Delay in Govt Inquiry No Bar on Promotion: CAT Order
Written By Admin on April 11, 2014 | Friday, April 11, 2014
Delay in Govt Inquiry No Bar on Promotion - By Express News Service - CHENNAI
Published: 10th April 2014 07:29 AM
The Central Administrative Tribunal asked Tamil Nadu government to
consider promoting an Indian Forest Officer to rank of Chief Conservator
of Forests, observing that an officer could not be penalised for
inordinate delay on the part of government in completing disciplinary
inquiries against him.
IFS officer Ramachandra Pati joined as Assistant Conservator of
Forests in 1985. He was promoted to Conservator of Forests in 2004. He
became eligible for promotion to Chief Conservator of Forests in 2010.
However, disciplinary proceedings for his alleged shortfall in
performance under Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme were initiated in
2005 and 2006, said Pati in his petition. These proceedings were not
completed after a lapse of around five years. In his current petition
Pati pleaded that inquiry report be opened and government act on the
recommendations.
Countering his arguments, the government said the delay was because
of Pati’s refusal to cooperate with the inquiry authorities. But the
inquiry had been completed
Further, “if an officer with pendency charges of a grave nature is
promoted to the next level without reference to the disciplinary
proceedings, there will be no meaning in initiating such proceedings”,
it said adding the “punishment of censure” was imposed on Pati.
The bench of judicial member K Elango and administrative member P
Prabhakaran disposing of the petition asked the government to consider
Pati for promotion as an officer cannot be held liable for delay of an
inquiry.
Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com
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