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.
