Assam govt officer dismissed from service for misconduct
Guwahati, July 17
The Assam government has dismissed 1999-batch Assam Civil Service officer Arup Kumar Chakraborty from service following disciplinary proceedings initiated against him over alleged misconduct and violation of service rules, officials said on Friday.
According to officials in the state administration, the Personnel Department issued an order terminating Chakraborty's services after finding him guilty in a departmental inquiry.
The disciplinary action was taken after multiple allegations were levelled against the officer, including irregularities in recruitment and a prolonged unauthorised absence from duty.
Officials said the departmental proceedings concluded that Chakraborty had remained absent from work without obtaining prior approval from the competent authority and had repeatedly failed to attend office during official working hours.
The inquiry reportedly found that his conduct amounted to a serious violation of the Assam Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, prompting the government to impose the maximum penalty of dismissal from service.
Officials added that the Personnel Department reviewed the inquiry's findings before issuing the final order removing the officer from government service.
While the state government has not publicly disclosed the detailed findings of the inquiry, officials maintained that the action was taken in accordance with the applicable service rules after providing the officer an opportunity to present his defence during the disciplinary process.
The dismissal is being viewed as part of the Assam government's continued emphasis on ensuring accountability and discipline within the state bureaucracy. In recent years, the government has initiated disciplinary proceedings against several officials in cases involving alleged corruption, misconduct, dereliction of duty and violation of service norms.
Officials said further action, if required under applicable laws or administrative procedures, would be taken based on the findings of the departmental inquiry.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The Assam government's recent steps to clean up the bureaucracy are commendable. But is this a one-off case or will there be systemic checks to prevent such misconduct in the first place? That is the real question.
I'm just an outsider looking in, but this seems like a step in the right direction. In many countries, such disciplinary actions are routine. Hope India's civil services keep improving accountability.
Dismissal from service is a strong message. But why did it take so long? The inquiry must have been dragging for years. Our system needs faster resolution of such cases, else it encourages more misconduct.
I work in the private sector and if I stayed absent without approval for months, I'd be fired in a week. Why do government servants get so many chances? Good that Assam is finally enforcing discipline!
While I appreciate the government taking action, I hope this is based on solid evidence and not just political pressure. The officer deserves a fair process. But if proven guilty, dismissal is only fair.
Interesting to see this level of accountability in Indian bureaucracy. States like Assam seem to be upping their game. But what about central government officers? They seem to get away with much more!
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