DC orders to keep an eye on liquor pilferage; teachers protested; orders withdrawn
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Chandigarh
Teachers union with the help of media, got their duties canceled, which were issued by deputy commissioner, to check the pilferage of liquor from distilleries in Gurdaspur district.
It all began when the Gurdaspur district administration on Wednesday asked twenty four teachers of government schools of Gurdaspur district to keep an eye on smuggling of popular brands such as Asli Mota Santra Punjab King Rum, Rano sofi, Ice Vodka, Ras bhari, Punjab King Gin, Black Monkey, from distilleries in Gurdaspur district.
Gurdaspur district have four distilleries AB Grains Spirit Pvt Ltd. In Batala, Chadha Sugar and inds Pvt ltd, Batala, Chadha Sugar and inds Pvt ltd-Unit II, Batala and Adie Brwson Breweries Ltd. Batala, distilleries owned by prominent liquor barons.
The orders were issued assistant commissioner (general) Gurdaspur, on behalf of deputy commissioner Gurdaspur Mohammad Ishfaq.
As per the orders issued” that in view of the Covid-19 crisis, teachers have been deployed at liquor factories as executive magistrates and will submit their report to the Batala Tehsildar daily. “In case of negligence, a first information report (FIR) under Section 188 (disobeying a public servant’s order) of the Indian Penal Code will be registered against them. The government has declared each government employee an executive magistrate.”
“The decision was taken to curb liquor smuggling, to safeguard the government’s revenue as in the district level the manpower is already limited as we have limited number of offices” said an officer.
A retired teacher Gulshan Kumar said, “it’s nothing wrong if a teacher is deputed to safeguard the state’s revenue. Moreover they were deputed on an executive magistrate post. Normally a teacher is deputed on odd jobs, house to house survey and this additional job is far better than that”
Another teacher Baljinder Singh said “when every government employee is working overtime, fighting Covid 19, as frontline warrior, teachers must have came forward and rendered their services in this crucial time”
Jatinder Singh said “media must play a proactive role and don’t support unions unrealistic demands, just for news sake”
Later the deputy commissioner withdraws the orders.
May,22,2020
