Govt tightens noose around its employees, seeks property, other details   

Srinagar: The government has tightened noose around its employees and has issued strict instructions to them to file their property returns forthwith.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kondbarao Pole recently asked the all revenue employees of the Valley file the details of annual property returns and warned that if anyone fails to do so it would be treated as non-compliance.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The government during the past few months has been acting tough. The new rules which have come into force after J&K’s transition into a union territory are being implemented in letter and spirit. Many new laws have been framed to make the employees accountable.”
He said, “In the recent past anti-graft agencies like Anti Corruption Bureau have become very active and it appears that a strict vigil is being maintained over the employees. Even the retired government employees are under scanner.”
It’s in place to mention here that since the day Manoj Sinha has taken over as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir things have changed drastically. He has kept the administration on toes and has made it amply clear that the corruption won’t be tolerated.
An official said, “Strict instructions have been passed to all the Head of Departments (HoDs) to strictly monitor the activities of their subordinates and if anyone is found involved in any sort of illegal activity, strict action should be initiated against him.”
The official said, “The employees being asked to disclose their property details is a significant move. It will bring to fore who owns what. In the recent past many such cases have come to fore where the employees had amassed huge assets disproportionate to their known sources of income. Properties of many such employees have been attached. The in-service employees stand suspended and cases have been registered against the retired employees.”
An observer said, “The developments that have taken place in the recent past indicate that the government is keen on wiping out corruption and deadwood from the system. The order stated that any employee having completed 22-years of service or having attained the age of 48 years can be retired too had created ripples. Message seems clear, perform or perish.”
He said, “Seeking property and other details seems to be a part of the exercise to drive home a point that times have changed and no one can misuse his official position for his personal gains.”