HC stays suspension of supplies offcials over raids

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday stayed the suspension of two officers of Punjab's food and supplies department, who faced action for allegedly raiding a ration depot owned by a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supporter in Samrala.
Justice Mahesh Grover stayed the suspension after hearing a petition filed by the duo -- Jaswinder Singh, assistant food and supplies officer, and Jaspal Kaur, grade-1 inspector posted at Samrala.
In their petition, the officers claimed that they, along with food supply officer of Samrala, had gone to inspect a ration depot of Jatinder Pal Singh, a supporter of ruling SAD, on May 26 and asked the depot holder to show stock register.
The depot holder, instead of producing stock register, telephoned Jagjiwan Singh Khirnia, former MLA, and Halqa incharge of SAD, who came to the spot and asked the inspecting team to leave the place or he would get them transferred to faraway places.
The petitioner said the team returned without inspecting the depot and complained to the district food and supplies controller, Ludhiana, who reported the incident to commissioner of food and supplies. Meanwhile, Khirnia submitted a complaint to food and supplies minister against the petitioners and demanded their suspension.
Following this, the commissioner of food and supplies transferred both the petitioners on May 28. Jaswinder Singh was transferred to Moonak while Jaspal Kaur was shifted to head office in Chandigarh.
However, their transfer was stayed by the HC on June 16. The petitioner further argued before the HC that despite the stay, Khirnia managed to suspend them on July 25.