Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 24
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker questioned the government on Thursday over delays in implementing a proposed “one officer, one vehicle” policy, saying public resources could not be used for unnecessary expenditure.
Transport Minister Satish Sharma told the House that there was currently no uniform government policy limiting the number of official vehicles allotted or retained by individual officers.
A revised car policy was under consideration and proposed to introduce the principle of one vehicle per officer, he said.
The proposed rules would allow exceptions for security duties, field work, additional assignments and other operational requirements.
The minister said the policy would apply to government departments, public sector undertakings, boards and autonomous bodies once approved.
The Speaker questioned the pace of the process, noting that a high-level committee had been constituted on Sept. 1 to examine the issue.
“What have you done in these 24 days?” the Speaker asked, directing the minister to submit an Action Taken Report during the ongoing Assembly session.
The Speaker also questioned the practice of providing additional vehicles to officers holding extra departmental charges.
He said J&K had limited resources and could not afford unnecessary expenditure.
The minister described the issue as a “legacy issue” and said he would return with a detailed report.
