Suspended IAS officer maybe back in Hooda's government
A three-member review committee has recommended Sanjiv Kumar's reinstatement in service to Haryana government, reports Navneet Sharma.
The Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana is likely to restore 1985-batch IAS officer Sanjiv Kumar, who had dragged the Om Prakash Chautala government to the Supreme Court four years ago in the controversial recruitment of 4,000 JBT teachers in the state.
A three-member review committee comprising chief secretary, Prem Prashant; financial commissioner, Revenue Promilla Issar and special secretary personnel Dheera Khandelwal is learnt to have recommended his reinstatement in service. Kumar was suspended in December 2001 on charges of absence from duty.
The Chautala government had initiated a number of inquiries against him on charges of irregularities in printing of textbooks, misuse of vehicles/mobile phones, etc. These were later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Central Vigilance Commission. While the proceedings in several cases were dropped after regular inquiries by the CVC, the CBI is still investigating three cases. The state government has also dropped the disciplinary proceedings against the officer in two cases and imposed a minor penalty in another case.
As per Rule 3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, a member of the service against whom an investigation, inquiry or trial relating to a criminal charge is pending may, at the discretion of the government, be placed under suspension till the termination proceedings relating to that charge, if the charge is connected with his position or likely to embarrass him in the discharge of his duties or involves moral turpitude.
After his suspension by the Chautala government five years ago, Kumar filed a petition in the court alleging that he was being harassed for not obliging the political bosses in the appointment of JBT teachers when he was posted as Director, Primary Education. The court ordered a CBI inquiry in the matter and the inquiries against the officer were also transferred to the agency. In the last two years, the Hooda government has reinstated five IAS officers, including NK Jain, RK Ranga, Anand Mohan Sharan and Sandeep Garg, who are also facing inquiries and disciplinary proceedings.