HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad administrator, in his probe into into extraordinary promotion of a BS-5 junior clerk of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (HMC), Rafiq Rajput, to BS-18, has found that the elevation lacked legal justification and due process.

In his 16-point findings, Administrator Altaf Hussain Sario has concluded: “It is clear that Rafiq Rajput’s appointment as assistant (Urdu typist) and most subsequent promotions lack legal backing, due process and adherence to rules. It has been established beyond any doubt his appointment and most of his promotions beyond initial appointment as junior clerk (BS-5) lack legality”.

Resultantly, the findings said, he was reverted to his original position of junior clerk on June 16. “Furthermore, the organisation may proceed against him under relevant service laws for deliberate acts of commission and omission,” he said.

The administrator carried out the probe in line with previous directive of Sindh local government secretary, requiring him to determine grade and posting of Rajput as project director of katchi abadis.

Subsequently, he noted during the inquiry that Rajput’s original service book was missing and there was no record of any letter or permission for a duplicate service book except an unsigned entry. His new service book also had signed entries since 2005, he said.

“In view of aforementioned gross discrepancies, it transpires that Rajput has built his disreputable career apparently through undue and illegal arrangements. He exploited fully favouritism and discrimination to get senior posts without adherence to legit formalities and due process,” said the order issued by the administrator after the inquiry.

It said that uncorroborated entries in the duplicate service book and missing vital records from the HMC offices manifested his involvement in illegal progression of scales.

He was initially appointed as clerk in BS-5 on May 16, 1982, subject to approval of Service Board, but there was no record of such approval.

The official, who has been found to be a BS-5 employee after inquiry had headed taluka municipal administration (TMA) city as administrator before Sindh Local Government Act 2013 was enforced.

On Sept 5, 2018, he was reverted to the position of junior clerk under directives of the water commission appointed by the Supreme Court but no entry was recorded in service book.

Unfortunately, his reversion orders were hardly implemented. On April 4, 2021, he was posted as director taxes without final decision about his grade. On June 1, he was removed from the post and directed to report to the HMC council in his actual grade in the light of the local government department’s directives.

Accordingly, he was posted in actual grade as junior clerk and his services were placed at the disposal of the HMC complaint cell vide office order on June 16.

The administrator said he conducted a detailed inquiry before issuing this order after he was assigned to determine his grade and posting.

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2021