Rajasthan Government Takes Disciplinary Action Against 33 Officials for Corruption and Negligence

The Rajasthan government has initiated disciplinary action against 33 current and retired officials following allegations of corruption, collusion with illegal sand mining mafias, financial irregularities, and dereliction of duty. Under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma’s zero-tolerance policy, the administration aims to enforce greater accountability and transparency within the state machinery.

Details of Disciplinary Actions

• Current Officials: 17 serving officers have faced penalties, including the withholding of two to four annual salary increments, for their roles in departmental lapses and improper conduct.
• Retired Officials: 16 retired officers have had their pensions reduced or withheld as a consequence of findings related to serious misconduct during their tenure.
• Specific Cases: Action was taken against law enforcement personnel, including a Circle Officer (CO), a Circle Inspector (CI), and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), for failure to properly investigate criminal activities and illegal mining operations. An RAS officer was penalized for negligence in the inspection and maintenance of works under the MGNREGA scheme.

Governance and Accountability

The government stated that retirement does not grant immunity for actions taken during service. In one notable case, an officer of the Rajasthan Accounts Service was ordered to forfeit 100% of their pension after being found guilty of manipulating government records to benefit a private entity, causing significant financial loss. Other retired officials had 20% of their pensions withheld for five years due to land-related financial irregularities.

While 33 officials faced punitive measures, the state administration noted that under Rule 16 of the Rajasthan Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1958, eight other cases resulted in exoneration after thorough investigations revealed insufficient evidence to support the charges. The government maintains that these actions are part of a broader commitment to ensuring administrative integrity.