MC chief removed for ‘misuse of power’

On June 11,2007,the Congress-backed MC chief was issued a showcause notice by then Local Government Principal Secretary D S Bains for allegedly misusing power.

It was on the basis of a report submitted by then Executive Officer (MC) J S Thind,accusing Rana of transferring three civic employees without having the powers to do so.

Rana was also accused of repeatedly postponing opening of sanitation tenders,which Thind had alleged had adversely affected the MC’s work.

Thind had recommended action against Rana as per relevant provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act.

In his reply,Rana had,however,categorically refuted the charges while claiming that he had transferred the civic employees from only one seat to another within the MC,asserting he had the powers to do so.

He had also claimed that he had postponed the tenders only to bring about changes in the terms of the agreement to “introduce more competition” among the contractors.

After concluding the hearing of Rana and Thind in October 2007,Bains had kept the decision in the case pending.

Roul,however,reopened the case recently and after conducting a few hearings,finally took a decision in the three-year-old case.

Confirming the development,local Congress MLA Balbir Sidhu termed the decision “politically motivated” and a “murder of democracy”.

“It has been made apparent that ‘jungle rule’ prevails in Punjab as without considering the facts,Rana was removed merely because he belongs to the Congress party,” alleged Sidhu,while announcing to challenge the order in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Roul,Rana or the MC Executive Officer were not available for comment despite repeated attempts.