The Haryana government has taken strict action against a senior official of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED). Executive Engineer (XEN) Balwinder Nain has been suspended from his duties with immediate effect. He was serving in Fatehabad and was also handling the additional responsibility of Sirsa district. After the suspension, the government has ordered him to report to the department headquarters located in Panchkula.
Why was the action taken?
The issue started during a visit by State Minister Krishan Bedi to Sirsa on Tuesday night, February 17. The Minister was there to discuss local political matters. During this visit, BJP Councilor Rajan Sharma complained about a blocked sewerage project. The Councilor informed the Minister that the tender for the new sewerage line had been finalized long ago, but the work had not started yet. This delay was causing trouble for the local residents who were waiting for a solution.
Heated exchange on phone call
To address the complaint, a call was made from the Minister’s office to Executive Engineer Balwinder Nain. Reports indicate that the conversation did not go well. There was a heated argument between the Minister’s Personal Assistant (PA) and the officer. It is being said that the officer objected to being called late at night regarding official work. Following this incident, the suspension order was issued the very next day on Wednesday.
What happens next?
While the official government order mentions “administrative grounds” for the suspension, it does not list specific charges yet. Balwinder Nain will now stay attached to the Panchkula Headquarters during the inquiry period. As per the standard service rules in Haryana, a suspended officer is entitled to a subsistence allowance while the investigation is ongoing. The department has not released a detailed charge sheet at this moment.
