of complaints came to the notice of the then Governor of erstwhile State regarding fraudulent and illegal appointments made during the period between 2010 and 2018 in different departments particularly Technical Education and Autonomous Bodies, Corporations and Organizations under its administrative control.
Accordingly, all these complaints were forwarded to the Government with the direction to constitute Fact Finding Committees for each of these departments. In respect of Technical Education Department, which has recently been named as Skill Development Department, the General Administration Department vide Government Order No.578 dated May 11, 2019 constituted a committee to look into all fraudulent appointments.
The committee headed by Commissioner/Secretary to Government, Forest, Environment and Ecology Department and comprising Secretary to the Government, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Construction and Secretary, Technical Education Department was directed to identify those responsible for fraudulent appointments and submit its Report by June 14, 2019.
“What to talk of accomplishing the assigned task within the time-frame specified in the Government order, the committee failed to submit report even at belated stage as a result of which Government has failed to dig out facts regarding fraudulent appointments till date”, sources said, adding “had serious attention been paid by the committee more than one and half year time was sufficient enough for completion of exercise”.
They further said, “it is a matter of serious concern that no action could be taken on the complaints which were forwarded to the administration by none else than the then Governor of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir”, adding “if it was not possible for the committee of bureaucrats to dig out the facts because of any of the reasons it should have recommended to the Government to refer the matter to the Crime Branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police”.
“At least those complaints which are forwarded by the Raj Bhawan to the administration should receive priority attention of the concerned officers otherwise complainants nurse an impression that even after transition from State to Union Territory there is no perceptible change in the functioning of the administration”, sources said.
Keeping in view the failure of the earlier panel, the Government, in supersession of order of May 11, 2019, has reconstituted the Fact Finding Committee to examine fraudulent appointments in the Skill Development Department and Autonomous Bodies, Corporations and Organizations under its administrative control.
Now, Principal Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department has been made chairman of the committee and Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department are its members.
The reconstituted committee has been directed to identify those responsible for fraudulent appointments and submit its report by February 15, 2021.
“Now it is to be seen whether the reconstituted committee will complete the assigned task within the stipulated time-frame or it would meet the fact of the earlier panel of bureaucrats”, sources said.
EXCELSIOR on numerous occasions highlighted the failure of the Government committees to meet the time-lines for accomplishment of assigned task and prevailing situation demands Government to take serious note of the same so that vital issues are resolved as expeditiously as possible.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
