Shadow Correspondent
JAMMU, NOV 27:
Despite orders of the Hon’ble Governor bringing J&K Bank within the purview of RTI Act, it’s unfortunate that the said Bank has refused to entertain the RTI applications, said Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister.
He disclosed that the RTI application of Panthers Party was refused by the J&K Bank when the party had approached the Regional office of the Bank at Rail Head Complex yesterday.
He said that the Bank officials read the RTI, interacted with their superiors and then returned the same to the party leadership openly refusing to accept the same. By declining to entertain the RTI application, the J&K Bank has not only violated the directions of the constitutional Head of the state but also exhibited its contempt for the transparency law as operational in the state, said Singh.
He was addressing a press conference in Jammu today.
While the decision of the SAC, headed by the Governor, bringing J&K Bank under RTI Act was a welcome move, its defiance by the said Bank was unfortunate and opprobrious. It only revealed the Bank’s disregard for accountability and transparency and further suggesting thereby that it had much to conceal, said Harsh.
He said that RTI application should have been used by the J&K Bank to clarify its position with regard to the allegations levelled against it from time to time regarding abuse of public money and complaints of backdoor appointments, if at all it was fair and honest in its dealings. He said that through the RTI, he had sought the details of appointments made by the J&K Bank during the last four years without issuance of advertisement notifications, the details of wilful defaulters, NPAs, Bad debts, over-valued mortgages, unverified investors etc with particular reference to the role of Ministers, MLAs and top bureaucrats.
He said that defiance of the RTI Act by the Bank despite Governor’s directives was not only scandalous but most shocking and full of offense. Urging upon the Governor to take cognizance of the highly contemptuous act of the Bank, Mr. Singh sought appropriate punitive action against the concerned Bank authorities for such wilful defiance of the orders of the head of the constitution as well as of govt.
Flaying the Kashmir based parties for their Jangle and rattle created against the declaration of J&K Bank as PSU and its inclusion under RTI Act purview, Mr. Singh said that these parties had used the said Bank as their personal fiefdom for years despite 59% govt share in it. Not only had the resources of the Bank been abused by PDP and NC through huge financial irregularities but huge appointments through Back door were being made in furtherance of their personal and political interests. And with the Chairman of J&K Bank being always appointed from Kashmir Division, the people of Jammu region suffered worst humiliation and discrimination from the said Bank too, regretted Singh.
Mr. Parshotam Parihar State Secretary Panthers Trade Union was also present in the press conference.
