DN Narasimharaju

Bangalore Development Authority

BDA

Bommasandra

Anil Kumar

Karnataka Information Commission

Marigowda

Gowda

KIC

WHAT ANIL KUMAR SAYS

Anekal

Bengaluru

Bangalore Mirror

After recommending disciplinary action not once or twice but over half-a-dozen times, ordinarily, a government servant would be in dire straits. But in the Siddaramaiah government, the opposite appears to be true. The way this government views suspension seems to be different. If you’re suspended, that means you’ve done something wrong, which then entitles you to a much better position so that you can help the powers that be profit from your devious intelligence. Well, at least that’s politician logic, from what we understand.Officials in the dock or facing a probe seem to be getting plum postings and promotions. This seems evident from the case of a top revenue department official against whom the then chief information commissioner and former additional chief secretaryhad himself recommended disciplinary action thrice. The officer, has, however, now been promoted and posted to a plum assignment in). Needless to say, no action was taken against the official.Taken aback, one of the appellants, a senior citizen hailing from, 73-year-old D Muniyappa, (in pic) in whose case too disciplinary action had been recommended against the same official, has moved the chief minister, revenue minister, and chief secretary, detailing the alleged lapse. However, the officer in the dock,, rubbished charges of any wrongdoing or disciplinary action against him.“During rains, water is supposed to flow in drains but instead the roads were flooded, causing accidents. Owing to repeated accidents, an application had been filed seeking information in January 2014 on encroachment of stormwater drains. At thefrom 10/02/2015, the matter was heard over 10 times, and the commission had taken serious note of the concerned officer’s absence throughout. Considering the matter to be of public importance, the commission levied a penalty of Rs.10,000 on the officer and directed him to part with the required information. But there was a serious official lapse despite the directive.Disciplinary action had been recommended,”, an activist explained.Similar recommendations have been made in four cases - case no. 5226 on 05/04/2016, case no. 599 on 26/08/2016, case no. 600 on 26/08/2016 and case no. 604 on 26/04/2016. In case number 5226, the state information commission recommended disciplinary action and had recalled two more cases 5227 and 5228 as well.“Similar recommendations have been made in over seven cases. Even as a report had been sought within 5 months after recommending disciplinary action against the officer in 4 cases, instead of action against him, he has been promoted,” Marigowda said.has called the chief minister and chief secretary’s attention seeking to direct the concerned department to implement the court’s orders. He maintained that promotions instead of disciplinary actions would not only defy thecourt orders but also prove a setback to the RTI Act. Though officials are bound to be considered for promotions, this could be after the disciplinary enquiry or action as recommended by KIC or other courts is taken, he added.However, the official denied any lapses on his part. He maintained that he had done no wrong. “There had been two instances like that and I have issued replies to questions if any. It was when I wastahsildar. In Anekal, there are three tahsildars. There is a grade II tahsildar for caste and income issues, while law and order is looked after by the grade I tahsildar, and a special tahsildar for khata transfer related works is in place. When there are complaints, people mention the name of the regular tahsildar, Anil Kumar. Inurban district, there are three tahsildars in five taluks. When complaining, they just write tahsildar, Anekal. Even these tahsildars are PIOs too. In cases against me, I have given my replies. In one case, the issue under consideration didn’t come under us and in another case, the concerned tahsildar had provided information, but the complainant was not satisfied. I’m not aware of so many cases (referring to seven as alleged). It has been eight months since I was promoted and left Anekal, but they are complaining now. There is a clear cut delegation of duties. There are no such cases or recommendations. I have done no wrong,” Anil Kumar told, denying the charges against him.