Fresh trouble for HCS officer Malik

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 26

The UT Vigilance Department, in its inquiry report regarding alleged violations by paid parking lots in the city, has also named former MC Additional Commissioner Dr Sarita Malik, an HCS officer

The Vigilance Department has recommended action against Malik, who was recently repatriated from the Chandigarh Administration, to her parent state Haryana.

Malik was named along with seven MC officials, including a retired employee.

This is the second Vigilance report in which action was recommended against Malik. Earlier, in July 2015, the Vigilance Department had recommended action against Malik and three others in connection with the Elante Mall parking lot probe.

The Vigilance Department, in its report, has submitted that Dr Sarita Malik, HCS, then Joint Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, had forwarded the note for approval of the extension of contract period of the parking contractor.

The Vigilance Department has submitted its report to the UT Administration in connection with the parking lots in Sector 17.

The report had also named KD Sharma, KC Katoch, Bhupinder Kaur and Ashok Rahi of the enforcement wing; Sunil Kumar and Pooja of the parking branch; and Kashmira Singh, retired superintendent of the enforcement wing.

This is the third report submitted by the Vigilance Department in connection with the probe into the parking lots. Earlier, reports were submitted in connection with the Elante Mall and Sector 35 parking lots. In these reports too, action was recommended against officials.

Report says...

Three challans in one year issued against Bank Square, Sector 17, parking contractor. Still, MC officials considered his performance as satisfactory and extended his contract in January 2015. Whereas, as per the statement of the MC Chief Accounts Officer, the satisfactory performance of the contractor is — if a contractor has not been issued any challan for violations. But in this case, the contractor was issued three challans and his contract was extended. The view taken by the MC officials was wrong and not in public interest. 

Pinpoints at...

There was no specific definition of satisfactory performance

Contract was given for Rs 27.51 lakh per annum but the penalty amount ( Rs 500 to a maximum of Rs 10,000, on repeated violations) appears to be meagre and needs to be enhanced 

No effective supervision of senior officials over the inspection conducted by the junior staff 

Clean chit to former MC Commissioner 

The report has given a clean chit to former MC Commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh. The report says that the MC is a large organisation consisting of different wings and thousands of documents are dealt with by the Commissioner, apart from public dealing. “He also had, at times, additional charges like that of the DC and the CHB Chairman. It is the duty of officers (HCS, PCS and engineers) and the office staff to carefully read all documents and make correct notings.