Can’t proceed against ‘tainted’ officials without proof: Punjab minister

Published on: 23 Jun 2023 at 10:53 AM

Published by: thefactnews

The Fact News Service

Chandigarh, June 23

Brahm Shankar Jimpa, Minister for Revenue, today said though the government had zero tolerance towards corruption, it could not proceed against the ‘tainted’ revenue officials, whose names had been forwarded by the Vigilance Bureau in the absence of any proper evidence.

He was here to preside over a function of the Brahmin Sabha, Sirhind.

The revenue officials joined duties, 48 ‘tainted’ officials remained on a mass casual leave on the second day on Thursday. Though the administration has made alternative arrangements, in some districts, where the whole battery of revenue officials was found tainted, the services remained paralysed. They are protesting against the leak of the list of officials prepared by the Vigilance Bureau.

He said the department had asked the Vigilance to submit the evidence against the officials and, after verification, strong action would be initiated against them. He said it couldn’t paralyse the functioning of the Revenue Department by taking action against the officials without any evidence.

Answering a query, he said the government was in touch with the Punjab Revenue Officers Association and would sort out their grievances but the government would not succumb to any pressure tactics. He hoped that the association would also respect the sentiments of the government and the public.