Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday, November 10, ordered the immediate suspension of 15 government officials and employees over alleged negligence in handling public grievances filed through the state's 'Sahyog' programme, according to a press release issued by the Chief Minister's Secretariat.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

The suspensions were ordered during the state-level 'Sahyog' camp held on November 10. The officials were accused of failing to dispose of applications received under the programme within the stipulated time and of negligence in ensuring their quality disposal. Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against all 15, IANS reported.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

Who has been suspended

Those facing action include Jay Prakash, Circle Officer of Kharagpur in Munger; Archana Kumari, Circle Officer of Tetiya Bambar; Ravi Ranjan, Block Development Officer in Bhojpur; Sanjiv Kumar, Circle Officer in Katihar; Santosh Kumar, Circle Officer in Bhagalpur; Pankaj Kumar, Circle Officer in Araria; Rupesh Kumar, Circle Officer in Gaya; and Ranjit Kumar Upadhyay, Circle Officer in Jehanabad.

Source: IANS via Nation Press

The list also includes Priyanka Singh, Circle Officer of Triveniganj in Supaul; Veena Vaishali, Circle Officer of Nirmali in Supaul; Rohit Kumar Dubey, Assistant Engineer in the Public Health Engineering Department in Sheikhpura; Bhola Nath, Junior Engineer in Muzaffarpur; Shyam Babu Rai, Junior Engineer in West Champaran; Pawan Kumar, Junior Engineer in Sitamarhi; and Shubham Kumar, a revenue employee previously posted in Gopalganj and now in Sitamarhi district.

Source: IANS via Nation Press

DMs told to monitor every application

Choudhary instructed all District Magistrates, departmental secretaries and officials of the Chief Minister's Secretariat to closely monitor applications received through the 'Sahyog' programme, and warned that strict disciplinary action would follow against officials found delaying applications or giving inadequate responses instead of genuine resolution.

Source: ANI via Devdiscourse

Under the 'Sahyog' programme, the Chief Minister interacts directly with members of the public and hears their grievances on the second Tuesday of every month. The allegations against the suspended officials remain subject to the departmental proceedings that have been initiated.