Punjab officials molest widow co-worker, suspended

DEC 6: The Punjab Irrigation Department on Tuesday suspended with immediate effect, two engineers of the Bhakra Main Line Canal Division -...

DEC 6: The Punjab Irrigation Department on Tuesday suspended with immediate effect, two engineers of the Bhakra Main Line Canal Division — Executive Engineer Raghbir S Gill and SDO Harpal S Bhullar — and revenue clerk Purshottam Datt in the aftermath of the expose of the molestation case involving a widow employee on November 17 last.

State Irrigation Minister Janmeja S Sekhon, who ordered the suspensions late Tuesday afternoon, told The Indian Express that Gill had been suspended on two charges. “The first pertains to having allegedly shielded the accused — Bhullar and Datt — who had tried to molest the employee. The second is the negligence of duty on the part of Gill with regard to the works on the inter-state BML,” said Sekhon.

The department took cognisance of the molestation case following reports published by this paper in the last days of November. The Department, taking suo motu notice of the news reports, had moved the case for the suspensions of the three BML functionaries on November 29.

Story continues below this ad

According to the Irrigation Minister, the states of Haryana and Rajasthan had deposited the required funds with the BML Division for carrying out urgent repair works. “However, for five months the work was not done by the concerned Executive Engineer (XEn), leading to queries from the two state governments. The office of the Chief Engineer, Canals, Punjab, sent as many as 23 reminders to the XEn to carry out the required repairs. But the XEn did not even bother to respond to the 23 reminders once. This amounts to gross negligence of duty,” said Sekhon.

Sekhon also said that Gill had carried out an illegal transfer of the widow employee as an XEn does not have the power required for such a move. In her complaint, Irrigation Department employee Sailendra Kaur had alleged that Bhullar and Datt had tried to molest her in the office of BML in Patiala. Kaur had alleged that both Bhullar and Datt offered to get her transferred back to her home town of Khamano by using their influence with the XEn. In return, Kaur must accompany them to Shimla for 1-2 days and come to Datt’s house when his wife was away, the complaint said.

When Kaur approached Gill for action against the two, he tried to tell her drop the complaint and even threatened to have her transferred to Datt’s office, the complaint said.

Kaur then went to the police and Bhullar and Datt were arrested and later released on bail on November 24.

Premji said that Wipro would partner with the Government "to find a lasting solution for Bengaluru's mobility challenges".

Wipro rejects Karnataka Govt request to allow public vehicles inside Sarjapur campus

Cities6 hr ago

Wipro, a leading company in Bengaluru, has refused to allow public vehicles inside its Sarjapur campus to ease traffic congestion. However, they have agreed to finance a study to find a solution for the traffic problem. The founder, Azim Premji, believes that the issue is complex and requires expert analysis. Wipro has also committed to funding a significant portion of the study's cost.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS