Ex-secretary of art academy booked in appointment scam
10 candidates appointed against two posts of junior assistant
The State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) has booked former Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL), Rafiq Ahmed Masoodi following the allegations of illegal appointments in the academy by abusing his official position.
The SVO spokesperson said there were allegations of illegal appointments of orderlies, chowkidars, gardeners and sweepers in the academy against Masoodi, who is accused of “abusing his official position in active criminal conspiracy with the beneficiaries and in utter violation of rules and regulations during the year 2006”.
“The verification conducted reveals that one post of gardener was advertised in September 2003. It was found that 19 candidates were appointed as chowkidars, orderlies, gardeners and sweepers whereas only one candidate out of these had applied by the due date. The applications of other candidates for these posts were found without date and postal orders, which were mandatory,” the spokesperson said.
The verification further revealed that the evaluation sheets prepared by the interview committee had some overwriting and the name of one selected candidate did not figure in the evaluation sheets prepared by the interview committee and one of the candidates was also not the permanent resident of J&K, added the spokesperson.
“The verification conducted has further found instances of undue favour conferred upon the beneficiaries who had not applied in time and not fulfilled the requisite formalities as per the advertisement,” the spokesperson stated.
During verification, it was also found that two posts of junior assistants were also advertised and against these posts 10 candidates had been appointed, whereas only three candidates had submitted their application forms with postal orders before the cut-off date and the rest of them had submitted their application forms without the postal orders.
“Some of the candidates have even exceeded the maximum age limit. The services of the candidates appointed illegally have subsequently been regularised and some were even promoted on higher posts,” the SVO official said.
By acting in this manner, Masoodi, the then Secretary, JKAACL, in league with the beneficiaries had abused his official position and thereby conferred undue benefit upon the beneficiaries.
An FIR has been registered against the accused.
