KL Report
Jammu
In an order of far reaching public importance Monday Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey of Jammu and Kashmir High Court sought the personal appearance of Senior Superintendent of Police and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Vigilance Organization Jammu in the much publicized case of ‘Double Drawl of POL (Petrol Oil Lubricant) and misuse of government vehicles’ allegedly by Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and his personal staff.
According to CNS, the court directed that SSP and DySp Vigilance Organization Jammu shall appear in person along with case diary by tomorrow that is on Friday.
The court further directed its Registry to convey this order to concerned police officers for compliance. The court further directed the listing of this petition again on July 26.
These court directions were passed by Justice A.M. Magrey after hearing advocate Shiekh Shakil Ahmed in a petition filed by RTI activist Prof S.K.Bhalla who has sought the constitution of the Special Investigative Team under the direct supervision of the Director Vigilance comprising of officers having impeccable integrity in order to probe the petitioners complaint, directed against Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and his personal staff regarding the misusing of government vehicles and double drawl of POL.
Pertinently, the complainant after having inputs through RTI applications lodged a complaint against Tara Chand then Minister for Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UD), Suresh Kumar IAS then Commissioner Secretary H&UDD, Dr Raj Kumar Thapa special assistant to Deputy Chief Minister, Prabu Singh, Kewal Sharma and Vijay Kumar all pubic relation officers to Tara Chand, P.K.Poley former Vice Chairman Jammu Development Authority, Mubarak Singh former Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JCA) presently Deputy Commissioner Doda and S.C.Sawheny Director Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan before Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Organization last year seeking registration of FIR for Double Drawl of POL and misuse of government vehicles by the Deputy Chief Minister and his personal staff.
Prof. S.K.Bhalla in his complaint stated that 21 vehicles are at the disposal of Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and the POL is being obtained fraudulently from Jammu Municipal Corporation, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Jammu Development Authority, LAWDA and other organizations.
According to the complainant, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand as per government norms was entitled to have POL from his administrative department that is H&UDD and also from Security organizations with regard to escort vehicles. However, the Information obtained under RTI disclosed that the personal section of the Deputy CM requisitioned not only the vehicles numbering 21 from various departments under his administrative control but also obtained POL from JDA,JMC,LAWDA and SMC in addition to police and H&UDD.
According to CNS, Bhalla has stated in his complaint that 414 slips/requisition letters have been issued by the personal section of Deputy CM for issuance of POL for 21 vehicles from JMC.
The complainant has indicated the registration numbers of such vehicles which were at the disposal of Deputy CM and his personal staff.
If thi s is the fate of Dy. CM what bungling other ministers are involved is beyond imagination.Court should follow law strictly & enforce stringent punishment to DCM.
If thi s is the fate of Dy. CM what bungling other ministers are involved is beyond imagination.Court should follow law strictly & enforce stringent punishment to DCM.