Deputy commissioner Bandipora on Monday suspended two officers of Power development department for alleged dereliction of their duties and putting the general public to inconvenience.
An official said that Assistant Engineer and Junior Engineer PDD division Bandipora were suspended as they didn’t adhere to the orders of deputy commissioner’s office and put the public to avoidable inconvenience in Ahstengoo village of Bandipora.
“The inhabitants of village Ashtangoo staged a protest and blocked Bandipora- Sopore Road today against Power development department for not replacing the power transformer. The officers (AE and JE) of PDD Bandipora were called telephonically to reach on spot and sort-out the issue. However, the said officers did not adhere to the orders of this office and put the public to avoidable inconvenience,” read an order issued by DC Bandipora Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza.
The order further read: “It was also found that the concerned JE was absent from duties without any leave as confirmed from the Executive Engineer.”
“The examinations for various posts of J&K Bank was scheduled to be held today and due to closure of road at Ashtangoo, a number of candidates faced difficulties in reaching the examination centers in time. Now, therefore, in view of dereliction of duties and non-compliance of orders, the officers are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached in the office of Assistant Commissioner [Rev] Bandipora,” the order read.
The officers who have been suspended include Abdul Majeed Ganie, Assistant Engineer PDD Bandipora and Rajinder Singh Raina, Jr. Engineer PDD Bandipora.
According to the order, the Executive Engineer, EM&RE, Bandipora shall make alternate arrangements by giving charge to the officers working in adjoining area.
DC Bandipora has also asked the Assistant Commissioner [Rev] Bandipora to inquire into the matter and chargesheet the suspended officials.
He has also directed the District Treasury Officer Bandipora to withhold the salary of Tehsildar Bandipora/Aloosa till further orders.
Earlier, residents of Ashtengoo village had staged a protest demonstration against the PDD for failing to restore power supply to the village from last one month.
The residents had blocked Bandipora-Sopore road to register their protest.