STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday sacked nine government employees, including five officers, on corruption charges.
All the employees have been sacked under 226(2) Article of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations which allows the administration to retire government employees any time after completing 22 years of service or attaining the age of 48 years, an official said.
They all belonged to the Housing and Urban Development Department.
“The charges against the sacked officials were confirmed by the departmental committees and upheld by the designated review committee under article 226(2), including misappropriation of funds, falsification of records and raising fake bills and allowing illegal constructions, and making illegal appointments,” the official said.
According to the official, most of the officials have faced probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and were also suspended by the government.
Those sacked include Mehraj-ud-din Buja, Incharge Senior Building Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, who as Head Assistant Revenue Section, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, was arrested by Vigilance Organization Kashmir in a trap case; Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik, who during his posting as in charge of EO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, irregularities in financial transactions, illegal constructions, gross negligence and misconduct; Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Sanitation Officer, MC Shopian, who during his posting as In-charge CEO Municipal Council Anantnag was involved in misappropriation, illegal constructions, irregularities in financial transactions, gross negligence, and misconduct; Zakir Ali, Sanitary Supervisor, MC Doda; Abdul Latief, Head Assistant, MC Banihal and Sukesh Kumar, Senior Assistant, MC Doda were involved in financial mismanagement by the drawal of fictitious bills against the non-existing Safaiwallas.
The other three employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department ousted for alleged corruption include Gowhar All Tugoo Incharge Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir was involved in cases regarding illegal appointments and financial irregularities made during his tenure at MC, Sopore; Shagufta Fazil, Secretary Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir who was found involving in embezzlement and unauthorized withdrawal of TA and 7th Pay Commission arrears and Thakur Dass, Electrician, Municipal Committee Reasi was involved in huge case of embezzlement of funds and financial mismanagement
Article 226(2) of the J&K Civil Services Regulations, 1956, essentially invoked to remove dead wood from the government services, allows the Government employees to be retired in “public interest” upon completing or 22 years of qualifying service or attaining 48 years of age. The Article js essentially meant to help in removal of deadwood from the government. The employees are retired with a three months notice or three months of pay. However, they retain pensionary benefits.
