SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s Housing and Urban Development Department has ordered a comprehensive fact-finding inquiry into allegations of corruption and procedural lapses in the office of the Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
According to Government Order No. 139-JK(HUD) of 2026, issued from the Civil Secretariat on July, 9 2026 under file number HUD-PLANOMISC/39/2026-(7767137) and signed by Mandeep Kaur (IAS), Commissioner/Secretary to the Government, the inquiry follows a formal representation submitted by the Jhelum Valley Constructional Contractors Association. The complaint, dated June 1, 2026 and bearing reference number JVRCA/19/2026/02, was addressed to the Lieutenant Governor at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar, by contractors working in the Sewerage and Drainage Division-II and the City Drainage Civil Division of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
According to the complaint, the contractors alleged that the Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer demanded a 1.5 per cent commission on the total bill amount before releasing payments. The association further alleged that the practice bypassed established e-governance procedures. While Finance Department guidelines require all contractor payments to be processed online through the Budget Estimation, Allocation and Monitoring System (BEAMS) and JKPaySys, without the physical movement of files, the complaint alleged that the office of the Superintending Engineer, Drainage Circle, routed hard-copy requisitions through contractors.
It further claimed that contractors who refused to pay the alleged commission faced delays of up to three months despite the availability of funds, whereas those who complied allegedly received payments within two days. The complaint also alleged that general entry to the officer’s chamber had been restricted, with access allegedly limited to those who met the demands, while others were made to wait outside for weeks. The association sought an Anti-Corruption Bureau and Vigilance inquiry, a complete ban on the physical movement of electronic files, a mandatory seven-day timeline for the release of funds, and the immediate suspension of the official to prevent any possible tampering with evidence.
In response, the government has appointed Vikas (JKAS), Special Secretary to the Government, Housing and Urban Development Department, and Managing Director, AMRUT 2.0, as the Inquiry Officer to conduct the fact-finding exercise.
Nuzhat Khurshid Qurashi (JKAS), Joint Commissioner (Administration), Srinagar Municipal Corporation, has been appointed as the Presenting Officer and directed to provide all necessary assistance, including electronic records, transaction logs, payment registers and official correspondence.
According to the terms of reference, the Inquiry Officer will examine whether the prescribed online payment systems and the General Financial Rules were followed, determine whether any unauthorised physical file-routing mechanism was adopted, assess the reasons for delays in payment processing, and ascertain whether there is evidence of illegal gratification or abuse of official position.
The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit a factual report, along with findings and recommendations, to the Housing and Urban Development Department within 10 days of the issuance of the order.
The government has clarified that the fact-finding inquiry is without prejudice to any disciplinary, administrative, vigilance or criminal proceedings that the competent authorities may initiate on the basis of the inquiry report.
