*File being sent to Governor for approval
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 19: A panel headed by Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today shortlisted the name of retired lady Principal District and Sessions Judge for the post of second Vigilance Commissioner in the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission and the file will be sent to Governor, N N Vohra for approval within next one or two days.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that as per the procedure laid down in the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act-2011, meeting of a committee authorized to recommend the names for the posts of Chief Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioners was convened at Nehru Guest House this evening.
Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is the Chairperson of the Committee, Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mir Saifullah, both Members attended the meeting. However, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and leader of single largest party in Opposition, Mehbooba Mufti, who is also member of the Committee didn’t turn up to participate in the meeting.
As the earlier meeting of the Committee, which was scheduled to be held last month, had to be postponed due to the absence of Mehbooba Mufti, Chief Minister and other two Members of the panel decided not to further delay the process of filling up of vacant post of 2nd Vigilance Commissioner, sources said. By making use of quorum in the meeting, the committee discussed the six-member panel prepared by the Chief Secretary, Mohammad Iqbal Khandey.
“After thorough discussion, the panel shortlisted the name of retired lady Principal District and Sessions Judge, Gous-al-Nissa for the post of 2nd Vigilance Commissioner in the State Vigilance Commission”, sources disclosed, adding “her name would be forwarded to the Governor, N N Vohra for approval within next one or two days”.
It is pertinent to mention here that on April 23 EXCELSIOR had exclusively reported that former Principal District and Sessions Judge, Gous-al-Nissa is the front-runner among the other probables in the panel. “If approved by the Governor, she would be the first woman Judge to be in any Commission in the State”, sources added.
Former Revenue Secretary, Kachoo Asfandyar Khan, former senior bureaucrat Tashi Dorjey and former Inspector General of Police, Mohd Amin Shah were among the other probables in the list, which was discussed in the meeting, sources said, adding “Gaus-al-Nissa has vast experience in the matters relating to vigilance and law as such her name was shortlisted by the panel”.
The Act states that Vigilance Commissioners shall be appointed from amongst the persons, who are holding a post in Indian Administrative Service, or a post in any Civil Services of the Union or the State not below the rank of a Commissioner/Secretary to Government, or those having knowledge and experience in the matters relating to vigilance, law and finance. “Retired Principal District and Sessions Judge fulfills this criteria as such she was shortlisted for the post”, sources said.
Earlier, the second Vigilance Commissioner’s post could not be filled up as the former Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, M S Khan, whose name was shortlisted by the panel, refused to accept the assignment on personal reasons.
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. Initially there were rumors that Government may not go in for filling post of 2nd Vigilance Commissioner but with the initiative of the Chief Minister the same have been set to rest now.
In response to a question, sources said, “the Government is also likely to set in motion exercise to overcome shortcomings, which have been creating hurdles in smooth functioning of the State Vigilance Commission”.
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