Emboldened SO continues to make merry in H&UDD

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Malik Jehangir:

SRINAGAR: A year back the then Financial Commissioner, Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) Krishan Ballabh (K B) Aggarwal had rejected the plea of an official who claimed that he should be given the position of Administrative Officer in the department.

The top notch bureaucrat had also said that the official in question is not entitled to hold the position of Section Officer in the department. Despite the rejection of the plea by the Financial Commissioner the official continues to function as the Section Officer of the department. No step whatsoever has been taken to demote him from the position being held illegally by him over a long period of time.

“Now, therefore, in compliance of the Hon’ble High Court order dated 13-12-2017, the case of the petitioner has been examined and considered in the department under rules occupying the field and the petitioner’s case was found devoid of any merit in respect of promotion to the post of Administrative Officer, hence rejected,” wrote Aggarwal in the government order number 85-HUD of 2018 dated 19-3-2018.

The order was issued after the official namely Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat had moved the High Court and demanded that he should given the enhanced pay as is being given to the Section Officers. He had also pleaded that he should be given the higher post of Administrative Officer in the H&UDD.

In his order the Financial Commissioner further writes, “Whereas as per SRO 417 dated 18-12-2008 (Jammu and Kashmir Urban Local Body Institutions (Management) Service Recruitment Rules, 20018) no post of administrative officer exists in the above said rules.”

“Whereas Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir vide Govt Order No. DULB/Estt/1379/2010 dated 30-03-2010 changed the nomenclature of the post of Secretary as Section Officer and placed the petitioner as Section Officer. The Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir is not competent to change the nomenclature of any post including the Secretary, the authority for change of nomenclature/re-designation of any post lies with the administrative department,” wrote the Financial Commissioner.

The order further reads that the petitioner was promoted as incharge Secretary Works temporarily, in view of the heavy work load on account of preparation of various projects and monitoring of ongoing projects. However, this order was without prejudice to the seniority of any other incumbent and order has been issued strictly for the post of administrative exigencies.

Although, the order has made it clear that Mukhtar is not Section Officer of the H&UDD he continues to enjoy the position. He continues to make merry at the department and there is no end to the plums and privileges being enjoyed by him.