Nazki among 85 post-retirement backdoor entrants in Omar Govt

Chief Secretary Kapur, GR Sofi, Ahmedullah lobbying for top positions in CIC

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

JAMMU, Jan 16: Jammu & Kashmir Chief Secretary, Sham Singh Kapur, recently failed in his attempt of getting a post-retirement rehabilitation at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). Reaching superannuation on January 31^st, this 1974-batch IAS officer from Himachal Pradesh, who has already completed over 36 years of his service in J&K, is now making desperate attempts to get a top level post-retirement extension of five years to his service. He is, however, paying a price to achieve the goal.

Kapur is leaving no stone unturned to garner support from different political parties and the Centre to grab the plum position of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). A three-member committee, comprising Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand is scheduled to select J&K’s first CIC and two Information Commissioners in a meeting here on January 27^th.

According to well connected sources, former Income Tax commissioner, Ghulam Rasool Sofi, is among two retired officials who are currently lobbying for the two positions of Information Commissioners. Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) official, Ahmedullah Shah, who retired on December 31, 2010 as Special Secretary to Government General Administration Department (GAD), is strongly lobbying for the post of Secretary in the State Information Commission. Since his joining KAS in 1984, Shah remained continuously posted in GAD and created a record of being never transferred in his entire service career.

Commissioner of Sales Tax, Bashir Ahmad Khwaja, who was due to retire on December 31, 2010, is one-odd official who has been granted extension of one year on the basis of his performance and integrity. Sources revealed to Early Times that Khwaja’s name had been recommended by Minister of Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather. However, most of the rehabilitated officials have been favoured on account of their political and bureaucratic clout. Very few of these extensions have been announced publicly.

In the middle of 2010, retired Director of Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar, Farooq Nazki, who is now 75-year-old, was appointed as “Media Consult” to Omar Abdullah-led government for monthly remuneration of Rs 50,000. For many in politics and bureaucracy, this was the most surprising rehabilitation as Nazki was known to have hurled choicest of his invectives on National Conference and its top leadership for over a decade. Maternal uncle to PDP ideologue, Naeem Akhtar, Nazki had publicly supported Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his PDP during the Assembly elections of 2002 and 2008 besides Lok Sabha elections of 2004 and 2009. Interestingly, Government’s worst ever media management was witnessed after Nazki’s engagement in June 2010.

Former Managing Director of J&K State Tourism Development Corporation, Rafeeq Qadiri, was silently appointed as a “Consultant” to government on “arts and handicrafts” immediately after his retirement from service last year. C K Abrol, former Chief Engineer with Public Health Engineering Department was given extension as ­consultant to the Centrally sponsored schemes in PHE sector.

SKA Qadiri, who retired as Director General of  Archives, Archaeology and Museums, is now a “Consultant” on cultural affairs. Senior NC activist, Rafiq Ahmed Dar, who retired as additional Deputy Commissioner was given a one-year extension as Special Officer Auqaf. He has recently completed his term. Ajaz Ahmad Kakroo, who functioned as Special Secretary to former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, got a year-long assignment as Principal of Sainik School at Manasbal.

Another official, Bashir Ahmad Banday, who retired as Joint Director in the Department of Horticulture last year, is presently Officer on Special Duty with Minister of Industries.

Even the judiciary has had its share of shadowy appointments. Andhra Pradesh Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakroo, during his tenure as Acting Chief Justice of J&K High Court, ensured the appointment of his son Tariq Ahmad Kakroo as a junior manager in J&K State Power Development Corporation in violation of all norms of appointment set by the J&K Government. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah subsequently picked him up as an OSD in his Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

J&K State Public Service Commission has come under severe criticism as it is not chaired by a serving officer but a retired officer on extension, namely Shiban Lal Bhat. During Ghulam Nabi Azad-led coalition government, PDP had strongly lobbied for Bhat’s appointment as Chief Secretary when he was on Central deputation as a Joint Secretary in Government of India. Four other bureaucrats, Khazir Muhammad Wani, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Masood Samoon and KB Jandial, were appointed as PSC members after their retirement. However, Wani and Jandial were reportedly honoured on account of their integrity and performance.

PSC Secretary, Muhammad Ashraf Bukhari, was transferred twice but he managed to stay on. When Bukhari refused to join as Deputy Commissioner and the incumbent Showkat Ahmed Mir’s nephew died in a road accident, Kupwara remained a headless district for several days last year.

Private Secretary to DGP, Shadi Lal, has managed to get extensions every six months for the past two years. DGP’s PRO, Qazi Mohammad Shafi, was also granted an extension after he retired as Information Officer in 2010.

Even those who run employees' unions get their share of extensions. Civil Secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees president Nazir Ahmad Mir got an extension from Chief Secretary for one year after promising not to raise his voice against extensions to retired employees. Sources claimed that identical extensions to service are currently underway in favour of a number of vociferous trade union leaders, including Khursheed Aalam, who have either retired or happen to be at the fag end of their public service.

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