“How Far It is Fact ?” Has really Chief Minister dismissed any employees, as Media Propagates?

 

Media-hyped News about Dismissal of  the  officers  and employees by  Chief Minister, Odisha

“How Far It is Fact ?”  Has really Chief Minister dismissed any employees, as Media Propagates?

RTI Exposed the authenticity of Information.

 

After Media  highlighting, covering  front-page news    and  glorifying    Chief Minister’s    action against Corruption termed as   “ Zero Tolerance to Corruption”  by way of dismissing  number  of  officers  and employees  from service and withholding  pension  of the employees  on  ground of corruption in 2019 and 2020, Multiple RTI Applications  dt. 3.9.2019, 14.7.20 were  filed by Pradip Pradhan, Srikant Pakal ,  Santosh Mohanty and many others   to the  office  of the  Chief Minister ,  Dept. of Parliamentary Affairs , Dept. of GA &PG , Govt. of  Odisha  to access  the  following information

 

i.     Provide    details of  documents and  files  relating to decision  taken  by Chief  Minister  to dismiss  21 officers  and employees  from service  with  copy  of file  noting  with  their  names  with address  and  post held  by them.

ii. Provide name  of  the  retired  officers  and  employees  whose  pension  has been held  up  by  Chief  Minister , copy  of the  order  of  Chief  minister  along  with  copy  of  details of  decision  taken  in this  regard  including  copy  of the  file noting. .

 

The  PIO, office  of the  Chief Minister  categorically  denied  the  information  , as the said  information  is  not at all available  in the  CM’S office. On query about copy of the press release, the PIO replied that it is available in public domain.  We searched the website of Chief Minister’s office, but could not get any information about press release. We  had  also approached  many media  people  to get  the  copy  of the press  release  issued  from the  office  of Chief Minister, but  in vain, as  everyone  expresses  their  helplessness.

 

The issue before  us   is how  the  office  of Chief Minister  got  the  information   about  number  of employees dismissed  and pension withheld, when  media  reports  and highlights it. However, another attempt  was  made  to  access the said  information and unearth  truth  and  the  politics  behind  this   news  about CM  dismissing  employees  from service  on ground  of  corruption.  On 24.8.20.,  Sri Sarbeswar Behura, RTI Activist   filed  RTI Application  in the  office  of General Administration and PG, Govt. of Odisha  seeking  the  following  information from June-2019  to August-2020   attaching   copy  of the news published  in the  news papers  “ the  Chief Minister  has  dismissed  60 employees  from service  on the  ground of  corruption”.

 

a.       Name  of  the  officers  and employees  who have been  dismissed  by  the Chief Minister on the ground of  corruption  as declared by Govt. , name  of their Dept.  and position held by  them

b.      Name  of the  officers  and employees  who have been given  compulsory  retirement  by the  Chief Minister on the  ground of  corruption , designation held by  each  of them, name  of their  department.

c.       Name  of the  retired employees  whose pension  has been  temporarily  stopped  and their  department.

 

Thanks to God,  the PIO  without  denying  the  information, forwarded  RTI Application  to all  the  Departments  to  provide  information which  was again  forwarded  to all  sub-ordinate offices  by the  concerned departments  across the state. Within last  three months , the supply   of information from various offices still continues and getting flooded with us.   This  information  really  exposed  who has  dismissed  the  public servants  and its  ground of  dismissal. The details of officers dismissed, ground of their dismissal and name of the authority who dismissed are as follows.

