Srinagar, October 5 (KDC): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered a fresh departmental inquiry against a Junior Engineer facing corruption allegations in an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case, after rejecting an earlier inquiry report as lacking merit.
According to Government Order No. 342-PW(R&B) of 2026, a copy of which is in the possession of news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), the Public Works (R&B) Department has sanctioned fresh departmental proceedings against Er. Tasaduq Reyaz, who was posted/deputed in the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (DRD&PR).
The case relates to FIR No. 08/2022 registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The order states that Reyaz, then serving as Junior Engineer in the BDO Office Hardaboora, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with the case and was subsequently placed under suspension by the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
The General Administration Department had earlier accorded sanction for his prosecution and the matter was referred to the DRD&PR Department for initiating consequential departmental action under the J&K Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956.
The DRD&PR Department subsequently framed articles of charge and a statement of imputations against the engineer. An inquiry was conducted by the Assistant Commissioner (Development), Baramulla, who submitted a report dated April 30, 2025.
However, the department later examined the inquiry report and sought clarifications and comments from the Inquiry Officer as well as the ACB. The records were subsequently forwarded to the Public Works (R&B) Department with a recommendation for imposition of penalty under the applicable service rules.
The Public Works Department, after examining the records shared by the DRD&PR Department and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, found that the inquiry report submitted by the Assistant Commissioner (Development), Baramulla, “lacks merits and has not been found satisfactory.”
The competent disciplinary authority has accordingly rejected the earlier inquiry report and ordered a fresh inquiry into the charges against the engineer.
Under the government order, a formal memorandum, articles of charges and statement of imputations already served upon the accused by the DRD&PR Department will form the basis of the fresh departmental proceedings.
The government has appointed Er. Shuja Ahmad Malik, In-charge Superintending Engineer, PMGSY, Baramulla, as the Inquiry Officer, while Er. Faizan Jameel, In-charge Assistant Executive Engineer (Technical Officer), Office of the Superintending Engineer, PMGSY, Baramulla, has been appointed as the Presenting Officer.
The Inquiry Officer has been directed to submit his report along with clear-cut recommendations within 21 days of issuance of the order, with findings restricted to the mandate prescribed under the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines.
The order further states that any transfer of the Inquiry Officer or Presenting Officer should not affect the proceedings and that the designated Inquiry Officer shall finalise the report within the prescribed timeline.
The government order was issued by Anil Kumar Singh, IAS, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Public Works (R&B) Department, on September 30, 2026. (KDC)
