An executive engineer with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation(MC) is facing major penalties following allegations of discrepancies in a tender process. Municipal Commissioner Anindita Mitra has initiated major penalty proceedings against an executive engineer, Kuldeep Singh, over tender-related discrepancies. This action comes after the vigilance department flagged significant discrepancies, that compelled the administration to expedite the disciplinary measures.
In 2021, the vigilance department initiated its investigation to identify irregularities in a tender awarded to Sawhney Electricals. According to the department’s report, a bank guarantee of Rs 12.5 lakh was accepted as an earnest money deposit (EMD) despite the tender documents not explicitly mentioning bank guarantees as an acceptable form of EMD. The department notes that the MC department had argued that bank guarantees and fixed deposit receipts (FDRs) were both acceptable based on relevant sections. This inconsistency raised concerns regarding procedural adherence and integrity within the tendering process.
However, the report further highlighted that the same engineer, Kuldeep Singh, had rejected an EMD in the form of an FDR from Jyoti Electricals in a separate tender. The reason mentioned for the rejection was that the EMD did not comply with the tender notice’s conditions regarding the mode of EMD submission. Such selective enforcement not only raises questions about fairness but also undermines the credibility of the procurement process. The vigilance department deemed this action by Singh to be a disregard of relevant guidelines.
Despite these findings, no penalty was initially imposed on the engineer which prompted the administration to intervene and led to the dispatch of a fresh notice to the MC commissioner on Friday. The administration’s letter highlighted the urgency of initiating action, stating “Initiate the action taken report to this administration, today positively, as directed by the UT adviser to the administrator. Your response has been found to be not in order as per the directions given by the UT adviser to the administrator-cum-chief vigilance officer.” The failure to adhere to directives necessitated a renewed push for accountability, resulting in the recent charge sheeting of the executive engineer under major penalties.
Following the administration’s directive, MC commissioner Anindita Mitra issued a chargesheet against Kuldeep Singh under major penalties. Notably, this is not the first time Singh has faced disciplinary action, he was also suspended in March 2024 after the sound system malfunctioned during the inauguration of the tertiary treated water project.
Kuldeep is currently on deputation to the MC from the UT engineering department, and could not reached for comment on the chargesheet.
The measurement taken by the Chandigarh Administration thereby demonstrates the Administration taking a firm stand on tender discrepancies while highlighting its commitment toward accountability and transparency during government procurement systems. This case against Kuldeep Singh shows what consequences a public servant might encounter if he fails to abide by the pre-established procedures and guidelines.
The action by the Chandigarh Administration is an example of a firm stance on tender discrepancies and highlights its commitment to transparency and accountability in government procurement processes. This case against Kuldeep Singh serves as a reminder to public servants of the importance of adhering to established guidelines and procedures. It remains to be seen how the chargesheet proceedings will unfold and what penalty, if any, will be imposed on the engineer. Whether the case against the engineer will result in punishment, we won’t know until the submission and what (if any) fine will be imposed on him, all questions will be unraveled with time and proceedings.
