Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: State Accountability Commission (SAC) today ordered regular enquiry against former Minister Abdul Majid Wani in the complaint alleging hijacking of powers of Doda Municipality. The Commission has directed former Minister to remain present in person before the Full Bench on April 27.
After hearing Advocate Ch Ghulam Murtaza appearing for complainant Dr Rehmatullah Khora and Senior Advocate K S Johal appearing for Ex-Minister Abdul Majid Wani, the Bench of the Commission headed by Justice J P Singh converted preliminary enquiry into the regular enquiry for probing the allegations leveled against the Ex-Minister.
In the complaint, it has been alleged that the Ex-Minister in league with Executive Officer and Administrator Municipal Committee Doda approved many works in violation of various centrally sponsored schemes just to take political mileage. It has also been alleged in the complaint that the then Minister usurped the powers of the Municipal Committee Doda as the works were beyond his competence and contrary to the scope of J&K Municipal Act were ordered to be carried out.
Advocate Ch Ghulam Murtaza during the course of arguments highlighted that the Ex-Minister managed an application from few citizens of Doda which he subsequently endorsed to the then Deputy Chief Minister with wordings “Strongly Recommended” on June, 20, 2009 when the Municipal Committee Doda was very much functional.
In this way, the Minister completely high jacked the powers of the president Municipal Committee Doda. He further submitted that ex-Minister’s brazen abuse/misuse of position and powers is also evident from a communication which has been issued by Subash Gupta, the then District Superintending Engineer PWD (R&B) Circle Doda to the then Executive Engineer PWD (R&B) Division Doda under subject “List of persons for engagement on need basis” under his letter No.DSED/R&B/4997 dated August, 19, 2013.
Advocate Murtaza further submitted that ex-Minister had approved some works under Centrally sponsored schemes during the years 2010-11 and 2011-12 when the Municipal Committee Doda was dissolved for which only the Administrator as appointed by the Government had the powers to execute such works.
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