Admn flouts transfer norms, overstaying officials run GAD

Srinagar, Fan 02: Most of the officials have been overstaying in the General Administration Department (GAD) in violation of the norms.
The GAD, the nerve centre of the state administration, might be framing policies for “better governance” in the state. However, it has been flouting its own norms by not adhering to JK’s Transfer Policy.
Sources say that most of the employees have been “overstaying” in every section of the GAD.
“Some officials are working here for the last over a decade,” an official of the GAD, said.
Special Secretary to Chief Secretary, according to sources has been staying in the GAD for the last over a decade.
Similarly, Additional Secretary of services section (IAS, KAS,) of the GAD has not been transferred for the last around eight years.
Sources said that Additional Secretary (Administration, Establishment, Pvt Secretaries both Secretariat & HoD Cadre/Administrative Officers) is staying in the GAD for the last around 10 years.
Additional Secretary (Cabinet Coordination) has not been transferred from the GAD since 2001. However, he was on deputation to SSRB for a brief period, sources said.
Another Additional Secretary is too staying here for the last over seven years.
The official said a junior assistant has become a section officer without any transfer from the department, which functions directly under Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Officials say in every section of the department, the “influential” officials are overstaying.
“In cabinet section, most officials are working for the last over a decade,” the official said.
There are several other officials who got promotions while their posting in the GAD.
“Several officials in the department are connected with bureaucrats and politicians. Whenever there is a talk of their transfer, they exert pressure and escape the transfer,” the official said.
The overstaying of officials in the GAD is in violation of the JK’s Transfer Policy. As per the Transfer Policy minimum tenure of a government employee on a post should be two years and a maximum of three years. However, the policy has not been implemented in the GAD, which has to manage the entire administration in the state.
Commissioner Secretary GAD, Khurshid Ahmad Shah, refused to comment, while Chief Secretary, B B Vyas, said he would look into the matter.