Vacant chairs greet minister at Panchkula MC office

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, December 31

Haryana’s newly inducted Urban Local Bodies Minister Kamal Gupta today conducted a surprise inspection at the Municipal Corporation office in Sector 14 and found a majority of the employees absent.

‘Shows officers’ incompetency’

It is a matter of concern that a majority of the staff is absent. It shows officers’ incompetency. Strict action will be taken against absentees and senior officials will also be held accountable. —  Kamal Gupta, Urban Local Bodies Minister

Of the total strength of 48, 29 employees, including Joint Commissioner Vinesh Kumar, were found absent when the minister turned up at the corporation office for an unannounced inspection. Four other employees were on leave.

He immediately ordered one-day salary cut for absentees and ordered the officials concerned to issue a show-cause notice to those missing from the office without a valid reason. “Only those missing from the office with a genuine reason will be exempted from the pay cut,” he said while speaking to mediapersons.

“It is a matter of concern that the majority of the staff is absent. It shows the incompetency of our officers. Strict action will be taken against absentees and senior officials will also be held accountable. Such anomalies won’t be tolerated,” said Gupta after checking the attendance register at the establishment branch. No employee was allowed to enter the corporation office after 9 am.

He also inspected the toilets in the MC office and told officials to ensure hygiene.

Deputy Commissioner Mahavir Kaushik, MC Commissioner Dharamvir Singh and Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal were present on the occasion.

To strengthen the civic body’s work system and ensure punctuality, Gupta ordered the MC Commissioner and the Mayor to conduct surprise inspections at least eight times a month and present a report to him. Gupta is a two-time MLA from the Hisar constituency.

The senior BJP leader, along with Devender Singh Babli of JJP, was inducted into the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Council of Ministers on Tuesday. He was subsequently allocated the ULB portfolio, which was earlier held by Home Minister Anil Vij who used to conduct surprise visits in civic bodies in a similar fashion. Gupta was also given the charge of Housing for All, which was with the CM.