Remove Pendra Road SDM, demands diploma engineers

Protest against sub engineer Sukant Sidar’s arrest

Stage day-long dharna in Raipur, Bilaspur, Bastar &Sarguja

Raipur, May 16, 2011

The Chhattisgarh Diploma Engineers’ Association (CDEA) has demanded from the state government to remove Pendra Road SDM Bheem Singh for taking illegal action against sub engineer Sukant Sidar and arresting him under section 107,116 of IPC. In this connection, the CDEA staged day-long dharna in all the four divisions – Raipur, Bilaspur, Bastar and Sarguja and submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary P Joy Oommen on Monday. The CDEA also demanded judicial probe into Sidar’s arrest episode.

The association’s president Surendra Tuteja, vice president Zahid Khan and general secretary Sapan Kumar Puttatunda jointly termed the SDM’s action as interference into the works of technical department.

Sidar who is posted in Public Works Department (Electrical & Mechanical division) was arrested on directives of SDM Bheem Singh on May 12 at Pendra Road.

Tuteja said Sidar was punished for the crime he had not committed. “He was discharging his duty sincerely but the SDM took unjust decision against him by asking the police to put him behind the bars,” he said.

The SDM did not even bothered to follow the rules of Civil Services before taking action against Sidar, he said.

He informed that the SDM had asked Sidar to carry out electrification works of newly constructed Additional Collector building in Pendra Road in April 2011. However, when the work did not start, the SDM summoned notice to Sidar under section 107, 116 of IPC and asked him to appear on May 13.

“The sub engineer is not authorised to take decision to carry out any work unless he gets approval from his higher authorities. He did the same and sent the estimated proposal to his bosses. “He informed about this to the SDM on May 12, but the latter straightaway instructed the police to arrest Sidar,” Tuteja said.

“At least, the SDM should have first inquired about the status of Sidar’s estimated proposal from his senior officials. Besides, Sidar is a new sub engineer in the department who joined just two and a half year back. He is still in the learning stage. The SDM should not have treated such a junior person in this manner,” he said.

“We have informed about this unfortunate incident to the Collector Bilaspur district, Bilaspur Division Commissioner and the Chief Minister earlier. Now, the government would not remove the SDM and order probe into the matter in one week then the association will launch aggressive agitation across the state,” he warned.