It happens only in Jammu and Kashmir that the afflux of time and the embarrassing situation for government by raising an issue in the State Legislature regarding any pending corruption cases compels the state General Administrative Department to pass an order to close the case.
And when its demand is rejected by the Chief Minister, the SVO archives a 26 year long investigation and withdraws its FIR against present Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir.
According to the FIR No. 37 of 1987 registered by the Vigilance Organization, about 50 persons were appointed by the then Law Minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir in connivance with some officers in the Legal Aid Board as well as in District and Tehsil Committees without adhering to the norms in 1984.
Simple applications were taken from the individuals, who were very near and dear to the then Law Minister. Even some candidates, who were overage and in whose cases no relaxation of age was given, were appointed in the Legal Aid Cell in sheer misuse of the powers by the then Law Minister and his officers.
The GAD communication reads: “In view of the withdrawal of prosecution against two important functionaries—G M Thakur and A Q Parray, it would be in the fitness of things to withdraw the cases against all accused persons including G H Mir. The case is now more than three decades old and even if there was some material or evidence available at the relevant time to connect the accused persons with the case that might by now have been lost due to afflux of time”.
It further reads: “Since the Government has closed the case so far as the Government servants were concerned, it is quite un-necessary to keep the matter alive in respect of other accused including G H Mir as it puts the Government of the time in embracing situation each time the issue is raised in the State Legislature regarding pending corruption cases against Ministers…”.
After going through the report pertaining to this case in a newspaper, the State Accountability Commission comprising Chairperson Justice J P Nargotra and Member Justice Hakim Imtiyaz Hussain decided to take suo-moto cognizance. “In our considered view the facts mentioned in the report deserve cognizance and for verification in terms of Section 12 of J&K Accountability Commission Act, the office is directed to seek a status report from the Commissioner, State Vigilance Organization”, the SAC order said.
(Compiled by: Shah Abbas)
