| Jammu, Dec 21: Responding to a complaint regarding issuance of 'bogus ration cards' thereby resulting in embezzlement of rations, the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) has directed Assistant Director, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CA&PD) Kathua, to ensure his personal appearance before the Commission on next date of hearing. The State Vigilance Commission while proceeding on a complaint titled "Rughbubir Singh v/s Tarsem Lal", Ex-Tehsil Supply Officer (TSO) Kathua, clubbed with complaint titled "Kali Das v/s Ashok Kumar, Tehsil Supply Officer (TSO), Hiranagar", regarding embezzlements, withholding and black-marketing of essential food commodities, resulting in offences Mala-in-Se, allegedly committed by the respondent officials of CAPD Department, had directed T P Singh, the then Assistant Director, CAPD, Kathua as well as Kewal Krishan the present Assistant Director, CAPD, Kathua to hold an on spot enquiry in presence of the complainants. SVC also had directed the respondents to record statements of concerned citizens against whom several ration cards have been shown in records in violation of rules, and thereafter furnish a factual report in the matter. Taking serious note of half-baked report submitted by the respondents, SVC observed that the said Assistant Directors instead of completing the enquiry and furnishing the requisite reports, sent either half baked reports or sought adjournments on one or the other pretext which not only depicts non-serious approach of the said officers towards their legitimate duties and abuse of their official position with consequence of loss to the Government exchequer. State Vigilance Commission taking a stern note of the behavior exhibited by the officers of CA&PD Department has recommended to the Chief Secretary that the officer deliberately attempts to shield corrupt elements causing delay in enquiry into the corrupt practices of subordinates" be got recorded in the Annual Performance Report of both the officers of namely T P Singh and Kewal Krishan at the level of accepting authority of their APRs. Besides, Assistant Director, CA&PD Kathua has been directed to appear before the Commission in person on next date of hearing alongwith the requisite compliance report. (JNF) |
