GreaterKashmir.com:Faheem Aslam:Monday,September,05, 2011.
Srinagar, Sep 4: Information sought under the J&K Right to Information Act of 2009 has revealed that a matriculate Marshall [security man] is functioning as Accounts Officer in the J&K Legislative Council.
In response to the RTI application filed by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the Legislative Council has revealed that “there is no permanent post of Accounts Officer in the Legislative Council Secretariat. However the job is entrusted to an officer who is well-acquainted and experienced in dealing with the accounts/financial matters [qualification details provided in reply at Serial No 8].”
But shockingly, at serial No 8, the “well acquainted and experienced officer” is a Marshall, who is a matriculate by qualification a gross violation of norms governing financial dealings in government institutions.
Bhat had asked the Legislative Council whether there was “any Accounts Officer in the LC? If no, who is discharging the duties of Accounts Officer and what is his qualification? Has anybody from the LC asked Director Accounts and Treasures or Finance Department to post an Accounts Officer in the LC Secretariat, if yes, copy of the order be provided?”
While the Council has revealed the qualification, it has kept mum on whether it had asked the Director Accounts and Treasures or Finance Department to post an Accounts Officer in the LC Secretariat.
WILL TAKE ACTION: LAW DEPT
According to officers in the State Law Department, a matriculate person cannot function as Accounts Officer anywhere. “It is a gross violation of rules. An Accounts Officer must have passed the State Accounts Services examination (part I and II). I will certainly look into the matter because no matriculate employee can do justice with the financial dealings of an institution like LC,” said a senior officer in the State Law Department. “In the first place, the Accounts Officer must have an accounts background so that he is able to handle management of finances effectively. We will certainly act on the issue.”
THE CASE:
In the RTI application filed by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky, had faced some blunt questions on functioning and financial dealings of the Council.
The LC had been asked to divulge the following questions. How much TA/DA has AS Micky has drawn so far since his taking over, including the Air Travel/Tour Programme details? How many vehicles are at the disposal of the Deputy Chairman, including registration numbers and name of drivers to be provided? How much fuel have the vehicles consumed since Micky’s taking over as Deputy Chairman/Acting Deputy Chairman, including petrol pump vouchers from where fuel was filled in the vehicles? How many PROs are working in the LC and how many posts are sanctioned by the Government names and qualifications of the said persons may also be provided. Have the promotions from time to time in the Gazetted Cadre been regularized by the Competent Authority like the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department. If yes provide the copies of orders and if no, when you are intending to forward the cases of regularization of officers? What is the amount of discretionary grants received during the tenure of Arvinder Singh Micky and the list of beneficiaries be provided along with names and addresses? Qualification details/Certificates of all gazetted officers, SOs, Head Assistants may be provided along with date of birth and matriculation roll numbers? How many laptops, computers and mobile phones have been purchased and to whom they have been allotted? And furnish the details of furniture under the possession of Deputy Chairman at office and his residences in Jammu and Srinagar.
INFORMATION CONCELAED:
While the Legislative Council has divulged part of the information, it has concealed information about some vital issues like the fuel, tour and travel details, discretionary grants, TA/DA and petrol pump vouchers.
If the Council has revealed anything, it is the minor details about furniture, number of computers, laptops and cell phones and also the qualification of officials working there.
COMPLAINT IN SIC LIKELY:
Bhat is now contemplating to file a complaint under Section 15 of the RTI Act before the State Information Commission. “The information provided by the Council is incomplete and misleading. So under the provisions of the JK RTI Act, I shall file a complaint in the SIC within few days,” he told Greater Kashmir.
In response to the RTI application filed by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the Legislative Council has revealed that “there is no permanent post of Accounts Officer in the Legislative Council Secretariat. However the job is entrusted to an officer who is well-acquainted and experienced in dealing with the accounts/financial matters [qualification details provided in reply at Serial No 8].”
But shockingly, at serial No 8, the “well acquainted and experienced officer” is a Marshall, who is a matriculate by qualification a gross violation of norms governing financial dealings in government institutions.
Bhat had asked the Legislative Council whether there was “any Accounts Officer in the LC? If no, who is discharging the duties of Accounts Officer and what is his qualification? Has anybody from the LC asked Director Accounts and Treasures or Finance Department to post an Accounts Officer in the LC Secretariat, if yes, copy of the order be provided?”
While the Council has revealed the qualification, it has kept mum on whether it had asked the Director Accounts and Treasures or Finance Department to post an Accounts Officer in the LC Secretariat.
WILL TAKE ACTION: LAW DEPT
According to officers in the State Law Department, a matriculate person cannot function as Accounts Officer anywhere. “It is a gross violation of rules. An Accounts Officer must have passed the State Accounts Services examination (part I and II). I will certainly look into the matter because no matriculate employee can do justice with the financial dealings of an institution like LC,” said a senior officer in the State Law Department. “In the first place, the Accounts Officer must have an accounts background so that he is able to handle management of finances effectively. We will certainly act on the issue.”
THE CASE:
In the RTI application filed by Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat, the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council, Arvinder Singh Micky, had faced some blunt questions on functioning and financial dealings of the Council.
The LC had been asked to divulge the following questions. How much TA/DA has AS Micky has drawn so far since his taking over, including the Air Travel/Tour Programme details? How many vehicles are at the disposal of the Deputy Chairman, including registration numbers and name of drivers to be provided? How much fuel have the vehicles consumed since Micky’s taking over as Deputy Chairman/Acting Deputy Chairman, including petrol pump vouchers from where fuel was filled in the vehicles? How many PROs are working in the LC and how many posts are sanctioned by the Government names and qualifications of the said persons may also be provided. Have the promotions from time to time in the Gazetted Cadre been regularized by the Competent Authority like the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Department. If yes provide the copies of orders and if no, when you are intending to forward the cases of regularization of officers? What is the amount of discretionary grants received during the tenure of Arvinder Singh Micky and the list of beneficiaries be provided along with names and addresses? Qualification details/Certificates of all gazetted officers, SOs, Head Assistants may be provided along with date of birth and matriculation roll numbers? How many laptops, computers and mobile phones have been purchased and to whom they have been allotted? And furnish the details of furniture under the possession of Deputy Chairman at office and his residences in Jammu and Srinagar.
INFORMATION CONCELAED:
While the Legislative Council has divulged part of the information, it has concealed information about some vital issues like the fuel, tour and travel details, discretionary grants, TA/DA and petrol pump vouchers.
If the Council has revealed anything, it is the minor details about furniture, number of computers, laptops and cell phones and also the qualification of officials working there.
COMPLAINT IN SIC LIKELY:
Bhat is now contemplating to file a complaint under Section 15 of the RTI Act before the State Information Commission. “The information provided by the Council is incomplete and misleading. So under the provisions of the JK RTI Act, I shall file a complaint in the SIC within few days,” he told Greater Kashmir.
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