Latest news with #DisciplineandAppeal)Rules
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh government extends director general of police Harish Kumar Gupta's service by two years
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh govt has officially appointed senior IPS officer, Harish Kumar Gupta, as the DGP of Andhra Pradesh, for a fixed tenure of two years. This decision comes even as Gupta, a 1992-batch officer, is due to superannuate in August 2025. Currently serving as DGP since February in full additional charge, Gupta also holds the post of director general, vigilance and enforcement, and ex-officio principal secretary to the govt in the general administration (V&E) department. Despite being on the verge of retirement, the state govt exercised its discretion to extend his service in line with the supreme court guidelines, which allow a fixed two-year term for DGPs recommended by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The UPSC convened the empanelment committee meeting on April 30 at its office in New Delhi following a formal proposal sent by the state govt. After careful scrutiny, the commission submitted a panel of eligible officers for the top police post. Among the contenders were three other senior IPS officers, but the state govt ultimately selected Gupta based on merit and suitability. The state govt cleared his appointment after reviewing the UPSC panel and examining the service records of all shortlisted officers. His appointment is for a fixed period of two years from the date he assumes charge, with conditions under which he may be relieved. These include disciplinary proceedings under AIS (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, conviction in criminal or corruption cases, incapacitation, reassignment with consent, or any other administrative reason recorded in writing. Gupta's continuation in the role beyond his superannuation marks a rare move, signalling the state's intent to ensure leadership continuity in the police force at a time when the administration is preparing to implement major reforms in law and order, public safety, and enforcement mechanisms.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC asks for details of convicted public servants in service
Madurai: Taking a serious view of the fact that a woman convicted in a disproportionate assets case was allowed to continue in govt service, Madras high court directed the chief secretary and additional chief secretary/vigilance commissioner to furnish details of the convicted public servants in service, irrespective of rank. Justice K K Ramakrishnan directed that the report on the action taken against them under 17(c)(i)(1) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1955, be submitted in a month. Allowing the convicted public servant to continue in govt service is not only deplorable but also shows apathy on the part of the state govt, the court said. "Rule 17(c)(i)(1) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules contemplates that an employee who is convicted by the competent court of law shall be dismissed from service without any further enquiry. In this case, the petitioner was convicted and sentenced to undergo imprisonment. It is shocking to the conscience of the court that no appropriate action is taken against the public servant who was convicted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and no order of punishment was passed under the said Rules," observed Justice Ramakrishnan. Petitioner J Amala Jessi Jacquillin joined as an assistant engineer in the rural development and panchayat raj department in 1998 and was promoted as assistant executive engineer, Tuticorin sub-division. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Alerta: Você tem zumbido no ouvido? Dica de ouro pode aliviar! Zumbido no ouvido Undo In Sept 2020, disciplinary proceedings were initiated against her following registration of a case for offences under Prevention of Corruption Act. She was accused of accumulating disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs25.40 lakh in her name and her husband's name between Dec 1, 1999, and Mar 31, 2009. The trial court convicted and sentenced her to three years of rigorous imprisonment. Subsequently, the HC granted her interim suspension of sentence. In 2022, another charge memo was issued to her. While the proceedings were pending, a promotion list was published without her name, challenging which she filed the present petition. The judge observed that the petitioner has no right to continue in employment as she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case in 2024. However, she managed to work in the department. The HC had only suspended the petitioner's sentence. Two charge memos are pending against her. The relief sought in the petition is misconceived, and the petitioner is not entitled to any relief. Hence the judge dismissed the petition and imposed a cost of Rs50,000 on the petitioner, payable to the credit of the headmaster of Sethupathi govt higher secondary school in Tiruchuli in Virudhunagar district. The case was posted on July 18 for reporting compliance.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
SHRC recommends criminal case against govt. doctor for ‘forcing' patient to go to private hospital where he practised
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Monday recommended that the Tamil Nadu government register a criminal case against a government doctor who had allegedly refused to attend to a woman (since dead) with burns, and forced her to go to a private hospital where he practised, and also dismiss him from government service immediately. The Commission also recommended payment of ₹50 lakh in compensation to the woman's husband. While the government was vicariously liable to pay ₹6 lakh, ₹40 lakh was to be recovered from the doctor, ₹2 lakh from a senior civil surgeon, and ₹1 lakh each from two nurses, who also had a role in the transfer of the patient. SHRC member V. Kannadasan recommended that the Tamil Nadu government monitor the private practice of government doctors and ensure that no patients were transferred from government hospitals to private hospitals. Government doctors running private clinics were to be monitored during duty hours at the government hospitals, the Commission said. During the hearing of a complaint from S. Karuppasamy of Kovilpatti in Thoothukudi district regarding the November 27, 2018 incident, the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services submitted that a majority of the allegations against Dr. C. Prabakar were found to be true. In its 2019 counter, it said action was initiated against him under Section 17 (b) of the Tamil Nadu Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules. According to the complainant, after his wife sustained burns, she went to a nearby primary health centre, where Dr. Prabakar said he would go on leave for 10 days and advised her to get herself admitted to a private hospital where he practised. He charged more than ₹11 lakh for her treatment. When asked about the treatment, the doctor threatened to inject the patient with poison, the complainant alleged. A report of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services 'categorically concluded that the doctors and nurses were responsible for the death of the patient'. The respondents filed their counters. After perusing the records, the Commission said the report of the inquiry committee held Dr. Prabakar responsible for maltreatment of the woman. Senior civil surgeon Venkateshwara Sri and nurses Kumareswari and Gurulakshmi, then attached to the Government Headquarters Hospital, Kovilpatti, were the other respondents. The Commission dismissed the charge against the then Additional Director of Medical Services, A. Kamalavasan.
