Tentative seniority list of AGMO J&K Horticulture Gazetted Service raise eyebrows and brought Miss Naheed Jabeen’s appointment back into the limelight
Inquiry is underway in this regard: Inquiry Officer Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing ((P&M) Vikas Sharma Dass
Jameela Akhter
Srinagar: While Lieutenant Governor‘s administration has been tightening noose against fake and illegal appointments in J&K, in a shocking revelation an ineligible candidate Naheed Jabeen, appointed as Assistant Grading and Marketing Officer (AGMO) in the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing, has been holding key positions for the past twenty-three years, despite allegedly lacking the essential qualifications outlined by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).
Back in 1997, the JKPSC issued an advertisement Notification (No 4-PSC of 1997) on 23-03-1997 for the recruitment of ten Assistant Grading and Marketing Officers in the Agriculture Production Department, specifying a Bachelor’s Degree with Economics, Commerce, or BSc Agriculture, coupled with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing.
However, Miss Naheed Jabeen, armed only with a BSc qualification, not only applied for the position but also managed to secure a spot at Serial No 03 in the Open Merit Category, as per the selection list issued on April 25, 2000, copy of which lies with SNS Kashmir.
The plot thickens as, on June 8, 2000, after the selection list was finalized, Miss Naheed Jabeen presented a Diploma in Marketing Management – a qualification not initially prescribed for candidates with a background in Economics or Commerce or BSc Agriculture.
Surprisingly, the Agriculture Production Department appointed her and four others on November 17, 2000 on temporary basis, with a conditional order for the verification of academic and technical qualifications. Shockingly, to this day, there is no evidence that these qualifications have been validated.
As legal ramifications loom large over this questionable appointment which raised concerns about the legitimacy of ineligible appointments, a writ petition filed by another candidate, Arvind Kumar Kotwal, who lacked the required diploma, was dismissed by the court. The court dismissed his petition, stating that an ineligible candidate cannot compel the appointing authority to issue an appointment order. The judgment indicated that any irregularities in appointing ineligible candidates, including Miss Naheed Jabeen, could lead to the quashing of their appointments but that too never happened.
Yet, Miss Naheed Jabeen has not only retained her position as Assistant Grading and Marketing Officer but has ascended to roles such as Area Marketing Officer and now holding Deputy Director Kashmir Horticulture Planning (P&M) over the past two decades, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the recruitment process.
As the controversy surrounding the alleged illegal appointment of Miss Naheed Jabeen as Assistant Grading and Marketing Officer (AGMO) in the Agriculture Production Department continues to unravel, a new development has emerged, casting a shadow over her seniority within the department.
Objections were raised regarding the seniority of Shahida Jabeen, and this revelation has brought Miss Naheed Jabeen’s appointment back into the limelight. The focus shifted to the tentative seniority list of AGMO J&K Horticulture Gazetted Service, where serious concerns were raised.
In the tentative seniority list issued under order No 142-jk(APD) of 2023 dated 01-03-2023, endorsement No Horti/hpm/40/2021/CC-24858 dated 01-03-2023, it was observed that Naheed Jabeen- AGMO- presently holding the position looking Deputy Director Kashmir (P&M), was listed at Serial No 19. However, objections were promptly raised, questioning her qualifications and eligibility.
The Notification No 4-PSC of 1997 dated 25-03-1997, which outlined the required qualifications for the AGMO position, clearly stated that candidates must possess a Bachelor’s Degree with Economics as a subject, along with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing, or a BSc in Agriculture with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing/Management, or a Commerce graduate with a Diploma in Agriculture Marketing.
Contrary to these stipulations, Miss Naheed Jabeen, with qualifications including BSc and later a Diploma in Marketing Management, was appointed under order No 444-AGR of 200 dated 17-11-2000. This appointment, now under increased scrutiny, has been deemed irregular, as it placed an allegedly ineligible candidate over and above other candidates, including AGMO Ayaz Ahmed Natnoo, who is also Deputy Director Horticulture Jammu.
In a formal request addressed to the Financial Commissioner, Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture Production Department, Horticulture Department, Jammu, AGMO Ayaz Ahmed Natnoo, presently holding the post of DY Director Jammu, has urged to nullify the consideration of Miss Naheed Jabeen’s placement at Serial No 19, asserting her ineligibility.
As this saga unfolds, the intersection of Miss Naheed Jabeen’s controversial appointment and the disputes over seniority adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. The call for a thorough probe gains further momentum, not only to address the alleged irregularities in her appointment but also to rectify the implications on the seniority hierarchy within the department.
When contacted Secretary in the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Shabnum Kamili, she termed the allegations and objections just to malign the image of the female officer and dropped the call.
As per sources Principal Secretary Agriculture Production Department had departmental inquiry into the matter and appointed Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing ((P&M) Vikas Sharma Dass as an inquiry officer three months ago but he has not submitted the report so far.
When contacted Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing ((P&M) Vikas Sharma Dass, he also refused to comment on the allegations and objections raised on seniority list.
However he confirms, “Enquiry is underway, so not appropriate to comment”.
Amidst the controversy, calls for a thorough government investigation into the matter have grown louder. The demand is not only to uncover the truth behind Naheed Jabeen’s alleged irregular appointment but also to safeguard the integrity of the recruitment process, ensuring that positions are filled based on merit and adherence to stipulated qualifications.
As the spotlight intensifies on this unlikely career trajectory, the question lingers: Will Miss Naheed Jabeen’s journey from questionable appointment to key departmental roles finally faces the scrutiny it deserves.
The situation calls for a thorough investigation by the government, as Miss Naheed Jabeen has been holding various positions, including Area Marketing Officer and Deputy Director Kashmir Horticulture (P&M), for the past twenty-three years without the requisite qualifications. The demand is for an immediate probe and termination of Miss Naheed Jabeen’s services to rectify the alleged irregularities in her appointment.