276 Government Officers and Employees figures as officials with doubtful integrity: Sukhu

Himachal Pradesh Government informed in the assembly today that there are as many as 276 officers and employees who figure as officials with doubtful integrity (ODI) as the probe is pending in the court and investigation is being done by the agencies against them.  

This was stated by the chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu while replying to a query raised by the Congress member Yadvinder Goma during the question hours. CM stated in a written reply that based on the information received from various departments, as of today, corruption charges are pending against 276 officers and employees in the state.

He said that action is being taken against these accused officers and employees in various cases by the court, vigilance department, police, CBI, and related departments as per rules at their respective levels.

In order to remove the accused officers or employees, instructions are repeatedly issued to the departments to prepare a list of officers with proven integrity and they are requested not to appoint them to sensitive posts or to remove them from these posts, CM added.

Replying to a query raised by Congress members Rajinder Rana and  Indra Dutt Lakhanpal about the paper leak case in the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission Hamirpur Chief Minister stated that the disbanded commission would not be restored again and after the closure of the above commission, further necessary action is going on regarding the written results of 13 Post Codes and the final results of pending 20 Post Codes.

Replying to another query raised by BJP member Satapal Singh Sati CM informed that on 27 July 2023, some people had taken hostage the police department employees who were on duty in District Una. He said that in the matter case has been lodged at police station Una r under sections 342, 186, and 34 Indian Penal Code.  The case has been registered against two accused namely Shivanshu Soni alias Sudhashu son of   Vinay Kumar resident of Santoshgarh Tehsil and District Una and Gurdeep Kumar son of   Rajpal resident of Maujowal Tehsil Nangal, District Ropar, Punjab and both the accused have been booked on 27.07.2023.  Arrested as per rules and released on bail bond.

In replying to another query Mr Sati and Bikram Singh CM said that from December 2022 to August 31, 2023, 657 cases of illicit felling of timber were registered by the Forest Department in which a total of 460.39 cubic meters of wood were involved. Of those, 444 cases have been compounded. The investigation is ongoing in the remaining cases. After investigation, a challan is presented in the  Court in cases against the concerned persons. During this period, 238 cases of illegal felling were registered in District Kangra and 33 in district Una. One vehicle was seized in district Kangra. 106.734 cubic meters of wood has been caught in Kangra district and 43.36 cubic meters of wood has been caught in Una.