Aaqib Khan
Baramulla, Oct 28 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir government has dropped departmental charges against Tehsildar Tangmarg Javid Ahmad Sheikh and closed the inquiry against him, citing records indicating that he had exercised due diligence in addressing alleged violations, according to an official order.
The government has also revoked Sheikh's attachment to the office of the Financial Commissioner, Revenue, and ordered his posting back as Tehsildar Tangmarg with immediate effect.
Sheikh was charge-sheeted on January 20, 2025, following a secret report received by the government on December 23, 2024, alleging corrupt practices and large-scale illegal construction of hotels and guest houses in Tangmarg during the tenure of the then Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Gulmarg.
The allegations against him included allowing construction without obtaining the requisite Change of Land Use (CLU) permission, facilitating the land mafia and enabling illegal mining in exchange for monetary consideration.
In his reply to the charge sheet, submitted on January 24, 2025, Sheikh denied the allegations and maintained that he had taken steps to enforce the law and address the reported violations.
He also contended that areas falling under the jurisdiction of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA) were governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Development Act, 1970, and that action against violations in these areas fell within the jurisdiction of the competent authority.
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The Revenue Department, after examining his reply and supporting documents, noted that Sheikh had repeatedly brought alleged violations to the notice of the GDA chief executive officer through official communications issued on August 14, 2023, April 18, 2024, June 7, 2024, and June 12, 2024.
Through these communications, he had sought action under the relevant provisions of the law, the order stated.
The department also took note of FIR No. 2/24 registered at Police Station Tangmarg against a sarpanch of Qazipora in connection with soil extraction from Kahcharai land.
Based on the material examined, the competent authority concluded that Sheikh had exercised due diligence in dealing with the issues mentioned in the secret report and decided to drop the charges and close the departmental proceedings.
The latest order brings the inquiry against Sheikh to a close and clears the way for his return to the Tangmarg tehsil office. (KNS)