Officers misusing govt vehicles
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, May 26
Even as the Chief Minister has strived hard to make his anti-corruption drive a success, majority of officers in the district administration here continue to misuse their official status in one way or the other. In the absence of any check from the government, the senior-level government officials of the district administration are finding it quite easy to misuse their official vehicles.

Sources in the district administration here disclosed that majority of the officers continue to misuse their official vehicles.

"The officers are misusing their official vehicles within their area of responsibility for purposes like ferrying their wards to schools, shopping purposes and even for picnic purpose. Some of the senior officers are sending their official vehicles outside the district for dropping their guests to Jammu", said a highly placed source in the district administration.

"By indulging in such a practise, they are not only misusing their official status but are also eating away the valuable government money," he added.

The information available with The Tribune reveals that in a very recent case a senior officer in the district administration here sent his official vehicle to Jammu for dropping his guests to the railway station.

"As per the government directives we can use our official vehicles for official purpose only, and normally from 10 am to 4 pm. In case we have to undertake an official tour to outside the district, we can tour in our official vehicles. But if a officer is using his official vehicle for other purposes like ferrying their wards to schools, shopping purpose and even for going to picnic, it is quite shocking", he said. "If your findings are true, it is most shocking thing. I reckon that action should be taken against that officer". Despite repeated efforts, the deputy commissioner here couldn't be contacted for his comments.