KVIB : Goyal-led panel to probe recruitments

SRINAGAR : Under pressure from Opposition National Conference for hushing up the Khadi and Village Board Industries' dubious appointments, the government on Monday finally set up a high level committee of top bureaucrats to probe into the matter.

An official spokesman said that Government constituted a Committee to conduct inquiry into the selections made by the J&K Khadi Village and Industries Board (KVIB) against various posts recently.

As per the order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department R K Goyal has been appointed as Chairman while Principal Secretary to the Government, Health & Medical Education Department Dr Pawan Kotwal and Secretary to the Government, School Education Department Farooq Ahmad Shah have been appointed as committee members, the spokesman said.

"The terms of reference of the High Level Inquiry Committee include to enquire into the complaints relating to the alleged unfair selection made by the J&K Khadi and Village Industries Board against various posts; determine as to whether proper procedure as laid down in the relevant rules was followed, as has been done by the other recruiting agencies or not; enquire into the methodology in selecting the agency(ies) for setting the question, evaluation process etc.; and ascertain whether any deviation has been made in the selection process from advertising the posts to the release of selection lists," the spokesman said.

The committee is to submit its final report within one month, he said.

Former chief minister and NC Working president Omar Abdullah had on Sunday censured the government for not probing the appointments in KVIB.

"Are CM's orders not being implemented? Or she deceived the youth by ordering an inquiry," Omar had asked, taking a dig at Mehbooba.

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had ordered inquiry into the backdoor appointments in Khadi and Village Board following uproar over appointment of her nephew, Aroot Madni, son of PDP vice president Sartaj Madni.

Aroot was appointed Executive Officer in KVIB which created public uproar in the state and Mehbooba Mufti had ordered probe by Chief Secretary B B Vyas into the appointment.

However, the probe order was not officially issued indicating the inquiry did not take off.