Though, Chalkoo is not a single person, who reached to the post of Executive Engineer, there are many others in the same department, who also became XEn under political patronage. One of them is sitting in Administrative Department ‘respectfully’
Avinash Azad
The second inquiry ordered by the administrative department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RD&PR) department, reportedly submitted by the enquiry officer, and further action may take place anytime.
Highly placed sources in RD&PR Department told the Hidden News that inquiry has completed and the report has been submitted to the administrative department for further action. “Sanction is hereby accorded to appointment of Mr Charandeep Singh, Director, Rural Sanitation J&K, as inquiry officer for conducting an in-depth enquiry with regard to the appointment/illegal promotions as conferred upon Mr Abdul Qayoom Chalkoo I/c XEn presently attached with the administrative department. The inquiry officer shall submit the enquiry report along with his specific recommendations within a period of 15 days positively after providing an opportunity of being heard to Mr Abdul Qayoom Chalkoo”, the administrative department had ordered vide no RDD-Legl/4/2020(4618), dated 17/11/2022.
The incumbent Commissioner Secretary to Government RD&PR Mandeep Kaur, vide government order number 336-JK (RD&PR) dated 17/11/2022 had ordered the fresh enquiry. However, a similar enquiry was conducted during the tenure of Sheetal Nanda as Commissioner Secretary RD&PR had established ‘fictitious’ promotion conferred upon the official in question had reverted him to his actual post as a daily rated worker.
Initially, appointed as daily rated worker, Abdul Qayoom Chalkoo, had become In charge executive engineer, during his 27 year of service. According to documents available with The Hidden News, the official had been reverted to his original position vide government order no 63-RD of 2020. “On the basis of media report published in March 2017, regarding ‘Illegal promotion in Rural Development Department’ of work supervisor as XEn and a complaint received against such official from State Vigilance Organization (SVO), J&K vide no VO-RD-G37/17 dated 10/03/2017, government order an enquiry into the allegations was conducted”, sources said, adding that the inquiry conducted by Abdul Hamid Kumar, the then Financial Advisor corroborated the misdeeds and undue benefits showered on the official.
“Chalkoo was engaged as a DRW by the then Assistant Commissioner (Development) Baramulla on 11/06/1993. It has been further observed that Chalkoo, a Degree holder in Civil Engineering was regularized against the vacant post of the work supervisor in the grade of 3050-4910 vide order no. 1-GMIC/E of 2000 dated 21/12/2000 issued by the then Director, Rural Development Department Kashmir, (Camp) Jammu under endorsement no. Estt/Appl/PF/199,” documents available with ET divulged. “Chalkoo was allowed to work against the vacant post of Junior Engineer in district Baramulla in his own pay and grade pending clearance by the Department Promotion Committee (DPC),” the documents disclosed, adding that the engagement/promotion of the official as the JE from work supervisor was not made following due procedure. “Services of the official as JE was confirmed on 30/06/2015. On own pay grade (OPG) the official was placed Assistant Engineer (AE) vide government order no. 226-RD of 2011 on 17/10/2011. Placement of the official as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) Executive Engineer (XEn) respectively ordered vide Govt order no. 211-RD&PR of 2013 dated 20/08/2013 and Govt order no. 90-RD&PR of 2017 dated 02/03/2017”, the documents divulged. The basis of findings of the enquiry, Abdul Qayoom Chalkoo has been reverted to his original position as the DRW in district Baramulla with the directions to report in the office of Assistant Commissioner (Development), Baramulla for further duties. Director Rural Sanitation J&K, Charandeep Singh, who is conducting enquiry into the matter when contacted said that the government has chargesheeted the official. “The enquiry is under process and soon the final report will be submitted to the Administrative Department,” he added. It is pertinent to mention here that the General Administration Department vide order number 541-JK (GAD) of 2020 dated 08/05/2020, three after he was reverted to original post DRW, had also ordered an enquiry against the official.
Though, Chalkoo is not a single person, who reached to the post of Executive Engineer’s post, there are many others in the same department, who also became XEn under political patronage.
Commissioner Secretary, RD&PR Department could not be contacted for official version, if we get any response from the authorities, same will be updated.
