Crackdown: MC staff panicked

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 13

Though, the political supporters of Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu are praising his recent action against some officials, MC employees say the practice of suspension and transfer of officials discourage them. Also the MC has failed to depute officials to take charge of the vacant positions after suspension and transfer of officials. Junior officials claim that the work has been suffering in the absence of higher officials.

After the suspension of Senior Town Planner (STP) Iqbalpreet Singh Randawa and transfer of Municipal Town Planner (MTP) Narinder Sharma, their positions are lying vacant. The MC did not make any alternative arrangement.

Meanwhile, SC Goal, who was suspended by Navjot Singh Sidhu after Chief Vigilance Officer’s (CVO) report on allotment of a tender on a single bid, has joined the office following Punjab and Haryana High Court’s stay order on his suspension.

Officials say they are confused if they should follow the orders of politicians or government rules.

An MC official, requesting anonymity, said, “It is quite tough to work independently in the Municipal Corporation. There are four MLAs, a minister and an MP. We can’t take risk to annoy anyone.”

“The suspensions and transfers spread fear among officials and employees. Senior officials don’t want to take extension of two years due to fear,” he added.