PCS officers withdrew strike after CM’s stern admonition

The recent arrests made by Punjab Vigilance Bureau created stir amongst the bureaucrats. That further led to Mass causal leave alias strike and game of blame-counter blame brought Bureaucracy and Government at front against each other.

In between all these, on Wednesday Morning, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s caveat on twitter boiled down the anger of Bureaucrats. CM Mann gave ultimatum to bureaucrats to join back office by 2 PM else face music.

CM in his letter states, “It has been brought to my notice that some officers are not attending duty in the garb of some strike. They are protesting against strong action taken by the govt against corrupt officers. Let this be very clear to everyone that this govt has zero tolerance to corruption. Such a strike amounts to blackmailing and arm twisting. It cannot be tolerated by any responsible govt.

Therefore, you are hereby directed to declare the strike illegal. Suspend all such officers who do not join by 2.00 pm today i.e. 11.01.2023. Those who do not join by 2.00 PM, their period of absence should be treated as dies none.” After which by the afternoon the PCS Officers’ Association called off its strike after the chief minister’s warning and decided to resume work immediately. The announcement was made jointly by A Venu Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister and Rajat Oberoi, President of the Association.

As the deadline approached, a six-member delegation of the PCS Officers’ Association reached the Chief Minister’s office. Venu Prasad said that the anti-corruption campaign would continue and the association had promised that they would not shield corrupt officials. Rajat Oberoi President PCS Association said he was happy with the chief minister’s assurance that no injustice would be done to anyone. The government has agreed to form a committee to decide whether the action against PCS officer Narinder Dhaliwal was as per procedure. Another committee will be constituted in the matter of registering a case against the IAS officer. The committee will have officers from both civil and police side.

The committees will be constituted and announced by the Chief Secretary. Meanwhile, the Punjab Revenue Officers Association has also started work.