Petitions gathering Dust In CM’s Cell as Officers Snub It’s Directives

Directives of CM’s Grievance Cell flouted by Officers with Impunity

                     “Awaz-e Awam” Fall On Deaf Ear

Jammu, 31/Dec/2017: Online Public Grievance Redressal Platform of the State government  which is popularly known as Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell is slowly loosing its command as the administrative departments and other governemnt institutions  are not complying the directives issued by this Cell.

This is clearly evident from the way the officers defy the time limit fixed for disposal of the grievances. Even the quality of disposals of the grievances of the citizens by these departments are not satisfactory.

Citing the example of a petition related to Jammu Municipal Corporation, RTI activist Raman Sharma alleged that despite 3 reminders issued by the CM Cell, no action is taken by the JMC on  his petition which was submitted with the cell through online portal on 12/Nov/2017, this petition was further transferred to the corporation the very next day by one Deepak Bangaroo an official of the Grievance Cell with note “I am directed to request you to kindly redress the grievance of the complainant within 15 days marked as Regular as mentioned in new SOP of JK Government (HCM’s) Grievance cell after ascertaining its genuineness”.

In the last almost fifty days, moreover 3 reminders have also been issued to the Jammu Municipal Corporation for disposal of the case but so far neither any action is taken on the complaint nor any intimation is given to the complainant or the grievance Cell. It is pertinent to mention here that as per the new Standard Operation procedures of this Grievance Cell, a petition should be disposed of within 15 days. The petition no 76588 of Raman Sharma is related to rising pollution in the River Tawi and demand of erection of caution boards near the bridges over the River bringing awareness amongst the people about the River Tawi and Pollution.

Citing another example of one Parveen Singh, a BPL category student having 60 percent Loco Motor Handicap, who had also submitted a petition to the Chief Minister’s Cell, Sharma informed that complaint no 78455 was submitted on 07/12/2017, and it was further forwarded to the Jammu University with direction to dispose of it within 15 days but till date no action is taken on this complaint by the university.   

In two other petitions bearing no. 79073 and 79074, the office of Divisional Commissioner Jammu disposed of  them without any direction or redressal of the grievances.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had inaugurated the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar on 4th September 2009 there by creating an opportunity for the people of Jammu and Kashmir to register their complaints through web based application and get details about the status and nature of disposals. So far, the grievance cell have received 79861 complaints from citizens and http://jkgrievance.nic.in portal have more than 21 Lac visits by the internet users.

RTI Reveals 938 Cases Pending Against JKSSB in High Court

RTI Reveals JKSSB Entangled in 952 Court Cases

Jammu, 19/Dec/2017: Constituted to provide equitable opportunities of employment to the educated youth of the State, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board have unfortunately  entangled itself more in legal battles than to concentrate on developing a fair mechanism of recruitment.

Information received through an application under Right to Information Act reveals that there are over 950 cases pending in Srinagar and Jammu bench of Jammu and Kashmir High Court and Supreme Court of India involving Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board including 12 special leave petitions filed by the board itself before the Superior Courts.

Vide his office letter no. SSB/Adm/RTI/978/17/992 dated 30/11/2017 which is originally despatched on 15/Dec/2017, Sanjay Gupta, Public Information Officer of the JKSSB has informed the applicant Raman Sharma, the RTI activist that as on date there are 938 cases pending against the board in the Srinagar and Jammu bench of the J & K High Court, two cases are also pending against the recruitment panel in the Supreme Court of India. Interestingly, the board itself have also filed 12 Special leave petitions in the High Court and Supreme Court.

These legal combats by the board are not only consuming the precious time of the recruitment panel but also devouring lot of money, during the last three financial years i.e. 2014-15  to 2016-17, the board have spent twenty-six lac sixty one thousand nine hundred and eighty four rupees as legal expenses to fight the cases in the courts. This include 19,62,280 rupees paid by the board to the lawyers as fees and 699704 spent as other legal expenses.

It is pertinent to mention here that JK Services Selection Board has been constituted in exercise of powers conferred by Provision of Section 124 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and also in the light of  Section 15 of J&K Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment Act 2010, the board is responsible for making all kinds of non-gazetted appointments in different departments of the state government within time limit with  impartiality, objectivity and efficiency using technological innovations.

In the RTI reply it has also been informed that the total annual budget of the board during the FY 2014-15 was Rs. 606.89 Lac, FY 2015-16 it was Rs 716.26 Lac, in the FY 2016-17 it stood as Rs 730.12 Lac and in 2017-18 it is Rs. 815.45 Lac.

It is pertinent to mention here that last month, in another RTI reply received by applicant Raman Sharma it was revealed that against Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Commissioner, JKPSC there are 508 cases pending before J & K High Court and Supreme Court and it was also established that JKPSC have spent Rs. 34,83,200 as legal expenditure to fight these cases.

