Free bus passes issued ‘unlawfully’ to 378 employees: Dalal

CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress MLA Karan Dalal on Wednesday accused the ruling BJP government of causing financial losses to the state exchequer by issuing identity cards for free bus travel to 378 government employees of different departments by senior officials in violation of rules.

Addressing mediapersons, Dalal held that through he had procured information through right to information (RTI) applications that some senior officials had issued free passes to 378 employees.

“There is no policy of the state government to issue such passes and it is shocking that 378 employees, including 11 employees of chief minister residence, 101 employees of finance department and 37 employees of chief secretary office and 18 employees of officer on special duty (OSD) to CM Mukul Kumar, had been issued these passes,” he alleged.

He further held that he had procured the details of specific recommendations of senior officials namely Jagdish Chopra, political advisor to CM, Jawahar Yadav, former OSD to CM and R K Khullar, principal secretary to chief minister to issue such passes to employees.

Stating that he had given a written complaint to Chandigarh police to take action about five months ago and a reminder last week, Dalal said that it was surprising that it had not taken any action in the context.

However, on being contacted, additional chief secretary (transport department) S S Dhillon told HT that there were no specific norms in the context and it had been a practice to issue such passes to some employees as well as others, including mediapersons, since the past several passes. “However, we have recommended to the transport minister and chief minister about a fortnight ago to allow free travel facility to only transport department and not to employees of other departments.

A decision in the context is awaited,’’ he said.