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CAT admits IAS officer’s petition

Kochi: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Ernakulam Bench, on Friday admitted an application filed by the suspended IAS officer K. Suresh Kumar challenging his suspension.

The Bench also issued notice to the State and Central governments on the application.

Mr. Suresh Kumar, Managing Director, State Cooperative Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, was placed under suspension for criticising the functioning of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

In his application, Mr. Suresh Kumar said the views attributed to him did not amount to an adverse criticism against the Chief Minister’s Office. In fact, he had criticised only the conduct of the private secretary and political secretary of Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. These officials were not civil servants.

They were only temporary staff attached to the office of the Chief Minister. Mr. Suresh Kumar said his views did not constitute a misconduct as contemplated by Rule 7 of the of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

The rule did not empower the government to place an IAS officer under suspension before charges were drawn up. The government had not applied its mind before taking a decision.

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