Probe ordered into ‘nepotism’ in J&K KVIB appointments

THE SELECTIONS TRIGGERED A FLURRY OF ACCUSATIONS AGAINST THE CHIEF MINISTER AND HER PARTY PDP AS MANY CANDIDATES FEARED THAT THE SELECTION PROCESS MIGHT HAVE BEEN RIGGED

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday ordered a probe after allegations of nepotism in the selection of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s cousin Syed Aroot for a job in the state’s Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB).

Aroot tendered his resignation from the job.

Mufti directed officials to hold a high level inquiry into the “procedural inadequacies” in the selection process of the KVIB, the results of which were declared early this week.

The inquiry would be held by a committee headed by the chief secretary BB Vyas and it has been asked to furnish its report in a short time, a government spokesman said.

Syed Aroot Madni, son of PDP vice-president Sartaj Madni and cousin of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, was selected for the post of executive officer of the board.

Peer Kashif Hussain, the nephew of PDP general secretary Peerzada Mansoor — who is himself the vice-chairman of the KVIB — made it to the waiting list for the post of assistant executive officer.

The selections triggered a flurry of accusations against the chief minister and her party PDP as many candidates feared that the selection process might have been rigged.

The fears gained further traction after a letter written during the recruitment process by the state law secretary Abdul Majid Bhat, who was also the controller of the recruitment exam, to the IGP of CID, surfaced in media.

The letter, dated September 4, 2017, mentions some complaints regarding the examination process not being ‘fair’.

Bhat, in the letter, wanted the CID department to make an in-depth verification so that the examination process remains transparent and none is favoured.

It is not clear what action CID took as the follow-up of the letter.

Before the letter went public, officials were defending the recruitment process saying a "fair selection process was ensured".

A call to Bhat went unanswered. Khadi and Village Industries Board chairman and state industries minister Chander Parakash Ganga and board vice-chairman Peerzada Mansoor did not pick calls from HT.

Government spokesman Naeem Akhtar also did not respond.

Meanwhile, PDP’S Sartaj Madni said that his son has tendered a resignation. “We don’t want other selected candidates to suffer,” he said.

On Friday, he had dismissed allegations of nepotism saying children of political workers also have the right to apply for jobs and compete.

The opposition National Conference (NC) alleged that the selection list of Khadi and Village Industries Board was full of appointments made on the basis of relations and affiliations to the chief minister’s family and party.

The party, including its working president Omar Abdullah, has demanded quashing of the list and a court -monitored judicial probe.

“Withdrawal of application by Sartaj Madni’s son doesn’t end the case but indicates that he wouldn’t have been able to stand scrutiny of a probe,” the party tweeted.