Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: It may sound incredible, unjustified and technically incorrect to many, but it is true that a KAS officer placed in the Rural Development Department (RDD) as BDO in Jammu district was posted with half an hour to another Block after she was attached by the Director on complaint basis and an inquiry was ordered against her.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Block Development Officer, Akhnoor Himanshi Gupta was attached by the Director Rural Development Department (RDD) Jammu, Ravinder Kumar Bhat to his office at Talab Tillo Jammu on July 7, 2017 vide order No. 521-DRDJ of 2017, dated 07-07-2017 on the basis of some complaints. BDO Marh, Ranjeet Singh Tara, who is also holding additional charge of another Block Bhalwan Brahmana, was given yet another additional charge of third Block, Akhnoor.
Meanwhile, the Director RDD Jammu in the same order, directed the Superintending Engineer (SE), REW Jammu, S. Balbir Singh to hold inquiry into the complaints against BDO Akhnoor and submit the report within ten (10) days.
Interestingly, the Director RDD Jammu Bhat, in most surprising and unjustified move, within half an hour of this order, issued yet another order No. 525-DRDJ of 2017 dated 07-07-2017 from his office and placed this BDO Himanshi to another remote Block, Kharah Balli of district Jammu. It seems that director under pressure issued this unfair, unjustified and technically wrong order against the officer who was yet to be cleared by the inquiry committee or wanted to accommodate his `blue eyed’ and most junior official’ (VLW), already holding two charges as I/C BDOs of Marh and Bhalwal Brahamana, in Akhnoor block.
Sources further said that there were complaints of double drawls of funds worth more than Rs 10 lakh on the works initiated at a pond at village Gandarwan in Akhnoor Block. While no action was taken against the concerned VLW/ Pram Panchayat secretary or the cashier/ accountant of the department, only this woman officer was made scapegoat. Moreover, blue eyed Ranjeet Singh Tara, who is still VLW, has been showered the favours by giving him additional charge of Akhnoor Block.
Assistant Commissioner Development, Jammu (RDD) Tasir Latiffi when contacted said that there were no serious allegations against the BDO Akhnoor. She has been posted to another block now. He tried to downplay the issue and maintained that the order regarding attachment was issued by the Director and he must be knowing about the allegations also. He confirmed that BDO Marh was already holding additional charge of Bhalwal Brahmana Block.
Director RDD Jammu, R K Bhat when asked how a KAS officer against whom the inquiry has been ordered and attached to the Directorate, can be posted to yet another Block till she is cleared by the inquiry committee, the Director said he has done just partial modification to his previous order. When stressed for the specific reply, Bhat said he did whatever instructions he got from the top. He also claimed that lady officer has been just asked to look after the charge of that Block as it was lying vacant for the past some time.
” Hum block Tau Khali Nahin Rakh Sakte Na, isliye usko charge diya,” Bhat maintained.
When asked about the nature of allegations, against her, the Director said there were some allegations of MG-NREGA payments against her in Akhnoor block. When asked why only one officer was targeted and others were not touched, the director tried to down play the incident and said inquiry will reveal the things.
SE, REW Jammu, S Balbir Singh who has been asked to hold inquiry into the matter by the Director when contacted said that he has not been communicated about the nature of allegations against the BDO. Till he is told about the allegations, how can he proceed with the inquiry. ” Let they communicate me about the gist of the allegations, I will start work,” the SE said.
The inquiry was ordered on July 7 and ten days are completed on July 17, and now five more days have passed, the Inquiry officer is not clear about the nature of allegations. This exposes the nature of affairs going on in the Rural Development Department Jammu. Minister for RDD, Abdul Haq Khan could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated efforts.
An officer of Deputy Commissioner rank when asked whether an officer can be given positing when he has been attached with directorate for some allegations are leveled and an inquiry is pending against her/him, the DC said technically he or she can not be placed till he/ she is cleared by the inquiry committee.
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