After the RTI revelation about the JKPSC and JKSSB, the applicant Sharma have appealed the Chief Justice of J & K High Court to constitute special benches or make some other arrangements so that these huge pending cases involving JKSSB and JKSPC are cleared expeditiously  because these cases involve aspiring young educated youth of the state.

A.  Kindly intimate total number of cases pending against the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission in Jammu and Kashmir High Court as on Date.

B.  Kindly intimate total number of cases pending against the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission in honorable Supreme Court as on date.

C.  Intimate Total number of cases pending in Honourable J & K High Court wherein the JKPSC has been arrayed as respondent. (as on date)

D.  Intimate Total number of cases pending in Honourable Supreme Court wherein the JKPSC has been arrayed as respondent. (as on date)

E.  Intimate Total number of cases/petitions filed by the JKPSC as an appellant in the honourable J & K High Court during the last 3 years.

F.  Intimate Total number of cases/petitions filed by the JKPSC as an appellant in the honourable Supreme Court during the last 3 years.

G. Intimate Total amount of money spent by the JKPSC in paying only fees to its  lawyers during the last 3 financial years. Give Financial year wise information  

H.  Intimate Total amount of money spent by the JKPSC in  meeting other legal expenses other than the fees of the Lawyers during the last 3 financial years. Give Financial year wise information.

I.    Kindly intimate the amount of  total annual budget of the JKPSC in year 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18

J.   After getting all the information, the applicant may also inspect the records/bills related to the payment to the lawyers, therefore the PIO is requested to intimate me the convenient date for inspection of records and taking extracts and notes thereof. (Ref sec 2 of J & K RTI Act 2009, )   

     जम्मू-कश्मीर सर्विस सलेक्शन बोर्ड (एसएसबी) के खिलाफ 938         मामले लंबित

राज्य ब्यूरो, जम्मू : जम्मू-कश्मीर सर्विस सलेक्शन बोर्ड (एसएसआरबी) के खिलाफ 952 मामले न्यायालयों में लंबित पड़े हुए हैं। बोर्ड की ओर से नान गजटेड नियुक्तियां की जाती हैं। सूचना अधिकार कानून के तहत प्राप्त जानकारी से खुलासा हुआ है कि उच्च न्यायालय में 950 मामले लंबित हैं। इनमें 12 मामले वो शामिल हैं, जिसमें बोर्ड ने स्पेशल लीव पीटीशन दाखिल की है।
इसके अलावा दो मामले सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में लंबित है। आरटीआइ कार्यकर्ता रमन शर्मा ने न्यायालयों में मामलों का ब्योरा मांगा था। बोर्ड के पब्लिक इंफारमेशन अधिकारी संजय गुप्ता की ओर से दिए गए जवाब में कहा गया है कि उच्च न्यायालय की जम्मू व श्रीनगर बेंच में 938 मामले लंबित हैं। दो मामले सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में जबकि 12 मामलों में बोर्ड ने उच्च न्यायालय व सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में स्पेशल लीव पीटीशन दायर की हुई है। इससे बोर्ड का समय बर्बाद ही नहीं हो रहा बल्कि लाखों रुपये खर्च हो चुके हैं।
जानकारी के अनुसार वर्ष 2014-15 से लेकर 2016-17 तक बोर्ड ने 2661984 रुपये कानूनी लड़ाई पर खर्च किए हैं। इसमें 1962280 रुपये वकीलों को केस लड़ने पर अदा किए गए। 699704 रुपये अन्य कानूनी कार्रवाई पर खर्च किए गए। वर्ष 2014-15 के दौरान बोर्ड का बजट 606.89 लाख, वर्ष 2015-16 के दौरान 716.26 लाख, वर्ष 2016-17 के दौरान 730.12 लाख और 2017-18 के दौरान 815.45 लाख रुपये था।

कुछ दिन पहले रमन शर्मा की ओर से दायर आरटीआइ के जवाब में खुलासा हुआ था कि स्टेट पब्लिक सर्विस कमीशन के 508 मामले विभिन्न न्यायालयों में लंबित हैं।

https://www.jagran.com/jammu-and-kashmir/jammu-952-cases-pending-in-court-17229338.html

Journey Line, 20 Dec 2017

Jounnrey Line 20 Dec 2017

State Times

The Tribune

RTI Reveals State Subject Files Pending for Over Half Decade

RTI Reveals :  ‘State Subject’   Applications  gathering dust for 5 years in Jammu West Tehsil

RTI Reveals: Several PRC Applications pending in Jammu West Tehsil for over Half Decade

Jammu, 16/Dec/2017: Defying, the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act passed in 2011 by the state legislature there is section of bureaucrats in the state that do not move files of the citizens without political pressure, nepotism or probably for want of corruption otherwise there is no reason that applications of eligible citizens are kept pending for issuance of Permanent Resident Certificates or State Subject.

