Transfers by FM Quarra put on hold

The Ghulam Nabi Azad-led government put in abeyance all transfers made without J-K Cabinet approval by Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra. Qarra belongs to PDP, which boycotted the Cabinet meeting on Sunday, the third time in a row.

At the Cabinet meeting, Qarra was also stripped of his powers to grant additionalities to field staff bypassing the administrative department concerned. The decision, sources said, follows a request to Azad by non-PDP ministers that additionalities by the Finance Department be given to administrative departments instead of an individual officer. Apart from this, the Cabinet also agreed to the removal of pay anomalies of Finance Department employees on strike for the last five days. The decisions may further strain ties between the two coalition partners.

Sources said Qarra had ordered transfer and promotion of nearly 200 senior officers only last evening, asking them to move to their new postings from April 2 onwards.