Jammu, May 22 (Scoop News) –The Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, who has administered the oath of office and secrecy to a minister, should sack the same minister if he is involved in violation of rules and responsible for scams. This was stated by BJP State General Secretary Satish Sharma while giving details of violation of rules committed by Cooperative Minister Manohar Lal Sharma.
Satish Sharma said that minister himself has occupied the posts of Chairman of JAKFED, State Cooperative Bank, J&K State Cooperative and Rural Development Bank (SCARD Bank), which is against Rule 25 of Cooperative Societies Act, which provides that no legislature can become Chairman of Cooperative Society. The Minister Mahonar Lal Sharma has got himself nominated Chairman of these societies by his junior authority i.e. Commissioner Secretary of the department and then he himself has approved his own appointments. He questioned as to how a subordinate officer can make appointment of his own senior and the order were issued by even more junior officer i.e. Registrar Cooperative.
Satish Shama further said that minister is directly involved into the scam of crores of rupees, which took place in Jammu Central Cooperative Banks’ backdoor recruitment. As per advertisement for recruitment, applications were called for 50 posts of cashier cum clerk and 37 posts of clerks, which means total of 87 posts were advertised. Written examination was conducted. Qualified condidates were interviewed and a selection list of 106 candidates was issued. The Board of Directors did not stop there but went on recruitment spree in utter violation of of rules and more than six hundred persons were recruited by backdoor, some of the orders were served through the minister himself as the person selected were his recrendes. As per SRO-233 the Board of Director is not authorised to recruit employees of the bank except for fourth class employees.
Satish Sharma said that Jammu Central Cooperative Bank was established by the than Maharaja in 1914 and did not invite any resentment or got involved in any scam before Manohar Lal Sharma took over as its Chairman. He said that the situation has reached to such a point that it is on the verge of bankcruptcy and the Reserve Bank of India, under Section-11, has issued notice to this bank two months ago for irregularities committed by it. The bank has to reply within six months but till now the Chairman has not taken the matter seriously.
Satish Sharma said that there are more scandals and scams in other cooperative institutions but since the minister in charge is himself involved, there cannot be independent probe into it unless he is removed from the office. Hence, the Governor should use his authority and sack the minister forthwith so that an impartial inquiry is conducted.
BJP Senior leader Mohan Singh Chouhan and BJYM State President Munish Sharma were also present in the press conference.