Summary:
The report pointed out that if the directions of the HC in this respect were followed in true letter and spirit the tehbazari staff could have resorted to issuing daily challans along with imposing a penalty of Rs 500 per day on habitual offenders. Subsequently, the number of challans would have gone up manifold and consequent rise in the revenue collection by the MC from penalty could have exceeded Rs 2.5 crore, the report added. The VB probe also pointed out towards the fact that superintendents and inspectors in the tehbazari wing were having an abnormally long stay at their present places of posting, which further led to vested interests. Having stayed for a long period at one place, civic employees and officials were bound to develop feeling of kinship towards shopkeepers in the area under their jurisdiction, the probe observed. The VB recommended in its report that the Local Government Department, Punjab, be asked to initiate departmental proceedings against officials and the field staff of the tehbazari wing for dereliction of duty and causing loss of revenue to the MC..