JMC hires 8 pvt cars for Mayor, Dy Mayor

Indu Sharma. Dated: 11/20/2018 1:10:24 PM

Officers, though not entitled, enjoy rides on public money

JAMMU, Nov 19: For its newly elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has hired eight private cars although the Corporation has its own fleet of vehicles and has been spending crores of rupees on petrol, oil lubricant (POL) and maintenance of the same.
The Corporation could not spare vehicles from its own fleet as they are already being used by even those officers, who are not entitled for official vehicles.
In JMC, there are 21 senior and junior officers and as per the rule only Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioner, Joint Commissioner (Administration), Joint Commissioner (Works), Health Officer are entitled for use of official vehicles.
In the year 2016 vide Government order no 29 HUD of 2016 Dated 29-01-2016 in pursuance of Government Order No 06-TR of 2011 dated 12.01.2011 of the Transport department and recommendation of the survey Committee, sanction was accorded to the condemnation of the three gypsies and one jeep besides other 20 load/garbage lifting vehicles.
In the year 2013-14 one Mahindra Scorpia-SLE at the price of Rs 9.18 lakh and one Mahindra Scorpia-Ex at the cost of Rs 7.30 lakhs and in 2016- 2017 three more vehicles including one sedan Honda car were purchased by JMC, beside them, there are Ambasadro/Bolero cars at the disposal of department.
It has been learnt from reliable sources that mostly all the officers of JMC are enjoying official vehicle ride despite the fact they are not entitled for the same. The newly purchased Ambassador car has been allotted to OSD with Commissioner, JMC besides him, Revenue Officer, XENs, Secretary, Chief Account Officer, Senior Town Planner, Chief Enforcement officers, Town Planner, Building Officer and some others are also using official vehicles.
Talat Mehmood Khan, Chief Transport Officer, when contacted by KTNS, admitted that JMC has hired eight private cars (Innova) for official use on rent of Rs 1350 per day from the open market on need basis after following all necessary rules as laid under State Transport Policy. He said, “Cars have been given to Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively while remaining cars were allotted to other officers of JMC on the direction of Commissioner JMC.
When asked that as per the government direction only officer upto the rank of Administrative Head/Commissioner is entitled for use of separate official vehicle as per revised J&K state car policy for government functionaries then why separate cars were allotted to officers in spite of deficiency of vehicles in the department, he said, “The Commissioner has the power to allot official vehicle.” However, he could not cite any JMC rule for the same.
In the year 2017 vide endorsement NO. FD-VII-08(III) 2004-2005 dated: 25-10-2017, the state government rolled out slew of austerity measures wherein it was clearly mentioned that purchase of new vehicles to meet the operational requirement was permitted but only against condemnation as a replacement measures and with prior concurrence of the Finance Department and the travel expenditure should be regulated so as to ensure that each department remains within the allocated budget for the same.
When contacted Narinder Singh Raju, ex- Mayor, said, “It is misuse of official authority because only Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioner, Joint Commissioner (A), Joint Commissioner (Works) and Health Officer were entitled for the official vehicle. For enforcement wing there is a separate van or other vehicles available in JMC.” “Hiring of private vehicles and allotment of the same to not entitled officers is only wastage of public money because JMC has spent lakhs of rupees per month on POL charges,” he said.
As per the Government Order NO. 02 –TR of 2015 Dated 12-01-2015 regarding Jammu and Kashmir State Car Policy for Government Functionaries, only Major Head of the Departments/Administrative functionaries of State government or equivalent field officers are entitled for allotment of official cars. The officers especially designated as Special Secretary or Additional Secretary to Government can seek suitable vehicles based on availability within their Departments/SMG in a pooled Manner.
State Transport department, Vide Govt. Order NO. 28 of 2012 dated 12.01.2012, has also fixed the charges of hired vehicles as Ambassadro/Ford Ikon/Sx4etc. 800 per day and Tavera/Scorpio/Innova/Bolero etc Rs 1000.00 per day excluding toll and POL charges.

 

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