JAMMU, May 25: Senior social and health activist Sukesh C. Khajuria has sought an independent inquiry into the alleged illegal appointment, unauthorized continuation of office bearers, and irregular enhancement of honorarium in the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), J&K Union Territory Branch.
In a detailed representation addressed to Lieutenant Governor of J&K and President of IRCS J&K UT Branch, Shri Manoj Sinha, Khajuria alleged serious procedural, administrative, and financial irregularities in the functioning of the Society. He claimed that the appointment of Rohit Khajuria as General Secretary of the IRCS J&K UT Branch was made vide Order No. GS-53/IRCS/98-23/1661-66 dated May 23, 2023 for a period of three years from June 1, 2023, or till further orders.
Khajuria stated that under Schedule III, Rule 12(2)(b) of the IRCS Branch Committee Rules, 2017, the power to appoint the General Secretary rests with the Managing Committee. He alleged that despite the Managing Committee being functional at that time, the appointment was neither placed before nor ratified by the competent body, making it prima facie irregular and ultra vires to the statutory framework governing the Society.
He further alleged that the honorarium and salary structure of the General Secretary was revised through a communication issued from the Lieutenant Governor’s Secretariat dated March 15, 2024, under which the remuneration was approved as “Last Pay Drawn minus Pension with D.A on pay plus allowances and annual increment.” However, the communication also specifically required that the proposal be placed before the Managing Committee of IRCS J&K UT Branch for ratification.
According to Khajuria, despite the mandatory requirement of ratification, the enhanced financial benefits were allegedly implemented without approval of the competent Managing Committee. He maintained that previous General Secretaries, including retired senior civil servants, were paid a consolidated honorarium of around Rs 20,000 per month only after approval by the competent committee.
Khajuria also raised objections regarding the continuation of Shri G.A. Qureshi, former Director General, Economics and Statistics Department, as Honorary Treasurer of the Society. He stated that Qureshi was appointed in August 2015 for a fixed tenure up to August 2017, but continues to hold office allegedly without fresh authorization or approval from the competent authority.
The activist alleged that several statutory functions of the Society, including preparation of annual reports, conduct of Annual General Meetings, and maintenance of financial accountability, appear to have remained non-compliant.
Seeking intervention, Khajuria demanded an independent inquiry and special audit into the appointment of the General Secretary, enhancement of honorarium, continuation of office bearers, and overall financial and administrative functioning of the IRCS J&K UT Branch. He also sought recovery of any amount allegedly drawn in excess of lawful authorization and called for strict adherence to the IRCS Branch Committee Rules, 2017.
He stated that the matter concerns larger issues of institutional governance, transparency, accountability, and protection of charitable public funds collected through donations and public contributions.
Copies of the representation have also been forwarded to Lalit Wadhwa, Secretary General (Incharge), IRCS, and Chief Minister of J&K, Omar Abdullah.