Srinagar, Sep 24: The State Accountability Commission continues to suffer in absence of requisite staff and infrastructure.
While the state government asserts that it is looking for “better accommodation and eligible staff” for the Commission, the office is suffering because of the inordinate delay in placement of the officers and infrastructure.
In its first meeting on August 25, the SAC caught the state government on the wrong foot and pointed out some serious flaws in the placement of senior staff in the anti-graft body.
In its first official handout, the Commission pointed out that the “present staff at the officers level provided by the Law Department is not sufficient and suitable to deal with the cases.” “The Secretary, Deputy Registrar and Assistant Registrar posted in the Commission by the government do not possess requisite qualification as provided by the regulations,” the Commission mentioned. “Hence they cannot be entrusted with the job to deal with the cases. Other clerical staff too is insufficient.”
 The Commission observed that two posts of Public Prosecutors have been created vide Government Order No: 3081 of 2005 dated 16-03-2005.
 “But so far no steps have been taken to fill up those posts. With the result, no prosecutor is available to pursue the cases on prosecution side,” it observed.
 The Commission asked the government to take “immediate steps for allotment of a suitable building for the SAC” in Srinagar. “The present building at Sonawar is dilapidated. A portion of it has already been declared as unsafe. The landlord of the building has served a notice to the commission for vacating the building,” it observed.
 The SAC sought deputation of Judicial Officers and Deputy Registrars and sought immediate filling up of vacancies of Public Prosecutors and other staff. But so far the staff is yet to be provided.
 Last week, the Law Secretary had told Greater Kashmir that “there are positions which are vacant in the Commission. We have to post people there who have to be withdrawn from different quarters. So it wil take some time.”
 According to SAC insiders, the staff must be provided as soon as possible so that its paucity doesn’t hamper working of the commission.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST