Deputy magistrates demand beacons atop their vehicles

Mahesh Sharma

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Nov 16

They have been busy round the clock, even on holidays, conducting surprise checking and raids on fields with burning stubble. Duty magistrates, as they are designated, are proving paper tigers, as farmers have failed to recognise their presence in the absence of beacons atop their private vehicles.

SDMs of the region have also approached senior functionaries, including Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Punjab Government, for seeking approval for installation of beacons atop the vehicles of duty magistrates.

“It is normally observed that when a duty magistrate visits a spot, he faces difficulty without a beacon on his vehicle, whereas the traffic police get priority over all other vehicles,” reads a communication sent by Ahmedgarh and Malerkotla SDM Vikramjit Singh Panthey to additional chief secretary Home and DC Sangrur.

Investigations reveal that duty magistrates deployed to check stubble burning and conduct surprise checking, especially during nights, were hesitant to visit countryside as they were neither provided government vehicles nor allowed to use flashers and hooters on their private cars.

The Punjab Revenue Officers’ Union has also demanded provision of government vehicle with flasher and security guards at least for those duty magistrates who have been deployed on special duties.