Jammu and Kashmir High Court wants IAS officer removed

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government's decision to appoint a controversial IAS officer to a key position in the General Administration Department. This officer, M Raju, is implicated in an arms licence scam and has been named in a chargesheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During a recent court hearing, advocates highlighted that the government had posted Raju despite the serious allegations against him. Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Chowdhary stressed the need to remove him immediately. They questioned whether there are not enough honest officers available in the region. The court was informed that the CBI is seeking prosecution against several IAS officers linked to the scam, including Raju, who was formerly the district magistrate in Kargil. Despite previous orders from the court, the General Administration Department had sent incomplete prosecution proposals regarding three other IAS officers to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry has requested complete documentation to process these proposals, indicating there is a push for accountability. According to reports, a significant number of arms licences were allegedly issued during 2012 to 2016 based on false documents, which raises concerns about corruption among local officials. The court has demanded that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir submit a report on actions taken regarding the Ministry’s requests. A hearing has been set for April 24, where further developments will be discussed. The CBI continues to push for legal action against those involved in the scam, which has been under investigation since it was first uncovered in 2017.