The Fair Price Shop owners have alleged Tehsil Supply Officer’s (TSO) rude behavior and grave mismanagement in Food Circle Pattan in Baramulla district.
In this regard, Fair Price Shop Owners, an important factor involved in the food supply system, has written a letter to the Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir, “exposing the malpractices” of Pattan’s food supplies sector, a local Newspaper Tameel Irshad reported.
In the letter to Director Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Kashmir, Fair Price (FP) Shops Dealers Association, Pattan has lodged a complaint against the concerned TSO Pattan Shabir Ahmed Khan, saying that the said TSO has adopted arbitrary procedures in the area.
“He has tarnished the image of the department and undermined the entire administration because, according to them, he is running the work of the department in arbitrary ways and is annoying the Fair Price Dealers with new excuses,” FP Shop Owners have alleged.
It has been written in the complaint letter that the said TSO usually changes the ration cards and illegally make these cards inactive while changing the categories of the ration cards. Apart from this, he feels no qualms about accepting 12% bribe.
Dealers Association has appealed to the Director of Consumer Affairs to take notice of these complaints and initiate an investigation against the accused TSO identified as Shabir Ahmed Khan.
Also, the actions taken by the said TSO to change the contents of the ration cards should also be examined, Fair Price Shop Owners Association has demanded, adding, they are suffering from the behavior of TSO and are forced to close their shops.
They requested the Director of Consumer Affairs to transfer the said TSO as soon as possible so that the functioning of the department and food supply in Pattan area can be carried out with hassles.
TSO Pattan Shabir Ahmad Khan while talking to The Kashmiriyat denied the allegations. He said that they are doing the reverification of ration cards in Pattan circle. “We are cancelling the BPL cards of non-deserving card holders, our team is continuously working on this,” he said.
He said that he contacted the FP Shop Owners Association, who according to TSO, have also denied that they have filed the application in the office of Director FSC&CA.
Pertinently, last year, an enquiry was ordered against him by Director FCS&CA after his video went viral in Watergam Circle.
“Pending enquiry into his conduct to be conducted by Joint Director FCS&CA Kashmir with regard to recently gone viral video on social media, Mr. Shabir Ahmad TSO Watergam having additional charge of TSO Pattan and Sopore-A is hereby attached with the office of Assistant Director Baramulla,” the order issued on 30-09-2022 reads.
“The enquiry officer will conclude his enquiry within a period of 15 days and submit his report in this office accordingly,” it reads.
On 10th November in 2022, Parvaiz Ahmad Sheikh was posted as TSO Pattan reliving Shabir Ahmad Khan, however, the order issued by Director FSC&CA was revoked on the same day.
Sources told The Kashmiriyat that the Shabir Ahmad Khan was posted as TSO Pattan in March 2021. He continued as he was given the additional charge of Pattan circle after his transfer.