Jammu, Sep 12 (GNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Jal Shakti Department has dropped disciplinary proceedings against retired Junior Engineer Ravi Kant Khajuria in connection with FIR No. 04/2020 of Anti-Corruption Bureau, Udhampur.
According to Government Order the charges related to alleged misappropriation of funds and loss of Rs 10.87 lakh to the state exchequer in flood protection works on River Chenab at Chumbla, Reasi, executed between 2010-11 to 2014-15.
The FIR had been registered against three officers including Bansi Lal Bhardwaj, the then Executive Engineer, Virender Kumar Khajuria, the then AEE, and Ravi Kant Khajuria, the then JE of Mahore Irrigation Division Dharmari, for offences under J&K PC Act and RPC.
The ACB verification had alleged that two works at RD 380-410m were shown as executed departmentally though the contractor had already executed work at the same RD, and measurements in four other earthen embankment works did not tally during spot inspection.
However, the ACB later concluded the investigation as “Not-Proved” and submitted a closure report (Ikhtitami) before the Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Udhampur.
The Court, vide order dated 14.07.2025, accepted the closure report, observing that the works in question were found existing on spot, there was no loss to the state exchequer nor any duplicacy. The Court noted that then XEN Bansi Lal Bhardwaj should have re-tendered the works instead of getting them executed departmentally, terming it a procedural lapse, but RDA at this stage was of no consequence as he had retired in 2019.
The Chief Engineer, I&FC Jammu had also recommended dropping of RDA against the JE, stating that works were executed on urgent basis for flood mitigation on orders of the then Executive Engineer.
Considering the ACB closure and court order, the Competent Authority (Minister In-charge, Jal Shakti) approved dropping of disciplinary proceedings against Ravi Kant Khajuria and closing the matter departmentally against the other two retired officers – Bansi Lal Bhardwaj and Virender Kumar Khajuria – against whom no RDA was instituted.
By order of the Government, the disciplinary proceedings stand dropped and no further departmental action is warranted against them.(GNS)
