Govt orders premature retirement of two officers

JAMMU — In its endeavour to make the administration ‘more efficient and transparent’, the Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday ordered the premature retirement of two officers, one each belonging to the Prison Department and Transport Department respectively.

These officers conducted their duties in ways that were “unbecoming of public servants and in violation of the established code of conduct”.

The exercise was conducted as part of a regular process of scrutiny of records of employees, who cross age/service period in terms of Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs.

“Out of these retirees, the officer belonging to the Prison Department was found involved in wrongdoings while performing his duties during his service career and had remained ineffective in discharging the assigned duties besides, had doubtful integrity. The other officer belonging to the Transport Department was found involved in a serious criminal case for acquiring disproportionate assets and had doubtful integrity with inefficient performance during his service career,” the government order said.

It added, “According to the recommendations of the Review Committee, the performance of these employees was found unsatisfactory and their continuation in the government service was found against the public interest.”

In the recent past, as part of its zero-tolerance policy towards ‘corruption’, various employees have been dismissed from service on account of official misconduct, after rigorously following departmental proceedings against them.

Many cases are under scrutiny with the Empowered Committees constituted for consideration of cases under Article 226(2) of J&K CSRs. Further, many employees have also been terminated from service on account of anti-national activities.

Meanwhile, the government has also initiated several measures for the human resource development of its employees in Jammu and Kashmir which include timely promotion of eligible employees leading to smooth career progression, fast-tracking the recruitment process through recruiting agencies and abolishing interviews for most the non-gazetted vacancies referred to the Services Selection Board.

The Government is also contemplating institutionalization of referral of vacancies to recruiting agencies so that recruitments start in the month of April every year in accordance with the defined calendar.