Alleged Hushing up of RDA Scam by SVO

GAD files fresh status report, seeks more time to disclose current status of inquiry

20/04/2018

JAMMU, Apr 19: In the much publicized PIL highlighting alleged hushing up of Rajouri Development Authority Scam, the General Administration Department (GAD) today filed a fresh status report in terms of order dated March, 31, 2018 passed by the Division Bench of the State High Court wherein it is averred that vide Govt. Order No.1661-GAD of 2017 dated 27-12-2017 Sanjeev Verma (IAS) Commissioner /Secretary to Govt. of J&K Public Works (R&B) Department has been appointed as Inquiry Officer to enquire into the acts of omission and commission attributed to the then Chief Executive Officer Rajouri Development Authority. It is further stated that vide communication No.GAD (Ser) 24/70- IAS/40/96 dated April, 9, 2018 the Commissioner /Secretary to Govt. (R&B) Department (Inquiry Officer) has been requested to furnish the latest status of the case (enquiry report).
When this much publicized PIL came up for hearing today before a Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar and Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed appearing for the petitioner submitted that vide No.GAD (Ser) IAS/104/2014 dated October, 27, 2017 statement of imputations in support of the articles of charge were served upon the then Chief Executive Officer Rajouri Development Authority requiring him to submit his written statement of defense within 21 days from the receipt of the memorandum. Advocate Ahmed further submitted that the Inquiry Officer Sanjeev Verma (IAS) Commissioner /Secretary PWD (R&B) had been directed to submit his enquiry report within one month but despite the lapse of more than three months there is no headway in the enquiry and even the status of enquiry has not been shared with the court and a reminder has been sent by the GAD to the inquiry officer only on April, 9, 2018.
Advocate S.S. Ahmed sought appropriate directions to the inquiry officer and GAD to expedite the ongoing enquiry so that the responsibility is fixed in the matter. At this stage Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi with Advocate Nitin Manhas appearing for private respodent submitted that the instant PIL is not maintainable and the continuous reporting of the matter in the media is maligning the image of the officer. Senior AAG Seema Shekhar appearing for the State Government also buttressed the submissions of Senior Advocate Sunil Sethi and submitted that matter is being highlighted in the media.
While rebutting the submissions of Senior Counsel Sunil Sethi and Senior AAG Seema Shekhar, Advocate S.S. Ahmed submitted that the petition is of wide public importance and it is because of the indulgence of the State High Court the delinquent officer has been shifted from the coveted post and moreover the departmental enquiry has also been initiated because of the continuous monitoring by the High Court. He further submitted that the entire scam had been hushed up both by SVO and State Government and it is only because of the instant PIL the process of accountability has been initiated.
Since the latest status report filed by the GAD today was not on records the Division Bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Ramalingam Sudhakar directed the Registry in the open court to list this PIL onMay 2, 2018.JNF

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