STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In the much publicised Public Interest Litigation (PIL) highlighting alleged hushing up of Rajouri Development Authority Scam wherein instead of registering an FIR despite the approval of the Director Vigilance, J and K Vigilance Organization the same was converted by SVO into Regular Departmental Action (RDA) against the delinquent officers/ officials of Rajouri Development Authority namely Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) the then Chief Executive Officer, Rajouri Development Authority presently Custodian General, J and K Government, Khushal Chand the then Executive Engineer, Devi Dass Heer, Executive Engineer and Gurcharan Singh Junior Engineer, Rajouri Development Authority.
Today a Division Bench of the State High Court comprising Chief Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan after hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed with Advocate Suraj Singh appearing for the petitioner, Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar appearing for GAD and Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Ankesh Chandel appearing for Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) directed the Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar to file the status report on behalf of Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J and K, General Administration Department within one week in terms of Division Bench Order dated 2nd May, 2016 read with order dated 28th July, 2016 indicating the appointment of new Inquiry Officer for holding departmental inquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) the then CEO Rajouri Development Authority and other suspect officers allegedly involved in the Rajouri Development Authority Scam.
When this PIL came up for hearing, Advocate S.S. Ahmed appearing for the petitioner drew the attention of the Division Bench towards the order dated 28th July, 2016 passed by the Division Bench whereby 3 weeks time had been allowed to GAD to file the status report in terms of order dated 2nd May, 2016 when the then Advocate General D.C. Raina appearing for the State Government had assured the Division Bench that the new inquiry officer will be appointed by the GAD and a compliance report in this regard will also be filed before the Court. Advocate Ahmed further submitted that the previous Inquiry Officer i.e. R.K Varma the then Director, Tourism Jammu had declined to conduct an enquiry into the matter as according to him Mohammad Javed Khan, the then CEO Rajouri Development Authority against whom the inquiry was to be conducted being senior to him and further Mohammad Javed Khan has been inducted into Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Advocate S.S Ahmed further submitted that no status report has been filed by GAD in terms of order dated May, 2, 2016 read with order dated 28th July, 2016 indicating the appointment of new Inquiry Officer for holding departmental inquiry against the erring officers/officials of Rajouri Development Authority. He further submitted that GAD is deliberately/intentionally shielding the tainted officers involved in infamous Rajouri Development Authority Scam. On the other hand Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar appearing for General Administration Department submitted that in view of the prevailing situation in Kashmir the requisite status report could not be filed and she sought only week’s time to comply the directions passed by the Division Bench on 2nd May, 2016 read with order dated 28th July, 2016.
After considering the submissions of both the sides, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Tashi Rabstan directed the Senior AAG Seema Khajooria Shekhar to file the status report on behalf of Commissioner/Secretary to Govt. of J&K, General Administration Department within one week in terms of Division Bench Order dated May, 2, 2016 read with order dated July, 28, 2016 indicating the appointment of new Inquiry Officer for holding departmental inquiry against Mohammad Javed Khan (IAS) the then CEO Rajouri Development Authority and other suspect officers allegedly involved in the Rajouri Development Authority Scam.
