A Sarpanch is ‘more powerful’ than Gov, CM

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BITTER BUT TRUTH; IT HAPPENS ONLY IN J&K

*Governor, N.N Vohra in a significant decision had ordered cancellation of attachment of all the Government employees, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted.

*"All attached employees will be relieved with immediate effect to report to their original place of posting from where they were withdrawn before such attachment", the order said.

*Government had also directed the Treasury Officers (TOs) not to entertain salary bills of those employees who have been attached or transferred, along with the post, unless the report of their original place of posting certificate is not recorded by the Drawing and Disbursing Officers on the monthly salary bill.

By Ajmer Alam Wani

JAMMU, OCT 11: For majority, it will be a big surprise to know that in Jammu and Kashmir State, a Sarpanch is more powerful to State Governor and the Chief Minister (CM). Though many may read this as a joke, but in practical, it has been established that from time to time the orders passed by the state Governor and the Chief Minister (CM) were thrown to winds even at the lowest level of administration.

It seems that the administration at the lower rung in Jammu and Kashmir state has no respect or the fear of the highest authorities of the state the Governor and Chief Minister (CM) as the orders of these two top authorities are not given importance, than what to talk about their implementation and obeying. Sources revealed that under the influence of a Sarpanch in Bhaderwah Assembly segment, three teachers who happen to be the relatives of a Sarpanch are working on choice attachments. Despites bans on attachments, sources revealed that the Sarpanch has managed the choice attachments of his son in law, son of sister and daughter in law.

According to sources, a teacher namely Ghulam Farooq whose original place of posting is Middle School Jangalwar, is enjoying choice attachment for the last seven years at Zonal Education Officer (ZEO) Thathri. The said teacher is son in law of a Sarpanch. Flouting all the set guideline, even a Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT), teacher namely Naseer Ahmed whose original place of posting is Middle School Sunarthawa is enjoying choice attachment at Girls School Lopa Thathri. The said ReT teacher is son of Sarpanch’s sister.

The Sapranch even managed the choice attachment of his daughter in law Fehmida Parveen who is also a ReT teacher at MS Bachara but has been attached to CEO office Doda.

There are other many choice attachments like a teacher namely Abdul Quyoom of Middle School Shamdalian which falls in Education Zone Batyas has been on choice attachment for the last 9 years at Boys High School Thathri while one Rakesh Singh teacher of Middle School Dadian has been on choice attachment at Boys School Thathri since his appointment in 2002. Sources said that many more teachers are enjoying choice attachments at their favorite places.

Though the Jammu and Kashmir Government has been beating the drums by raising hollow slogans that the bold decision have been taken by ordering detachment of all the attached teachers to restore accountability and revive education activity throughout the state but the influential people have managed to steal the show and the top heads of the state have been confined to just pass the orders and issue directions. The practical part remains with the officers and they act as per their lobbies, influence, convince and interests.

Relevant to mention here that earlier the former Chief Minister (CM) Ghulam Nabi Azad had ordered for cancellation of all attachments and later non other than the present Governor of the state, N.N Vohra in a significant decision, had ordered cancellation of attachment of all the Government employees, both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted. "All attached employees will be relieved with immediate effect to report to their original place of posting from where they were withdrawn before such attachment", the Government order issued under Governor’s rule said.

Worthwhile to mention here that a large chunk of Government employees, mostly in Health and Medical Education and Education Departments, had been attached under political influence during past sometime. The employees posted in rural and far off areas use their influence and managed to get themselves attached in urban areas.

Interestingly, the Government had also directed the Treasury Officers (TOs) not to entertain salary bills of those employees who have been attached or transferred, along with the post, unless the report of their original place of posting certificate is not recorded by the Drawing and Disbursing Officers on the monthly salary bill, but what has been happening, how they manage it, if not a mystery is a big scandal.

Though all Heads of the Departments were asked to submit a compliance report to the Administrative Department concerned regarding such detachments within a period of two weeks from the date of issue of the Order, with a copy to the Chief Secretary but many heads changed but the maximum attachments remain intact.