Acting tough, the Punjab Government has put the services of two Food Inspectors under suspension, while ordering to charge-sheet them for alleged involvement in pilferage of wheat meant for public distribution system.
The action was initiated by ludhiana District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSO) after taking serious cognizance of the reports about pilferage of PDS wheat from the Radha Rani Rice and General Mills at Mullanpur in ludhiana. DFSO decided to place the services of two food inspectors - Maninder Pratap Singh and Surinderjeet Singh - under suspension and subsequently charge-sheeted them with immediate effect.
An FIR, dated August 8, 2017, has been registered at the police station on the basis of the statement of ludhiana DFSC, said a spokesperson of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs.
Pertinently, these employees had been allegedly resorting to misappropriation or pilferage by taking out from 30 kg bags and filling the same in 50 kg bags. The wheat was also being made to gain moisture or weight by spraying water on it.
Aam Aadmi Party MlA from Dakha HS Phoolka, who had exposed the matter, had demanded immediate action against ludhiana District Food and Supplies Officer for his alleged involvement in the “pilfering of wheat” from the godown.
Spokesperson said that the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs had always shown zero tolerance to any kind of pilferage or misappropriation of food grains at any stage. Already, the Department has taken a similar action in such cases earlier also in Amritsar district, where four Assistant Food and Supply Officers (AFSOs) and 14 Inspectors were placed under suspension and disciplinary action has been initiated against 22 officials, including Deputy Director, Food and Civil Supplies (now reverted to DFSC rank).
likewise, at various centers of Tarn Taran, the wheat stored in open plinths during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 had got damaged. Holding the officers or officials responsible regarding which orders have been issued to charge sheet 18 officials or employees for the loss similarly at Samana Center, in Patiala, an inquiry was conducted by Joint director-cum-CVC, where the shortage in wheat stock was reported.
Consequently, orders have been issued to lodge FIR against delinquent employees namely Inspector Jaspreet Singh Gill, Harvarinder Singh, Jaswinder Kumar, Rajwinder Singh, and Rahul Kumar. All these Inspectors have been charge-sheeted after placing their services under suspension.
Continuing its crackdown on such fraudulent and unscrupulous employees, the Department in another complaint case has also suspended and charge-sheeted an Inspector and the concerned AFSO for irregularities in distribution wheat under PDS in Barnala district.
The State Government was committed to bring these cases to a logical conclusion and recover the financial loss caused due to such misconduct by the delinquent officials, the spokesperson added.