SVC sets deadline for submission of ATR on enquiry against Ration Depot holders

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Dec 1: Setting a deadline, the State Vigilance Commission has directed Joint Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Jammu, to submit Action Taken Report (ATR) by January 12, 2017, on the enquiry report submitted by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua and Assistant Director FCS&CA Kathua on complaints against some Ration Depot holders.
The direction was made while adjudicating upon the complaint of Sanjeev Gupta, Sarpanch Chahhan Rorian and others, against Omkar Nath, Gayatri Devi and Dev Dutt (Ration Depot holders).
Taking serious notice of the delay caused in submitting the Action Taken Report, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner hinted at a disciplinary action against the officer whosoever will be responsible for violating Commissions’ directions. He said time bound action in corruption related cases should be the benchmark of the Department.
Previously, the State Vigilance Commission had asked the Joint Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Jammu, to appear in person and inform the Commission about action taken by the department on the enquiry report submitted by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua and Assistant Director FCS&CA Kathua on the complaint.
Seeking extension in submission of the report, the Joint Director informed the Commission that Department has constituted a team of officials, headed by Deputy Director, who has been asked to complete whole process as per established laws within six weeks.
The complainants, among other things, had alleged that Ration Depot holder of Ration Depot Chhan Rorian, Omker Nath Sharma, shifted ration depot from village Chhan Rorian near to his home without getting permission from competent authority. They have further alleged that one Depot has been sanctioned in the name of Gayatri Devi, who is working as Asha Worker, but her depot is also run by Omker Nath along side of his own Depot. BPL cards have been issued to some Govt employees while some consumers are having double ration cards, the complainants have alleged.
The report submitted by the Deputy Commissioner has established that some Govt employees are getting ration on BPL cards resulting in huge loss to the Government Exchequer, while shifting of ration depot from Chahhan Rorian village to National highway has been done without authority and multiple ration cards have been issued. Next hearing of the case has been fixed on January 12, 2017.