Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
* Deputy CM warns absentees of strict disciplinary action
* Orders inquiry within 48 hours against police officers who failed to report for duty till 11 am today
Chandigarh,Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal conducted a surprise check at the Punjab Police headquarters today morning during the course of which a majority of senior police officers were found missing from duty.
Disclosing this here today, the Deputy CM’s media advisor Jangveer Singh said security personnel posted at the headquarters were in for a surprise when the Deputy CM’s vehicle reached the main gate of the building at 9.10 am. Immediately after alighting from his vehicle the Deputy CM directed officials accompanying him to seize the entry register as well as close all the entry points to the building. According to the entry register, only ADGP Intelligence Hardeep Dhillon was in the building. However during a check subsequently it was found that six officers had come on time to the office. Around fifty senior police officers have their offices in the police secretariat here.
The first officer to come to office after the Deputy CM reached the headquarters was DIG Khubi Ram who reported on duty at 9.16 am. Following this a number of officers including ADGP Traffic R P Singh (9.23 am), IG Counter Intelligence Gaurav Yadav (9.25 am), AIG Dilbagh Singh (9.26 am), IG Provisioning Praveen Sinha (9.28 am), AIG Ashish Chaudhary (9.40 am), AIG K B Singh (9.51 am), SP Ranvir Singh (9.58 am), AIG Swarn Singh (10 am), AIG Baljot Rathore (10 am), ADGP CSR Redddy (10.05 am) and IG IVC Tejinder Pal Singh (10.15 am) reported to duty.
State DGP Sumedh Singh Saini was conducting a meeting with representatives of the Nurmahal sect at his residence when the Deputy CM conducted the surprise check at the police headquarters. He arrived soon after. ADGP Law and Order Dinkar Gupta also arrived shortly.
Three senior police officers chose to enter the headquarter building from the rear entrance, which is used by the junior staff, to avoid the Deputy CM. They were reprimanded by the DGP and the Deputy CM and asked to conduct themselves in an officer like manner in future.
The Deputy CM had earlier taken up a seat in front of the entrance of the police headquarters. All officers arriving late were asked to wait in a room on the ground floor. Later Mr Sukhbir Badal addressed the police officers and told them that such lackadaisical attitude about office timings was unacceptable. He also warned them that strict disciplinary action would be taken against anyone found arriving late to office in future.
Later Mr Badal also held a meeting in the DGP’s office. He asked the DGP Mr Sumedh Saini to call for an explanation from all those who arrived late to office. He also took serious note of the fact that some police officers did not report to work even till 11 am. He directed the Home Secretary to conduct an inquiry within 48 hours to ascertain why these police officers had played truant despite not taking leave from office. Senior officers who failed to report to work included DGP Human Resource Development S K Sharma, ADGP Policy and Rules Mohammad Mustafa, IG Traffic R P S Brar, IG Community Policing Anita Punj, IG Information Technology KJS Pannu, IG Modernisation Shashi Prabha, DIG Ananya Gautam and DIG Nilabh Kishore besides six SPs and AIGs.
Meanwhile Mr. Jangveer Singh disclosed that the Deputy CM has asked the DGP to ensure punctual attendance of all officers at the headquarters as well as in the field. Mr Badal directed that all SSPs should be present in their offices at 9 am sharp so that they could do the required administrative duties and also redress the grievances of the people promptly. EOM
