Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 8: In one of its kind case, a Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) officer presently posted as Deputy Commissioner has allegedly tampered his date of birth in order to get undue benefit of the Government service for four years and in order to take him to the task Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has given nod for holding departmental enquiry against the officer.
Official sources in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat told EXCELSIOR that in the recent past a complaint was received at the General Administration Department (GAD) mentioning that KAS officer Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja, presently posted as Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, had tampered his date of birth at the time of his clearing Civil Services Exam in 1984.
Acting on the complaint, the Government started internal enquiry during which it came to the fore that Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja had joined the Government services as Flock Supervisor in the Directorate of Animal and Sheep Husbandry and documents furnished by him at the time of appointment mention his date of birth as March 2, 1952.
However, in the General Administration Department records his date of birth is March 2, 1956, which clearly established that Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja, who also remained Special Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department and District Development Commissioner Rajouri prior to his present posting, had tampered his date of birth to obtain undue benefit of Government service for four years, sources informed.
When the officer came to know about internal enquiry against him, he applied for the voluntarily retirement but finding no further progress into the enquiry, the officer later withdrew his voluntarily retirement papers, sources said.
“As the GAD gathered strong evidence which prima-facie established commission of offence on the part of officer, a file was placed before the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for further necessary action in the case”, they said while disclosing that few days back Omar Abdullah gave approval for departmental enquiry against Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja, who is holding the post of Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla with effect from May 16, 2012.
In response to a question, sources said, “as per the directions of the Chief Minister, charge sheet under Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Rules will be served to the erring officer within next one week to explain his position”, adding “further action in the matter would be taken only after the receipt of reply to the charge-sheet from the KAS officer”.
About the further procedure to be adopted after receipt of reply to the charge-sheet, sources said, “if the Government finds the reply of the officer unsustainable then an enquiry officer will be appointed for further investigation”, adding “the possibility of Government handing over the case to the State Vigilance Organization cannot be ruled out keeping in view the gravity of the offence”.
“As per the date of birth mentioned in the record of Directorate of Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Ghulam Ahmed Khwaja would have superannuated more than two years back”, sources said, adding “if tampering of date of birth is established then he may face recovery of salary and other emoluments drawn by him during the past two years”.
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