Officers back,J&K orders fresh probe into job scam

Under pressure from a powerful lobby within the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance,the Omar Abdullah government has rescinded its decision.

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Under pressure from a powerful lobby within the ruling National Conference-Congress alliance,the Omar Abdullah government has rescinded its decision to attach four Executive Officers of Urban Local Bodies department accused of involvement in a recruitment racket and embezzlement of funds,thus halting the probe into the massive scam.

The Indian Express had on May 2 reported the massive recruitment racket in Urban Local Bodies department,the flagship department that oversees local governance through muncipal bodies across Kashmir. The department had made over 1,500 illegal appointments,almost doubling the number of employees,with devastating consequences: funds from local tax collection,devolution funds from the states revenue and the Centres developmental grants are now exclusively used to pay salaries. Much to the embarrassment of the government,the scam was exposed at a time when it was,in the backdrop of huge turnout in the Panchayat polls,emphasising the need for grassroots governance.

On April 25,Deputy CM Tara Chand,who is also Minister for Housing & Urban Development,chaired a meeting to discuss the recruitment racket,following which Principal Secretary,Housing and Urban Development,Suresh Kumar asked Director,Local Bodies,Mohammad Afzal Bhat to attach Executive Officers of Kupwara,Bandipore,Handwara and Khrew,Wali Mohammad,Abdul Rashid Shah,Mohammad Subhan and Mohammad Khalid Bhat respectively.

The order was soon revoked. Sources reveal that two senior ministers,and a top politician heading a constitutional body,intervened to scuttle the clean up process.

Mohammad Afzal Bhat confirmed that the order to attach the four officers has been revoked. The government has now set up two-member committee of Additional Commissioner,Housing & Urban Local Bodies,Sagar Biswas,and myself to look into the allegations about illegal appointments in all municipal councils and committees, Bhat told the Indian Express,adding that the committee was collecting details about the strength of staff in all municipal councils and committees of the Valley. After inquiry is completed,a report will be submitted to the government.

The setting up of the committee is seen as a hogwash to avoid action against the erring officials,especially as the government had already set up similar committees with the same mandate,but without any outcome.