Vigilance Bureau investigating the complaint
CHANDIGARH: PSEB Engineers Association has demanded impartial “judicial inquiry” into the “party fund” incident to ensure accountability and justice. The interference in the working of Punjab power sector and demand for “Party Fund” by politicians is not acceptable at all.
Ajaypal Singh Atwal, General Secretary, has written a letter to Chief Minister Punjab that some influential political figures in the region are misusing their influence to interfere in the functioning of power corporations and demanding money in the name of party funds . A particularly shocking and unprecedented incident has come to notice where an upright engineer in Hoshiarpur was being coerced into paying a so-called "party fund".
It may be added that the vigilance bureau arrested PSPCL Deputy Chief Engineer Hoshiarpur and lineman for reportedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50, 000. The complainant said that Dy. CE demanded a bribe of Rs 50, 000 in the name of party fund. Vigilance department Punjab is investigating this incident.
This blatant demand for a "party fund" from power engineers is an alarming new low. Such coercion not only violates ethical and legal norms but also creates a dangerous precedent where upright officers are punished for their honesty while corruption is being encouraged. If such malpractices continue unchecked, they will lead to anarchy within the power sector.
Instead of supporting engineers in improving Punjab’s power infrastructure, a few are attempting to control engineers through fear, intimidation, transfers, and now even financial extortion.
Forcing engineers to engage in unethical practices under the garb of a “party fund” is completely unacceptable. Given the gravity of this situation, the Association urges CM to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and take decisive action to protect power engineers from such unethical coercion for ensuring a safe and transparent working environment for all.