Srinagar,14-Apr; Government Stationery and Supply Department in Jammu and Kashmir has been showing lack of interest in providing funds for three years, as a result of which the prices of stationery and other supplies have skyrocketed forcing the departments to buy supplies at double cost, which further costs the UT exchequer crores of rupees.According to the stationery and supply department is one of the oldest department in Jammu and Kashmir because it came into existence before independence and before that (until 1979) it was known as the Department of Stationery and Printing. Stationery and Office Supply Department is the nodal agency for procurement of stationery, paper and binding materials for the official use of all government and semi-government offices and institutions of Jammu and Kashmir.In addition, Transparency of the department is even more important as the department has been providing stationery, paper and binding items to all its offices at the lowest and uniform rates. While the highest quality stationery and other supplies are being procured for use in government departments. The department also fixes various rate contracts.The Government, in violation of the Financial Rules-2017 (GFR-2017) Ministry of Finance, Government of India Rule 149 has for the last three years been shutting down the budget allocation for stationery and other supplies for government and semi-government offices for unknown reasons.According to sources, an RTI application sent to the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir revealed that at the time Government departments are buying stationery from cooperative stores and GEMs and the government may not be able to bear the burden for long.According to sources, the government provides a budget
