Kathua: There is a storm in administrative circle over the way a senior most officer of school education department has been arbitrarily attached and subsequently replaced by a complainant as in charge CEO on the direction of Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rohit Khajuria.
In an order which has raised many eye brows in official echelons, the CEO Kathua Nirmal Choudhary was attached with the office of Deputy Commissioner Kathua vide order No DCK/PA2018-19/112-116 dated May 10, 2018 issued by Rohit Khajuria, DC Kathua.
Strangely, this order was issued mere on the allegations of a junior most subordinate officer of CEO office Kathua Aruna Sharma, District Education planning officer. However, the order itself raised serious doubts about its propriety as the undersigned prefer to assigned charge of CEO to the complainant.
The order itself speaks volume about what transpired the district authority to appoint a junior most subordinate officer as CEO immediately after the attachment of incumbent CEO, said an officer of Education Department preferring anonymity. It’s a conspiracy, he alleged.
Ironically, the said beneficiary DEPO has gained access to the official records of CEO office when the latter was attending an official meeting called by the Education Minister in Jammu. In a hush hush manner, immediately the district administration Kathua issued the order ousting the CEO and showering favor to the complainant.
Expressing surprise over this estrange development, a senior IAS officer preferring anonymity said “If the district administration have allegations against any district officer, the district administration is bound to send a letter with allegations and remarks to the concerned administrative department for necessary action against the erring officer” In no way, a senior most district officer can be attached with DC office in such a manner, adding that the officer was on official meeting and in his absence entire operation of enquiry was finished with in 4 hours.
An officer of School education department said “CEO is a district officer, he can made transfers on rationalisation basis to meet deficiencies in those areas and schools facing shortage of teachers”. The transfer orders in question are well within laid down norms, added preffering anonymity.
But making the complainant as enquiry officer and later assigned the charge of CEO have raised serious doubts about this move alleged an officer of education department.
Referring to a glare error in the order an officer of education department said “Normally, if there are open allegations against the officer from his subordinate. Then, the district administration is bound to appoint officer from other department for ascertaining the truth behind allegations”.
It’s also learnt that the beneficiary officer of this unprecedented move Aruna Sharma is considered very close to the corridors of power and enjoying posting in her home district since long. Moreover, the post (DEPO) which she was holding prior to assigning CEO charge was actually meant for cadre of planning and finance department. However, allegedly exerting her influence she was sitting on this post for a long time.
As per our sources, Aruna have constant resentment against the attached CEO after the latter has advised her to keep working transparent pertaining to the inspection of private schools in the district.
On being contacted Aruna Sharma, acting CEO Kathua said ” She was assigned the charge of CEO by the district adminsitartion on whose direction she submitted the report about the alleged “disorder” prevailing under attached CEO Nirmal. When asked to comment on the propriety of her appointment as CEO especially when she herself was the main complaianant and junior most officer in the district as well as subordinate of ousted CEO, she disconnected the call. Several attempts to contact Rohit Khajuria,DC Kathua on his official mobile number could not materilised.