Bengaluru, Oct 30 (PTI) The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) has stayed the “arbitrary suspension” of a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) for taking part in an RSS route march, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said on Thursday.
The Bengaluru South MP, who is also a lawyer by profession, said his law office had challenged the suspension of Lungasugur PDO Praveen Kumar in Raichur district.
“My law office had challenged the arbitrary suspension of PDO Praveen Kumar K P for participating in the RSS Pathasanchalana in Lingasugur, Raichur, before the Hon’ble Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal,” Surya said in a post on ‘X’.
“KSAT has today stayed the suspension order, which was mechanically passed due to political pressure.” The stay should serve as a lesson to the Congress government that “no amount of intimidation can deter the nation-building ideals of RSS,” he added.
Surya also thanked former Advocate General of Karnataka, Prabhuling Navadgi for his support.
According to Surya, on October 12 Praveen Kumar, deputed as a Personal Assistant to an MLA, participated in the route march organised as part of the RSS centenary celebrations.
On October 18, the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Commissionerate issued a suspension order citing alleged violation of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules), 2021, which mandate that a government servant shall maintain moral integrity and not engage in acts unbecoming of public service.
The BJP MP had met the PDO and assured him of every assistance.
Surya said Senior Advocate Prabhuling Navadgi argued before the KSAT that the suspension was illegal and arbitrary, contending that participation in a private, non-political event on a non-working day could not constitute a violation of service rules.
Reacting to the development, Priyank Kharge wrote on ‘X’, “Misinterpreting the court directions seems to have become a habit for BJP leaders. The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Kalburagi Bench has only passed an interim order and has not passed any order quashing or setting aside the suspension order of the PDO who participated in RSS rally.” The suspension order will be in abeyance till the final verdict of the case. The tribunal has directed the matter to be listed for final hearing on Nov 14, 2025 with the direction to the state government to file a reply statement, the Minister said.
“We will file the statement and contest the matter,” Kharge added. PTI GMS GMS ROH
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