Public discontent is growing in the district here over the irregularities made in reinstating an OAS officer despite a stay order of the Supreme Court. This has also raised a finger at the transparency of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Government and his clean image, even as Jagatsinghpur MlA Bishnu Charan Das did his best to save it from getting sullied.
The issue has assumed a lot of significance as general elections are a few months away. Anti-corruption activists are cornering Das and embarrassing him on the question of transparency of the BJD Government.
The matter relates to one Sukanti Choudhury of Khuntia, a non-matriculate who is continuing as Additional Tehsildar of Cuttack Sadar in OAS capacity.
Choudhury who has secured only 230 (failed marks) out of total 800 marks in the 1972 HSC examinations has managed to enter into Government service on January 7, 1980 as lSEO in the erstwhile CD and RR Department. She has been promoted to the rank of CDRO and thereafter, selected to the OAS cadre.
While she was continuing as Additional Tehsildar, Cuitack Sadar, a public complaint was made against her with the authorities of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. later, a probe was ordered into her HSC results and the allegation against her was found to be true. The department soon instituted departmental and criminal proceedings against her. The State Crime Branch which probed the case submitted a charge sheet in the SDJM court, Cuttack Sadar on April 28, 2008. However, the accused moved the Odisha High Court to quash the above proceedings against her.
The court quashed the criminal proceeding on the ground of technicality. Choudhury also managed to obtain a stay order on disciplinary proceedings against her. Taking advantage of the situation, Choudhury demanded her reinstatement in service. She was also reinstated in service.
The law Department which has earned reputation of creating unlawful traditions, was initially reluctant to file an SlP against the High Court order, but was made to do so at the behest of the Advocate General. Accordingly, the SlP was filed in the Supreme Court, which stayed the order of the State High Court.
The intelligentsia of Jagatsinghpur district wonders at the wisdom of the Revenue Department in extending all facilities, including reinstating Choudhury even as the apex court stay is in force.