RTA arrest: Punjab PCS officers to go on mass casual leave

LUDHIANA: The general body of Punjab PCS Officers' Association held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the arrest of the RTA, Ludhiana and said they would proceed on mass casual leave from January 9 in protest. They also said that further course of action would be decided on January 14. The arrested RTA is also a PCS officer. A total of 80 officers from across the state attended the meeting.
Association members have called this act illegal, wrongful and arbitrary. They said that due procedure was not followed and the arrest was made on the basis of the statement of a private individual. Association members said, “We are distraught with such unorderly conduct of the Vigilance department wherein standard operating procedures under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) have been blatantly violated.”
Association president Rajat Oberoi said, “It was noted that under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, no police officer shall conduct inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official function or duties without the previous approval of the competent authority who is the chief secretary in this case.” The association claimed that the Vigilance Bureau had done away with this procedure in order to create a nuisance in official working within the government. Association members said all PCS officers in the state shall proceed on mass casual leave for the coming week starting from January 9, 2023 and further action shall be decided upon review of the situation on Saturday. tnn