Yogi Adityanath has kept his government officers and bureaucrats under constant scrutiny in his aim to curb corruption. In this regard, he is extremely unhappy with the officials and several of them are already started facing heat. According to a report by HT, “201 employees in 29 of the 72 departments have already been given pink slips.”
A substantial number of these employees were above 50 years in age. According to HT, “Another 417 employees, including class I officers, have either been suspended, given adverse entry or face termination. Most of them are accused of non-performance or corruption. “
According to the list reported by HT, 169 employees from the state’s power department have been given adverse entry or suspended and now face the risk of being terminated. Moreover, at least 37 officers and employees of the transport department have been identified as ‘non-performers’, followed by 26 from basic education and 25 from Panchayati Raj department. Along with this, 51 employees from the home department have already been given forced retirement.
A senior government official stated, “More than their age it was their performance which led to their forced retirement.”
UP’s energy minister Shrikant Sharma said, “Inquiry against corrupt officers is underway. Our government has zero tolerance policy on corruption.”
During a review meeting with the Jal Nigam on Wednesday, CM Yogi Adityanath stated, “FIRs should be lodged against those who aren’t doing their jobs. We won’t hesitate in sending unscrupulous officials to jail. The enforcement directorate (ED) can seize their properties too.”
This is in light of the stern warning the CM had given to the government officials in the state, a few days ago. While reviewing the work done by the Secretariat Administration Department, he stated that there was no place for corrupt practices in his government. “There is no place for corrupt officials and staff in the government… Action must be taken against such officials by forcing them to take voluntary retirement.”
In order to curb corruption, CM Yogi is also looking at the implementation of e-office and has asked the officials to speed up the process. E-Office is a ‘product suit’ developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) that helps in faster clearance of files and envisions a paperless office. Successful implementation of e-office will further aid the anti-corruption agenda of Yogi Adityanath government, as it addresses the traditional slippages in government offices which have plagued the Indian executive for long.
Prior to this, CM Yogi had directed the officers on field duty to report in their offices by 9 am failing which action would be initiated against them. To ensure this, the CM has ordered the introduction of biometric attendance in all government offices and schools.
The actions taken by CM Yogi are in accordance with the centre’s move to cleanse the bureaucracy. Recently, 12 officials had been retired using the Fundamental Rule 56 (j) of Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 over serious allegations of misconduct such as fraud, extortion and sexual harassment. It is welcome to see the states following the centre’s footsteps.
