* SAC awaits taking over of cases by SVC
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 15: In order to make the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission fully functional, the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has issued directions for initiating process to fill up the post of second Vigilance Commissioner and several senior bureaucrats, who are going to retire from the services in the coming months are likely to be in race for the post.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey to set in motion the process to fill up the vacant post of Vigilance Commissioner, which could not be filled up after the former Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M S Khan, whose name was cleared by the Government, withdrew him name citing personal reasons.
“Chief Minister wants the State Vigilance Commission to be fully functional to meet the objective with which it was established by way of enactment of Act”, sources said, adding “acting on the instructions of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary has directed the General Administration Department Secretary, Syed Mushtaq Ahmad to identify the men of integrity and clean image, who could be considered for the second Vigilance Commissioner”.
Sources disclosed that names of several Commissioner Secretaries and senior police officers, who are going to superannuate in the near future, and a female retired Judge, are likely to be considered by the General Administration Department during the preparation of panel of incumbents for the post of second Vigilance Commissioner.
“Though no time-frame has been fixed for completion of exercise, the Chief Minister is keen to fill the post within shortest possible time so as to ensure smooth working of the Commission”, sources said, adding that even for the appointment of second Vigilance Commissioner entire exercise as laid down in the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Act has to be followed.
The panel to be shortlisted by the Government with the approval of the Chief Minister would be placed before a committee comprising Chief Minister, Law Minister, Leader of Opposition (or leader of single largest Opposition party) and a Minister to be nominated by the Chief Minister. Following the Selection Committee’s decision the name would be recommended to the Governor for final approval and issuance of order.
It is pertinent to mention here that former Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda and former Financial Commissioner, R K Jerath were appointed as Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioner respectively on February 11, 2013.
Meanwhile, sources said that State Vigilance Commission has yet not taken over 282 cases, which were ordered to be transferred to it from the State Accountability Commission in terms of Section 32 of the State Accountability Commission Act.
“Last month the State Accountability Commission had sent the files pertaining to these 282 cases against Government servants to the Vigilance Commission but the same were returned on the ground that SVC doesn’t have the adequate manpower to handle these files”, sources said, adding “even the Vigilance Commission in writing communicated to the SAC that it would take the files as soon as the requisite manpower was posted by the Government in the Commission”.
In response to a question, sources said, “since then no development has taken place till date and the State Accountability Commission is going to take up the issue with the Vigilance Commission once again keeping in view in fact that SAC main office will get shifted to Srinagar during Annual Darbar Move later this month”.
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