NC’s sitting MLA appears in person; cost imposed on Cong’s ex-Minister
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 30: The reinvigorated Jammu and Kashmir State Accountability Commission has been flooded with formal complaints against former Ministers and a sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) accusing them of abusing their position for making illegal appointments, executing works worth lakhs of rupees by ignoring the competent authorities and misappropriation of funds.
In the meanwhile, the Commission has forwarded a complaint disclosing cognizable offences of embezzlement of Government money to the State Vigilance Organization for necessary action as warranted under law and a copy of the same has also been sent to the Home Secretary for the information of the Home Minister, who also happens to be the Chief Minister.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that the State Accountability Commission, which is presently having full strengthen in the form of Chairperson and two Members, has received formal complaints against Tara Chand (former Deputy Chief Minister), Abdul Majid Wani (former Minister), Choudhary Ramzan (former Minister), Rashpal Singh (former MLA) and sitting Legislator of the National Conference, Mian Altaf Ahmed.
In the complaints filed by one Dr Rehmatullah, it has been alleged that former Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and former MLA, Rashpal Singh had abused their official position and got several persons engaged in different Municipalities of the State.
“Numerous persons were appointed in the Municipalities just on the recommendations of Tara Chand and Rashpal Singh and without following the laid down procedure”, the complainant said, adding “in this way, they not only conferred undue benefit upon blue eyed persons but also denied opportunity of employment to others, which otherwise could have been available if the due course was adopted”.
Similarly, the allegation against former Minister, Abdul Majid Wani is that he had got numerous developmental activities carried out in certain wards falling under Doda Municipality by using his influence as Legislator and without floating any tender. Moreover, he hijacked the powers of the President of the Municipality in carrying out the developmental works.
As far as allegations against another former Minister Choudhary Ramzan are concerned, sources said that the complainant has produced the official record obtained under Right to Information Act to substantiate that Choudhary Ramzan in his capacity as Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution caused immense loss to the State Exchequer by giving authorization to the mills for grinding of wheat.
About sitting MLA of the National Conference, sources said that the complainant has brought to the notice of the State Accountability Commission that Mian Altaf in his capacity as Forest Minister had diverted the funds meant for imparting training to the youth in weaving of Khatamband, an art of making ceiling by fitting small pieces of wood into each other in geometrical pattern.
The funds to the tune of Rs 2 crore were given by the Union Ministry of Textiles in order to ensure that art of Khatamband is passed on to the younger generation. However, the funds were diverted to the State Forest Corporation for utilization in payment of salaries to those youth who were engaged in the Corporation on the pretext of promoting Khatamband art, sources said, adding “actually the funds were to be used for establishment of training centre and purchase of raw material to be utilized in imparting training to the youth”.
Disclosing that all the complaints are being minutely scrutinized by the Accountability Commission, sources said that in two complaints former Minister Abdul Majid Wani and sitting MLA Mian Altaf Ahmed were summoned by the Commission. While Mian Altaf caused personal appearance before the Commission, Abdul Majid Wani failed to adhere to the directives following which a cost was imposed on him by the SAC.
Meanwhile, the Accountability Commission has forwarded a complaint disclosing cognizable offence of misappropriation of Government funds to the State Vigilance Organization for necessary action as warranted under law.
A copy of the complaint addressed to the Chief Minister detailing therein release of more than Rs one crore to the site engineer of PHE Rural Sub-Division Kandi-1 Jammu for construction of new works under Central Scheme, was received by the Accountability Commission in the recent past, sources said.
It has specifically been mentioned in the complaint that huge money was misappropriated by manipulating Muster Rolls and Bill Forms and even no tenders were floated for execution of works. “Money is alleged to have been drawn through self cheques and cheques drawn on non-existent agencies”, the complaint said.
As the complaint was not in the proper form as prescribed under the J&K Accountability Rules, 2005, the Commission found the complaint as non maintainable. However, keeping in view seriousness of the allegations and alleged misappropriation of the State money by an official of the State Government, the Commission observed, “the matter needs to be examined not by the SAC but by the statutory law enforcing agencies created to deal with such cases and in case of their failure to do so, by the Minister Incharge Home Department for requisite consideration under law”.
While dismissing the complaint, the Commission has directed that the copy of the same shall be sent to the State Vigilance Commission requiring its officer (Incharge Police Station Vigilance Jammu) to examine information contained in the complaint which discloses commission of cognizable offences and deal as warranted under law. Moreover, the SAC has directed its Registry to send copy of the complaint to the Home Secretary of the State Government for the information of the Home Minister.
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