Himachal Pradesh Public Works and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh has taken strict disciplinary action against administrative negligence during his official tours. The state government on Tuesday issued formal show cause notices to three senior engineers of the Public Works Department who failed to show up during the minister's recent visit to the Chaupal tehsil. The decisive move comes after the officials skipped the scheduled inspection, leaving the minister without crucial technical assistance on the ground. The administration is demanding a clear explanation for this lapse in duty, signaling a strict policy against bureaucratic complacency.
Senior Officials Under the Scanner
The disciplinary action targets key personnel holding significant responsibilities within the state's infrastructure framework. The first official to receive the notice is Vijay Chaudhary, a Superintending Engineer in the civil division who currently holds the additional charge of Chief Engineer for the Shimla zone. The second individual is Deepak Raj Chauhan, another Superintending Engineer who oversees the fourth circle of the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department. The third notice went to Nitin Thakur, an Assistant Engineer who is also managing the additional charge of Executive Engineer. The absence of these top tier engineers during an official ministerial visit created a notable void in the administrative protocol, prompting immediate administrative repercussions.
Strict Deadline for Explanation
The Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department served the identical notices to all three engineers, questioning their blatant disregard for official scheduling. According to the administrative documents, the detailed itinerary for the Chaupal visit was circulated well in advance on July 17. Despite this clear communication, the three engineers were nowhere to be found when the minister arrived on July 19. The state government has now mandated that these officials submit a formal written explanation within three days. The notice explicitly outlines why their presence was mandatory. The minister required their expertise to review the objectives of various developmental schemes and to discuss the department's future action plan for the Chaupal area. The authorities are asking the engineers to justify why they were not available at the location to assist the minister with these critical evaluations.
Public Outrage Over Viral Video
The formal notices follow a widespread public reaction to a video that recently surfaced on social media platforms. The footage captured Vikramaditya Singh visibly irritated while speaking to an official over the phone. During the call, the minister confronted the official about his absence, questioning whether he was unaware of the scheduled tour. When the official attempted to defend himself by claiming he had assigned his duties to someone else, the minister rejected the excuse outright. The conversation highlighted a growing frustration with bureaucratic indifference. During the phone call, Vikramaditya Singh clearly warned the official against such behavior. He stated, "You people are taking us lightly and this is absolutely not tolerated." The state government's subsequent issuance of formal notices proves that the minister has followed through on his warning, setting a strict precedent for departmental accountability in Himachal Pradesh.
