Punjab’s controversial senior transport officer takes premature retirement
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ September 8,2023
In a surprise move, Karan Singh, joint state transport commissioner, Punjab has taken a pre-mature retirement. His official retirement is due in 2026.
Karan Singh is a husband of former Akali MLA from Shutrana Varinder Kaur Loomba, son-in-law of former MLA Baldev Singh . His father also remained MLA.
As per sources, his name is linked in many transport department controversies. He is nodal officer of Punjab State Transport Society. During his tenure “Smart Chip’ shortage rocked the state.
Then secretary transport Vikas Garg had also highlighted his negligence in taking action against the company supplying Smart Chips and raised question, why the contract was not cancelled for deficiency of services?
An officer of the transport department said “the department was planning to dismiss, terminate him but before that could happen, Karan Singh took pre-mature retirement. He is a nice officer and seems he is targeted due to his political affiliation with opposition party”
As per his pre-mature retirement orders, many enquiries, court cases are pending against him. If any adverse orders came in any of the enquiry, court case, he will be liable as per the law. He is charged under section 8 (imposing major penalties) ,10 of CSR Rules (The inquiring authority shall return a finding of guilt in respect of these articles of charges to which the Government employee pleads guilty.)
Punjab’s controversial senior transport officer takes premature retirement. Secretary transport has also asked the transport department to fight cases against him in the court.
Few years ago, the state transport department found 177 such fancy numbers issued across Punjab, causing a loss of around Rs 90:00 lacs to the state exchequer.
The irregularities came to light after a petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana High Court over irregularities in issuing of fancy registration numbers by petitioner c
Gursahib Singh from Muktsar had filed a writ petition in 2016 against District Transport Officer-cum-Registering Authority, Ferozepur, issuing registration numbers for vehicles for less than prescribed fee.
