Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Conducts Surprise Inspection at Excise and Taxation Department Headquarters in Patiala

Records of multiple branches seized, officers directed to speed up file disposal

“Delay in file disposal is also a form of corruption,” says Cheema

Strict action ordered against absentee staff and those bypassing protocol

Chandigarh/Patiala, June 24-Punjab Finance, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema today carried out a surprise inspection of the head office of the Excise and Taxation Department in Patiala. The Minister arrived at the department immediately after lunch, accompanied by Excise Commissioner Jatinder Jorwal, and inspected various branches of the office.

During the surprise check, the Minister reviewed the attendance of officers and employees, scrutinized the files on desks, and assessed the general pace of work. Expressing strong concern over delays in the disposal of cases and files, he declared that “unwarranted delays will be treated as a form of corruption.”

Cheema and the Excise Commissioner seized several documents during the inspection and compiled a list of files that will be subject to further scrutiny and action.

The Minister also evaluated the functioning of the department’s e-office system, emphasizing that all official work must be disposed of promptly. “Even a day or two of unnecessary delay in official work is unacceptable,” he said. “Every officer has the right to submit a report based on facts, whether positive or negative, but intentional delay will not be tolerated.”

He also summoned superintendents and other officers from various branches and checked the attendance records, particularly identifying those absent without recording their movement in the official register. Action has been directed against officers who left their workplace without permission or due procedure.

Speaking to the media after the inspection, Finance Minister Cheema said, “Those who delay official work are equally responsible for corruption. We are committed to delivering a transparent, honest, and time-bound administration under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.”

In response to a media query, Cheema said that action is already being taken against commercial vehicles—particularly heavy vehicles—evading GST or involved in other forms of tax fraud on highways. He assured that such enforcement drives will continue with full force.

“The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab is determined to fulfill the promises it made to the people. Accountability, honesty, and efficient governance are at the core of our agenda,” Cheema added.

Present during the inspection were Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jatinder Jorwal, Director (Investigation) Jaskaran Singh Brar, Additional Director Gurpreet Singh, AIG Sukhminder Singh Chauhan, and other senior officers of the department.

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PUNJAB POLICE & UIDAI COLLABORATE TO SENSITIZE OFFICERS ON SECURE AADHAAR USAGE IN POLICING

— WORKSHOP FOCUSED ON LEGAL PROVISIONS, PRIVACY NORMS & VERIFICATION MECHANISMS AS PER AADHAAR ACT, 2016

CHANDIGARH, June 24: To strengthen the understanding of Aadhaar regulations and its lawful integration with policing services, Punjab Police’s Community Affairs Division (CAD), in collaboration with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Regional Office, Chandigarh, organised an awareness workshop to sensitise police officers on the secure use of Aadhaar in governance and law enforcement.

The session was guided by the team of UIDAI Regional Office led by CMDE Dhiraj Sarin DDG Chandigarh, in the presence of Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Community Affairs Division Gurpreet Kaur Deo and ADGP TSS Ram Singh to ensure responsible and secure usage of Aadhaar in governance and law enforcement. The session also witnessed the active participation of around 100 field police officers from across all districts of Punjab.

The workshop covered key provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, data privacy and security norms, and the scope of Aadhaar usage within the limits defined by law. Special emphasis was laid on Section 33 of the Aadhaar Act, which deals with legal provisions regarding information sharing and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding residents' privacy.

The UIDAI team provided hands-on training on Aadhaar verification tools, including the M-Aadhaar app, and clarified legal boundaries to prevent misuse during police investigations.

Speaking on the occasion, Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo said that this session marked a step forward in strengthening coordination between UIDAI and law enforcement agencies while ensuring adherence to statutory and privacy standards. Our officers are now better equipped to handle Aadhaar-related verification processes without compromising data security, she said.

Meanwhile, the UIDAI team also clarified how police officers could verify Aadhar credentials using the M-Aadhar App and discussed legal issues and privacy concerns related to Aadhar.

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DAY 115 OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: 140 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 3KG HEROIN, ₹60K DRUG MONEY

— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 89 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT

CHANDIGARH, June 24:With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 115 days, Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 140 drug smugglers and recovered 3 kg heroin and Rs 60500 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 19,007 in just 115 days.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 94 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 482 locations across the state leading to the registration of 97 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 510 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 89 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

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Punjab Government gears up for paddy procurement season 4 months in advance

Newly formed Group of ministers assure farmers for smooth procurement of paddy ; Mandis to be ready before harvest season

Labour, cartege and transport policy already finalised

Enough space for storage of paddy to be created before procurement

Nearly 40 LMT space to be created by December this year

Chandigarh, June 24:Pulling up its socks well in 4 months advance of the Paddy procurement season 2025, Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann undertook a path breaking initiative by constituting a Group of Ministers (GoM) for supervising food grain procurement and ensuring smooth Wheat and Paddy Procurement in the coming seasons in the State. The GoM held its first meeting today at Punjab Bhawan Chandigarh.

Notably the group comprises Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian as Chairman and Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal as Members.

The Principal Secretary Food and Civil Supplies Rahul Tiwari gave a presentation on the planning being done for ensuring a smooth & hassle free paddy procurement season which would commence from 1st October 2025 and last till mid November.

As regards the core issue of space creation concerning the storage aspect in view of the coming Paddy procurement season, the Group of Ministers was apprised that all out efforts are being made in this connection and 40 LMT of space would be created by December this year. Furthermore, around 82-83 LMT of space would be created by end of June next year.

The Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian assured that all genuine issues of the Millers Arhtiyas and Farmers would be resolved and the issues requiring intervention of Union Government/FCI will be taken up with them at the highest level. He further said that the State Government is doing its level best to ensure ample space for storage.

Highlighting a major achievement, Mr. Gurmeet Singh Khuddian shared that over 100 lakh metric tons (LMT) of rice has already been delivered, with a projected total of 117 LMT by July 31.

On the occasion, Mr. Lal Chand Kataruchak informed that nearly 175-180 LMT paddy is expected to arrive in the mandis in the coming Kharif Marketing Season and the State Government is making all requisite arrangements for the proper upkeep of the same. Regarding space issue, he elaborated that proposals for construction of 46 LMT godowns have been sent by the High Level Committee to the Union Government. He also added that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is personally taking up the issue with the Union Government.

Exhorting the farmers to use only expert recommended seeds, Mr. Kataruchak asked them to desist from usage of spurious varieties. He reiterated that the Punjab Government stands fully committed to procure every single bale of grain at the MSP. Further, to lower the content of moisture in the crops, he advised the farming community to use combines only between 10 Am to 6 PM.

While urging the Union Government to ensure regular movement of grains from Punjab's godowns, S. Laljit Singh Bhullar noted that at least 12 lakh metric tons (LMT) of grains need to be moved monthly to accommodate the new paddy crop. They also expressed confidence that the Centre would consider the state's demand positively.

Reiterating State Government's commitment to procuring every grain of paddy from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal stressed that the formation of this Group of Ministers underscores the government's dedication to ensuring farmers' welfare and supporting their agricultural endeavours.

It was further pointed out that the labour and cartege policy besides the transportation policy have been finalized and sent to the State Government for approval.

Among others present on the occasion included the Principal Secretary Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Rahul Tewari, Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Ramvir, MD PUNSUP Sonali Giri, Additional Director Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Dr. Anjuman Bhaskar and GM (Finance) Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Sarvesh Kumar.