Avinash Azad
Jammu, July 10: Taking cognizance of a news reports carried by Early times in its edition of July, 7, 2014, titled 'Corrupt' ruling roost in Katra Municipality, Enjoy political patronage; EO escapes action despite HC directions, Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department has asked director ULB Jammu to issue order of attachment of EO Katra with Director office.
Commissioner Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department, Satish Nehru told this journo that the Executive Officer would be attached with director office. "Direction regarding transfer of EO Katra has been passed to the Director, Urban Local Bodies Jammu", he added.
It pertinent to mention here that the Executive Officer Katra Municipal Committee, Ravi Kumar had been accused of making illegal appointments of his kith and kin last year, in said municipality for which he along with some other officials have been booked by SVO.
After completion of investigation in two FIRs, the SVO had presented challan before Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu in December 2013, but the officer was enjoying the post, due to reasons best known to authorities concerned. It was also reported that Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Hasnain Massodi had recommended administrative action against the Executive Officer, Katra Municipality, against whom two FIRs had culminated into presentation of charge-sheets in the court of Special Judge Anticorruption Jammu. The direction was passed by the DB in 2013, after going through a fresh CMA, in a PIL filed by an NGO regarding collection of taxes from the pilgrims visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. "Following the HC directions, the state government sanctioned prosecution against Ravi Kumar, but backed by some influential businessmen and leaders including a sitting Minister, the blue eyed officer managed to escape any administrative action", said an official concerned. Sources further said that due to some unknown reasons, the blue eyed official has been holding the post for the last more than 10 years. |
