Officials allowed personal use of government vehicles by paying Rs1/km

Chandigarh, November 29

The BJP-JJP government has unveiled a bonanza for the state government officers, including members of the IAS, IRS, IES and HCS. Officers can now use official vehicles for their personal use at the rate of Rs 1 per km.

An order of the Chief Secretary said this facility would be available to all administrative secretaries, managing directors of boards/corporations, heads of various departments, Principal Secretary to the CM, Additional Principal Secretary to the CM, Deputy Principal Secretary to the CM, OSD to the CM, and all-India service and HCS officers, who have government vehicles attached with them.

However, the government has capped the total distance for private journey to 1,000 km per month.

“An amount of Rs 1,000 will be deducted from the salary of officers unless the officers concerned submit in writing that they have not been provided with any such vehicle and/or they do not use any such vehicles for private use, including journeys between residence and office, and back,” the order said.

Meanwhile, the decision has come in for severe criticism.

Naveen Jaihind, AAP leader, termed the decision “illegal” and “discriminatory”, alleging that it would drain the state’s scarce resources. —TNS