Over 100 KAS officers yet to submit property details for 2017

By Mudassir Kuloo

Srinagar, May 22: At least 100 KAS officers are yet to submit to the government their annual property returns (APR) for 2017.
As per the Jammu and Kashmir Public Men and Public Servants Declaration of Assets and other Provisions Act 1998, every public servant, including a KAS officers, is required to submit the details of the assets held by them or their families.
The reports must reach the General Administration Department (GAD) in January-February every year.
However, an official in the Vigilance wing of the GAD told The Kashmir Monitor that over 100 KAS officers, out of the total 450, have failed to submit their APRS.
“They shall have submitted the APR in January-February, as per the rules. There has been delay in submitting the APRs,” the official said. “We are preparing the list and those who have not submitted APR will be served show-cause notices, following which action will be taken under the rules.”
The official said that most of the officers were not submitting the APR till the government issues circulars a number of times.
“It should be made mandatory for the officials to submit APR in January-February or face the action,” the official said.
There are also officers who have submitted incorrect property details.
“Several officers have mentioned that they don’t know the value of their assets,” the official said.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the disclosure of property assets of state administrative officers was an effort to curb corruption and increase transparency in the governance.
They are also required to indicate the reasons for increase, if any, in the assets and source, as per the Act.
The Act and Rules provide for imposing a penalty for not submitting the property returns.
If any public servant without any reasonable cause fails to submit the return annually, he or she shall be guilty of committing “criminal misconduct”.