RTS panel imposes Rs 10,000 fine on official for delay in service delivery

The Haryana Right to Service (RTS) Commission, taking a strict stand against negligence, has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the SDE of the Public Health Engineering Department for failing to provide service within the stipulated time frame. The commission has also directed that Rs 5,000 be paid as compensation to the complainant, Kuldeep Singh, a resident of Hansi. The penalty amount will be deducted from officer’s salary for June 2025.

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An official spokesperson said the matter pertained to an application submitted on February 3, 2025, requesting the restoration of water supply. The service was to be provided by February 6, 2025, but was only restored on May 8 — after an interim order by the commission. Earlier, the complainant’s three previous complaints were wrongly closed, which was already confirmed by the commission.

An email sent by the complainant on June 12, 2025, described the SDE’s behaviour as “careless and indifferent”, highlighting the difficulties faced by common citizens. The commission also found the conduct of FGRA-cum-XEN, Sanjeev Kumar Tyagi, to be highly unsatisfactory. Despite clear directions from the commission, he took no meaningful action and closed all three complaints based solely on reports from subordinate staff without conducting any hearing. He was also absent from the commission’s hearing without informing in advance.

The commission mentioned that senior officers of the department were already sensitised about legal obligations through a training session, yet such negligence was being repeated.

Therefore, the panel recommended that the department’s Commissioner and Secretary initiate disciplinary proceedings against the XEN. — TNS