Director Skill Development Indulges in malfeasance

Goof!

•  Ignores the norms set for procurement through GeM
•  Disregards the suggestions of responsible, senior most officer.

JJ Correspondent

Jammu, Feb 04: The media has an important role in the fight against Corruption as it can demand accountability and transparency for the public and private sectors. The media provides information on public sector corporation where govt. activity is opaque by design or by fault. The media and in particular investigative journalism, plays a crucial role in exposing corruption to public scrutiny and fighting against impunity.
On 28 November, 2023 the Jammu Jottings highlighted a news item, ” Director Skill Development Department favours laissez faire in bidding,” in which it was mentioned that bid No. GEM/2023/B/4079237, dated, 12-10-23 of Skill Development is full of follies committed in invitation of bidding. Instead of revisiting the case the procurement section proceeded on and issued the supply order vide Contract No.: GEM-511687741733720 to BIB/RA/PBP No.: GEM/2037/B/4079237, dated, 14 Nov. 2023. The crux of the news item was that codal formalities are not satisfactory and the rates of the items are very high. In brief, the reasonability of the rates was found not checked properly. The Director did not pay any heed to the sincere efforts of the team of Jammu Jottings. instead, through his silence he tried to prove his integrity to the cause But it is not so, as comes to fore officially now.
Vide order No. 530 of 2023, dated, 14-11-23 of Directorate of Skill Development of Jammu Kashmir, U T, Jammu, the Principal ITI Jammu is directed to make stock entry of machinery and equipment in store stock register of ITI Jammu, received vide contract No.GEM-511687741733720. The said Principal acts accordingly vide letter no. ITI/J/2024/1886-87, dated, 16-01-24 but subject to the conditions: ” that mode of procurement, efficiency of the product, specifications, reasonability of the rates, and other mandatory terms and conditions required as per procurement procedure are required to be looked into/taken care of by procurement section of the Directorate before proceeding further.” What made the officer to alert the Director of potential perils in doing such a transaction where crores from state exchequer are involved, in the manner it has been done. Did he smell a rat regarding specifications, reasonability of rates and technical verification of the procurement by the Technical Officer of the Information Department when the Skill Development has all the lot of Lecturers and Vocational Instructors who have apt knowledge of the computer systems, often borrowed as experts by other departments in the whole UT, and also are the end users of the procurement?
Two phrases in the communication from Principal, ITI, Jammu deserve an unbiased attention,(a) ” required to be looked into, “(b) ‘ before proceeding further.” Their meaning is left to the imagination of the readers. But it may be appropriate to convey that the Director proceeded further and drew the bills in favour of the supplier as reported by a reliable source.
The other co-related matter needs to be considered i.e. if the A O, SDD ( Directorate ) was transferred vide order No.23 of JK ( GAD) of 2024… Dated 03-01-2024.. and was ” deemed to be relieved,” why the controlling officer, the Director, retained him for as many as 30 days and was in a hurry to draw the bills of the procurement. In the subordinate offices it is a common practice of the head of institutes to not allow any transferee to the office if his transfer order reads as ” deemed to be relieved”, and prompt him to join new place of posting, after handing him over the transfer order formally. Which official-files the A O disposed off under his signature during this 30 days’ retention in the office,? need to be seen. Hope the Administrative Secretary of the Skill Development will look through this angle also.