Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh –
The Haryana Right to Service Commission has taken a strict view of a case involving negligence by officials of the Municipal Council, Jind, in providing services and disregarding clear instructions issued by the State Government. After carefully examining all the facts and circumstances of the matter, the Commission found that the concerned officials failed to act in accordance with the directions issued by the Director, Urban Local Bodies Department, Haryana, on July 4, 2023. These directions had clearly stated that necessary corrections in Property IDs could also be made in unauthorized colonies; however, the “unauthorized” tag must remain.
A spokesperson of the Commission stated that it was found that the Clerk and Secretary of the Municipal Council, Jind, ignored the said directions and rejected the applicant’s request, causing unnecessary inconvenience to the applicant. The Commission observed, “A common citizen, who works outside the state, was forced to visit the Municipal Council repeatedly simply because the officials failed to comply with the government’s instructions.”
Considering this negligence as serious, the Commission, under Section 17(1)(h) of the Act, held both officials guilty. It imposed a token penalty of Rs 1,000 each and also directed them to pay compensation of Rs 2,500 each (a total of Rs 5,000) to the complainant.
The Commission directed the SGRA-cum-DMC, Jind, to deduct Rs 3,500 each from their October 2025 salary and ensure payment in November 2025. A compliance report must be sent to the Commission by November 10, 2025. The Commission has also ordered that the penalty amount be deposited into the State Treasury.
The Commission further found that there was an error in the disposal of the first appeal (FGRA) as the appeal did not reach the concerned authority. In this regard, the GM (IT), Urban Local Bodies Department, has been directed to ensure that all services and appeals are properly mapped to the correct authorities (DO, FGRA, SGRA).
Lastly, the Commission also cautioned the SGRA-cum-DMC, Jind, for not complying with the instructions dated 04.07.2023 and for failing to provide the applicant an opportunity for a hearing under Section 7 of the Act. However, considering his unconditional apology and the fact that this was his first error, the Commission issued a warning and advised him to remain cautious in the future. The Commission clarified that the names of all officials involved in this matter have been recorded in its database. In the event of any recurrence or negligence in the future, disciplinary action will be recommended against them.