On Monday, the Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing (REW), Rural Development Department, Rajouri Mr Bashir Ahmed Sheikh reportedly misbehaved with a journalist, who visited the public authority in connection with a RTI he filed, but instead of listening or addressing the grievance of the applicant, the arrogant officer misbehaved with the information seeker. This is not first instance, when this officer abused a whistle-blower, in past he has abused a number of information seekers, to hide his own misdeeds.
The Administration of Lt. Guv. Manoj Sinha has proved his iron in governance, but officers like Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, are bring bad name, even all good workers, being done under Sinha’s governance. Accused of proved embezzlement of multi lakhs rupees, despite two enquiries ordered by the administrative department, at-least twice, Mr Bashir managed to delay in conduct of enquiry against him.
Sheetal Nanda, the then Administrative Secretary, Department of Rural Development of Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), J&K government in 2020 ordered an enquiry over reported embezzlement done under the leadership of the ‘great’ Mr Sheikh, but the enquiry couldn’t see the day light till date. “He has patronage of a senior lawyer, even the judges, fear to listen and decide a case against Mr Sheikh, this is not true but he (Bashir Ahmed Sheikh) claims in publics so the people fear of his connections”, said a whistle-blower, pursuing Mr Sheikh’s history.
He further said that August 2021, the Principal Secretary, RD&PR, Bipul Pathak ordered another enquiry but till date the enquiry could not complete.
Earlier, on Monday, Ahmed Sheikh misbehaved with a Rajouri based journalist, who visited office Executive Engineer, REW, Rajouri in connection with a RTI, he has filed. Journalist, Jamsheed Malik associated with Gulsitan News Channel after this incident told the media persons that he had gone to ExEn RDD office to seek reply of RTI, but instead of giving reply ExEn Bashir Ahmed Sheikh started misbehaving with journalist and used unparliamentary language in his office chamber in presence of DDC Qayoom Mir, BDC Chairman Rajouri Darbar Choudhary.
“In a fit of anger ExEn throw away journalist’s Mike and threatened him in full public view”, Jamsheed told the media.
However, taking a serious notice of this misbehave of a Govt servant, media persons under the banner of Press Club Rajouri called on Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Vikas Kundal and narrated the whole story and also showed him the video of ExEn misbehaving with journalist. DC assured pressers that he would conduct an enquiry and if the officer in question found guilty, action as per law would be initiated against him.
As per the insiders, there are dozens of un-addressed RTI pending in the Public Officer, REW Rajouri’s office. “The higher-ups not willing to provide information to those, who even had paid the Xerox charges as per the act. To discourage the whistle-blower, the PIO REW Rajouri asks, the Information seekers to pay xerox charges if, you pay those charges, this office does provide you the information”, said the insider, adding that it seems that the office of PIO REW Rajouri, comes under the control of Pakistan, not the democratic state of India.
“Being a part of this organization, I appeal the LG Sahib, kindly check the hundreds of unaddressed RTI laying in this office”, he said, adding that officer like Bashir Ahmed Shiekh, bringing bad name of all the good works being done under the leadership of Manoj Sinha Sahab. “The General Administration Department (GAD), should seize all the unanswered RTI applications lying here, and an independent probe needs to be done to expose the highhandedness of Mr Bashir Ahmed Sheik, who act like a monarch”, he added
