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Punjab lets off 12 babus facing disciplinary action
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service

The missing files row The 12 officers are among the 35 IAS and PCS officers whose files dealing with orders on initiating disciplinary action had gone missing from the Personnel Department No conclusive evidence was found against these officers during the process of reconstructing evidence The government is conducting the inquiry into the cases involving the remaining 23 officers Relief for some Seven IAS officers: Sumer Singh Gurjar, CS Srivastava, Ranjit Singh (retired), Megh Raj (now dead), Vijay N Zade, Himmat Singh and RC Nayyar Five PCS officers: Kuljit Singh Mahi, Indu Malhotra, Paramjit Singh and Dalwinderjit Singh; and Paramjit Singh Mukeria (let off with a warning)

Chandigarh, November 19
Twelve Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Punjab Civil Service (PCS) officers in Punjab, whose files pertaining to disciplinary action to be initiated against them for acts of omission and commission had gone missing from the Personnel Department, have been let off by the Punjab Government.

The complaints received against these officers had been officially “filed” after the government failed to find any conclusive evidence against them. The seven IAS officers whose inquiry reports have been filed are: Sumer Singh Gurjar, CS Srivastava, Ranjit Singh (retired), Megh Raj (now dead), Vijay N Zade, Himmat Singh and RC Nayyar. The five PCS officers let off are: Kuljit Singh Mahi, Indu Malhotra, Paramjit Singh and Dalwinderjit Singh. Another PCS officer, Paramjit Singh Mukeria has been let off with a warning.

The 12 officers are among the 35 (both IAS and PCS) whose files had gone missing under mysterious circumstances from the Personnel Department. The government is conducting the inquiry into the cases involving the remaining 23 officers.

A top government officer said the process of reconstructing evidence against all officers whose files had gone missing had begun. The government had contacted the complainants, sought the record from each department where these officers were posted at the time of lodging of the complaint, and then made a case for punishment or filing of the complaint. Where complaints have been “filed”, no conclusive evidence was found against the officers, it is learnt.

Officers against whom an inquiry is being conducted and records have been sought from the departments where they were posted when the alleged acts of omission took place are: R Venkat Ratnam (IAS), Sukhwinder Pal Singh, JC Sabharwal, Lakhmir Singh, TN Passi (compulsorily retired), Inder Yash Bhatti, Jasdeep Singh Aulakh and NS Batth.

Last year, 35 crucial files dealing with orders on initiating disciplinary action against 14 IAS and 21 PCS officers had gone missing. The Punjab Government was conducting an inquiry against these officers for alleged misappropriation of wealth by accepting bribes, for causing losses to the state exchequer and/ or committing irregularities while discharging their duty.