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Driving licence scam: Suspended a month back, 2 senior VB officials reinstated
In a move that has sparked confusion and raised questions about the consistency of its anti-corruption stance, the Punjab government has reinstated two senior officials of the vigilance bureau (VB) who were earlier suspended in connection with an alleged driving licence scam. However, the officer who headed the VB at the time, SPS Parmar, remains under suspension. The reinstated officers — Swarandeep Singh, assistant inspector general, vigilance bureau (SAS Nagar), and Harpreet Singh, senior superintendent of police, vigilance bureau (Jalandhar) — were suspended on April 26 alongside Parmar, a 1997-batch IPS officer. The suspensions had followed the launch of a statewide crackdown on corruption in regional transport authority (RTA) offices and driving test centres. At the time, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government had projected the suspensions as a major step in its anti-corruption campaign, citing 'grave misconduct and dereliction of duty' under Rule 3(3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The state government has not only revoked the suspensions of Swarandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh but also reinstated them to their previous posts in the vigilance bureau. According to the orders issued by the home secretary, their suspension period will be treated as a regular duty period. No official explanation has been provided for the reversal. The decision has led to a wave of speculation, particularly since SPS Parmar — who was the Bureau's chief director at the time of the alleged scam — continues to remain suspended. Senior bureaucrats and police officers have questioned the logic behind the decision, pointing out that if the officers who conducted the field-level operations have been cleared, it is inconsistent to hold the supervisory officer solely responsible. 'If the cutting-edge officers are not at fault, how can the supervisory officer be?' said a senior IPS officer on a condition of anonymity. The vigilance operation launched in April had uncovered a widespread bribery network involving the illegal issuance of driving licences through middlemen, who allegedly took bribes to manipulate test results or expedite approvals without proper testing. Since Parmar's suspension, there has been little visible progress in the case under the new vigilance bureau chief, Praveen Kumar Sinha. The two absconding RTO officials — whose arrests were a key reason cited for Parmar's suspension — remain at large. Meanwhile, the Centre has formally approved Parmar's suspension and directed the Punjab government to issue him a chargesheet by June 26. Home secretary Alok Shekhar could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts. Oppn slams AAP govt The Opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on the Punjab government over the reinstatement of two VB officers. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the credibility of the government's actions, highlighting the inconsistency between the suspension and the reinstatement of the officers. 'First, the AAP government suspended senior VB officers claiming a crackdown on corruption. Now, they're reinstated — same posts, suspension period not even counted. Both decisions can't be right,' Bajwa said. He further alleged that the suspensions may have been politically motivated. 'Did the AAP suspend them to make them fall in line, and now they've complied? This isn't governance. It's intimidation,' he added. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia also criticised the move, pointing out that officers who were deemed 'corrupt' barely three weeks ago have now been quietly reinstated. 'This raises serious questions — either about the officers' integrity or the government's,' Majithia said. He alleged that the officials were initially expected to act against political opponents but did not comply with the government's demands. 'Now, a deal seems to have been struck,' Majithia claimed, suggesting that the reinstatement was a result of behind-the-scenes compromise. Majithia also demanded that the government issue a public apology and reinstate suspended officer SPS Parmar, arguing that his case is no different from those who have now been brought back to their positions.
