Director, Punjab Language Department Alleges Attempts to 'Wind Up' Institution, Blames A Section Of Bureaucracy
Ravi Jakhu/ Babushahi Network
Chandigarh/Patiala, June 28, 2026: Director, Punjab Language Department, Jaswant Singh Zafar, has alleged that a sections of the state bureaucracy are making sustained efforts to weaken and eventually "wind up" the department by delaying key decisions and denying it the administrative and financial support required for its functioning.
In a detailed social media post, Zafar claimed that despite directions from the Chief Minister, more than 70 books submitted to the Printing and Stationery Department for publication have remained pending for a long time. He alleged that no budget has been released for the publication of books, severely affecting one of the department's core responsibilities of promoting Punjabi language and literature.
Highlighting other issues, Zafar said payments relating to five to six literary and cultural functions organised by the department are still pending. He also pointed out that nearly 70 posts of sewadars and sweepers have remained vacant despite repeated requests to fill them.
He further alleged that Sahit Sadan, a building belonging to the Language Department and presently occupied by the NCC, has not been vacated despite repeated representations to the authorities.
Listing several other administrative issues, Zafar claimed they collectively point towards a systematic attempt by sections of the bureaucracy to gradually render the department ineffective.
A key institution for promotion of Punjabi
The Punjab Language Department is one of the state's premier cultural and literary institutions entrusted with the promotion, preservation and development of the Punjabi language. Besides publishing books, dictionaries, research works and literary journals, the department organises seminars, literary conferences, writers' workshops and language promotion programmes across the state. It also honours distinguished writers, media persons and scholars and plays a significant role in implementing the Punjab Official Language policy.
Over the years, the department has made a substantial contribution to Punjabi literature by publishing hundreds of books and supporting literary research, making it an important institution for the preservation of Punjab's linguistic and cultural heritage.
According to Babushahi Network, despite expressing deep frustration over the functioning of the department, Zafar has not resigned from his post. Sources said he had earlier brought these issues to the notice of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had assured him that his concerns would be addressed.
It is also learnt that before making his grievances public, Zafar met Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and apprised him of the issues confronting the department.
The Punjab Government has not yet issued any official response to Zafar's allegations.
Babushahi Network made efforts to contact senior officers of the Punjab Language Department for their response. However, they could not be contacted till the filing of this report.