Jammu, Mar 12: J&K government has decided to close the inquiry against Deputy Director Prosecution Inderjeet Lal, presently attached in the Home department, with a warning to him to “remain careful in discharge of official duty.”
An inquiry, vide Government Order No 201-Home of 2023 dated April 24, 2023 was instituted against Deputy Director Prosecution in terms of Rule 33 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956 for having remained unauthorizedly absent from duties.
Mohammad Shahid Saleem, JKAS, Director, Forensic Science Laboratory J&K was appointed as Inquiry Officer to conduct the inquiry into the charges framed against the delinquent officer.
The Inquiry Officer submitted his report to the Home department vide Communication No DFSL/PS/Inquiry Report/2023/39 dated July 11, 2023 followed by another communication dated January 2, 2024. In his report, the Inquiry officer concluded the inquiry with the findings that the procedure prescribed for availing the leave on medical grounds was not followed by the charged officer.
“Had the charged officer applied as per the procedure prescribed, his positionality would have been slightly different. The charged officer being Deputy Director, Prosecution, and at the verge of retirement should not only have followed proper procedure but should have also inquired about the status of his leave and kept his controlling officer informed about his health condition,” the Inquiry Officer said in his findings.
“This having not been followed by the charged officer, shows slight failure on his part of maintaining devotion to duty, Rule (ii) of J&K employees Conduct Rules, 1971, as the service record and medals conferred upon the officer show his utmost devotion to other spheres of the duty,” it was further stated.
The report of the Inquiry Officer was examined with reference to the facts of the case, evidence brought on record and the conclusion drawn by the Inquiry Officer, and the matter was, accordingly, placed before the competent authority along with all the material for decision.
The competent authority, while conveying its decision to accept the findings of the Inquiry Officer and to close the inquiry against Inderjeet Lal, Deputy Director Prosecution, directed to issue a warning to the delinquent officer to remain careful in discharge of official duty.