Jammu, Oct 5 (JKNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a fresh departmental inquiry against a Junior Engineer who was arrested in a 2021 corruption case, after rejecting the findings of an earlier inquiry report.
Arshad Amin, a resident of Thathri in Doda district, was arrested under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in FIR No. 06/2021 registered at Police Station ACB (Central), Jammu. At the time, he was posted as Junior Engineer (REW) at the BDO Office Changa, Tehsil Gandoh, Doda.
According to a Government Order accessed by news agency JKNS, the Public Works (R&B) Department decided to conduct a fresh inquiry after the Competent Authority rejected the findings of the earlier inquiry conducted by the Assistant Commissioner (Development), Kishtwar.
The earlier inquiry was initiated by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, which had served a charge memorandum on Amin. His statement of defence was found unsatisfactory.
The inquiry report was subsequently examined by the department, which observed “various shortcomings” and sought clarifications from the Inquiry Officer.
The General Administration Department had already accorded sanction for Amin’s prosecution in June 2023 and recommended the case to the DRD&PR Department under Rule 31 of the J&K Civil Service (CC&A) Rules, 1956.
After examining records shared by the DRD&PR Department and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the PW(R&B) Department concluded that the engineer was guilty of gross misconduct. However, it noted that the powers to initiate regular departmental action rested with the PW(R&B) Department as the appointing authority.
The government has now accorded sanction for simultaneous regular departmental action against Amin on a post-facto basis, adopting the charge memorandum already served on him by the DRD&PR Department.
Er. Shivangi Gupta, In-Charge Superintendent Engineer, PMGSY Batote, has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer, while Er. Suresh Bharti, In-charge Executive Engineer, RDD Doda, has been appointed as the Presenting Officer.
The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit the inquiry report with clear-cut recommendations within one month, in accordance with CVC guidelines.
The order further stated that any transfer of the Inquiry Officer or Presenting Officer shall not affect the proceedings and that the designated officers shall finalize the report within the prescribed timeline. (JKNS)