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Monday, May 18, 2009

A General stands out....

An RTI activist has exposed the blatant misuse of official vehicles (ironically) by the members of the Punjab State Information Commission as has been reported by the Hindustan Times on the front page of Chandigarh Edition.

As per the report, if one goes by the information and copies of logbooks supplied to the activist, Information Commissioners have travelled from residence to office on Saturdays, Sundays and Gazetted holidays, some travelling 84 kms per day when the residence was just about 3 kms from the office.

However, one person stands out. Information Commissioner Lt Gen P K Grover (Retd), a former Sapper, did not travel on a single holiday on his official vehicle. His fuel bills were also the lowest amongst others. This when his house is the farthest amongst all Commissioners. This excerpt from the report says it all :

“Not that everyone at the helm of the Commission is imprudent. In sharp contrast to unusually high official bills of colleagues, Lt Gen P.K.Grover (retd) has been the most economical as he spent just Rs 66,307 on fuel bill. Lt Gen Grover travelled a minimum of 10 and maximum of 30 kms on 100 working days, while 30 to 55 kms on near 90 other days on official duty in Chandigarh. Unlike Bajaj and Verma, the former Army officer never travelled out on official duty on Saturdays and his fuel bill is the lowest at Rs 66,000 although he stays at Manimajra.”

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just my luck that I never got to serve with gentlemen like the General. Keeps the faith going.....

Anonymous said...

Let us remember that an individual officers honesty is not the reflection of an organisation. Org drive reputation by majority. Individuals drive by self. Kudos to Gen Grover not to AF. Their vehicles are seen everywhere on schools, market places from shinagar to kanyakumari. Where are vigilant Chiefs for almost 20 years now?

RKS said...

@ANONYMOUS 18 MAY 1:45 PM,

AND HAVE U EVER OBSERVED HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF GOVT AMBASSADOR CARS ARE PLYING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ON SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS WITH THE GREAT SAABS AND MEMSAABS. EVEN THE DELHI JAIPUR ROADS ARE WITNESS TO WEEKEND 'DUTY' OF THESE HARDWORKING BABUS.

Anonymous said...

the same gentle man who was chief of staff West Comd when Gen Shammi Matha was Army Cdr who does not accept noncence from anyn one and stick to his disp way of working. kudos to him who sets an example to the corruped civ adminstration

LT.COL.HS DHAM( MAHARS ) said...

Regards to Gen Grover. May I request and suggest that not using an authorised privilege during the performance of day to day duties is neither a qualification nor it compensates for constructive output.By doing so you are compromising on the rights and privileges of other incumbents. The main stress should be on efficiency,output honesty and loyality to the nation and the organisation.One can draw a Laxman Rekha between an austerity and extravagance. Things availed should keep a good and efficientworker/performer in good hearts and the needs of family taken care of appropriately.Line should be drawn between cheap popularity and liberal attitude and misuse thus avoiding hypocritical approach to any problem. Cheers and no fears for a good performer. Best wishes and regards. Col Dham

Anonymous said...

Dear RKS, those who honest need not find examples among known dishonest. Neither they need to drive strength from corrupt. The day we understand it better. Else only a time diff is what will deferenciate AF from civil adm. And time defferential is fast tending towards zero. Do not drive pride in wrongside of self. It sure recipe for leading to failure down the line. Thanks for comments.

Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh said...

@Col Dham

It is not that Gen Grover has not used the vehicle. He has truthfully maintained the log book and not used it on sundays and holidays while the other members of the Commission had used their vehicles on holidays by showing that they had travelled from residence to office.

The post is just to highlight that an Army Officer has earned kudos amongst others for practically following the spirit of law.

Anonymous said...

by comparing who is misusing more govt vehicle can we be clean by less misusing govt vehicle. no it is a stupid thought ,corruption is corruption. dont creat competition on misusing and using of govt / defence vehicle ,i just hate it.

Anonymous said...

we all should hate misuse of govt vehicle thoughtfully or truthfully. corruption is corruption in some means we all know .mainitaining car diary is not A GRAET ISSUE.IT ABOUT INTIGRITY,

Unknown said...

Some time back it was in the Tribune that Ex-servicmen are also exemptd to pay Toll Tax on NH. Can you please clarify.

Col SK Datta(retd)

Bharat said...

These days. one doesn't find a Brigadier/General ever display a private car.
Food for thought.....