 

Employees  dismissed  on the  ground of  corruption
Sl.No	Name  of the  officers and employees , position held   with  dept.	Department		Details of  dismissal
1	Sri Akhaya Kumar Behera, Ex-Senior  Scientific Officer, Testing Laboratory, Berhampur  under DEP&M, Odisha ( MSME Dept.)	MSME Dept		He was dismissed by the  Dept. on 30.10.2019 after  Special Judge , Vigilance in P.S. Case No. 29 dt. 4.7.2014  sentenced him  rigorous imprisonment  for 2 years  on 1.6.2018
2	Sri Dharma Singh, Ex-Panchayat Executive Officer, Rairangpur  block  of Mayurhanj  district	Collector, Mayurbhanj		He was dismissed on 17.12.2019 by The  Disciplinary authority- Collector, Mayurhanj
3	Sri Jibesh Chandra  Rath, Deputy Executive Engineer  under Bhubaneswar ( R&B) Division-1, Bhubaneswar	Works Department		Secretary, Dept. of  Works
4	Sri Tirupati Venkateswar Pani  Asst. Engineer, Rural Works , Dasapalla , Dist-Nayagarh	Works Department		DO
5	Sri Tapan Kumar Garnaik, Executive  Engineer, Charbatia ( R&B) Division, Choudwar , Cuttack	Works Department		The Special Judge (vigilance) , Sundaragarh  in his judgement dt. 24.4.2018 held Garnaik guilty  of undue official favour to the  contractor  and sentenced  him to undergo rigorous  imprisonment  for 2 years  and to pay Rs. 10,000.00. On 28.2.20, the Secretary, Dept. of Works dismissed him from service.
6	Sri Pruthwiraj Lenka, Asst. Executive Engineer, under Berhampur N.H. Division,	Works Department		DO
7	Sri Krustna Mohan Dash, VLW-cum-PEO, Karlamunda Block  of Kalahandi district	Collector, Kalahandi		He was  dismissed by the Collector, Kalahandi  on the ground of corruption.
8	Sri Ashok Kumar  Saha, PEO, Thuamul Ram pur Block	DO		DO
9	Sri Padma Mukha Sabar, PEO, Narla Block	DO		DO
10	Chudamani Murmu, Protection Officer, office of DSWO,  Nayagarh	WCD Dept.		Chief Minister , Odisha
11	Shri H.K.Panda , Forest Ranger	Office  of Conservation of forest , Angul		Office  of Conservation of forest , Angul
12	Sri Prabasi Sethy, Ex-DDA, Kalahandi	Directorate  of Agriculture & Food Production		Removal from Govt. service vide A&FE Deptt. order  No. 9922 dt. 31.5.2019
13	Sri Birendranath Mishra, Ex-Soil Chemist , Bhawanipatna	DO		Removal from Govt. service vide A&FE Deptt. order  No. 17736 dt. 25.9.2019
14	Sri Astam Chandra Patel, Ex-PEO, Subdega Block	Collectorate of Sundaragarh		Special Judge (Vigilance), Sundaragarh  in his judgement  dt. 2.12.2017 held him  guilty of gross misconduct and  corruption , convicted and sentenced him rigorous  imprisonment for   one year  and to pay Rs. 10,000.00.
15	Sri Trilochan Seth, Ex-PIO, Tangarpali Block	DO		Special Judge (Vigilance), Sundaragarh  in his judgement  dt. 20.9.2017 held him  guilty of gross misconduct and  corruption , convisted and sentenced him rigorous  imprisonment for  four years  and to pay Rs. 1 lakh .
16	Sri Dileswar  Dehury , Ex-Auditor District Audit Office, LFA, Sundargarh	Directorate  of Local Fund Audit, Bhubaneswar
17	Sri Sridhar Sethi, Ex-Auditor District Audit Office, LFA, Sundargarh	DO
18	Sri Rajendra Tripathy , Ex-Auditor District Audit Office, LFA, Boudh	DO
Employees  granted  compulsory  retirement
1	Sri Sirish  Chandra Mishra Ex-Panchayat Executive Officer , Raruan Block , Mayurhanj district	Panchayat Raj Dept.	The Collector, Mayurhanj   granted  compulsory retirement  basing on  the  departmental  proceeding vide Memorandum  No. 1536 dt. 9.8.2017.
