Shortage of officials hampers work in Muktsar district

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, June 12

The Muktsar district administration is these days grappling with a unique problem. Whenever the Deputy Commissioner goes on leave or attend a meeting in Chandigarh, there is no senior official to take the additional charge and manage the functioning of the administration.

Notably, the post of ADC (General) has been lying vacant for over the past year. In such a situation, the additional charge of this important post was given to local SDM Rajpal Singh, but he too was relieved from this charge last month. Now, the DC has taken the additional charge of ADC (General).

However, the public has to face problems when the DC is away from his office.

Notably, ADC (Development) HS Sra is a non-PCS officer. Thus, as per the rules, he can’t take the charge of ADC (General), said an officer.

He added, “Whenever the DC is away or busy somewhere and the meeting regarding any ongoing work or project is held by a junior official, the officials from departments concerned send their subordinates, which defeats its purpose.”

Meanwhile, sources in the district administration said, “The situation has basically arrived because no officer is ready to get posted here. This is the home district of Badals and the officials prefer to avoid getting posted here fearing that their name might be linked with Badals and they have to face action. Further, two PCS officials posted in the district are not having cordial relations, thus the situation is turning worse every day.”

Sumeet Jarangal, Deputy Commissioner, Muktsar, said, “The shortage of officials and staff is definitely a problem, but it is in the notice of high-ups. We are hopeful that the state government would deploy someone here and fill the vacancy. Still we have lesser pendency of delivery of services as compared to other districts.”