Punjab Government Suspends 15 Revenue Officers as Officials Call Off Strike. The revenue officials called off their strike a day after the Punjab Government had ordered the suspension of 15 revenue officers who had not returned to work despite being warned.
The decision was taken following a union meeting of Moga’s Tehsildars, Kanungo, and DC office staff unions. After taking long deliberations, the unions had planned to call off the protest due to fear of the law and order situation in the wake of ongoing farmers’ agitation in the state.
Lachman Singh, presiding as Punjab Revenue Officers Association president, confirmed that regular work would resume from Thursday. “We were on duty but stopped registry work. This will again be done tomorrow,” he added.
On Tuesday evening, the Punjab Government suspended nine naib tehsildars and five tehsildars on the orders of Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) Anurag Verma. They were posted in Moga (six), Muktsar (six), and Ferozepur (two). The Punjab Revenue Officers Association officiating president was also suspended later.
Government’s Tough Stand Against Protest
The government had served a notice on the agitating officials to resume work or face suspension. Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) had issued the warning after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the agitation, describing it as an attempt to conceal corrupt officers.
Mann condemned the revenue officials for halting work on property registrations and stated that his government has zero tolerance for corruption. He cautioned the striking officials against attempting to blackmail the government by interrupting public services.
Punjab Revenue Officers Association has already announced a suspension of property registration work until March 7 as a protest against the Vigilance Bureau action against revenue staff involved in a land scandal in Ludhiana. The association alleged that such actions were instilling an environment of fear. Revenue officers had gone on mass casual leave on Monday, creating hindrance in registration work and causing inconvenience to the public.
With the strike now over, property registrations are to resume from Thursday.
