Srinagar, Dec 12, KDC : The Registrar of Cooperative Societies, Jammu and Kashmir, has issued stringent directions to the J&K Cooperative Housing Corporation Ltd. (JKCHC) after an inquiry confirmed serious administrative, statutory and financial irregularities committed during the tenure of incumbent Managing Director Bharat Bhushan, whose continuation in service has now been declared void ab initio.
According to a government order, a copy of which is in the possession of news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC), reads that, the action follows multiple complaints filed by JKCHC employees, a public grievance forwarded through the Ministry of Home Affairs, and an online complaint lodged on the JK Samadhan Portal. The grievances accused the former MD of unauthorized continuation in service, violation of statutory provisions, and financial irregularities involving public funds.
An Inquiry Committee headed by the Joint Registrar (Audit), Jammu, was constituted in December 2024 to scrutinize records and verify allegations. According to the detailed report submitted on July 24, 2025, the Committee found that the extension granted to the Managing Director violated SRO-233 of 1988, which governs service tenure, and was issued without legal authority. The report, according to Kashmir Dot Com, also highlighted systemic governance failures, inconsistent application of service regulations, persistent non-submission of statutory audit records, and concealment of material information related to ongoing housing projects.
Based on these findings, the Administrative Department accepted the Committee’s recommendations and directed action under law, including recovery of funds paid during the period of unauthorized service.
Acting on these directives, Registrar Mohammad Shafiq Chak issued Order No. 59-RCS/SS of 2025, instructing the JKCHC Board of Directors to enforce strict compliance with the statutory framework. The order declares that Bharat Bhushan should be deemed to have retired on 31 March 2020, the date of his superannuation, and that any service beyond that date stands invalid.
The Board has been directed to recover all salary, allowances and financial benefits drawn by the incumbent MD after the lawful date of retirement and submit a compliance report within 10 days. Further, the Registrar has ordered that no future extensions or re-employments be granted in violation of rules.
The JKCHC has also been instructed to initiate the process of appointing a new Managing Director within seven days, with temporary administrative arrangements to ensure smooth functioning until a permanent appointment is made. (KDC)