2	Sri Pradeep Kumar Mohanty, Ex-CDAO Koraput	Directorate  of Agriculture & Food Production	Premature  retirement  from Govt. service vvide A& FE Deptt. order No. 12759 dt. 17.8.2020
3	Sri Arun Kumar Behera, Deputy Director, Soil Conservation-cum-Project  Director, Watershed, Malkangiri	Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment	Premature  retirement  was accorded  from service  on the  ground of ineffectiveness  on 16.3.20 by  the  Principal Secretary, Dept.  of Agrl.
4	Sri Satyapriya Samantaray, Deputy  Director Coffee Development , Koraput	Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment	Premature  retirement  was accorded  from service  on the  ground of ineffectiveness  on 16.3.20 by  the  Principal Secretary, Dept.  of Agrl.
5	Sri Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, OFS-1(SB)	Office of PCCF, Odisha	Premature  retirement  was  given  as per  circular No. 27037 /Gen dt. 24.9.2019  of GA & PG Dept.  on the  ground of doubtful  integrity  and inefficiency.
6	Sri  SARAT Chandra Panda, OFS-1(SB)	DO	DO
7	Dr. Bihu Prasad Sarangi, Director , AYUSH	Health  and Family Welfare  Dept.	He has been compulsory retirement  GA &PG Department  Order  No. 18397/Gen dt. 13.8.20
Employees  whose pension has been temporarily  stopped
1	Sri Udayanath Swain , Ex-Assistant  Engineer  of N.H.Division, Deogarh	Works Dept.	No  reason  is mentioned
2	Sri Jagannath Hansda , retired Draftry	Dept. of GA &PG( Rent)	His  pension  has  been temporarily stopped  due to non-submission  of pension papers  and required  document for  sanction of  pension.
3	Someswar Sabat ( retired) Ex-Soil Conservation  Extension  Worker	Directorate of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development	His  pension has been temporarily  withheld . No  reason cited.
4	Sri Arun Charan Parida, Ex-Executive Engineer  under  deputation to O.B.&C.C. Ltd.	Works Department	On 30.4.2011, the  Additional special Judge, Vigilance court , Bhubaneswar  held Sri Arun Parida  guilty  of offence for showing undue favour  to a private contractor  during  construction of  high level bridge  over  river Bhargavi  in the year 1995   and convicted  him. He was  retired  in 1997. He  challenged  this order   in High  Court which is pending.  After 10 years , the  Govt.  withheld his pension  permanently  from 24.2.20. as per  O.C.S. (CC&A) Rules, 1962.
5	Sudhir  Kumar Brajendra Narayan , EX-MD, O.B.&C.C. Ltd.  retired  as Engineer-in-chief	Works Department	On 30.4.2011, the  Additional special Judge, Vigilance court , Bhubaneswar  held Sri Brajendra Narayan   guilty  of offence for showing undue favour  to a private contractor  during  construction of  high level bridge  over  river Bhargavi  in the year 1995   and convicted  him. He was retired in 1999. He challenged this order   in High  Court which is pending.  After 10 years, the  Govt.  withheld his pension  permanently  from 24.2.20. as per  O.C.S. (CC&A) Rules, 1962.
6	Sri Gourang Charan Sahu (A), Ex-E.E., NESCO  Utility	Department  of Energy	His pension was withheld  permanently  w.e.f. 14.1.20  consequent upon  his conviction  in Balasore  P.S. Case No. 44 dt. 31.12.1998.
7	Nilamani Satapathy	Planning and Convergence  Dept.	No reason  cited
8	Sri Mahadev Ghosh, Senior Clerck ( Retired)	Office  of the Deputy  Director, Similipal South  Wildlife Division, Baripada	His  salary  has been stopped  due  to vigilance  case.

