Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Apr 15: The state government is all set to make mockery of the standing instructions regarding the appointment of Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (J&K AACL). The present dispensation is set to reject recommendations of a search panel formed in this regard by the previous state government.
In the meantime, two more names have come up for the post with the formal orders set to be issued in next few days. Interestingly, the person tipped to the 'favourite' for post was sacked from the same position in 2003 by then state government headed by present chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
"The search panel had zeroed in on some names for the position of Secretary of the J&K AACL. However, the recommendations have been dumped in the dust bin and the selection is set to be made from some elite panel. The formal order is likely to be issued by the end of this week," said sources.
Sources said that two more names have been added to the list of persons shortlisted by the present government for the position of Secretary, J&K AACL. They said that names of renowned theatre personality M K Raina and Santoor maestro Pandit Bhajan Sopori have been added to the 'elite' panel of the persons shortlisted by the present state government.
"Dr. Ayaz Rasool Nazki and Balwant Thakur were already in the fray for the position of Secretary, J&K AACL. With the addition of Raina and Sopori the total number of contenders has gone up to four. However, all the four require special relaxation for appointment to the vacant position," said sources.
Dr. Nazki has to cross two major barriers for grabbing the top post-age bar and ban on re-appointment ordered under Government order no: 719-GAD of 2013. Dr. Nazki is above 64 years while the search panel prescribed maximum age bar for appointment as Secretary is 62 years. On account of age bar, Nazki was not shortlisted by the search panel though he had applied for the post.
Thakur, the present Regional Director ICCR, Jammu chapter was sacked from the post by the government in 2003 for official misdemeanor. It was due to this reason that that his name was not okayed by the search panel though he too had applied for the post. His 'tainted' past is likely to affect his chances.
Raina and Sopori enjoy riveting reputation in their respective fields, but lack other parameters laid down by the previous government for holding the coveted position. Both are aged 67 and this might ruin their chances of grabbing the post. Raina and Sopori, also lack knack of literature and administration; the basic requirements for holding the post.
It may be recalled that in order to have transparency in appointment to the top post, the previous NC-Congress coalition Government had put in place a Search Committee mechanism. The first such committee was constituted in 2011 under the chairmanship of noted scholar, Mohammad Yousuf Taing.
The then State dispensation under policy disclosure dated 23-7-2014 had stated, "to ensure transparency in the appointment of most suitable candidate for the post, the GAD under the orders of President (HCM), JKAACL, has formed a search committee for recommending a panel of minimum of three candidates for consideration by the President. The Search Committee, it is hoped, will take into consideration contributions of the individuals towards literature, art, administration, past experience, and suitability."
In June 2014 after the superannuation of then Secretary Khalid Bashir, search committee was again constituted. It consisted of Jnanpith awardee Kashmiri poet, Prof. Rehman Rahi (Chairman), former Secretary JKAACL, Prof. N. D. Sharma (member), Administrative Secretary Tourism and Culture, Shailendra Kumar (Member) and Administrative Secretary GAD, M. A. Bukhari (Member).
After months long deliberations the search panel had recommended five names including TV actor and producer, Ayash Arif, Kashmiri writer and scholar, Dr. Aziz Hajni, IFS officer, Dr. O. P. Sharma Vidyarthi, retired Kashmir university professor, Dr. Farooq Fayaz and retired director Radio Kashmir, Bashir Arif.
Of the five proposed names, two retired officers are ineligible as the Government has banned re-appointment of retired officials and those who were re-engaged by the previous dispensation stand terminated under Government order no. 384-GAD of 2015. Sources said that previous dispensation had approved TV actor and producer, Ayash Arif for the post of Secretary.
Sources said that under norms and ethically also the government has to pick one candidate from search committee recommended panel, on account of their proximity with corridors of powers chances of 'out-of-panel' candidates have brightened.
"Though certain officers of the Academy had also applied for the post of Secretary, their names were not approved by the search panel as they did not fulfill the laid down criteria. Besides, the post of Secretary does not fall under promotion quota. Under Government statute, Secretary Academy has to be appointed by the Chief Minister in his capacity as President in consultation with the State government," said sources. |
