Shyam Sood
Rajouri, August 22: Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Vikas Kundal has ordered an inquiry against Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Executive Engineer, Rural Engineering Wing (REW) for alleged misbehaviour and using abusive language with a senior electronic media journalist in his office chamber on Monday.
The DC vide his office order DDC/RDSEO/Enquiry/2022-23 dt 22/8/2022 has constituted a three-member committee, chaired by Pawan Parihar, Additional DDC; and Narinder Kumar, District Information Officer; & Arif Lone, Assistant Director, FSC&CA as members, and asked the committee to furnish its report within three days.
“Rule 16 (2) of J&K Employees Conduct Rules, 1971 provides that ‘when allegations are made in the press or by individuals against a government employee in respect of his conduct in the discharge of his public functions, a preliminary confidential enquiry may be ordered by the Government” read Deputy Commissioner order for enquiry.
Jamsheed Malik, associated with Gulistan News Channel said that about four months back he had demanded information under the Right to Information (RIT) Act from the Executive Engineer, REW about the works allotted between March 1 & March 31, 2022 and the details about the payments withdrawn during this period. “As the Executive Engineer REW didn’t respond to my RIT, today I went to meet him in his office chamber to inquire about the delay in reply. Initially, he behaved politely to y queries and later got infuriated when I inquired about the delay in the RTI reply” said Jamsheed.
“He asked me to file a second appeal and in a fit of rage he started misbehaving and used un-parliamentary language in the presence of Abdul Qayoom Mir, DDC Member Thananamandi; and BDC Chairman Rajouri, Darbar Choudhary. He also manhandled our mike and termed me as a blackmailer” Jamsheed Added.
Taking a serious note of the misbehaving by Executive Engineer, REW, a deputation of media persons led by Arif Qureshi, Chairman Press Club Rajouri met separately with Vikas Kundla, DC and Vivek Shekhar Shekhar, Additional SP and narrated the whole episode and also showed them the video recording of Executive Engineer’s misbehaving with a senior journalist.
Vikas Kundal, DC assured the Press Club delegation to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident and also assure action under the rules if the allegations were found true.
Vivek Shekhar, ASP after listening to the whole episode and watching the video recording, directed the SHO Rajouri to take necessary action under the rules.
Press Club has warned to lodge a strong protest if the authorities failed to stake strict action against the Executive Engineer, REW under rules within the next few days.
Other members of the delegation of the Press Club include Qayoom Lone, Gagan Kohali, Shakti Sharma, Tazeem Dar, Ravi Verma, Umar Malik, Rakesh Tara, Shivam Bakshi, Amit Sharma, Rahul Sudan & Vishal Sharma.
