JSP condemns removal of IAS officer

Taking serious exceptions to the removal of Karnataka cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer M.N. Vijaykumar, three days before his normal retirement, Jana Sangram Parishat (JSP) condemned the State government for penalising the officer with compulsory retirement.

Addressing a media conference here on Monday, Raghavendra Kushtagi, state working president of JSP, held “an IAS mafia operating within the bureaucratic apparatus” responsible for the removal of the IAS officer.

“The mafia of IAS officers operating within the bureaucratic apparatus from top to bottom has always been punishing honest and committed officers at the behest of corrupt politicians, mafias gangs and business houses that illegally plunder rich natural resources. Since Mr. Vijaykumar was non-corrupt and there were no charges against him, the IAS mafia vaguely charged him with indiscipline and slammed him the compulsory retirement order,” he charged.

He lashed out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for “punishing honest officers and protecting corrupt ones” and termed him “a promise breaker” for not keeping his words of giving clean, stable and efficient governance.

“Former Lokayukta Justice N. Santosh Hegde had, in his report on illegal mining in the State, indicted 720 corrupt officers for facilitating illegal mining. Subsequently, a high-level official committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary K. Jairaj that studied the Lokayukta report recommended actions against 200 officers among them for their definite involvement in the illegal mining. The Siddaramaiah government is not taking action against these corrupt officials, but punishing clean and committed officers such as M.N. Vijaykumar,” he charged.

Mr. Kushtagi said that Mr. M.N. Vijaykumar had been subjected to punishment for no fault of him throughout his career. "In his 30 years service as an IAS officer, Mr. M.N. Vijaykumar was transferred 29 times and most of the transfers were for punishment," he said. He demanded both State and Union governments to reconsider the decision.

JSP’s district convenor Dr. V.A. Malipatil and other activists were present.