Nalini Kathotia, a 2010 IAS officer, promoted from state civil services has been put on awaiting posting order (APO). Kathotia was serving as secretary in Jaipur Development Authority (JDA).
It is said that chief secretary Sudhansh Pant had visited officer Jaipur Development Authority and didn't find secretary at her seat. He was also annoyed by the state of cleanliness in the JDA premises. He saw heaps of garbage and wastes mounted at several places in JDA, where he had served as commissioner from June 2009 to May 2011.
The chief secretary also went to inspect the engineering wing where he found officers absent from their offices. Pant on his visit to the authority also enquired about the long pendency of files in the department and directed to expedite disposal of pending cases.
Apart from Nalini Kathotia, two Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) officers serving in JDA have also been put on APO. Additional commissioner Anandi Lal Vaishnav and deputy commissioner Praveen Kumar (II) were penalised for laxity in duty.
JDA commissioner Manju Rajpal said that punitive action will be taken against careless officers.
“Those who have been in JDA on deputation for more than two years will be repatriated to their parent departments. Also, retired officers who have been re-employed be sent back,” she said.
She said that officials will get entry only on wearing the identity card. Those who are contractual workers will have to make entry in register everyday.
“Disciplinary action will be taken against defaulters,” she said.
Pant sets the example
The penalisation of officers has set an example of others. The chief secretary Sudhansh Pant, ever since has joined, is in active mode. He is driving officers to strive for good governance.
“Pant is a different officer. Generally chief secretaries don't go for sudden inspection or in field without informing department heads. But Sudhansh Pant has deviated from routine and has been asserting for maximum governance minimum government – the mantra of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BuckStopper, run by a group of seasoned journalists, holds the powerful accountable. The buck stops with them, as they cannot shrug off their official responsibilities.
