The suspension of Dalit IAS officer Shashi Karnawat has been extended further for four months despite assurance of reinstatement by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Karnawat was hopeful that she would be reinstated on August 12.
Karnawat while expressing angst against the government decision said that this government is anti-Dalit. "Despite assurance of Chief Minister I have not been reinstated," said Karnawat adding that she would disclose her further move after August 14.
Karnawat had on July 27 wrote to Chouhan and sought permission to die, saying she was facing injustice since she was from the weaker section of society. The woman officer said she remains suspended from service for the last three years. "I have met the Chief Minister many times in three years but to no avail, despite assurances. He gives assurances but does not have the will to act on his assurances," Karnawat said. She said she was assured of suitable action in her case by Chouhan on July 14, but nothing happened and hence she did not want to live any more. Karnawat said she was seeking the permission to die since she was not very sure of getting justice from the state government. In 2013, a Mandla district court had sentenced Karnawat promoted to the Indian Administrative Service in 1999 to five year imprisonment in a graft case. She was then placed under suspension.