Review decision on admn tribunal: Dhumal

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 28

Former Chief Minister PK Dhumal today said considering the grave financial health of the state, the government should review its decision of reconstituting the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).

Talking to newspersons here today, he said he was hopeful that the government would reconsider its decision on SAT. “The strength of the High Court Judges was enhanced so that the cases that had been pending before SAT could be decided at the earliest,” he said.

Dhumal said the main objective of the government to set up SAT was to adjust its own people. Accusing the government of unleashing political vendetta against BJP leaders and their families, Dhumal took a serious exception to the fact that some officers were trying to prove their personal loyalty to the government rather than adopting a professional approach.

“Such officers, who rather than acting in a judicious and impartial manner and try to please the political bosses, should be punished,” said Dhumal.

He said not only were cases being registered against BJP leaders and their families, but houses of MLAs were being raided. “We are not afraid of any inquiry, be it state or Central, but what will not be tolerated is the vilification campaign by making the leakage of the vigilance inquiries to the media,” he said

He said the state government which had no money to pay to its employees and was meeting the salary burden by taking loans was blaming the BJP for the financial position of the state.

“During our time, we took loan of Rs 6,672 crore and also implemented the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission but the present regime is hell bent on making wasteful expenditure,” he said. He said while no efforts had been made to generate new resources, unnecessary burden was being put by appointing nine chief parliamentary secretaries (CPS) and 45 chairmen and vice-chairmen of boards and corporations.

He said development had come to a standstill and yet the Chief Minister was announcing upgrade of schools, health institutions and administrative units such as sub-tehsils and tehsils, where there were several vacancies. “The government has failed to check the mining, forest, land and liquor mafia with there being rampant corruption at every level,” he said.