*SVO probe for ascertaining criminality at advanced stage
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 16: In the much-publicized Rs 27 crore worth liability in the J&K Housing Board created due to the execution of various works under the pressure of the then Cabinet Minister, the State Government has charge-sheeted Secretary of the Board and five Executive Engineers of Housing and Urban Development and Roads and Buildings Departments and a Financial Advisor under Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
In the meanwhile, the State Vigilance Organization (SVO) investigation for ascertaining the criminality aspect, which would attract the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, is at advanced stage and latest status of the same would be placed before the Division Bench of the State High Court shortly.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that following much hue and cry over creation of Rs 27 crore worth liability in the J&K Housing Board on the directions of the then Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla, the Housing and Urban Development Department constituted a three-member committee vide communication No.178-HUD of 2015 dated July 14, 2015.
The committee in its findings furnished to the Commissioner/Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department established that works to the tune of Rs 27.60 crore were carried out by the J&K Housing Board without the approval of the competent authority and without approval of works plan as a result of which the financial reserves of the Board got depleted.
In its report, the committee explicitly mentioned that prescribed guidelines were not followed at any level during the execution of Rs 27.60 crore worth works and the responsibilities/duties associated with the officers of Managing Director, Financial Advisor, Deputy General Managers (DGMs) and Technical Officers were not discharged diligently, sources said.
On the basis of the findings of three-member committee, the Housing and Urban Development Department found the then Managing Director of J&K Housing Board, five Executive Engineers and a Financial Advisor guilty and accordingly it was decided to initiate departmental proceedings against the delinquent officers/officials.
Vide communication No.HUD/HB/06-07/2014-II dated November 11, 2016, the Commissioner/Secretary to Government Housing and Urban Development Depart-ment, Hirdesh Kumar has served charge-sheet upon the then MD of Housing Board and presently Secretary of the Board, Ram Pal Sharma and DGM (Executive Engineer) of the Board Aftab Rashid Pandit.
“The Government proposes to initiate departmental proceedings against you in terms of Rule 33 of J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956 and you are directed to submit within 21 days a written statement of defence failing which the disciplinary proceedings shall be held ex-parte”, reads the charge-sheet served upon the Secretary and DGM of the J&K Housing Board, the copy of which is also available with EXCELSIOR.
“Since four other delinquent Executive Engineers and Financial Advisor, who were shifted from J&K Housing Board during the pendency of enquiry by three-member committee, are presently posted in R&B and Finance Departments, they have been served charge-sheet through their respective Administrative Secretaries”, sources said.
In response to a question, sources said that on the receipt of written statement of defence from these seven officers, the Housing and Urban Development Department will decide the action to be taken against them under J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
As per the findings of the three-member committee, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR, the Housing Board, on political pressure, had executed works beyond its jurisdiction. The works were undertaken in areas and colonies which are not under the control of Housing Board.
“The Board has undertaken the construction of shelters/ dwelling units for weaker sections without any approved scheme or guidelines”, the report said, adding “even the list of beneficiaries of the activity has not been approved by any competent authority and mechanism adopted for selection of beneficiaries could not be known”.
“Works have been undertaken without any budgetary provision thereby depleting the financial reserves of the Board which are meant for the welfare of the employees like salaries, pensions and other benefits to the serving and retired employees of the Board”, the enquiry committee said, adding “funds were released to the Engineering Sections/ Divisions by the Accounts Section without ensuring that requisite codal formalities are followed by the Executing Agencies-Deputy General Managers of the Housing Board”.
Moreover, it was also found that works were executed without any approval of the works plan and disbursements were made without prior approval of the competent authority. “No action plan of works programme was prepared and the works were executed arbitrarily in violation of defined procedures as being followed by similar Government departments/corporations to maintain transparency and proper management”, the report said.
Meanwhile, the investigation by the State Vigilance Organization for ascertaining the criminality aspect, which would attract provisions of J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, is at advanced stage and will be concluded as expeditiously as possible.
“The State Vigilance Organization has already been asked to apprise the Division Bench of the State High Court about the latest status of the investigation into Rs 27.60 crore worth liability in the J&K Housing Board created on the directions of the then Minister for Housing Raman Bhalla”, sources said.
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