18 Nagpur civic town planning staff complain against in-charge deputy director to CM's secretariat

Eighteen technical officers and employees of the town planning department of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation have lodged a complaint against Assistant Director and in-charge Deputy Director Rituraj Jadhav. The complaint has been submitted to the Chief Minister's secretariat. Town planners Vikram Chauhan and Nikhil Bhure, along with all the technical staff of the department, had given the written complaint.

After receiving the complaint, the Urban Development Department of the Maharashtra government has issued directions to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation commissioner. The commissioner has been asked to investigate the matter immediately and submit a detailed report. Joint Secretary of the Urban Development Department Subrao Shinde has issued a letter in this regard.

The employees allege that Assistant Director Jadhav treats staff in a humiliating manner in front of outsiders and visitors. The complaint also says that women employees are phoned late at night and mentally harassed. According to the employees, this is badly affecting the family atmosphere of the women employees.

Another allegation in the complaint is that offline cases sent for approval are deliberately held up. When a person or citizen comes with a grievance, the concerned employee is blamed and humiliated.

The employees have also accused Jadhav of boasting about his political connections. They say staff are being threatened on the strength of these connections. According to the complaint, the coordinator staff appointed by the company linked to the BPMS and Auto DCR systems are never available to department employees and visitors.

On the other hand, in-charge Deputy Director Rituraj Jadhav said that many employees used to come late to the office. For this reason, the commissioner had repeatedly directed that the pay of employees who come late be cut. On the basis of those directions, the pay of some such employees was cut.

According to Jadhav, many employees stayed away from administrative work by claiming to be busy with SIR duty. Action has been taken against such employees as well, and the municipal commissioner has been informed. Jadhav said administrative work must be carried out in keeping with discipline, rules and law.