The State Government has reportedly started a process to recommend to the Union Government to reinstate two senior IAS officers, Prasant Nayak and Vinod Kumar, whose current suspensions are ending on September 9 (Tuesday).
Notably, when Nayak has been facing suspension for his alleged involvement in the Baleswar sex scandal, Kumar is alleged to have swindled crores of rupees of the Odisha Rural Housing Development Corporation (ORHDC).
A Vigilance case in this regard has been pending against Kumar. Though a meeting was held on September 2 under chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to extend their suspension periods by six months yet no decision was taken. Rather, it was decided that a call in this regard would be taken on a later date.
The Chief Secretary is believed to have given opinion for reinstatement of the two officers. Meanwhile, it has become a contentious issue in different quarters as to why the State Government is still silent on extension of suspension of the two officers when the current period is ending on September 9. According to norms, if a recommendation is not sent to the Centre by this date, their suspension would be lifted automatically.
While some view that the State Government is considering lifting their suspensions as their alleged roles in the illegalities have not been proved and they are taking salaries sitting idle, others suspect some senior IAS officers are making sincere efforts to get them reinstated this time.