Two Adarsh scam-tainted bureaucrats refuse to quit

The Adarsh Society scam has taken its first toll of bureaucrats in Maharashtra. However, retired IAS officials Subhash Lalla and Ramanand Tiwari have declined to quit from their present posts after being asked to resign on Monday, confirmed Maharashtra Chief Secretary J.P. Dange.

Mr. Lalla was Secretary to the Chief Minister and he is at present a member of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, while Mr. Tiwari was Urban Development Secretary and is now State Information Commissioner. Mr. Dange confirmed that both officials were asked to resign from their posts but they had declined. Mr. Tiwari did not answer his phone and Mr. Lalla too refused to speak on this issue.

Both Mr. Tiwari and Mr. Lalla have relatives with flats in Adarsh society. Mr. Tiwari's son Onkar owns a flat while Mr. Lalla's mother Sushila Shaligram and his daughter have flats in the society.

Options for State

Advocate Y.P. Singh says that since the two retired bureaucrats hold statutory posts, they could have been asked to resign. If they don't, then the State government will have to approach the Central government in the case of Mr. Lalla which will request the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry. Mr. Lalla is governed by the Protection of Human Rights Act and due process of law will have to be followed. He can be removed only by an order of the President. In the case of Mr. Tiwari, the State government can suspend him and ask the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry.

It is not known why only these two officers were asked to resign but Mr. Singh said that since they were statutory posts and dealing with the public, there could be pressure. In the cases of the 19 other officials served notices, they could be suspended pending inquiry, he said.

Notices to 21 officers

Earlier this month the Maharashtra government sent notices to 21 IAS and IPS officers, both serving and retired, who directly own or whose relatives own a house in the Adarsh Housing Society. The notices seek information on their sources of income, funding and property ownership. The notices were issued by the General Administration Department under the All India Services Conduct Rules.

It is these rules which are being invoked to demand the resignation of Mr. Tiwari and Lalla.

The officers had to reply within eight days.

Among those sent notices were former Mumbai Collector Idzes Angmo Kundan and IFS officer R.K. Das who have flats in their name at Adarsh.