A time when an order was an order

The Punjab Chief Minister recently called upon private hospitals to run their OPDs, which they have shut down because of fears generated by the pandemic. He even cited the example of the Army, where the absconders in a war are shot, perhaps to instill a sense of fear in them to comply. Generally, such threats and dictates by a government functionary are received with indifference, and this time, too, the compliance is minimal. But decades ago, such a directive, even by a district-level officer, would be taken diligently by the government, private institutions and functionaries.

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Over four decades ago, during my posting at Phagwara, it rained intermittently for about a week, but in the hills across Hoshiarpur, the rain fury was long and intense. The road from Phagwara to Hoshiarpur had a parallel bridge near villages Khati and Rawalpindi, through which a rivulet called Chitti Bein flowed. During rains, this bridge would submerge in the flood waters, thereby causing stoppage of traffic.

But some adventurers would take the risk of driving through this submerged narrow bridge, as would some cyclists. Being the main officer for flood control activities, very early in the morning one day, the patwari and qanungo of the area came to me to inform that a resident from Khati had drowned in the Bein. Within a short time, we all moved towards the bridge to ascertain the facts. The villagers and the family wanted the body of the victim, which could be located only after intense search by the villagers for over six hours. The matter was flashed to the DC, who, along with officers of the PWD and the drainage department, visited the site. He asked the Executive Engineer (PWD) why no warning signals or barricades had been put ahead of the bridge to restrain the traffic. Neither he nor his SDO had any answer. The DC immediately asked the accompanying DSP to register an FIR of criminal negligence, of causing death against them. The trembling of those officers at hearing this was visible to everyone. The barricades and warning signals were put up within the next four hours, as the DC personally monitored the case.

This incident brought about improvement in the responsibility of the officials in the area.

In the early 1990s, we were looking for a site for the construction of Ambedkar Bhawan at Kapurthala. The suitable government, nazool or evacuee lands for the purpose, were all unauthorisedly occupied by influential people of the area. A young officer was then posted as DC. He looked round the city and decided to get back hundreds of acres of government land, occupied illegally and involved in litigation. He chalked out a plan and started his mission. Within three months, he got almost entire land retrieved and work on the construction of the bhawan began. The politicians, who were earlier opposed to him, later appreciated his efforts and labelled him as ‘landlord Deputy Commissioner’.

We need such officers to tackle this colossal danger to mankind, in the face of the pandemic.