Block Development Officer taken to task for ignoring court order

Justice SM Subramaniam before whom a petition moved by G Jayaprakash of Uthukottai Taluk, Thiruvallur district, seeking to quash the disciplinary proceedings pending against him for the past eight years, had on July 25 directed the BDO SG Krishnan to be present before this court along with files in  relation to the above matter on July 27. 

But when the matter came up, the government advocate D Raghu, submitted that despite him informing both the Collector as well as the BDO about the court order and to bring the original files along with instructions to explain the delayin concluding the disciplinary proceedings, the BDO had attended the court only at 11.15 am and that too without any files.

But with the BDO unable to explain as to why he turned up without the file, Justice Subramaniam on holding that such a conduct of the public servant must be viewed seriously, said, “The BDO has not understood the seriousness of the judicial proceedings and he has committed dereliction of duty and negligence in not bringing the files and also not instructed the government advocate for defending the writ petition on behalf of the state.” 

“Thus, he miserably failed to perform his duty by not responding, both to the court as well as to the government advocate. Thus, the district Collector, Thiruvallur district, is directed to place the BDO, SG Krishnan, under suspension and initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings under the Tamil Nadu Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal Rules),” the judge added. 

Directing the district Collector, to depute another responsible official from the Collectorate to instruct the government advocate along with the files, the judge posted the matter to July 30 for orders. 

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