Srinagar, September 24: Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday questioned Transport Minister Satish Sharma over the practice of providing multiple government vehicles to officers who hold additional departmental charges, asking why separate vehicles are required for different departments.
The issue came up during the Assembly proceedings after Sharma described the existing arrangement as a “legacy issue” and said the government would examine the matter and take corrective steps.
Rather questioned the logic behind the practice, pointing out that several officers are provided more than one vehicle simply because they are handling additional departments.
The Speaker asked why an officer holding an additional charge should need to use a separate vehicle belonging to that department when one vehicle could potentially serve the purpose.
When Sharma referred to the arrangement as a legacy practice, Rather questioned whether something should continue merely because it had been followed for several years.
“If the legacy issue is wrong, will you follow that?” the Speaker asked.
Sharma assured the House that the government would look into the matter and take necessary steps to correct the practice.
Rather directed the minister to bring complete details of the issue before the House during the ongoing Assembly session, stressing that the matter involved the use of public resources.
“It is a matter of resources. This poor department cannot afford luxuries,” Rather said, highlighting the financial constraints faced by the government.
The Speaker also raised concerns over officers and their staff using multiple vehicles when the requirement could potentially be met with a single vehicle.
Rather further questioned the justification for several vehicles being used by officers and their staff, particularly when government resources are limited.
The exchange took place while Sharma was responding to questions in the House, with the Speaker seeking a clear response from the minister regarding the government’s plan to review the arrangement.
Sharma assured Rather that he would examine the issue and provide the House with complete information during the ongoing session.
