Kerala University has sought explanation from O.T. Prakash, a section officer at the university, who is on deputation as secretary, District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), Thiruvananthapuram, for not returning to the parent department on expiry of the tenure in January.
Mr. Prakash was granted deputation for one year from January 9, 2012, to the DTPC and it was extended for another two years. The deputation ended on January 8 this year and the varsity had denied No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for further time in the DTPC. But, the official is still officiating as DTPC secretary.
The section officer’s deputation was not extended by the government and he was asked to rejoin duty in the university immediately. As per the directive of the Vice Chancellor (VC), the Registrar issued a letter to Mr. Prakash on January 20 to rejoin duty as his deputation had ended and it pointed out that he was overstaying.
As Mr. Prakash did not respond to the letter, the Registrar issued a memo on June 1 to explain within 14 days why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for overstaying.
The varsity said that the period of overstay would not count while calculating pension amount. The memo also said that any increment due in the period of overstay would be deferred with cumulative effect on the date on which he joins duty.
In April, the joint action committee of two unions in the DTPC, backed by the CITU and the Congress, had written to the VC against giving NOC to Mr. Prakash for further deputation in the DTPC and to call him back immediately.
In the letter, the Thiruvananthapuram Jilla Tourism Promotion Council Employees Union and the Employees Congress had told the VC that the complaints against Mr. Prakash before government and the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on financial irregularities and misuse of power.
A case was pending before the Lok Ayukta on the destruction caused to the Tsunami Park at Shanghumughom, the letter said. Another case was pending in the High Court and one more at the Scheduled Castes Commission filed by women employees working at the Neyyar dam boat club.
