Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 26: Despite the growing problem of unemployment and shrinking job avenues, the State Government has given extension to nearly 149 officials and re-engaged many of them as advisors, consultants, PROs and Officers on Special Duty with the Ministers in last three years.
The issue generated lot of heat in the Upper House followed by protest and walk- out by the Opposition PDP member, Murtaza Ahmed Khan. Minister for Finance Abdul Rahim Rather was responding to the joint question of NPP member Syed Mohd Rafiq Shah and Murtaza Ahmed Khan.
Mr Khan pointed out that what was the compulsion of the Government to re-employ these officials and give extension to many when Government itself has mentioned that over 6 lakh educated youth were unemployed. Why Government was giving extension or re-employing 68 and even 72 year old officials? Whether they are being governed by the same Government rules as other officials and were they equally accountable for the tasks given?
The PDP member pointed out what was the need of keeping a 72 year-old former Director Doordarshan, Farooq Nazki as media consultant to Information Department when there was full fledged Director, Mr Renzu, appointed for the purpose in Information Department. He alleged that Government was offering ` 50,000 to ` 80,000 to many re-employed people, by depriving many other highly qualified unemployed youth of the opportunity. He alleged it was sheer favouritism and has apparently been done to re-engage many people with ministers who are capable of doing their ‘desired’ job for them.
Mr Rather in his reply said that re-engagement and extension in services of retired Government servants has been made in very exceptional circumstances, consistent with the guidelines laid down on this count from time to time. He said the Government is empowered to do it under Article 226 of CSR. They have been given Cabinet nod. The Ministers under a cabinet order of June 2007 can re-engage an employ of their choice in their personnel staff. No upper age limit as been fixed for the same. He said on the basis of technical expertise or extra qualifications, most of them have been re-engaged.
The Minister further disclosed that total number of such retired officials are 149. Out of these, the term of 71 has expired and 78 are continuing. Mr Khan asked the exigency of re-engagement of senior officers Jalil Ahmed Khan and Farooq Nazki and sought clarification whether they were among personnel staff of any Minister. As the Minister tried to convince the member on the plea that Government has powers and many of them are given few months extension, the PDP member got agitated and he moved towards well to lodge his protest. Then not satisfied by Minister’s reply amidst protest, the member staged walk-out.
Giving list of the officials re-engaged and offered extension, Rather disclosed that Mohd Yosuf Special Secretary Law has been placed as OSD to Agriculture Minister on the salary of ` 55,400, Jia Lal Director Horticulture, P N Koul as OSD to Agriculture Minister, Fida Ali Dy Director Inf as OSD to CM, Sardar Shabir Khan Director Rural Sanitation, Mohd Shabir Law Officer as OSD to Minister for CAPD SKA Qadri DG Archives and Museums as consultant Tourism and Culture, Jalil Ahmed Khan (67), Financial Commissioner as Economic Advisor, Mushtaq Ahmed Saddiqi Spl Secy, R K Mahindroo Member SSB consultant in Finance Deptt, B R Sharma Pvt Secy with Health Minister, Krishan Lal Bhagat ZEO as Addl PRO with Health Minister, Farooq Nazki (72) media consultant to Inf Deptt, B A Bandey Jt Director Horticulture as OSD to Minister for Industries, Tsering Morup Manager SMG office Asstt in Ladakh Affairs, S K Arora Pvt Secy, Spl Assistant to Minister for PHE, Mir Najibullah Chief Enginner as Executive Director Communication and Capacity Dev Unit, V K Abrol CE, PHE as consultant in PHE, I&FC, H A Qureshi DG Eco and Stat . M Mahajan Secretary Planning, as consultant in Planning and Development, A K Giryali XEn consultant in PDD, Kartar Singh Tehsildar as consultant ( Revenue) in PDD, Abdul Majid Khandy DC as consultant in PDD, A R Tak ED in JKPDC consultant in PDD, M L Padha, G M Wani consultant in Tech Edu, B S Jamwal Chief Engineer, M K Raina, Basharat Dar Commissioner Secretary as MD J&K PDC, Inayat Ullah Director FSL, Dy Director FSL Harnam Chand and Shadi Lal Pvt Secy in DGP’s office.
Besides them many Tehsildars, Naib Tehsildars and Girdawars have been re-engaged.
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