E-Paper
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declares PCS officers’ strike illegal
Cracking down on striking Punjab Civil Service (PCS) and revenue officers, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday declared their protest against the arrest of an officer for allegedly taking bribe in Ludhiana illegal
Cracking down on striking Punjab Civil Service (PCS) and revenue officers, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday declared their protest against the arrest of an officer for allegedly taking bribe in Ludhiana illegal.
In strict written orders, Mann directed chief secretary VK Janjua to suspend all officers who do not join duty by 2pm on Wednesday.
Also read: Arrested RTA official sent to 14-day judicial remand in corruption case
“It has been brought to my notice that some officers are not attending duty in the garb of some strike. They are protesting against strong action taken by the government against corrupt officers. The government has zero tolerance to corruption and such a strike amounts to blackmailing and arm-twisting. It cannot be tolerated by any responsible government,” the orders read.
He added that the period of absence of those who did not join duty by 2pm on Wednesday should be treated as “dies non (break in service)”.
PCS officers not workers who can form union: CS
Reiterating zero tolerance to corruption, chief secretary Janjua said in his orders: “PCS officers are not workers who can form a union and strike work under labour laws. This unauthorised absence from work and their strike is illegal. Those who do not join duty by 2pm today shall be suspended and their unauthorised absence from duty shall be treated as dies non that will result in break in service and further disciplinary action will ensue.”
Appeals to return to work ignored
The PCS Officers’ Association member proceeded on a five-day casual leave on Monday to protest against the arrest of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), secretary in Ludhiana, Narinder Singh Dhaliwal, by the vigilance bureau, stating that the procedure specified under the law was not followed. They are also demanding immediate action against VB officials who allegedly “framed” PCS officer Tarsem Chand in a false case and a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) in matters of enquiries and registration of FIRs.
Though the top brass gave assurance to the association leaders on their demands, including facilitating the release of Dhaliwal on bail on Wednesday, and made appeals to them to return to work, but the protesting PCS stuck to their stand.
The Punjab Revenue Officers’ Association (PROA), which had also joined the PCS officers’ mass casual leave protest, had declared on Tuesday that revenue officers will not resume duties till references are sent to PPSC for nomination to PCS
Signal to IAS officers
The CM’s stern warning to PCS officers is also a signal to the IAS officers who have expressed discontent over a FIR registered by the vigilance bureau against 2008-batch IAS officer Neelima and 10 other officials for allowing transfer of an industrial plot to a real estate developer and its subsequent bifurcation and have been threatening to escalate their protest.
They are seeking immediate withdrawal of the case against her, saying that the mandatory prior approval was not taken by the VB from the competent authority under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act. A number of officers are not averse to going on mass leave if the case against their colleague was not withdrawn and some others in a meeting with the chief secretary even threatened on Monday to quit the service.
