J&K Law deptt removes Sr. Assistant of Adv General’s Organization from service

‘Delinquent official misused his position’

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has removed the Senior Assistant of the Advocate General’s Organization from service after he was found issuing two fake appointment letters.
The employee has been identified as Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat. Bhat has been removed from the service in terms of clause (vii) of Rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
In this regard, an order has been issued by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliament Affairs which reads, Whereas, in terms of Memorandum bearing No.LAW-Estt/147/2023-10 dated 25.10.2023, the following Article of Charges along with a statement of imputations and allied documents were served to Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat, Senior Assistant of Advocate General's Organization (delinquent official) for submitting his statement/response of defence within 07 days from the date of receipt of the said memorandum;
That two fake appointment Orders bearing No(s). 76-AG of 2021 dated 13.07.2021 and 79-AG of 2021 dated 13.07.2021, purportedly issued by the office of the Advocate General, J&K were being circulated on social media regarding direct recruitment quota of Jr. Assistants and Orderlies, which pursuant to written complaint of Z. A. Dewani, Administrative Officer, Office of Advocate General, J&K, Srinagar to Special Director General, Crime Branch, J&K on 15.08.2021 lead to registration of FIR No. 56/2021 PIs Crime Branch, Kashmir.
During the course of investigation conducted by the Crime Branch, Kashmir, it was found that some touts have conspired with Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat, Sr. Assistant of the Ld. Advocate General, J&K (delinquent official) who has lured the candidates on the fake and false promise of providing jobs. During the investigation, it also surfaced that some beneficiaries have transferred huge amount of money in the J&K Bank Account No. 0406040100000360 maintained in the name of said Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat (delinquent official) to get recruited against these posts.
Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat, as demonstrated above, while being posted in the Office of Advocate General, J&K through illegal means and by sheer misuse of his official position lured gullible innocent candidates to pay illegal gratification into his account on the pretext of providing them Government jobs and this illegal act besides tarnishing and maligning the image of institution, amounts to conduct unbecoming of a Government employee/public servant and thereby, he has failed to maintain the absolute integrity and honesty as an employee and this act/conduct is in contravention of the Rule-3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules,1971 and renders him liable for action under Rule-33 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, it read.
Whereas, the Inquiry Officer appointed vide aforesaid Government Order submitted his Inquiry report on 08.01.2024 to the Government and found that the charges have been established against the aforesaid delinquent official and accordingly observed/ recommended as under: the office of the Ld. The Advocate General has not issued any appointment Order since September 2018 against direct recruitment vacancies of Orderlies and Junior Assistants nor has any such selection process been initiated.
The two appointment Orders bearing No. 76-AG of 2021 dated 13.07.2021 and 79-AG of 2021 dated 13.07.2021 purportedly issued by the office of the Advocate General, J&K which were circulated on social media were proved fake.
Whereas, the Inquiry Report submitted by the Inquiry Officer was examined and placed before the Competent Authority for his final decision/consideration, and the Competent Authority upon consideration of the Inquiry Report and other material documents related to the inquiry proceedings while accepting the Inquiry Report tentatively came to the conclusion that in view of the grave charges against the delinquent official the penalty of removal from the service as provided in clause (vii) of Rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1956 requires to be imposed upon the delinquent official,
Now, therefore, in terms of the clause (vii) of Rule 30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, Mr. Mohammad Yaqoob Bhat, Senior Assistant of Advocate General's Organization is hereby removed from the Service with immediate effect, it reads.