Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 30: In a significant judgment, Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu, Puneet Gupta today convicted and awarded one year imprisonment to the then Director Agriculture, Som Nath Sharma, who was booked by the Vigilance Organization for making 110 backdoor/illegal appointments in the Agriculture Department during the year 1995-1996 in violation of the guidelines issued by the State Government from time to time.
The accused officer was earlier discharged from the charges vide order dated December 30, 2008 and thereafter State Vigilance Organization filed a revision and the same was accepted and the accused took-up the matter to the Apex Court which upheld the order of the State High Court and charges were framed against him on May 4, 2011.
Out of FIR No 71/1998, 116 challans were filed and all were clubbed and decided vide common judgment.
After a long drawn trial, Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu disposed off 116 challans involving former Director Agriculture and summed up with the observations that while discharging his duties he made appointments in complete violation of SRO-291.
“He abused his authority in a manner not expected from the higher-up in the hierarchy of the department. The pecuniary benefits, which accrued to the beneficiaries through the appointments orders issued by the accused Director stand proved beyond shadow of doubt”, the court said.
With these observations, Court awarded one year imprisonment and fine of Rs 20,000 to former Director.
Chief Prosecuting Officer, Harminder Singh appeared for the State.
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