Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 21: Discouraging officers of integrity blemished service records, the government in the recent administrative reshuffle affected last Tuesday handed over plum postings to several officials, who were facing charges of misconduct or corruption.
The anti-graft bodies have recommended several times to government to avoid tainted officials at plum postings, however, in Tuesday's reshuffle in middle rung bureaucracy several officials were given plum postings against whom the anti-graft bodies had recommended action. Sources said these officials were given plum postings on the recommendations of several ministers.
One such official of the Health Department is holding charge of six departments. The charge of Director ISM was withdrawn from him but he has now been posted as Commissioner, Food Safety Department.
He is also holding the charge of Secretary Technical, Health and Medical Education Department, Managing Director, Marketing and Processing Corporation (J&K HPMC), Chief Executive Officer, Medicinal Plants Board, and Mission Director Ayush Mission.
On February 23, 2018, he was given the additional charge of Principal Government Unani College, Ganderbal, Kashmir. The college is yet to be established.
In July 2017, the State Vigilance Organisation wrote a letter to the General Administration Department to initiate 'regular departmental action' against him, into the alleged procurement of substandard drugs.
The SVO sought 'regular departmental action' after the 'joint surprise check' was conducted on a complaint into the alleged procurement of sub-standard drugs.
The SVO letter revealed that all the medicines, drugs contained fungus inside the bottled packing which speaks volume about the standard and the quality of the medicines.
"This type of medicines had been supplied everywhere in Jammu province and same are available in all the dispensaries of district Kathua, Samba and Ayurvedic hospital Jammu," the letter reads.
Similarly, another senior official who was attached last year after his indecent pictures went viral, was posted as director of ISM.
Further, a case has been registered by SVO against an official who was transferred from Additional District Development Commissioner, Baramulla, and posted as Director, Social Welfare, Kashmir. The case of alleged misuse of official position, causing loss to state exchequer is still under investigation.
Posting officials, against whom investigations are going on, is demeaning government's own initiatives against the menace of corruption. Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in 2015 affirmed his commitment to bring transparency and accountability in the state administration when he removed tainted officials and non-performing bureaucrats from the plum postings. |
