Paul urged to act against corrupt officials

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, August 9

A delegation of Civil Society, comprising saints, RTI and social activists and residents today urged Governor KK Paul to take suo moto cognisance of corruption, scams, and scandals involving bureaucrats and other officials in the state.

The delegation submitted a memorandum through City Magistrate Jai Bharat Singh in this regard. Civil Society president JP Baduni said 236 officials had been found guilty by Lokayukta, CB CID, Vigilance and other inquiring bodies but, barring a few, no one had been punished.

“Even Vigilance sleuths have arrested over 300 government employees since the creation of Uttarakhand in 2000 but only four of them have been punished. Uttarakhand has witnessed 156 big scams in 16 years but not even one official was sacked or imprisoned. Crores of rupees are being spent on their salaries, facilities, residences and other allowances but Uttarakhand has not developed in comparison to other newer states,” said Baduni.

The Civil Society has also raised the issue of extension given to retired government officials and giving them plum posts.

Swami Vivekanand expressed displeasure of this tradition by successive BJP and Congress governments of giving undue extension to their favourite officials, particulary secretary rank holders.

“Subash Kumar served as Garhwal Commissioner and Chief Secretary to Chief Ministers BC Khanduri, RP Nishank and Vijay Bahuguna too. He has held all major plum posts in the state. Even then he has been made chairperson of the Uttarakhand Power Regulatory Commission, which means an extension of five years of bureaucratic service even after his superannuation. Other Chief Secretaries, like Rakesh Kumar, also got extension. Chief Minister made Kumar Principal Chief Secretary,” Swami Vivekanand added.