Govt official under scanner for ‘corrupt’practices gets key post

Sumit Sharma. Updated: 1/14/2022 10:36:10 AM Front Page

Jammu:Going against the Vedanta of corruption free Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir administration assigned the additional charge of the post of Director Health Services, Jammu to a tainted officer against whom apex court had ordered criminal proceedings.
Even the government of erstwhile state of J&K knocked the door of the Supreme Court against the High Court’s judgment for quashing FIR against official who has been givenadditional charge of the post of Director Health Services, Jammu.
Amazingly the said order was issued barely two months after the Supreme Court directed Vigilance Organization Kashmir to start criminal proceedings against him.
“In the interest of the administration, it is hereby ordered that Dr. Saleem ur Rehman, Director General, Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, J&K shall look after the charge of the post of Director Health Services, Jammu on the superannuation/retirement of Dr. Renu Sharma on 31th December 2021, till further orders, in addition to his own duties,” said the order issued by the Health and Medical Education Department.
However, eyebrows started raising, the day after the said order was issued as the said officer was among other accused persons who were booked by Vigilance Organization Kashmir vide FIR No. 32/2012 under section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, 2006 and Section 120B of the Ranbir Penal Code for misappropriation of funds in purchase of the sub-standard medical kits under centrally sponsored National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
“DrSaleem-ur-Rehman during his tenure as Director Health Services, Kashmir was booked along with some other accused persons for the misappropriation of huge amount of government money running in crores (Rs 1,04,99,429) during 2010-11 in purchase of the sub-standard medical kits under central government’s National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)”, said the officials in health department.
Soon after being booked, Dr. Saleem knocked the door of J&K High Court at Srinagar following which the Court quashed the criminal proceedings against him and others.
However, feeling aggrieved over the impugned order, the government of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir challenged it in the Supreme Court of India. In the same case, the Supreme Court, settingaside the verdict of 2018 of Jammu and Kashmir High Court said that the Apex court was aggrieved and dissatisfied with the impugned judgment passed by the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir at Srinagar.
“It’s (J&K High Court) dealing with Preliminary Enquiry (PE) as ultra vires is unsustainable and deserves to be quashed and set aside and is hereby quashed and set aside,” the Supreme Court said in its verdict delivered on October 29, 2021.
The Supreme Court has also directed the SSP VOK to get the case investigated and proceeded further by the authorized officer expeditiously.


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