PIL on food adulteration: HC seeks details of human resource in the DFSD
Asks authorities to fill up vacant posts expeditiously
Srinagar, Mar 27: The J&K High court on Wednesday directed the government to confirm to it the posts vacant and as well as under proposal for appointment in the state’s Drug & Food Safety Department (DFSD).
The court while proceeding in a public interest litigation on curbing the ever-increasing menace of food adulteration in the state, directed the concerned authorities to file an affidavit indicating there-in the information about the number of posts vacant besides the posts under proposal for appointment in the DFSD.
The court in this regard directed the Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education Department (H&MED) to file the affidavit personally. It also directed the Secretary Services Selection Recruitment Board (SSRB) to ensure prompt action on selection of posts if any referred by the H&MED for appointment in the DFSD.
A number of senior officers of the concerned departments, who were present in the court, informed the bench that a new proposal for creation of 306 posts has been sent to Finance department for concurrence. But the proposal is at a halt and is pending disposal in the department, they said.
A division bench which heard the matter instantly directed the Finance department to take final call on the proposal submitted by the H&MED. The decision will help strengthening and reorganization of the DFSD.
The bench took note of the authorities for “communication gap” and lack of coordination amongst them with regard to referring the posts to the recruitment agency.
It emphatically asked the concerned authorities to fill up the vacant posts. It said crores of rupees have been spent on the labs in the DFSD but without the required manpower the equipment is of no use.
The court dispensed with the personal appearance of the senior officers of concerned departments for next date of hearing of the case.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
