Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Feb 2: Despite reminders, several top ranking IAS, IPS and KAS officials have failed to submit their Immovable Property Returns (IPR) for the past two years.
Official sources said, “though there were clear directions from the Centre and State Governments that 53 IAS, 76 IPS and several KAS officials have failed to file their returns for 2014. Besides, 10 IAS and 16 IPS officials of the State cadre have still not submitted their returns for the year 2013”.
“Interestingly, among the list of IAS officials are top officials including Administrative Secretaries, Special Secretaries and several Deputy Commissioners. Same is true of the IPS list, which includes high ranking officials including some of the level of ADGP”, sources confirmed.
Sources pointed out, “the list has put the State Government in an embarrassing position as on one hand, the State had emphatically told all the Government employees to submit their property returns and on the other hand, high ranking IAS, IPS and KAS officials have themselves failed to submit their returns on time”.
According to an order issued by Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), all the officers of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) have also been asked to file their asset details by January 31. These returns are in addition to the new ones now required to be submitted by the officers under the new provisions of the Lokpal Act by April this year. Even KAS officials, as per the Service Rules of the State are required to submit their returns by the same deadline.
“Among the IAS officials, who failed to submit details of their assets for the year 2014, 14 belonged to 2002 batch and two each from 1992, 1994, 1998,1999,2004,2009, 2010 and 2013 batches, while three each are from 2012 batch and four from 2014 batch”, indicated the statistics available with EXCELSIOR.
Ten IAS officers had also not submitted their property returns for the year 2013 and these included four again from 2002 batch and three from 2010 batch. One official of 2002 batch had also failed to file property returns for the year 2012.
Sources pointed out, “the IPS counterparts were not far behind and 76 of them haven’t submitted their details for the year 2014. Among the officials, who failed to file their returns eight each belonged to 1999 and 1997 batch; four each belonged to 1994, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2008; three each from 1987, 1995, 2009 and two each from 1986,2000,2011 and 2012 batches”.
“25 IPS officials hadn’t filed their returns for the year 2013 and these included four of 2004 batch, three of 1997 batch and two each from 1994,1996 and 2004 batches”, sources added.
There were 25 other IPS officials, who haven’t even filed returns for the year 2012.
“Even several KAS officials, who were posted at prime positions hadn’t filed their asset details for this and preceding year”, sources remarked.
It is pertinent to mention here that on January 28, the State Government had issued strict directions to Administrative Secretaries to fix timeline for the officers and Head of Departments working under their respective control for furnishing information in respect of Property Returns of 2013. “However, the failure of Administrative Secretaries to submit their own asset details has put State Government in an embarrassing situation”, sources remarked.
AS per SRO No. 415 dated December 11, 2003, GAD was made the Prescribed Authority in relation to State Cadre All India Service Officers, KAS officers and other services administered by the GAD. It was specified that Administration Department in relation to Gazetted officers under its control and HoD in relation to other public servants would be the Prescribed Authority.
Official sources, while regretting the state of affairs said, “review of all officials, who have failed to submit their asset details would be done and notices would be issued to them soon”.
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