Baramulla: The Jammu & Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has filed a charge sheet before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court in Baramulla against two former officials of the Municipal Committee Sumbal and 82 individuals allegedly appointed illegally during 2009–2010.
The charge sheet stems from a probe initiated by the erstwhile Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK), now ACB, into widespread irregularities and alleged bribery in appointments across Urban Local Bodies in Kashmir. The inquiry was triggered by inputs suggesting fraudulent recruitment practices and misuse of authority by municipal officials.
The investigation revealed that during 2009–2010, then President of MC Sumbal, Ghulam Ahmad (also known as Gulzar), and the in-charge Executive Officer, Abdul Rashid, in collusion with the appointees, made 82 illegal appointments without any lawful authority. The appointees were placed on regular pay scales in violation of established recruitment norms, government orders, and the J&K Urban Local Body (Management) Service Recruitment Rules, 2008.
According to ACB, no advertisements or transparent recruitment process were followed. The appointments were allegedly made on recommendations of political figures including a former Speaker and the MLA of Sonawari at the time, as well as a municipal resolution — none of whom were authorized to influence the recruitment process.
The investigation found that the majority of posts did not exist under sanctioned strength or were mismatched with official pay grades. Many appointees were selected arbitrarily, indicating favoritism and nepotism.
The probe further established that Abdul Rashid processed the salaries and attested service records of all 82 appointees, despite lacking the authority to do so. Although he was prematurely retired from service, he was later reinstated by a High Court order. The government has now granted sanction for his prosecution.
The charge sheet was formally filed on June 5, 2025, against Ghulam Ahmad, Abdul Rashid, and the 82 accused appointees under Section 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat 2006, and Sections 120-B and 201 RPC.
The case is now under judicial consideration in the Special Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla.
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