For excise staff, new reforms a bitter pill?
The renewal of over 10,000 liquors shops were due in June and officials want to make a killing, sources said.
Bengaluru: The controversy surrounding transfers of excise inspectors has more to do with innovative efforts initiated by Excise Commissioner Munish Moudgil to curb corruption in the department, than what is made out before the public that he refused to follow a government order regarding transfers made during the elections.
It is being alleged that he had refused to consider women employees’ request to go back to the old postings, where they were serving before the elections.
Sources in the government shared details of lower rung officials using women employees as a front to create a humanitarian issue, in order to mask their corrupt practices.
An officer in the finance department, who is connected with the excise department affairs, told Deccan Chronicle that out of 513 inspectors and sub inspectors, only 76 were women. "They have been sent to Vidhana Soudha to create an impression that Moudgil has put them into hardship. But, Moudgil seems ready to accommodate them in non-executive posts in places of their choice. But, the women employees refused to accept it," the officer said.
One of the joint commissioners of excise, who is related to a powerful political family associated with the Congress party was transferred to Kalaburgi from Belgavi during the elections. "He seems to be the brain behind pushing women employees to the front in order to get an order favourable to them. Such manipulations will destroy the department," sources added.
Asked why the inspectors were so keen to go back to old postings at once, the sources said, the renewal of over 10,000 liquors shops were due in June and officials want to make a killing.
"Not less than Rs 100 crore will change hands during this period. Moudgil wants to stop this. He has decided to introduce online automatic renewal system to break the cartel and stop the corrupt practice. This is why the lower rung excise department officials are determined to create one excuse or the other to stop him," sources said.
When contacted, Moudgil said that no development had taken place on Saturday. Without sharing any details, he said, "I am bound by the government orders. I will try to convince the government but ultimately what the government says will prevail."