Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 7: The state vigilance commission (SVC), which met here today under the chairmanship of the chief vigilance commissioner, directed the Executive Engineer (XEn), PHE division, Poonch, to appear in person along with the action taken report (ATR) in connection with the alleged illegal appointments made in the division.
A notice in this regard was served upon the officer concerned, seeking explanation from him as to why action under SVC Act, 2011, should not be initiated against him for ignoring the commission's directions.
Earlier, SVC, while taking cognizance of a complaint regarding engagement of need based labourers in the Poonch PHE division on the basis of alleged invalid diplomas obtained by beneficiaries from Kisan Institute of Technology (KIT), R S Pura, ordered inquiry by the assistant commissioner revenue (ACR) vis-a-vis allegations levelled in the complaint which prima-facie revealed that KIT was neither affiliated to the state board of technical education, J&K, nor to national council for vocational training (NCVT) for trades of electrician, mason, plumber and diplomas issued by it were not valid in the eyes of law.
On last date of hearing, the commission had asked the director of technical education, J&K, and PHE Xen, Poonch, to appear it along with the relevant record but today when the case was listed for hearing neither he appeared nor ATR was submitted on his behalf. His counsel also failed to produce the relevant record which he had been directed to produce.
The enquiry further revealed that the XEn, in spite of being aware about the alleged invalid diplomas obtained by some persons in league with the KIT management, appointed them in alleged unfair manner, which cast a doubt on integrity of the officer concerned.
Taking a serious note of the XEn's absence, the commission directed him to ensure his presence along with ATR by next date of hearing. He was also asked for action against KIT for allegedly issuing illegal diplomas in violation of the government guidelines and submit ATR by December 26, 2016. |
