“The Finance Department vide order No 107-Acctts of 2022, dated 30-06-2022 ordered transfer of seven (7) Assistant Accounts Officers, but within minutes the department had to issue another order No 108-Acctts of 2022, dated 30-06-2022, cancelling transfer of three officers out of the seven officers”
Sanchita Raina
Notwithstanding tall claims of the government of bringing accountability and transparency in transfers of government employees in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Finance Department continues to allegedly rely on ‘cherry-picking’ while transferring officials on plum posts.
According to highly placed sources in the Finance Department, ‘flawed’ transfer policy is being adopted, wherein patronage is given to the people, who are close to the power galleries or have great financial muscles.
“There is no doubt about the fact that Finance Department is carrying one of the most flawed transfer policy, apparently contrary to the one eulogized by the administration of Lieutenant Governor,” alleged sources, adding that in this prime department, transfers are decided as per the proximity of the official to the officers at the helm of affairs.
Sources maintained that patronage of the higher ups on selected few in the department is quite visible and cannot be negated by anyone.
“Considering the level of cherry-picking, involvement of money for transfers cannot be condoned,” alleged sources, adding that among the huge number of employees, only handful are time and again shuffled from one plum post to another, while as few are retained at important posts for years together.
Talking to The Typewriter, a senior officer of the Finance Department, wishing anonymity said that some Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) officers are enjoying patronage of senior officers.
“In the latest instance, Financial Commissioner-Vivek Bharadwaj vide government order No 192-F of 2022, dated 26-07-2022 ordered transfer/posting of only five members of J&K Accounts Services, which included name of one influential Financial Advisor, who was transferred within three months to his previous posting,” said senior officer.
Giving details about the apparent ‘cherry-picking’ in the transfer policy, senior officer said that a Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer (CAO)-Intikhab Ahmad Sheikh was repatriated to his previous posting within three months of his transfer, while as rest of the officers had to wait for years.
“As per government order No 119-F of 2022, dated 21-04-2022, Intikhab Ahmad Sheikh, FA&CAO Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura, Srinagar was transferred as FA&CAO to lakes Conservation and Management Authority, Srinagar,” said senior officer, adding “In July, the same officer was again transferred back to SKIMS as FA&CAO, which shows that those at the helm of affairs are inclined towards some influential officers, wherein they do not follow the proper transfer guidelines.”
Senior officer alleged that Intikhab Ahmad Sheikh has been enjoying his overstay in SKIMS, Srinagar, but the authorities are reluctant to transfer him.
He further maintained that at many places, the department issued single orders to allegedly accommodate their close ones.
“For instance, as per government order No 116-Acctts of 2022, dated 18-07-2022, one Sunil Sharma, Accounts Assistant was transferred and posted in the office of Director General, Funds Organization,” said officer, adding similarly Syed Muneer Ahmad, was transferred and posted in ARI Training Department through a single order No 114-Acctts of 2022, Dated: 14.07.2022.
He asserted that the amount of influence and pressure pertaining to transfers in the department is as such that the department had to revoke transfer orders within hours of its issuance.
“The Finance Department vide order No 107-Acctts of 2022, dated 30-06-2022 ordered transfer of seven (7) Assistant Accounts Officers, but within minutes the department had to issue another order No 108-Acctts of 2022, dated 30-06-2022, cancelling transfer of three officers out of the seven officers,” shared senior officer, adding that since then these three officers have not been transferred again.
When contacted Director General, Accounts & Treasuries, Finance Department-Mahesh Dass, he said that transfers are the prerogative of the government.
When asked how a department orders transfer in violation of JKGAD transfer policy, Dass said, “we are government” before hanging up the call.
