Lucknow. On Tuesday, the government took major action in the matter of transfers of engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Engineer (Development) and Head of Public Works Manoj Kumar Gupta and Chief Engineer (Design and Planning) Rakesh Kumar Saxena. While suspending five personnel, disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against them. Before Manoj Kumar Gupta, Rakesh Kumar Saxena has played the role of Acting Head of Public Works Department.
In this case, apart from both the chief engineers, the department’s senior staff officer (E-2) Shailendra Kumar Yadav, administrative officer ‘D’ class Pankaj Dixit and principal assistant administration ‘D’ class Sanjay Kumar Chaurasia have also been suspended. So far, action has been taken against six personnel for serious irregularities in transfers.
Earlier on Monday, taking a big action, CM Yogi Adityanath had removed Anil Kumar Pandey, OSD of Public Works Department Minister Jitin Prasad. The state government has relieved Pandey with immediate effect and sent him back to the central government. It has also recommended for vigilance inquiry and disciplinary action against them.
There were complaints of irregularities in the transfers of the Executive Engineers to the Executive Engineers in the Public Works Department. The inquiry committee constituted on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has found that there has been discrimination in the transfers of engineers. The committee has written the names of many transferred engineers and told that irregularities were done in their transfers.
The Chief Engineer (Development) and Head of the Department have the responsibility of installation of Executive Engineer and above level Engineers. Manoj Kumar Gupta being the head of the department has been found guilty at the top level for irregularities.
The inquiry committee has found that as the head of the department, his overall responsibility was to ensure that the transfers take place as per the transfer policy of the government, but this did not happen. On the other hand, the Chief Engineer (Design and Planning) has the responsibility of installation of the Junior Engineers. Being the senior staff officer of the Chief Engineer (Design & Planning), Shailendra Kumar Yadav was also considered involved in this episode.
The Inquiry Committee, in its investigation, also found that Principal Assistant Sanjay Chaurasia was transferred on June 1, 2022, after completing 12 years on his desk, but he remained on his former table and committed serious irregularities in the transfers. The committee has also found Pankaj Dixit guilty of serious irregularities in transfers.
It is worth mentioning that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had constituted a two-member inquiry committee under the chairmanship of Agriculture Production Commissioner Manoj Kumar Singh after the irregularities in the transfers in the Public Works Department were exposed. The process of action has started after the committee submitted its investigation report to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Earlier on Monday, Anil Kumar Pandey, Officer on Special Duty to Public Works Minister Jitin Prasad was sent back to the Central Government and the Center was recommended to conduct a vigilance inquiry and disciplinary inquiry against him. Further action may be taken in this matter.
Principal Secretary Public Works Narendra Bhushan told that the transfers in which the committee has found irregularities will be reviewed. Incorrect transfers will be canceled on merits. Posting on other vacant posts including Head of Department will be done soon.