File counter in IPS officer’s suspension: CAT to Andhra Pradesh government

HYDERABAD: The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Hyderabad, on Friday directed AP government to file a counter on suspension of IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao. Tribunal’s administration member BV Sudhakar was hearing a petition filed by Rao who challenged his suspension. The government placed him under suspension on February 8 for alleged irregularities in procuring security equipment for AP.
Rao’s counsel G Vidya Sagar told CAT that his client had been denied even salary in the last eight months.“The suspension was carried out in unlawful manner,” he said and urged CAT to stay the suspension order.
The tribunal while refusing to grant any interim relief, however, sought a counter from the state within a week.
Senior counsel D Prakash Reddy, who appeared for AP government, found fault with the language used by the senior IPS officer in his affidavit. “The allegations he is facing are serious and he says he would affix signatures in a routine and formal manner in the end after they are scrutinised by competent officers below him. As senior IPS officer, he should scrutinise files that come to him before approving them and should never say that his final signature is mere formality,” Prakash argued.
Earlier, there was some discussion on who should hear the matter. Discussion was on whether the administration member can decide the matter or it should be heard by a two-member bench of CAT. Sudhakar, while posting the case to February 24, said he would answer this question on that day.