Srinagar, Sep 13: Though a year has passed since two panels submitted their report over the illegal appointments in the Urban Local Bodies, the J&K Government has put the documents under the carpet as major beneficiaries of the scam allegedly happen to be the kith and kin of politicians, bureaucrats, officials and cadres of political parties.
 Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that the three-member panel constituted by the Housing & Urban Development Department (H&UDD) to look into the backdoor appointments in Kashmir division of Urban Local Bodies has found that around 1800-2000 illegal appointments have been made in different Municipal institutions of the Valley between 2003 to  2010 on the recommendations of ministers , bureaucrats and other officials.
 The probe panel comprised of Sheikh Mushtaq, then Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (presently Secretary General Administration Department), Muhammad Afzal Bhat, then Director Urban Local Bodies (presently head of Services Selection Board) and  Saugat Biswas, then Additional Secretary in the H&UDD.
  “The inquiry team after going through all the relevant documents has pointed out that 20 to 25 officers, which includes executive officers and the few bigwigs in the Department, are involved in the  scam.
 “The enquiry team has recommended disengagement of illegal appointees as well as constitution of special team of Vigilance to fix the responsibilities in the scam,” they said.
 According to sources, the probe panel for Jammu province claimed that “not a single illegal appointment has been made in Jammu province.”
  “Both the reports have been submitted to H&UDD last year but there has been no forward movement on the recommendations therein,” an official, privy to the issue, said.
 He said that a number of executive and few other officials posted at the Directorate, who were suspended for their role in individual cases of the illegal recruitments, have managed to get themselves reinstated.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said the report is under examination of the General Administration Department.
 “We have submitted the report to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and he has forwarded the same to Chief Secretary. At present, the Vigilance wing of the GAD is examining it,” he said.
 Asked about today’s official handout from the Director Urban Local Bodies Kashmir that action against the officials involved in the scam is imminent, the Minister said: “He shouldn’t have done it as the report is still under consideration. How can he tell about the contents of the confidential report?” the Minister said.
 In an official handout this evening, the Director ULB said administrative action against the officers involved in the scam is imminent.
 “The Director has further clarified that the government had ordered an enquiry to ascertain the facts about the illegal appointments in ULBK from time to time. The enquiry has been conducted by the senior officers and submitted the findings to the government and the report is confidential with the Government. An administrative action against the erring officers is imminent,” an official spokesman said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 13 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST