Jammu: The Jammu & Kashmir Government on Friday placed Dr. Tariq Pervez, Joint Director of the Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) Lab, RS Pura, under suspension over serious charges of financial irregularities, operational lapses, and misconduct.
According to an official order issued by the Agriculture Production Department a copy of which lies with news agency JKNS states, the action follows a departmental inspection of the ARV Lab conducted on March 19, 2025, as part of a governance and accountability initiative ordered earlier this year. A committee comprising Dr. Tabassum (Director Finance), Azhar Amin Zargar (Deputy Secretary), and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat (Statistical Officer) inspected records from July 2023 to March 2025.
The inspection report pointed to multiple violations, including vaccine purchases without approval, procurement at inflated rates, irregular use of ASCAD funds, failure to maintain vaccine storage protocols, and poor supervision of district-level disease control efforts.
Officials also flagged a failure to recover over Rs 45 lakh from an employee, unjustified procurement of syringes and other lab items, lack of documentation, and neglect of routine administrative responsibilities, including updating service records and sanctioning leaves.
“These violations are in breach of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 and the J&K Government Employees Conduct Rules,” the order states. The lapses, it added, amounted to misconduct, dereliction of duty, and financial impropriety.
Pending a detailed inquiry, Dr. Pervez has been attached to the office of the Deputy Secretary, Sheep Husbandry, Agriculture Production Department, Civil Secretariat, Jammu. Dr. Ravi Shanker Sharma, Special Secretary (Animal & Sheep Husbandry), has been appointed as the Inquiry Officer and directed to submit his findings within a month. (JKNS)
