Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 26: The Housing and Urban Development Department has ordered removal of Jyoti Devi, a Councilor of Municipal Corporation Jammu, from her office on the ground of abusing her official position.
The said Councilor of Ward number 53 was booked by Anti-Corruption Bureau after her husband Sham Lal was caught red handed while accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 from a Contractor for issuance of malba clearance certificate of works in her Ward.
Following the registration of FIR by ACB on June 17, 2023, the Housing & Urban Development Department initiated an inquiry under section 34 of J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000 and Jyoti Devi was provided an opportunity to present her case/defence before the Inquiry Officer Anil Kaul, Secretary H&UDD.
The Inquiry officer, in his report, observed that the Councilor could not produce any evidence to substantiate her non involvement in the said offence and it transpires that Jyoti Devi has prima facie abused her official position and is liable for action for having flagrantly abused her position as a Corporator.
“Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 34(I) (b) of The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000, the Government hereby removes Jyoti Devi, Councillor, Ward No 53, from her office on the ground of abuse of her official powers, with immediate effect,” reads the notification, issued by the H&UDD.
This is the second such action in the past two years. Earlier, H&UDD had removed President Municipal committee Awantipora, Bashir Ahmad Bhat for abusing official powers.
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