 

Prepared  by

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 23.12.20

A Fact-sheet on “Chief Minister’s Zero Tolerance to Corruption”

 A Fact-sheet on “Chief Minister’s Zero Tolerance to Corruption”

( RTI  Revelation)

Is it Fact or Media-hyped Propaganda?

Since August, 2019,  Mass Media  carrying   front-page news   from time to time about  steps taken by  Chief Minister, Odisha  dismissing  officers/ employees  from the  service  on the ground  of corruption , suspending  pension  of retired  employees  and  giving   compulsory  retirement  to the  officers involved in corruption  ( quoting press  release  issued  from Chief Minister’s office).   This step of the Chief Minister has been highlighted and glorified by Media.  Keeping  it  in  view,  several RTI Applications  quoting press news  have been filed   in  the  office  of Chief Minister, Odisha  seeking  information about 

 i.     Provide    details of  documents and  files  relating to decision  taken  by Chief  Minister  to dismiss  21 officers  and employees  from service  with  copy  of file  noting  with  their  names  with address  and  post held  by them.

ii.   Provide name  of  the  retired  officers  and  employees  whose  pension  has been held  up  by  Chief  Minister , copy  of the  order  of  Chief  minister  along  with  copy  of  details of  decision  taken  in this  regard  including  copy  of the  file noting.

 

Every time, the  PIO, office  of the  Chief Minister  has  denied  the  information on the  ground  of  non-availability  of the  information. In response to RTI query filed dt. 14.7.20, the  PIO, office  of the Chief Minister  replied  on  18.7.20 that  no such  information sought for  is  available  in this  office , as  disciplinary  action  is initiated  by the  respective  departments  of the Govt. But the  question  comes  how  the  press   statement   mentioning  number  of  officers / employees  dismissed and  pension of retired  employees   withheld  was made  from the   Chief Minister’s office  which  has been  reported  by Media. As  the  press release  is made  from the  Chief Minister’s office,  the said  information  must be available following which  the  press statement  is prepared.

 

Again, on 18.8.20,   both Print and electronics media  carried  another  news  about 60 officers/ employees  dismissed by Chief Minister ,  17 employees  given compulsory  retirement and pension of 22 employees  withheld. We  again attempted  to access  this  information by way of  filling  RTI  Application dt. 24.8.20   to the  PIO, office of  Chief Minister, Dept. of GA &PG, Parliamentary  Affairs , Govt. of Odisha  seeking the  following  information  to  verify  authenticity  of the news.

 a.      Name  of  the  officers  and employees  who have been  dismissed  by  the Chief Minister on the ground of  corruption  as declared by Govt. , name  of their Dept.  and position held by  them

b.      Name  of the  officers  and employees  who have been given  compulsory  retirement  by the  Chief Minister on the  ground of  corruption , designation held by  each  of them, name  of their  department.

c.       Name  of the  retired employees  whose pension  has been  temporarily  stopped  and their  department.

  Like  response  of the PIO, office  of the Chief Minister ,  the  GA dept.  declined  to give  detailed  information but  thankfully  forwarded  RTI  Application  to all  the  Departments  and  sub-ordinate  offices  across the  state. Within the period of  3 months, the  information  from various department  and offices  started being  flooded  with us. The   information was scrutinized  and compiled. The compiled  information  is attached  herewith. 

 https://odishasoochana.blogspot.com/2020/12/how-far-it-is-fact-has-really-chief.html

 Analysis of the compiled  information is as follows.

