Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has taken decisive action by ordering a high-level investigation into alleged financial irregularities within the state's Labour Department. The move comes after state minister Anil Vij publicly raised concerns about a potential scam related to worker verification and registration.
Committee Formed for One-Month Probe
On Thursday, January 2, 2026, CM Saini directed the constitution of a three-member committee to conduct a thorough probe. The committee is chaired by senior IAS officer Pankaj Aggarwal and includes Rajiv Rattan, IAS, and Pankaj Nain, IPS, as its members. The panel has been given a strict deadline of one month to submit its detailed report to the government.
The investigation will focus on alleged malpractices in the verification of work slips and the registration of construction workers under various departmental schemes. It is alleged that individuals were registered as building and construction workers for projects that were not genuine, potentially leading to significant financial losses from wrongly claimed benefits.
Contradiction Over Minister's Letter
While Labour Minister Anil Vij told media persons that he had written to the Chief Minister seeking an independent investigation, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) provided a different account. A government spokesperson clarified that "no such letter has yet been received" by the CMO.
However, the spokesperson confirmed the issue was brought to the CM's attention via an official file from the department. This file indicated that the department had already formed an internal committee and had received reports from 13 districts, with reports from nine others still pending.
CM's Directives and Pending Report
Taking the allegations seriously, Chief Minister Saini returned the file the very next day with specific instructions. He directed Labour Minister Vij to submit a complete report from all 22 districts along with accurate figures of the financial loss incurred.
As of now, this comprehensive report from the minister remains pending, prompting the need for the newly constituted high-level committee. The committee's mandate is twofold:
- Investigate the entire matter and ascertain irregularities committed by officers and other individuals.
- Recommend corrective and preventive measures to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future.
The spokesperson emphasized that the Chief Minister acted due to the seriousness of the allegations, which cast doubt on the legitimacy of worker registrations and the distribution of welfare benefits. The probe aims to bring transparency and accountability to the department's functioning.
