Elections approaching, officers 'unwilling' to work in Muktsar

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 15

As the Assembly polls are approaching nearer, officials are showing their unwillingness to get posted in the Badals’ home district Muktsar. The district has presently just one tehsildar, who is posted at Muktsar.

In the past eight months, four tehsildars have been transferred out of Malout. Gidderbaha has no regular tehsildar for the past few months. Sources in the district administration said tehsildars in Malout and Gidderbaha had to perform the duty of assistant returning officer (ARO). “The officers fear of the pressure in the Badals’ home district. Therefore, they are unwilling to get posted here,” said sources.

In Malout, tehsildar Sukhbir Kaur was transferred in May. Thereafter, Harbans Singh assumed the charge, but he served here for three months. He was transferred out in August-end. Thereafter, the post remained vacant for over two months. Karun Gupta was sent to Malout in November, but was transferred within two days and that too before assuming the charge. Thereafter, Beant Singh was posted as tehsildar in November, but he assumed the charge in December and was transferred within two days.

Balkaran Singh, District Revenue Officer, Muktsar, said, “Senior officers are well aware of the situation.”

Four tehsildars in eight months

Four tehsildars have been transferred in past eight months in Malout. The post has been lying vacant in Gidderbaha, too, for some time. A tehsildar has to perform the duty of assistant returning officer in polls