Don’t hold up promotions of IFS officers due to delayed charge memo: CAT

The petitioner alleged that the government is withholding his name citing a charge memo which was issued to him twelve years after the alleged occurrence.

The petitioner also noted tribunal’s similar directions to not defer the promotion of IFS officers on the sole ground of pendency of inordinately delayed disciplinary proceedings if they are otherwise qualified and eligible. When he made a representation to the government, the concerned department didn’t dispose of his application, said the petitioner. P Madhavan, Judicial Member and T Jacob, Administrative Member before whom the plea came up, said, “The competent authority is directed to consider the representation of applicant based on relevant rules, regulations and instructions issued and pass a reasoned order within three months.”

S Ramasubramanian, Indian Forest Officer, who is working as Conservator of Forests in Thanjavur circle has approached the tribunal under section 12 of the Administrative Tribunal Act, 1985 seeking to include his name in the list of Conservator of Forests eligible for the promotion.

Ramasubramanian submitted that he is the senior-most officer and eligible for the promotion.

“When the panel is on the verge of releasing the list, Principal Secretary to Environment and Forest Department had issued a charge memo on June 6, 2018, after 12 years from the date of the alleged occurrence. None of the allegations involves any serious charges and it can’t be made as an impediment against him for the promotion,” read the petition.