If the recent action taken by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) against officers and employees is any indication and urgent measures not taken by Delhi Government to fill vacancies, providing effective public services in the Capital could hit a roadblock.
Take the recent suspension of three sub-registrars in the city. On an average, one sub-registrar gets 60 to 80 registries done on the sale and purchase of land everyday in Delhi. A few sub-registrars such as Kapashera’s sub-registrar had even been registering as many as 100 odd properties.
The revenue generated through these registries was about `230 crore in the month of April. There are a total of 18 posts of sub-registrars in Delhi. Three of these posts had already been lying vacant and three more have now been suspended on the ground that touts were reportedly found visiting their respective offices. Presently, six sub-registrar offices have no sub-registrar.
With the offices of six sub-registrars becoming non-functional, it is bound to take a heavy toll on the revenue collections of the Department of Revenue. According to sources, even the Divisional Commissioner’s office is said to have sought the intervention of the Chief Secretary’s office to resolve the ongoing crisis. Besides, an office alert has also been sent to different departments to follow procedures and opt for computerisation in getting registries done in the city.
With Delhi Chief Minister tightening his noose around departments dealing with essential services, panic has gripped the rank and file of the Delhi Government to ensure works are executed only after following legal protocol.
A senior bureaucrat said that that the Government needs to provide backup support so that essential and public services are not hampered by taking any action against any officer or employee. He said: “Vacant posts need to be filled up on priority. Only then will we be able to deliver.”
A few days ago, as many as 22 zonal revenue officers in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) were transferred to ensure there was efficiency and better delivery in services to citizens. DJB also warned its zonal revenue officers that strict action would be taken against those whose work was not up to scratch and who were unable to redress day-to-day grievances of citizens. The city administration’s anti-corruption bureau had already cracked the whip on DJB by lodging graft cases against its three junior engineers.
There is also unrest in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) where city Transport Minister Gopal Rai had suspended 20 drivers during his recent inspection at a DTC depot. The drivers were suspended for being absent at their workstations.
Plagued with acute shortage of both manpower and buses, DTC is said to be already missing about 20,000 trips everyday in the national Capital.