Chandigarh, November 7, 2024: Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has suspended Ferozepur’s Chief Agriculture Officer, Jagir Singh over dereliction of duties in Thursday, according to reports.
The decision began after Additional Chief Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Anurag Verma, responded to a complaint lodged by Ferozepur’s Deputy Commissioner.
Under Rule 8 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1970, Jagir Singh has been issued a charge sheet. During his suspension, he will report to the office of the Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department in SAS Nagar (Mohali).
The issue came to light during an inspection led by an SDM-led team in Ferozepur. The team discovered approximately 161.8 metric tons (3,236 bags) of DAP fertilizer illegally stored in the warehouses of Messrs. Sachdeva Traders.
When questioned, the facility was unable to provide proper records for the fertilizer storage, a matter then escalated to the Deputy Commissioner and the Additional Chief Secretary.
Moreover, Jagir Singh reportedly failed to give a satisfactory explanation to the Deputy Commissioner.
The Punjab government recently issued stringent orders to all Chief Agriculture Officers across the state to monitor fertilizer supplies and curb hoarding of DAP, a critical input for farmers.
Anurag Verma warned that those involved in such activities would face severe legal consequences.
“The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, prioritizes the welfare and rights of farmers. No individual engaged in illegal practices that harm farmers will be spared,” Verma said.
