XEN of Panchkula MC in dock again

Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, February 23

An executive engineer (XEN) of the local Municipal Corporation (MC), LC Chauhan, is in trouble again.

After chargesheeting him in the roundabout beautification scam, the civic body has not recommended to the Local Bodies Department to charge him in a sexual harassment case. The incident took place three months ago. The MC stated that an inquiry committee found Chauhan guilty of sexually harassment.

According to sources, the panel had also recommended imposing a hefty fine on Chauhan as there were also charges of misconduct against him.

Earlier, the MC had written to the Local Bodies Department to chargesheet him under Rule 7 as it was found that there were lapses on the part of the XEN in conceiving the roundabout project and recommending it for administrative approval. Detailed estimate, technical sanction, processing, signing of agreement and execution and completion of the project was done without following the Haryana PWD Code, agreement and specifications.

Confirming the same, MC Administrator and Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said the inquiry report stated that the XEN apologised to the complainant during hearing.

However, Chauhan said it was a conspiracy against him to tarnish his public image. He claimed that in fact, the complainant had apologised for making a wrong complaint against him during the hearing. The XEN claimed that a committee member also asked to get the survivor counselled.

Meanwhile, the MC has withdrawn civil works, public health and horticulture charges from Chauhan following the direction of the Administrator. The works have now been assigned to Sanjay Goyal, Executive Engineer-I. Chauhan was asked to immediately hand over these charges and submit a report on this to the MC Commissioner.

Chauhan will, however, remain the incharge of electrical and mechanical works. 

He claimed that he had already communicated to the higher authorities to give him a chance to explain the lapses, which he had pointed out before releasing payment to the contractor, but he was yet to get an appointment.

As per the order issued by the MC Commissioner on Friday, MP Sharma, municipal engineer (civil), will look after the works assigned to Mahinder Dhariwal, municipal engineer, whose services were terminated following the rotary scam.