Blue-eyed Babus never retire in JK When the post-retirement job policy was framed in Jammu and Kashmir, the state government projected it as an exceptional norm for retaining “best talent” in the interest of the state administration. However, years on, it is turning out to be a windfall for the politically connected bureaucrats and officials even though the government early this year banned the policy. From the rank of Chief Secretary to Commissioner/Secretaries, Directors, Chief Engineers and lower rung officials, the post-retirement jobs are free for those having right connections in the state’s power and political corridors. However, the post-retirement rehabilitation policy more than often ends up in politicization of the administration. Data shows that many of these highly placed bureaucrats and officials not only manage re-entry in the government post-retirement, they hang on to the chairs by ensuring repeated extensions in their services. Former Chief Secretary SS Kapur, a 1974 IAS officer is enjoying post retirement job as Chairpersons State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (SWRRA) since October 2012. Kapur who retired in 2011, is considered to be close to ruling National Conference (NC). In fact the 3-member SWRRA body which regulates issues regarding water charges from the hydropower institutions for exploiting the state’s water resources has become a rehabilitation centre for favorites. Another SWRRA member, Vijay Abrol would complete four years of post-retirement government assignment next October after he relinquished office as Chief Engineer PHE in 2009. He was re-employed as Consultant PHE/Irrigation and Flood Control Department in February 2010 for next two years. He is now member of the SWRRA. Abdu Rashid Tak, another member of SWWRA, retired as Executive Director, State Power Development Corporation in November 2008. He was later absorbed as Advisor cum Consultant in J&K State Power Development Corporation from June 2009 till his appointment as SWRRA member. The situation is alike in the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). The State Cabinet last week approved appointment of Basharat Dhar as Chairman SERC. Dhar was serving two year extension in his service as Managing Director, J&K Power Development Corporation (PDC) and would complete the term in coming December. The other two members of the SERC, Devinder Singh Pawar and Ghulam Muhammad Khan are also retired government employees. The Commission regulates power tariff in the state. Last April Ravi Kumar Mangotra who retired as Director General Accounts and Treasuries was reemployed as Financial Consultant for one year. Another senior official Muhammad Anees was given one year extension as Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir after he attained superannuation on April 30 this year. The Chief Executive Officer of the centrally sponsored scheme, Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP) in the state, Dr Ghulam Hassan Shah retired as Director Horticulture Kashmir in June 2012. Ghulam Sarwar Naqash who retired as Director Floriculture and Ghulam Muhammad Dar who retired as Chief Engineer are working as “technical experts” of the IWMP. The Director, Social Audits MGNREGA, Dr Abdul Gani Sofi was rehabilitated soon after his retirement as Special Secretary Rural Development. SC Sawhney who retired as Director Technical Education J&K, is now the head of the Rs 1600 crore centrally sponsored scheme SSA in the state. The post was previously held by an IAS officer. Another influential bureaucrat Rashmi Kashyap was re-appointed as consultant for 14th Finance Commission after her retirement in Finance Department as Director Resources and Institutional Finances, Finance department in May this year. Mushtaq Ahmad Peer who had already got couple of extensions as Chairman Board of Professional Entrance Examinations after his retirement was recently reemployed as consultant fast-track employment for class-IV posts. The former DG, Archives, Archaeology and Museums, SKA Qadri was reemployed as consultant on cultural affairs. He was recently given another extension on the post. Last week the State cabinet approved appointment of the incumbent Commissioner/Secretary Jeet Lal Gupta as Chairman of the recently constituted Property Tax Board. Gupta would attain superannuation on August 31. Farhat Tasneem who last month retired as Law Secretary and Kachoo Isfandyar Khan who superannuated as Secretary Revenue last year were also cleared by cabinet as members of the Board. Abdul Majid Wani who superannuated last year as Custodian Jammu has been reemployed twice on the post. According to sources he is likely to get third extension at the same place. The Vice Chairman Wakf Board, MY Qadri is former Vice Chancellor Kashmir University. Besides, Jaleel Ahmad Khan was reemployed as State economic Advisor, while noted economist Prof Nissar Ali was taken as Advisor to Higher Education. Former Indian Revenue Service Officer GR Sufi is Chief Information Commissioner, J&K. The major concern among the stakeholders over the growing trend of reemployments is that the officers who work on reemployment don’t have much accountability as they have nothing at stake. In 2007, the then Government framed a policy regarding extensions in service of the government employees and reemployment of a retired government officer for a maximum period of one year. However, the order was violated by the government itself on number of occasions by granting repeated extensions to the government employees. Recently the government revealed that over 150 retired employees were reemployed at different places, some of them at higher positions, after NC-Congress coalition took the reins of the state in 2009. “Of them 43 persons have been reemployed as Consultants, Advisors and Chairmen during the past four years,” sources said. Under pressure the State cabinet on April 24 this year imposed a blanket ban on reemployment. However the order has already seen number of violation in these months. Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with unemployment problem with number of educated jobless youth having gone beyond six lakh figures.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Aug 2013 13:05:24 +0000
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