Srinagar, April 28 (KNS): The failure by higher-ups of the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to conduct an enquiry into illegal promotions has led to the stagnation of genuine ministerial staff.
The J&K Government last year put an embargo on promotions and placements for ministerial staff in Irrigation and Flood Control Department Kashmir till further orders after concerns were raised over vacancy positions, seniority lists, placements and regularisations of orderlies, to head assistants With effect From the year 2007.
The order vide no. JSD/NGK/22/2020/Sgr passed by the then undersecretary of the government Jal Shakti Department was intended to enable the department to examine the case thoroughly to proceed into the matter.
There were also reports that promotions were not done in sync with established norms thereby denying equal opportunities across the ranks of clerical cadre.
However, even a year is about to pass no headway is being made to wade off the concerns raised and to clear the arbitrary embargo for smooth career progression of the deserved ones.
A good number of learned aspirants having fulfilled every prerequisite criterion for the promotions including Secretariat Assistant Foundation Courses conducted by prestigious JK Public Service Commission besides Vigilance Clearance have been left to rot.
Sources privy to the developments in the department reveal that an influential group of ministerial staffers in connivance with some middle rung officers at the directorate level have managed undue promotions and placements. Sources alleged that the shady promotions have forced the department to put a temporary embargo on the promotions and placements of the whole clerical cadre.
"While the deserving candidates awaiting their promotions and placements rot in stagnation, the shady lot according to the aggrieved keep on enjoying their choice and lucrative postings to earn quick bucks", they alleged.
They further said that In order to avoid their transfers from their lucrative postings and to save their skin, the sources allege that the group is lobbying hard to jeopardise the career progression of the deserving ones. The sources believe that they mislead their higher-ups on different pretexts to achieve their ulterior motives.
When contacted, the Chief Engineer I&FC Department Kashmir, Iftiqar Ahmad Kakroo said that the queries raised by the administrative department regarding some promotions and placements have been replied by his office.
He said that the embargo on placements and promotions of clerical cadre is temporary and assured resumption of the process once government reviews the issue. (KNS)