SRINAGAR: A formal complaint has been lodged against Nazim Zai Khan, IAS, Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing him of violating the Model Code of Conduct during the ongoing Assembly elections.
The complaint, according to the Srinagar-based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, was submitted by Dr. Muzamil Maqool Bhat and Adnan Rasheed to the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, alleging illegal appointments of ten officials to the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the ABDM project without following due process.
“The present Mission Director, National Health Mission, J&K, Nazim Zai Khan, IAS, holding additional charge of Mission Director, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, J&K, has illegally established and appointed 10 officials for the Project Management Unit (PMU) of the ABDM Project, J&K. No advertisement for the general public has been issued in any print or electronic media. Besides, these openings have not even been put up on the ABDM official website. The clandestine appointment of the 10 officials, whose names are given below, belong to highly affluent families mainly connected to the National Conference, J&K,” reads the contents of the complaint.
“A web-link was created through an outsourcing agency by the NICSI, New Delhi, who forwarded the link to these specific 10 persons on 29th August 2024. No regular selection criteria or process was adopted through any competitive means to select these candidates. The below-named candidates joined the office of Mission Director NHM/MD ABDM, J&K, on 6th September 2024 in gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct, throwing all the rules and regulations governing such engagements to the winds,” the complaint reads.
“The below-mentioned candidates have been selected:
- Abdul Gani, appointed as Project Manager without requisite qualification.
- Dr. Afeera, appointed as MIS expert in ABDM, J&K.
- Mirgya Bakshi, who was earlier working in NIPI India deployed in J&K, was asked to resign from NIPI and joined as Consultant IT.
- Dr. Sonalika Jamwal, who was earlier working in NIPI India deployed in J&K, was asked to resign from NIPI and joined as Consultant HMIS expert.
- Mr. Vikram, who was operating an outsourcing agency, namely Tiranga Manpower and Solution, has been appointed as Business Analyst in ABDM without requisite qualification.
- Duha Majeed Salroo has been appointed as Capacity Building Officer without requisite qualification.
- Dhanush Sharma has been appointed as Project Coordinator Jammu.
- Nasir Wani (B.Com) has been appointed as IEC Manager in ABDM, J&K. The requisite qualification for IEC Manager requires a degree in Mass Communication with 10 years’ experience. He has produced a fake degree in Mass Communication. Further, he is working for the National Conference, J&K, printing IEC material at his shop at Old Zero Bridge, Srinagar, namely C3 Printing.”
“It is requested to kindly order a high-level inquiry into the conduct of this shameless officer who has abused his high chair with no respect for the rules and regulations set up by the Government. Immediate instructions may be passed to the concerned authorities in the Government to withdraw the said appointments and fill the same through a regular process under rules,” the complaint added.
Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the Director General of Police, J&K, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Secretary to Government, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K, and Director, Anti-Corruption Bureau, J&K. (KDC)