The official, A.K. Verma, who had joined the CPWD in 1980, went on Earned Leave in December 1990 and did not report to work thereafter.

An official of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) who has been on a furlough for the past 25 years has been dismissed from service.

On Thursday, Urban Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu issued orders directing the dismissal from service of A.K. Verma for unauthorised absence from duty.

Mr. Verma, who joined CPWD as an assistant executive engineer in 1980 went on earned leave in December1990 and did not report to work thereafter.

According to the UD Ministry, he continued extending his leave and defied directions to report to work. An inquiry was instituted against him in September, 1992 for major penalty for wilful absence from duty.

“Owing to non-cooperation of Mr. Verma with the inquiry and for other reasons, it got delayed and a fresh charge sheet was issued in 2005. The inquiry report, establishing the charges was submitted in July, 2007 and the same was accepted by the then Minister of Urban Development in August, 2007. But no further action was taken in the matter,” the Ministry said in a statement.

Soon after assuming office, Mr. Naidu called for a review of pending vigilance and disciplinary cases for expeditious action against the accused.

The Minister has taken a serious view of in-action since 2007 and directed the officials concerned to fix responsibility for delay in the matter.