JAMMU: The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has stayed the order appointing Nazir Ahmed Wani, Dy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organisation, Kashmir Division as Controller Drugs.
STATE TIMES in its edition dated October 11 under caption “Senior Jammu officer ignored, junior from Kashmir appointed Drug Controller” had exposed the Ministry for Health and Medical Education for favouring a junior Kashmir based officer while ignoring the seniority of a Jammu based officer.
The Minister for Health and Medical Education Taj Mohi-ud-Din had succeeded in promoting Nazir Ahmed Wani, Dy Controller, Drugs and Food Control Organisation, Kashmir Division as the Controller despite ban. This had been done despite superior claim of Lotika Khajuria, who topped the seniority list. This was not only a brazen act of favouring a blue-eyed boy but sheer discrimination with the Jammu region.
After hearing Senior Advocate B S Slathia, appearing on behalf of Lotika Khajuria, Justice Tashi Rabstan on Tuesday stayed the Government Order, wherein the junior officer was promoted.
According to the sources, Secretary Health had reportedly opposed the appointment of a junior officer as Controller Drugs keeping in view the GAD’s ban on transfers/appointments However, Taj-Mohi-ud-Din over-ruled the GAD ‘s ban citing the approval granted by the Chief Minister.
The post of Controller had fallen vacant after the retirement of Satish Gupta, on 30th April, 2014.