Veteran activist Sukesh C. Khajuria raises red flag over unlawful appointment of J&K IRCS General Secretary, calls For judicial Intervention

Veteran activist Sukesh C. Khajuria raises red flag over unlawful appointment of J&K IRCS General Secretary, calls For judicial Intervention

Jammu, Sept 4

Sukesh C. Khajuria, a prominent Senior Social and health activist with over four decades of advocacy for transparency and accountability in the health and medical sectors, has raised serious concerns over the appointment of  Rohit Khajuria as General Secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Jammu  and Kashmir UT Branch. Despite multiple communications from the central office of IRCS to the Jammu  and  Kashmir administration, no action has been taken regarding the issue till date.

Veteran activist has termed this appointment as ultra vires and  (beyond legal authority) and a direct violation of the IRCS constitution. Asserting that the appointment process was flawed, he has now declared his intention to seek judicial intervention by approaching the Chief Justice of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to seek redress and ensure adherence to the prescribed legal and procedural norms.

In a detailed letter/representation addressed to Smt. Droupadi Murmu, the Honorable  President of India and the President of the Indian Red Cross Society, on World Health Day, April 7, 2025, Khajuria expressed his concerns regarding the mismanagement of the IRCS J and K UT Branch. The letter was also sent to J.P. Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Chairman of IRCS, on World Red Cross Day, May 8, 2025. The official theme for World Health Day 2025 is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,” and for World Red Cross Day 2025, it is “Keeping Humanity Alive,” both of which highlight the commitment of the Red Cross to humanitarian values.

Khajuria has specifically challenged the appointment of Rohit Khajuria, a former Vice Chairman of the Jammu Development Authority (JDA), to the position of General Secretary. The appointment was made by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the President of the IRCS J and K, UT Branch.

The appointment, which became effective on June 1, 2023, for a term of three years or until the Managing Committee appoints a General Secretary, was formalized through an order (No. GS- 53/IRCS/23/1661–66) issued by the Lt. Governor’s Secretariat on May 23, 2023. This order was circulated to senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, Health Secretary, Deputy Commissioners, and members of the IRCS J&K Managing Committee.

Khajuria has raised concerns that the appointment is legally invalid because it contradicts the provisions of the Indian Red Cross Society Act, 1920, and the rules adopted by the IRCS J&K UT Branch on May 27, 2022. According to the Act, the authority to appoint the General Secretary lies exclusively with the State Managing Committee (SMC), not the branch President, irrespective of their constitutional position. Khajuria pointed out that the appointment was made without consulting the SMC, which was in place at the time, rendering it a clear violation of the newly passed Parliamentary rules and the IRCS constitution.

“No one is above the law,” Khajuria said, demanding the recovery of the salary and emoluments drawn by Rohit Khajuria, which included a 750% increase in his monthly pay compared to his predecessor, all without the approval of the SMC. Khajuria further insisted that a legally valid appointment should be made by the Managing Committee in full compliance with the IRCS

constitution and rules. “The Indian Red Cross Society is a crucial humanitarian organization, and its operations must adhere to the highest standards of transparency and legality,” Khajuria asserted.

This challenge highlights Khajuria’s long-standing commitment to accountability, particularly within public institutions like the IRCS that serve essential roles in health and social welfare. His decision to seek judicial intervention further underscores his determination to protect the integrity of the IRCS and uphold the rule of law in Jammu & Kashmir.

In addition to challenging the appointment, Khajuria raised concerns about the functioning of the IRCS J&K UT Branch. Elections were held in only three districts—Kathua, Jammu, and Reasi—according to the 2017 rules, but the elected committees have not been allowed to assume charge due to unilateral instructions from the General Secretary, dated August 29, 2023.

Furthermore, elections in the remaining 17 districts have yet to take place, which is creating governance issues. Khajuria suspects that the current arrangement benefits both the General Secretary and the Deputy Commissioners, who enjoy significant powers and avoid accountability.

Khajuria also noted that despite the presence of district branches in all 20 districts of Jammu & Kashmir, the IRCS has been notably absent during recent crises, such as the Indo-Pak war (Operation Sindoor), cloudbursts, landslides and the devastating floods in the Jammu and Kashmir regions. This absence raises serious concerns about the functionality and impact of the J&K UT Branch, whose activities should be governed by the State Managing Committee and guided by the IRCS constitution.

The Union Minister Of Health And Family Welfare &  Chairman Of IRCS  J.P. Nadda Presided Over The Meeting Of The Managing Body Of The IRCS On 13 th September 2024 At IRCS NHQ  Said That “THE PERCEPTION ABOUT THE RED CROSS THAT IT RUNS FROM THE PRECINCTS OF RAJ BHAWAN, OR OFFICE OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS NEEDS TO BE BROKEN”.

The Indian Red Cross Society, established under the Indian Red Cross Society Act of 1920, is a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing relief during times of disaster and promoting  health and welfare among vulnerable communities. Despite having district branches in all 20 districts of Jammu &  Kashmir, the IRCS has failed to effectively serve during critical situations, raising questions about its actual governance and functionality.

Khajuria has further demanded that the newly elected district committees in Kathua, Jammu, and Reasi be immediately allowed to assume charge, as per the election results, and that they be granted the necessary administrative authority to fulfill their roles effectively. He has also called for a judicial probe into the functioning of the J& K UT Red Cross Branch as well as all 20 district branches. This investigation should focus on addressing the mismanagement, procedural lapses, and lack of accountability that have undermined the humanitarian mission of the Indian Red Cross Society in Jammu & Kashmir.

Sukesh C. Khajuria further said that those responsible for taking cognizance in the system are acting as mere spectators. The nation and the society had to pay a bigger price for such failures and a bitter reality/truth of present day politics.