Director Local bodies Jammu silent over Thanamandi municipality backdoor appointment scam; Dereliction of duties
POONCH TODAY NEWS
RAJOURI: Despite publishing time and again by “POONCH TODAY” about the backdoor appointment scam, scripted by a few Executive Officers, over the years, Director Local Bodies Jammu has become silent and has reportedly decided not to conduct an inquiry into the issue. The Municipalities across the Jammu division have become hubs of brazen corruption in various schemes, but rather than taking action against the erring officials, the director’s office was seen openly protecting the tainted ones. It is pertinent to mention here that “POONCH TODAY” has reported on numerous occasions that out-of-the-way appointments and promotions of Safai karamcharis were made in Thanamandi Municipal Committee and a few other municipal committees and councils, but the government has failed to hold those executive officers accountable for this open fraud. Close relatives of a few executive officers were appointed as Safai Karamcharis, and later they were promoted as Junior Assistants, and this clearly shows how a few executive officers misused their official positions and indulged in open fraud. In response to government directions to Executive Officers regarding preparing a list of those Safai karamcharis who had completed seven years of service, E.O. MC Thanamandi and a few other E.Os heading different municipalities earlier managed to adjust their close relatives to the post of Safai karamcharis, and a few of them were later promoted as Junior Assistants. This open fraud was scripted by MC Thanamandi, and the Executive Officer who was involved in this fraud has never been taken to task to date. The list of people who were adjusted through the backdoor exclusively lies with this newspaper. This covert operation of adjusting their close ones by Executive Officers took place a few years ago, but highly placed sources in the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu told “POONCH TODAY” that the directorate was also aware of this fraud, but those sitting at the helm of affairs did not take any action. “More staff on a casual basis were recruited in some municipalities of Jammu Division through backdoors, and if the government starts an investigation, then many such cases of backdoor appointments will come to light,” said sources. They also said that a few municipal committees in Rajouri district perpetrated multiple financial frauds, and M.C. Kalakote and M.C. Rajouri topped the list. In M.C. Rajouri, too, many people were adjusted through backdoors, and the majority of those adjusted are relatives of those already serving in M.C. Rajouri on a permanent basis. Financial frauds in various M.Cs of Rajouri district have remained a continuous process, but the adjustment of close relatives of Executive Officers on posts meant for the Safaiwala community, has created huge controversy, and people, in one voice, have demanded an inquiry from the government. Those executive officers of urban local bodies who were involved in this backdoor appointment fraud need to be brought to justice, as their dereliction of duties must be taken seriously by the government. Will the Director Local Bodies Jammu rise from his slumber on the issue, or will he continue to protect the tainted officials in the future as well?
