Sukhbir Singh Badal dismisses one ETO and compulsorily retires AETC & three ETOs

Chandigarh, July 15, 2014: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today ordered immediate dismissal of one ETO from service and compulsorily retired Assistant Excise & Taxation Commissioner (AETC) and three Excise and Taxation Officers (ETOs) on charges of corruption and non performance.
Giving further details, an official spokesperson of the Department of Excise and Taxation said that the dismissed ETO Baljinder Singh was newly recruited in 2012 and still under probation. His services have been dispensed with after finding him guilty in a corruption case.
He added that Badal has adopted zero tolerance policy towards corruption. In the case of Baljinder Singh, trader Bhushan Aggarwal in a complaint to the department and alleged that said ETO had taken a bribe of Rs. one lac from him. The complainant has also produced recordings of his conversation with the ETO. Given the seriousness of the allegations and gravity of the substance, the matter was got enquired into through Sarojini Gautam Sharda, Deputy Excise & Taxation Commissioner, Jalandhar Division.
The spokesman said that in the enquiry, Baljinder Singh ETO denied the allegations, but the enquiry officer found that despite the pendency of the case before him, the accused ETO had met the dealer in a restaurant. Further, careful hearing of the audio recordings of conversation between the complainant and the ETO prima-facie showed that exchange of money has taken place. The enquiry officer recommended that the said ETO was on probation and he would be permanent liability on the department. Taking a very serious view of the matter, Sukhbir Singh Badal ordered that the services of this ETO be dispensed with, with immediate effect.
Similarly, Badal had also decided that D. S. Gill, AETC, posted at the office of DETC Patiala Division as senior Auditor, Surinder Kumar Aggarwal, posted at ETO VAT SAS Nagar, Urvashi Goel, ETO VAT Ludhiana and Harpreet Singh, ETO Patiala be compulsorily retired from service.
The spokesperson said that there is a provision in the Punjab Civil Services (Premature Retirement) Rules, 1975 to review the performance of Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ employees at regular intervals and compulsorily retire the non-performers. This provision is rarely invoked despite repeated Government guidelines.
Setting an example, Badal has taken the initiative to take action against the officers who have been consistent non-performers and against whom complaints were being received repeatedly. At the same time, Badal is also contemplating a scheme to reward and motivate the employees/officers of all ranks who perform well.
Meanwhile Deputy CM Badal said that he is determined to make the Excise and Taxation Department a public and dealer friendly department. He said that he has set up a dedicated Toll Free helpline number 18002582580. “If anybody has any complaint against any officer or official of the Department, he may lodge the complaint at this helpline Number”. He promised that prompt action will be taken in the matter.