Thorough investigation into fake appointments would open Pandora’s Box
||K.LEADER DESK
Violating all the norms and to appease a particular political group from People’s Democratic Party, the former Health Minister Lal Singh awarded prized posts to a couple of medicos who had been attached by the government in 2012 for their alleged involvement in malpractices and illegal activities. After delaying action over an internal inquiry pointing out large scale fake appointments in Health Department, Jammu and Kashmir Government in July 2012 had attached seven officials of the department allegedly involved in irregularities. The action against the accused officials had been initiated after the inquiry report about fake appointments made in south Kashmir was submitted to State Government.
The officials attached with Directorate of Health Services Kashmir were: Dr. N. A. Hakim, Deputy Director (Schemes), Kashmir; Dr Altaf Beigh, CMO, Kulgam; Dr. A. R. Matoo, in-charge Deputy CMO, Islamabad (Anantnag); Dr. G. M. Shaksaz, Medical Superintendent, JLNM Hospital, Srinagar; Dr. Bashir Ahmed Najar, BMO, Larnoo; Dr. Gowhar Abbass, BMO, Mattan; and Dr. Iqbal Bichoo presently attached in the CMO’s Office Islamabad (Anantnag). The then Health Minister had admitted t hat t hese o fficials h ad b een prima-facie found involved in making fake appointments over the years in Kashmir Valley. These officers were attached to Directorate of Health Services and were being charge- sheeted. Further Director Health Services Kashmir was asked to inquire into all such complaints in matter of other districts as well and submit a report to the Government.
The Government had even appointed the then Special Secretary to Government, Health & Medical Education Department for a detailed in-depth inquiry. T hese a ttached o fficials a ccording to sources had allegedly appointed more than 180 persons in four blocks of south Kashmir during their tenure as BMOs and CMOs. At the time of surfacing of this fraud government had even claimed that it will conduct similar probes in other district of Valley as well as in Jammu region. “At least there are 100-200 such appointments in each district in Kashmir and there is need for thorough probe in it. Action would be initiated into fake appointments made in Budgam and Pulwama districts within a few days,” the statement made by the government that time has proved a lip service only while the fact is that despite inquries pending against these tainted Health Officials, they have been awarded prize posting across Kashmir Valley.
The information sought under Right to Information Act are not only astonishing but misleading as well. The Health Department in its reply maintains that Dr Gowhar Abass, Dr Iqbal Bichoo, Dr Bashir Ahmed Najar and Dr Abdul Rasheed Matoo were attached with this office by the Administrative Department pending inquiry into the alleged appointments in District Anantnag and simultaneously enquiry was ordered by the Administrative Department, outcome of which is not known yet. “From last four years inquiry has been going on while the inquiry committee has not bothered to expedite the process.
The irony is that all these tainted officials are running the affairs of different blocks across Kashmir Valley. The information obtained under RTI Act reveals that, “Dr Bashir Ahmed Najar has been posted as Block Medical Officer Kreeri vide government order number 437-HME of 2012, Dr Iqbal Bichoo has been posted as BMO Shangus vide government order number 437-HME of 2012, Dr Abdul Rasheed Matoo has been posted as BMO Qaimoh vide government order number 437-HME of 2012 and another attached officials Dr Gowhar Abass has been posted as BMO Achabal vide the same government order number.
Sources said that the decision to utilize the services of these tainted officials was taken after the intervention of a particular PDP defeated candidate who reportedly persuaded the former Health Minister Lal Singh to appoint them despite inquiry pending against them. Directorate of Health Services claims that the services of these tainted officials have been utilized as BMO’s on ‘temporary’ basis without prejudice to the enquiry pending against them. Sources said that government does not want inquiry to be made public as it will open Pandora’s Box.
An inquiry conducted by a Nodal Officer had pointed out that more than 400-500 fake appointments were made in different districts including 120 in Srinagar. A top official in Civil Secretariat said that thorough investigation into fake appointments would open Pandora’s Box as most of these appointments have been reportedly made on recommendations of ministers and legislators. “Health Department is under intense pressure from different quarters to hush up the scam,” he said, adding that inquiry officer, who conducted investigation in four blocks of south Kashmir, was asked to wind up the probe apparently under political pressure. According to the said official, the delay in taking action over fake appointments was consequence of pressure from different quarters.
Graft cases swell at SVC with each passing day
A serious surge is being witnessed in the cases pertaining to corruption in the state with graft complaints only mounting with each passing day at the State Vigilance Commission (SVC). As compared to that of the previous years, there are highest number of complaints related to corruption in the state being received by the SVC at present. The SVC which was established in August 2013 to keep a check over the graft cases in the state is witnessing an abrupt increase in the number of complaints, hence compelling commission to remain on the tenterhooks every time.
The official documents in possession reveal that there were more than 3000 graft related cases received by the commission and that more than two thousand complaints were investigated till the recent past. Sources said that the corruption graph in the state is touching the dreadful mark and that SVC in this regard has been receiving complaints pertaining to misappropriation of funds, embezzlements, mis-use of the official position by the public servants every day after.”Since the day of its inception, there was a serious scarcity of the staff being felt on ground. Though the previous regimes made least efforts in providing proper staff to the commission, SVC has been thoroughly investigating the graft cases and striving to put lid over the corruption menace,” an official said. It was informed further that there are around 960 complaints of corruption pending at the SVC and investigations into the same are going on at a recommended pace.
Furthermore, 1738 complaints have so far been disposed. SVC has also been keeping a close vigil at the master plan violations that have so far gone unabated in Srinagar with the concerned departments allowing rampant violations of the laid down procedure. Acting as a third eye for the departments that have allowed blue eyes to mock at the norms and rules, SVC in the recent past slammed the SMC over its inability to put a lid over rampant construction of the illegal structures. Pertinently, on March 1, this year, the SVC directed the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation to submit action taken against all those involved in the Master Plan violation.
“The State Vigilance Commission while ensuring that strict action is taken against the officers/officials of SMC Srinagar in the matter which has lead to gross violation of the Srinagar Master Plan and Municipal laws, has directed the Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation to submit action taken against all those involved by next date of hearing,” reads the statement issued by the commission on March 1.
