A BURNING NEWS Amritsar Police Ex chief, made an illegal contract on cost of huge loss of revenue to Government of Punjab by his clandestine deal. All police Kiosks, booths and fixtures placed with the sole Advertisement Rights at mercy of a private city advertiser for meager amount of Rs. 8500/- Per Month for 5 years at a single stroke while otherwise it can fetch Rs.50 lacks per year or even more had this revenue source been auctioned or tendering could have been done as per law and rules by Police Authorities. On 25/10/20111, then Commissioner of Police, Amritsar Mr. RP Mittal signed a secret documents with one private firm M/s Silverlining Advertisers of Amritsar and gave “Absolute Authority, Right, and Powers” to deal with the sole Advertisement Rights on all such “Traffic Aids and Management Equipments” i.e. Barriers/Barricades, Booths, Vehicle Shelters, Traffic Lights, Road Signage through out Amritsar City Police District. No tenders were ever floated or no such intentions of Police was ever made public through any advertisement, media or otherwise. It was total a surreptitious deal and is totally against Punjab Financial Rules. The most interesting is, the Private party is allowed to do it for only two years in the contract at one place, but in other place has been allowed for 5 years with no break contract. As per clause 4 of the document, the private advertiser was allowed to have sole rights to advertise third party on all Traffic Management equipment/ Terminus/ structures in Amritsar periphery, the height is the legal language of this document. The private player has been allowed to “Deal with Sole Advertising Rights” further, which can not be considered legal or on equal rights of both of parties. The material clause of contract goes totally biased towards Private party on all legal aspects and can not be said fair in eyes of law whatsoever. In turn the private party was to pay Rs. One Lac Per Annum (Rs. 8500/- Per months) and that too not in government exchequer but it was to be paid to “Traffic Police Welfare Fund” And the private party was to “install and renovate traffic booths, shelters, barricades etc and advertise on the same” Most interestingly the advertiser in case of expiry of contract was having sole ownership of the equipments and was having every right to collect back all material or place in service of Police department at Current market price. When an RTI was filed by Mr. Parbodh C Bali, President of NGO, “Amritsar Civil Society” the reply of Police was totally disappointing. They confirm having no record of any Tender Procedure done, reasons for such arrangement, renewal since expiry of contract, authority with the Commissioner of Police to make such arrangements, the sanction of Municipal Corporation etc. Moreover the bank statement sent regarding the payment of contract amount made by advertiser had no specific entry of Rs. One lac specifically or showing that any money was deposited by advertiser. It is note worthy that PB & HR High Court has already passed a judgment to remove all such hoardings and signage from bust roads and a Contempt Petition COCP NO. 2695 of 2012 is already going in court in which Amritsar police and Municipal Corporations are parties and are giving replies in negative. Bali ask, if the Police is shedding crocodile tears that they can not manage the traffic when there office is involved in these malpractices and more over under strength of this contract they should have no dearth of money as all the activities are to be funded by advertiser then why they always cry of short of resources?
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:15:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015