Govt sacks services of nine ‘corrupt’ employees in J&K

SRINAGAR — The Lieutenant Governor-led administration in Jammu and Kashmir has ordered the premature retirement of nine employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department under Article 226(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Regulations on charges of ‘corruption’.

The charges against the officers were confirmed by the Departmental Committees and upheld by the designated review committee under Article 226(2), including misappropriation of funds, falsification of records and raising fake bills, allowing illegal constructions, committing financial irregularities and making illegal appointments during their tenure in various ULBs.

Most of the officials have faced probes by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and were also suspended. Article 226(2) of the J&K Civil Services Regulations, 1956 allows the government employees to be retired in “public interest” upon completing 22 years of qualifying service or attaining 48 years of age. The Article is essentially meant to help in the removal of deadwood from the government services.

The employees are retired with a three-month notice or three months of pay. However, they retain pensionary benefits, as per government order.

The nine employees of Housing and Urban Development Department who face premature retirement include Mehraj-ud-Din Buja, I/C Senior Building Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation who as Head Assistant Revenue Section, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, was arrested by Vigilance Organization Kashmir in a trap case; Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik, who during his posting as in-charge of EO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, irregularities in financial transactions, illegal constructions, gross negligence and misconduct; Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Sanitation Officer, MC Shopian, who during his posting as in-charge CEO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, illegal constructions, irregularities in financial transactions, gross negligence, and misconduct; Zakir All, Sanitary Supervisor, MC Doda; Abdul Latief, Head Assistant, MC Banihal and Mr Sukesh Kumar, Senior Assistant, MC Doda who were involved in financial mismanagement by the drawl of fictitious bills against the non-existing Safalwallas.

The other three employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department ousted for alleged corruption are Gowhar All Tugoo, I/C Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, who was involved in cases regarding illegal appointments and financial irregularities made during his tenure at MC, Sopore,; Shagufta Fazil, Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir who was found involved in embezzlement and unauthorized withdrawal of TA and 7th Pay Commission arrears and Thakur Dass, Electrician, Municipal Committee Reasi, who was involved in a huge case of embezzlement of funds and financial mismanagement.