 1.    Total no. of 18 officers/ employees has been dismissed  by the  disciplinary  authority  of the  concerned Department/ office not  by Chief Minister. For Example,  Sri Dharma Singh, Ex-Panchayat Executive Officer, Rairangpur  block  of Mayurhanj  district was  dismissed  by the  Collector, Mayurbhanj  on the  ground of  corruption. The Chief Minister is no way concerned  in this matter. This is the  official procedure  as per  Odisha  Civil service ( classification, control & Appeal) Rules,1962

 2.    In most  of the  cases , the   Special Judge, vigilance  has  held  the officers/ employees  guilty  and sentenced them  to rigorous  imprisonment  and  imposed  penalty.  Following   judgment of the vigilance court, the    disciplinary authority has dismissed  the  officers/ employees. For Example, Sri Akhaya Kumar Behera, Ex-Senior Scientific Officer, Testing Laboratory, Berhampur under DEP&M, Odisha (MSME Dept.) was dismissed by the Dept. on 30.10.2019 after  Special Judge , Vigilance in P.S. Case No. 29 dt. 4.7.2014 sentenced him rigorous imprisonment for 2 years  on 1.6.2018.

 3.    In many  cases, though  the  Special Vigilance  Court  held them guilty and sentenced  rigorous imprisonment,  the  State  Govt. has  remained silence  for  several years  without taking  any action against  these employees. For example,   Sri Tapan Kumar Garnaik, Executive  Engineer, Charbatia ( R&B) Division, Choudwar , Cuttack was  dismissed  from service  on 28.2.20  by the secretary, dept. of works  after  the  vigilance  court  convicted  him on 24.4.2018. the  role of the  Chief Minister  does not arise here.

 4.    As  per RTI Document provided by  different  offices, total no. of eight  employees/ officers   whose  pension  have been  temporarily  stopped.  It is very  interesting  to note  here  that  The Govt. has suspended  pension  of the employees after  they were  convicted by the  vigilance  Court.   The  Govt. has not taken action promptly  but  waited so many years  to take action . For example, On 30.4.2011, the  Additional special Judge, Vigilance court , Bhubaneswar  held Sri Arun Parida  guilty  of offence for showing undue favour  to a private contractor  during  construction of  high level bridge  over  river Bhargavi  in the year 1995   and convicted  him. He was  retired  in 1997. He  challenged  this order   in High  Court which is pending.  After 10 years of  judgement  of  vigilance Court  , the  Govt.  withheld his pension  permanently  from 24.2.20.     

 5.    The pension of Sri Gourang Charan Sahu (A), Ex-E.E., NESCO  Utility   was withheld  permanently  w.e.f. 14.1.20  consequent upon  his conviction  in Balasore  P.S. Case No. 44 dt. 31.12.1998.

 6.    As per RTI information, seven no. of officers/ employees have been given compulsory retirement. We have tried to understand the reasons for their compulsory retirement. The compulsory retirement has been given few employees on the ground of ineffectiveness following the GA Dept. circular dt. 24.9.2019. There is no such serious corruption charges against these employees. For  example, Sri Arun Kumar Behera, Deputy Director, Soil Conservation-cum-Project  Director, Watershed, Malkangiri  was given  compulsory retirement   from service  on the  ground of ineffectiveness  on 16.3.20 by  the  Principal Secretary, Dept.  of Agrl. Similarly, Sri Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, OFS-1(SB) of office of PCCF   was given Premature retirement as per  circular No. 27037 /Gen dt. 24.9.2019 of GA & PG Dept.  on the  ground of doubtful  integrity  and inefficiency.

 Conclusion

1.    In most  of the cases,  following  the conviction of Special vigilance Court, the   competent authorities  have dismissed  the employees or withheld their pension even after long years of the court judgement.

 2.    The media-hyped  propaganda  is  a calculated  move orchestrated  from the  Chief Minister’s office  to glorify  the  Chief Minister  in public domain as  a crusader  against  corruption termed as “ Zero Tolerance  to Corruption”. In fact  this  Chief Minister   during his  stint of  20 years  has masterminded  the  corruption and mega scams like  Chit Fund  Scam, Mining Scam, Land Scam  worth lakhs  of crores  of rupees in Odisha . During his regime, the  corruption has been widespread across the state affecting each office starting from Gram panchayat to Chief Secretary to Chief minister, Odisha.

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 23.12.20