KL Report
SRINAGAR
In violation of prescribed rules the State Road Transport Corporation (JKSRTC) has filled dozens of post as apprentice engineers in the Corporation without any proper advertisement and the whole task was done within the Corporation. Surprisingly the corporations without referring these posts to any of the government recruiting agency obtained approval of then Minister for Transport, who happened to be the Chairman of JKSRTC.
As per the local news agency, KNS, “The basic records of these candidates are not forthcoming, however, as per available records it appears that no proper advertisement seems to have been issued by the Corporation,” replied the department to the Right to Information (RTI) application filed by one of the candidates, who has sought information regarding the appointment of engineers in SRTC without any government recruiting agency.
The department has neither clear record traceable nor any consolidated information with regard to the number of apprentice engineers engaged from time to time in the department. The department has also admitted that some of the selected engineers have been terminated after discrepancies were found in their certificates and at least 12 candidates were sent on deputation on Motor Vehicle Department as Motor Vehicle Inspectors.
General Manager, Administration, JKSRTC also replied in written after an information was sought under RTI application No. JKSRTC/GMA/PS/J/337, dated 04/03/2014 that the apprentice engineers initially were engaged on consolidated wages in 1996-97 and then were regularized as Junior Inspectors in 10/2002.
The documents in possession with KNS reveal that one of the candidates who is JE Mechanical PWD (R&B) have been placed at the disposal of Transport Department vide Government order No 24 PW(R&B) of 2010 dated 22/01/2010 issued by the Public Works (R&B) Department under endorsement No PW/M&S/30/2005 dated 22/12/2009 for his posting in Motor Vehicle Department for a period of two years which expired on 21/01/2012.
“The JE was posed in MVD and Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) despite not having license for Heavy Passenger Service Vehicle (HPSV), which was mandatory qualification for the said post,” RTI revealed. The RTI documents also revealed that the former Regional Transport Officer, Kashmir had failed to produce video graph of the trial held on 2/7/2013 when he MVI has given trial for HMSV. “It is informed that video graph facility for recording trial was not available at the trial Centre Srinagar on 2/7/2013 when he has given trial,” the Regional Transport Officer replied to an RTI application.
