*Neither FIR registered, nor departmental action initiated
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Aug 9: Several Government functionaries including an IAS officer have remained un-punished despite establishment of charges against them for execution of developmental works worth several lakhs of rupees without approval from the competent authority and without inviting tenders, as State Vigilance Organization neither registered formal FIR nor recommended regular departmental action against them.
Record available with EXCELSIOR revealed that in the year 2009 the then Senior Superintendent of Police (Poonch-Rajouri) Range of State Vigilance Organization initiated verification into different nature of works executed by the Rajouri Development Authority in blatant violation of laid down guidelines in order to confer some undue benefit upon the contractors.
After detailed verification, the then SSP Vigilance Organization vide Letter No.SSP/PR/Veri-31/2009/2013-14 dated February 28, 2015 conveyed the findings to the Central Office of the State Vigilance Organization before proceeding further into the ‘siphoning’ of funds by the then Chief Executive Officer and other officials of the Rajouri Development Authority.
On March 26, 2015, the AIG (Headquarters) in the Central Office of the State Vigilance Organization wrote a letter to the SSP (Poonch-Rajouri Range) of Vigilance Organization Jammu mentioning that the Director of Vigilance has approved registration of formal case against the suspect public servants for in-depth investigation. The SSP was also directed to furnish draft FIR into the matter to Central Office immediately.
However, the State Vigilance Organization changed its stance because of pressure from certain quarters and accordingly in the month of June this year, the AIG Headquarters dashed a communiqué No Veri-PR-31/2009-8497-98 to the Commissioner/Secretary to Government, General Administration Department simply suggesting issuance of directions to the concerned department for following codal procedure strictly while executing the works and remaining careful in future.
Shockingly, the AIG Headquarters adopted soft stance while himself admitting in the letter that the then Chief Executive Officer and other officials of the Rajouri Development Authority had carried out works worth lakhs of rupees without inviting tenders and without approval of the competent authority.
“A complaint was received by SVO alleging therein that the CEO Rajouri Development Authority has constructed a tourist bungalow adjoining to his house at Gambir Mugalan Road at Kotli Kalaban and during verification it came to the fore that the Authority has constructed protection wall around the building amounting to Rs 20,95,289 departmentally without putting the works to tenders and in this regard no approval from the competent authority has been obtained”, admits the AIG (Headquarters) in the communiqué.
“Moreover, some additional work for providing and fixing of ceramic glazed tiles of different configuration has been executed which was not advertized in the advertised rate list without approval from any competent authority”, further reads the communication, adding “the directions are required to be issued to the concerned department to follow codal procedure strictly while executing the works and remain careful in nature”.
What prompted the State Vigilance Organization to change stance has remained mystery till date, sources said, adding “it is really a matter of serious concern and requires in-depth investigation to ascertain why the State Vigilance Organization neither registered formal FIR into the case despite its Director’s approval for registration of case nor recommended regular departmental action to the General Administration Department”.
Expressing anguish over accused officers and officials remaining unpunished despite committing grave irregularities, sources said, “what to talk of teaching a lesson to them, the Government posted several of them on key positions”. Quoting an example, they said, “the then Chief Executive Officer of the Rajouri Development Authority, who was responsible for execution of works worth lakhs of rupees without approval and tenders, is presently Deputy Commissioner “.
It is worthwhile to mention here that funds for various components of development of Rajouri as a tourism destination were provided by the Government of India under the Destination Development Scheme. While some of the works were allotted to the contractors through tenders, several others were executed without floating tenders and approval from the competent authority.
“It is also a matter of concern as to how the General Administration Department mutely accepted the recommendation of the State Vigilance Organization and didn’t find it appropriate to order departmental inquiry or action especially when the SVO has itself admitted execution of works worth lakhs of rupees without floating tenders and without approval of competent authority”, sources said.
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