Ranbir Gangwa takes firm action against corruption: 42 officers and employees charge-sheeted

Chandigarh – Haryana Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, has taken an action after serious irregularities came to light in the tendering process within the Rohtak Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department. A total of 42 officers and employees have been charge-sheeted, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated.

Sh.Gangwa said the state government follows a strict policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and negligence and will not allow any compromise in work quality or ethics. Anyone found guilty will face strict action, he added.

The government had received complaints about civil works being carried out in Rohtak PHE without following proper procedures. There were irregularities in the tender procedure. A formal inquiry was directed, and based on the findings, Sh.Gangwa recommended disciplinary action.

*Work orders issued without online tender process*

The investigation revealed that many development projects were assigned without using the mandatory online tendering process. Instead, these were falsely declared as emergency works and given out based on offline quotations—clearly violating Departmental Financial Rules (DFR) rules. This not only broke official protocol but also caused financial loss to the government.

According to the report the irregularities occurred during the tenure of specific Superintending Engineers (SE) and Executive Engineers (XEN).

Notably, such practices were not followed before or after their term—raising serious concerns about intentional violations.

The inquiry also found that in several sub-divisions, including Rohtak, Sampla, and Meham, work orders were given to some contractors in bulk—more than ten works in a single day. These projects were conveniently placed just under the financial threshold, indicating they were intentionally split to avoid scrutiny. The roles of Sub-Divisional Engineers (SDEs) and Junior Engineers (JEs) are also under investigation.

*Strict disciplinary action directed*

Sh. Gangwa directed immediate disciplinary action against all involved officers after the inquiry. Apart from this, action will also be taken against retired officers under pension rules. He also directed officers to tighten the tendering system and blacklist any contractors found involved in corrupt practices.

The Minister further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana government is committed to fighting corruption at all levels. There will be no tolerance for such acts, and we will take every possible step to ensure accountability and transparency.

More than 05 Lakh Cases disposed of in 2nd National Lok Adalat held across Haryana

Chandigarh – The Haryana State Legal Services Authority (HALSA) successfully organised the 2ndNational Lok Adalat of the year on July 12, 2025, under the visionary guidance of Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court and Executive Chairperson, HALSA, Smt. Justice Lisa Gill. The Lok Adalat was held across all 22 Districts and 34 Sub-Divisions of Haryana through the District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs).

One of the key highlights was the resolution of an 11-year-old criminal appeal titled Kashmir Vs. M/s Simar, pending before the District Courts, Karnal. The matter was successfully settled in the National Lok Adalat held at Karnal and was presided over by Ld. Additional District and Sessions Judge, Karnal, Sh. Rajnish Kumar Sharma.

In another remarkable instance of timely and compassionate justice delivery, a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) case titled Ajay vs. Kuber and ICICI Lombard Insurance Co., pending since 2020 because the petitioner had not been issued a disability certificate. Recognizing the urgency and sensitivity of the matter, the  District and Sessions Judge-cum-Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Faridabad, took proactive steps to facilitate a resolution and a medical expert, present at the court premises as part of Lok Adalat arrangements, promptly examined the petitioner and assessed permanent disability to the extent of 41 percent. This immediate assessment enabled meaningful negotiations.  The matter was amicably settled for a sum of Rs. 6,50,000, significantly higher than the initial claim of Rs. 3,00,000 made in the petition.

Today’s Lok Adalat, including pre-Lok Adalat sittings, witnessed the disposal of more than 05 lakh cases, demonstrating the strong commitment of HALSA and the judiciary to ensuring accessible and speedy justice.

A total of 170 benches were constituted at various courts to take up both pre-litigation and pending cases, encompassing a wide spectrum of matters such as civil disputes, matrimonial cases, motor accident claims, bank recovery suits, cheque bounce matters, traffic challans, compoundable criminal offences, and cases beforePermanent Lok Adalats (Public Utility Services). More than 06 lakh cases were referred to the benches for settlement.

The objective of organizing National Lok Adalats is to provide a cost-effective and efficient platform to the public for amicable settlement of disputes, without delay or prolonged litigation. The awards passed in Lok Adalats are final and binding, and litigants also benefit from the refund of court fees in settled matters.