Chandigarh, August 10
The Punjab Lokpal’s office here could do with some work on its hands. This constitutional post of an ombudsman, set up under the Punjab Lokpal Act, 1995, to deal with complaints against functioning of politicians and public servants, now has virtually nothing to busy itself with.
During the past year the office, held by justice DS Dhaliwal, has received only four complaints. In 2007 it got only two, down from a dozen complaints received in the previous year.
The Lokpal and his staff work from two offices - the Lokpal’s courtroom in the mini secretariat and an office in Sector 17. The monthly expenditure of the officials is almost Rs 6 lakh a month. Since there is not much work these offices bear a deserted look. Rarely does someone approach the Lokpal with any complaint nowadays.
Despite having very few new cases to deal with, Dhaliwal comes to office right on time everyday. He has been keeping himself busy in dealing with complaints received earlier. The majority of complaints received by the office since 2002 have been investigated, heard and disposed of by him. The Lokpal’s annual administrative reports are duly prepared and submitted to the Punjab governor.
Sources close to the office pointed out that not much effort had been made by the government to publicise the Lokpal’s services. A single advertisement is put out each year, which is not enough for the public to be even aware such an office exists.
The office has been plagued with inconsistency, mainly due to lack of political will for it to function independently. Though the Lokpal was appointed in Punjab in 1995, the position remained vacant from December 1996 to August 1997 and then again from December 1999 to December 2000 and from December 2002 to March 2006.
Since its inception only about 380 complaints have been received in the office, most dealing with selection and service matters. However, some of them were against high profile cabinet ministers and other politicians.
The Lokpal’s office has dealt with complaints against several bigwigs in the state including Bal Mukand Sharma. Jagir Singh, Lakhbir Singh Randhawa, Jagmohan Singh Kang, Shamsher Singh Dullo, Darshan Singh Brar, Malti Thapar, Nirmal Singh Kahlon, Sadhu Singh, Manoranjan Kalia, Ajaib Singh Mukhmailpur, Jagdish Garcha, Mohan Lal, Jasjit Singh Randhawa, and Surinder Dawar. However, since the Lokpal’s reports are only recommendatory in nature nothing much has come out of the whole process.
In its annual administrative report submitted to the Punjab Governor a few months ago Dhaliwal listed several grievances and anomalies that he said had been brought to the state government’s notice again and again but had been constantly ignored. The report has yet to be tabled in the state assembly.
