SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has demoted a revenue department employee from Junior Assistant to Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) after a departmental inquiry found serious misconduct in his handling of migrant property alienation cases, including allegations of illegal gratification involving Rs 60,000.
The penalty against Mohammad Shahid Pandit, the then Junior Assistant from Pulwama district attached to the Public Litigation Section in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was ordered by Financial Commissioner (Revenue) J&K through Order No. 134-FC (REV) of 2026, dated October 27.
The order states that the reduction in rank has been imposed under Rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, subject to revision depending on the outcome of the criminal proceedings against him.
An FIR, No. 38/2022, was registered against Pandit at the Srinagar Anti-Corruption Bureau police station under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, over allegations that he demanded and accepted Rs 60,000 from Mohammad Yousuf Bhat of Srinagar for processing a land alienation file pending before the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir.
According to the departmental order, the inquiry found that Pandit continued working in the Divisional Commissioner’s office despite being transferred and handled cases involving migrant properties without a proper order authorising his deployment in the section.
The inquiry report also noted deficiencies in the maintenance of official records and raised concerns over his role in processing migrant land alienation cases.
The report stated that Pandit was involved in preparing lists of cases for hearings before the Divisional Commissioner, drafting orders concerning the alienation of migrant properties and dispatching those orders.
It further observed that his continued deployment in the office and work in the sensitive section, despite the absence of proper orders, pointed to serious administrative lapses and possible shortcomings in supervision.
The inquiry report also referred to online transactions worth Rs 82 lakh that the Anti-Corruption Bureau had reportedly traced through accounts belonging to Pandit and his family. It stated that the amount could increase if cash transactions were also taken into account. The report did not establish that the entire amount represented proceeds of corruption.
The departmental inquiry recommended a major penalty, stating that the alleged misconduct had serious implications for the credibility of the Revenue Department.
The matter was subsequently referred to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, for comments. The Divisional Commissioner recommended two possible courses of action: reduction to a lower post, or withholding promotion for seven years, posting the employee only in non-sensitive positions for 10 years and imposing a fine equivalent to one month’s pay.
After examining the inquiry findings and the recommendations, the competent authority decided to reduce Pandit by one rank, from Junior Assistant to MTS. The order notes that the penalty may be revised in light of the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Pandit was initially placed under suspension by the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, on December 17, 2022. He was subsequently attached to the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Awantipora, through an order dated October 19, 2023.
An initial inquiry was conducted by the Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Pulwama, following an order issued on October 30, 2023. However, the earlier inquiry report was cancelled in December 2024, and a fresh inquiry was assigned to Raeis Ahmad Bhat, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Anantnag. Tahir Ahmad Magrey, Revenue Attorney in the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was appointed as the presenting officer.
The chargesheet was served on Pandit on December 13, 2024, and he submitted his reply four days later, denying the allegations. The fresh inquiry report was submitted on January 25, 2025.
The order also cites Article 311(2) of the Constitution of India in explaining the provisions applicable to the imposition of a penalty of reduction in rank following a departmental inquiry.
