Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, June 16: In a major embarrassment for the Congress – National Conference (NC) Coalition in the State, Minister of State for Roads and Building, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo has raised serious objections over the style of working of Government functionaries and has even alleged that some vested interests were intentionally trying to undermine his authority as Minister of State for R&B.
Casting aspersions over several Governments officials, the MoS has stated that he was deliberately being bypassed on several occasions and several files pertaining to important matters were directly being routed to his senior colleague, Abdul Majid Wani, who is a Cabinet Minister affiliated with Congress party.
However, stoutly denying the allegations of the National Conference Minister, Mr Wani has stated that the powers had been conferred to him due to his Constitutional status of Cabinet Minister and he had not encroached over the jurisdiction of his Junior Minister in any manner.
Mr Kitchloo, who also holds several other important portfolios like Home, Industries and Commerce, Tourism & Culture, Mechanical Engineering and Housing & Urban has written separate letters to Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah and Commissioner/ Secretary R&B stating that he wasn’t being kept in loop over various important matters.
The letter dated June 14, 2013, which is in possession of EXCELSIOR says, “ever since I took oath of office as Minister on January 15, 2013 and was entrusted with several important portfolios including R&B, I have observed that important files pertaining to developmental projects and transfer of officers in R&B and Mechanical Engineering Department have been routed directly to Senior Minister, bypassing me altogether”.
“I have, in the past also, discussed the matter, but unfortunately it seems nothing has changed and the trend of getting files through by directly routing these to the Senior Minister has continued. This has undermined my authority as Minister of State of R&B Department, a constitutional position vested in me by the State Governor”, the letter added.
While categorically stating that this modus operandi would affect the image of Coalition partners, the letter says, “the present working of the department has severely dented the spirit of the present Coalition that envisaged taking everyone on board. It is the prime duty of Commissioner/ Secretary to Government, R&B to process all files in consultation with both the Ministers, which would have brought a healthy working relationship”.
“As a public figure we have to fulfill long-pending demands of the people we represent, especially those residing in far-flung areas of the State. I, as Minister in the present Council of Ministry, cannot remain a mute spectator to the recent happenings of the Department and filed questions of serious nature both inside the Assembly and outside, where media and people hold you accountable”, the letter added.
While referring to the Commissioner Secretary R&B, the letter says, “by routing important files of the Department without taking me into confidence”, I have been forced to take notice and direct you to route all files through my office.
“Also, transfer order of engineers issued today be kept on hold as most of these are premature and in gross violation of the transfer policy notified by the department. I will also be discussing the issue with the Senior Minister once I am back in the summer capital”, the letter concludes.
Reacting to allegations, Cabinet Minister for R&B and Mechanical Engineering Abdul Majid Wani said, “I am operating as per the powers conferred by the State Constitution and haven’t encroached on anyone’s jurisdictions. I am well within my rights to order transfer of employee that fall within the ambit of my Ministry”.
Reacting to allegations of pre-mature transfers, the Minister said, “most of the engineers that were recently adjusted were promote and some pre-mature transfers might have been done in case of non-performing officials, if the situation demands”.
“As a Minister, it is my responsibility to see that all the Departments are working with efficiency and I shall take whatever steps are required to improve their working”, he added.
Sources said that the controversy had engulfed the R&B Department, when on June 14, which was a public holiday in Kashmir province on occasion of Friday following Shab-i-Miraj, the Government issued an order for adjustment of 168 Assistant Executive Engineers (AEE).
Commissioner Secretary, R&B, Tanveer Jahan when contacted said, “the adjustment of the AEEs of the R&B were in accordance with the rules and as per the requirement”, adding, “this and even the earlier orders had been issued as per administrative exigencies”.
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