After three back-to-back poor-performing Deputy Commissioners, Ashok Sharma (JKAS) has restored the much-awaited dignity of the DC office Poonch; Action against land grabbers, anti-nationals, and tainted employees needed

After three back-to-back poor-performing Deputy Commissioners, Ashok Sharma (JKAS) has restored the much-awaited dignity of the DC office Poonch; Action against land grabbers, anti-nationals, and tainted employees needed

SALIL RAINA

(POONCH TODAY NEWS)

POONCH: From mid-March 2021 to early August 2025, the Poonch district witnessed three Deputy Commissioners, and during these more than four years of tenure, the credibility of the Deputy Commissioner officer suffered a nosedive on various accounts of corruption, arrogance, visionless decisions and poor work culture. There was an impression among the masses that the district administration was a hub of corruption and other aspects of poor governance.

The credibility of the DC office was at an all-time low during those four years. Land grabbers encroaching on various public and government assets, open support of the administration for anti-nationals and no action against regular departmental frauds remained the most debatable topics in the public domain. During this period, there was an impression that you would give money to the DC office and get any work done, whether it was legal or illegal. Then, during this tenure, anti-nationals and other tainted forces of the Poonch were given open shelter and awards by the DC office in Poonch. There was no direct public contact with the administration on the ground on various issues. A particular DC was so arrogant that he gave full priority to his ego over solving public issues, and his successor DC did nothing on the ground other than making repeated attempts to be in news stories. Whosoever tried to expose them on account of various inefficiencies was targeted by them. There was a huge administrative deficit on the ground. But after the joining of Ashok Sharma (JKAS) as DC Poonch, things have started to become easier as he has started personal communication with each and every person belonging to every section of the society. Moreover, his cool and cooperative behaviour with his subordinates has attracted everyone’s attention, and this thing has become the talk of the town. Political leaders, religious leaders, and some renowned civil society members have appreciated the way the new DC, Ashok Sharma, has adopted to address public grievances. His total focus is on the development, as he was seen visiting different far-flung areas of the Poonch district to listen to public shies. Although some high-profile departments of the Poonch administration have become a hub of open corruption and various frauds, it would be interesting to see how the new DC Ashok Kumar would address this issue. Moreover, the land grabbers have always been heavy on the district administration for years, but all the former DCs surrendered before the land grabbers, and not a single action was taken against open encroachment of water bodies, culverts, illegal stone crushers and illegal constructions in the ‘Red Zone’. In front of Poonch Fort, which was declared as an ancient protected monument, no construction of any type is possible up to 100, 200 and 300 metres, but with the hand-in-glove acts of various tainted officers, huge visible encroachment on lanes and drains and illegal construction of shops with the involvement of the revenue department and Poonch municipality are seen in and around Poonch Fort in open violation of the Ancient Monuments and Protection Act.  A former Deputy Commissioner did some ‘dramebazi’ by demolishing the shops of poor people in the name of renovation of Poonch Fort, but at the same time, he ignored big fishes. He was the same DC who introduced the concept of partiality in the administration. In the red zone, a minority family wanted to construct a tin shed on their land, but the same was demolished on the plea that no construction was possible in the ‘Red Zone’, but on the other hand, other influential land grabbers encroached on culverts and water bodies openly, but the former DC never took action against them. Due to the crooked and visionless acts of the last three Deputy Commissioners, the DC office was nonexistent in the minds of the public. Only some traditional ‘Chamchas’ of the Poonch who know the art of sycophancy for their personal benefits were always seen praising successive DCs, but as far as the common man was concerned, the credibility of the DC office was on the ground. The incumbent DC, Ashok Sharma, during his first four months, has shown some positive attitude to rebuild the lost credibility of the DC office, as he is being praised by people from every section of society. He has started gaining respect from the society purely on the basis of his merit in delivering justice to the people. His cool, calm, cooperative gesture with everybody and prompt delivery of service in the public interest have earned him great respect from the society, which he needs to maintain, else he too would find his name in the list of his three failed predecessors. Although, his future actions against land grabbers, noise pollution due to loudspeakers installed at various religious places, illegal mining, illegal stone crushers, amendments to the civil society members list, land-related frauds, touts of administration, anti-nationals and other corrupt officers in the administration are to be seen to restore the total dignity of the DC Office in the eyes of the common man. Although his innings have started on a positive note, as people were seen saying that he is a man with depth, it would be interesting to see whether he will maintain it throughout his tenure or will fall before the hollow pressure tactics of renowned opportunists and multi-faced snakes.