Adopting zero tolerance policy towards corruption, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday dismissed two civil engineers of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) after they were convicted by the CBI Special Court, Thiruvananthapuram, for taking bribe.
R Kennadi, Executive Engineer(Civil) was dismissed from service on March 2 while RV Suresh Kumar, Assistant Engineer (Civil) faced similar action a few days ago by the Director General of CPWD following their conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The two engineers were convicted by the Special Judge in January last year under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and were sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs50,000 each, according to a senior official from the Urban Development Ministry.
Both were immediately placed under suspension. Suresh Kumar was dismissed by the DG, CPWD, the disciplinary authority in this case, in May 2014.
Kennadi was served show cause notices twice as required under the rules of procedure for imposing the major penalty of dismissal from service. He moved the Kerala High Court against his conviction by the CBI Special Judge and obtained bail in January, 2014. He represented against any disciplinary action till his appeal was decided upon.
After ascertaining the views of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) and the Union Public service Commission (UPSC) and keeping in view the gravity of misconduct, Naidu, as the Disciplinary Authority, ordered dismissal of Kennadi from service, the official said.
It was clarified in the matter that the Disciplinary Authority can impose appropriate penalty as deemed fit since the Kerala High Court has not set aside the conviction of Kennadi, he added.