CS-led Panels to review suspension cases of JKAS, JKPS officers

In a significant move, the Government has issued an order to establish two review committees, both headed by the Chief Secretary, to reassess cases of suspension involving officers from the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) and Jammu and Kashmir Police Service (JKPS).
The order, which supersedes all prior directives on the matter, cites Government instructions under Rule 31 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, as the basis for constituting these review committees. The committees will periodically examine suspension cases of officers from the JKAS and JKPS services.
For cases related to JKAS officers, the committee will be chaired by the Chief Secretary, with members including Administrative Secretaries from the Home and Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Departments. The Administrative Secretary of the General Administration Department will serve as the Member Secretary, and the Administrative Secretary of the concerned department will be a special invitee.
Similarly, the committee for reviewing suspension cases of JKPS officers will have the Chief Secretary as the chairman, with members including the Director General of Police, Administrative Secretary of the General Administration Department, Administrative Secretary of the Department of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, and the Administrative Secretary of the Home Department serving as the member secretary.
The Review Committee for JKAS officers is mandated to scrutinize various cases, including those involving Gazetted Officers placed under suspension due to alleged vigilance cases, non-Gazetted officials implicated in vigilance cases, non-gazetted officials from multiple departments suspended after being caught red-handed in trap cases, and employees, both gazetted and non-gazetted, suspended for allegedly possessing disproportionate assets.
Administrative Secretaries are required to provide brief notes on suspended officers/officials in their respective departments to the General Administration Department for presentation before the relevant review committee.
Additionally, departments are expected to conduct reviews of suspension cases internally, forming review committees and keeping the General Administration Department informed of the outcomes.
The order emphasized that the Review Committees and Departments must ensure compliance with rules and adheres to guidelines provided by the Supreme Court and the Central Vigilance Commission during the periodic reviews of suspension cases. (Daily Excelsior)