Additional charge syndrome hits Govt
State government has resorted to favoritism by adjusting blue eyed bureaucrats at key administrative positions while leaving many others without any work.
In a recent order, the General Administration department (GAD) ordered that IAS officer Mohammad Ashraf Mir, who is the Commissioner Secretary of Revenue department, will also hold the charge of Administrative Secretary department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.
However, Mir is not alone, many of the officers who were well below in rank in the IAS cadre have been given the independent charge of important departments here and even given additional charges.
Government has recently ordered that Farooq Ahmad Shah, Secretary Tourism, will also hold additional charge of Secretary School Education department. Shah, who was earlier Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, in the tenure of NC-Congress rule, has managed the positing due to his “ close proximity’’ with the ruling PDP.
Similarly Rohit Kansal, who has been recently appointed as the Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, replacing B B Vyas, who has been recently appointed as Chief Secretary, has been directed to hold the charge of the post of Administrative Secretaries of Hospitality and Protocol, Civil Aviation and Estates departments.
In an order which was issued last month Rakesh Khajuria, Director Finance, Jammu and Kashmir Agro Industries Development Corporation has been directed to hold the additional charge of Managing Director of the Corporation, while as Director Tourism has also been directed to hold the additional charge of MD of Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC).
Also in a recent order Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Registrar Cooperative Societies, who has been transferred and posted as Secretary Cooperative department, has been directed to hold the additional charge Registrar Cooperative Societies.
Pertinently, former Chief Ministers including Omar Abdullah and Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, promised to fix the co-operative sector, which has however seen most of the banks violating norms and resorting to spree of illegal appointments as well.
“Making a mockery of rules state government has modified the transfer orders within days of being issued,” an officials wishing not to be named said.
As per the order issued by the GAD it has noted that in modification of earlier order dated 28 April 2017, Shaleen Kabra, IAS, under orders of transfer as Chairman, J&K Special Tribunal, is posted as Principal Secretary to the Government, Labour and Employment department.
“Kabra is considered to be one of the most “ inefficient’’ officers in the bureaucracy and the MLAs had gunned for his ouster as he has been espousing policies which had been in violation of the established government norms,” a senior official noted.
However, while government has given additional charges to officers, others have been attached with the GAD. In a recent order Vineeta Gupta, AS, was asked to report in the General Administration Department till further orders. Also senior KAS officer Manisha Devi Sharma, has been asked to await further orders of posting in the general administration department (GAD).
Secretary GAD, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, said that he was busy travelling outside the state and would not be in a posting to offer any comments.
KV Correspondent