A communication received from the office Deputy Commissioner Jammu under the RTI Act by activist Raman Sharma it has been  revealed that there are at least 8 applications pending for 5 years in the office of Tehsildaar Jammu West for issuance of PRCs, 6 Applications pending for four years, 4 applications for three years, 6 applications for two years and five  applications pending for 1 year.

Earlier Raman Sharma had filed an application with the office of Divisional commissioner Jammu wherein he had wanted to seek information related to number of PRC applications pending in different districts and number of PRCs issued within 30 days. As per the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Guarantee Act 2011, an eligible applicant is entitled to get his/her PRC ‘State Subject’ within 30 days.

The applicant expressed shock over the revelation and demanded a vigilance probe in this case against the officers and officials of the Jammu West Tehsil who kept these files to gather dust in their office in violation of the established law.

Earlier, SDM office RS Pura was also compelled to issue over 2000 PRCs following an RTI by the same applicant which were otherwise  pending for several months for the unknown reasons. 

PSGA trashed, PRC applications pending since years in Jammu West

Early Times Report

Jammu, Dec 12: The Tehsildar Office Jammu West has reportedly thrown the much touted Public Service Guarantee Act (PSGA) into dustbin as applications for grant of Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) have been pending since years together.


According to PSGA, the maximum time period for getting PRC is 30 days but in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application, filed by activist Raman Sharma, the pathetic working scenario in the office of Tehsildar Jammu West has been exposed.

The RTI activist had sought information regarding the PRCs issued in last two years and the total number of PRCs issued in 30 days.

 In response, the Tehsildar office maintained that a total of 63 PRCs were issued by the office in last two years and surprisingly, all of these PRCs were issued in 30 days.


In the column the PRC cases pending in the Tehsildar office, it revealed that 8 PRC cases have been pending for the last 5 years, 6 cases have been pending for the last 4 years, 4 cases have been pending for the last 3 years, 6 cases have been pending for the last 2 years and 5 cases are pending for the last 1 year.

The revelations made by Tehsildar Jammu West office have raised a serious question mark on the functioning of the office.

 "The PSGA was implemented by previous coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah and the incumbent government has also completed over two and half years.

 If these applications are pending since years, then it simply amounts to violation of PSGA", an official said.

The Tehsildar office has been claiming that all the 63 applications were processed in 30 days but only the applicants could tell the real story of the delay.

"They have not given the total applications for PRC received by them in the last two years and have not mentioned about the reasons for delay of cases. It is only one part of the picture and the delay in getting the PRC is gospel truth in our state", the official said.

Journey Line, 17 Dec-17

The News Now, 17 Dec 17

http://www.journeyline.in/newsdet.aspx?q=143994

Over 2000 PRC’s Issued in 54 Days After RTI Plea

RTI  brings hope for Inhabitants of  RS Pura

JAMMU, 02/DEC/2017: Exposing the  casual approach and lethargy of official machinery and bringing a ray of hope for the inhabitants of Sub division RS Pura, a border area in Jammu district, an RTI application has revealed that only 136 Permanent Resident Certificates were issued to the people of the area in a period of over 09 months.

In a shocking expose’ that came through  information received under RTI  Act,  it’s been revealed in the reply that people of RS Pura were denied of their constitutional right of having Permanent Resident Certificate most commonly called as ‘State Subject Certificate ’ for months together and their applications were gathering dust before the RTI plea.

In an official communication vide office letter  no SDMR/RTI/2017-18/1308 dated 17/11/2018 signed by Sub Divisional Magistrate, RS Pura served to the RTI activist Raman Sharma in response to his application under Right to Information Act, it is being informed that a total 6514 PRC’s have been issued to the applicants in last two years.

It is also informed in the RTI reply that 2165 PRCs  were issued in last one year, out of which 2029 were issued only after the submission of  RTI application and only 136 PRCs were issued by the SDM office in 09 months before the RTI.

In the reply, the  tall claims of the government about providing transparent and accountable governance are also exposed because the SDM’s letter also states that there is no single window mechanism available in the Sub division and the files of the applicants are submitted directly to the concerned  Tehisldaars.

Blaming the shortage of staff and overload of work, the official reply also exonerated the itself for the delay in issuing the PRCs well within stipulated period of 30 days as prescribed under the rules framed by the government in the light of Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Gurantee Act 2011. Under the J & K PSGA 2011, there is a provision of penalty against the designated officers for delay and deficiency in any service besides compensation provision for the eligible person who is deprived his right to public service.

Expressing happiness over the success of his RTI application that has compelled the officers to expedite the process of issuing over 2000 ‘State Subjects’ within such a short span of less than two months, applicant Sharma urged people to file RTI applications to seek their right and to expose corruption, nepotism and lethargy of the official machinery.

http://kashmirlife.net/jammu-kashmir-in-rs-pora-over-2000-prcs-issued-within-54-days-after-rti-plea-157467/