Admin orders premature retirement of nine Government employees

The Jammu Kashmir administration Friday ordered the premature retirement of nine government employees, including five officers, in “public interest.”

In a copy of the order issued by the Manoj Sinha-led administration, of which a copy lies with The Kashmiriyat the nine employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department under Article 226(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil services Regulations on charges of “corruption”.

“The charges against the said officers, confirmed by the Departmental men Committees and upheld by the designated review committee under raising 226(2), include misappropriation of funds, falsification of records and fake bills, allowing illegal constructions, committing financial irregularities on the making illegal appointments during their tenure in various ULBS,” the order read.

Most officials have faced probes by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and were also suspended. Article 226(2) of the J&K Civil Services Regulations, 1956 allows the Government employees to be retired in “public interest” upon completing of 22 years of qualifying service or attaining 48 years of age.

The Article is essentially meant to help in removal of deadwood from the government. The employees are retired with a three month’s notice or three months of pay. However, they retain pensionary benefits, according to the order.

The nine employees of Housing and Urban Development Department who were retired include Mehraj-ud-din Buja, I/C Senior Building Officer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation who as Head Assistant Revenue Section, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Mr. Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Malik, former EO Municipal Council Anantnag Mr. Shabir Ahmad Wani, Assistant Sanitation Officer, MC Shopian, Mr. Zakir Ali, Sanitary Supervisor, MC Doda, Mr. Abdul Latief, Head Assistant, MC Banihal and Mr. Sukesh Kumar, Senior Assistant, MC Doda.

The other three employees of the Housing and Urban Development Department ousted for alleged corruption are Mr. Gowhar Ali Tugoo, I/c Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Mrs. Shagufta Fazil, Secretary, Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir  and Mr. Thakur Dass, Electrician, Municipal Corporation.

They employees who belong to the housing and urban development department have been sacked under 226(2) Article of Jammu Kashmir Civil Service Regulations which allows the administration to retire government employees at any time after completing 22 years of service or attaining the age of 48 years, an official said.

The article is essentially invoked to remove dead wood from the government services under which the employees can be retired after being given three months’ notice or three months of pay and allowance in lieu of the notice, the official added. (KF)