Madras HC suspends Tiruvallur BDO over suspension of panchayat secretary

Chennai: The Madras high court has ordered suspension of Block Development Officer, Poondi, Tiruvallur district, for not filing reply in connection with a petition challenging suspension of a panchayat secretary.

Justice S.M.Subramaniam, before whom a petition filed by G. Jayaprakash of Tiruvallur, came up for hearing on Friday, directed the district collector, to place S.G.Krishnan, the Block Development Officer, Poondi, Tiruvallur, under suspension and to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings under the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal Rules).

The matter relates to suspension of G. Jayaprakash, who was working as a panchayet secretary, eight years ago by authorities. Despite lapse of eight years the disciplinary proceedings were not concluded. Challenging the suspension order, he moved the high court.

When the petition came up for hearing, D.Raghu government advocate, submitted that the BDO attended the court without any files. When the judge asked for the files, BDO was unable to provide any answer.

The judge said such a conduct of the public servant has to be viewed seriously. The BDO has not understood the seriousness of the judicial proceedings and he has committed the dereliction of duty and negligence in not bringing the files and also not instructed the government advocate for defending the writ petition on behalf of the state. Thus, he miserably failed to perform his duty by not responding to the court.Later, the judge directed the collector, to depute another responsible official from the collectorate to instruct the government advocate along with the files and posted the matter to July 30 for orders.