In a classic case that also puts a question mark on the functioning of the CPWD, a senior official of the agency managed to be absent from duty for last 25 years even as he faced several inquiries against him all this while.
Finally, law caught on with executive engineer (Electrical) AK Verma, who was on Thursday dismissed from service by Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu.
As the disciplinary authority, Naidu has imposed the major penalty of dismissal from service of Verma, after the charge of willful absence from duty against him was proved in the Inquiry set up in the matter.
A senior official said that Verma had joined CPWD as an Assistant Executive Engineer in 1980 and went on an Earned leave in December,1990. But he did not report to work thereafter.
“He went on seeking extension of leave which was not sanctioned and defied directions to report to work. An inquiry was instituted against him in September, 1992 for major penalty for willful absence from duty. “Due to non-cooperation of Verma with the Inquiry and for other reasons, it got delayed and a fresh charge sheet was issued in 2005,” the official said.
Though the inquiry report, establishing the charges against him was submitted way back in July,2007, no action was taken against him by the then officials and Minister.
However, the case came into light following Naidu’s direction a few months back to review pending vigilance and disciplinary cases for expeditious action against the accused. The Minister has also directed the concerned officials to fix responsibility for delay in the matter.