Gurugram: Two reinstated IAS officers, who were arrested on graft charges but out on bail, were among those 18 bureaucrats either transferred or posted Monday by the Haryana government in the first such exercise of this year.
One of the two reinstated IAS officers, Vijay Singh Dahiya, was made the commissioner, Karnal division. The other, Jaibir Arya, is now the special secretary, finance department.
Dahiya was the commissioner of the skill department when he was arrested in 10 October last year. The 2001 batch officer was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) following a complaint by educational institute owner Rinku Manchanda, who alleged that he sought money through a conduit for clearing bills. He was granted bail by a Panchkula court 28 November.
On the other hand, Arya (2009 batch) was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau for graft after he along with two officials — Sandeep Ghanghas of HSWC and Rajesh Bansal of CONFED — and a private individual were booked in a corruption case on 11 October.
The Haryana State Warehousing Corporation (HSWC) managing director came out on bail on the same day when Dahiya got the court relief.
A senior Haryana government officer said that the duo was placed under suspension following arrests and their reinstatement orders were issued by the personnel department without prejudice to the outcome of the criminal proceedings pending against them.
“Once the suspension is revoked, the official concerned can be given any position as per his/her seniority,” the officer said.
Notably, Rule 4A of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, 1987 deals with suspension of the employees and the penalties to be imposed on them.
“A government employee shall be deemed to be placed under suspension by the order of the appointing authority with effect from the date of detention, if he is detained in custody, whether on a criminal charge or otherwise, for a period exceeding 48 hours,” says sub rule 2 of the Rule.
“The order of suspension made, or deemed to have been made under this Rule shall continue to remain in force till it is revoked by the authority competent to do so,” reads sub rule 5 of the Rule.
As a commissioner, Dahiya will exercise the powers delegated to his office under Section 17 A of the PCA mandating the state’s prior approval before conducting an enquiry, inquiry or investigation into an alleged offence of a public servant.
Amit Kumar Agrawal (2003 batch), additional principal secretary to Khattar and project director, CM’s Good Governance Associate, was relieved from the charge of Director General (D-G) Public Relations.
This responsibility was given to Mandip Singh Brar (2005 batch), who also holds the charge of D-G of mining and geology and mission director of Mukhyamantri Antyodya Parivar Yojana.
Brar’s wife Ashima Brar (2004 batch) is the new additional principal secretary to the CM, relieving Khetmalis Makarand Pandurang (2007) who is now the MD of Haryana Warehousing Corporation and the CEO of Panchkula and Sonipat Metropolitan Authorities.
Ashima Brar will also be D-G of Social Justice Empowerment and Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (SEWA).
Another prominent name in Monday’s list is P.C. Meena, the former commissioner of Gurugram municipal corporation, who faced CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s ire during his surprise visit on 21 December.
Narhari Singh Banger (2011 batch) took over from Meena, who was made the MD, Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam. Similarly, A. Sreenivas (2004 batch), CEO of Faridabad Metropolitan Authority, was transferred to Gurugram Metropolitan Authority, a charge held so far by Meena.
Saket Kumar (2005 batch), D-G of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam, will hold the charge of medical education and research, which was earlier with Ashima Brar.
Rajnarayan Kaushik, special secretary in the health department and mission director in the National Health Mission, was made D-G in agriculture and farmers’ welfare department.
Kaushik featured in a ‘tussle’ between Health Minister Anil Vij and Khattar over alleged interference by the CMO in the department’s functioning.
Suresh (1995 batch), the resident commissioner at Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi, was made principal secretary in the HR department. C.G. Rajini Kaanthan (2004 batch) is the D-G of industries and commerce, while Shekhar Vidyarthi (2004 batch) will head archives and transport departments.
Among others, Jitender Kumar (2010 batch) was made the D-G, secondary education; Aditya Dahiya (2011 batch) the special secretary, health and mission director, NHM; Amit Khatri (2011 batch) the director, town and country planning.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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