M A I N   N E W S

HP babus peeved at being ‘targeted’ by Vigilance Bureau
Pratibha Chauhan
Tribune News Service

Shimla, July 28
Upset over inquires being conducted by the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau against decisions taken by them during the previous BJP regime, bureaucrats in the state have decided to approach the government.

The State IAS Officers’ Association at a meeting today expressed anguish over officers being targeted for decisions taken by them during the Prem Kumar Dhumal regime. Members of the association decided to hold another meeting and take up the issue with the government as they said it was having a negative and demoralising effect on them.

There were also murmurs of resentment against the appointment of IPS officer AP Singh as the Resident Commissioner, Delhi. Singh will also continue to hold the charge of Inspector General (IG) of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, at Shimla. Being close to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, AP Singh also remained his Officer on Special Duty (OSD) while he was the Union Steel Minister.

Names of at least half-a-dozen IAS officers have figured in the chargesheet being prepared by the Vigilance Bureau in cases pertaining to the previous BJP regime.

“The officers who work in continuity with change of power must not be made victims of political witch-hunt. It will become difficult for them to work fearlessly and objectively if they are made scapegoats. This was leaving a bad impact on them,” the association said.

The Vigilance Bureau, which is probing allegations that figured in the Congress chargesheet, is also looking into the role of some IAS officers. Two IAS officers — Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Sanan and RS Gupta (retd) — were chargesheeted in connection with the transfer of land to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) headed by BJP MP Anurag Thakur, who is also former CM Prem Kumar Dhumal’s son.

Other officers whose names figured in the course of investigation includes PC Dhiman, Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, KK Panth, currently on a Central deputation, Ajay Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, and retired Additional Chief Secretary PC Kapoor.

Officers must speak up: Dhumal

Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Monday said IAS officers were submitting to political bosses. “When it is a question of their self-esteem, they must speak up or else they will set a wrong precedent,” he said.

"Officers who work in continuity with change of power must not be made the victims of political witch-hunt. It will become difficult for them to work fearlessly and objectively if they are made scapegoats. This was leaving a bad impact on them." — State IAS Officers’ Association.