CHANDIGARH, Sept 2:
Amid agitation by the ‘patwaris’ to press for their demands, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced to hire 586 new ‘patwaris’ (revenue officials) on vacant posts while asserting that people will not be allowed to be harassed.
The Chief Minister in a video message also said 741 undertraining patwaris will be assigned their jobs in circles where posts are vacant.
He further said there are 710 such posts where the appointment letters are yet to be issued because of pending police verification.
Mann said the home department has been directed to complete the process of police verification so that appointment letters be given to 710 candidates, who have already passed their exams.
With these steps, a total of 2,037 circles where posts of ‘patwaris’ are lying vacant will be filled, he said.
He also announced to implement biometric attendance of ‘patwaris’ in their offices following several complaints against them.
The revenue officials mainly maintain records regarding land ownerships.
The announcement came a day after the ‘patwaris’ began their agitation, saying they were boycotting the “additional” work they are expected to carry out.
The officials had stopped the work allotted to them in 3,193 “additional” revenue circles but they were carrying out the duties, including those related to flood relief in their own circles.
The ‘patwaris’ had earlier threatened a pen-down strike from Friday. But they appeared to soften their stand on Thursday after the Mann Government invoked the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act (EPESMA). (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
