KAS officer directed to maintain status quo ante
Seniors can’t be bypassed in important matters: Secy
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 4: Taking serious note of unbecoming act on his part, Government has rescinded several orders of transfers, postings and elevations issued by Director Agriculture Jammu Pawan Singh Rathore in league with certain employees of the Directorate and in blatant violation of rules. Moreover, the senior officer of Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service has been warned to be cautious in future and exercise only those powers which have been conferred under rules.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that during the period between March 5 and March 9, 2019, Director Agriculture Jammu Pawan Singh Rathore issued different orders of transfers, postings and elevations without taking approval of the Secretary to Government, Agriculture Production Department, which otherwise was mandatory as per the rules.
He purposely chose this period to issue the orders in league with certain employees of the Directorate as Secretary to Government Agriculture Production Department Manzoor Ahmad Lone was out of station during these days, sources said, adding “in almost all these controversial orders immediate effect was given to the transfers, postings and elevations as if working of Directorate and its different wings was about to come to the grinding halt in the absence of beneficiary employees”.
Vide Order No.126-E dated March 5, 2019, P S Rathore asked Daisy Bhan, Assistant Agriculture Chemist, Pesticide Testing Laboratory, Talab Tillo Jammu to look after the charge of the post of Agriculture Chemist Jammu in addition to her own duties with immediate effect till the post is filled by the Administrative Department.
Similarly, vide Order No.129-E dated March 6, 2019, Kuldeep Dhar, Assistant Engineer, Agriculture Workshop Udhampur was directed to look after the working/assignment of the post of Agriculture Research Engineer (ARE), Agriculture Workshop Jammu in addition to his own duties with immediate effect till the post is filled by the Administrative Department on regular basis.
Moreover, vide Order No.132-E dated March 9, 2019, Director asked K K Sharma, Agriculture Economist to look after the work of the post of Deputy Director, Agriculture (Central) in addition to his own duties till the post is filled by the Government on regular basis. By way of this order, Jagmohan Bhat, Assistant Botanist, Vegetable Improvement Scheme Jammu was relieved of the additional duties of the post of Deputy Director (Central).
Again by way of Order No.133-E dated March 9, 2019, P S Rathore asked Prem Singh, Incharge Agriculture Extension Officer Zone Chowki Chora Sub-Division Akhnoor to assist in the section of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Directorate of Agriculture Jammu in addition to his own duties. In order to provide more comfort to this official the Director mentioned in the order that Prem Singh shall attend the Centrally Sponsored Scheme section of the Directorate thrice a week.
Continuing with the orders issuance spree, Director vide Order No.134-E dated March 9, 2019 asked Yadvinder Singh Sason, Programme Officer of the office of Joint Director of Agriculture Extension Jammu to look after the work of the vacant post of Assistant Director, Law Enforcement Jammu in addition to his own duties with immediate effect. By this order, A H Salaria, Assistant Soil Conservation Officer (I&P) Jammu was relieved of the additional charge of the post of Assistant Director, Law Enforcement Jammu.
Again vide Order No.135-E dated March 9, 2019, the Director ordered that Satish Kumar Bhagat, District Agriculture Officer Kishtwar shall look after the work of Saffron Development Officer Kishtwar in addition to his own duties with immediate effect till the post of Saffron Development Officer Kishtwar is filled up on regular basis by the Administrative Department.
Likewise, vide Order No.136-E dated March 9, 2019, Director directed that Rajinder Singh Jamwal, Subject Matter Specialist-III attached in the Directorate of Agriculture Jammu to report to the Farm Manager, Seed Multiplication Farm Chinore with immediate effect. Moreover, he ordered attachment of post of Subject Matter Specialist-III of Rajouri Sub-Division to the Accounts Officer, Directorate of Agriculture for drawal of salary of Jamwal.
Taking serious note of issuance of all these orders without the approval of competent authority, the Secretary to Government, Agriculture Production Department Manzoor Ahmed Lone vide Government Order No. 85-Agri has rescinded abinito the orders of transfers, elevations and additional charges. “The Director Agriculture Jammu is accordingly directed to maintain the status quo ante in respect of transfers, postings and elevations of the concerned officers”, reads the order.
When contacted, Manzoor Ahmed Lone said, “whatsoever may be the circumstances each and every officer is required to follow the rules strictly and Director should have taken Administrative Department into confidence before issuance of all these orders”.
“He preferred to by-pass the senior officers while issuing so many orders instead of formally obtaining approval”, he said, adding “I am not going to tolerate this”.
According to the sources, Government has advised the KAS officer to remain cautious in future and exercise only those powers which have been conferred on the Director.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
