Madras HC indicts TN IAS officers over disobedience

Madras HC indicts TN IAS officers over disobedience

Court Says Such Officers Must Be Stripped Of Their Posts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 26.12.2020

Expressing dismay over constant disobedience of court orders by bureaucrats, particularly IAS officers, the Madras high court on Friday said such officers must be stripped of their posts.

“…ignoring the orders of this court would definitely amount to dishonesty in their duty, besides disobedience,” Justice S Vaidyanathan said.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by TV Pallanee, then commissioner of Tambaram municipality, challenging action against him for executing emergency work worth Rs 83,920 without calling for tenders.

Though charges against Pallanee were not proved during the departmental inquiry, the then secretary to the department of municipal administration deferred the findings of the inquiry officer without disclosing any reasons. Pallanee’s pension was cut by Rs 200 a month.

Pallanee moved the high court saying the deferment of the probe findings by the municipal administration secretary was unlawful. Counsel for the government argued that the investigation was conducted in a transparent and independent manner.

Recording the submission, Justice Vaidyanathan said Pallanee had executed the work that was needed under emergency provisions. “The officers who are in charge of the fulfilment of a public need, removal of encroachment, should be appreciated and encouraged, instead of punishing them for their good actions,” the judge added.

The judge said there are several IAS officers who deal with applications under the Town and Country Planning Act and do not comply with the orders of this court. This is in spite of specific directions issued every now and then, fixing the outer time limit for disposal of the matters, the court said.

“Such officers, who are least bothered about the orders of this court and are not doing their duty, must be sent out and their IAS posts must be stripped off,” the judge observed. The court then allowed the plea and quashed the punishment order against Pallanee.

The issue pertains to a plea moved by TV Pallanee, then commissioner of Tambaram municipality, challenging action against him for executing emergency work worth ₹83,920 without calling for tenders