Jammu & Kashmir Govt Suspends ARV Joint Director Amid Vaccine Procurement Scam Probe”: SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday suspended Dr Tariq Pervez, Joint Director of the Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) Lab, RS Pura, over serious allegations of financial irregularities, operational lapses, and misconduct.
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According to an official order issued by the Agriculture Production Department, the action followed a departmental inspection of the ARV Lab conducted on March 19, 2025, as part of a governance and accountability initiative initiated earlier this year. A committee comprising Dr Tabassum (Director Finance), Azhar Amin Zargar (Deputy Secretary), and Manzoor Ahmad Bhat (Statistical Officer) reviewed records from July 2023 to March 2025.
The inspection report revealed several violations, including vaccine procurement without approval, purchases at inflated rates, irregular use of ASCAD funds, failure to maintain vaccine storage protocols, and inadequate oversight of district-level disease control efforts.Officials also flagged the non-recovery of over Rs 45 lakh from an employee, unjustified purchases of syringes and other lab materials, lack of documentation, and neglect of key administrative duties, such as updating service records and properly sanctioning leave.
“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 were described as 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 one month. (JKNS)