Madhya Pradesh High Court on directed the Central Government to dispose of the objections raised against extension of the tenure of Madhya Pradesh Chief Secretary (CS) R Parashuram within a fixed time.
The court heard the petition filed by Bhopal-based activist Ajay Dubey, challenging the decision of the Centre taken in February to extend the term of R Parashuram by six months on request of the State Government. Not satisfied by the High Court’s order, Ajay has decided to challenge it in the Supreme Court.
“The petition was for termination of the order of the Centre granting six month extension to the CS. However, the court has shifted the ball in Centre’s court. That is why I have decided to challenge the judgment,” Ajay told. He informed that in his petition filed before the High Court, he had raised two objection against the extension granted to Parashuram.
“Firstly, an enquiry by the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) is currently pending against the CS for his involvement in a case of corruption. Extension is usually granted only to officers with impeccable track record,” Ajay said. Notably, allegation of corruption against the CS was raised by the activist himself earlier in January. He had alleged that Parashuram used his influence to benefit a NGO run by a former bureaucrat. The EOW took cognisance of the compliant made by Ajay and an enquiry in the matter is pending.
“The second ground of objection is that as per the rules laid in All India Service Rules, the application for extension of term of an officer has to be submitted by the State Government explaining the public interest that calls for such move. However, the State Government did not submit such detailed proposal and instead only a letter from the Chief Minister was sent to the Centre. Thus, even the minimum procedural requirements are not fulfilled in the case,” he said.
The State Government had justified Parashuram’s extension on the ground that it would facilitate satisfactory completion of the new schemes that he has initiated.