STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Strongly condemning the pre-mature transfer of Deputy Commissioner Udhampur Shahid Iqbal within a year of his posting, Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP and former Minister, described the transfer order as motivated and retrograde besides being violative of the Indian Administrative Service (cadre) Second Amendment Rules 2016 duly notified in April 2016 by GoI. He said that as per the DoPT notification, the pre-mature transfers of IAS officers could be made only upon the recommendation of Civil Services Board by the Chief Minister and that too after recording the reasons for pre-mature transfers. He said that the GoI had duly notified the said new set of rules to be applicable from last week of April with a view to ensure transparency and accountability in the system of governance.
Flaying the most brazen violation of the stipulated norms and procedures prescribed by GoI, Harsh described the pre-mature transfer order of Shahid Iqbal as highly illogical, capricious and opposed to public interest.
Emphasising the gigantic contributions made by Shahid Iqbal in his capacity as DDC Udhampur for the cause of general public especially the uninfluential and common man in the districts of Reasi, Kathua and Udhampur, Harsh said that the incumbent was amongst the most decorated officers of the State having been awarded twice by the GoI for outstanding services. He recollected that even the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on 28th April 2016 during her public meeting in Udhampur had openly appreciated the said Deputy Commissioner for his outstanding services and further advised other officers to take cue from him. He said that it was highly disgusting and distressing to note that the State Government took the most unpopular decision of shifting one of the most dedicated, honest and efficient officers only at the behest of some corrupt politicians mostly of BJP which could further dampen the morale of upright officers adding the people of Udhampur shall not take the highly vindictive, anti-people and abominable move of the Govt. lying down and would vociferously oppose the motivated transfer order.
He said that Udhampur District was being flooded with most corrupt officers of late with transfers orders of some notorious officers having been issued for posting in the said district especially in the Deptts. of Revenue, Forests, Social Welfare, Health and Engineering. He said that some of the officers had openly admitted to having paid huge amounts for their transfer to district Udhampur and Ramnagar areas and sought a high level probe into the same.
Urging further upon the Chief Minister to review the highly opprobrious transfer order of the said Deputy Commissioner, Singh announced to hold district-wide protests to highlight people’s outrage against the whimsical transfer order. He further called upon GoI , Deptt. of DoPT to take due cognisance of the violation of rules and SOPs which were being ruthlessly circumvented in the State of J and K.
