Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: A promotion scandal has surfaced in the Housing and Urban Development Department where junior Head Assistants were elevated to the position of Executive Officers of various Municipal corporations in Kashmir valley.
The seniority list of the Head Assistants has been virtually kept in abeyance as the juniors have been preferred over the seniors during the process of promotion. In one case, an official has been promoted to the position of Executive Officer despite the fact that he nowhere figures in the seniority list of the Head Assistants.
Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir, Shameem Ahmad Laharwal issued order DULB/Estt/597 of 10/2012 with endorsement number DULB/Esst/03309-15 Dated 16-10-2012 according to which Farooq Ahmad Malik, Head Assistant, Municipal Council Sopore has been promoted as In-charge Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Beerwah.
Farooq stands at number 32 in the seniority list of Head Assistants issued by the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir on February 3, 2012. He has superseded 31 seniors including some of those who have superannuated from the services. The promotion of Farooq to the position of In-charge Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Beerwah has dented the promotion of seniors who are all fire against the authorities.
On July 9, Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir issued order number DULB/Estt/248 of 2012 with endorsement number DULB/Estt/4891-94 according to which Javed Ahmad Mir, In-charge Secretary, Municipal Committee, Mattan would hold additional charge of Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Mattan. Interestingly, Javed Ahmad Mir’s name does not figure anywhere in the seniority list of the Head Assistants.
The department has also adopted a novel way of transferring the staff posted in various Municipal Committees on telephonic conversation. Most of these transfers have taken place in Municipal Committees of Sumbal and Hajin in Bandipora district.
“On the telephonic instructions issued by the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir today on 27-07-2012 Abdul Aziz Mir Electrician of this committee is hereby relieved today on 27-07-2012 and is directed to report Executive Officer, Municipal Council Baramulla for further duties,” reads the order MC/S/12-13/883-87 issued by Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Sumbal.
Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Sumbal also issued order MC/S/12-13/1693-97 on August 9 according to which Ghulam Rasool Wani, Tax Guard Municipal Committee, Sumbal and Mohammad Afzal Ganie, Tax Collector Municipal Committee, Sumbal were transferred and asked to join Municipal Council, Baramulla for further duties. The order says that the transfers have been issued on the telephonic instructions of Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir.
On the same date yet another order MC/S/ 12-13/683-87 was issued on the telephonic instructions of Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir according to which Shair Ali Bhat Works Supervisor, Municipal Committee, Sumbal was transferred to Municipal Council Sopore.
“On the telephonic instructions issued by the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir today on 09-08-2012 Zahoor Ahmad Sofi, Death and Birth Clerk of this committee is hereby relieved today on 09-08-2012 and is directed to report to Executive Officer, Municipal Council Baramulla for further duties,” reads the order MC/H/Estt/12/664-69 issued by Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Hajin.
Executive Officer, Municipal Committee, Hajin also issued the transfer order of Khursheed Ahmad Parray Works Supervisor to Municipal Council, Sopore under order number MC/H/Estt/12/620-24 on August 6. This order was also issued on the telephonic instructions of Director Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir.
Follow our WhatsApp channel