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| Editor takes Academy for a ride; heads NGO 'clandestinely' | | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
srinagar, Feb 9: At a time when the State administration headed by Governor Narendra Nath Vohra is taking pro-active steps to bring the system back on track an official of Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (AACL) continues to violate the Civil Services Rules by heading a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) although 'clandestinely'.
Javaid Rahi, Editor Gojri AACL, runs an NGO-Tribal Research & Cultural Foundation (TRCF). The NGO is registered in the name of Raahi's father, Noor Mohammed who is based in Chandak Poonch. Rahi's association with the NGO is in violation of Rule 6 (3) of Employees Conduct Rules 1971 which reads, "No Government servant shall in the discharge of his official duties deal with any matter or give or sanction any contract to any undertaking or any other person if any member of his family is interested in such matter or contract in any manner..."
TRCF, a self proclaimed frontal organization of tribals of India, is registered under No. 3456 (26-4-2000) in the name of Noor Mohammed. As per website of TRCF, the NGO has an office at Jammu (58/5A Trikuta Nagar) which is the rented house of Rahi. The other address shows it having an office at Indira Nagar, Srinagar (H.No. 443), which is purportedly residence of a JKAACL official of fairer gender.
Incidentally, Rahi looks after all aspects of TRCF from issuance of press releases to holding of events and receipt of money.
The NGO is all set to organize a Gojri play 'Kafiloo' at Abhinav Theatre in Jammu on Wednesday, February 10. The play is directed by Shokat Naseem. MLA Kalakote and former Transport Minister Abdul Gani Kohli would be the chief guest on this occasion while as Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary would be the guest of honour.
Sources reveal that apart from getting salary from JKAACL, Rahi also gets regular direct and indirect financial benefits from his employer in the shape of financial grants under Academy's Financial Assistance Scheme directly and through Academy's recommendations in favour of his NGO -TRCF indirectly.
There are several instances of direct and indirect funding to TRCF by JKAACL. During 2009-10 Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, 58/5A, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu got assistance of Rs. 17000/- as NGO grant. Since 2002, TRCF has been regularly getting such favours which are usually in the range of Rs. 10, 000- 30, 000.
If this were not enough, in February 2010, the Ministry of Culture, Government of India granted an assistance of Rs three lakhs to TRCF under file no. 9-26/2009-S&F for a two day event titled 'Oral Traditions of Tribal and Nomadic Communities'.
In September 2011, TRCF again got a plum funding of Rs two lakhs for a two day event titled 'Seminar on folklore of Nomadic and Tribal Groups of Jammu and Kashmir'. This grant was sanctioned under file no. 9-127/2011-S&F 21.
The holding of functions and programmes by Rahi's TRCF runs contrary to Government instructions laid down under rule 14 of J&K Civil Services Employees Conduct Rules 1971 which says, "Government servant should not only maintain political neutrality but it should appear to be so and should not participate in the activities of or associate themselves with any organization in respect of which there is slightest reason to believe that the organization has a political aspect."
Rahi's press statements have been carried by both the local and national press from time to time. He has been vociferously demanding for the rights of the Gujjars which he cannot since he is a Government employee. He three years back led a delegation of Gujjar activists -all of whom were officials of Gojri section of AACL and presented a memorandum to then President Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Saif-ud-din Soz for inclusion of Gojri in 8th Schedule of Constitution of India.
Sources said that Rahi has been defiantly using the men and machinery of AACL for success of his TRCF events. Interestingly, almost all events of TRCF are held either in Kala Kendra or in KL Saigal Hall or at Abhinav theatre, Jammu. All the three units are owned by the Academy.
Legal experts contend that Rahi and other AACL functionaries participating in TRCF activities can be tried under Indian Penal Code and Ranbir Penal Code as they are doing what elected representatives of the Gujjar community are supposed to do.
During January 18-20, Rahi held a three day event at Udhampur by availing support of Udhampur district administration. According to official sources he had gone there without official permission as he did not avail any leave for the purpose.
Service matters experts plead that since under Article 6 of SRO 340 (Constitution of Academy) control and monitoring of JKAACL senior staff is with the President of JKAACL (presently Governor), as such Rahi requires prior sanction of the President for every press release that he issues and for every event that he holds. |
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