Following the recommendations made by former Haryana lokayukta Justice Pritam Pal (retd) in his last submitted annual report, Haryana Government on Friday shot off a letter to all the departments to take appropriate action on the recommendations made in the report. The former Haryana lokayukta had expressed concern on how the institution of lokayukta is not taken seriously in the state.
Justice Pritam Pal (retd), in the annual report for the period 2015-16 tabled in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha had expressed concern over the non-compliance of lokayukta orders by officers of various departments against whom directions were made or replies sought by him.
Slamming the State Government’s approach towards dealing with the corruption cases, the former lokayukta had also said, “It has been observed that in spite of serious allegations and grievances of the complainants, the issues raised are taken in routine and very causal manner by the officers/officials.”
Meanwhile, in a communiqué issued from Chief Secretary’s office on Friday, it has been directed that whenever a reference/observation is received from lokayukta, necessary action should be taken promptly as per government instructions. If due to some administrative reasons, it is not possible to take action or to submit requisite information within the stipulated period, lokayukta should be informed well in time, said the letter.
The CS office has also issued directions on ensuring accountability and avoiding the undue delay in departmental proceedings. The letter has been sent to all Financial Commissioners and Heads of Departments.
The non-seriousness of the BJP led State Government to deal with corruption can be gauged from the fact that it has failed to appoint its anti-corruption watchdog- the lokayukta- in past more than two months after the retirement of Justice Pritam Pal (retd), whose five-year term ended on January 18 this year. Notably, the first BJP led State Government came to power in Haryana in the year 2014, on pledges of ushering in an era of change with good governance and graft-free system in the State.
The former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice Pal had hogged the limelight last year after he recommended registration of criminal cases against a former minister, two chief parliamentary secretaries and three MlAs in the previous Congress Government in an alleged case of graft besides taking up a case of alleged evasion of excise duty and sales tax to the tune of `10,000 crore in the state.