Jt Controller forcibly takes away relevant documents
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 27: The Excelsior report on missing of two Centrally funded Working Standard Laboratories in Legal Metrology Department of Jammu and Kashmir triggered a high-voltage drama in the LMD and alleged tampering of official record by the officers suspected to be involved in the fraud.
This has been officially stated in a formal complaint forwarded today to Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA Department, according to which Joint Controller, Legal Metrology Kashmir forcibly took away essential records pertaining to construction of Working Standard Labs soon after the Excelsior news on missing WSLs reached the Srinagar office in the morning of May 25.
In a charged atmosphere, the Joint Controller, Tanveer Ahmad Najar not only took away the relevant record, bearing file number 74-A, titled ‘Construction of Laboratory at Bemina Srinagar’, but also confronted with Controller LMD J&K and other officers, who attempted to stop him from doing so.
Sources alleged that tampering of the relevant record by some officers was also noticed in Jammu even as there was no official complaint of the same as was in the case of Srinagar office.
Pertinent to mention that the Excelsior had exclusively reported in its May 25 edition that two Centrally funded Working Standard Laboratories of LMD J&K were constructed on papers only whereas lakhs of rupees were released for the each lab and even Utilization Certificate (UC) in this regard was also submitted to the Government of India.
Soon after the Excelsior news reached the LMD office at Bemina Srinagar where the Controller Legal Metrology, J&K, M Akbar Wani was discussing the issue with the office staff, Assistant Controller Kulgam, M Muzafar Wani, who is also looking after the job of Deputy Controller Enforcement Srinagar, informed that Joint Controller Kashmir, Tanveer Ahmad Najar had forcibly taken essential records of WSLs works from his possession.
Even as the Controller immediately directed Mr Muzafar to stop Mr Tanveer from doing so and follow the proper procedure if he wants any kind of record, the later did not respond. In the meantime, a Section Officer in the Controller office was also instructed to telephonically request Mr Tanveer to desist from such action and follow the proper procedure. However, Mr Tanveer categorically nullified the request made on account of Controller LMD and this has been clearly stated in the formal complaint submitted to the Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA.
The complaint further says that around 12 noon, Mr Tanveer entered into the Controller office where he was asked by the Controller LMD, M Akbar Wani that why he was taking such forcible step and not following the proper procedure. “He (Mr Tanveer) aggressively replied that the file was managed by him when he was Dy Controller Enforcement Srinagar as such it is his personal and belongs to him. While being again asked that he is no more Dy Controller Enforcement but Incharge Joint Controller and the file is the official record and belongs to Dy Controller Enforcement Srinagar, the reply given by him was quite astonishing: What then, this file was made by me, I own it and Joint Controllers were not maintaining any record at that time,” read the complaint, number LM/C-Acctt/70/2018, dated 27-05-2021.
As the Controller attempted to settle the issue and instructed Mr Muzafar to take the receipt of the file and ensure that all pages are numbered properly and total number of pages should be reflected on the receipt, the later pleaded that the number could not be done since the whole file had been tempered. When the controller asked who tampered the file, Mr Muzafar replied that Mr Tanveer Ahmad, Joint Controller Kashmir removed some essential records from the file.
When the Controller enquired from Mr Tanveer about tampering of the file and warned him that such act will be brought to the notice of higher authorities, the later started shouting on the former and said that ‘highlighting the issue of missing WSLs is not a good decision’.
Despite being warned to remain within the limits, read the complaint, Mr Tanveer became more aggressive and started teasing the Controller by saying that these villagers have made the city dirty. While shouting with abusive language, he left the office, adds the complaint submitted for further course of action.
Sources said that some officers in Jammu were also noticed tampering the record pertaining to WSLs on the same day but there was no formal complaint or official confirmation of the same.
Controller LMD, while formally recommending investigation through some professional agency into the fraud committed in construction of WSLs, had also raised a question mark on the integrity of Deputy Controllers and Joint Controllers earlier posted at Jammu and Srinagar. “These officers never bothered to bring such frauds to the notice of higher authorities and hence integrity of all such officers is doubtful and needs to be dealt accordingly,” read the earlier communication in this regard, forwarded to Commissioner Secretary FCS&CA, last month.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
