Child Protection Officer relieved after six plaints

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 16

The Directorate of Social Security, Women and Child Development, has issued orders to relieve the District Child Protection Officer following six formal complaints over his conduct.

Working on a contractual basis, the officer’s term got over on June 1 but the orders of not giving him extension were passed by the Directorate on July 12 and were received in the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday.

The orders of the Additional Director of the department read: “The working of the officer, who was appointed via a committee set up at the district level, was not found satisfactory. Various complaints against the officer were received from time to time. Till a fresh appointment is made on the post, his charge will be held by District Programme Officer.”

The first complaint came from two members of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) who said they were resigning due to the attitude of the officer. The second one came from shopkeepers of Model Town regarding a ruckus created during the Labour Department raids. The third one was regarding the use of foul language by the official during his visit to the Children Home at Gandhi Vanita Ashram, the complaint of which was received on November 24, 2017.

Another complaint regarding harassment by the officer was filed, the departmental inquiry regarding which is still on. When member secretary, Punjab State Legal Services Authority, had held inspections at the observation home, home for girls and widows and home for destitute women, there had been complaints again that the officer was using foul language with them and maltreating them. There was yet another complaint of negligence by the officer regarding the case of a 15-year-old boy, which was lodged by the Commissioner of Police.

Despite repeated attempts, the officer did not take calls.

The complaints

The first complaint came from two members of the CWC who said they were resigning due to the attitude of the officer. The second one came from shopkeepers of Model Town regarding a ruckus created during the Labour Department raids. The third one was regarding the use of foul language by the official during his visit to a Children Home, the complaint of which was received on November 24, 2017.