Shyam Sood
Rajouri, March 27: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, IAS, has placed Khilafwarzi Inspector (Enforcement Officer) Romesh Chander under suspension over gross violations of building permissions in the Phalliana area of Rajouri Municipal Council.
The action was taken following violations of the Works of Defence Act (WODA) after complaints and a reference from the Army.
To assess the extent of these violations, the Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) Rajouri and Tehsildar Rajouri were directed to conduct a site inspection and submit a report, as per order No. OQ/2024-25/2129 dated 27.03.2025.
The report submitted by the Tehsildar revealed unauthorized construction exceeding the permitted limit by 8,787 sq. ft. and the illegal conversion of a residential area into a commercial space.
Enforcement Officer Romesh Chander was responsible for monitoring and reporting such violations. However, his failure to take appropriate action or report the matter has been deemed a serious lapse in duty.
Considering this a serious dereliction of duty, DC Rajouri, Abhishek Sharma, placed Romesh Chander under suspension with immediate effect and attached him to his office.
The Executive Officer of the Municipal Council, Rajouri, has been directed to submit a detailed explanation regarding the violation within three days and take action against the violations as per WODA.
Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner has initiated an inquiry and appointed the District Statistics & Evaluation Officer, Rajouri, as the Inquiry Officer. The officer has been tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within 30 days.
The district administration reiterates its commitment to ensuring strict enforcement of building regulations and holding officials accountable for any lapses in duty.
