SOPs set to weed out graft from state's SDM offices

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government's 'CM Good Governance Associates' programme, under which youngsters are hired for a year to improve governance, has revealed widespread malpractices at sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) offices in the state, especially in issuing driving licences. Following a three-hour meeting in New Delhi with the 21 youngsters selected for the programme, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that all SDM offices would follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), said a press release issued by the government on Sunday.
During the review meeting, the CM directed that all loopholes in the offline and online functioning of SDM offices would be fixed to weed out all sorts of corruption. He said strict action would be taken against individuals indulging in “delinquent“ practices. On finding irregularities in making driving licences at SDM offices in Kaithal, Bhiwani and Dadri, it was decided to take strict action against the dealing clerks concerned.
Rajender Kumar, a clerk at a Kaithal SDM office, was found to be allegedly sending large number of driving licenses on the same address (read agent) through registered post.
Similarly, Hem Singh, a license clerk at an SDM office in Bhiwani, was alleged to be illegally issuing 200 to 300 driving licenses a day . Shashikant, a steno at an SDM office in Dadri, was allegedly found to be working in nexus with agents.
Corruption in the form of a nexus between agents and officials was found in most SDM offices. Agent codes are marked on files and bulk licenses are made without taking tests.
During the last six weeks, the CMGGA worked on understanding ground realities in several areas like registration of noncommercial transport vehicles at SDM offices, motor vehicle inspection centers at RTA offices, and common service centres (CSCs). The inspection of vehicles was made visually instead of adopting automated fitness procedures.